Chapter 190: The Shame of the Gecko Religion, Tang So-yeong
"Are you leaving now?"
I had finished everything I needed to do here.
Stealing this many dumplings should be enough.
"Gekek!"
I bowed my head in respect to Master.
Baek Yeonyeong slightly raised the corners of her lips, then stroked my tail.
"Yes, tell the Snake Queen to wait a little longer."
Unfortunately, the school swimsuit still hadn’t been made.
Well, given the material, it wouldn't be easy to craft.
By the time I defeat Cheoldu-ryong, it should be ready.
Hehe… Master… Hehe….
"What am I going to do with this foolish disciple?"
"Gek…"
I couldn't help myself.
As she spoke, Master tied a bundle to my tail.
"I’ve packed some snacks for you."
"Gek!"
"It may not suit your taste, but the Tang family daughter seems to enjoy spicy food."
Of course, coming from Sichuan, she would love spicy dishes.
I probably won't eat it; I’ll just give it to that Tang girl.
"I also included some sweet treats besides the honey of Okbong. The Snake Queen should be satisfied."
So there are other foods too.
Word must have spread all the way here that the Snake Queen enjoys sweet things.
Alright, even if I couldn’t get the school swimsuit, I should deliver this.
"And don’t forget the letter."
I felt like a messenger pigeon for Master.
Not that I minded.
We walked a bit around the cult grounds together.
Thanks to Master’s consideration, there were no disciples wandering nearby.
This allowed me to roam in my full size.
When I was a small lizard, it didn’t matter, but with this size, people would definitely be startled.
They might even try to hunt me unnecessarily.
Not that I’d be in danger, but the person who angers Master would be.
"You’ve grown considerably in size, and your internal energy has reached a decent level."
Perhaps because I was about to leave, she offered me some compliments.
"Gek."
"You’ve even developed enough to have simple conversations. This must be the joy of a master watching her disciple grow."
"Gegekgek."
I owe Master so much.
When we first met, she could have ignored me as just a passing lizard, but she chose to take an interest in me.
If I hadn’t met her, I wouldn't have grown this strong.
I might have remained at the level of an ordinary monitor lizard.
"Hoo. What’s that look in your eyes?"
I wanted to express my gratitude, but I wondered if it would come across well.
"Grrr…"
I let out a low growl.
Not as a warning, but as the sound large carnivores make when content.
Then I moved my face closer to her.
"Your size makes petting you much more enjoyable."
Understanding my intent, Master extended her arm and gently scratched the area near my neck.
"Grrooong…"
It was while I was being petted like this that—
"Kieeng!"
"Kioong!"
Tus and Pus quickly scurried over.
They alternated glances between Master and me, waving their short arms.
"Hioong!"
Upon closer look, it seemed like they were mimicking a bow.
"Yes. You two have worked hard as well."
"Kek!"
"Kiek!"
Tus and Pus don’t seem to warm up to humans much, as evidenced by their reaction to Tang So-yeong.
Considering they were almost turned into lonely creatures by the Tang family, it’s understandable why they’d dislike people.
Yet, they’re unusually docile toward Master.
Maybe they’re scared because they saw her easily overpower Utahraptors?
No, it feels like something entirely different.
What should I call it?
It’s like a daughter-in-law behaving in front of her future mother-in-law.
I can’t explain it clearly, but that’s the impression I get.
"Make sure to keep an eye on Hii so she stays on the right path."
"Keeeng!"
Tus and Pus tapped their chins against the ground as if to assure her not to worry.
Then they bowed once more before climbing up my body.
"Kioong!"
"Hioong…"
They finally settled on my horns, one on each side.
"Huuuek! Let me go! I said I’m not going!"
From the other side, I heard the Tang girl's voice.
She’d said she understood last time, but now she was making a fuss.
Her resolve seems as fragile as her slim chest.
"Argh!"
But it was no use.
Nephila was walking over, carrying her bound in spider silk.
"I-I think I’ve healed a tiger…!"
Not a tiger, more like a tiger spider.
Tang So-yeong’s face turned pale as she threw her tantrum.
"Hheek!"
She must have seen Master’s face.
"Hmm. Do you really not want to go that much?"
"N-No! I-I was just joking…!"
"I see, a joke, is it."
Though she’s been here a while, she still seems scared of Master.
Why is she afraid of someone so kind and beautiful?
"Good thing it was just a joke."
"Hhheek…"
Tang So-yeong’s shoulders slumped as if she realized escape was impossible.
"Wait… So, does that mean I can ride on his back?"
Her eyes suddenly sparkled.
Twinkling brightly.
The thought of riding on my back seemed to cheer her up.
I like how simple-minded she is.
Tang So-yeong started flailing her hands oddly.
"Come here!"
She tried to climb onto my back, but she was too short and failed.
"Iiik…"
Feeling a bit sorry for her, I wrapped my tail around her waist and lifted her onto my back.
"Hehe… fur… scales… horns…."
Tang So-yeong drooled as she touched my scales.
Hey, are you really Tang So-yeong?
You look more like an Igaksu right now.
"Hmm…. Well, I suppose that’s necessary if you’re going to heal divine beasts."
Even Master seemed unsure what to make of this Tang girl.
"Hah? Miss Spider! What are you doing all of a sudden?"
Nephila seemed to be punishing Tang So-yeong, who was recklessly touching my scales.
"Kyaaah!"
What a commotion.
On my horns were Tus and Pus.
On my back were Nephila and Tang So-yeong.
It was quite an amusing combination.
Still, this lineup could be considered part of the original members.
"That’s enough. The road can’t be blocked forever. It’s time to set off."
"Gekek."
I bowed my head one last time.
Master extended her hand and patted my head.
"Alright. Stay safe and healthy until we meet again."
"Gegegek."
After responding to Master's words, I turned my head.
I pushed strength into my legs.
Paaaaang!
I leaped as if soaring through the sky.
It was the Soaring Dragon’s Ascension Step.
"Hiyahk! G-Go Dae-hyeop! Y-You’re too fast!"
"K-Kieek!"
Before heading to the Dragon Gate, there was one place I needed to visit.
That place was the Snake Queen’s temple.
"Is this Go Dae-hyeop’s domain? It’s better than I expected! It’s even a proper building."
You could call it my domain, but it’s not a place for you to stay.
"Tweet!"
Shikshik spotted me and quickly scurried over.
"What a cute snake! It looks like a smaller version of Go Dae-hyeop."
Shikshik was indeed adorable.
"Tweet…?"
Hearing an unfamiliar voice, Shikshik tilted her head.
"Tweet?"
Shikshik seemed to notice the two on my head, stretching her body long.
"Kioong…?"
"Kieeek…?"
Come to think of it, you two haven’t met her before.
"Gekgekgek."
Say hello.
This is Shikshik, a charmingly long-bodied snake.
And these two are Tus and Pus.
"Geggek."
They’re charming spiders with plump spinnerets and sharp fangs.
"Ssssss!"
"Kieeek!"
Despite my introductions, it seemed they didn’t get along.
"Tweet-tweet!"
Shikshik shouted as if to ask why those things were stuck to my body.
"Kiooong!"
Tus and Pus screamed as if asking who this snake was.
"Geggek."
That’s enough, everyone.
I’ll explain everything.
"Ssssaaak!"
"Kieeeek!"
"It seems it’s my turn to step in."
Right.
We had Tang So-yeong, an expert on mystical creatures.
"Tweet?"
Shikshik stared curiously at Tang So-yeong, who had climbed off my back.
"Handling mystical creatures is my specialty. Especially ones with scales like this."
Finally, I’d get to see the skills of Tang So-yeong, the ordinary healer of the Gecko Religion.
Crunch.
"Kyaaaah! It hurts!"
Not that I had any expectations.
"Gekgek."
I gently pulled Shikshik’s tail to get her to let go.
Shikshik, who had lightly bitten Tang So-yeong’s hand, immediately released her.
"It’s not a venomous snake, but why are its teeth so sharp!"
She’s exaggerating.
How much could a bite from Shikshik hurt?
She might be a bit big, but she’s still a Ball Python.
She’s not venomous, so why is she making such a fuss over a little bite?
"…Its head turned triangular?"
"Shriik!"
"G-Go Dae-hyeop! My body feels weird!"
Tang So-yeong was making a scene.
"…I’m turning to stone! I’m petrifying!"
At most, her skin was probably just itchy.
Still, I couldn’t keep listening to her fuss, so I nudged Shikshik’s mouth lightly.
"Tweet!"
Shikshik’s long tongue naturally came out.
I made her place it on the spot she had bitten.
"Am I dying like this? How frustrating… If I’d known, I would have used single venom resistance…."
I wanted to hear more of her nonsense, but Shikshik’s saliva worked wonders.
"Shriik!"
Tang So-yeong’s wound healed quickly.
"…Huh? How did its saliva neutralize the poison?"
Typically, saliva heals everything.
"No, wait. Isn’t it strange? How does a snake have healing powers?"
It’s not strange at all.
The weird part is the nonsense you spouted about single venom resistance.
"Tweet."
Shikshik sighed as if thinking humans were truly strange.
"Hmph."
Nephila didn’t seem concerned despite the chaos.
Maybe because she could transform into a human, she thought it didn’t matter.
Tus, Pus, and Shikshik’s quarrel seemed like childish antics to her, and she simply played with my fur.
However, Nephila’s nonchalant attitude didn’t last long.
Her movements suddenly halted.
A formidable opponent that even Nephila had to be wary of had appeared.
"Hoo."
It was the owner of this temple.
The Snake Queen.
"Ugh…"
Nephila clung tightly to my neck, clearly uneasy.
Tus and Pus were the same.
Even those ready to fight Shikshik earlier quickly retreated and hid in my fur.
"Hioong…"
Well, this was their first time seeing the Snake Queen.
【Basilisk LV138】
Seeing a Level 138 mystical beast, their reaction was understandable.
…By the way, the Snake Queen’s level is astounding.
It’s even higher than Red Dragon’s level before joining the Gecko Religion.
Of course, level alone doesn’t determine strength, but there’s no denying that she’s an incredibly powerful mystical beast.
And the power of the Paryong, which allowed me to see the level of this mystical beast, was evident.
"Gekgekgek…."
"Tweet!"
Shikshik climbed onto the Snake Queen's body.
Was it just my imagination, or did it feel like a naughty child had called their parent?
"So, are these your followers?"
The Snake Queen glanced over the spiders one by one.
"Hmph."
She smirked slightly when she looked at Nephila.
"Eek…."
Nephila let out a frustrated sound.
When I turned my head, Nephila’s gaze was fixed on the Snake Queen’s profound internal energy pouch.
It seemed she was frustrated at seeing someone overwhelmingly stronger than herself.
Even though the Snake Queen had done nothing, she had already claimed victory.
"Hioong…."
"Kioong…."
Tus and Pus seemed to be having a discussion about the formidable opponent that had appeared.
Wait.
If these two reacted this way….
What about the weakest one, Tang So-yeong?
"Wow, it's enormous!"
No, So-yeong.
What kind of reaction is that?
If you act like that, what am I supposed to do?
"…It’s clear she is one of your followers."
Huh?