Before the lizard regained full consciousness…

“How strange. You look remarkably similar to me,” murmured Baek Yeon-Yeong, gazing at the Snake Queen.

The resemblance was uncanny. With her face alone, she could easily deceive her followers without needing a stand-in. Though, of course, the lower half would make that impossible.

The Snake Queen also studied Baek Yeon-Yeong’s face.

The likeness was undeniable.

It wasn’t herself that she saw reflected, but the woman she had once longed to resemble.

Aside from the color of her eyes and her more varied expressions, they could have been identical.

The Snake Queen wanted to ask her many things.

But for now, she suppressed her personal feelings.

Instead, she told Baek Yeon-Yeong what had transpired.

The Snake Queen spoke respectfully to her.

Baek Yeon-Yeong said that it wasn’t necessary, but the Snake Queen couldn’t help it.

It was as if her mentor was standing right before her.

“Hm… so it’s the power of Tasei. There are quite a few troubling aspects to this.”

The Heavenly Demon Sect did not interfere with the natural order of the Ten Thousand Peaks.

This was a principle Baek Yeon-Yeong had established.

There were exceptions, but it was rare for them to directly kill a significant spirit like this.

But she had been forced to act.

Was it because her disciple had been ruthlessly beaten?

Not entirely. While she was a bit angry, she still respected nature and the wild.

She would have saved him but wouldn’t have killed the enemy.

At most, she would have given him a few knocks and left it at that.

But the involvement of Tasei had changed everything.

If left unchecked, Tasei’s presence would turn the Ten Thousand Peaks into a literal demonic wasteland.

Though she had dealt with Gachal Goatal, fragments of his influence might still persist.

While she had done her best to strike a decisive blow, total annihilation was impossible.

“Well, at least it won’t rear its head for a while.”

The Snake Queen and Baek Yeon-Yeong established an agreement.

A mutual alliance.

It was a connection they could rely on to suppress any future threats quickly.

The Snake Queen would receive Baek Yeon-Yeong’s protection, while Baek Yeon-Yeong would be able to preemptively eliminate potential dangers.

Though she was no match for Baek Yeon-Yeong, the Snake Queen was still a formidable force.

In times of need, she would serve as a valuable ally.

With Tasei’s influence hanging over the skies, it was only a matter of time before others bearing the name of the Martial Alliance came poking around.

And with that, the matter between the Queen and the Sect Leader was concluded.

But the story of the Basilisk and Baek Yeon-Yeong had yet to end.

“Is there something more you wish to say? Focus on recovering,” Baek Yeon-Yeong said.

“…Might I ask your name, benefactor?”

Benefactor.

She had indeed saved both her life and her mate’s by defeating Gachal Goatal.

But there was another reason the Snake Queen called her a benefactor.

The face she was seeing was no illusion.

It was a real person.

Her mate’s mentor, the one he had summoned.

There was no mistaking it; she looked exactly like her mentor.

And so, she asked her name, seeking confirmation for her suspicions.

“Formality isn’t something I care for, but you may know me as Baek Yeon-Yeong.”

*Yeon-Yeong (蓮影).*

Her pale skin and delicate face were indeed befitting of the name “Yeon” (lotus).

Her inky black hair, like an ink-drawn waterfall, complemented “Yeong” (shadow).

The white lotus and its shadow.

Baek Yeon-Yeong.

Drip.

A tear trickled from the Snake Queen’s eye.

She felt relief seeing that her mate was safe.

Her heart ached, recalling how he had come running to rescue her.

Her heart had torn seeing him suffer so brutally.

And a thrill surged through her, knowing he had ultimately struck down Gachal Goatal.

Even so, she had held back her tears.

She couldn’t show weakness before her mate.

Her mate was still sound asleep, as if in a deep slumber.

Drip.

So, perhaps now it was okay to shed these tears.

Drip.

“Do you… remember your mother?”

A white lotus. The flower her mentor had loved most.

“I do not,” Baek Yeon-Yeong replied.

She had no idea who the Snake Queen was.

“I came into this world as an orphan with only a sibling. I never knew what it was to have parents.”

The Snake Queen understood why her mentor had left them.

No, perhaps “left” wasn’t the right word.

She had entrusted them to another’s care to face Tasei and the evil gods.

But she had been unable to return, leaving Baek Yeon-Yeong to believe she had been abandoned.

“Do you resent your parents?” the Snake Queen asked, her voice tight with sorrow.

In her heart, she wanted to clear up all misunderstandings.

But she couldn’t.

She had been the one unable to hold on as her mentor left.

“Resent?” Baek Yeon-Yeong closed her eyes.

She thought of her childhood.

She had no teachings, no possessions.

It had been a life of pure survival.

“It’s been buried for so long I hardly think of it.”

The Snake Queen felt a pang of relief at her words.

And yet, guilt swallowed her whole.

Her relief felt ugly, a dreadful stain on her soul.

She had to tell her the truth.

“In fact…!”  
“Gek.”

Just then, a lizard slipped in between them.

It looked from Baek Yeon-Yeong to the Snake Queen, positioning itself with its head toward Baek Yeon-Yeong and its tail toward the Snake Queen.

The Snake Queen calmed her heart.

There was no urgent reason to tell her right now.

What she believed might not be the truth, after all.

It was best to wait and find a better moment.

…Once again, this lizard had saved her.

The Snake Queen gently stroked the lizard’s tail, which rested against her chest.

“It didn’t used to be this affectionate.”

Baek Yeon-Yeong muttered as she stroked the purring lizard’s chin.

The Snake Queen averted her gaze.

Perhaps she was partly responsible for the lizard’s attachment to her chest.

---

One can survive a T-Rex bite if they’re conscious.

But if Baek Yeon-Yeong bites, survival isn’t guaranteed—even if you’re awake.

My master had been incredibly harsh to this little lizard.

She patted my tiny paws, flipped me over to rub my belly.

She even—no, I won’t mention that.

It’s an utter disgrace to lizards everywhere.

It’s the same as being chewed up and spat out by the Snake Queen.

No, it was probably worse.

As if her teasing wasn’t enough, Yeon-Yeong-saurus had then thrown me to those hungry little monsters.

“Chirp-chirp!”  
“Peep!”

Claiming that I had been the one to start it, they launched a full-blown physical assault.

Chirpy pecked at me in excitement.

Hissy sniffled and drooled all over me.

“Gehk…”

My body had shrunk quite a bit, so I was soon drenched.

It made sense, considering I’d grown small enough that Hissy could swallow me whole if she wanted.

Still, I didn’t mind too much.

They were just playing around, showing their affection in their own way.

But Old Man Kompy was a different story.

Look at that triangular face.

Pure hostility.

There was no way he was just playing.

I should be glad he wasn’t using his ultimate move, the Dragon’s Heavenly Assault.

Hmm… but why was he so angry?

Was it just because I hugged him?

I was half-asleep; he should understand that.

Maybe…

Was he holding it against me for my lothario ways?

…It sort of made sense, but I had an excuse.

When a lizard’s barely conscious, it’s instinctive to go to the safest place.

Yep, that’s all there is to it.

“Gek-gek.”  
“Keeeekk!”

Old Man Kompy’s face just grew longer, unimpressed by my excuses.

Ugh, so fierce.

But at least I have my loyal Hissy on my side.

“Ssssssaaa!”

Shaped like an isosceles triangle, Hissy fiercely bit down on Old Man Kompy.

“Kyaaa…”

The granddaughter always wins against the grandfather.

Though it was humiliating, I didn’t mind the attention.

The fact that they were all here meant my relationship with the Snake Queen had improved.

A father and daughter who once avoided each other were now reunited.

Even Argentarvis watched from afar, looking at me with pity.

The former King of Birds—or rather, the future King of Birds, as he would now be called.

This meant he had defeated Pillbang in battle.

“Only ooooneeee woooomaaaaan!” I heard someone wailing in the distance, but I chose to ignore it.

One thing was clear from all this.

We had won.

“Gekgek!”  
“Why are you laughing like that?”

Nothing, Master.

Please, hit me more!

Though I had saved the world and returned, no one would remember it.

But I smiled, feeling like a high schooler in a Japanese drama who’d just gained a

 newfound appreciation for daily life.

“Partner… have you been hit on the head?” the Snake Queen asked, using “partner” instead of “mate.”

She glanced cautiously at Baek Yeon-Yeong, seemingly a bit embarrassed to call me her mate outright.

It was amusing to see the Snake Queen being so cautious.

No wonder—she had witnessed Baek Yeon-Yeong’s power.

And it wasn’t just because of her strength.

There’s a saying that a master is like a parent.

Baek Yeon-Yeong was essentially a mother-in-law to the Snake Queen.

…This lineage felt increasingly tangled.

“Gek-gek.”

And with that, the chaotic lizard antics finally came to an end.

“Cheep-cheep!”  
“Chirp!”

Though Hissy and Chirpy clung to me, it was time to let go.

“Princess, release him now. That’s enough.”

I had something important to do first.

“I’ll tell you the results of the war.”

“Gek-gek!”

The war ended in victory.

Every lizard would know that much.

Yet my heart pounded with excitement.

Victory always brings rewards.

Something sweet awaited.

I had been the war’s second-ranking hero, so I had a right to expect something good.

“We dealt with Gachal Goatal and Nachaljo. Unfortunately, Pillbang escaped.”

Pillbang escaped?

So that’s why Argentarvis was all the way over there.

At least we prevented him from joining.

That’s a win in my book.

But since that black-scaled lizard stole the spotlight, I couldn’t count on much of a reward.

“Gek-gek.”  
“…What’s with that greedy look?”

Greedy? This is the face of rightful anticipation.

“A mysterious spirit left Nachaljo’s inner core here.”

“Gek!”

It had to be the unicorn.

He sacrificed that precious inner core for me!

“I would have given it to you, but that’s no longer possible.”

“Gek?”

What did she mean by that?

My snout grew longer in disbelief.

“What’s with those eyes? If you don’t believe me, try touching it.”

The Snake Queen held out the core.

A dark sphere with a faint blue aura.

[Nachaljo’s Inner Core]

An inner core of the same high quality as the Biikjo’s core.

Gulp.

I swallowed my saliva and reached out with my tiny hand.

Zzzap!

“Gekgekgek!”

With a sharp sting, the core jumped out of my grip.

It nearly fell, but the Snake Queen quickly caught it.

“Do you understand now? The unicorn’s energy makes it incompatible with you.”

That made no sense to me.

Why would the unicorn’s energy make it incompatible with me?

“Gekgekgek!”

If anything, it should be a perfect match.

This was unfair.

“Don’t be too disappointed. That’s not the only core we obtained.”

“Gek!”

The Snake Queen was right.

In truth, Nachaljo’s core was just an appetizer.

The main dish, the Biikjo’s core, was still waiting.

“Huiya. Come here.”

Master waved me over.

I rushed to her side immediately.

“Gek-gek!”

Forget the unicorn-tainted core—the Biikjo’s core is what I need!

“Do you remember what I said in the Silver Dragon’s Lair?”

Of course.

She had said it after we took down the Hydra.

“You’ve grown enough. It’s time I gave you the Odusa’s core.”

“Gek!”

It seemed she hadn’t forgotten that bonus.

“The Biikjo’s core is yours as well.”

“Gekgekgek!”

As expected of Baek Yeon-Yeong.

So generous!

Nothing like the unicorn who tainted his core with drool.

“However, I can’t give them to you just yet. Not the Odusa’s, nor the Biikjo’s.”

“Gek?”

“Your body isn’t in its best state, is it?”

That made sense.

No matter how resilient I was, consuming a core in this weakened condition would be dangerous.

“First, restore your size. Then we’ll check your injuries.”

“Gek-gek.”

Although leveling up could restore my body, it wasn’t an easy task in my current state.

If Master could capture a few beasts alive, it would be possible, but knowing her, she wouldn’t.

So, I’d need to rely on natural healing.

With her knowledge of spirits, perhaps Baek Yeon-Yeong could help with my recovery.

“Gekgek!”

I tried to dispel my miniaturization.

…

“Gek?”

Why was my vision still the same?

“What are you doing? I told you to restore your size so I could examine your wounds.”

“Gek-gek.”

Wait a second.

…

This can’t be happening.

“What’s with that lost expression?”

I couldn’t release my miniaturization.

Or rather, it wasn’t technically miniaturization.

My body had shrunk not because of an ability but as a side effect of overusing my power.

“Geeeeek!”