〈 Chapter 425 〉 It's a Snake.(2)
What on earth was I supposed to do with this?
That was the thought that came to mind as I looked at the snake staring fixedly at me.
Setting aside its yellow eyes, I could tell just from its red scales.
This bastard.
'It looks like the same kind I killed earlier.'
No matter how I looked at it, that seemed to be the case.
Of course, that in itself wasn't particularly strange.
The red demonic beast that appeared in the river was a creature called the Jeoksusa.
The Jeoksusa was a demonic beast that appeared in both rivers and seas.
Its size was considerable even among red demonic beasts, but its movements were as sluggish as its bulk, so it wasn't a particularly difficult creature to deal with.
The only real problem was that its habitat was water.
And...
'If I recall, they use poison.'
Its fangs supposedly harbored a deadly venom. Even if that weren't the case, I remembered it as a creature that exhaled toxic fumes from its mouth.
But I hadn't felt that kind of vibe when fighting this one.
Though I suppose there could be individuals that don't use it...
'Strange.'
And the fact that it looked at me and called me some sort of 'great one'.
I got the feeling it was intentionally trying not to attack me.
Why on earth?
Why me?
It was already strange for a demonic beast to speak to me. But the biggest question was why that demonic beast was showing me goodwill.
'This one too.'
I shifted my gaze downward, and a small Jeoksusa was staring blankly at me.
This little bastard was my biggest concern right now.
What was this one, then?
I locked eyes with the Jeoksusa and scrunched up my face tightly.
'I almost died because of this bastard.'
Immediately after extracting the demonic core from the beast's body, I felt a strange energy, so I examined the core. The moment I looked at it, I instinctively knew—that an indescribable quickening could be felt within it.
A quickening from a demonic core? It wasn't even an egg; where did this talk of quickening come from?
I was so startled that river water nearly gushed into my mouth.
And what was even more surprising—upon discovering it, I instinctively knew how to hatch it.
Hatching.
Yes, I could hatch this demonic core.
If I did, what would pop out from within? I didn't know that much, but one thing was certain.
So what should I do?
There was no time to ponder. Before I could even think about it, as if possessed, I was already 'putting' energy into it.
'This is...'
The method of hatching was simple.
Instead of absorbing the demonic energy from the core using the Demonic Heavenly Absorption Art, I did the opposite—I sent demonic energy from my side into it.
Just as one infuses others with demonic energy to corrupt them into demonic humans.
I applied the exact same principle to the demonic core.
How did I know? It felt as if someone had told me this was how to do it.
The problem was...
'Why is it eating so much...!'
The core was devouring my energy like mad.
I had expected it to consume a certain amount, but the degree was too severe.
Thanks to having consumed martial arts techniques and fortuitous encounters, my internal energy was unusually abundant for someone at my realm.
Yet even in that situation, for it to gobble up this much...
'I think it's already eaten half.'
I had thought I would have plenty since I hadn't used much in battle.
The amount it consumed was no joke.
Moreover, I couldn't even stop giving it energy.
'You crazy bastard...?'
At first, I was voluntarily injecting energy, but at some point, the core had reached the point of absorbing my energy on its own.
Normally, you could just cut something like this off, but this time was different.
I could feel it from the way it absorbed the energy.
If I forcibly severed the connection, my meridians would all twist, leading to qi deviation.
And to make matters worse, since I was underwater, I could barely struggle, and with my energy being eaten too, I felt like dying.
If it stole everything like this, I might really die.
Thinking that, I barely managed to keep my wits about me.
I couldn't die in a place like this.
My heart felt that way, but I didn't really have a solution.
My energy was gradually hitting bottom.
'Shit.'
At this rate, it felt like every bit of energy would be sucked dry.
What should I do?
I was really reaching a crisis situation; I felt like I had to use any means necessary.
Click-!
Finally, the sucking of my energy stopped.
'...Hah.'
I immediately checked my body upon feeling that sensation.
All the energy in my body had drained away, leaving only a very small amount.
If it had sucked even a little more, it would have really been the end.
A sense of relief that I hadn't died was creeping over me.
Crack-!
A change occurred in the demonic core I held in my hand.
The core had cracked.
And suddenly, I felt something in my hand.
I frowned and checked my hand, and a snake tinged with red was coiled around my arm.
I should have widened my eyes at that sight, but getting out of the water was the priority right now.
As my internal energy dropped, I was running out of breath.
Since I had to survive first, I quickly escaped to the surface, snake or no snake.
And so, time passed to the present.
"What are you."
I was facing off against the snake that had jumped out of the demonic core.
A demonic beast had popped out of the demonic core.
'...Is this normally how it works?'
That probably wasn't the case.
I had never heard of demonic beasts coming out of demonic cores.
I had never seen such a thing in my life either.
Of course, I had never looked into or shown interest in the breeding or birthing of demonic beasts.
But I knew at least that demonic beasts did not come out of demonic cores.
'Then what is this one?'
That was why it was even stranger.
That a demonic beast had suddenly popped out after sucking my energy from the demonic core.
The demonic beast's behavior was strange too.
Sssss...
Slurp.
The Jeoksusa flicked its tongue and licked my finger.
Seeing this, I could tell that at least it wasn't acting hostile.
It was absurd.
Demonic beasts were creatures that did not show affection toward humans, so why was this one acting like this?
This was no small matter.
What the Martial Alliance had desired for hundreds of years was to tame demonic beasts, yet they had reached the judgment that it was impossible and given up.
Demonic beasts were ferocious by nature, monstrosities left with nothing but greed and appetite.
They could absolutely not be tamed and had to be hunted for the sake of peace.
That was the answer the Martial Alliance had reached through long experience.
'Funny bastard.'
The Jeoksusa kept licking my arm as if showing goodwill.
I had to look at the thing incredulously.
"Say something. What are you."
I kept trying to talk to it, but the Jeoksusa gave no answer at all.
It was absurd to believe a demonic beast would answer, but recalling the earlier situation, it wasn't entirely impossible.
That one had definitely spoken to me.
"Are you different from the one from earlier?"
I was asking whether this Jeoksusa was different from the one I had killed. But the creature just stared blankly at my question, only sticking out its tongue.
"Hey, you answered just fine earlier. Why are you quiet again? Say something, say something."
Ssss?
The snake tilted its head as if it didn't understand.
"Hah..."
It was starting to get annoying; my head was burning up.
Now here I was in the middle of the night having a conversation with a snake.
I was already barely keeping it together... This really pissed me off.
Clack-!
Sssshhh-!
Unable to hold back my temper, I finally grabbed the snake by the neck.
"Do you know how much energy I fed you? You can't be useless like this."
Sss...! Sssshhh!
The captured Jeoksusa thrashed about here and there as if suffocating.
"What are you. If you don't answer, I'll kill you right here. Answer properly."
The losses were immense.
Not only had I given up a red-grade demonic core to get this thing, but I had poured precious energy into it.
I was already in a situation where my strength was precarious, and this really infuriated me.
Sss...sssshhh....
"You are red-grade, so you should have a demonic core, right?"
It didn't seem to have much strength, and its body was tiny as a mouse dropping, so I didn't think there would be much inside.
I had to devour this at least.
That way I would feel less wronged.
With that thought, I glared at the creature and maintained my grip, but...
Sss...
It still showed no particular reaction other than struggling, let alone speaking.
If I had to pick something, it was that even in this situation, it was licking my hand as if showing affection.
Why on earth was a demonic beast acting like this toward me?
I didn't like this world where a red demonic beast had suddenly popped out, nor did I like that it seemed to want something from me.
When it should have been baring its fangs to survive, seeing it so desperately seek affection looked truly fucked up.
Because that appearance resembled my past self.
I felt extremely filthy.
"...It's really fucked up."
I scrunched up my face and soon released my grip.
Then the captured Jeoksusa fell to the floor with a light thud.
Tuk-.
Sssss....
The moment it fell to the floor, it quickly climbed up my body and back onto my hand.
Why was it going this far?
Surely it didn't think I was its parent?
'The parent of a demonic beast, what kind of dog-shit nonsense is that.'
The idea that it thinks I'm its parent because I'm the first thing it saw upon birth.
It was a commonly used story, but it didn't apply to demonic beasts.
Which meant...
Either this Jeoksusa was different from ordinary demonic beasts.
'Or something has changed about me.'
During my journey, demonic beasts had attacked several times. I had hunted them whenever I had the chance, but this had never happened before.
'What is it?'
The appearance of a red demonic beast, and now a baby demonic beast popping out of a demonic core.
I was already dying from the complexity of just one being added. Now two had appeared at once.
"Hah..."
It was truly a situation where only sighs came out.
Sss?
Hearing my sigh, the Jeoksusa peeked its head out as if asking what was wrong.
Seeing that, I slightly furrowed my brow and spoke.
"I'm going out, so go back inside."
As if understanding my words, the Jeoksusa slipped back into my sleeve and hid itself.
This little bastard, no matter how I look at it, seems to understand what I'm saying...?
'Is it really a different one?'
That was still unknown.
Whether this one was the offspring of the demonic beast I killed, or the same one. That was something I couldn't be sure of.
At this point, the easiest method would be to just kill it and be done with it.
But for some reason, I felt reluctant to kill it and stopped.
'I'll leave it for now.'
It seemed to listen, and it didn't feel like it was causing any particular harm.
I intended to leave it be for the time being.
For the time being.
Creak.
I opened the door and came outside.
After climbing the stairs a bit, the deck came into view.
It was nighttime, and the smell unique to river water wafted along with the night air.
When I came outside, there were already several people on the deck.
Most of them were those standing night watch.
Perhaps due to the incident during the day, the vigilance seemed unusually heightened.
I glanced at them and moved my feet.
There was someone I was looking for.
Walking to the very front of the ship, a figure sitting on the edge caught my eye.
I slowly approached him.
Perhaps sensing my presence, he turned his head toward me.
Perhaps because it was night, his green eyes seemed to shine particularly brightly.
I greeted him and asked.
"Why are you outside, Lord Tang Patriarch?"
"Lord Gu."
I faced the Tang Patriarch, the Poison King.
"It is late. You must be tired, so why are you outside?"
"...It is a night where sleep simply won't come."
"Is that so."
Judging by his expression, he seemed to have many worries.
Well, the appearance of a red demonic beast would be a major issue for the family heads.
Since they held countless sponsorships and reputations in the name of protecting the peace and safety of the region, they would be the most sensitive to unexpected anomalies.
Especially for the heads of prestigious families called the Four Great Families sitting in high positions, this would be even more true.
'Though that doesn't seem to be the only problem.'
There was an atmosphere suggesting another strange issue.
But it wasn't something I would point out and ask about. I doubted he would answer even if I asked.
After a brief greeting, the Poison King and I simply looked at each other without much conversation.
After a few seconds of silence passed.
Surprisingly, it was the Poison King who opened his mouth first.
"...What is it."
His voice was subtly laden with wariness. Why was he suddenly wary of me?
He hadn't seemed pleased, but he hadn't been wary either.
"I did not come to see you for any particular matter. I simply came out for a walk, and since you happened to be here..."
"I know you came to me with an intention."
"...!"
I swallowed a dry breath at the Poison King's words.
How did this man know? We hadn't even spoken much, and he had already caught on.
'This man, he's quick-witted.'
Indeed, he was exactly the kind of person I thought was the most patriarch-like among the current heads of the Four Great Families.
Thinking that inwardly, I pretended not to know on the outside.
"What intention? I do not understand what you mean."
"I know you are not someone who approaches others without intention."
"..."
Haha.
I let out a short laugh at the Poison King's words.
I fixed my expression, which I had somehow been maintaining as somewhat amicable, back to its original state.
There was no need for unnecessary acting since I had been completely caught anyway.
Noticing my expression had changed, the Poison King spoke to me with narrowed eyes.
"What do you desire."
Short words that needed no further explanation.
The Poison King already seemed to know what pretext I had approached him with.
That I had helped defeat the red demonic beast.
Truthfully, this wasn't something to expect anything from.
Even if I hadn't stepped forward, the red demonic beast would have been defeated.
However, if I hadn't stepped forward, there might have been more casualties due to the Jeoksusa's rampage.
It was something that could have been passed off with a simple 'thanks for saving us.'
But from the position of being responsible for the current transport, and as the Tang Family's patriarch, the Poison King could not easily let it pass.
Relationships were inherently like that.
And the responsibility one had to bear as a patriarch was like that.
Moreover.
'He seems wary of me, but this means he doesn't intend to ruin the relationship.'
The Poison King had not yet let go of the value and potential I held.
That was why he was asking about business first.
Feeling that, I slightly raised the corner of my mouth.
"No, I am not asking for something so large."
At my words, the Poison King's eyebrows furrowed. Since it meant there was something I wanted even if not large, he was displeased to hear it.
But the fact that he didn't say anything meant he was tacitly allowing it.
"It really isn't something big. Just..."
"Before that."
The moment I was about to make my request, the Poison King stopped me.
What was it?
"There is something I wish to ask you, Lord Gu."
"What is it?"
Something he wanted to ask me. I examined the Poison King with questioning eyes, and he asked.
"The weakness of the red-grade demonic beast. How did you know of it?"
"Mm."
Ah.
Only upon hearing that question did I understand.
The reason the Poison King was looking at me with wary eyes.
A red demonic beast appearing out of nowhere, a grade that hadn't appeared in hundreds of years—this was already astonishing enough.
But to see me hunt such a beast so nonchalantly must have made him view me even more strangely.
He probably didn't suspect I had done something, but it was certain he found something odd.
Ha.
'This is absurd.'
I had gone to the trouble of saving them, and he was suspicious of me?
Look at this man.
I could understand, but I couldn't help feeling displeased.
'I was even thinking of saving them from the bandit attack if things came to it.'
If I had rescued them from the subordinates Dangdeok had kept waiting to ambush, things would have gone a bit more smoothly without this.
The appearance of the red demonic beast had tangled things up.
Then where did the bandits waiting in ambush go?
'They all got eaten, of course.'
If they had been waiting in the vicinity at the time, they would have either fled at the sight of the red demonic beast or been eaten by it.
"Are you suspicious of me? That I intentionally tried to obstruct the transport?"
"I do not believe you had such intention."
"Then?"
"What I question is your actions at the time."
My appearance at the time, hunting the red demonic beast so nonchalantly.
Seeing the absurd membrane that absorbed internal energy, yet attacking it without a moment's hesitation—the Poison King meant he couldn't understand that.
"...How could you do such a thing. I cannot understand."
"There is no need for you to understand."
"What?"
The Poison King's face crumpled at my answer. Did he think I was being sarcastic?
"If you cannot understand, there is nothing to be done about it, is there?"
"What on earth does that mean?"
"I could see it the moment I looked. If you claim you cannot see what I could see, how am I to explain it to you?"
I had already prepared an answer for this when I went to hunt the demonic beast.
It wasn't an answer I had thought hard about.
Because it was simple.
"I could see it. Where its weakness was. That is all; I merely had the children capture it because of that."
"...!"
At my brazen words, the Poison King's expression changed.
From a crumpled expression to one of dejection.
My words did not mean anything special.
I could see it.
So I did it.
Is it my fault you couldn't?
That was roughly what I meant.
If someone else had said this, they would have been scolded for speaking such nonsense.
But what is the title by which the world calls me?
The youngest peak expert, and if rumors spread further, they would surely learn that I had reached the Transcendent Realm.
The Poison King already knew this fact, and reaching the Transcendent Realm at an age not yet in the prime of youth meant...
'It means I am an astronomical genius.'
In the Central Plains, they must already view me as a heaven-sent prodigy.
At first, that word had irritated me and made me cringe just hearing it.
But by now, I had somewhat given up.
Since it had come to this, I had to make good use of the rumors.
The Poison King's stunned expression felt particularly sweet.
"Such words... now..."
"If not this, did you think I had fought red demonic beasts before? Perhaps in a previous life?"
That's right. I had fought them since my previous life.
"I had intended to help you to the best of my ability. I did not expect to receive such suspicion... It pains my heart a little."
It didn't hurt at all.
Rather, I was inwardly pleased because I had caught him by the tail with my words.
At my relentless barrage of words, the Poison King's expression continued to waver.
I did it because I'm just that awesome. This excuse was always all-purpose.
One could say that when supported by rumors and power, one could use them however one wished.
See now? The Poison King was only moving his lips, unable to say anything.
"...My apologies. This was my mistake this time."
Though his suspicious gaze had not disappeared, the Poison King seemed to realize there was nothing to be done and offered an apology.
Seeing that, I pretended to relax my face slightly.
"It is fine... Thank you for apologizing."
Truthfully, having this conversation itself was merely bothersome.
But if I didn't clean up the aftermath, it could become even more bothersome later.
Moreover, since the Poison King had apologized first, the situation had become somewhat more favorable for making my request.
"Lord Tang Patriarch. If it is alright, may I ask one favor now?"
"...Speak."
"You need not be so guarded. It is not an enormous request."
Did he think I was going to ask for something tremendous?
It wasn't anything like that.
'It is big from my standpoint, but it probably isn't so large from the Poison King's standpoint.'
Because I was not asking for something material.
The Poison King seemed somewhat nervous about what I might ask.
But what came out of my mouth was nothing so grand.
I could have asked for an extremely expensive elixir, or a famed sword befitting the Tang Family's name as the Ironclad Family.
But what I wanted was...
"I have heard there is a lake in the Tang Family."
"Mm?"
At the sudden mention of a lake, a question appeared on the Poison King's face.
"They say it is called Dokri Lake..."
The legacy left behind by Dokjeolcheon, the hero who had stopped the Blood Demon in the past and the ancestor of the Tang Family.
A dangerous place where the water of the deep lake was composed entirely of deadly poison, so much so that ordinary people would die from poisoning just by approaching it.
Such poisonous water was also used as an ingredient for the poisons the Tang Family utilized.
Because it was impossible to determine where such water came from, people classified this as one of the strange objects as well.
"I have been curious about it since I was young. Might I see it once?"
I smiled as I spoke, but the Poison King's gaze did not change.
He had an expression of not understanding why I would want to see such a thing.
'Like I would want to see it.'
Why would anyone want to see such a dangerous place?
There was only one reason.
'The White Demon Stone.'
The space where this damned White Demon Stone was hidden.
Happened to be at the bottom of that lake.