EP.52
Baek Yeon-Young seemed to take a liking to the gift presented by Nephila Jurassica.
She kept fiddling with it, resting it on top of my head.
“Kieek…”
Nephila wore a very sad expression.
“Kioong…”
Tus and Pus also seemed to share the sentiment.
You all are quite admirable.
Usually, you bicker amongst yourselves, but now, when danger arises, you willingly part with your cherished belongings.
Some humans would kick Tang So-young aside and flee. You all are better than that.
Of course, it’s a bit concerning that the cherished item in question is my shed skin, but what does that matter?
It’s the thought that counts.
Baek Yeon-Young wasn’t moved by my shed skin itself; she was likely touched by the spiders’ feelings.
“…It’s smaller than I remember; it’s truly a pity I couldn’t see it.”
You’re moved by the sentiment, right?
The atmosphere had lightened considerably.
Although Tang So-young still showed signs of fear, it was clear that Baek Yeon-Young had no immediate intentions of punishing her.
Now the conversation had begun.
It was a comically absurd scene, reminiscent of a chick chatting with a crocodile.
Tang So-young appeared somewhat pitiful, constantly being terrified by Baek Yeon-Young’s every word and action.
Hang in there, Tang So-young.
You can do it.
To show my support, I decided to actively help from the side.
“Gek gek.”
I chimed in whenever Tang So-young spoke.
That should add some credibility to her words.
The effect might not be great, but it’s better than nothing.
“Gek gek gek.”
“G-Great Master…!”
Look at that gaze.
She’s on the verge of tears, moved by my assistance.
“Gek gek gek!”
It’s nothing to get emotional over.
Tang So-young recounted how she came to Shiman Mountain, including her encounter with the handsome King Crocodile Lizard.
The gist was this.
Upon hearing rumors of a creature living in Shiman Mountain, the Tang family sent her here to raise a Dilophosaurus. There was also a chance to retrieve the poisonous insects stolen by the Demon Cult.
“What can one do with just a single poisonous dragon? It’s not exactly a valuable card.”
Tsk.
Baek Yeon-Young clicked her tongue.
Her words rang true.
The Dilophosaurus I encountered was indeed an outlier, capable of handling energy, but I couldn’t imagine it taking on all the dinosaurs scattered about here.
If I ran into an Ankylosaurus, my head would likely shatter.
“…The Dilophosaurus discovered me and attacked my nest.”
The story transitioned to my fierce battle with the Dilophosaurus.
The sneak attack using sleeping poison.
How I endured after resisting the poison and stood tall against it alone.
Though Tang So-young hadn’t seen it, I recounted how Nephila Jurassica had thrown itself to protect me.
Ultimately, I had crushed its skull with the Skull of Eternal Echo.
I had told the entire story.
“Is that so? That spider did that.”
“Kieek…”
Baek Yeon-Young’s gaze turned to Nephila Jurassica.
She must find it intriguing.
Nephila was a spider that had evolved into a Mongolian Arachne, after all.
A super lucky Human-Faced Master.
It may have returned to its original form now.
“So, was it trying to return to Sichuan due to its deteriorating condition?”
“Yes, yes!”
Tang So-young showed signs of relief, understanding what I had explained.
Her words conveyed that this spider had saved the life of that lizard.
In gratitude, the spider’s condition had worsened.
Thus, she intended to return to Sichuan, where there were facilities and materials to aid the spider’s recovery.
It seemed Baek Yeon-Young acknowledged this part.
“Returning to Sichuan is acceptable. While I’m displeased that you coveted my possession, after hearing your story, there doesn’t seem to be a reason to kill you.”
Tang So-young sighed with relief.
“But I cannot allow you to take Hui.”
Baek Yeon-Young clutched my neck tightly.
It felt as though a feline beast was gripping the neck of its young.
I felt a bit lethargic.
“…Gek!”
I let out a surprised squawk a beat too late.
What was that sound?
“Hui cannot leave Shiman Mountain.”
Wait, am I being kidnapped?
“But…”
Tang So-young raised her voice tremulously in protest.
“If the Great Master isn’t here…”
“If Hui isn’t here, you might be in danger.”
“Not just me, but also the spider too…”
Tang So-young made a valid point.
Knowing what I’ve seen of her thus far, it was obvious she’d be wailing if I vanished. Nephila Jurassica might even drag her away, bound in spider silk.
“Isn’t that a rather selfish thought? You really don’t know what could happen when Hui goes to the Central Plains?”
Baek Yeon-Young chastised Tang So-young for her words.
“Even third-rate warriors are setting foot in Shiman Mountain. The monks of Shaolin are eagerly searching for creatures. The Central Plains are out of control right now, all trying to secure a mystical being.”
Her piercing blue eyes shot daggers at Tang So-young.
“Hui goes outside? Not just to another region, but all the way to Sichuan? The outcome seems too obvious, doesn’t it?”
What would others think when they see me?
A giant lizard.
And yet, I wield martial arts and have consumed quite a bit of elixirs.
I was, quite literally, a walking stroke of fortune.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say I could easily become a lizard skewered for lunch.
Tang So-young lowered her head.
She wasn’t intending to bring me outside just to use me for food.
Her vague thought was simply that if we faced the challenges together, we could overcome them.
But she had collided with the wall of reality.
After a while of keeping her head down, Tang So-young reached out and lightly touched my cheek.
Although Baek Yeon-Young grimaced, seemingly uncomfortable, she didn’t stop her.
“…Great Master. I’m sorry. I will do my best to treat the spider.”
Does that mean she intends for the two of them to venture outside Shiman Mountain?
“Geck!”
That wouldn’t do.
It is true that if I went beyond Shiman Mountain, I would be at risk of being hunted by other martial artists. However, without me, Tang So-young would be at risk of being eaten by some dinosaur before even leaving Shiman Mountain.
One doesn’t simply abandon another.
Of course, I am a lizard, but still, I cannot allow that.
How could I abandon a believer who worships me as a divine beast?
“Gegegegek!”
I actively expressed my opinion to Baek Yeon-Young.
I wasn’t sure if she would understand, but she should be aware that I opposed the current situation.
“Lady Tang. How long will it take to treat the Master?”
“At least a month. It could take even longer…”
“And the method of treatment?”
“After removing the remaining poison from the body, I must inject another poison to heal the internal damage. If left alone, the same symptoms will reoccur, so I need to induce a complete transformation. That’s why I cannot specify the period…”
Tang So-young’s voice lightened a bit.
Baek Yeon-Young’s words seemed to imply that she could treat the Master.
“Complete transformation, eh? Well, since you brought a mystical being here, it stands to reason that your specialty is handling mystical entities.”
Baek Yeon-Young dismounted from my back.
“Come to the Heavenly Demon Cult.”
Did I hear that incorrectly?
Her words contained two significant errors.
One was that Tang So-young was from the Tang family in Sichuan.
“Y-Yes?”
The other was that they believed in a false religion rather than the Heavenly Demon Cult.
“G-Gek?”
Both Tang So-young and I were stunned by the revelation.
“Why are you so surprised? Did you really take it to mean that I suggested you join our sect?”
“Then…”
“The equipment and materials to treat that Master? I’m sure they’ll have them at our sect as well. Moreover, there are those who know how to handle mystical beings. Of course, when it comes to poisons, it’s you, from the Tang family, who would excel, so I’ll leave the treatment to you.”
That was good news.
Of course, as a member of the Tang family, Tang So-young would have to face plenty of challenges, but at least she wouldn’t have to worry about dying immediately.
“Geck!”
Indeed, my mentor is commendable.
Her personality might be a bit odd, but she provides such good solutions.
“Is that displeasing?”
“A-Ah, no! It’s great!”
The destination has been revised.
From Sichuan to the headquarters of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
The Heavenly Demon Cult. A name that made my heart race.
I wasn’t sure what position Baek Yeon-Young held, but it seemed she wasn’t in a particularly low one.
After all, I am her former apprentice.
“Geck geck.”
Should I assert my status a bit?
Just when I was having such fantasies…
“Hui.”
Baek Yeon-Young’s blue eyes fixed on me.
“You cannot enter the Heavenly Demon Cult.”
You were raising me, weren’t you!
“You just sat on my back!”
“It’s too early.”
I tried to protest with a series of “gekkek” sounds, but there was something sorrowful in her eyes.
“It’s not yet time.”
I instinctively realized that whining wouldn’t solve the problem.
There must be circumstances even within the Heavenly Demon Cult.
There could be others looking to capture a mystical being like me.
A bit disappointing, but what can I do?
I might as well wait.
Did she say a month?
Moreover, since she mentioned complete transformation, it meant Nephila might return to her original form.
It’s definitely worth waiting for.
In the meantime, I’ll play with Tus and Pus.
“Kieeeng…”
Tus and Pus exchanged glances and crawled over to me.
Right.
You both understand perfectly well.
It seems I won’t be seeing Nephila and Tang So-young for a while.
Let’s get along just fine among ourselves.
“Geck!”
Tus gently bit my tail.
Pus softly placed its rear on my claw.
…What are you doing right now?
“Kiooong…”
The two spiderlings embraced my tail and claw tightly.
Then they slowly crawled towards the direction where Tang So-young was.
They kept looking back with determined expressions.
“Keen!”
“…What?”
“Kieeeng!”
Tang So-young and the spiders began communicating.
What kind of conversation are they having?
Wait, is it really a conversation?
“Hooh.”
Baek Yeon-Young observed the spiders with interest.
“…Is that so? I understand.”
Tang So-young looked at me.
“The little spiderlings say they won’t stay with the Great Master anymore.”
What?
Those spiders…
I’ve done so much for them.
No matter how pretty Baek Yeon-Young is, that doesn’t matter.
Are they abandoning me to quickly cling to her?
“…They realized how weak and powerless they are after seeing the big spiderling.”
That wasn’t the case.
“They want to protect the Great Master like the big spiderling does.”
Tang So-young had been subtly encouraging Tus and Pus for a while.
If they came with her to Sichuan, she’d allow them to become Human-Faced Masters.
In other words, she meant to help them evolve to the next stage.
Tus and Pus remembered that.
And they accepted her invitation.
To grow stronger.
To protect me.
…How strong could you possibly get?
But I couldn’t stop Tus and Pus.
I deeply felt that longing.
“Geck…”
I looked back.
In just a moment, many had left me.
But this isn’t a farewell forever.
It’s merely an unavoidable separation until we meet again soon.
In fact, it was a situation worthy of celebration.
“Kieeeng…”
“Kioooong…”
Not wanting to reveal my loneliness, I avoided looking in the direction of Tang So-young.
I pretended to be indifferent, acting as though I felt no sadness at all.
“I also need to solve the problem of matching sizes.”
…What was that supposed to mean?
I’ll just ignore it.
I can’t let my emotions be broken.
“Kioooong…!”
Tus and Pus.
And Nephila Jurassica cried out.
“Gegegegek!”
Without looking back until the very end, I simply raised my hand in farewell.
See you in a healthier form next time.
I hope all three of you transform into Arachne.
“Kiooong!”
Yes.
This is really goodbye now.
“I’m a bit sorry for the somber mood, but I’m not leaving just yet. I have a few things to tell my foolish disciple.”
…I activated my sprint.
I quickly checked for any lizard holes.
Return my emotional stone!
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