“Are you leaving now?”

I had finished everything I needed to do here.

I had stolen enough rice cakes by now.

“Gekk!”

I took the permission from my teacher.

Baek Yeon-yeong gave a slight smile, then began to gently stroke my tail.

“Good. Tell the Queen of Snakes to wait a little longer.”

Unfortunately, it seemed that the schoolgirl maid uniform wasn’t ready yet.

I suppose with the materials being so rare, it couldn’t have been made so easily.

Maybe it’ll be ready by the time I defeat Cheolduyong.

Heh… my teacher... Heh...

“What am I supposed to do with this useless disciple?”

“Gek...”

I couldn’t help it.

As she said that, my teacher tied a bundle around my tail.

“I put a little snack in here.”

“Gekk!”

“It might not suit your taste, but the Tang family’s daughter seems to like spicy food.”

She’s from Sichuan, after all—of course, she likes spicy food.

It doesn’t look like it’s for me, so I’ll just give it to Tang whatever-her-name-is.

“I’ve also included some sweet treats besides the honeycomb. The Queen of Snakes will surely be satisfied with this.”

Oh, there’s more food.

It seems the Queen of Snakes’ fondness for sweets has spread all the way here.

Well, I didn’t get the schoolgirl uniform, but I should pass this on.

“And there’s a letter, so don’t forget to deliver it.”

I felt like a messenger now.

Not that I mind.

I walked through the Heavenly Demon Cult with my teacher for a little while.

Thanks to her consideration, there weren’t any followers wandering around.

Because of that, I was able to roam freely at my full size.

When I’m in my small lizard form, I’m fine, but at this size, the followers will definitely be shocked if they see me.

They might even try to hunt me.

I’m not in any danger, but the person who tries to deal with my teacher’s wrath will be in danger.

“You’ve grown a lot in size, and your inner strength has also reached a high level.”

Is she praising me because I’m about to leave?

She complimented me.

“Gekk.”

“Now you’re at the point where you can at least talk, even if it’s still a bit awkward. This must be the joy of a teacher—watching their disciple grow.”

“Gekkgek.”

I’m really grateful to my teacher.

When we first met, she could’ve ignored me, thinking I was just some random lizard passing by.

But she paid attention to me.

If I hadn’t met her, I wouldn’t have become so strong.

I probably would’ve stayed at the level of an ordinary king lizard.

“Ho. What’s that look in your eyes?”

I wanted to say thank you, but I wasn’t sure if I could convey it well.

“Grurr…”

I let out a low growl.

It wasn’t meant as a warning, just a sound that a large carnivore makes when it’s happy.

Then, I leaned in closer to her.

“Since you’ve gotten so big, you’re certainly more fun to touch.”

My teacher seemed to understand, reaching out to gently scratch my neck.

“Grurr…”

It was at that moment, while my teacher was petting me, that—

“Kyeeng!”

“Kyoong!”

Tus and Pus quickly crawled over.

They alternated their gaze between me and my teacher before waving their little arms.

“Hioong!”

Looking closely, it seemed like they were taking permission from me.

“Right. You’ve both worked hard these days.”

“Kek!”

“Kek!”

Considering Tang So-yeong, Tus and Pus don’t seem to follow humans very well.

They almost became isolated when they were captured by the Tang family, so they must’ve developed a dislike for humans.

But they’re acting all friendly around my teacher.

Could it be because they’ve seen my brutal treatment of the Utahraptor?

No, it feels different from that.

What should I say?

Right, it’s like the way a bride acts toward her future mother-in-law.

I can’t explain it exactly, but I see a little of that attitude.

“Make sure to keep an eye on them so things don’t go wrong.”

“Kyeeng!”

Tus and Pus tapped my chin, as if telling me not to worry.

They took permission from me again, and then climbed onto my body.

“Kyoong!”

“Hioong…”

They seemed to settle on top of my horns.

They fit perfectly side by side.

“Hweeek! Get off me! I’m not going!”

I heard Tang whatever-her-name-is from the other side.

She had agreed to it last time, but it seemed she was still hesitant.

Her frail chest made me think she didn’t have much resolve.

“Ugh!”

But it didn’t matter.

Nephila was coming to tie her up with her webs.

“I... I treated a tiger...!”

Not a tiger, more like a tiger spider.

Tang So-yeong’s face turned pale when she realized Nephila had been watching.

“Wheeek!”

It seemed she had seen Nephila’s face.

“Hm. You really don’t want to go, do you?”

“N-No. I was just kidding...!”

“Right, just a joke.”

I’ve been here long enough, but it still seems like she’s scared of my teacher.

Why does she fear my teacher?

She’s such a kind and beautiful person.

“I’m glad it was a joke.”

“Hweeek…”

Tang So-yeong’s shoulders drooped.

She seemed to realize there was no escape.

“Wait a minute... So I can ride on your back, Great Senior?”

Her eyes suddenly lit up.

They were sparkling with excitement.

It seems she’s excited about riding on my back.

It’s nice that she’s simple-minded.

Tang So-yeong started flailing her arms strangely.

“C-Come here!”

She tried to climb onto my back, but she was too small and failed.

“Eek...”

I felt a little sorry for her, so I wrapped my tail around her waist and helped her onto my back.

“Hehe... Fur... Scales... Horns...”

Tang So-yeong drooled while touching my scales.

Wait, is that really Tang So-yeong?

She looks more like a Bicorne.

“Well... I guess this is what it takes to treat a mystical creature.”

My teacher seemed to understand Tang So-yeong’s situation.

“Hwa! Why, spider! Why are you doing this suddenly?”

Nephila, impressively, seemed to be punishing Tang So-yeong for touching my scales too much.

“Gyaa!”

Is this really happening?

Tus and Pus are on my horns.

Nephila and Tang So-yeong are on my back.

What a bizarre combination.

But, considering they’re the original members of my group, I suppose it makes sense.

“It’s done. We can’t stop the road forever. Let’s start heading out.”

“Gekk.”

I lowered my head one last time.

My teacher reached out and gently scratched my head.

“Alright. Stay healthy until we meet again.”

“Gekk.”

After answering my teacher’s words, I turned my head.

I gathered strength in my legs.

*Fwoosh!*

I leaped into the sky, as if flying.

It was the So-ryong Deungcheonbo.

“Kyaah! G-Great Senior! You’re too fast!”

“Kyeek!”

---

Before heading to the Dragon Gate, there’s one place I need to stop by.

It’s the Queen of Snakes’ temple.

“Is this your territory, Great Senior? It’s nicer than I expected! It even looks like a building.”

It’s my territory, but this isn’t where you’re supposed to stay.

“Piyak!”

A Shek-Shek appeared quickly after noticing me.

“It’s such a cute snake! It feels like I’m seeing a small Great Senior.”

Shek-Shek is cute.

“Piyak...?”

Shek-Shek tilted its head as it heard a strange voice.

“Pweck?”

Shek-Shek stretched its body after seeing the two creatures on my back.

“Kyoong...?”

“Hioong...?”

Come to think of it, you two.

We haven’t met before.

“Gekkgek.”

Say hello.

This is Shek-Shek.

A snake with a long body that’s quite charming.

And these are Tus and Pus.

“Gekkgek.”

Fat and sharp-toothed spiders.

“Saak!”

“Kyeek!”

Despite my introduction, it seems they’re not quite fond of each other.

“Piyahh!”

Shek-Shek shouted as if it was asking why these creatures are on me.

“Kyoong!”

Tus and Pus shouted as if asking who this snake is.

“Gekkgek.”

Enough, everyone.

I’ll explain everything.

“Saak!”

“Kyeek!”

“It looks like it’s my turn now.”

That’s right.

We have the mystical creature expert, Tang So-yeong.

“Pweck?”

Shek-Shek watched as Tang So-yeong got off my back and stared at her.

“I’m an expert at handling mystical creatures, especially ones with scales like this.”

Finally, they’ll see it.

The true power of Tang So-yeong, the common physician of the Gek Cult.

*Squish.*

“Gyaah! It hurts!”

I wasn’t expecting that.

“Gekkgek.”

I gently pulled Shek-Shek’s tail, who had nipped at Tang So-yeong’s hand.

After a quick bite, Shek-Shek let go

.

“I... I don’t think it’s poisonous, but why are its teeth so sharp!”

What a drama queen.

Even though Shek-Shek bit her, it couldn’t have hurt that much.

She’s a bit large, but she’s just a ball python.

She’s not venomous, so why is she making such a fuss?

“…Has its head changed into a triangle?”

“Shirrik!”

“G-Great Senior! My body is starting to feel weird!”

Tang So-yeong screamed.

“…Petrification! I’m turning into stone!”

It’s probably just her skin feeling itchy.

But since I couldn’t listen to her screaming any longer, I gently tapped Shek-Shek’s mouth.

“Pweck!”

Naturally, Shek-Shek extended its long tongue.

Shek-Shek’s tongue touched the spot it had bitten.

“It’s... dying! How could this happen! I knew I should have used the virgin venom!”

I wanted to listen to more of her nonsense, but Shek-Shek’s venom was incredibly effective.

“Shirrik!”

Tang So-yeong’s wound healed immediately.

“…Huh? How did the venom work as an antidote?”

It’s not that weird.

What’s weird is the stuff you’re saying about “virgin venom.”

“Ah, no. Isn’t this a little strange? How does a snake use healing power?”

Not at all strange.

The only weird part is your “virgin venom” nonsense.

“Pweck.”

Shek-Shek sighed, as if annoyed by all the strange humans.

“Hmm.”

Despite the chaos, Nephila didn’t seem to care much.

She had already humanized herself, so maybe it didn’t bother her.

Tus and Pus.

And Shek-Shek’s squabble seemed like just a little child’s play while they were busy playing with my fur.

But Nephila’s behavior didn’t last for long.

Her movement suddenly stopped.

Because a powerful enemy had appeared.

“Oh?”

The owner of this temple.

The Queen of Snakes.

“Uhh…”

Nephila clung to my neck as if anxious.

Tus and Pus did the same.

Even Shek-Shek, who was ready to fight, quickly backed away and hid in my fur.

“Hioong…”

Well, they were seeing the Queen of Snakes for the first time.

【Basilisk LV138】

Seeing a mystical creature with a level of 138, it was no surprise they reacted like that.

…Speaking of which, the Queen of Snakes’ level is quite impressive.

It’s even higher than the Red Dragon before it joined the Gek Cult.

Of course, strength isn’t determined just by levels, but she’s definitely a powerful creature.

And that power was also felt in me, now that I’m a True Dragon.

“Gekkgek…”

“Pweck!”

Shek-Shek climbed onto the Queen of Snakes’ body.

Is it just me, or do I see the mischievous look of a child calling for their parent?

“Yes. These must be your followers.”

The Queen of Snakes looked at the spiders.

“Heh.”

She grinned at Nephila.

“Eek…”

Nephila made an annoyed sound.

When I turned my head, Nephila’s eyes were fixed on the Queen of Snakes’ deep-pocketed aura.

It seemed she was frustrated seeing someone so overwhelmingly stronger than her.

The Queen of Snakes didn’t do anything, but she already claimed victory.

“Hioong…”

“Tioong…”

Tus and Pus seemed to be discussing the powerful opponent that had just appeared.

Wait.

If they’re reacting like this...

What about the weakest of us, Tang So-yeong?

“Wow, it’s huge!”

No, So-yeong.

What kind of reaction is that?

What does that make me?

“…You’re a confirmed follower of mine, I see.”

Huh?