Chapter 1418: Side Story 27
Chapter 1418 - Side Story 27
Just like the average player, NPCs were capable of steady and continuous growth. Hence, the guardian deities were also beings that fell under that category. Unfortunately, they did not grow any further. Why?
Because… they gained weight.
“Oink! Oiiiiink! (You pigs!)”
‘A pig is calling us pigs?’
The Phoenix blinked blankly.
If the guardian deities had remained in their prime and continued to strive for growth, their levels would be at around Level 700 or so. Alas, their levels remained stagnant at Level 500.
For players, their levels, stats, and skills would be preserved. The only reason why it would drop would be because of special events or circumstances. However, that was not the case for the NPCs. When an NPC’s physical ability and state regressed, their accompanying level would also lower.
Therefore, that was what happened to the guardian deities. Their levels had dropped. Athenae had asked Beanie to revive Utopia.
‘Oink. Oink, oink. Oink… (From the very beginning, I was meant to become the king of Utopia. Oink.)’
The Supreme Divine Beast was the master of the divine beasts and the owner of Utopia. If Beanie had not become Minhyuk’s pet, then he would have already become the master and the owner of Utopia.
‘Oink. Oink, oiiiiiink… (If I were here to lead them, then they would not have turned into this. Oink.)’
Beanie felt an unknown sense of duty and responsibility. At that moment, he caught sight of an egg lying silently from a distance. That was the egg that his mother had told him about. From what his mother told him, only the person who became the king of Utopia would be able to hatch that egg.
Furthermore, the being that hatched would change depending on the king who ruled Utopia. This meant that whatever would hatch from that egg would depend on how well he could lead Utopia and whip the guardian deities back into shape.
‘Oiiiink. (Being outstanding is really tiring. Oink.)’
Although it was annoying, there was nothing that he could do. He did not know what kind of being would hatch from that egg, but once that being was born, he intended to delegate everything to it and leave this place.
Scratch, scratch!
Beanie put on a red hat, a pair of sunglasses, and a backpack. Then, he said, “Oink. Oink, oink. Oiiink! (If you gained weight, then you have to lose it. You guys have to go on special training. Oink!)”
The faces of all beings living in Utopia twisted. Indeed, allowing themselves to become this fat was both a regret and a shame.
[It’s not that easy.]
Beanie frowned at the Phoenix’s words. What was their reason? Were they like Minhyuk in the past? Did they also have a disease that forced them to grow this fat? Beanie stared at them with a somber look on his face.
[We’re far too comfortable and relaxed.]
There was a saying, ‘A dissatisfied Socrates is better than a satisfied pig,’ which the beings in Utopia now completely disagreed with, because they were living happily!
The Phoenix and all of the beings in Utopia giggled.
‘Ah. It felt nice when they still looked cool. Regardless, we already fell in love with the comfortable way of living that we have adapted here.’
Beanie smiled kindly at the giggling Phoenix and beings of Utopia.
“Kueck!”
Once again, Beanie’s sausage club moved fiercely.
[Kueeeeeck!]
[Keheok!]
[Keuheeoooook!]
After five minutes.
[We will do our best.]
[We will give it our so that we will be worthy of the name guardian deity, and we can protect humans again!]
Beanie snorted, a satisfied smile on his face.
***
The aide could not bring himself to tell the truth of what he had witnessed in Utopia. All he could say was, “He’s doing well.”
Athenae smiled faintly.
[My dear Beanie has such a soft and kind heart.]
“...?”
[Even though he doesn’t look like that, he’s definitely more soft-hearted and pure than anybody else. I know my child best.]
The aide kept his mouth shut, keeping to himself the fact that he was of a different opinion.
‘To be honest, I think Beanie was acting all sullen and sad because he’s lonely.’
The aide had noticed that Beanie was feeling blue.
[He looked a bit dismissive and curt when I told him to go to Utopia. But he must be very excited deep inside, no?]
[He must be happy to become the owner and master of Utopia and hang around with the guardian deities.]
‘As expected of Lady Athenae, her thoughts remain pure and innocent.’
Suddenly, a question flashed in the aide’s head. He asked, “Ah. What kind of being will hatch from that egg?”
The egg had existed in Utopia for a very long time now. It could only be hatched by the Supreme Divine Beast.
[Indeed. I’m a bit worried. My child only likes food. Once the egg hatches… there’s a chance that he might not like it.]
Athenae smiled bitterly.
[To be honest, there’s another baby piggy there.]
The aide’s eyes almost dropped. “Don’t tell me…?”
[That’s right. The baby piggy is a female.]
***
[There’s still one left.]
The Phoenix breathed a sigh of relief when he inspected his goods after the great misfortune and saw that he still had one left. Fortunately, he was spared from a complete castration.
Late at night. A night without Beanie.
The Phoenix and the other guardian deities had all gathered together.
[We can’t remain like this. We can’t always be beaten black and blue.]
Indeed. They had been beaten black and blue by the baby piggy that suddenly appeared in Utopia. The worst part? The beatings were not the end. They were also suddenly forced to go on a diet. They just could not accept this.
[With the way things are, none of us can win against him, no?]
The Minotaurus snorted.
[That’s right. We cannot win against him in our current condition.]
The fat and plump guardian deities had grown much weaker than they were in the past. Not only were the Phoenix’s blazing flames no longer as hot as before, even the pride of the Minotaurus, which were his tough leg muscles, had been filled with flesh.
[If it were us in the past, then maybe we could win.]
Perhaps they would not just win, they would also be able to overwhelm him. After all, there were hundreds of guardian deities here, and Beanie was only one.
[The problem is… we don’t want to lose weight…]
[Yes. Correct. It’s so annoying. But there’s another way.]
Another way? Was there another way that the guardian deities could use to drive out that evil and vicious baby piggy without them losing their weight?
[Do you know Dragon Araka?]
[Red Dragon Araka?]
[Of course, we know him.]
Despite the passage of time, the dragons remained the apex predator among the monsters. They had grown alongside the players and had now reached an average level of Level 800. Red dragons usually were at around Level 900, and in the case of Red Dragon Araka, he was at around Level 1,000.
[I’m sure everyone here knows that I’m close with Red Dragon Araka.]
[Oh- Oooooooh!]
[Let’s ask him for a favor. In the past, Utopia and the dragon race used to interact with each other. I believe we can still call for help from the current Dragon Lord.]
[If we’re talking about the current Dragon Lord, that should be the greatest Dragon Lord in history, right?]
[Correct. Even the Dragon Elders, who could not stop fighting while trying to find out who’s better, have gathered under the banner of the current Dragon Lord.]
Everyone was in awe. The one who rallied the red dragons, blue dragons, green dragons, and all of the dragons, who fought fiercely, would come here?
[Then, will the Dragon Lord come here to punish that evil and vicious piglet?]
The thought alone left them thrilled and in awe.
[Yes. The Dragon Lord will come here tomorrow morning. They would turn that cheeky and arrogant little pig into a handful of ashes!]
The Phoenix cackled, clearly looking forward to what tomorrow would bring.
‘The greatest dragon of all time, huh…?’
***
Dragon Lord Luna, who was currently in the form of a little girl, was praised as the greatest and most outstanding dragon in history. Luna had left the Beyond the Heavens Empire and embarked on the journey to become a Dragon Lord. In just a blink, she was now sitting on the throne made up of dragon bones.
It had been three months since she left the empire. She missed a lot of people back home. If she only had to pick one, then the one she missed the most was…
‘Mr. Beanie, are you doing well?’
The one who raised Luna from an egg to a hatchling was none other than Beanie. Beanie was the one who taught Luna how to live in this world, how to be considerate of others, how to become a good dragon, and many more.
She would never forget the warmth of Beanie’s back as he carried her and climbed the mountain, promising that he would show her how wonderful the world was.
‘I miss you.’
At that moment…
“My Lord!”
A group of ferocious(?)-looking dragons gathered in front of her and bowed courteously.
Dragon Lord Luna listened to their reports.
“Utopia has asked for help?” Luna asked, her voice firm and stern.
She could not help but chuckle to herself. It seemed like she was getting used to this way of speaking now. However, all she wanted was to be a child who cried, ‘Kihyeeeee,’ and burrow in Beanie’s arms once again.
Luna was still a hatchling. However, many people relied on her and needed her leadership and guidance. Because of that, she was feeling a lot of pressure.
“I see. I will bring the elders and visit them.”
The light finally broke through the darkness of the night. Luna polymorphed and turned into her dragon form, flying away with the elders of her race.
***
The guardian deities gathered in Utopia and watched as Beanie appeared early in the morning.
‘When will they come?’
The Phoenix was already burning with anxiety. He had confirmed through the sound transmission that the dragons would be coming today.
“Oink. Oink, oink. Oiiink. (We will start the diet special training today, oink!)”
Just then, Beanie suddenly saw shadows appear in the sky above them.
“Oink?” Beanie muttered in confusion as he squinted his eyes.
That was when he saw the dragons. Among them was a very familiar dragon.
‘Oink? (Luna?)’
Of course, Beanie missed Luna dearly. He had raised the girl with his own hands until she left and took over the position of the Dragon Lord. Beanie had even cried when he participated in the Dragon Lord’s inauguration ceremony back then. Why? It was probably because he felt like a father who had to give his daughter’s hand to someone else.
[Oy, you pig.]
Beanie was a pig. That was the truth. But for some reason, he felt bad being called like that.
Beanie watched as the dragons landed on the ground and polymorphed into their human form. When he saw that Luna was about to run to him, he immediately gestured to her with his hands. Luna, who was so excited to see him, suddenly stopped in her tracks.
[Do you know who this is?! This is Dragon Lord Luna, the greatest Dragon Lord in history!]
Luna stood right next to the Phoenix and listened to him talk.
[Now, this is what’s going to happen. I will ask the Dragon Lord to tear your body and cut you into pieces.]
Luna’s expression hardened.
[I will ask them to burn you with the Dragon’s Flame too! You bastard, even if you die, you won’t die a comfortable death! I will make sure that only your ashes are left behind!]
‘Who’s going to die, huh?’ Luna’s expression grew incredibly ugly from anger.
[You insignificant little pig.]
[If you kneel and apologize to me right now, then I might ask the Dragon Lord to let you die a painless death.]
Beanie just picked his nose and scooped a booger out.
[This bastard! You’re crazy!]
[How dare you do that in front of the Dragon Lord!]
[This arrogant little pig! Do you not know how scary the world is?!]
The Phoenix clicked his tongue.
[Did you see that?]
When he turned back to look at Luna, the Phoenix saw a murderous glint in her eyes.
‘This…’
The current Dragon Lord, Luna, was said to be the gentlest and kindest dragon in history. She was also not stained with greed, unlike the other dragons.
[Lord, the symbol of wisdom and peace.]
Some even said that she acted just like a phoenix. But… was this how she was when she was angry? Was this how heavy and oppressive her killing intent was?
‘Did my description of that arrogant little pig infuriate her too?’
Luna, who was leaking killing intent, opened her mouth for the first time.
[I am hailed as the symbol of peace and wisdom.]
[The reason why I act and behave in such a way that I would be given such a title all started because of a lesson that I was taught when I was younger.]
[I was taught that those who are strong should not trample on others as they please.]
[I was taught that my strength should be used to embrace everyone and live a life of happiness and love instead of indulging in destruction.]
[It’s not an exaggeration to say that those words that he taught me are the foundation of who I am today.]
The Phoenix and the other guardian deities of Utopia looked at her in awe. Who on earth was this great man who taught the great Dragon Lord Luna such profound teachings? Was that man the one who molded her into this wonderful and beautiful dragon?
Perhaps that man was named The Teacher? It was possible. The Teacher Beradon was a close friend of Minhyuk, so he must have taught the Dragon Lord great things.
[By any chance, is that person’s name Be…]
[Beanie.]
[Yes?]
The great man’s name was Beanie? What kind of name was that? When the Phoenix turned to look back at Luna in confusion, he saw Luna staring at Beanie with eyes filled with affection.
[The being I respect the most is none other than that little pig over there.]
The Phoenix denied the reality in front of him.
[N… No…?]
‘A dragon and a pig…? Why…?’