Chapter 140
Whether the shock therapy was effective this time, the mother Basian’s eyes were clearer than before.
She not only recognized her son, Baembaem, but also conveyed words of gratitude to Asil and Edenber.
“Shik, shik, shiiiiik.”
“She says thank you, thanks to you she was able to regain her senses. Though her head hurts a lot.”
“Shik-shik, shik.”
“She says this is the first time she learned that there are kind humans among humans. She says to just say the word and she will give you whatever you need.”
As Asil’s translation ended, the Basian plucked out two of her scales and proudly held them out.
The body of a Basian is filled with mana, making any part of it an excellent magical material.
If mages had received these scales, they likely would have shed tears of joy.
However, Edenber and Asil declined, saying they were fine.
“Shik…….”
“Kkuruk…….”
The Basian was flustered by the unexpectedly lukewarm response.
Equally flustered, Baembaem fluttered his wings and gestured with his head toward his mother’s fangs.
He meant she should pull out a fang for them instead.
“No, don’t pull them out!”
This fellow Baembaem, I thought he cared for his mother, but he’s an unfilial son! Asil quickly dissuaded them.
Then, she soothed the Basian, who was saddened because she had nothing to give.
“The thought alone is enough. Thank you.”
“Shik…….”
However, the Basian was already dejected by the fact that her scales were useless.
Meanwhile, Baembaem had now climbed onto his mother’s head and was trying to pluck out the horn that looked like a rooster’s comb.
“Baembaem!”
No matter how much you want to repay a favor, impiety is bad! Asil hugged Baembaem tightly and came down to the floor.
Right as she was educating him that he shouldn’t do that, footsteps were heard from the entrance of the basement.
It was Snowa in his snow leopard form and Todori.
Snowa, who ran straight to Asil the moment he saw her, snatched Baembaem away.
“Why are you two stuck together!”
Not stopping there, he pushed Edenber’s leg with his head, telling him not to stay close to his sister either.
“You don’t stick to my sister either! More importantly, let’s get out of here quickly, Asil. Thanks to Father causing a ruckus, if we go now, we can leave without being noticed by the humans.”
Then, realizing belatedly that Edenber was also a human, he jumped in surprise so much that the fur all over his body stood on end.
“A human heard me speak! To think he found out I’m a beastman!”
“He already knew everything, Oppa.”
“Wh-what?”
“Let’s just get out first. Auntie, you follow us too!”
I don’t know what Daddy did, but it was an opportunity.
Asil headed toward the entrance while pushing Snowa, who was dazed with Baembaem in his mouth.
However, the Basian did not follow and just stared at them from her spot.
At that sight, Asil gestured with her front paw.
“Come quickly!”
Then the Basian shook her head, saying she wouldn’t go.
No, why?!
“Shishik, shik, shiiiiik.” (I’m going to get revenge on the humans who dared to make me like this before I go.)
The Basian, looking frustrated just thinking
about it, shook her massive head threateningly.
“Shiiik, shik, shik.” (I heard they’re going to send me out to a place called the Thanksgiving Festival; I’m going to go out and wipe out all the humans there.)
“No!”
What are you saying right now! Asil rushed to the front of the Basian and spoke passionately.
“There aren’t only bad humans at the Thanksgiving Festival! There are many kind humans like Edenber too!”
“Shik…….”
“You don’t have to give me anything, so don’t attack innocent humans. Got it?”
“Shik…….”
Unfitting for her terrifying appearance, the Basian became dejected again.
It seemed she was sad that her revenge plan had been thwarted.
Seeing that, Asil felt a pang in her heart.
Right, she was treated badly by Karon, so it’s natural she’d want revenge.
In the past, my kindergarten teacher also said that favors and revenge must definitely be repaid at least twofold.
At that moment, a good idea popped into Asil’s head.
‘If I do this, I can get revenge without harming kind humans, and it will also be a great help to Lilibet Unnie and Bjorn Oppa!’
Asil flew up to where the Basian’s head
was and whispered into her ear.
“……Shik!”
The Basian’s eyes sparkled upon hearing the proposal.
The tip of her tail spinning like a pinwheel suggested she liked Asil’s plan quite a lot.
The Marquis of Skya’s mansion, which Asil’s group had left, was completely devastated.
There were no casualties, but more than half of the mansion had collapsed.
Furthermore, people who had seen Arcian’s true form were peeking around the mansion, wondering if something had happened.
“I heard they received divine punishment…… The Duke of Sunrise saw it personally……”
“I heard the Duke of Starafit is also a witness……”
“Hey, you there! Is there a show going on? Go away quickly!”
Skya’s knights tried to drive away the onlookers, but it was useless.
Everyone pretended to go on their way while lingering nearby, then swarmed back the moment the knights went elsewhere.
The fact that the once-majestic Marquis’s mansion had collapsed in an instant was more stimulating than any entertainment.
Moreover, hadn’t they been saying just recently that they had a new Divine Beast due to divine blessing, only to now say they received divine punishment?
Naturally, eyes couldn’t help but be drawn to it.
Meanwhile, Karon was in no state of mind to worry about the attention of others.
“The Basian?!”
He remained dazed for a long while even after the Dukes left, before finally regaining his senses and rushing to the basement.
Fortunately, the Basian was fine.
Judging by the damage throughout the basement, it seemed there had been a fierce fight.
The fact that she didn’t have a single scratch meant she had seemingly defeated the winged lizard and the Basian hatchling that had been put in earlier.
A staggering Karon slumped down in relief and muttered with a vacant face.
“As long as I have the Basian, that’s enough. Just the Basian……”
Karon had no belief in God at all.
That was why he didn’t believe the black dragon when it identified itself as a messenger of God earlier. He naturally let the warning go in one ear and out the other.
He didn’t know what that black dragon’s true identity was.
However, now that things had turned out this way, he couldn’t back down even more.
He absolutely had to show that a new Divine Beast had appeared at the Thanksgiving Festival.
Otherwise, they would become a family that received divine punishment for lying in the name of God.
The next day.
Karon, who had stayed up all night tidying
up the trashed mansion, rushed to the Great Temple as soon as day broke.
He was going to settle the situation since the rumor that he had received divine punishment had spread widely.
Sure enough, the atmosphere at the Great Temple was not good.
Wherever he went, priests frowned and avoided him as if they were dealing with a plague patient.
There were even those calling for the Inquisitors.
‘These damn bastards!’
Karon ground his teeth while running to avoid the Inquisitors.
Those who had been fawning to get in line when he spread the rumor of receiving a new divine blessing were turning their backs faster than anyone else.
‘Just you wait. I’ll make you regret this soon!’
Karon hurled all sorts of insults at the priests as he headed toward the place where the former High Priest of Skya was staying.
The former High Priest of Skya was the one who had been responsible for managing the Divine Beast Aether back when Skya was a ducal house.
However, as Aether disappeared and Skya was demoted to a Marquis house, he had become an ordinary priest.
In the meantime, he had fallen for the temptation of Karon and the Crown Prince, who promised to let him regain power, and was in a state of having promised to use holy power to make it appear as if they had received a divine blessing.
But…….
As soon as the former High Priest saw Karon, he said:
“I am backing out of this matter.”
“It’s all a misunderstanding.”
Knowing this would happen, Karon had rushed to the Great Temple as soon as day broke.
Karon made the former High Priest, who was rising from his seat as if there were nothing more to say, sit back down and spoke calmly.
“I did not receive divine punishment.”
“Then what was that dragon that appeared at the mansion?”
“……It seems something strange was mixed in among the animals I smuggled for personal needs. It is absolutely not divine punishment from God, so do not doubt me.”
“Hah, really!”
At the mention of smuggling animals, the former High Priest clicked his tongue and made the sign of the cross.
Seeing the expression that looked like he wouldn’t buy it, a cornered Karon used his final method.
“If you back out now, I will tell everyone that you, Priest, took my side.”
“What?!”
“From the moment you accepted my proposal, Priest, we have been in the same boat.”
“……The, the Crown Prince sent someone at dawn. He gave word to end this matter here!”
“If we end it here, I will spread the rumor that the reason I received divine
punishment is all because of the Crown Prince, and that you told me the Crown Prince’s divine punishment was transferred to me.”
“……!”
The speechless former High Priest gaped.
To dare threaten the Crown Prince and him together, is this human truly insane!
But even if he were truly insane, there was no way out. If such a rumor spread, it would be the end for both him and the Crown Prince.
He glared fiercely at Karon before finally parting his lips with difficulty.
“……Success is certain, right?”
“Of course.”
“……I will keep this a secret from the Crown
Prince. It is a great sin to go ahead against orders, but as long as we succeed, there shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Naturally.”
Karon gave a soft smile as if to reassure the former High Priest.
However, the dark complexion of the former High Priest showed no sign of brightening.
Thus, a few days later.
The Divine Beast Thanksgiving Festival,
upon which everyone’s future depended, began.
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