I Became an Evolving Lizard in a Martial Arts Novel-Chapter 317

Actually, this is what I had been hoping for the most.

I had to drop by the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace and look for Gigano anyway.

There was a request from the previous Gomodo, and I needed the information on Spino he offered as compensation.

And, well, I was personally curious about this guy called Gigano too.

The problem was how to approach him, but now it’s been solved so conveniently.

I got lucky.

Seriously, just listening to Nephila seems to drop a Gerorong in my lap even in my sleep.

Let’s head out right now!

...is what I wanted to say, but I’m a smart lizard.

Accepting right away would be suspicious.

Even if they didn’t let me go, I was planning to head there anyway, and if they tried to stop me, I was going to cling to someone’s back in my lizard form and follow along.

But there’s no need to let anyone know I had that in mind.

Push and pull is important, no matter when or where.

“Gehk...”

Ah, I really don’t want to go.

I groaned like that, trying to sound genuinely unwilling.

I’m going to pretend like I have no choice but to go, only because of Master and Seolhwa’s request.

That way I might be able to squeeze at least one more Gerorong out of this.

“Yes, I’m sure Hui has gone through a lot. We’re always grateful for all you do for the Heavenly Demon Cult.”

“Gehk gehk.”

If you’re going to go that far, then I guess I have no reason not to go...

“Yes, though you are my disciple, you are truly commendable.”

Master sat me on her thigh and gently patted my head.

It felt like my face was melting.

“Geeeehng...”

My tail swayed instinctively, but I had to keep a troubled expression.

I hadn’t gotten what I wanted yet.

I stared straight at Seolhwa.

Seolhwa flinched slightly when our eyes met.

“Your face looks a little pointier than usual...?”

You're right, it is pointier.

Because there’s still something I’m owed from you.

“Gerong.”

You promised to give it to me last time, but I still haven’t received it.

I’ll be using this opportunity to make sure I get it for real.

“Ugh, fine. I’ll try convincing the Cult Leader...”

At those words, Master tilted her head.

As if to say, “What on earth are you talking about?”

So that’s how it is, huh.

You haven’t even asked yet?

Not that you failed to convince her—you didn’t even try?

That’s a count of contemptuous behavior, added to your charges.

“Gkerong.”

“Gke... even Gerorong now?”

No, no. That’s not Gerorong.

“Gerurung.”

“Gerurung is not allowed!”

Seolhwa’s face turned bright red.

But it can’t be helped.

If you want me to do something, you have to offer the proper reward.

“What in the world is this 'Gerurung' that you're making such a fuss about?”

Master asked with an exasperated expression, but I wasn’t about to explain it out loud.

*

After dramatic negotiations, it was finally decided—I’d be going to the Southern Barbarian region.

When I said I was heading to the south, Shik-Shik and the Serpent Queen smothered me with rice rolls.

Especially the Serpent Queen—her tail squeeze had gotten way stronger than before, and I barely managed to escape.

I almost ended up stuck there for a month.

Just like Jaekjaeki, pitifully sprawled out on the floor.

Fasir seemed like she wanted to come with me, but her internal energy wasn’t fully stabilized yet, so she couldn’t.

Focusing on stabilizing her energy while eating the elixirs and warm meals provided by the Heavenly Demon Cult—that was the best way she could help me right now.

It goes without saying, but I couldn’t go to the Southern region alone.

The proper route would be for the Heavenly Demon Cult to assign a few people to go with me, but... I didn’t want that.

Just maintaining human form steadily drains my internal energy.

So when I’m with people who know my real form, I stick to lizard mode for comfort.

Traveling all the way to the Southern Barbarian region with people from the Cult who don’t know my real form?

That’d be exhausting.

Even if I revealed my identity, it wouldn’t be a huge deal, but people might misunderstand and think that all the shady, lecherous things done by an unknown lizard were actually my doing.

That’s why I’m ruling out any humans from the Heavenly Demon Cult.

The companions accompanying me to the Southern region will be...

“Kiyong!”

First up: the Left and Right Dharma Protectors of the Gae Gak Sect.

Tus and Pus.

“Kiyeng!”

Our cute little spider sisters, despite their looks, have some terrifying combat power.

They can turn a peak martial artist into a real dumpling in seconds.

The fact that So-Yeong hasn’t been turned into a dumpling yet shows just how patient these two really are.

To prepare for what’s ahead, I’ll need to sharpen Tus and Pus’s combat instincts even more.

They’ve gotten exponentially stronger, but they’ve hardly had any real combat experience.

This journey to the Southern region should be a valuable opportunity for them.

Since Tus and Pus are coming, their older sister Nephila would normally be coming too.

But this time, she’s staying behind.

She’s got duties in the Heavenly Demon Cult.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Seolhwa, who calls Nephila a “little priestess,” was helping guide her cultivation.

Apparently, she’s teaching her how to wield divine powers properly—a rare and valuable opportunity, especially coming from someone like Seolhwa.

Besides, that divine power of priestesses is beyond my understanding. It’s better for Nephila to stay here with Seolhwa than to come with me.

Nephila looked like she wanted to come too, but she held back and chose to stay.

Of course, I got bitten several times for leaving her behind.

...Yes, I mean that literally. I actually got bitten.

Nephila’s fangs sank into my neck multiple times.

We also need a guide.

I roughly know the direction, but it’s a dense jungle—we won’t find the way so easily.

We need someone who knows the route to the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace well.

Someone who also knows my true identity.

“Well, I like it here though...”

So I dragged Hoya away while she was busy toasting bread.

She’s originally from the Southern region, so she should know the way well.

“If it’s just a diplomatic mission... well, as long as we’re not ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ going there to fight, I guess it’s fine.”

Since Gigano stole her territory, she might as well come along and get some payback.

“We are going as envoys, right?”

“Gehk gehk.”

Next candidate: Lizamoun.

Her powers are simple, but overwhelming.

A house-sized dragon who controls fire.

That kind of destructive power would be a serious asset in the south.

The Southern Barbarian Beast Palace is hidden deep in a dense jungle.

With poisonous bugs and vicious beasts lurking around, Lizamoun could neutralize all of them with a single breath.

Her power is the natural counter to the Palace.

Just a few big ol’ fire runes from the sky and they’d probably self-destruct on the spot.

But we can’t use her this time.

Because our goal isn’t to wipe out the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace.

We’re going strictly as envoys.

A small scuffle (i.e., beating the crap out of Gigano) is fine, but burning the entire jungle down is a no-go.

The Flame Dragon said she’d behave, but that’s easier said than done.

And the biggest issue is...

Lizamoun is a known figure.

Having the leader of Mount Hwa show up as an envoy from the Heavenly Demon Cult?

They’d be shocked for several reasons.

If it were a spirit beast like Tus or Pus, whose face wasn’t widely known, they might just think, “Oh, must be a creature raised by the Heavenly Demon Cult,” but Lizamoun? No way.

So Lizamoun can’t join us.

If this were a war mission, her power would’ve been perfect. But it’s not a war.

Which means this envoy team ends with Tus, Pus, and Hoya.

But even that presents a problem.

A very fatal one.

We have no pouch.

Truly a tragedy.

Sure, Hoya is here, but I’m not some pervy lizard who gropes at just any pouch.

I’m the type to ask for permission like a gentleman.

I can’t go poking around another spirit beast’s pouch, especially not one who isn’t even a follower.

Besides, Hoya has a tendency to shift into... questionable forms, so she’s a no-go on multiple levels.

Also, I needed someone flashy. Someone with large-scale techniques.

The reason’s simple.

I need someone who can cover for my transformation.

If I arrive at the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace in human form and a fight breaks out right away?

Turning back into a lizard would out me as a spirit beast on the spot.

If someone could use a big technique to hide me, it would solve everything.

Sure, it’s just a half-assed excuse, but if I stick to my story, they won’t be able to call me out.

If I brought Lizamoun, I could’ve solved both problems in one go.

Gotten a warm pouch and some flashy magic cover.

But I can’t bring her.

So what should I do?

I’ll just have to go find someone myself.

Tch. Should be about time to arrive by now.

“Croargh!”

I see the shadow of a Wyvern.

Thanks to the Flame Dragon’s training, the Wyvern’s become a solid transport.

“When did you catch this one? ...Would be convenient to have one just sitting in a nest.”

A cold-sounding voice, but one that clearly couldn’t hide its delight upon seeing me.

Good combat ability, no identity issues, has a pouch, and can use flashy techniques.

The one I decided to bring is none other than Baekrang.

She holds the unique “accounting” position among my followers and will be a huge asset on this journey.

Also, personally, I want to help her develop her powers more.

She kept getting overshadowed by Lizamoun—and after that one evolved, the gap only widened further.

Baekrang hopped down from the Wyvern’s back.

“I didn’t come to help you, okay? I’m here because I get to take a break from work for a while, so don’t get the wrong idea. You have no clue how exhausting it is, living with those dual-horned beasts...”

Fwip fwip fwip.

Despite her words, her tail was wagging at lightning speed.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh.

Her pupils widened as she looked at my face.

“Y-you... why do you look like that?”

Why do I look like this?

Because it’s easier to ride the Wyvern in human form, obviously.

...Wait.

Would Baekrang hate seeing me like this?

She always sang praises about how fur was better than scales, so she might hate my human appearance too.

I was just about to consider shifting into a small lizard again.

Tap.

Baekrang’s white hand grabbed my sleeve.

“...Hey.”

She lowered her head slightly and spoke very softly.

So no one else could hear—only me.

“Lately... Chillang’s been looking a bit lonely, you know?”

Chillang’s lonely?

My adorable little furball...!

Once this is over, I’ll have to spend some time with Chillang and the other wolves.

Baekrang’s tail wagged even faster.

She looked like she had something to say, but stayed silent for a while.

Baekrang hesitated, not saying a word.

As the seconds passed, her pale face gradually turned bright red.

Was she feeling sick or something?

I was just about to ask if something was wrong, when her lips moved.

“So... what I mean is...”

She dragged her words, not too fast, not too slow.

She seemed to glance around, then stepped closer while still holding onto my sleeve.

Close enough for me to feel her breath.

With her face red as a beet, Baekrang quietly whispered in my ear.

“Wanna have a niece with me?”

...How did we end up here?

Didn’t we skip, like, a whole lot of context?