I had just endured a humiliating time.

The esteemed spirit of Gaekgak Cult had been forced to roll over and act adorable—a disgraceful ordeal. Thankfully, no followers were there to witness it.

“Seems like you’re not very hungry.”

Baek Yeonyeong must have realized from my desperate gestures that I absolutely loathed that giant worm. Though she seemed to misinterpret it as me not being hungry rather than disliking the worm, it didn’t matter as long as she kept that hideous creature away from me.

“If you feel like eating it later, just give me a sign.”

“Kiaaaak!”

The Death Worm clutched in Baek Yeonyeong's hand disappeared into a wooden drawer.

Why on earth would she keep that thing in her room?

“Gek, gek.”

Now that the horrid creature was gone, I felt much more at ease. It was just my master and me in this space.

Why had Baek Yeonyeong brought me here? Was it really just to offer me that worm as food? I’d already been fine munching on the snacks I’d received from Dang Soyoung.

Baek Yeonyeong began stroking my body. Although I wasn’t thrilled, I didn’t have much choice in my current tiny lizard form. So, I did what little lizards do best.

“Gekegek.”

I started nibbling on her fingers.

“Personally, I’d like it if you grew a bit faster.”

“Gek.”

I agreed. There were things I wanted to do, like bite into Dang Soyoung’s dumpling-styled hair.

“The cores of the Odoosa and the Inmyeonjo have been prepared, but I can’t give them to you in this state.”

“Gek.”

The core of the Odoosa.

And the core of the Inmyeonjo.

The Inmyeonjo’s core would be tough to handle straight away since it emitted that strange dark aura. The Odoosa core, however, was different; it was a high-grade core even back when I was the Green Basilisk, so it should be safe.

Wait, what would happen if I consumed the Odoosa’s core?

Would I grow a few more heads?

“Gek...”

That thought didn’t sit well with me.

Or maybe it would look cool?

It might look impressive, but it would likely be highly inconvenient for me if my body was out of sync.

I’d just have to make the right choice in my evolution.

“Well, it does seem like you’ve grown a bit since earlier. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

Had I grown? Baek Yeonyeong, who’d been carrying me around, would know best. If she said so, it must be true.

Maybe my body would return to its original form sooner than I thought, provided I kept up a steady diet.

Growing quickly and planning for the next evolution phase was essential. Although my level hadn’t increased, I could instinctively feel that I was close to the threshold of evolution.

What would the next stage of Gomo-do Rania be?

If my growth proceeded as planned, I’d be able to consume the cores of the Biikjo, Odoosa, and Inmyeonjo—three mythical creatures.

The “Rania” in “Gomo-do Rania” was derived from Megalania, the largest lizard that ever existed in Earth's history. It was the ultimate destination on the path of lizards.

To reach a level equal to or beyond that, I’d likely have to evolve into a legendary salamander or even transform into a dinosaur.

Given the Gaekgak faith, my evolution would likely follow the Gomo-do-XXX path—maybe something like Gomo-do T-Rex.

Or, as the Inmyeonjo had repeatedly mentioned, perhaps I could become a dragon.

With dragon scales, dragon blood, and my teeth that Argenta Avis claimed were dragon fangs…

I’d probably become something like a lizard with 1% dragon essence.

If I continued evolving and consuming cores, perhaps dragon-related options would appear. Though, it would likely be a wyvern rather than a full-fledged dragon.

“Have you heard of the Dragon Gate, Hee?”

Baek Yeonyeong mentioned dragons, almost as if she had read my thoughts.

“There are rumors of a gate near the Yellow River in Luoyang known as the Dragon Gate.”

Dragon Gate—a well-known tale.

“It’s said that if a carp passes through that gate, it can become a dragon.”

Much like how a carp becomes a dragon, ascending through the Dragon Gate symbolizes sudden success and advancement.

Baek Yeonyeong didn’t talk about random topics. Her mention of the Dragon Gate suggested there was more to it than mere rumor.

“I can’t vouch for the Dragon Gate over there, but there is a similar place here in Simman Dae Mountain.”

“Gek?”

“There’s a legend that says an ancient spirit managed to become a dragon by passing through it.”

A dragon…

Wasn’t that the same thing that Arrogant Koatal was so obsessed with?

“Though it’s likely not the type of dragon you’re familiar with. It resembles the oriental dragons in appearance, lacks a yeouiju, and has wings—a unique form.”

It didn’t sound like an Eastern dragon. Based on her description, it seemed closer to a Western-style dragon.

But that was still something.

And as a lizard, I already looked more like a Western dragon than an Eastern one.

Dragons might not hold the same mystique as oriental dragons, but they were still a step up from mere lizards.

“The creature left Simman Dae Mountain, but…”

Baek Yeonyeong explained the Dragon Gate to me—a mountain peak that powerful spirits climb in search of enlightenment. Some parts were barren rock, others volcanic with erupting lava, some were adorned with beautiful flowers, and others were blanketed in white snow.

…Was Simman Dae Mountain really that vast?

Could lava and snow even coexist?

The thought crossed my mind, but I dismissed it. Baek Yeonyeong had no reason to deceive me.

“You have more than enough qualifications to go there—provided your body fully recovers.”

It seemed Baek Yeonyeong intended to send me to the Dragon Gate.

With my current strength, I could already intimidate most animals. If the Nephila’s forest was the tutorial, the swamp the beginner’s zone, and the jungle the intermediate zone, then the Dragon Gate would be the advanced zone.

It was the perfect place for me now.

“Keep that in mind and focus on recovering. …And if you ever crave that worm, just say the word.”

“Gek!”

No way, not that thing.

Baek Yeonyeong sighed, as if accepting my refusal.

“In that case, at least get a good night’s sleep.”

“Gek, gek.”

Now, that was my specialty.

“What are you doing?”

“Gek?”

Baek Yeonyeong tapped her bedding.

“It’s getting late.”

So… she wanted me to sleep there?

“Are you worried that it’s improper for a disciple to sleep on their master’s bedding?”

Not at all.

I quickly wriggled my way under the blankets.

The soft, cozy feel of the bedding…

As a lizard, it was the first time I’d felt anything this comfortable.

“Gek, gek.”

Offering me such a prime spot—truly befitting of Baek Yeonyeong.

But as I was thinking that, Baek Yeonyeong climbed under the covers as well.

“…Gek?”

“Just stay still.”

Then she held me in her hand.

“I heard you need to stay warm, correct?”

“Gek…”

What exactly did Baek Yeonyeong think I was?

She fussed over my food and sleeping arrangements as if she genuinely believed I was a lizard.

“A master and disciple sleeping together… It might raise eyebrows if word got out.”

But this “lizard” was someone she conversed with and taught martial arts.

Perhaps she viewed me as a disciple rather than merely a lizard.

“Just joking.”

One might dismiss her as odd like Dang Soyoung, but she was different.

Dang Soyoung had grown up communicating with animals and spirits, and she would likely talk to any animal or spirit, even an ordinary unicorn on the street.

But Baek Yeonyeong was different.

While she treated me kindly, she showed no mercy to other creatures.

She killed the Odoosa, the Inmyeonjo, bashed dinosaurs, and plucked feathers off helpless Utahraptors.

“I rarely get a proper night’s sleep anyway. Just think of this as me keeping you company until you fall asleep.”

Why did she treat me so specially?

Maybe it was because I was meditating when we first met?

It’s unlikely she hadn’t seen other spirits meditating, given how many she’d encountered.

“Hee.”

Baek Yeonyeong’s fingers gently scratched me.

“I’ll prepare a beetle for you tomorrow.”

A beetle?

Like, a stag beetle?

“Gekegek!”

No, I hate bugs!

*

With soft, gentle breaths, Baek Yeon-young slept soundly.

She claimed it was hard for her to sleep properly, yet here she was, fast asleep.

The thought of getting back at her for trying to feed me bugs crossed my mind, but in this tiny body, there wasn’t much I could do. At best, I could just flail around awkwardly.

Instead of indulging in such pointless revenge, it was better to focus on something productive. Carefully, I slipped out of Baek Yeon-young’s embrace.

If I stayed here, tomorrow morning would bring me another round of that “super bug mix” for breakfast.

The early bird might get the worm, but the late lizard doesn’t have to eat it.

Under the cover of darkness, I crept out on my own to search for food.

Surprisingly, not even someone as skilled as Baek Yeon-young woke up. Turns out, she really does sleep well.

It was late at night. With a small body and dark scales, I was practically invisible. 

Once I slipped out of the room, I knew exactly where I was heading: straight to where Tang So-young kept her stash of snacks.

Moving stealthily, I set off.

“…Is that… Seokcheok?”

I was caught.

I’d barely taken a step when a woman’s voice stopped me dead in my tracks. She looked at me with intense suspicion.

“What’s wrong?”

“Look over there.”

“Oh, it’s just a normal lizard.”

Luckily, the woman beside her seemed to brush it off as nothing.

“Gek gek.”

I mean, seeing a lizard out here wasn’t exactly strange.

“Wait, is that lizard… standing on two legs?”

I’d been discovered.

Zoom!

“Ahhh! The lizard’s running!”

Utilizing the agility of the Dragon Rising Step technique, I dashed off at full speed.

“Geh-ek…”

I managed to shake them off.

Now, I could finally catch my breath.

“…Seokcheok?”

Zoom!

“L-look! It’s the lizard again!”

“It’s using Light Body Technique! It’s leaping through the air!”

I tried to escape, but people seemed to be everywhere, constantly crossing my path.

Why are there so many people here?

And why are they all so interested in me?