EP.58
“Shh!”
As I followed the location indicated by the snake, I pondered deeply.
How did the Tang Family sisters notice my desires… no, my actions?
If Baek Yeon-young knew, that would make some sense.
She is a creature capable of catching hydras with her bare hands, so I could see how she might overlook such things.
However, I simply could not comprehend how the Tang sisters, led by Tang So-young, acted as if they were aware of my every move.
If I were to speculate, it might be due to the Gegeok Faith.
The followers could perceive my thoughts to some extent.
Tang So-young perhaps vaguely, while the spiders seemed to do so quite accurately.
Moreover, my divine energy had inexplicably swelled recently.
I didn’t know why, but every time Baek Yeon-young and I did something together, Tang So-young would look at me with eyes full of respect. The spiders followed her lead.
I distinctly remembered a significant increase when I playfully bit Baek Yeon-young’s fingers or chewed on her hair.
Despite Baek Yeon-young being a master, the extent of that growth was astonishing.
Thanks to the effects of the Gegeok Faith, my followers could read my thoughts.
And my divine energy had significantly increased lately.
Consequently, the followers could see my actions and thoughts more clearly than before.
This was my hypothesis, but there was one critical flaw.
That flaw was Nephila Jurassica.
This creature was not my follower.
Yet, it had been lurking nearby and had received the largest share of messages conveyed through my status window.
Additionally, it possessed a suspicious title obscured by a question mark before its name.
Could it have secretly infiltrated my religion?
If I am Hwanung, then Nephila Jurassica would be the bear woman.
…That can’t be right?
I shook my head vehemently, dismissing such thoughts.
I needed to fill my stomach quickly.
These strange ideas kept creeping into my mind.
“Shh!”
The python nodded its head.
That probably meant it was nearby.
I brushed off my distractions and silenced my presence.
I crept forward quietly.
“Gikigik.”
It was a sound I was now familiar with.
Based on my previous experiences, the owner of this cry was highly likely a feathered dinosaur.
These were the kind of creatures that were slightly embarrassing to call dinosaurs.
They were the ones who, inappropriately, bolstered the claims of the Human-Faced Bird.
…Except for the Utahraptor. That one was a dinosaur of honor.
“Gikig…”
The cry was not all that loud.
It would likely be smaller than a Utahraptor and possibly even smaller than a Deinonychus.
In other words, it was not a threat to me at this moment.
I wondered what kind of creature it might be.
Let’s take a look at its face.
【Oviraptor LV12】
__________________________
【Oviraptor】
The Oviraptor is a dinosaur approximately 1.6 meters in body length and weighs between 20 to 40 kg, discovered in the late Cretaceous period.
It typically preys on small animals, but true to its nickname as the egg thief, its preferred food is the eggs of other creatures.
__________________________
Oviraptor!
It was a familiar face that inexplicably brought a smile to my lips.
The Oviraptor was gulping down the eggs of other beasts.
Poor little things.
To eat those not yet born!
The parents of those eggs must be grieving.
…Wait a minute, thinking about it, I was also hatched from an egg.
Regardless of the egg, there must be parents involved.
There were also other eggs presumed to be siblings.
What kind of beings were my parents?
I had hatched nearly as large as an adult.
Naturally, the egg that had enveloped me was much larger than that of a Gecko Lizard.
The beings that gave birth to me were certainly not ordinary Gecko Lizards…
Now that I think about it, I’ve never seen another Gecko Lizard in this world.
Given the existence of evolution, there’s no necessity for my parents to be Gecko Lizards.
…Could it be that I unknowingly devoured them?
I recalled the reptiles I had consumed over time.
Fortunately, there were no lizards among them.
Phew.
At least I didn’t commit patricide.
If I encounter that Oviraptor I saw before, perhaps I could ask about my parents.
For now, let’s focus on capturing the Oviraptor here.
“Hie…”
The python let out a small whimper.
Its seemingly fearful behavior puzzled me.
Was that Oviraptor frightening it?
Considering how confidently it had led me, that seemed unlikely.
…Wait, my target isn’t the Oviraptor, but that egg, right?
Could the Oviraptor, eating that egg, be an unexpected formidable opponent?
Oh, Python…
You’re much longer than that Oviraptor, why are you scared?
And if we reveal ourselves now, it would probably be the Oviraptor that gets surprised.
I set the python down for a moment and sprinted toward the creature at high speed.
Tatadat!
“Kieeeek!”
The Oviraptor was startled by my sudden appearance.
So shocked that it flapped its wings—a creature that couldn’t even fly—and jumped into the air.
Pabhat!
Predicting its direction, I leaped powerfully.
“Gikigik!”
Thud!
The Oviraptor put up a futile resistance, but by then, its neck was already in my mouth.
Squash.
After crushing its neck with a strong bite, I slammed it back down to the ground.
Kwaaaang!
“Kirrk…”
The breath of the Oviraptor ceased.
Naturally, I did not gain any levels.
It was far easier than hunting a Piranha by a Green Basilisk.
The Ball Python slithered closer to me, alternating its gaze between the dead Oviraptor and me, screaming in disbelief.
“Hieeek!”
That look was all too familiar.
It resembled the expression on Tus and Puus when they tasted beetles and piranhas for the first time.
I looked at the corpse of the Oviraptor.
While it wasn’t a bountiful meal, it would suffice to quell my immediate hunger.
“Shh!”
The python flicked its tongue.
Right. You must be hungry too.
I have no feast prepared, but let’s share what we can.
*
【Komodo LV9】
HP: 250/990
MP: 173/410
【Titles】
「Loved by Spiders」
「Master of the Silver Dragon Cave」
「Lord of the Swampland (Lower)」
My health was somewhat restored.
While it wasn’t satisfying yet, I could say I had quelled my immediate needs.
With that amount of MP, I could at least use my Azure Wrath once.
“Shh…”
The python, already rounder, was rolling around restlessly.
Hey, you’re still a snake, why are you rolling around?
“Gegeok.”
Hearing my sound, the python straightened up.
It hurried over, looking at me with wide eyes.
“Hieek!”
Right. Did you enjoy that?
I recommend something good to you.
There’s something called Gegeok Faith.
“Hieek?”
The snake merely tilted its head.
To be honest, thinking of it as a conversation is more like my imagination.
Our communication revolved entirely around interpreting each other’s gestures.
It wouldn’t be feasible to suddenly propose a religion.
I had no choice but to induce it to worship me voluntarily, just like Tus and Puus.
Sigh… How can I make this plump snake into a follower?
If I defeat a strong opponent, will it gaze at me with adoration?
Even now, it does have a look of admiration… but what’s lacking?
Ah, I see.
A brilliant idea popped into my head.
“Gegeok.”
Hey, Python. Take a good look.
“Hieek?”
The snake’s round eyes were focused intently on me.
Now’s the moment when it’s concentrated!
Ta-da!
The appearance of the dragon shifted.
From a slightly larger Komodo, it transformed into a much smaller dragon.
Young ones often lose their minds over something cool.
…Of course, biologically, I’d probably be younger than that snake.
“Hieeeeeek!”
The Python was startled, almost pretending to be dead.
Seeing that reaction makes me feel a bit proud.
So, how about it?
Isn’t a sense of faith starting to emerge?
【Do you wish to propose Gegeok Faith to 【Ball Python LV14】?】
It seems faith has emerged.
But hold on, Status Window.
Since when have you been asking questions like this?
There was none of this when Tus and Puus were believers.
Just stick to the usual ways.
This isn’t a special case with the Python.
【Are you really sure you want to propose Gegeok Faith?】
Why are you asking me twice?
This should just be skipped!
【【Ball Python LV14】 worships you.】
Quick!
Congratulations, Python!
Even though you look like this, you’re ranked 4th.
【Gegeok Faith evolves from Gecko Lizard-level faith to King Lizard-level faith.】
Huh?
Isn’t that a bit too much of a leap all at once?
I’m fine with it, but… is there even a reason for it to jump that high?
__________________________
【Gegeok Faith】
King Lizard-level faith.
This is a belief held by those who serve the legendary spirit Komodo.
If the number of followers increases, it may develop into a religion. The types of members are very diverse, and their faith is profound.
Members
First Follower: 【Artocopus LV9】
Second Follower: 【Anthracomartus LV8】
Third Follower: 【Tang So-young】
Fourth Follower: 【Ball Python LV14】
__________________________
【Ball Python LV14 worships you.】
Good.
This faith has a hidden feature.
It occasionally prompts the status window for information.
Now communication has become a bit easier.
【Ball Python LV14 is worried about you.】
Huh?
What do you mean worried?
I feel reassured with you around.
So, you’re actually a more impressive snake than I thought?
Going from Gecko Lizard-level to King Lizard-level like this.
…Though I still don’t know what the difference is.
【Ball Python LV14 thinks you are amazing.】
It seems the amount of divinity has certainly increased.
The frequency of messages from the status window has risen significantly.
Look at that.
It continues to come in, doesn’t it?
【You have accepted the follower of the Snake Queen.】
Oh?
【The Snake Queen is angry with you.】
What?
The Snake Queen?
Wait a second.
Was the reason for the earlier proposal message because of this?
Is that snake already in a state of believing in something else?
And is that why the Ball Python was worried about me?
【The Snake Queen wants to see you.】
So right now, I’m essentially stealing a follower from the Snake Queen?
That’s why she’s angry?
And that’s why the level of faith jumped so much?
“Gegegegegeok!”
Cancel!
Proposal canceled!
Status Window!
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