A Breeze Blowing by the Lakeside on a Spring Day

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...It was spring.

Most of the flora and fauna living on the Plateau of Behemoths were, needless to say, giant.

The dandelions that bloomed yellow all at once were taller than two-story houses, and the horsetails were like telephone poles.

...To be precise, they should probably be described as plants that "resembled" dandelions and horsetails.

Regardless, spring on the Plateau of Behemoths was when those things—which had withered during winter or endured the cold beneath the snow—sprouted all at once, adding color to the landscape.

As if in synchronization, the giant animals... the monsters, also resumed their active movements.

A snake the size of a train swallowed a giant rat the size of a car in one gulp.

Butterflies with wings larger than tatami mats fluttered through the air, firing beams indiscriminately toward the ground.

A giant bush warbler weighing over 500 kilograms blew away a giant spider with sonic attacks.

Indeed, the survival competition was entering its most intense phase.

That was the Plateau of Behemoths.

However, it wasn't noisy everywhere.

There were places where giant plants did not grow and giant monsters did not approach.

Such a place was the lake.

...That lake was incredibly clear.

The surroundings were bleak, with exposed soil and rock, but the surface of the lake, which continued to reflect the blue sky and swimming clouds, was like a mirror.

Aside from the occasional breeze, there was no sound; its serenity was like that of a sanctuary.

Why did such a quiet place exist in this Plateau of Behemoths, which was so overflowing with life?

The answer was simple.

The water filling this lake... while appearing beautiful, was in fact a potent poison.

"...N'eh!"

Now, there was a bird that popped up from the lake, poking its head out.

It was a bird with beautiful, purple feathers.

In terms of shape... its overall impression was similar to a crow.

Though it lived in the lake, it was not a waterfowl.

However, its flashy crest and long, elegant tail feathers asserted that this bird was no ordinary crow... but a being that had undergone its own unique 【Evolution】.

"N'eeee..."

Without moving its legs or wings... the bird that glided smoothly by manipulating the surrounding "poisonous liquid" was named... Dokugegon.

He was the master... and the creator, of this lake of potent poison.

Originally, a forest had spread across the area where this lake now sat.

However, because the Land Whale and Emi had rampaged through it, the ground had been gouged out, and a valley was born.

Groundwater seeped in and snowmelt flowed into it, creating a lake.

Dokugegon mixed his own tasteless, odorless, yet incredibly potent poison into that lake, turning it into his own dwelling.

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Species: Purple Poison Spirit Bird

Name: Dokugegon

Age: 1 year old

Vitality: 513

Magic Power: 8,471

Level: 232

Skills: 【Poison Resistance 783】, 【Poison Generation 751】, 【Mimicry 11】, 【Tree Climbing 4】, 【Poison Liquid Manipulation 728】

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...This was Dokugegon's current status.

On that winter day.

After Dokugegon and Emi had won the fierce battle.

A vast amount of golden light had been released from the dead Land Whale's body and ascended to the heavens.

As a result, the remaining carcass of the Land Whale became, as Emi put it, "spent dregs."

Since it was still precious food, both he and Emi continued to eat that meat throughout the winter... but.

The immense energy Dokugegon had felt when he directly pecked at the stomach wall was almost entirely gone.

Nevertheless, it was still the meat of the former sovereign of the Plateau of Behemoths.

That meat strengthened Dokugegon's body and soul, evolving him one step further.

His feathers became soft and glowed with a lustrous sheen.

While he was still small for a monster of the Plateau of Behemoths... he had grown to roughly the same size as a human.

Along with that... his build had become considerably better.

His shabby, ugly appearance was now nowhere to be found.

However.

It wasn't just his appearance that had changed significantly.

...Emi, who had claimed to be his owner, had gradually... begun to distance herself from him.

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"Dokugegon!"

"N'eh!"

As Dokugegon was swimming smoothly through the lake of poison, he heard a voice calling him from the shore.

Turning around, there stood a black-haired, black-eyed beautiful girl wearing an eerie, jet-black coat she had created with her own abilities, standing expressionlessly... Emi.

Emi and Dokugegon had once shared their meals and sleep, living together... but as mentioned, their relationship had changed after he grew larger.

Emi would come to see Dokugegon about once every three days at the earliest.

It was common for them to go nearly a week without meeting.

This reunion was also roughly a week since the last.

"N'EEEEH!"

Because of this, Dokugegon was happy and swam straightforwardly toward Emi.

"............"

"N'eh?"

However.

Dokugegon immediately felt a sense of incongruity.

Something was off about Emi.

Emi was always expressionless... but since they had been together for a while, her emotions were easy to read.

Especially when she was angry; it was very clear.

The leaking murderous intent conveyed it regardless.

Today, Emi was... definitely not angry.

However, he didn't feel the defenseless carefreeness that came from being a powerhouse.

Instead, there was a certain taut tension.

The 【Intimidation】 produced by the very faint leak of magic power spoke for her state of mind.

"Dokugegon..."

Emi whispered his name once more, as if squeezing the words out.

"............"

Without saying a word, Dokugegon peered into the eyes of the downward-looking Emi.

For a while, both of them remained silent.

But then, a cold wind blew, slicing through the warm spring air and rippling the surface of the poisonous lake.

At that moment.

Emi finally spoke to Dokugegon.

"The time... has come for us to part."

...She said.