I had just endured a humiliating ti.
The esteed spirit of Gaekgak Cult had been forced to roll over and act adorable—a disgraceful ordeal. Thankfully, no followers were there to witness it.
“Seems like you’re not very hungry.”
Baek Yeonyeong must have realized from my desperate gestures that I absolutely loathed that giant worm. Though she seed to misinterpret it as not being hungry rather than disliking the worm, it didn’t matter as long as she kept that hideous creature away from .
“If you feel like eating it later, just give a sign.”
“Kiaaaak!”
The Death Worm clutched in Baek Yeonyeong's hand disappeared into a wooden drawer.
Why on earth would she keep that thing in her room?
“Gek, gek.”
Now that the horrid creature was gone, I felt much more at ease. It was just my master and in this space.
Why had Baek Yeonyeong brought here? Was it really just to offer that worm as food? I’d already been fine munching on the snacks I’d received from Dang Soyoung.
Baek Yeonyeong began stroking my body. Although I wasn’t thrilled, I didn’t have much choice in my current tiny lizard form. So, I did what little lizards do best.
“Gekegek.”
I started nibbling on her fingers.
“Personally, I’d like it if you grew a bit faster.”
“Gek.”
I agreed. There were things I wanted to do, like bite into Dang Soyoung’s dumpling-styled hair.
“The cores of the Odoosa and the Inmyeonjo have been prepared, but I can’t give them to you in this state.”
“Gek.”
The core of the Odoosa.
And the core of the Inmyeonjo.
The Inmyeonjo’s core would be tough to handle straight away since it emitted that strange dark aura. The Odoosa core, however, was different; it was a high-grade core even back when I was the Green Basilisk, so it should be safe.
Wait, what would happen if I consud the Odoosa’s core?
Would I grow a few more heads?
“Gek...”
That thought didn’t sit well with .
Or maybe it would look cool?
It might look impressive, but it would likely be highly inconvenient for if my body was out of sync.
I’d just have to make the right choice in my evolution.
“Well, it does seem like you’ve grown a bit since earlier. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
Had I grown? Baek Yeonyeong, who’d been carrying around, would know best. If she said so, it must be true.
Maybe my body would return to its original form sooner than I thought, provided I kept up a steady diet.
Growing quickly and planning for the next evolution phase was essential. Although my level hadn’t increased, I could instinctively feel that I was close to the threshold of evolution.
What would the next stage of Gomo-do Rania be?
If my growth proceeded as planned, I’d be able to consu the cores of the Biikjo, Odoosa, and Inmyeonjo—three mythical creatures.
The “Rania” in “Gomo-do Rania” was derived from galania, the largest lizard that ever existed in Earth's history. It was the ultimate destination on the path of lizards.
To reach a level equal to or beyond that, I’d likely have to evolve into a legendary salamander or even transform into a dinosaur.
Given the Gaekgak faith, my evolution would likely follow the Gomo-do-XXX path—maybe sothing like Gomo-do T-Rex.
Or, as the Inmyeonjo had repeatedly ntioned, perhaps I could beco a dragon.
With dragon scales, dragon blood, and my teeth that Argenta Avis claid were dragon fangs…
I’d probably beco sothing like a lizard with 1% dragon essence.
If I continued evolving and consuming cores, perhaps dragon-related options would appear. Though, it would likely be a wyvern rather than a full-fledged dragon.
“Have you heard of the Dragon Gate, Hee?”
Baek Yeonyeong ntioned dragons, almost as if she had read my thoughts.
“There are rumors of a gate near the Yellow River in Luoyang known as the Dragon Gate.”
Dragon Gate—a well-known tale.
“It’s said that if a carp passes through that gate, it can beco a dragon.”
Much like how a carp becos a dragon, ascending through the Dragon Gate symbolizes sudden success and advancent.
Baek Yeonyeong didn’t talk about random topics. Her ntion of the Dragon Gate suggested there was more to it than re rumor.
“I can’t vouch for the Dragon Gate over there, but there is a similar place here in Simman Dae Mountain.”
“Gek?”
“There’s a legend that says an ancient spirit managed to beco a dragon by passing through it.”
A dragon…
Wasn’t that the sa thing that Arrogant Koatal was so obsessed with?
“Though it’s likely not the type of dragon you’re familiar with. It resembles the oriental dragons in appearance, lacks a yeouiju, and has wings—a unique form.”
It didn’t sound like an Eastern dragon. Based on her description, it seed closer to a Western-style dragon.
But that was still sothing.
And as a lizard, I already looked more like a Western dragon than an Eastern one.
Dragons might not hold the sa mystique as oriental dragons, but they were still a step up from re lizards.
“The creature left Simman Dae Mountain, but…”
Baek Yeonyeong explained the Dragon Gate to —a mountain peak that powerful spirits climb in search of enlightennt. So parts were barren rock, others volcanic with erupting lava, so were adorned with beautiful flowers, and others were blanketed in white snow.
…Was Simman Dae Mountain really that vast?
Could lava and snow even coexist?
The thought crossed my mind, but I dismissed it. Baek Yeonyeong had no reason to deceive .
“You have more than enough qualifications to go there—provided your body fully recovers.”
It seed Baek Yeonyeong intended to send to the Dragon Gate.
With my current strength, I could already intimidate most animals. If the Nephila’s forest was the tutorial, the swamp the beginner’s zone, and the jungle the interdiate zone, then the Dragon Gate would be the advanced zone.
It was the perfect place for now.
“Keep that in mind and focus on recovering. …And if you ever crave that worm, just say the word.”
“Gek!”
No way, not that thing.
Baek Yeonyeong sighed, as if accepting my refusal.
“In that case, at least get a good night’s sleep.”
“Gek, gek.”
Now, that was my specialty.
“What are you doing?”
“Gek?”
Baek Yeonyeong tapped her bedding.
“It’s getting late.”
So… she wanted to sleep there?
“Are you worried that it’s improper for a disciple to sleep on their master’s bedding?”
Not at all.
I quickly wriggled my way under the blankets.
The soft, cozy feel of the bedding…
As a lizard, it was the first ti I’d felt anything this comfortable.
“Gek, gek.”
Offering such a pri spot—truly befitting of Baek Yeonyeong.
But as I was thinking that, Baek Yeonyeong climbed under the covers as well.
“…Gek?”
“Just stay still.”
Then she held in her hand.
“I heard you need to stay warm, correct?”
“Gek…”
What exactly did Baek Yeonyeong think I was?
She fussed over my food and sleeping arrangents as if she genuinely believed I was a lizard.
“A master and disciple sleeping together… It might raise eyebrows if word got out.”
But this “lizard” was soone she conversed with and taught martial arts.
Perhaps she viewed as a disciple rather than rely a lizard.
“Just joking.”
One might dismiss her as odd like Dang Soyoung, but she was different.
Dang Soyoung had grown up communicating with animals and spirits, and she would likely talk to any animal or spirit, even an ordinary unicorn on the street.
But Baek Yeonyeong was different.
While she treated kindly, she showed no rcy to other creatures.
She killed the Odoosa, the Inmyeonjo, bashed dinosaurs, and plucked feathers off helpless Utahraptors.
“I rarely get a proper night’s sleep anyway. Just think of this as keeping you company until you fall asleep.”
Why did she treat so specially?
Maybe it was because I was ditating when we first t?
It’s unlikely she hadn’t seen other spirits ditating, given how many she’d encountered.
“Hee.”
Baek Yeonyeong’s fingers gently scratched .
“I’ll prepare a beetle for you tomorrow.”
A beetle?
Like, a stag beetle?
“Gekegek!”
No, I hate bugs!
*
With soft, gentle breaths, Baek Yeon-young slept soundly.
She claid it was hard for her to sleep properly, yet here she was, fast asleep.
The thought of getting back at her for trying to feed bugs crossed my mind, but in this tiny body, there wasn’t much I could do. At best, I could just flail around awkwardly.
Instead of indulging in such pointless revenge, it was better to focus on sothing productive. Carefully, I slipped out of Baek Yeon-young’s embrace.
If I stayed here, tomorrow morning would bring another round of that “super bug mix” for breakfast.
The early bird might get the worm, but the late lizard doesn’t have to eat it.
Under the cover of darkness, I crept out on my own to search for food.
Surprisingly, not even soone as skilled as Baek Yeon-young woke up. Turns out, she really does sleep well.
It was late at night. With a small body and dark scales, I was practically invisible.
Once I slipped out of the room, I knew exactly where I was heading: straight to where Tang So-young kept her stash of snacks.
Moving stealthily, I set off.
“…Is that… Seokcheok?”
I was caught.
I’d barely taken a step when a woman’s voice stopped dead in my tracks. She looked at with intense suspicion.
“What’s wrong?”
“Look over there.”
“Oh, it’s just a normal lizard.”
Luckily, the woman beside her seed to brush it off as nothing.
“Gek gek.”
I an, seeing a lizard out here wasn’t exactly strange.
“Wait, is that lizard… standing on two legs?”
I’d been discovered.
Zoom!
“Ahhh! The lizard’s running!”
Utilizing the agility of the Dragon Rising Step technique, I dashed off at full speed.
“Geh-ek…”
I managed to shake them off.
Now, I could finally catch my breath.
“…Seokcheok?”
Zoom!
“L-look! It’s the lizard again!”
“It’s using Light Body Technique! It’s leaping through the air!”
I tried to escape, but people seed to be everywhere, constantly crossing my path.
Why are there so many people here?
And why are they all so interested in ?
Reviews
All reviews (0)