NOVEL NEXT Chapter 179
Translator: Marctempest
Editor: Rynfinity
Chapter 179
Divine Beasts.
It was easy to confuse them with magical or spiritual creatures, but they were distinctly different beings.
When an animal's mana organ developed to the point where it could accept pure mana, it became a spiritual creature. If it was influenced by impure and chaotic energies, it became a beast or monster.
Divine Beasts were spiritual creatures that had acquired 'divinity,' transcending the limits of life that they should not have been able to surpass—essentially, they were beasts that had attained godhood.
‘These beings are often revered as gods by orcs or nomadic tribes.’
Even though they began as beasts, they had become mystical beings that transcended their species.
This was what a Divine Beast was.
Several of these Divine Beasts lived in the Great Southern Forest and were worshipped as guardian deities by the forest tribes.
It was a unique cultural trait of the Great Southern Forest.
And now, such a great Divine Beast stood before Aden’s eyes.
---
Aden attempted to view the information of the small cat with the flaming tail.
---
---
But it was impossible.
Despite its small and cute appearance, it was indeed a true Divine Beast.
Aden stared intently at the cat.
‘If it’s the inner core of a Divine Beast…’
---
Recently, this guy had been talking more harshly.
As Curse cut off Aden’s thoughts of devouring the cat’s inner core, Pamsibet spoke up.
According to her, each shaman of the tribe served a guardian Divine Beast, and this cat was the Divine Beast worshiped by her, the chief and shaman of the Red Cat Tribe.
"But some time ago, Lord Miao was suddenly ambushed by someone."
The area around them burned, the sound of explosions echoed through the night, and the ground trembled, all because of the battle between the unknown assailant and the Divine Beast.
Alarmed by the situation, Pamsibet hurriedly led the warriors to the sacred place where the cat Divine Beast resided and found the injured and fallen Divine Beast.
"Due to severe exhaustion and injuries, Lord Miao’s power as a Divine Beast weakened, and he transformed into this small kitten form. The forest beasts became ferocious as a result."
"What does Lord Miao’s injury have to do with the monsters becoming more aggressive?"
"Lord Miao is the king of this surrounding forest. What happens to a kingdom when its king disappears?"
"Hmm, I get the gist of it."
Aden nodded, understanding the situation.
The reason why the monsters of the Great Forest had become ferocious.
It was because the balance among the monsters had collapsed due to the absence of the being who reigned as the king of the forest.
Pamsibet frowned as she spoke.
"I’d like to hear what exactly happened, but Lord Miao’s condition has worsened to the point where he cannot wake up."
She began unwrapping the bandages around the cat.
As the bandages were removed, the wounds were revealed.
"What is this…?"
Aden flinched at the sight of the wounds.
---
**-Swish.**
A faint, dark, sinister energy shimmered from the wounds on the cat's body.
It was dark magic energy.
Aden’s eyes narrowed as he observed this.
"…It’s a curse."
Aden, who had encountered dark magic numerous times, recognized it.
These were traces of dark magic mixed with a curse.
Even now, the curse’s energy was gnawing away at the Divine Beast’s life.
"Because of this vile energy, Lord Miao’s condition worsens with each passing day. At this rate, he will disappear."
Her voice was heavy with despair as she spoke about the possible extinction of the Divine Beast she served.
Cassie’s expression also darkened as she looked at the Divine Beast struggling between life and death.
"…Lord Miao used to soothe me whenever I suffered due to my chronic illness, often bringing me herbs or gifts."
Cassie had been weak and isolated within the tribe due to her mana deficiency syndrome, but the Divine Beast would often bring her herbs that were beneficial to her health.
It was the reason she had been able to survive to adulthood despite her condition.
Meanwhile, Aden pondered over what he had heard.
‘Seeing as how a Divine Beast was cursed, it’s clear that Chaos is up to something here. But why did they attack a Divine Beast in the first place?’
Thinking back, the true purpose of Chaos had never been revealed.
All they had done so far was weaken the three great sects and capture humans to use as materials for dark magic research.
‘And now, not just the three great sects, but even the Divine Beasts in this remote area have been targeted.’
He couldn’t fathom what they wanted.
The only way to know was to hear it from the Divine Beast itself.
The problem was that the Divine Beast’s life was hanging by a thread.
"My rituals and any other treatments have not had any direct effect."
Pamsibet had only been able to suppress the curse and slightly improve the Divine Beast’s condition with the power of her rituals.
She looked at Aden and his companions.
"…And then you arrived. Now, the only thing we can rely on is the healing power of the shaman who wields the power of the Fire Spirit."
Dark magic was a force of death that distorted the world.
To heal a wound inflicted by dark magic, one would need the power of life that maintained the order of the world.
That was holy power.
Pamsibet, the chief of the Red Cat Tribe, deeply bowed her head before Elise.
"Young shaman named Elise, I, Pamsibet, the Grand Chief of the Great Forest, humbly ask you."
She changed her tone to a more respectful one and spoke earnestly as she looked at Elise.
"Please heal Lord Miao’s wounds. The future of our Great Southern Forest depends on this."
Pamsibet’s tone and eyes were filled with desperation.
She had abandoned her pride as the chief of the Red Cat Tribe and was pleading with a child.
And Elise was not one to ignore such a plea.
Elise responded energetically.
"Don’t worry, Cat Lady!"
"C-Cat Lady…?"
Pamsibet looked up with a perplexed expression at Elise’s way of addressing her.
And she saw Elise smiling cutely.
In this situation, there was only one answer that Elise, a kind-hearted girl who loved helping others, could give.
"I’ll make the sick kitty better."
"Oh…."
Pamsibet sighed in relief at Elise’s assurance.
How much had she worried while watching the Divine Beast’s condition worsen day by day?
Finally, it seemed she had found a glimmer of hope amidst the despair.
Pamsibet smiled.
"Thank you so much…."
"But what will you give me in return?"
"…What?"
The chief, who was about to express her gratitude, blinked in confusion like a cat seeing a cucumber. The little saint, Elise, smiled sweetly as she continued.
"Aden told me! Before you help someone, you should check what you can get in return. And if there’s nothing immediate, take it back several times later! Otherwise, you’ll end up being taken advantage of!"
Her words were cute, but the content was far from it.
In an instant, everyone in the room turned their gaze towards Aden.
"My lord?"
"Aden?"
"Chief?"
"Young Lord Aden?"
**-Woof?**
Why were they all looking at him with such harsh eyes?
Did he educate her too well?
Aden muttered to himself as he felt the weight of their gazes.
Then Curse, who had been watching, clicked his tongue and spoke.
---
**-A pure child has turned into a loan shark because of you, Dragon Slayer King.**
‘…Damn it.’
Aden lowered his head, forced to confront the reality he had created.
And he thought to himself.
‘Let’s admit it. This was my fault.’
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**\* \* \***
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**-Whoosh…**
The golden flames at the tips of the red cat Divine Beast’s twin tails flickered weakly, as if they could go out at any moment.
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**-Swoosh.**
Elise breathed her golden holy power into the cat, as if she were lighting a torch.
**-Ssshhh…** The wounds on the cat Divine Beast began to heal gradually.
And then.
**-Fwoosh!**
The flames at the tips of the tails started burning stronger.
After a while.
The cat slowly opened its eyes.
Beautiful, jewel-like golden eyes came into view.
The Divine Beast blinked several times with a dazed expression.
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**-…Meow? A strange ceiling?**
"The cat can talk!"
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**-Me-Meow?!**
Startled by Elise’s shout, the cat Divine Beast bristled its fur and sprang to its feet.
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**-Who, who are you?! Identify yourselves…!**
"Lord Miao!"
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**-…Chief? Why is the Chief here?**
"I’m here too, Lord Miao."
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**-This scent… Cassie? Is that really you, the Chief’s daughter who ran away from home?**
"Yes. It’s been a while."
"A talking cat… so cute. It’s meowing…."
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**-Grrrr…**
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**-Meow?! There’s a dog too! Get it away!**
"Lord Miao, please calm down!"
Elise, who found the talking cat adorable, licked her lips with a longing expression, while Choco, filled with jealousy, barked furiously. The startled cat Divine
Beast yowled in panic.
The red kitten fluffed up all its fur.
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**-I hate dogs! Get rid of it! How could you repay my kindness with such betrayal when I’ve cared for you so well?!**
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**-Woof!**
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**-Meowww!**
"Ah, Choco!"
"Lord Miao!"
When Choco barked again, the Divine Beast, startled like a cat seeing a cucumber, dashed away, and Choco, triggered by his hunting instincts, chased after it, starting an impromptu game of tag.
**-Crash! Bang!**
As soon as the cat Divine Beast awoke, the place became chaotic.
With the cat yowling, running away, and the chief and Elise chasing after it, it was complete pandemonium.
Knight Lowe blinked with a bewildered expression.
"…Is that really a Divine Beast?"
"Right? I’m disillusioned too, Lowe."
Aden watched the scene with an almost disdainful look, as if observing a trivial creature.
---
**A while later.**
It wasn’t until Elise took Choco outside that the situation calmed down.
The cat Divine Beast settled down enough to start a conversation.
The cat Divine Beast spoke.
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**-I am Miao, the guardian deity of the Red Cat Tribe. The chief told me that you saved my life. I welcome your visit and sincerely thank you, friends of Cassie.**
The cat Divine Beast raised its head high and tried to put on a dignified expression.
It was a proud appearance befitting a being who ruled as a guardian deity of a tribe.
But.
"You don’t look cool at all in that kitten form."
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**-Meow… is that so?**
The cat Divine Beast, Miao, drooped its tail, dejected by Aden’s remark.
It seemed to be self-conscious about it.
---
**-How did the great me end up like this… sniff.**
But the sadness seemed overwhelming, and the Divine Beast looked like it was about to burst into tears.
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**-Dragon Slayer King, do something about this.**
‘Why me?’
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**-In that state, you can’t have any meaningful conversation. I might not care, but you surely have something to ask that cat?**
‘Tch.’
Aden clicked his tongue inwardly.
He shrugged and quickly tried to comfort the cat Divine Beast.
"Still, isn’t it… cute?"
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**-I am a great Divine Beast! I am the king of the forest! What’s the use of being cute when a king needs to be dignified?!**
"What’s the use? Even if you’re big and scary, people would only follow you out of fear, but if you’re cute, people would feel good looking at you and treat you well, right? It’s better to be a king who makes people happy just by being there than one who rules through fear."
It was complete nonsense.
---
**-…Meow? Is that so?**
But the cat was taken in by the nonsense.
"That’s how it is."
The little cat pondered for a moment, then nodded as if it had been convinced.
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**-Hmm… I see! Now that I think about it, you’re right! Thank you for letting me know. You’re a good person!**
The cat Divine Beast regained its confidence.
Its mind seemed to have regressed along with its loss of power, becoming simpler.
At least it wasn’t whining anymore, so it didn’t matter.
Finally, it was time to have a proper conversation.
Chief Pamsibet asked the Divine Beast.
"Lord Miao, could you tell us what happened?"
What could have happened for the tribe’s guardian deity to transform into a kitten and linger on the brink of death?
In response to her question, the cat Divine Beast’s expression turned serious.
---
**-A human possessing a sinister power entered my territory. So, I decided to teach them a lesson and drive them out. But it wasn’t just an ordinary human.**
"Not just an ordinary human?"
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**-The human wielded the power of black energy, which you northerners call dark magic.**
Just from hearing that, Aden could imagine who had attacked the Divine Beast.
The dark magicians of Chaos.
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**-That person used a strange stone to steal my power.**
"A stone?"
At Aden’s question, the cat nodded.
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**-It was an extremely ominous and malevolent stone. That stone sealed away my power, leaving me helpless…**
Recalling the incident, the cat Divine Beast shuddered.
Miao, having nearly all of its power stolen, had barely managed to create a clone and miraculously escape.
But in the process, it had fallen prey to the enemy’s attack, and they hadn’t bothered to pursue it, likely thinking that the cursed Divine Beast would die soon.
‘A stone that steals the power of a Divine Beast….’
Aden thought of a few things when he heard about the dark magician and the stone.
The Blood Jewel from the Forest of Death and the Atonement Stone that had circulated in the Sacred Kingdom.
Both were mysterious minerals created by Chaos.
Could they be related?
Whatever they were planning with the stolen power of the cat Divine Beast, it was nothing good.
It was clear that Chaos was up to something nefarious in the Great Southern Forest.
‘Wait, stealing the power of the cat Divine Beast?’
As Aden continued his thoughts, he paused, struck by a sudden question.
‘Was there a specific reason they targeted this cat Divine Beast?’
As far as he knew, there were many Divine Beasts living in the Great Southern Forest, revered as guardian deities by the tribes.
‘Those guys already have a means to neutralize Divine Beasts. Would they really be satisfied with just one?’
If they hadn’t targeted just this one cat Divine Beast?
There was only one conclusion.
‘The guardian Divine Beasts of other tribes are also in danger.’
Aden’s gaze grew sharper.