“This child here is Hongbi.”

When I brought Hongbi back to the Beast Palace and introduced him, the princess and Hwa-eun’s eyes sparkled.

Even though they were martial artists, Ji-ryeon was a princess and Hwa-eun the daughter of a wealthy household—they loved pretty things.

And Hongbi was unbearably pretty.

That bright yellow body, the red forelegs, and the blue hind legs—colors so striking that even ordinary people who didn’t care for venomous beasts would find them beautiful.

In the wild, such colors meant danger, but to humans long removed from nature, such vivid hues evoked beauty.

Aside from birds, humans distinguish the most colors of any animal.

Some beasts can’t even tell colors apart, but humans, second only to birds, can.

And so, bright colors stir the thought of beauty in human eyes.

“Ohhh, so this is Hongbi? I’m Ji-ryeon.”

“My, how beautiful. Hello, I’m Hwa-eun.”

“How can the colors be this pretty? May I touch?”

Surrounded by my wives, Hongbi looked completely flustered.

—Kwaah? 『S-So-ryong, why are these females acting like this?』

Having lived alone, he seemed to have forgotten how others might see him.

Either he thought only the girl from before had reacted that way, or he had lost a lot of confidence because of his poison.

When I told him why my wives were reacting so, his expression showed utter shock.

“They think you’re cute and beautiful.”

—Kwaah!? 『W-what!?』

When I had told him he was pretty before, he’d looked like he couldn’t understand. Now, he looked flat-out stunned.

It reminded me # Nоvеlight # of one of those clichés from comics in my past life.

The heroine who believes she’s unpopular because her chest is “ugly and big” and her personality gloomy.

‘M-my chest is huge and clumsy, and my personality’s no good...’

But a gloomy personality only makes her seem mysterious, and a big chest is a major attraction for men.

The bigger, the better.

Hongbi was an absolute hit with my wives.

“He’s so pretty. So-ryong, can I take him with me? Hwa-eun has Sandan the orchid mantis, and Hye-rin has Moji and Soji. I don’t have anyone.”

Ji-ryeon, in particular, coveted Hongbi.

She pointed out Hwa-eun had Sandan, the orchid mantis, and Gun Hye-rin had Moji and Soji—only she lacked a venom beast of her own.

“You want to take Hongbi with you?”

“Yes! Frogs symbolize fortune, wealth, and fertility. I really want to keep him by my side.”

But Hongbi seemed to like me.

—Kwaah. 『N-no. I like So-ryong.』

“He says he doesn’t want to.”

“Why not!?”

“Well, you only just met. You’re not close yet. Give it some time.”

—Kwaaah! 『Even if you wait, I still don’t want to!』

I couldn’t exactly translate that as-is, so I soothed the princess with Hongdan instead.

“Ji-ryeon, this one’s not used to people yet. How about Hongdan? Hongdan likes you.”

“Hongdan?”

“Yes, he used to watch you practice swordsmanship every day.”

Hongdan was a spirit beast earwig.

His mother had been so sharp she could cut through iron, and Hongdan would watch the princess train, utterly entranced.

So I suggested pairing them, and Hongdan seemed to like the idea—he nodded eagerly.

He clearly liked Ji-ryeon, who cut things with blades.

“What do you think, Hongdan?”

—Kkii!

“See? He likes it.”

“Really? So Hongdan liked me all this time? Then I welcome him. A dual-blade Hongdan—I’ll gladly take him.”

And so Ji-ryeon and Hongdan became a pair. Afterward, I introduced the rest of the spirit beast family.

“This is Lady Cheongyu, the snake spirit beast, the Golden-Crowned Serpent King.”

—Kwaah. 『Why does looking her in the eyes make my back go cold?』

Perhaps because of his frog instincts, Hongbi shivered at the sight of the snake king Cheongyu Sojeo.

There’s a saying frogs freeze when facing snakes—it seemed true enough.

And biologists had confirmed it: some amphibians deliberately stay still so snakes won’t strike.

Smiling at his words, I said:

“Cheongyu Sojeo doesn’t eat frogs, so don’t worry.”

—Sia. 『Nice to meet you. I don’t eat frogs, so no need to worry.』

—Kwaah. 『Ahem. Not that I’d let myself be eaten anyway. Pleased to meet you.』

“This one is Cheongyu, the scorpion spirit beast.”

—Krrrng. 『Greetings.』

—Kwaak. 『Greetings. What a massive spirit beast you are.』

“And over here...”

One by one, Hongbi greeted the others. He was unfazed—until he saw Hwayang.

—Kwaah. 『H-huh!?』

I’d gathered everyone to meet him, but Hwayang hadn’t shown up—he was holed up in the cabin, licking Hwajeong (Fire Essence) again.

When I brought Hongbi aboard to introduce him to Geum-dorang and Heukjeom as well, the sight of Hwayang froze him stiff.

“Hwayang, come out.”

At my call, a slurping sound came from the corner of the cabin.

—Slurp, slurrp.

Hwayang was busy sucking on Hwajeong. Then, hearing my voice, his eyes gleamed from the shadows.

—Piii 『Food.』

As expected, he cried “food” as he crawled out.

When the light from the cabin window fell on him and revealed his full form, Hongbi gasped in horror and froze solid.

Then, in a very respectful voice, Hongbi asked:

—Kwaaah? 『Wh-who is that...?』

When meeting the others, he had spoken casually, almost impudently. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Even to Cheonhye and Cheongwol, who seemed the eldest, he’d spoken down.

But to Hwayang, his tone was deeply polite.

Finding it strange, I answered:

“Oh, this is our Hwayang. Hwayang, you doing well?”

“...”

—Kwaah. 『M-Master Hwayang?』

A toad is the elder among amphibians, but Hwayang looked utterly trivial to us.

Short legs, a round, squat body.

But among amphibians, did he appear different?

Hurriedly scrambling down from my head, Hongbi bowed deeply before Hwayang.

—Kwaaah. 『N-nice to meet you. I’m Hongbi. Please take care of me.』

Hwayang scrutinized him, then suddenly reached out with his stubby forefoot and patted Hongbi’s head.

And then he spoke.

—Piii. 『You’re really cute. So, have you eaten?』

His voice was crisp and clear.

—Kwaah. 『Y-yes, Master Hwayang. I’ve eaten.』

—Piii. 『Among family, no need for “Master.” From now on, call me big sister.』

—Kwaah! 『Y-yes, Big Sister!』

I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity.

I’d never served in the military, but I’d heard the stories.

Like the soldier who had been a screw-up until a recruit came in—then suddenly he played the role of a dignified senior.

That was exactly the situation now.

‘So Hwayang wants to look like a cool senior in front of Hongbi, huh?’

There was much I could have said, but I decided to protect Hwayang’s “social face.”

***

I told my wives I was tired and wanted to rest, then lay down alone on my bed.

Back in my quarters in the Beast Palace after so long, I stretched out and fully savored the feeling of elation.

Because of Hongbi’s pitiful circumstances I hadn’t been able to celebrate before, but now—at last—I had gathered nine of the Ten Great Venom Beasts.

The moment to complete that grand collection—the Ten Great Venom Beasts, the Twenty-Four Venomous Beasts—was right before my eyes.

Flying Centipede, Cho.

Golden-Faced Spider King, Yohwa.

Azure Fire Magma Toad, Hwayang.

Golden-Crowned Serpent King, Cheongyu Sojeo.

Blood Flower Dream Phantom Butterfly, Elder Sister Jeokwol.

Silver Silkworm Moths, Moji and Soji.

Ten-Thousand-Year Stone-Armored Scorpion, Cheongwol.

Strange-Crying Tiger Cub, Mama.

World-Destroying Golden Toad, Hongbi.

That made nine gathered.

Of the ten venom beasts said to be the strongest in the Central Plains, all but one had become my friends.

I, the man who had already gloriously completed the collection of the Twenty-Four Venomous Beasts, was finally nearing the end of my grand challenge.

Back then, I’d been preparing a special broadcast in Africa to introduce the Black Mamba, only for one to crawl into my bungalow in a national park hotel. Who could have known?

I’d cursed my rotten luck at the time, not knowing it would be the start of this beautiful journey.

After that I reincarnated into the martial world, struggled to survive alone on Hainan Island, met my father-in-law, then met Hwa-eun, and the journey had led me here.

Truly, I was filled with deep emotion.

‘Khh. So this moment really does come at last, huh?’

It hadn’t taken longer than expected, but it had never been easily won either.

Because of Odo Clan and the Blood Cult bastards I’d risked my life countless times, and when I obtained Hwayang I had nearly died from poison.

I had even actually died once—my heart stopped from the electric shock of Seomi and Byeok-i.

Of course, that had been my fault for recklessly trying to touch them.

Regardless, my chest swelled with emotion.

“Now I just need Jimjo to put the final dot on this journey.”

Only Jimjo remained.

Since this journey had begun with Jimjo, it was fitting it should end with Jimjo.

‘Ah, the build-up’s insane. Peak. Let it go.’

The collection lacked only Jimjo.

And my martial path, too, only lacked rising to the Ten Venoms Realm through Jimjo. All that was left was the trip back to Hainan Island.

I didn’t know the creature’s exact habitat, but since it had been sighted on Hainan, that was where I had to go.

“Geumdo said he could travel the sea, so I could ride Geumdo there—or, if not, I could ride Cho.”

There were plenty of options, and I was debating how to make the journey when I heard my wives’ voices outside.

“So-ryong.”

“So-ryong, are you asleep?”

“Master, are you sleeping?”

I quickly pretended to be asleep.

Gun Hye-rin, who had accompanied me, was satisfied after what we had done with Cho-ya, but Hwa-eun and the princess had been starved for a long time.

Now that I had reached the Realm of Manifestation, there was no more need to worry about my yang energy being depleted, but I still needed to rest.

‘I thought as long as I had enough yang energy there’d be no problem—but I was wrong.’

I had overlooked one thing.

Psychogenic.

It’s a medical term: psychogenic — mind, cause, nature.

It means an illness whose root lies in the heart. The most notorious of these, of course, is psychogenic erectile dysfunction.

For a man, it’s a disease more cruel than cancer—the inability to perform because of psychological causes.

Yes. Even if energy is overflowing, if the mind isn’t in it, it can be difficult.

That was why I had pretended to sleep.

But then the door opened and my wives entered.

They began to wake me.

“So-ryong, wake up.”

“You have to wake, my lord.”

If one of them had come alone, maybe it would’ve just been to wake me. But the three of them together? That could only mean one thing.

Feigning sleep, I stirred and rose.

“Nggh. What is it?”

“Are you very tired? But you need to come outside now, So-ryong.”

“Go outside?”

“Yes. The Martial Alliance Leader has arrived and is asking for you.”

Forces were steadily gathering in the Beast Palace.

Martial artists from sects across the Central Plains, and imperial troops dispatched from the royal court, all converging.

It was to save Great Yue and suppress the Blood Cult’s power. For that reason, the Martial Alliance Leader had arrived—to lead the martial world.

“Then I must go at once.”

He wasn’t my teacher, but he had passed martial arts to me. I owed him much.

I rose quickly to go meet him—when a voice came from behind.

“But... he said he wants to see me as well. What should we do?”

“G-Gun Hye-rin?”

Her words startled me.

If he had singled her out, it might mean he had discovered something.

But fortunately, that didn’t seem to be the case.

“No, the three of us were leaving Lady Seolpyo’s quarters, and the Alliance Leader was coming from the other side. We ran into each other. So he said we should all meet together.”

“Ah, if that’s the case...”

Gun Hye-rin, being in the Realm of Splendor, had no fear of being exposed as a demonic person. She could conceal her energy perfectly.

Relieved, I went to greet the Alliance Leader.

“It’s been a while.”

“It has, indeed.”

“To have reached Manifestation, it proves my choice was right. Congratulations.”

“It was all thanks to you.”

The exchange was warm and cheerful. We drank tea, shared pleasant conversation, and were just about to part when—

A thread of sound transmission brushed my ear.

[As for why a Demonic Sect woman is at your side... I’ll hear that explanation after this campaign is over.]

I thought there would be no problem. But clearly, I’d been found out.