I Became the Only Reptile in the Community

Chapter 23

—–CROW—– 

“A Divine Beast, you say.  Was there one among the remaining ones who had offspring?”

“-Hmm. Since it’s a tiger, perhaps it’s a descendant of *that* one. You know who I mean.”

“Ah! You mean the Mad Tiger, obsessed with fighting!”

The Dragon King and the Water Spirit King simultaneously thought of the same creature.  A Divine Beast infamous for its immense size and ferocious nature.  A tiger that lived and breathed battle, consumed by the thrill of combat.  The moniker “Mad Tiger” fit it perfectly.

“I crossed paths with that Mad Tiger once.”

“-Oh? Is that so? So, how accurate were the rumors?”

Rumors claimed the Mad Tiger possessed overwhelming power, capable of single-handedly defeating multiple Divine Beasts.  And the Dragon King before him was a being who actually possessed such power, not just in rumor.  Was the Mad Tiger as powerful as the stories claimed, or was it just exaggerated hearsay?

*Gulp.*

The Dragon King took a swig of his drink, dredging up the memory.  Just how strong *was* that mad tiger?

“Do you see this scar on my forehead?”

The Dragon King brushed his hair aside, revealing a small nick on his forehead.  The Water Spirit King gave him a dubious look, as if asking if that small scratch was really from *that* fight.

“That’s the Mad Tiger’s handiwork.”

“-It seems the rumors were greatly exaggerated.”

“Now, now, my friend.  The scar from a battle 30 years ago still remains.  Is that something to scoff at?”

*Pause.*

“-30 years?”

“-Is that true?”

The Wind Spirit King, who had been listening quietly, was also surprised.  How deep must that wound have been for a scar to remain after 30 years?

“-You’re not joking, are you?”

“Of course not.  I’ve never encountered anyone so strong in my life.”

But could such a monster have a child?  That battle-crazed maniac?

The Dragon King was skeptical.

“-Procreation is a natural desire for living beings.”

“Hmm. Still, it’s hard to imagine.”

“-If it was 30 years ago, perhaps a change of heart led him to have offspring recently. You have children; it’s not impossible for the Mad Tiger to have some as well.”

“Now, now, what’s wrong with having children?”

But…

The Water Spirit King had a point.  Perhaps the Mad Tiger had suddenly felt the urge to have children.  Or maybe it was just a fleeting fling.  And there was always the possibility that the tiger, said to be a descendant of a Divine Beast, wasn’t actually related to the Mad Tiger.

“But wisdom beyond its kind?  What does that even mean?”

“-I’m curious as well. Tell us, what does that mean?”

“-It’s exactly as it sounds.  Frankly, I’m more interested in that aspect.”

“-Huh, more so than the Divine Beast bloodline?”

“Now that *is* intriguing.”

What could have warranted such an assessment?

The Wind Spirit King, under the gaze of the two beings, thought of the extraordinary snake, El Grace, and began to speak.

“-That snake has displayed remarkable intelligence, surprising even me. Not only does it possess the intelligence required for conversation, but its wisdom is also evident in battle and everyday life.  Its physical form may be weak, but its mind has already reached the level of a sacred beast.”

Though he didn’t mention it, the Wind Spirit King inwardly shuddered at the potential danger the snake posed.  The deadly poison it had somehow neutralized.  He had secretly examined the poison and had been horrified.  A poison that devoured the surrounding mana, growing stronger in real-time.  He’d wondered if such a thing should even exist.

“So, why did you come to see us?”

“-Ah, about that…”

Brought back to the present by the Dragon King’s question, the Wind Spirit King remembered his purpose.  He had ventured into these depths for one reason.

“-I’ve come to receive a Yeouiju.” [Yeouiju = Dragon Pearl]

“What?”

“-It seems that snake wishes to become an Imugi.”

The Wind Spirit King had come here to help El become an Imugi.  Why would he help someone completely unrelated to him?

There were two reasons.

One was for Silphy, in whom he had high hopes.  If he offered to help her friend in exchange for a few favors, Silphy would surely agree.  And if those favors involved sending her out into the world to learn and apply her abilities?  It would significantly shorten the time it took for her to succeed him.

“-Hehehe.”

“-Hmm? Do you know what he’s smiling about?”

“He must have a clever plan in mind.”

The second reason was his personal interest in El.  A wielder of dangerously potent poison, a sage with wisdom beyond its kind, and a growth rate that hinted at a hidden bloodline.  He couldn’t let such talent, rivaling even Silphy’s, slip away.  So, he intended to gain El’s favor by offering assistance.

“Is that the *only* reason you came here?”

“-He’s a close friend of my child.”

Unwilling to reveal his full intentions, the Wind Spirit King simply stated that he was helping El because he was a friend of his cherished Silphy, a gesture of goodwill.

The Dragon King’s eyes gleamed.

“Hmm… a Yeouiju.  A Yeouiju…”

“-What’s there to think about? You didn’t have any other candidates for Imugi anyway.”

“Now, now, it’s not something I can just give away.”

Of course, it didn’t matter.  A Yeouiju? He could create one easily.  It wasn’t difficult for him.  But he wasn’t inclined to hand it over so readily.

The Dragon King narrowed his eyes, wondering what he could gain from this.

“-Judging by your expression, you’re reluctant to just hand it over!”

Of course, the Water Spirit King saw right through him.

“-I’m not asking for it for free.”

“Oh?  And what do you offer in return?”

“-Take this.”

*Whoosh*

The Dragon King caught the object that flew towards him on the wind and, just as he had with the Formless Flower, examined it closely.  What was this?

“-Goodness, you’re offering *that*?”

Unlike the Dragon King, the Water Spirit King recognized the object and gasped.  That stingy, workaholic Spirit King was offering *that*?  His claim of simply helping a friend of his cherished child was clearly a pretense!

“Do you know what this is?”

“-That’s a ring called the Typhoon Jewel. Depending on the wearer’s mana, it can create an artificial typhoon centered around them.  Its efficiency, size, and power vary depending on the spirit who created it.”

It wasn’t a particularly useful item for a dragon.  Dragons were Divine Beasts who naturally controlled the weather, summoning typhoons and lightning.  A typhoon-creating ring for a dragon?  Not very helpful.

Indeed, it wasn’t helpful for the Dragon King himself.

“-Dragon King, your daughter, unfortunately, isn’t a dragon.  This ring would serve as an excellent shield to protect her.”

“Hmm.”

But for those who *weren’t* dragons, there was no safer item.  Especially for the Dragon King’s daughter, who hadn’t been born a dragon despite her lineage.

“-Imbued with the wind of a Spirit King, it will effectively block most attacks. And its wide area of effect will allow you to quickly locate her even if she’s far away.”

“This is a truly valuable gift.”

A tool to ensure his daughter’s safety.

The Dragon King pocketed the ring and extended his hand, offering a cup filled with wine.  The Wind Spirit King gladly accepted, joining the drinking party as a new companion.

—–CROW—–

*Whirr*

“-Hmm?”

Silphy was going about her usual routine, flitting around the cave ceiling.  Suddenly, a gust of wind brought her a message, and with it, something carefully floated towards her, carried by the breeze.

“-Oh, oh my!”

Silphy gasped, surprised by both the object and its sender.

“Myaa?”

“Shaa.”

‘What’s wrong?’

We approached Silphy, concerned by her sudden exclamation.  She landed on the ground, her eyes wide, and slowly spoke.

“-T-The Spirit King sent me a gift…”

The Spirit King?

Why would the Spirit King suddenly send Silphy a gift?

I looked at her questioningly, and she carefully presented us with a pearl, about the size of Cheong’s head.

“Shaaaa?”

‘What is it?  Why are you so shaken?’

It looked like an ordinary, exceptionally clear pearl.

But Silphy’s lips trembled as she spoke, clearly shocked.

“-T-This is a Yeouiju!”

A Yeouiju?

The Yeouiju? The one needed to become an Imugi?

…?

‘Wait a minute…’

A Yeouiju?  That was a Yeouiju?!

If I heard correctly, Silphy had just said this pearl was a Yeouiju.

It was surprising enough that the Spirit King had sent Silphy a gift, but for that gift to be a Yeouiju?

“-He, he also sent a message…”

Right, if I knew *why* the Wind Spirit King had sent Silphy a Yeouiju, I could resolve this mystery.

As I focused on the wind she summoned, the voice of an unfamiliar man echoed through the cave.

“-Just a little something I picked up.”

—–CROW—–