Thank you to everyone who gave comments and coupons. Here we go with episode 156!
50. The Avatar of Magical Beasts and Power #3
Azidahaka covered his eyes with a tiara-like blindfold, hiding his dramatic peepers.
“After finally getting the chance to see freely, if you hide them again, what changes?”
In response to my question, Azidahaka quietly lifted the corners of his mouth, sporting a relaxed smile.
“There’s a big difference between being unable to see because of someone else’s oppression and choosing not to see of my own volition.”
“Oh, I see.”
As I nodded along, Azidahaka added, “Seeing too much is not always a good thing. Right now, after just starting to regain my sight, it’s just right that I can’t see too well.”
Come to think of it, when Azidahaka had his eyes open, he sometimes squinted as if the light was blinding him. Reminded of my friend who got LASIK and complained about bright lights, maybe he was experiencing something similar.
“But it’s really great that your arms and legs are free now.”
Azidahaka chuckled and moved his arms gracefully. With his restraints lifted, he moved with a newfound elegance and kindness that made him feel way posher than the clumsy Fire Dragon I once knew.
【Great! The tumors are being purified. If we keep pushing forward like this, we’ll be golden.】
Usir sprinkled the Elixir he had brought around like a confetti parade. The tumors let out bizarre screams as they turned to dust, rejoicing in their newfound freedom.
As we approached the area where Nialli’s heart was said to be, the tumors acted like gigantic roots or barbed wire, blocking our path in ways that ordinary methods couldn’t break through.
“Looks like they’re stopping us from getting in? I’m pretty sure there’s something on the other side.”
“Or maybe they’re preventing whatever’s in here from escaping,” I suggested.
【I’ll use the Elixir.】
Every time an obstacle popped up, we sprayed the Elixir, clearing the way without a second thought.
Usir trembled with glee, staring at the glass vial and the blue liquid inside.
【If we could produce more of this elixir, we might actually be able to uproot Nialli’s curse lodged at the top. Thank goodness the goddess didn’t suffer for hundreds of years in vain.】
“Being captured by humans has helped out quite a bit as well. If we hadn’t run into that White One in Royal Capital Jerusalem, we might never have finished the Elixir.”
It’s a case of hindsight, but Azidahaka and Usir put a pep in their step with positive vibes.
“Life’s full of surprises; you never really know how it’ll turn out.”
“Even with your magnificent eyes, you can’t see your own future, huh?”
“If I could, I would never have gotten into this situation in the first place. It’s more that I relied too much on my eyes, so I couldn’t see the faces of the people close to me.”
“Save the self-reflection for later. Right now is not the time to be gloomy; it’s a time to blaze bright!”
As the last slimy bit melted away, I suddenly spotted something flickering before me—a red flame-like object. As I got closer, I realized it wasn’t a flame at all, but rather the horns of some character.
Two prominent horns illuminated like will-o’-the-wisps on top of a head full of majestic glory!
【It’s him… the one who buried this tower in the depths of the desert, the labyrinth city, Sumer.】
Usir’s voice dripped with raw fear and shivers.
‘Is that the mighty Guki…?’
I looked over at the massive man sitting with a splendid posture on a broken stone statue, casually spreading his legs wide.
He had a muscular upper body exuding raw masculinity, with long, flowing black hair like a cloak. His pants looked like they were made from some kind of beast fur, cinched at the waist like a belt, creating a vibe that screamed mythological hero. The colossal fan he was slamming onto the ground was probably that famous one with the palm leaves.
This ultimate mythical creature, known by various names like Demon King Gyuki, Great Strength King, and Ruthless Tyrant, was sitting confidently right in front of me.
“It’s been a while, Guki. Would you mind moving aside? I need to have a word with the door behind you.”
“….”
In response to Azidahaka, the Demon King Gyuki slowly opened his eyes to scrutinize us.
His shining black eyes peeked through his luxurious hair. His tightly pressed lips and angular jawline gave him a look that was somehow stern, yet still exhibited that timeless beauty unique to mythical beings.
While the slim and sickly image of Ilgast might evoke a quirky, decadent scholar, Gyuki felt like someone who could easily chew up a watermelon whole, seed and all.
“….”
Demon King Guki said nothing and closed his eyes again. He merely stretched out the fan he held, blocking the passage behind him.
Without saying a word, I could instantly tell he wasn’t going to let us through to Nialli’s heart.
Azidahaka, looking nervous, clasped his fists to his chest and responded in a trembling voice.
“Guki, I know you were ordered to guard this place from Nialli, but…”
“It wasn’t an order; it was a request. I listen to no one’s commands.”
Guki interrupted Azidahaka with a tone so firm and steady, even as a fellow male, it sounded magnificent.
Azidahaka trembled; fear coursed through him like a jolt.
In battles among mythical creatures and beasts, there’s a thing called ‘matchups’, and Azidahaka was at such a complete disadvantage against this Demon King that he had no choice but to adopt a calm demeanor and negotiate instead.
The Fire Dragon Azidahaka could beat the rat that is Nialli, and Nialli could deal with Guki, who could squash Azidahaka in an instant.
Call it a rock-paper-scissors dynamic of sorts.
With a small sigh, Azidahaka spoke in a shaky voice.
“Well, yes, you don’t follow anyone’s commands, I know. But you’ve already been guarding this place for nearly a thousand years without a drop of water…?”
“….”
At Azidahaka’s words, Guki fell silent again, standing imposingly like a heavy rock barricading our way.
‘Guki…’
I recalled the conversation I had overheard about the creature Guki.
When the World Tree was recruiting twelve mythical creatures for a contract, despite arriving first, he got outsmarted and lost the first spot to Nialli.
If that was true, one could be angry or vengeful against Nialli, yet Guki appeared to be a diligent errand boy obediently fulfilling all of Nialli’s requests.
I gazed at Fire Dragon Azidahaka and Demon King Guki, briefly contemplating. Azidahaka had talked about using his tail to defeat this guy, but looking at the current situation and atmosphere, that seemed utterly impossible.
‘Am I going to have to fight this guy?’
I quickly assessed Demon King Guki’s strength. His thick, powerful arms and muscular build wrapped in an armor-like façade reminded me of the rocky Batus.
Adam and Batus warned that it’s best to avoid fighting Guki due to his overwhelming strength—this dude right in front of me.
I heard that his combat style was straightforward, just muscular brute force, yet capable of pounding mountains and slamming towers down below in a simple, effective manner.
‘Breaking a bone or two would be nothing. But it looks like there’s no other way.’
With a readiness to lose a lot, I prepared to launch myself forward, extending my claws.
Azidahaka, clearly still having more to say, sidled up closer to Guki, using a gentle voice.
“Guki, I know you harbor good feelings for Nialli. I would assume that’s why the strongest of mythical beings like you follow someone as meager as her, right?”
“Yes. I love Nialli.”
━━ Oh dear.
An exasperated sigh slipped from my lips. My front paws and hind paws shrunk back in horror like a frightened snail.
He just boldly declared that? Is he devoid of any sense of shame?
‘Well, that explains it.’
I finally understood why Guki had become a docile puppy under Nialli’s commands. A man in love will go to great lengths, performing the silliest of acts for the woman he adores.
“Azidahaka, I harbor no grudges against you. I’ve committed to meeting Nialli here. So, I can’t let you pass.”
With a stoic and firm voice that carried both sincerity and a hint of stubbornness, I felt a surprising sense of déjà vu creeping in.
‘This type… I swear I’ve seen it somewhere before. A familiar face!’
“But Guki, have you made any guarantees about when that will be? It’s been over a thousand years, and Nialli has yet to show up! You’ve summoned only her heart here, and the tip of her long tail is nowhere in sight!”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
Guki opened his eyes slightly. I noticed his expression of deep confusion, and hope surged within me that perhaps this situation might unravel more easily than expected.
“Guki, you’ve been duped by Nialli. You’re merely being used.”
“But she entrusted me with her heart, as if it were her own life. She must care for me deeply. She wouldn’t deceive me. No way.”
Guki was speaking more to himself than addressing Azidahaka, his hopeful musings and self-reassuring beliefs mapping out a picture of a fish flopping helplessly in a net.
“Nialli wouldn’t have betrayed me. She likes me. She stroked my shoulder with her slender fingers and patted my back, playfully! She even laughed at my terrible jokes! That’s solid proof she likes me, right?”
━━ For crying out loud…
I could hardly stand to hear another word from him, rage for his dreadful naivety rising inside me.
‘This dude is clueless! A trophy fish caught in Nialli’s net!’
“But Guki, doesn’t Nialli treat everyone that way? She did the same to the likes of Mab and Fenrir, even me, a woman!”
“True, but my conviction in her feelings isn’t just because of such actions. Nialli told me I’d make a good husband for her. She said I’ll be a great dad. That definitely means she wants to marry me, right? To unite, and then have kids….”
Demon King Guki faltered, choking on his own words, refusing to continue. Perhaps he felt embarrassed by the thought of making babies.
━━ So you mean to say that you think Nialli wants to mate with you, huh? That you want to… You know, do the deed with her?
“Ma-mating? Cough! How could I even…?”
Guki was clearly flustered in a way I’d never seen before. Seriously, he had no problem declaring his love but suddenly froze up at the mention of something s*xual?
‘Ah, I’ve seen this before. A friend of mine…’
Though every individual varies, men who lack experience in love often make the silliest blunders.
On top of that, it looked like this idiot was caught in an exploitive relationship instead of a genuine romance with the crafty Nialli.
“Eventually, I would like to have kids for sure. But that’s a story for the distant future. I’m different from those other males who only care for her body. I respect her free spirit above all. So, I vowed to protect her purity until marriage.”
━ So you were hurt by other guys, and wanted to wait until marriage for a physical relationship, huh? But still, considering how well you’ve gotten to know each other, it’s possible she might’ve discussed having a relationship before marriage sometime too.
“Yeah, how’d you know? That was supposed to be our secret…?”
━ Well, that makes sense.
A lament escaped my lips involuntarily.
[Author’s Note] If you enjoyed reading, please tap the recommendation button at the top of your mobile screen! Just two seconds of your time can bring happiness to this writer!
