Chapter 205: Critical Moment
“Geeeek… Geeeng….”
The majesty of the Divine Beast was overwhelming.
I crouched in a corner, wiping away tears.
“…Don’t think too much about it. I was just checking if that old hag was playing a trick.”
“Geek?”
Baekrang approached with a sympathetic expression.
No, you were the most excited about it.
Still, let’s hear what he has to say.
“Even a fox that’s trained for 100 years can use all kinds of sorcery. What can’t that old hag who’s lived ten times as long do? She could enchant you without you even realizing it.”
At first, I thought he was just trying to mess with me, but it seems that’s not the case.
Since I said I met the Celestial Fox, he must’ve checked my condition just in case.
Well, if the Celestial Fox cast an enchantment, I wouldn’t be able to notice it alone.
“Gegek.”
Fine.
This time, the generous me will let it slide.
I began picking up the dragon scales scattered on the ground.
“…And you’re also at fault. How could you stay gone so long without a word? Do you know how worried we were? If the shrine maiden hadn’t told us, we would’ve stormed the snowy mountain right away.”
Baekrang’s tail wagged slowly.
When I stared at him, he finally realized something was off and hurried to correct himself.
“T-That is… C-Chillang! Chillang almost stormed the snowy mountain! I-I couldn’t care less whether you came back or not….”
Baekrang whipped his head around.
“Aung?”
Chillang tilted her head as if wondering what nonsense he was spouting.
“…The shrine maiden knew what you were up to. I guess she really deserves her title.”
Baekrang quickly changed the topic.
If I wanted to grab onto this slip and make use of it, I could, but I’m not who I used to be.
“Ahem! Anyway, what I’m trying to say is… I saw the fox bead hiding behind your fur.”
Wooong.
The fox bead vibrated lightly.
Right.
It’s likely Baekrang knows quite a bit about the fox bead.
Judging by how he calls the Celestial Fox an old hag, it’s clear they’ve crossed paths before.
And since they’re both from the canine family, he must have related knowledge.
“…You know you’ve got a really rude expression on your face right now, don’t you?”
“Geek!”
“I do know a little. A fox bead is a kind of artifact created when a fox undergoes repeated training.”
That much, I already knew.
“It’s no ordinary artifact. In some ways, you could even say it’s the fox itself. After becoming a spiritual creature, it’s the being that grows closest alongside the fox.”
The fox itself?
“There’s even a story that if the fox dies… its soul resides within the fox bead. I only heard about it, but that’s why that old hag wants to take the fox bead that lost its master.”
Wooong.
If that’s true… does that mean this bead isn’t an artifact but a fox?
“So don’t treat it like just any artifact. Take good care of it. Who knows? It might return as a nine-tailed fox someday.”
“Geggek!”
I don’t particularly wish for that, but there’s no harm in treating it well.
Even if it’s just an artifact, I wouldn’t mistreat it anyway.
“If such a high-level spirit appears, it’ll be a great asset… Hey, why do you look so smug?”
When did I?
Smack!
Baekrang lightly hit me with his paw.
“Sigh, you’re just as consistent even after all this time. Still, it won’t be a major asset right now. Its strength is fitting for an artifact, but it feels drained. Even if it exerts power, it’ll only be for a very short time.”
So it’s powerful but has a weak battery?
I fully understood.
“…You sure you understood?”
“Gekgek.”
Of course, I did.
“Hmph… Fine, it’s not very reassuring, but I’ll let it slide. Now, let me tell you what happened while you were gone.”
Crunch.
The ground under Baekrang’s paw froze instantly.
“My frost power has strengthened. It’s thanks to you conquering the snowy mountain, so thanks.”
I could definitely sense Baekrang’s increased strength.
At this level, he could even land a blow on the Red Dragon.
It wasn’t as significant as directly consuming the Frost Phoenix’s core, but the growth wasn’t insignificant.
“And the others are also resonating with the frost.”
A religion?
Isn’t that just a fancy way to say experience storage?
That thought crossed my mind briefly.
…Honestly, even just being experience storage is great, but it seems like I’m finally tapping into the true power of religion.
The fact that my followers are resonating with frost has incredible implications.
Of course, Tus and Pus won’t immediately start shooting ice, but the possibility has opened.
The possibility of evolving into high-level spiritual creatures that wield ice.
I glanced at Tus and Pus.
They were playing near my tail with Tang So-yeong.
“Wielding ice? What do you mean by that?”
Tang So-yeong, effortlessly communicating with the spiders.
Honestly, if I had to pick the most unusual among my followers, it might be her.
Despite being human, she has no aversion to spiritual creatures and communicates with them easily.
At first, I thought she was just someone with an interest in the supernatural, unlike my ordinary self, but it seems she’s not entirely that either.
Tang So-yeong might have grown up in the Tang Clan, but her abilities deviated slightly from basic common sense.
Could any human discern my inner thoughts just by touching my body?
“Kirorororo!”
“Kishishishi!”
What are you two doing now?
I raised my tail to check what Tus and Pus were up to.
Tang So-yeong had gone completely cold.
Why are you frozen?
“…Kioong?”
It seemed Tus and Pus realized something was wrong as well.
When they moved their short arms, frost formed.
“Kioooong!”
“Gek!”
Baekrang, do you see this?
My followers are wielding frost!
“…No, they’re frozen right now.”
“Gek.”
It’s fine.
The Red Dragon will thaw them out….
…Oh, right, she hasn’t returned yet, has she?
What is taking her so long?
Did she stumble upon a lava hot spring on the way?
I don’t like it, but I guess I’ll have to take care of Tang So-yeong myself.
“Oh my… what’s all this about?”
There was an unusual energy lingering around the volcano.
Standing there was Lijamoun, a draconian with power rivaling that of the sect leader of the Volcano Sect.
Swordsmen were arrayed around her.
Though they hadn’t drawn their swords, they were ready to respond to her at any moment.
“I asked what you’re doing?”
Gulp.
At her words, everyone swallowed nervously.
The draconian before them was someone whose skills were said to rival those of the Volcano Sect leader.
If she unleashed her full power, regardless of victory or defeat, this entire area would turn to ashes.
“Red Dragon. No matter how free-spirited a spiritual creature you may be, you haven’t forgotten your role, have you?”
The Red Dragon’s eyebrow twitched.
A man approached from the other side.
Even just walking, he exuded overwhelming inner energy.
His long black hair, cascading down, showed not a single strand of gray.
While faint wrinkles marked his middle-aged face, they stopped there.
His eyes held the vibrancy of youth, yet their depth betrayed a wisdom that was anything but shallow.
This was Ak Bulhui, the sect leader of the Volcano Sect.
“…Explain yourself. Quickly.”
“Do you not realize that your freedom to roam without restraint is a privilege granted by me?”
“A privilege? Ha, I’m well aware.”
The Red Dragon laughed, as if finding the statement ridiculous.
“The bare minimum condition you set for using my power, wasn’t it?”
The Red Dragon was powerful.
Moreover, she carried the strength of a mid-tier dragon species.
“How arrogant you are. Yes, your presence alone serves as a deterrent, that much is undeniable.”
A draconian who could freely control flames had joined the Volcano Sect.
Her power rivaled that of the sect leader.
Whether the rumors were true or not, the ripple effects of such a tale were significant.
“Allowing you to freely use the treasures of the volcano, turning a blind eye when you acted on your whims, ignoring my orders—I tolerated all of it.”
It couldn’t be said that the Red Dragon caused no harm, but the benefits she brought far outweighed the damage.
“I was willing to carry it all to the end, but now, you’ve betrayed the Volcano Sect and sided with the Demon Cult.”
Ak Bulhui spoke in a calm voice.
“What?”
“Red Dragon, Lijamoun. I’ve received intelligence that you’re colluding with the Demon Cult.”
Colluding with the Demon Cult.
The moment she heard those words, the Red Dragon understood how this situation had come to be.
It was Ak Bulhui’s trap.
It was true that she had unofficially visited the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains and met Baek Yeonyeong.
The circumstances certainly lent weight to the idea of her betrayal, but the sect leader knew the truth.
Yet, despite knowing, he spoke these words.
It pointed to one thing.
“To kill the donkey after the millstone has been removed.”
“…So, that’s how you’re going to play it?”
Fwoosh.
Shing!
As she conjured flames, the swordsmen unsheathed their blades.
Even with the sect leader by their side, the unease in their eyes did not disappear.
“So… what exactly are you planning to do to me now?”
With the sect leader involved, their victory was almost certain.
But no one could predict how many would die in the process.
Her flames were capable of incinerating everything.
“Ak Bulhui. Is this your decision? You think you can capture me with these weaklings?”
“H-How dare you speak to the sect master like that!”
One of the swordsmen shouted with a trembling voice.
The Red Dragon didn’t even spare him a glance.
“I don’t get it. What do you gain from pulling a stunt like this?”
It didn’t make sense, even from a common-sense perspective.
If they wanted my core, this was far too unnatural a way to go about it.
Surely, there were other methods, but going to such lengths seemed more like a demonstration.
Or perhaps, it was meant to serve as a warning.
“Information on the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains. And the location of the ancient death with a tail. Hand it over.”
“What?”
“There’s no need to kill you unnecessarily. You still hold value. If you want to live, cooperate in eliminating Komodo.”
The Red Dragon’s mind raced.
Why was Komodo’s name being brought up here?
“I will kill Komodo and eradicate the Demon Cult.”
“Shut your mouth before I tear it apart.”
The Red Dragon’s flames began to surge.
Ak Bulhui silently placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.
It was a tense situation, ready to explode at any moment.
And then, a voice filled with an incongruous, sly tone cut through the tension.
“Well, now. Isn’t the atmosphere already boiling over?”
Ak Bulhui sighed, while the Red Dragon turned to glare at the newcomer.
“…Namgoong Yeon.”
A mysterious, enigmatic human.
If it were anyone else, the Red Dragon might have wiped them out in a single strike.
But this man was an exception.
He wasn’t someone who would appear here without a reason, nor someone who would recklessly throw himself onto this treacherous stage.
He must have prepared something in advance.
“Red Dragon, it’s been a while, hasn’t it? Did you receive the letter I sent you?”
Namgoong Yeon smiled faintly.
The Red Dragon realized who was behind all of this.
The one who sent the letter that lured her to the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.
And the one who was connected to Ak Bulhui.
“You…”
“Oh my, that expression is truly frightening.”
Despite his words, Namgoong Yeon chuckled softly.
“So from the beginning, he was your target. You lured me to the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains to provoke a clash.”
“Think whatever you want.”
The Red Dragon let out a long sigh.
“…So, is this all there is?”
Her eyes blazed with fury.
“How dare you… use such weaklings against me!”
In the moment when her fiery energy condensed to its peak—
“Irihwa.”
At that word, the Red Dragon’s carefully gathered power dissipated in an instant.
“The Tang Clan entrusted me with something quite precious when they asked for my help. What was it called again? Ah, right. Gu.”
It was impossible to tell if what he said was true.
“I can’t fathom why those people would want to do something twice when it could be done once. But since they were paid handsomely, I suppose there’s no reason to complain. And now, our Red Dragon here is utterly speechless.”
One thing was clear—the life and death of Irihwa was in their hands.
Before meeting Komodo, Irihwa was the Red Dragon’s one and only family.
Her closest companion.
She was the only one who truly understood the Red Dragon.
The Red Dragon had been careless.
No, Irihwa’s decision was entirely reasonable.
She had no intention of betraying the Volcano Sect and couldn’t have imagined things would come to this.
If the Red Dragon made a mistake, it was not foreseeing Namgoong Yeon’s involvement.
“Are you familiar with the Tang Clan? Like in the legends, Gu may not turn someone into a puppet, but it can create a poison I can detonate at will.”
Namgoong Yeon’s smile grew sinister.
“The pain will tear through her intestines and burn her skin. She’ll suffer for what will feel like an eternity, begging, pleading for death.”
With exaggerated gestures, he described the agony Irihwa would endure.
“Can you believe it? Such a rare poison, all for the price of eliminating a second-rate martial artist. They say she could’ve grown into someone reaching the heights of divinity… but I suppose it doesn’t matter why they want to kill someone so promising.”
He chuckled softly, spouting incomprehensible nonsense.
“Ah, I’ve gone on too long. Now, make your choice.”
At that moment, the Red Dragon wanted nothing more than to burn Namgoong Yeon to ash.
Crunch.
She bit her lip so hard that bright red blood dripped down.
But there was nothing she could do.
“Will you betray him, or will you let your younger sister die?”
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It was an unbearably cruel, cowardly balance.