I Became an Evolving Lizard in a Martial Arts Novel-Chapter 249

Despite having secured the area where Docheol and I were fighting, the Bicorns had an uncanny knack for detecting when the fight ended, promptly showing up at the perfect moment.

“Ehehehe... blissful... utter bliss...”

“Pockets... ehehehe... noble form... ehehehe...”

What exactly are these guys?

“Ehe?”

They glanced at my now-shrunken form and offered a mischievous grin.

“Ehehe... O-nae-so-ta (夭奶逍拖).”

“O-nae-so-ta... To-on-bu-i... delicious... ehehehe...”

Before I could even ask what they were babbling about, they disappeared like shadows, leaving only their suspicious laughter behind.

Honestly, I’m relieved they’re on my side. If they were enemies, I’d be petrified.

Even with my dragon eyes, tracking their movements would have been impossible.

They don’t show that kind of skill during battles, but now? Sure, let’s just casually flex when no one’s attacking you.

“Was that... perhaps the Bicorns I just saw?”

Docheol spoke in a slightly startled yet serious tone.

“Gegek.”

I nodded lightly in confirmation.

“They say Bicorns show favor toward strong males. I suppose you’ve earned their acknowledgment.”

Bicorns show favor to strong males?

Judging by their actions toward me, that seems accurate... though I get the sense their criteria might lean more toward “romantic charisma” than raw physical strength.

“It feels strangely liberating, even after losing,” Docheol muttered, reclining comfortably. “After all, I’ve revealed the side of myself I’ve kept hidden.”

Docheol had been concealing her true identity as a woman.

For someone who delighted in combat and had such an aggressive personality, it was impressive that she had managed to hide an even stronger form all this time.

Earning the title of one of the Four Fiends despite keeping this hidden? That’s something to admire.

Even Cho-do and Gongbok had no idea. It was likely the first time she’d shown anyone, especially me.

“A battle is something that must be won. And I was supposed to remain a male. But now... this feeling... living this long, it’s all still so baffling.”

Her voice was calm, despite the inner turmoil she must have been feeling. For someone who lived countless years in a self-imposed role, she seemed surprisingly composed.

Yeah, this is better. Much better than earlier.

...Except for the part where she’s still lying down.

“Gek!”

Why are you staying in that position?

If this were Chillang, I’d be rubbing their belly and blowing air on it. But with Docheol? That’s not happening.

First of all, she’s humanoid. Touching her recklessly feels like a bad idea.

I don’t know why, but seeing her makes me think of my own skinny appearance.

If it were someone harmless like Soyeong, it wouldn’t matter. But with Docheol? She might snap if I’m not careful, especially now that I’m smaller.

“Gegek.”

Come on, get up.

At my words, she raised her torso, settling into a seated position.

“Well, it’s certainly rude to show this wretched form for too long.”

What are you even saying?

“Ge-ee-ek!”

A wretched form?

Does she think pretending to be a man is better because she believes her current form is unattractive?

If Soyeong or Cho-do heard her say this, she’d have a serious problem on her hands.

“What’s with that expression?”

Docheol’s red eyes glinted sharply.

Oh no, not this again.

“That gaze... it’s something I’ve never felt before. Somehow... it feels unsettling. Yes, an oddly clingy look. You... are you mocking me?”

Her presence suddenly radiated anger.

What’s wrong with my gaze?

I felt wronged.

I was just staring blankly at something huge, that’s all.

“I may have lost, but that doesn’t mean my spirit is broken. I will only uphold the promises I’ve made.”

“Gek?”

“What I mean is, I won’t tolerate being insulted, even by someone who’s defeated me.”

Insulting her? What’s she even talking about?

What’s clear is that Docheol isn’t exactly normal.

Something in her is definitely twisted.

For now, she’s pledged loyalty to me, but who knows when she’ll explode.

“This body... I understand why you’d find it repulsive. It’s a hideous form, with unnecessary flesh, wide hips that make walking inconvenient, and a scent more like flowers than something wild. Even hiding is a challenge.”

Is this... bragging?

A veiled humblebrag?

For a moment, I thought she was boasting, but her tone didn’t suggest that at all.

Docheol’s obsession with pretending to be male ran deep. Her body, undeniably feminine, was something she likely loathed.

If she harbored jealousy or inferiority toward me, it was probably tied to her struggle with masculinity.

So, when I looked at her body, she must have felt it was mockery, as if I was staring at her weakness.

Then don’t flip your body like that.

Or at least grab some clothes you took off earlier.

I wanted to say this but held back.

Still, her misunderstanding was evident.

Which means, if I can clear it up, things should improve.

She’s carrying her own wounds, after all. It wouldn’t hurt to address them.

I need to show her I wasn’t looking at her body out of disdain.

With a springing motion, I leapt toward her.

“A sneak attack...!”

My movement was precise and fast, landing perfectly.

Squish.

Right on top of her bandaged chest.

I didn’t want to do this. But clearing up the misunderstanding required drastic measures.

“Wh-what are you doing? You, this close... to my hideous form...”

Docheol trembled, visibly flustered.

“Gerororong... gerorororong...”

But the sight of me acting overly pleased seemed to shock her even more.

“...What is that mystical cry of yours?”

“Gerorooong...”

My tail wagged softly.

Even through the bandages, I could sense this much.

“You! Are you mocking—”

Docheol seemed ready to burst into anger again but held back.

After all, to her eyes, I must have looked absolutely content.

Sorry, Docheol. This is just an act.

No self-respecting lizard would climb onto the chest of their recent opponent and wag their tail while croaking happily.

This isn’t because I’m smitten or anything. It’s all to clear up the misunderstanding.

“How... how could you look so happy, even with such a hideous body...”

It was surprisingly cozy.

It reminded me of the Snake Queen or my mentor, though this had its own distinct differences—firmer and sturdier, perhaps.

There were clearly unique aspects to it.

“Could it be... that even with this body... it’s okay?”

Docheol seemed to understand what I was trying to convey.

There’s no need to hide your femininity or pretend to be male.

At least, not in front of me.

I can accept you just as you are.

“Truly... I cannot fathom it. I’ve lived my whole life cursing this body, yet someone like you... a male like you... finds it...”

“Gerorong.”

“In both battle and heart... I concede defeat.”

Then, with a sudden motion, she pulled me into a tight embrace.

Ah, seriously.

“Gerong.”

I hate doing this kind of thing.

It’s just an act, but I’ve got no choice.

“Geeeek... Geroooong... Keek... Kek...”

I can’t breathe.

Don’t tell me... she planned this?

What a dirty, underhanded trick!

Trying to choke me to death while I’m off guard—how cowardly!

“Kerolorong...”

Just as I was sinking into the sensation of clouds, my body was suddenly lifted into the air.

What’s going on? Did I really die?

Is this my soul ascending to enlightenment?

...Though it feels more like someone grabbed me by the scruff of my neck.

“Ah, I thought it was strange seeing the Bicorns laughing.”

A voice dripping with disdain reached my ears.

“Geeeeek...”

“Why are you so small now?”

I tilted my head to glance upward, catching sight of familiar golden eyes.

A slow wagging tail and gently twitching ears...

It was Baekrang.

“Gek!”

Honestly, just in case something unexpected happened, I’d left Baekrang—my strongest remaining follower—on standby nearby.

Seeing the Bicorns wandering around must have tipped her off that the fight was over.

“...Who is that female?”

Docheol’s crimson eyes glared sharply at Baekrang.

“So, you’re Docheol? I’ve heard a lot about you. But I didn’t hear anything about you being female.”

Undeterred by Docheol’s fierce aura as one of the Four Fiends, Baekrang stared back just as sharply.

For some reason, Baekrang looked slightly irritated, too.

Squeeze.

“Geek!”

Judging by how she was kneading my sides, was she mad at me?

“Female? What nonsense are you spouting?”

“Huh?”

“You’re mistaken. This body is male.”

Docheol said it with complete confidence.

Who’s going to look at you and think you’re male?

“...You’re saying you’re male?”

“Of course. Can’t you see the difference between us?”

“With that pumpkin-sized thing dangling off you, you’re calling yourself male?”

“Hmph. Do your eyes not work? Such crude words, fitting for an uncultured female.”

Baekrang’s expression shifted to one of bewilderment.

Baekrang herself was, well... quite “gracefully” built, but at least her clothing remained relatively tidy.

Meanwhile, Docheol’s current state?

It’s almost embarrassing to describe.

Her top was shredded, leaving her with just a few bandages, and her lower garments weren’t much better, leaving very little to the imagination.

In this situation, who’s calling who uncultured?

“Did you hit her on the head or something?”

I did whack her with my tail at the end, but I doubt that’s the issue.

“It was nice when the red lizard disappeared, but now there’s an even stranger lizard here. ...Is that even a lizard?”

“A lizard? Hmph, laughable. How foolish of a female to think that.”

Baekrang seemed to decide she didn’t want to argue with this any further.

Maybe she just categorized Docheol as another eccentric mystical being.

“Seriously, is there no one normal here?”

At least you’re normal, Baekrang.

Baekrang then turned her gaze to my shrunken form, scrutinizing me carefully.

“...You’re really small now.”

“Gegek.”

It’s because of the downsizing, okay?

“You’re not going to accidentally drop something, are you? I feel a little uneasy.”

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My size might have shrunk, but I didn’t become a child.

“Hmm, this won’t do. How about holding onto this?”

Baekrang handed me something long and fabric-like.

When I looked closer, I realized it was attached to her collar.

“...No, but oddly enough, doing this makes me feel secure. It’s calming, somehow.”

You’re a wolf.

A mystical one, at that.

Why are you saying things only a dog would say?

Even Chillang wouldn’t do this.

Whap-whap.

The wagging of her tail showed she was clearly expecting something.

...Ugh. I’ve always been weak when it comes to canine creatures.

Resigned, I took hold of Baekrang’s leash.

“Hah. Your mind is as vulgar as that crude body of yours,” Docheol said, her tone dripping with contempt.

“You present such things as a sign of submission to your master? Truly absurd.”

With that, she held out something similar to what Baekrang had handed me.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to take it?”

...Didn’t you just call Baekrang vulgar?

“Do you really think a female fawning over a male and a male accepting submission from another male are the same? This body is male, so there’s no problem with this action. I’m clearly different from that crude one.”

Baekrang looked like she’d given up on arguing.

“Sigh... Seriously, no one here is normal.”

I squinted at Baekrang.

She used to be a reasonable and grounded individual, so why’s she like this now?

What went wrong?

Well, at least it doesn’t seem to be my fault... I think.