Chapter 117: How to Reverse the Domino (1)
“What? I’m your owner now?” asked Lloyd.
“Bibeong!”
“Don’t you think that’s a bit too drastic a change in attitude?”
“Bibeo-beong. Bibeong.”
“Come on, this couldn’t have been your plan in the first place. And are you sure you want me to call you Bibeong? Really?”
“Bibeong!”
“Hmm.”
King Storma, no, Bibeong nodded his chubby head. Lloyd stroked his jaw as he stared at Bibeong with doubt-filled eyes.
“You. Something’s off about you,” Lloyd said.
“Bibeong?”
“You changed so drastically. Just a while ago, you growled as though you were trying to start a fight with all of us here.”
“Bibeo-beong?”
“Come on. I was almost worried that you’d bite my hands.”
“Bibeong?”
“Don’t play innocent. That was just a minute ago.”
“Bi, Bibeong.”
“Don’t recall, eh?”
“Bibeong.”
“Ha, you were just testing my sincerity?”
“Bi-Bibeobeong.”
“Hmm…”
King Storma, no, Bibeong was sitting on Lloyd’s palm. Lloyd narrowed his eyes as he looked at him.
Something’s going on with him.
Lloyd recalled the event a while ago. Bibeong had been violent, to say the least. Even though Lloyd succeeded in making him small with the blue sunflower seed, the creature couldn’t be negotiated with or persuaded. Continuing the conversation alone proved to be difficult because he was extremely hostile to humans.
He was an absolute wild animal.
The fact that the two spoke the same language was no use because Bibeong didn’t open his heart to Lloyd. Nothing could persuade him, so Lloyd was troubled. That was why he racked his brain to come up with the idea of introducing Bibeong to Ppodong, Bangul, and Hamang. Lloyd did so in the hopes that this encounter may soften Bibeong’s attitude even a little. But to Lloyd’s surprise, the moment he showed Bibeong his friends, Bibeong changed his attitude by 180 degrees. His transformation took place at lightning speed.
Something’s definitely going on with him here.
The beaver had been wild, throwing such a terrible tantrum. There was definitely something that calmed him down.
I might be able to manipulate him easily if I find out what that is.
Lloyd’s eyes narrowed to slits, and he studied Bibeong standing on his palm. His eyes scrutinized Bibeong’s motion, expression, and gaze. He scanned and analyzed every single thing without anything amiss. Then, Lloyd faintly saw something.
The angle of his standing posture. 45 degrees from Bangul’s perspective. He’s standing at an angle that would make his belly look the slimmest. And look! He keeps glancing over at Bangul.
Lloyd was getting close.
Wait a minute. Is he…?
A corner of Lloyd’s lips curved upward.
“Hey, you,” called Lloyd.
“Bibeong?”
“You have a crush, don’t you?”
“Bi, Bibeong?”
“And I think I know who that is.”
“Bibeo-beong. Bibeong?”
Bibeong’s expression shook visibly. The smile on Lloyd’s face deepened.
“Oh, oh! Her head is round while her body is chubby. Her tail is rattling-”
“Bibeo-beong! Bibeong! Bibeo-beo-beong!”
“Never ever? You know nothing of it? Are you sure?”
“Bibeong!”
Bibeong hurriedly nodded his head. Once again, the corners of Lloyd’s mouth went further up.
Got you. Looks like you are smitten with Bangul. But what about Bangul?
Lloyd quickly observed Bangul. She was simply looking at Bibeong as she tilted his head to the side. There was only curiosity in her eyes. Nothing more than that.
Oh, the sorrow of unrequited love.
Lloyd welcomed Bibeong to the single’s club. With a beaming grin on his face, he spoke.
“Well, okay. If you say so.”
“Bibeong!”
“Yes, good. Anyway, so I’m your owner now, eh?”
“Bibeo-beong.”
“You made the right call. But I have a question for you.”
“Bibeong?”
“Who summoned you?”
Lloyd was sincerely curious about who had summoned Bibeong and why he was living here all alone by himself without an owner.
This could mean that I’m not the only one who can summon fantastical creatures.
This was an important matter because this could mean that someone might enjoy the benefits of the RP system. Lloyd was intrigued by who it was that got Bibeong into this world. And so, Lloyd was probably relieved when he heard Bibeong’s response.
“Bibeo,beong! Bibeong! Bibeong! Bibeong.”
“What? No one summoned you here?”
“Bibeong!”
Bibeong nodded and continued to speak.
“Bibeong. Bibeong. Bibeo-beong.”
“Hmm, so to sum it up, you just came to be in this world, and no one was around you. And you’ve never met a fantastical creature like you?”
“Bibeong!”
“For over 500 years…?” asked Lloyd.
“Bibeong!”
“Hmm.”
It appeared Bibeong was a rare case where a fantastical creature was born into this world by natural occurrence. Lloyd made that conclusion and was putting the thought behind him when Bibeong asked him a question in a concerned voice.
“Bibebeong? Bibeong?”
“What’s that? Are you asking if he’s all right?”
“Bibeong!”
Bibeong was pointing at one side with a nervous expression on his face. The person he was pointing at was…
“His name is Javier Asrahan. What about him?”
“Bibeong, Bibeo-beobeong. Bibeong!”
“Haha! He started to talk senselessly out of the blue?”
“Bibeo-beong! Bibeong!”
“His gibberish was on another level, eh? But you don’t have to worry about whether he has lost it.”
“Bibeong!”
“Really, he’s fine. He just loses it sometimes.”
“Bibeo-beong?”
“Actually, everyone called him a genius when he was young. But he fell from a persimmon tree when he was seven, and then…” Lloyd paused with a sad expression on his face.
“Master Lloyd, I can hear everything.”
“…”
“I did not know,” continued Javier, “that you were well-versed in spreading false rumors and propaganda.”
“Ehem. Did you see that? He’s normal usually, but he just, you know, only sometimes. Please understand him with a big heart,” persuaded Lloyd.
“Bibeong!”
Bibeong nodded as he beamed while Javier grimaced slightly. Lloyd chuckled at them.
Anyway, mission accomplished.
The mission was to wake King Stoma, the ruler of Lake Kapua, and force him to mark his territory and stop the monster domino phenomenon. It was accomplished. But Lloyd managed to achieve more than waking him up. He succeeded in being Bibeong’s master, and Bibeong was now at his disposal.
Looks like I over-accomplished my mission.
Of course, establishing the pet-master relationship wasn’t the end of it. Moreover, the downside and upside for Bibeong were that he was way too big.
He’s completely opposite to other creatures like Ppodong.
Ppodong, Bangul, and Hamang were usually small. Just the perfect size to put them in his inner pocket. Lloyd only needed to increase their size with the red sunflower seed whenever he wanted. But Bibeong was different. He was 328 feet tall on a normal day. Lloyd could downsize Bibeong if he needed to put Bibeong in his pocket. But there was a 24-hour limit.
It means that I have a limit to taking him around and using him.
So, the question was whether Lloyd should use Bibeong as he had intended in the first place, which involved leaving Bibeong free in Lake Kapua to act as a deterrent to the monster invasion. And if the rare need to use him arose, Lloyd would take him. He was contemplating the matter when he was interrupted.
“Master Lloyd.”
It was Javier who called. When Lloyd turned, he found Javier pointing beyond the lake.
“It looks like our recon team is coming this way,” said Javier.
“What? Which one?” asked Lloyd.
“The team we’d dispatched beyond the eastern range the other time.”
“Oh, them.”
Lloyd peered at the area Javier was pointing at across the lake. A group of men dressed in civil engineer uniforms appeared in view. Though they were far, Lloyd could notice them somewhat. It was the patrol team Lloyd had dispatched to the orc tribe right after they blocked the herd of Mastodons.
“Let’s go.”
It looked like they were returning after running a recon. Lloyd led everyone to the other side through the dam in the lake. The team met and were delighted to see Lloyd and the rest.
“Master Lloyd. I didn’t know I would bump into you here.”
“Indeed. Is everyone safe?” asked Lloyd.
“Yes, not a single one of us was hurt, thankfully.”
The leader of the recon team was the soldier who had once hurt his back during the seokbinggo construction in the orc village.
“That’s a relief. What about the orc village?” asked Lloyd. “How are they?”
“Um, the thing is…” He paused, his expression looking somewhat grim. “They are fighting very hard.”
“Fighting? Could it be against the rushing monsters?” asked Lloyd.
“Yes.”
“Woah.” Lloyd let out a sigh.
He knew very well that the orc tribe was made up of ferocious warriors. Even so, it surprised him that they were facing the fight head-on without taking refuge.
The damage must be immense.
The monster domino phenomenon was no joke. Blocking one wave of monsters didn’t mean it was the end. More and more kinds of monsters came rushing like an unending wave. One or two defenses didn’t cut it. Like how a sharp rock got smoothened by continuous waves, even the most powerful capabilities died down eventually. They would get tired until they finally collapsed. That was what was truly scary about this event.
That is the reason why I tried to create a biological wall using Bibeong.
And yet, here were the orcs taking the full brunt of the monsters without retreating. Lloyd was astonished by their bravery and boldness. At the same time, he thought that he should save them.
They are my steadfast ally.
His decision, however, wasn’t a moral one. It was extremely practical. These orc friends were useful, so he didn’t want to lose the orc tribe so easily.
What should I do?
He stopped and started to think about an effective way to support the orcs while minimizing any damage and maximizing the benefits on his part. The status quo was immediately put under review, and so were his current capabilities and resources. Timing and opportunity. Benefits and losses. Processes and results. He pieced together all these elements as though he was building them up. He placed and elevated them to draw out a full picture at last.
“Bibeong,” called Lloyd.
“Bibeong?”
“Do you think you can carry all of us if you grow big again?”
“Bibeo-beong?”
“We’re thinking of heading east to the wilderness at the foot of the mountain range. Do you think you can do that?”
“Bibeong? Bibeo-beong?”
Bibeong’s face grew agitated. He had spent almost his entire life around this lake area, so the suggestion to leave this lake and make for the wilderness was off-putting even though it was coming from Lloyd, his new master. But something he heard afterwards changed his stance right away.
“If you grant my request, someone is going to be very, very happy.”
Lloyd’s sweet voice pierced into Bibeong’s ears. To add to his voice, Lloyd wriggled his eyes toward Bangul.
“Bibeong…?”
Bibeong gulped dryly as he wondered if that was true. He asked himself whether Bangul would truly be happy if he carried everyone to the foot of the mountain range in the east. Lloyd spoke again, and this time, his voice grew subtler.
“Now, think about it. Just imagine in your head how happy she will be,” Lloyd cooed. “She is faithfully serving me at my side right now. What do you think will happen if she sees you obedient to my words? Don’t you think she will feel the camaraderie and assurance of serving the same owner?”
“Bi, Bibeong?”
“What I am saying is that her gaze toward you may change,” Lloyd cajoled.
“…”
“How’s that?”
The question was like a poisonous apple that looked so glossy and scrumptious on the outside. At last, Bibeong gave in and nodded hard at Lloyd.
“Bi, Bibeong! Bibeo-beong!”
“I knew you could do it! Wow, you are awesome. I’m sure she thinks so, too.”
“Bibeong!”
Bibeong held up his tiny front leg. And he stole a glance at Bangul as he took the red sunflower seed Lloyd was giving him. And he moved about 100 yards away from the rest of them and ate it up.
Crunch. Gulp.
The change was immediate.
Boom! The world around him grew small again as he went back to his original size.
“Bibeong! Bibeo-beong!”
Bibeong roared ferociously after he became 328-feet in size. He lowered his body to the ground, motioning at Lloyd to hop on. Getting onboard was a smooth experience. Lloyd, Javier, 20 men of the patrol team, and 500 lancers of the White Cavalry hopped on Bibeong’s back, which still had a lot of space as it was that vast and wide.
“Okay, let’s go! To the east!”
“Bibeong! (Hold tight!)”
Bibeong bellowed as he leaped, and just like that, he left Lake Kapua, his home. He made for the east, and it took only one step for him to cross the valley. And several steps later, he was already at the peak. Some panting and huffing later, the range was already crossed behind him. After just six hours of travel, Bibeong crossed the eastern range.
“Great. Keeping moving east!” Lloyd urged.
“Bibeong!”
Lloyd was on top of Bibeong’s head, acting as a human navigation machine. And at last, a familiar terrain came into his view. It was the path he had taken to look for the cave of the dark magician. And soon, more familiar sights appeared. The limestone quarry site where Javier first used the mana blast. The yellow and deserted wilderness beyond it. And the massive sandstorm forming over there.
That’s where the Sand and Steel Tribe is.
Lloyd’s eyes narrowed as he observed the sand dust. It was certainly happening at the place he remembered to be where the orc tribe was at. He focused on hearing, and he picked up several shouts and roars coming in the distance.
“Bibeong, I want you to listen to me carefully now!” Lloyd instantly hurried.
“Bibeong!”
“Let us get off over there first. And once we’re all down, I want you to rush toward the sandstorm.”
“Bibeo-beong?”
“Yes, charge right at it. And you’ll see orcs and monsters in the storm,” Lloyd said.
“Bibeong? Bibeo-beong?”
“No, the orcs aren’t your enemies.BLeave them alone. But thrash against the monsters,” Lloyd quickly instructed.
“Bibeong?”
“Yes, as ferocious and marvelous as you can. To the point that these monsters will spread rumors to the others as they run back to the east in terror. Do you think you can do it? If you could do it very well…” Lloyd paused. And he lowered his voice to make sure that it sounded suggestive. “I am sure she will love it.”
“Bibeong!”
“She” was the magic word for Bibeong, for he nodded right away. After everyone got down, Bibeong hurtled toward the Sand and Steel tribe village, hoping that Bangul would notice how cool he was and fall in love with him. For the first time ever in his life, Bibeong burned with zealous passion.
“Bibeo-beong! Bibeong! (Move orcs!)”
He rushed into the sand storm as he roared and brushed past the orc warriors, who froze at his appearance. Then, Bibeong spotted his enemy amid the thick sandstorm.
“Grrr?”
The 168-foot evil creature widened its eyes at the appearance of Bibeong. Its mouth was elongated like an alligator, and its teeth stuck out irregularly. And its skin was so thick like armor that even the horns could not penetrate it. The claws were specialized to tear the stomach of its game. It was the Megalania, the evil creature known for being the most violent creature in the wilderness. But what was Megalania to Bibeong? He didn’t give a hoot. Right now, everything that stood in his way was to be sacrificed at the altar of love.
“Bibeo-beong!”
Boooom! With a power-charged roar, Bibeong threw a 3,000-ton first-love jab at Megalania’s face.