I Became the Only Reptile in the Community

Chapter 45

—–CROW—– 

“[Ceres, are you hurt anywhere?]”

*Wooong.*

Even though Ceres said she was fine, he crawled around her, meticulously checking for any hidden damage, just in case.

He had exerted himself to block the typhoon, but the power it unleashed was far from ordinary.

Still, it was a relief that there seemed to be no significant damage, just as Ceres had said.

“[Ceres, this is the nutritional supplement I prepared for you.]”

*Wooong.*

As he took out the nutritional supplement, the reason for his visit, Ceres conveyed a mixture of curiosity and joy.

She seemed happy with the act itself, that he had brought something for her.

Silphy had already checked and guaranteed that the contents were harmless when they first found it, so he could just administer it directly.

He’d also learned how to use it from Silphy before coming, so there was no hesitation in his actions.

*Pop.*

The cap, which had been perfectly sealed to prevent leakage, came off with a light sound, and the liquid inside began to slowly seep into the soil.

It was a peculiar nutritional supplement, meant for the soil rather than direct application to the tree.

‘I wonder how effective it is.’

Still, this was the Jijiyong world, so it had to be different from ordinary nutritional supplements… right?

There were so many things he didn’t know about this time period, making it difficult to predict.

As he waited for Ceres’s changes with a mixture of worry and anticipation, he sensed a presence that irritated him.

“[…Tsk.  An uninvited guest at a time like this.]”

He sensed the presence of a group approaching from afar.

Yes, it was the appearance of those audacious fellows who, without fail, came seeking Ceres.

“[They really don’t get tired of coming back, do they?]”

And each time, it was a different group.

It wasn’t as if they were getting tired of the same dish and wanted something new.

He was simply curious about how many different creatures lived in this area.

‘And the number of these guys coming this time is quite serious.’

At first, he thought he was mistaken.

He had just fought, and perhaps his senses were dulled.

Otherwise, there was no way that a hundred intruders were heading towards him.

And the chilling feeling he got, even from such a distance.

There had to be someone unusual among them.

“[Ceres, it might take a little… longer than usual. I’ll be back as soon as possible.]”

*Wooong.*

“[Yes. I’ll be waiting.]”

Thanks to the nutritional supplement, Ceres was evolving and changing in real-time.

At her exclamation that she would surprise him upon his return, he smiled and quickly moved towards the direction from which they were coming.

*Rustle rustle rustle.*

He wanted to ride the wind and fly there quickly, but since he was concerned about the skilled individual among them, he crawled to conserve his energy.

*Thump thump thump thump.*

“[The ground is already shaking, even though they’re still far away.]”

The earth began to tremble as the distance between them closed.

The tremors, as if a minor earthquake was occurring, made him chuckle involuntarily.

Just how many of them were there to make the ground shake like this?

‘And if I’m not mistaken…’

As the distance closed, he became more certain.

This intensely powerful mana was too much for an ordinary beast to possess.

A being with this much mana must be…

“[It seems… there’s a sacred beast among them.]”

Yes, if there was a sacred beast, leading such a large group wouldn’t be a problem.

Judging by their speed, they would reach him in about 30 seconds.

“[Then shall I browse the gallery for a bit before they arrive?]”

It was time to check if his earlier post was still trending, or if the topic had shifted.

[Today’s Academy Meal]

[Ah, the weather is scorching]

[So when is the gallery owner coming back?]

[Ah, shit, I got Lena’d]

[Is this the Jijiyong world?]

[Live Dragon Lair Raid]

For now, the overall atmosphere of the gallery had returned to normal.

There were a few people looking for him, but most of the posts were from regular users.

Among them were posts about the daily academy meals, and posts from newbies who had just entered the world.

[Ah, the weather is scorching]

-Author: ChakaChakaChika

What’s with the weather today? I’m sweating just standing still.

Someone could collapse from this heat.

-Is it that hot?

└(Author): Yeah, I’m dying of heat.

-The territory will take measures if it’s that bad.

└(Author): I guess so. I hope they do it quickly.

└How hot is it?

└It’s super hot here too.

[Ah, shit, I got Lena’d]

-Author: JajangMandu

You bad girl, I trusted you, and you stabbed me in the back?

(Picture of a woman’s back, blurred and obscured by light, only the outline visible)

But I’ll let it slide since you’re pretty.  Bullshit.

-Lol

-You got Lena’d in the end?

└(Author): Shit.

└Guess it’s time to hunt snakes now.

└Why catch the gallery owner?

└?

└?

└(Author): Wow, your jokes are really fucking lame.

└Lol.

[Live Dragon Lair Raid]

-Author: DragonTailSlayer

(Picture of numerous treasures and surrounding barrier magic)

I came to raid a dragon lair live.

I’m not telling you the location, so don’t ask.

(Pictures of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th barrier magic)

First, the dragon lair is protected by these suffocating barrier spells right from the entrance.  Such timid creatures for their size.

(Picture of all barrier magic broken)

Yeah~ but that doesn’t work on me. I can easily handle these barrier spells with one hand~

(Picture of attack magic circles deployed inside the lair)

Next, there are attack magic circles all over the place.

(Picture of all magic circles broken as well)

Still no use!

(Picture of the lair filled with treasures)

It’s a dragon alright.  They’ve collected all sorts of expensive-looking shiny things lol.

Selling just one of these would let me live comfortably for the rest of my life.

-So jealous.

-Please share the location!

└(Author): Nope~ not telling~.

└Asshole

-So where did the dragon go?

└(Author): Dunno?

He quickly scanned the gallery posts before the 30 seconds were up.

The one that particularly caught his attention was the last one about the dragon lair raid.

However, it wasn’t the act of raiding itself that interested him, but the dragon’s magic visible in the process.

Dragons used the power of nature, but *Dracons* wielded the mysteries of magic to perform miracles.

In terms of the type and variety of power, Draconic magic held an overwhelming advantage.

That’s why he focused on the Draconic magic circles in the pictures.

‘If it’s a magic circle…’

He couldn’t learn ordinary magic, but perhaps magic circles were different.

Normal magic was cast using the circle embedded in one’s heart.  Therefore, without a circle, magic couldn’t be used.

But magic circles were different.

A magic circle, drawn with the proper formula to activate a specific spell, was a processed form that could be used even without a circle.

Scrolls, usable by ordinary people, were created using these magic circles.

“[Hmm.]”

*Thump thump thump thump thump.*

They were almost right in front of him.

He stopped looking at the pictures of Draconic magic circles. It was time to fight.

They were running so enthusiastically that they kicked up a cloud of dust.

“[Quite the assortment.]”

It seemed a sacred beast was indeed leading them.

Otherwise, there was no way such a diverse group of animals like deer, elephants, cheetahs, zebras, and gorillas would be moving together in a pack.

“[You’re the leader of this group, aren’t you?]”

“[An Imugi…]”

A grey-furred wolf running at the very front of the group.

Almost twice, no, nearly three times the size of the other wolves in the pack, it stopped at his words and lowered its head, taking in his appearance.

“[Black scales, red eyes. And a body inferior to even a serpent.]”

The wolf bared its teeth, taking a threatening stance towards him, and exclaimed,

“[You are the rumored Black Despair.]”

“[Black Despair?]”

Had he been given such a nickname?

It seemed like those who had survived his wrath had given it to him.

“[Black Despair. Your presence here means that beyond you lies the Tree of Life.]”

“[Tree of Life. Ceres has earned quite a stylish alias.]”

Tree of Life.

It had a nice ring to it.

Of course, it attracted more flies, but he could handle them.

“[So, is that why you’ve come?]”

“[Yes. The Tree of Life. We desire it.]”

At least they weren’t attacking him right away.

He liked that, but he didn’t like what they wanted.

“[And why do you desire the Tree of Life?]”

“[Recently, the range of the Nature’s Avatars has expanded. If this continues, this place will be exposed to their influence as well. Perhaps it already has been.]”

“[Because of the spirits…]”

“[If the Nature’s Avatars alter the nature of this place, most will not be able to adapt to the change.]”

“[So you intend to use the Tree of Life to adapt to that change?]”

“[Even more is possible. The power of the Tree of Life grows stronger with each passing day. If it continues to grow stronger, it will surely be able to keep their hands from reaching this place. The Tree of Life will possess that much power.]”

Their reason for coming here was different from the previous intruders.

Until now, it had only been for survival, or to steal Ceres’s power to become stronger.

However…

“[But the Tree of Life’s power is still weak.]”

“[That will change soon. Even now, such powerful life force is overflowing. If I, or you, were to take that power, we could surely protect this place…]”

“[Go back.]”

“[…Why?]”

Their goals might be different, but…

These guys, and the ones who came before, all wanted to sacrifice Ceres.

“[I will ask the Tree of Life to exert its power as much as possible when I return. So go back.]”

“[…Even after hearing me, you have no intention of taking the Tree of Life?]”

Of course not.

Sacrifice Ceres?

He couldn’t do that.

And they were worried about the spirits?

Sorry, but he had a future Spirit King right here.

“[Just go back.]”

So just go back.

His brother would take care of it.

“[Do you not pity the other living creatures here?]”

But these guys…

They didn’t seem to want to leave.

Led by the wolf sacred beast, ready to pounce on him, the others behind it glared at him with wide eyes.

“[…If you don’t leave, I’ll consider you enemies.]”

—–CROW—–