The thod doesn't really matter as long as I get inside the Heavenly Demon Cult.
"Lizard!"
"The lizard is walking on two legs?"
"Look at that thick tail!"
The apprentice followers of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
In other words, those who haven’t quite shed their youthful appearance are shocked when they see a lizard walking on two legs.
It’s understandable.
Imagine suddenly seeing a lizard running on two legs across the school playground.
Every student would be looking out the window at the playground.
So would probably rush outside to try and catch it.
"Oh my, I’ve always wanted to raise a lizard like that." "Look at that ribbon tied to its tail. I wonder who’s raising it?"
The devotees, chattering like baby birds, were all won by coincidence.
"Don’t you think that thing is scary? Its voice is deeper than a tiger’s... and its teeth are sharp..." "Huh? Doesn’t it make a cute sound?" "Is that cute?" "Then is it scary?"
For so reason, it seems the n don’t like lizards much.
Then again, I don’t like n either, so it’s mutual.
"But why does that lizard look so familiar?"
"Yeah? Wait... isn’t that the lizard? The one the priestess ntioned?"
As they continued babbling, the reaction I expected finally ca.
Though I’m a bit frustrated, right now I’m an infamous lizard.
The reason being, I stole Seolhwa’s rice cakes, and once they spot , the followers will report to Seolhwa.
In other words, I can easily let Seolhwa know I’ve arrived, and as I predicted, not long after, Seolhwa herself ca out to greet .
"You’ve had a hard ti getting here, Hei. And to the followers as well."
Seolhwa greeted with a kind smile.
Though my eyes were drawn to her graceful figure, there were too many eyes on us right now.
So I just quietly followed her, like the Bicorns, staying discreet.
"Heh heh..."
Hmm?
Did I hear that wrong?
It sounded like the Bicorn.
Well, it’s probably just my imagination.
As I followed Seolhwa, we arrived at the reception room.
Since I didn’t contact in advance, I wouldn’t be able to et my master directly.
My master must have a schedule as well.
So, while waiting, we relaxed and had so tea and snacks.
"Hehe."
Soyeong sat comfortably and sipped her tea.
At first, she was trembling in fear at the face that resembled my master’s, but once I explained that we were different people, she seed to calm down.
Well, I don’t think there’s much difference between Seolhwa and my master.
It’s like how you wouldn’t really notice the difference between an elephant and a zebra in front of an ant.
Whether she realizes it or not, Soyeong was munching on so snacks.
"Ki-yong!"
Tus and Pus were also munching on the snacks Seolhwa had prepared for them.
"Mm, you all seem so comfortable eating? Normally, when people first encounter sothing sweet, they’re cautious, but... you seem to have had this before?"
"Ki-yeng?"
"You seem like you’ve had these before, almost as if soone stole the snacks and shared them."
"Ki, ki-yong!"
Tus and Pus glanced at Seolhwa nervously.
"Gek!"
Why are they getting so worked up over what they’re eating?
"It’s just a joke. I don’t mind you eating all you want, unlike the thieving lizard."
"Ki-ek!"
Chomping away at the snacks, Shik-Shik fluttered its wings, clearly excited by the sweet food.
Everyone seed content, but there was one who didn’t touch the snacks.
"Hmph."
It was Nephila.
She turned her head sharply, as though she didn’t like Seolhwa.
Had sothing happened between them while staying in the Heavenly Demon Cult?
"You don’t need to be so cautious, little priestess."
Seolhwa, the priestess of the Heavenly Demon Cult, and the priestess of the Gae Gak Sect.
Co to think of it, they were both priestesses.
That’s probably why Nephila is on guard.
"...I’m not little."
Nephila and Seolhwa glared at each other.
Nephila, I’ll accept everything about you, but that comnt was definitely a lie.
As she made that expression, Nephila’s white hand stretched out and pinched my cheek.
"Gek!"
It couldn’t be helped.
How could I stay still with sothing that massive moving around?
After eating the snacks and chatting, we heard a knock on the door from outside.
"It looks like everything is ready. Hei, you know where my sister’s room is, right?"
"Gek gek."
I quickly nodded, escaping from Nephila’s cheek-pinching hell.
Now everything is ready.
I’ve taken down Bihui and Qiongqi, and I’ve compressed the power of my tail to its limit.
If I handle this carefully, my master’s condition will definitely improve.
With lighter steps, I headed toward my master’s room.
As usual, I stuck to the door handle, cracked it open, and quickly crawled inside.
Whether she was waiting for or not, Seolhwa was sitting cross-legged with her eyes closed.
As soon as she sensed my presence, she slowly opened her eyes.
"Gek gek."
My tail swished happily.
Her face definitely resembled Seolhwa’s, but I think my master’s face is more special.
Is it because she’s the first human I t here?
Or is it because she’s the one who taught , a re lizard?
Whatever the reason, I feel a sense of peace knowing I can repay that favor, even if just a little.
"...I’ve heard the story."
My master’s usual dry voice reached my ears.
Master.
Look carefully at what your disciple has brought you.
Just as I was about to present my thick tail...
My master’s cold gaze t mine.
This ti, her eyes were filled with clear emotion.
And I imdiately understood what that emotion was.
"When did I ever ask for sothing like that?"
My master was angry.
*
Baek Yeon-yeong looked at Hei.
She was convinced, without a doubt, that he was the one from the prophecy, her one and only disciple.
Though she rarely grew attached to others, she couldn’t help but feel affection for that lizard, who had once bitten his own finger with a small mouth.
This, of course, made her angry.
The mont she saw Hei’s body, she felt sothing heavy settle in her chest.
Though he was hiding his true form with a small body, her eyes could see through to the essence.
Every bone in his body was cracked, and even his ridians were twisted.
Especially in his front legs, the energy felt completely opposite to Hei’s. It was a miracle he hadn’t lost his consciousness by now.
And yet, he was shaking his tail.
He was smiling as if he could offer her the elixir.
The way he eagerly extended his tail, urging her to drink it, was sothing she couldn’t bear to watch.
"Why do you do sothing I didn’t ask for? Do you think I would accept it just because you showed up like this?"
The lizard, who hadn’t expected such a reaction, began to panic.
"I don’t deserve this, and I never intended to accept it."
What right did he have to take the elixir?
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
Where is there a master who lusts after the body of their disciple for their own selfish gain?
Baek Yeon-yeong knew exactly what the tail ant to the lizard.
She also knew that Hei’s tail continued to grow.
But that didn’t an she could take that tail for herself.
His tail contained an imnse amount of inner power, even by Baek Yeon-yeong’s standards.
And Hei’s body had beco like that for her.
He had endured without absorbing the power of his tail.
It was more than just reducing the total amount of power—it was a burden that couldn’t be avoided.
Each step would have been a struggle, and he probably couldn’t even sleep properly due to the pain from his tail.
That was why Baek Yeon-yeong had to push him away.
To make him use that inner power for his own recovery.
"...Hei."
But Hei, no matter how many tis he fell, crawled back towards Baek Yeon-yeong.
"For , this..."
The lizard was persistent.
No matter what, he desperately crawled toward her and lunged at her delicate finger.
Baek Yeon-yeong, once again trying to push him away, wondered why he was going this far.
Why was he doing this?
She stared into Hei’s blue eyes, still unsure of his actions.
"...You truly are a stubborn one."
This small lizard no longer bit her finger.
It simply wrapped its body around her finger.
There was a determination in his eyes.
"How dare you think of like this?"
A sigh escaped from Baek Yeon-yeong.
No matter how it turned out, she had decided to see his will through.
But the mont she looked into Hei’s eyes, her resolve wavered, even if just a little.
Those eyes were too familiar—they reminded her of her own from before.
The will to protect soone.
That audacious lizard had done all this to protect her.
The intense gaze, one that seed to say that what he was protecting now was more important than his own life, was enough to weaken even Baek Yeon-yeong’s formidable will.
Having recognized those eyes, Baek Yeon-yeong knew that no one could stop Hei now.
"...I seem to have underestimated you."
Baek Yeon-yeong’s finger gently stroked Hei’s small head.
With her other hand, she untied the red cloth tied around his tiny hand.
With a slight smile on her lips, she continued.
"Yes, it’s ti to show my disobedient disciple what I can do."
She had no choice but to accept Hei’s gift.
But she was the leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult and Hei’s master.
She would never fall for the sa trick again.
"I will make sure the world knows who my disciple is."
Baek Yeon-yeong’s anger was not directed at Hei, but at herself.
Her hesitation had caused Hei to be hurt.
To ensure this never happened again, she knew she must stop hesitating.
She had decided to take care of all the enemies threatening her disciple and the Heavenly Demon Cult in one fell swoop.
It was certainly wrong for Hei to hold her above his own life.
She had never taught him to do such a thing, and more than anything, she wanted him to think about his own safety.
But saying she was happy about this situation would be a lie.
In reality, her lips had curled up slightly.
It was only for a brief mont, one that only Hei could have seen, but it stayed in her mory.
*
I need to cut it off before my mind changes.
No matter how much the Master is, there are things I can't compromise on.
This matter is more precious than my own life.
I must protect what cannot be lost at any cost.
If I don’t cut this off, sothing else will be cut!
I’ll undergo the Transformation Preservation Ritual!
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