I Became an Evolving Lizard in a Martial Arts Novel

Chapter 107

Wait, it’s a Bushtit.

A White-Headed Bushtit, to be exact.

That cute, round, white bird... is Argentavis’s daughter?

If it had been something like a White-Tailed Eagle, I could’ve accepted it.

But this? No way.

How could a massive bird of prey like him have a tiny, adorable Bushtit as his daughter?

How was I supposed to know that?

Chirp-Chirp and Shik-Shik slipped out of my mouth.

I quickly curled my tail and hid behind the Snake Queen.

Of course, with my current size being larger than hers, I wasn’t exactly concealed.

“Snake Queen, what’s the meaning of this?”

Argentavis’s face turned red with fury.

Seems he was upset that some outsider lizard nearly gulped down his precious daughter in one bite.

I was innocent.

She was the one who started tapping at my teeth and came inside on her own.

And I even let her out unharmed.

But I couldn’t protest.

The alliance between the Snake Queen and Argentavis had just been formed.@@@@

If I spoke up now, it might all fall apart.

I lowered my gaze in an act of remorse.

“Gegeek...”

Just as I was about to bow in apology, the Snake Queen grabbed my head firmly.

“What do you mean, ‘what’s the meaning of this?’”

She gave me a look.

I couldn’t read its exact meaning, but I understood one thing clearly.

She didn’t want me to bow.

In hindsight, it made sense.

This alliance was supposed to be one of equals.

Actually, the Snake Queen held a slight advantage.

Since I was her partner, if I bowed, it was as if the Snake Queen herself was bowing.

Seeing that she had another solution in mind, I decided to hold off on apologizing for now.

Argentavis raised an eyebrow at the Snake Queen’s words.

“Do I really have to say it? Your partner laid hands on my one and only precious daughter.”

There was anger in his voice.

It was understandable.

From his perspective, it must’ve looked like his daughter had nearly been swallowed whole by my jaws in the middle of our alliance discussion.

Although, that wasn’t exactly how it went down.

“Hah.”

The Snake Queen chuckled, clearly amused, then looked at Argentavis with her usual emotionless gaze.

“Let’s get the facts straight.”

“What?”

The Snake Queen pulled me close, catching me off guard.

I was too stunned to respond to the sudden embrace.

And besides, staying still might actually be more helpful right now.

“It was your daughter who laid hands on my one and only partner.”

A warmth filled my chest.

This warmth wasn’t just because her core pouch was resting on top of my head.

She was standing up for me even in this situation.

I was touched.

...But wait, are we sure about this?

It felt like her stance was about to escalate this into a war.

“What?”

Argentavis blinked in surprise.

The Snake Queen continued, her expression unchanged.

“Are your ears blocked? Or perhaps your wound from Gechalgoatal hasn’t healed yet?”

I appreciated her support, but...

Are we really doing this?

I mean, we came here to forge an alliance!

I went through so much trouble to find the unicorn’s horn.

“Are you sure you won’t regret those words?”

“Regret? I regret even considering an alliance with someone who lacks the basic decency to respect my partner.”

*Boom!*

The power of the Snake Queen and Argentavis collided.

Even I could feel the pressure tingling through my body.

While Argentavis’s strength was probably inferior to the Snake Queen’s, this wasn’t just any ordinary space.

It seemed to be a space advantageous for Argentavis, creating a balanced standoff.

Could this actually turn into a full-blown fight?

That wouldn’t do.

“Gegeek!”

I spotted Shik-Shik and Chirp-Chirp, who had somehow gone from fighting to holding each other tightly.

Without circulating my inner energy, it looked like ordinary blood.

“Snake Queen, may I approach your partner?”

The Snake Queen looked displeased but nodded reluctantly.

She was likely curious too.

It seemed the existence of dragons held special significance for these jungle creatures.

But seeing me up close wouldn’t change anything.

Sure, I had Dragon Scales.

And Dragon Blood, too.

But that was all.

“Snake Queen’s partner, would you mind opening your mouth?”

They really must be related.

Why does everyone want to inspect my mouth?

“Gegeek.”

Still, I couldn’t refuse.

Since the Snake Queen had allowed it, I guessed showing him my mouth was fine.

Why are so many creatures so curious about my mouth?

Baek Yeon-Yeong always tried to peek into it, and even... what’s-his-name occasionally ended up with his head in my mouth.

*Click.*

I opened my mouth.

“...This can’t be.”

Argentavis’s voice trembled.

Why the ominous reaction?

“Dragon Scales and Dragon Blood... and now, Dragon Fang?”

A Dragon Fang refers to a dragon’s tooth.

“Geek?”

...I don’t have any skill like that?

Could it be some hidden skill I wasn’t aware of?

Now that I think about it, I’d never really used my teeth as a main weapon.

Learning martial arts had made it unnecessary.

But all the martial arts I’d learned were human techniques.

Even though I’d adapted them somewhat, they didn’t fully suit my lizard traits.

Despite having incredibly sharp teeth, I only used them for finishing moves or eating.

It seemed I’d never really grasped the true power of my teeth.

A Dragon Fang?

“A Dragon Fang? I understand Dragon Blood and Scales, but what’s this about a Dragon Fang?”

“Well, it makes sense. As a partner, it’s not easy to know everything.”

*Crack.*

The Snake Queen’s brow twitched.

The atmosphere was shifting to the complete opposite of earlier.

Hey, let’s not provoke him.

Did you not notice

how he just took a deep breath?

He’s about to shoot a beam from his mouth.

“Look closely at those teeth. Unlike other animals’ teeth, they’re uneven. It’s a structure similar to a saw used by humans.”

“I know that much. Do you think I haven’t been bitten by those teeth once or twice?”

He’s been bitten by me?

I don’t remember that.

...What did he do after giving me that wine?

“Those teeth carry a metallic essence. If that isn’t a Dragon Fang, then what could it be?”

Apparently, my teeth were saw-toothed.

And they’re infused with some “metallic essence.”

Argentavis was adamant it had to be a Dragon Fang.

...Look, Komodo dragons just naturally have saw-like teeth, you know?

Believe it or not, their tooth surface is even coated with iron.

Since I’m an evolved Komodo dragon, this trait is probably even more prominent.

So, you can’t call my teeth Dragon Fangs.

They’re just regular old Komodo-rania teeth.

“It’s certain. This is a Dragon Fang.”

No, it’s not a Dragon Fang.

“Dragon Scales, Dragon Blood, and now Dragon Fang... If this isn’t a dragon, then what is?”

Real dragons don’t make that “Gegeek” sound, you know?

Snake Queen, could you maybe clear this up?

Seems there’s a misunderstanding here.

“...You’ve discovered quite a bit. Yes, my partner is indeed worthy of being called a dragon.”

The Snake Queen avoided my gaze.

She said that, yet still felt guilty.

It was clear she’d said it just to one-up Argentavis.

“Gegegeek!”

I’m not a dragon.

I’m a lizard!