Seeds in the Belly of the Beast

In a place pitch black on all sides, as I stood there absentmindedly, an odd sense of déjà vu washed over me.

Well, aside from commuting hours, I was practically a shut-in anyway.

“Phew.”

I deliberately let out a long sigh and forced my body to move.

Even then, my mind wouldn’t fully wake up, so I rubbed my face dry several times.

“I have to move.”

This wasn’t the time to zone out.

From here on, it was important.

Current Location: Inside the belly of the evil beast Jangin (長人).

『Jangin: A giant creature said to be five or six times the size of a human. Its entire body is covered in black fur, its teeth are like saw blades, and its nails resemble hooks. It chews animals alive—and humans as well. Edited editions: Samguk Sagi, Dongsa Gangmok, Gimu, etc.』

As expected, I was inside a creature’s stomach.

“…….”

Recalling the moment just before I was swallowed, this must be the belly of the ‘post-apocalyptic creature’ OZ summoned.

“Good.”

Just as planned.

Not a single step had strayed from what I’d prepared in advance.

It was a good thing.

“…….”

And yet, I couldn’t shake off the unpleasant feeling.

As I got up, I opened one of the bamboo tubes I had prepared beforehand.

The moment I lifted the lid, a blue flame the size of a firefly popped out.

『Iljeomcheonghwa (一點靑火): A blue flame. It moves like a rolling droplet, shrinking or growing each time it rolls. When its power grows strong, it becomes arrogant, harming humans—and even harming spirits to take their place.』

I looked around, but there was no particular reaction.

Jangin was an evil beast, and the Iljeomcheonghwa I had just released was also of the evil-beast type.

If I had taken out an item imbued with benevolent energy, Jangin would likely have rejected it immediately.

‘If I were to compare it to when germs invade the body…….’

I stopped that analogy.

That would make me the bacteria.

Anyway, inside this creature’s body, nothing but evil-beast types could be used.

That was why I needed the bamboo tubes.

『Bamboo Tube (竹筒): A base used to cultivate or house creatures born from or living in bamboo tubes, jars, or baskets. Requires suitable soil and skills.』

To plant a ‘seed’ that would become an item in the bamboo tube and cultivate it, suitable soil and a skill were essential.

And that skill could not be used once one became a ‘Lord.’

『The skill “Cultivation (培養)” cannot be acquired by those who change profession to Ruler (治人) or those affiliated under them.』

That was why I had to remain a wanderer……

『Pseudo “Territory” “Bamboo Tube” detected.』

『“Bamboo Tube” is not an officially registered “Territory.” It is not recognized as a formal “Territory.”』

『Information: Wanderer, Occupancy 0%.』

But I couldn’t stay that way forever.

After all, I had to become king.

Using the weapons I currently possessed, I needed to establish a foundation to leap forward in one strike.

And I would obtain it here.

Iljeomcheonghwa rolled along, growing larger.

Its light brightened.

The inside of the creature’s belly came into view.

The scenery matched my expectations.

[R: OZ always rampaged as he pleased. The ‘evil beasts’ that lent him power were perfect partners in that sense. When by OZ’s side, they could always act as they pleased—destroy buildings, hunt beasts, break dams, swallow people…….]

Even if you cut open a wild Jangin’s stomach, it probably wouldn’t look quite like this.

Illuminated by the Iljeomcheonghwa, now as large as a boulder, were carcasses of animals, rotting entrails, mushy fish, shattered stones, trees that seemed a hundred years old—and human heads, torsos severed at the waist……

[R: A landscape straight out of hell.]

That description fit perfectly.

But.

Manifesting pseudo “Territory” “Bamboo Tube.”

Manifesting pseudo “Territory” “Bamboo Tube.”

Manifesting pseudo “Territory” “Bamboo Tube.”

Manifesting pseudo “Territory” “Bamboo Tube.”

There could be no more fertile land than this to cultivate another ‘hell.’

The ‘seeds’ were already planted.

The ‘skill’ was usable.

And here was plenty of ‘fertilizer’ perfect for raising evil beasts.

Using skill “Cultivation (Grade 3).”

Within the field, ‘malicious energy’ accelerates the growth of dark-attribute cultivations. (However, malicious energy may inhibit the growth of light-attribute cultivations.)

Growth of dark-attribute cultivation accelerated by 200%.

Growth of dark-attribute cultivation accelerated by 300%.

Growth of dark-attribute cultivation accelerated by 400%……

The bamboo tubes floating around me in midair suddenly began shaking violently.

Clack clack clack clatter clatter clatter clatter clatter……

Clatter clatter clatter clatter clatter clatter clatter clatter clatter clatter clatter clatter clatter clatter clatter clatter clatter clatter clatterclatterclatterclatterclatterclatterclatterclatterclatterclatter

Clatter.

At the moment Iljeomcheonghwa flared up explosively, I snatched one bamboo tube and ran like mad.

The thunderous sounds of something splitting, tearing, and shattering, along with piercing screams, echoed loudly—but I didn’t look back.

Because I knew what it was.

The sound of evil things being born!

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

I stumbled mid-run.

The ground writhed and trembled.

This was inside Jangin’s stomach—if the ground was shaking, that meant……

KRAAAAGH!

A monstrous roar rang out.

It sounded distant, yet also as if screamed right beside my ear.

The contradiction was simple.

It was Jangin—the one who swallowed me.

Bang!

Bang!

Baaang!

By the ‘seeds’ sprouting inside his belly.

『Evil Beast, Yeommae (魘魅): A demonic creature raised in bamboo tubes or jars. A post-apocalyptic creature resembling an extremely emaciated child. If not fed, it reaches out and harms people; scratches from its nails cause illness to spread from the wound. Source: Seongho Saseol.』

『Evil Beast, Hwehoe (喙喙): A demonic creature appearing on rainy days. If its gourd-like body is shattered, countless magpie-like forms burst forth at once, driving onlookers into terror.』

『Evil Beast, Mokyo (木妖): A one-eyed beast living inside hollow, rotting trees. Once fully grown and emerging, it relentlessly follows and torments its chosen target.』

From the outside, these ‘creatures’ would probably have been nothing more than a single bite for Jangin.

But this was inside Jangin’s stomach.

The prey he had greedily devoured would now feed the newborn evil beasts within him.

Scratch, scratch, scratch scratch scratch……

A chilling sound clung to my ears.

It was the sound of Yeommae’s nails scraping Jangin’s insides.

Where Yeommae scratched, poison spread.

Flap!

At the same time, Hwehoe flapped its wings violently.

Its wingbeats that paralyze those who hear them—Jangin could not avoid hearing them.

The sound came from within his own belly.

Even covering his ears would be useless.

Creeeak, creeeak, creeeak.

And Mokyo clawed at Jangin’s entrails.

Among post-apocalyptic creatures, that one-eyed beast might well be the most persistent.

Even as I desperately fled, I felt Jangin’s insides convulse violently.

Digestive fluids surged up, only to meet the blazing flame and ignite his organs instead.

The smell of burning.

A strange bitter scent mixed with sourness.

……The ground turned black.

Grrr.

Grrrr.

Grrrrrk.

With a bizarre groan, everything began to resonate.

I pressed down the half-white, half-black hide covering me and glared forward.

When would it be?

Screeeech!

A sudden heat flared behind me.

Even without looking, I knew Iljeomcheonghwa had grown terrifyingly large.

The other evil beasts must have as well.

Sure enough, the front brightened.

Jangin, burned and split by sharp forces, was torn in half from the inside.

“Cheonghwa! Yeommae! Hwehoe! Mokyo!”

OZ immediately came into view.

Of course—he was Jangin’s contractor!

“You……!”

He seemed to say something, but I didn’t need to hear it.

There was no time.

Why?

I pointed directly at OZ.

“Look there! That is your prey!”

Iljeomcheonghwa, Yeommae, Hwehoe, Mokyo—all evil beasts.

Post-apocalyptic creatures that inevitably harm humans as they grow stronger!

Jangin, their prey until moments ago, was dead.

They needed a new target.

It didn’t have to be me!

“Ha! Haha! Hahahahaha! You crazy bastard!”

After a brief stunned look, OZ burst into wild laughter.

‘Who are you calling crazy?’

The only one who’d laugh while evil beasts that killed his master creature charge at him would be him.

“Ha! Hahahaha! Hahahaha! This is fun! So fun! You’re the best!”

Is that so.

“But it would’ve been more fun if you brought something stronger.”

OZ, his hand transformed into a massive scythe, shook off the black blood staining it.

It was the blood of the four evil beasts that had just attacked him.

I told you—newborn brats.

There was no way they could match OZ, who bore the sigils of numerous colossal evil beasts.

“I figured.”

I tossed the bamboo tube I had brought from Jangin’s stomach lightly and caught it again.

The one I had kept until the very end.

It rattled violently, as if about to burst.

“That’s why I brought this, you bastard!”

I hurled it at OZ.

“Idiot…….”

“The idiot is you.”

The bamboo tube shattered.

『Sangsa Snake: During the day it resides in jars or similar containers; at night it slithers out, coils tightly around a person’s waist, and never lets go.』

From the broken bamboo tube, a massive snake burst forth and coiled around OZ’s waist.

Naturally, his scythe sliced through the snake’s skin.

But instead of falling away, the skin spread wide, engulfing his entire body.

Writhe, writhe, writhe, writhe, writhe.

Writhe.

I quietly watched as the white snake skin that swallowed OZ thrashed violently before gradually going still.

Only when it finally dropped to the ground with a dull thud did I collapse as well.

“Huaaah.”

Pulling my knees up, I buried my head against them and wrapped my arms around it.

Fatigue surged up to the crown of my head in an instant.

Even so, with this, the plan had succeeded.