"Gegeek!"  
"Stay still!"  

If I stay still, something bad might happen.  

"I’ll be done in a second…!"  

What do you mean, 'be done in a second'?  

Your eyes are rolling a bit right now.  

You’ve tied me down with ice, your eyes have gone wild, and now you’re feeling me up with your front paws….  

"Gegeeeeng!"  

You’re planning to kill me!  

"It’s not like that!"  

But the drool coming down says otherwise.  

"No, …maybe it is a bit like that?"  

See, I knew it!  

"Gek."  

Whatever the case, you’re a wolf right now, aren’t you?  

I’m a lizard, and you’re a wolf. There are boundaries we should respect!  

"Hmm… if it’s because of the species difference, maybe if I turned human… no, that wouldn’t match in size…."  

Baek Lang muttered something that sounded like it shouldn’t make sense to me.  

I struggled to resist, but oddly enough, I couldn’t muster any strength in my body.  

It’s not just because my limbs are tied by ice.  

It feels like there’s something wrong with my core itself.  

Could it be something I ate?  

The only thing I ate was that two-horned beast’s horn….  

Wait…!  

I completely forgot the obvious.  

I, a pure lizard, am a natural opposite to the two-horned beast.  

Even if my body healed, taking in the opposing energy would inevitably cause issues.  

Now I’m dealing with the backlash.  

"Gegek!"  

…but why does Baek Lang seem so full of energy?  

Could it be that her energy and that of the two-horned beast are compatible?  

No, it doesn’t look that way.  

It’s more like the two-horned beast’s will is lingering within her.  

"Some… heheh… polyg… heheh…"  
"Gekek!"  

Am I hearing things now?  

The will of those beasts is this strong.  

It seems like the two-horned beasts are supporting the current situation.  

Even though we both consumed the same horn, my strength is waning while Baek Lang’s grows.  

"Gegeeeeng!"  
"I’ll just… just have a taste…."  

Baek Lang stuck her tongue out as if she could no longer hold back.  

Naphla Jurassica.  

Tus and Pus.  

Shishak.  

Snake Queen.  

And someone-or-other, my mentor.  

Also, Chirpy.  

From Firstling to Seventhling.  

And all the tiny lizards whose names I don’t know.  

…Why are there so many?  

In any case, I bid farewell to every being who has been a part of my life, as they flashed before me like a movie reel.  

Thanks for everything.  

"Once I get this off…!"  

Just as Baek Lang was about to peel off one of my scales—  

*Bang!*  

A black wave pushed Baek Lang away.  

*Thud!*  

It wasn’t a particularly strong force.  

But it was enough to knock Baek Lang off me.  

"Gek…?"  

What kind of power is this?  

Did I just awaken an ability I didn’t know I had?  

"This energy feels familiar," Baek Lang murmured, looking at me.  

"Even if you push me away, it doesn’t matter!"  

Determined, she lunged at me again.  

*Bang!*  

"Kyaeng!"  

She was blocked by a semi-transparent black barrier.  

"Gekegek…"  

A black shield.  

It seems like a new power of the Black Dragon.  

How should I thank you for helping me realize a power I didn’t even know I had?  

I’ve also become a—Wave Dragon.  

"Grrrr…"  

Baek Lang glared at me with fierce eyes.  

Hey, don’t be like that.  

I might have pushed you away, but if I hadn’t, I’d be in big trouble.  

"A giant snake… so, the Queen marked you with her saliva."  
"Gek?"  

Baek Lang wasn’t glaring at me, but at the necklace around my neck.  

"Ridiculous. Not even in battle, and you use such a precious divine relic just to block me?"  

She grumbled.  

It seems this black shield isn’t under my control.  

It’s the Snake Queen’s emblem, the necklace Shishak gave me, that’s activated.  

…But I’ve been wearing it for quite a while now.  

There were plenty of times my life was in danger.  

So why did it only activate now?  

What sort of condition triggered it?  

"Grrrr…"  

Baek Lang continued to glare at something invisible.  

They say dogs and cats can see ghosts.  

When they bark into the empty night, they say it’s because there’s a spirit present or something.  

"So you’re saying we should wait until it’s fully grown, then share it?"  

Whatever it is, it doesn’t seem like a typical spirit.  

Talking about such creepy things.  

"Gek…"  

The baby lizard could only tremble in fear.  

…Three tons of shivering.  

"I tried to make a preemptive strike, but you’ve set up some pretty solid defenses."  

Baek Lang sighed.  

"One, two, three, four… just how many are there?"  

She seemed astonished as she counted the marks engraved on my necklace.  

"So… they’re all standing in line, waiting for their turn?"  

What do you mean, standing in line?  

It’s just a mark left as a symbol of alliance.  

"…Fine, I won’t try to eat you anymore, so come over here."  

So, until now, you were trying to eat me?  

"Gek…"  
"Gek, my foot. I only got a little weird because of that catnip thing. I’m fine now, so come here."  

Can I trust her?  

*Crack.*  

The ice binding me disappeared.  

"Gekek."  

Cautiously, I walked over to stand by Baek Lang.  

"Tsk. You really get around, don’t you? And with all different species."  

Get around?  

They’re just dear companions.  

"I tried to make a move, but I totally missed the mark."  

*Crack.*  

A tiny ice sculpture appeared, depicting eight wolves and one lone lizard being hunted by them.  

Why would you make something like that?  

How ominous.  

"Gekek…?"  
"If it’s protocol to wait in line… then I guess I’ll have to follow it."  

Baek Lang’s golden eyes shone brightly, as if searching for an answer.  

"I’d like to speed it up, though."  

What do you mean by line, and what do you want to speed up?  

Anyway, you’re saying you won’t mess with me for now, right?  

"If you’re a devout believer, shouldn’t you get a chance before everyone else?"  
"Gek?"  
"Ah, unlike someone else, I don’t have a deity yet."  

…  

I don’t quite get where this is going, but it sounds good for me.  

That wolf kept eyeing me with a glint that suggested she’d like to join the Cult of the Great Lizard God.  

[Would you like to invite 【Baek Lang lv75】 to join the Cult of the Great Lizard God?]  

Of course.  

"…Since there’s already a devoted lizard around here, maybe I’ll stay close."  

Baek Lang is a hexagonal gem of talent.  

She’s physically capable, has a good personality, soft fur, and sharp intelligence.  

I thought she could do everything, but there’s one thing she can’t do.  

"…Stop looking at me like that. It’s embarrassing."  

And that’s acting.  

"Listen carefully and don’t get the wrong idea."  

She’s so bad at acting that it’s surprising she can even speak without stuttering.  

"I’m not doing this because I like you or anything. I just don’t have any faith, so…"  

This girl.  

What a master of deception.  

"…And my younger siblings don’t seem to have a trustworthy faith either, so I thought I’d try it out first."  

Saying something like that while embarrassed.  

It makes me want to pull this fluffy furball into my mouth.  

Of course, if I did that, I might flip her switch again, and who knows what she'd do to me.  

“…Ugh!”  

Baek Lang’s paw touched the pendant around my neck.  

*Ssssss…. *  

A blue glow seeped into the necklace, leaving a small, faintly blue paw print.  

"…Everyone seems to be leaving their mark, so I just thought I’d try it."  

I stared at Baek Lang in silence.  

"It doesn’t mean anything, okay!"  

*  

Baek Lang has joined the Cult of the Great Lizard God.  

It didn’t go the way I expected, but as long as the result’s the same, it’s fine.  

"For some reason, it feels like I’m better at understanding your gek-sounds now."  

She always understood them well enough anyway.  

"Gekek."  
"…But you’re still easy to read."  

After spending a bit more time together, we headed to the top of the volcano.  

It’s best to strike while the iron is hot, as they say

.  

With Baek Lang in the cult, it’s time to bring the Red Dragon into the fold.  

"So, you said you have someone to introduce me to?"  

Well, it’s not exactly a person, but there is something similar.  

"…It better not be another female addition."  
"Gek!"  
"Good grief, you little lizard."  

*Smack.*  

Baek Lang lightly slapped my scale.  

She’s on my back right now.  

For some reason, she insisted on riding.  

She turned human and leapt up as if it was only natural.  

I wanted to ask if it was appropriate for a new follower to ride on a divine beast, but I held it in.  

I am introducing her to the Red Dragon, after all.  

Allowing her to ride seems only fair.  

"Gekek."  

With that, we reached the volcano’s summit.  

"There’s still a faint warmth lingering here. Maybe it’s because of that red lizard’s aura, but I feel a bit strange."  

Baek Lang dismounted and looked around.  

"Geeek…"  

She seems to think the red lizard ran off.  

But the Red Dragon is just simmering in the crater.  

Since we’re here, let me explain everything slowly.  

If I had tried explaining earlier, she might have resisted coming up.  

First, I’ll make it clear that the Red Dragon isn’t our enemy….  

"Here you are, my divine beast?"  

Right then, as if having finished a hot spring bath, the Red Dragon appeared, chest covered in a red cloth, and met my eyes.  

…Why are you on this side?  

I saw you enter from the opposite direction.  

*Crrrackle!*  

"This red lizard…!"  

Baek Lang’s icy aura erupted like crazy.  

"…Oh? You brought the white wolf too?"  

*Whoosh!*  

Flames ignited, refusing to be outdone.  

*Kabooom!*  

Fire and ice collided.  

And in between, the black lizard, shedding a tear, had no choice but to intervene.  

"Geeeeeek!"  

*  

Hot and cold.  

Being hit by both attacks simultaneously, my sturdy scales softened in an instant.  

Using fire and ice like this has quite an effect.  

"…So you didn’t defeat that red lizard, but you ended in a draw?"  

Thanks to my sacrifice, I bought some time for conversation.  

The Red Dragon returned to the lava, and Baek Lang stood still, listening to me.  

"And now she’s under your command?"  
"Gek."  
"…But why would she want to?"  
"Gegek?"  
"Spiritual beasts don’t usually submit to others. There’s definitely some hidden agenda."  

Baek Lang spoke seriously.  

I returned her gaze with equal seriousness.  

"I-I’m different!"  

So, you have your own agenda, too.  

"…You really have a talent for taming wild creatures like that red lizard."  

It’s not taming; it’s more of an alliance.  

"Divine Beast! Are you not done yet?"  

…See?  

"Or should I call you master now? Heh."  

The Red Dragon giggled.  

It seems she’s fully immersed in her role-play.  

A mature dragon playing servant to a baby lizard.  

"…Master?"  
"Gekek."  

No, she’s calling me that on her own.  

Baek Lang’s eyebrow twitched slightly.  

"…I don’t like her."  
"Gekek!"  

I completely understand.  

After all, she turned you into that mess; it’d be strange if you didn’t hold a grudge.  

I know that too, which is why I arranged this meeting as a sort of apology.  

"She even got a gift, even though she came after me."  

A gift?  

I looked at Baek Lang with a confused expression.  

"That thing around her neck."  

The thing around her neck?  

…Are you talking about the collar?  

"Gekegek."  

I didn’t give that to her.  

She made it herself.  

"…And you don’t give me anything?"  

She looked at me, disappointed.  

I doubt she wants a collar. She probably just wants a gift, like everyone else.  

I’m not sure why, but it seems magical beasts have a thing for gifts, just like the Snake Queen.  

So, she wants me to give her something….  

What do I have on me?  

Unfortunately, I’m empty-handed.  

…Should I cut off my tail?  

No.  

If Baek Lang develops a taste for my tail, my future will be bleak.  

"Gek."  

…How about a scale?  

Just in case, I took off one of the scales on my chest.  

Thanks to the fire and ice attack, it came off without much resistance.  

"…You’re giving me a scale?"  

Is this not good enough?  

That whatever-its-name was obsessed with scales….  

If I meet that jerk Tang Soyoung, I’ll show him what my tonsils look like.  

"…Well, whatever."  

Just as I was about to put the scale away, Baek Lang snatched it at lightning speed.  

"Gek?"  

*Swoosh!*  

Baek Lang’s ice energy gathered around the scale.  

The dragon scale began shifting, gradually elongating into a form resembling a black whip.  

…A whip?  

*Click.*  

The black whip wrapped around Baek Lang’s neck.  

No, it wasn’t a whip.  

It was a collar similar to the one on the Red Dragon’s neck, but in a different color.  

"You expect to get away with putting something like this on a wolf?"  

I didn’t intend to collar anyone, honestly.  

But despite her words, Baek Lang’s lips curved upward.  

The end of the collar in her hand transferred to my hand.  

Though she’s in her human form, she somehow resembled a puppy.  

"…Satisfied? You pervert?"  

She wagged her tail quickly.  

…Who’s calling whom a pervert?