I Became the Only Reptile in the Community

Chapter 44

—–CROW—– 

“Daughter, let’s go back.”

“Uh, uh…”

“What? You’re just going back without a fight?”

“Yes. I can’t lose my precious daughter in a place like this.”

In the end, the reason the fight didn’t break out here was thanks to the Dragon King’s daughter.

…No, wait. If that guy hadn’t shown up in the first place, this whole mess wouldn’t have happened, would it?

“[I won’t thank you.  It was the Wind Spirit King who saved the Yeouiju, and both you, the Dragon King, and your daughter tried to kill me.]”

As he spoke, his eyes met the Dragon King’s, who had turned his head momentarily.

The Dragon King’s eyes, still shining, held an all-seeing insight, but there was no reason to avoid his gaze now.

As he stared back at him, the Dragon King met his gaze for a moment, then took something out of his pocket and tossed it towards him.

*Thump.*

“[What is this?]”

“Didn’t I say it was a test? This is the reward.”

What the Dragon King threw to him was a statuette about the size of an adult man’s palm.

It was too crudely made to discern what it depicted, but judging by its shape, he could tell it was something long and slender.

And if it was something given by the Dragon King, then this was probably…

“[A dragon statuette?]”

“Figure out how to use it yourself. It’s too much trouble to explain.”

With that, the Dragon King tossed him the statuette and left with his daughter.

Figure out how to use it himself, he said.

How irresponsible.

The Dragon King… he’d just met him, but there wasn’t a single thing he liked about the fellow.

“[So. Are you leaving now, too?]”

The fight was over.

So he wanted this unidentified being who had appeared before him to disappear quickly.

They had protected him, but like the Dragon King, he was also meeting this person for the first time.

Moreover, considering their earlier conversation, they had been secretly watching him.

“Hmm. But I did help you…”

“[Were you acting with the expectation of a reward?]”

“Rather than a reward, I’d say I’m looking for a small token of appreciation~.”

Their gaze, fixed on the bloodstains and scales on his body, seemed unusual.

Looking closely, their breathing was also a bit ragged.

“I mean, what do you think about giving me a few scales or some blood?”

“[…Take it.]”

It was true that they had helped him.

If they hadn’t appeared, he might have been killed by the Dragon King.

There was no denying that they had prevented that.  So he handed them a bloodstained scale.

“[Please don’t do anything strange with this.]”

“Waaaaaaaaah!!!!”

*Jump.*

The figure jumped up and down in their spot as if overjoyed, clutching the scale he’d given them preciously.

“Th-Then I’ll be going! See you again, El!”

“[How do you know my name… *Sigh.* Never mind. Just go.]”

Well, they had been secretly watching him, so how could they not know his name?

But before letting them leave, there was one thing he had to know.

“[What’s your name?]”

*Hesitation.*

The figure, who was about to disappear through the darkness, suddenly stopped and turned to meet his gaze.

It was the same situation as with the Dragon King earlier.

And in that situation, the figure placed their hands on their cheeks as if trying to cool them down, and uttered something absurd.

“Are you trying to seduce me?”

“[What are you…]”

*Whoosh.*

“Why else would you ask for my name?!”

“[No, I was just curious.]”

“Curious?! I’m curious too! About every single element of your body! I’m dying to know every cell! I didn’t say it, but the scale you gave me is driving me crazy! Ah, what should I do? I thought I could hold on with those others, but I don’t think I can anymore!”

“[…Just get lost right now.]”

This person was completely insane.

He didn’t want to be caught up in their overflowing darkness and clinging madness.

He regretted asking for their name.

He’d asked because he thought he might recognize them if he knew their name, or at least be able to find information about them in the gallery.  He hadn’t expected it to turn out like this.

*Smack.*

“[What the…]”

He thought he couldn’t be any more surprised, but… he was wrong.

They suddenly rushed at him with a crazed look, and now they were punching themselves in the face.

Stunned by their unpredictable behavior, he was speechless.  Then, in a calmer voice than before, they said,

“It seems my temporary masterpiece needs more work.  Hmm, it’s a shame, but it’s best to end our meeting here.”

“[Yes. You should leave quickly.]”

They seemed out of their mind, so he genuinely wanted them to leave.

As if sensing his thoughts, nearly half of their body had already dissolved into the darkness and disappeared.

“[Unfortunately, I can’t tell you my name. When my masterpiece in progress is complete, I’ll come find you and tell you myself.]”

They didn’t need to go out of their way to tell him.

He wanted to say that, but he held back, waiting for them to disappear quickly.

When all but their head had been consumed by the darkness, they looked at the statuette he was holding in his tail and said,

“Oh, and that thing. You’ll need it for ascending to dragonhood, so keep it safe, okay?”

“[What…?!]”

*Whoosh.*

He’d wanted to ask about the statuette’s sudden ability, especially its connection to ascending to dragonhood, but they had already completely vanished into the darkness.

“[…The timing is never right.]”

Well, that was just his luck.

It was something he’d roughly expected anyway.

Suppressing his curiosity, he turned away.

His original purpose for coming here, to meet Ceres.

“[It’s amazing that this is still intact after all that… This thing is impressive too.]”

He marveled at the nutritional supplement that hadn’t broken despite the chaos.

How hadn’t it even gotten a single scratch?

Just in case, he carefully checked for any cracks, but finding it perfectly preserved without even a common scratch, he clicked his tongue and moved towards Ceres.

“[But first, I should wipe off the blood.]”

She’d be startled if he went like this.

***

“Meow.”

-Hmm. I’ll be back soon.

While the tremendous events unfolded and concluded in the distance, Silphy and Cheong lounged around in the cave, waiting for their friend, who had left earlier, to return.

Anyone who knew what had happened to El would find their relaxed state strange.

They couldn’t have missed the typhoon caused by the Typhoon’s Jewel.

Moreover, there was no way Silphy wouldn’t have noticed the power of their own king.

*Tap.*

-Huh?

“Meow?”

And now.

The reason why Silphy and Cheong had been so carefree arrived.

“Hello, friends!”

-Who are you?!

“Grrrr!”

The mysterious being cloaked in darkness and with black wings, who had disappeared before El.

That being had now appeared before Silphy and Cheong.

“Hmm! The barrier worked perfectly!”

Indeed.

This being had set up a barrier around the cave where Silphy and Cheong were.

Of course, unaware of this, Silphy and Cheong immediately went on guard against the sudden intruder.

They were ready to attack at the slightest suspicious movement.

“Friends? Don’t be so hostile. I came to give you a present.”

-A present? We don’t know you. What kind of present?

“Grrr! Growl!”

Suspicious words and actions.

And an appearance that inspired no trust whatsoever. Silphy and Cheong didn’t believe them, and as a result, the distance between the three showed no signs of closing, no matter how much time passed.

“Hmm. It’s a surprise gift, so I have to deliver it before he comes back.”

“…Sniff.”

*Thud.*

That was the moment.

Cheong, who had been keeping her distance, suddenly wrinkled her nose and started walking forward.

The figure, delighted that Cheong was finally approaching, rushed towards her.

*Wham.*

“Huh?”

-Cheong?!

Their face was smashed by Cheong’s full-powered forepaw.

The reason for Cheong’s action was simple.

Amidst the faint scent of blood emanating from the figure, she had caught the scent of her friend, El, who wasn’t present.

“Wow. You’re really powerful for your age.  Guess it’s no wonder you’re Gwangho’s daughter.”

-A-Are you alive?

“Growl?!”

“I don’t die that easily~.”

They had been fine after the Dragon King’s attacks, so it would be strange if they were defeated by Cheong’s attack.

Their face returned to normal.

However, they couldn’t get up right away.

-What did you do to El?

Silphy, having received information from Cheong in that short time, had created wind blades around them.

“This is so unfair. I came here to give you, El’s friends, a present because I was in a good mood today.”

-Then tell us. What did you do to El?

“…Since you’re El’s friends, I guess I should let it slide. If I mess up here, I’ll be hated.  And that could cause defects in my research subjects.  Yeah, yeah.”

*Tsk tsk tsk.*

So what should they do?

The other side clearly wasn’t going to listen.

“Then I’ll just do it!”

It wasn’t clear how they arrived at that conclusion, but the moment the decision was made, darkness began to spread widely.

Silphy and Cheong tried to dodge the suspicious change, but the mouth of the figure lying on the ground moved faster.

“Now~ this will sting a little, okay?”

*Stab. Stab.*

-Ugh?!

“Krk?!”

Something shot out from the spreading darkness and embedded itself in Cheong and Silphy’s necks.

“It’s no fun getting stronger alone. I hope you like my gift.”

Don’t worry!

A satisfying result awaits you all.

—–CROW—–