I Became the Only Reptile in the Community

Chapter 39

—–CROW—– 

*Ding*

*Ding*

*Ding*

*Ding*

*Ding*

“[This is intense.],” El thought.

A scorching heat, hot enough to melt him, dominated the gallery. He quietly closed his eyes, ignoring the endless stream of comments and private message requests flooding his screen.

‘There are too many to respond to individually.’

Was he this popular?  Honestly, it felt like almost everyone in the gallery was trying to talk to him.  His eyes hurt from the constant notifications.  But he had to endure it.  He was the one who caused this by suddenly reappearing after disappearing without warning.

“Meow.”

-El seems strange today. Wasn’t he always like this?

‘These two…’

He glared at Cheong and Silphy, then turned his attention back to the gallery, checking the real-time situation.  The overall atmosphere seemed to have improved compared to when he’d decided to go silent, but traces of YOLO Swordmaster’s influence still lingered.

‘It’s not the worst, so that’s a relief.’

It was at a level he could ignore.

‘But History Buff, how did he gather all that information?’

He had read History Buff’s post about the goddesses.  And he, who had just had a personal meeting with a goddess during the Gallery Maintenance Test, could confidently say that the post was 100% reliable.

‘So, that strange feeling at the end wasn’t Irine, but Kishine.’

That crazy goddess who wanted to exchange eyes with him.  He had felt a sudden shift in the atmosphere, and it made sense if Kishine had suddenly taken over from Irine.

-El! Look at this!

“[Hmm?]”

He pushed aside the still-incoming notifications and turned to Silphy.  She was holding a strange glass bottle, swirling it with the wind.

-I found this tonic in the bushes!

“[A tonic?]”

-Yes. And it’s a high-quality one. It’s so well-made that I wonder if there’s someone around here who can process herbs to this extent.

He wanted to ask where she had found such a thing.  A luxurious-looking glass bottle containing a blue liquid.  He stared at the so-called tonic, focusing on the part where she said she found it.

‘There was something like this around here?’

They had explored the area extensively, and he had never seen anything like it before.  It meant that someone had recently come here and left it…

‘But who?’

The problem was he didn’t know who that someone was.

“[Are there any toxins or harmful substances?]”

-No, there aren’t.

He saw.  Silphy was the most reliable when it came to these things, so he trusted her without a doubt.

“[So, what are you planning to do with it?]”

-Give it to Ceres, of course. It’s a plant tonic, after all.

“[To Ceres?]”

So, it was a plant tonic. He had thought it was a tonic for them to consume.

-Please.

Silphy was still reluctant to leave the cave, despite having improved a lot recently, so the task naturally fell to him.  He carefully manipulated the wind, like Silphy had, to prevent the bottle from breaking and left the cave.

-Wow, look at him go without even looking back!

“Meow!”

-Huh? W-Wait. Why is it my fault that El left?

“Mrow!”

A small quarrel seemed to be breaking out between Cheong and Silphy behind him, but they would probably make up as usual once he returned after giving the tonic to Ceres.

“[Let’s check the gallery again on the way.]”

*Ding*

*Ding*

*Ding*

*Ding*

*Ding*

The comments and message requests still showed no signs of stopping. This was the burden of popularity.  It was heavy.

*Rustle…*  He paused.

“[…What are you?]”

He suddenly sensed unknown presences on his way to Ceres.  There weren’t just one or two, and they were clearly hostile. He released his mana without hesitation.

“[I can sense you even if you hide, you fools.]”

They thought they were well-hidden, but it wasn’t enough to fool his senses.  How should he deal with enemies who refused to show themselves after he’d called them out?

“[If you don’t come out, I’ll drag you out myself.]”

*Crackle*

Carefully holding the tonic so it wouldn’t be damaged, he used the power of the trees, growing nearby branches and attacking the hidden figures.

-Damn it! Everyone, scatter!

The thick branches, imbued with clear hostility, stabbed at them, finally forcing the hidden figures to reveal themselves. They were predominantly green, their very existence a part of nature, specifically embodying the wind.  They were Wind Spirits, like his friend Silphy.

“[Wind Spirits? Why are you targeting me?]”

-Shut up! You devil’s minion!

-If it weren’t for you, that crazy devil wouldn’t have come here.

-You’re an ominous creature!

A devil’s minion?  They probably weren’t referring to his appearance, with his black scales and red eyes.  Something he didn’t know about, something related to him, must have happened.

-Our king is gravely injured because of the devil you summoned.

-The Imugi’s Yeouiju and heart will surely help his recovery.

-You caused this. Pay with your life, Imugi!

The three Wind Spirits immediately entered combat stances.  They seemed to be lower-level spirits, like Silphy.  It was fortunate they weren’t mid-level, but they still outnumbered him three to one.  He was at a disadvantage.  Even if they were lower-level, spirits were cheat-like existences in this era.

“[It might be difficult to fight while protecting the tonic.]”

He could handle one, but protecting the tonic while fighting three was difficult, even for him.

“[Before we fight, I’d like to know the reason.]”

-Shut up!

-We’ll peel off your scales!

-The king’s judgment was too lenient. We should have eliminated this monster sooner!

He wanted to hear their explanation for targeting him.  But they were already enraged, ready to attack at any moment.  He sighed and summoned his own wind.

-Ha! You dare use wind against us!

-Your arrogance will be your downfall.

-Kill him!

The three spirits charged at him as he wielded the wind.  He fought back, using lightning, fire, and even water, carefully controlling his power to avoid damaging the forest.

***

*Whoosh. Whoosh.*

“Ugh, it’s hot!”

Under the not-so-intense sunlight, a woman with distinctive blue hair and green eyes fanned herself.  The weather was adding to her already irritated mood.  She suppressed her anger and tilted her head as she traversed the forest.

“Is this the right way?”

She wasn’t yet proficient in tracking through energy signatures.  But don’t worry.  She was blessed with natural luck that transcended skill.

“Okay, this way!”

She had rushed out of her home without any clues, a reckless move.  But her innate luck aided her impulsive actions, and she was getting closer to her destination.

*Whoosh*

“Huh? Aren’t those spirits?”

Sensing the unusual shift in the wind, her expression relaxed as she praised the unknown spirits. The sudden gust of wind had cooled her down a bit.

“But why are Wind Spirits here?”

Even though she lived deep in the sea and rarely ventured out, she knew what she needed to know.  This place was an official truce zone.  Spirits were significantly restricted from using their powers here unless there was a special reason. But judging by the wind she had just felt… it wasn’t restricted.

“Did something happen?”

Whatever it was, it seemed interesting.

“Ah, no. I have a purpose.”

She wanted to take a peek, but she had to find him.  It would be frustrating if she missed him because she was distracted by a fight.

“Okay, I’ll endure.”

But she wanted to see.  A fight involving spirits, no less.

*Rumble*

“…Oh! This feeling!”

But luck didn’t betray her this time either.  She sensed a powerful surge of mana where the spirits’ wind was coming from.  And amidst it, a faint, familiar yet unfamiliar scent made her lips curl upwards.

“As expected, I’m lucky!”

To think that the one fighting the spirits was her target!  Her steps became lighter as she ran towards her goal.  Her smile widened, and her emotions surged as she got closer.

“Just you wait, you thief who stole the Yeouiju that’s rightfully mine!”

And at the place she arrived…

“[Grrrr.]”

“Uh… what?”

There was a monster, having literally beaten the spirits half to death.

—–CROW—–