### Chapter 159: Beauty and the Beast #2
【You really outdid yourself this time. I never thought you’d come this far!】
Nialli chuckled, flicking her fingers. Suddenly, a black mist swirled around her, forming a dress that looked suspiciously like a mix between a swimsuit and a belly dancer outfit.
【Hey, White Magical Beast! Fancy meeting you here again. Do you know how much I missed you? But to think you were hanging out with that creepy lizard while I wasn’t around—what a letdown!】
“Hey, Nialli, who are you calling creepy?! And what guts to show your face in front of me!”
Azidahaka belched fire, and it collided with Nialli, who suddenly burst into flames and screeched, “Sizzle!”
“Well, that takes care of her.”
━Don’t speak too soon. Even dead bodies can come back to life.
I saw the black poison clinging to the ground. The poison morphed back into Nialli’s form.
━See? She’s really back from the dead.
【You little nuisance! You’re throwing a tantrum without even hearing me out. No sense of decency whatsoever!】
“That’s only you, Nialli!”
Whoosh.
Once again, flames erupted from Azidahaka’s mouth and shot toward Nialli. But she waved her hand and formed a gigantic wall of poison.
【Your fire doesn’t really match my vibe, you know. But I’m one determined beast! Don’t assume you’ll always be on top of me!】
Nialli clapped her hands, and the heart that had been stirring in the corner of the room emitted a strange sound, “Gurgle!”
Swoosh.
“Cough, cough… Gah!”
The poison emitted from the heart must have attacked Azidahaka’s throat, making the Fire Dragon cough violently.
【Since I attacked your throat, there’s no way you can spit out that ugly flame now. So annoying, honestly! For real, Azidahaka, it’s not just a few trivial messes you’ve caused, you know? If you hadn’t bolted from the forest, we wouldn’t have to deal with all this! Because of your escape, the Mythical Creatures can’t freely leave the forest!】
“Cough, cough, don’t blame it all on me! Mother World Tree increased the forest’s barriers partly because of you!”
【Well, that’s true. But who cares? Either way, you all have to d*e here and become part of my power!】
Shadows poured from Nialli’s body, morphing into blob-like, tentacled rats. Soon, her rat tentacles wreaked havoc throughout the room.
“N-Nialli, are you planning to k*ll me too?!”
Guki, caught by the tentacles that extended from the heart, cried out desperately.
【Oh, right. You were here too. Sorry, didn’t notice. Hmm, what to do?】
“I’ve protected your heart for a thousand years! I kept my promise!”
【Yeah, can’t just ditch that. But I’m allowed to ditch you. And honestly, Guki, you’re just too boring. Being around you is so tedious it’s yawn-worthy!】
“B-But I could be your husband…”
【Hahaha!】
Nialli erupted into a fit of uncontrollable laughter at Guki’s words, to the point where tears slipped out.
【That was the funniest thing I’ve heard in the last three thousand years, Guki! Right, you did say that. Sorry, but that’s a lie. You probably thought so back then, but looking back, you’re more suited as food than a husband!】
A crescent-shaped grin split across Nialli’s pale face. Those sharp teeth were quite unsettling.
“W-You’re planning to eat me…?”
【Absolutely! I can see the look in your eyes. That clueless male gaze, desperate to become one with me. You were perfect for playing with—such delicious naivety mixed with surprising strength! Now I’ll fulfill your wish and let you become one with me. You’ll get your chance to enter me. Though, that means through the upper entrance! No need for thanks! We can call it even since you’ve guarded my heart for a thousand years!】
“Gah, Nialli! Stop it! You tricked me!”
【Yell all you want.】
Despite Guki’s usual dim-wittedness, at this point, he fully realized he had been played by Nialli. But it was too late. He was swallowed by the tide of rat tentacles, his dark hair disappearing from view.
━I’ve lived like a madman, but I’ve never seen anything as vile as you.
Watching Nialli toss aside Guki, who had been thoroughly devoted to her, made me shake my head in disbelief.
Sure, I had tricked Leaf the Raccoon and made his life miserable, but I couldn’t imagine eating him.
【Really? I thought you’d understand my feelings, White Magical Beast. You’re also a beast that enjoys sowing discord and hurting others, aren’t you? The treachery hidden behind your innocent facade can’t be concealed by your cute appearance!】
Nialli approached me and gently caressed my face and chin.
━Well, that’s an open insult.
But I couldn’t really argue. Because Nialli was right; I had a history of leading various beasts to their doom with my silver tongue and quick wit.
【I meant it as a compliment, you know? I guess our ears perceive things differently!】
Lick.
Nialli’s slim tongue poked at my ear. A thrilling sensation ran down my spine, causing a chill to creep through me.
【Nothing’s quite as entertaining as you. Over the years, you’re the only beast that hasn’t gone according to my whims. How should you become mine?】
“Stop it, Nialli! White One, what are you doing! Kick Nialli out already!”
Azidahaka, writhing in agony from the poison, shouted. Nialli flinched at the response, then broke into a bewildered laugh.
【Why such a strong reaction? I’ve always seduced beasts like this! Aha, I get it. You must like this guy, huh?】
Nialli wrapped her arms around my neck from behind.
【Don’t tell me you’ve been with this white one? The whole forest would be shocked if they found out!】
“Y-You have no right to meddle! Get off me!”
【Nope, you’ve ignored my words too. You’re too weak to move a finger because of the poison, right? So just watch quietly. Watch as this white beast you fancy succumbs to my glorious body!】
“Enough! White One, why are you just standing there? Do something!”
【Yelling won’t help. There’s no way a male could escape from this enticing body! You wouldn’t understand, being a virgin for so long!】
Nialli’s arms coiled around me, pressing down with her massive chest and soft thighs, massaging me with a gentle touch.
【You don’t understand males, Azidahaka. They’re all the same in the end. You’ll never know, since you’ve been raised so nobly. Never!】
The Ancient Nest, known as the Banquet Hall of the Gods. It’s said to be a treasure trove brimming with exotic ingredients and formidable beasts, reaching the pinnacle of flavor.
All beasts dwelling in the Nest typically use their abilities and talents to hunt others, eating to strengthen themselves.
“Survival by eating or exploiting something.”
That’s true not just in the Nest’s forest but for all living creatures.
Yet the black rat at the bottom of the food chain survived by being the one “eaten.”
━Hey, hurry up and get that juice flowing. We came all the way to this damp cave for it!
━Get out of the way, you loser! Touch it right, and it’ll come out.
Squish, squish.
Ugh.
The painful moans poured from the black rat’s mouth, but rejecting their touch was not an option for the rat.
The four-legged beasts mounted Nialli, unleashing brutal violence.
━Ugh, must be the descendant of a mythical beast—the pressure is something else. It’s like I’ve got tentacles and tongues in my belly. I can’t stop coming to this far-off place for this taste. Must be the mixed bl**d with a mythical creature that makes it so special!
━Feeling aroused by something that looks human, you’re such a true pervert.
━Shut up, kid! You’re just as bad.
━Exactly! That’s why we’re friends! Haha! So hurry up and squeeze it out, you little brat.
Laughter and mockery—what they tossed as food barely appalled the black rat; it was their only source of sustenance.
“Eww, just wait. Someday you’ll all be groveling at my feet. All of you—everyone in this world…!”
But the black rat was a pitiful, weak creature. Even though it descended from a mythical being, its power was several times weaker than a normal beast. That’s why it had been captured by the pack, sequestered in the cave.
Once, it had hidden from others, munching on fresh grass and fruit, avoiding prying eyes, but alas, venturing into the night forest was a suicidal act.
━I’m sorry, I’m sorry… Never again…
Endless apologies flowed from the black rat for having stepped foot in the night forest.
━Haha, this one’s begging again.
━What on earth did you do wrong? Sure, the grip has loosened a bit. Didn’t we say not to hand you over to others? Fragile little brat! I might just eat you! You have to face the consequences of your sins!
Smack, smack.
━Ugh. Ugh, cough.
If anyone could, I just wanted someone to end this miserable life of mine.
It was in that moment.
“Is this the cave where that extraordinary food is?”
━Where did this guy come from?
━If you want to eat him, come back next time, brat! We’re about to feast tonight!
“Hmm.”
━Haha, sorry man. We took a while. We just devoured a Wildling and are bursting with strength tonight.
━What’re you staring at? Shouldn’t you scram? Want to taste d*ath!?
“Strength does seem promising. Good material.”
It all happened in a flash. The towering violence that had oppressed me gave in to an even stronger and more terrifying force.
“They aren’t worth it. You’re the last one left.”
━Eep…
Nialli shivered at the sight of the black beast. The moment she thought about wanting to d*e vanished in an instant—the might and aura of the black beast were spine-chilling.
‘Y-You are a mythical being…! Not a loser like me…!’
Why had this noble creature, known as the aristocrat of the forest, come all the way to this shabby cave? The black rat was overwhelmed by unbearable fear and ended up wetting itself.
The man looking down at it wasn’t gazing at it with lust like the other males; instead, it was the gaze of a true apex predator, looking at genuine ‘food.’
‘W-I’m going to be eaten…!’
But contrary to the black rat’s trembling thoughts, the black man wrinkled his nose at the stench.
“The rumors must be wrong. You’re too small and skinny. Eating you would only leave me hungrier.”
His eyes were cold and emotionless, as if he thought the black rat was dirty and unworthy of even a glance.
The black man turned and walked outside the cave. Nialli found a strange determination rising within her. The sheer sorrow of her situation brought her to the brink of tears. Perhaps it was because she had encountered such overwhelming fear that her mind broke.
━I’m not even worth eating!? I’m filthy!?
“……”
As the black man stepped outside the cave, he slowly turned back. His eyes were filled with a faint anger mixed with curiosity.
Why was it that memories from long forgotten times were resurfacing? Perhaps it was because I felt a connection to that man from back then, wrapped up in the creature clinging to my body.
‘Why, why is there no reaction?’
The black rat, Nialli, frowned at the sight of the unmoving white beast.
Despite exerting herself fully to seduce, even with alluring, tantalizing touches that could tempt the same gender, why was this male entirely unresponsive?
“Stop it! Ugggh, cough! Cough!”
Instead, the horned woman in front of me screamed in agony, her reaction outshining everything.
‘Aha, how fun! Tormenting this Azidahaka like this is entertaining enough.’
From the start, I had sensed that I wouldn’t be able to bond with the Fire Dragon.
Unlike me, born from the depths of the earth, he had been born noble from the beginning. Strutting around with his glittering scales.
That Fire Dragon probably didn’t even know he had to sweat for his food.
‘Disgusting.’
I felt like throwing up.
Just watching Azidahaka suffer was worth it enough to toy with and disturb this white beast.
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