116
Chapter 116
The sharp claws of the Bugmen flew at me from both sides.
Their momentum was good.
However, that was all they had.
"K-Kee?"
"Kee...?"
Their claws failed to pierce my face.
They merely sank deeply into my soft cheeks.
This was the difference in our levels.
If it had been the old me, I would have been skewered for sure.
Anyway, I had to make them pay the price for unleashing such a murderous attack!
Fwoosh!
Flames erupted from my entire body.
I became a bear engulfed in fire.
Of course, the fire didn't harm me at all.
The flames spread to the Bugmen's fingers and instantly wrapped around their bodies.
"Keeee!!!"
"Kee, keeee!!"
The Bugmen danced in agony.
"Kuooh! Who said you could touch my little brother's cheeks like that!!!"
Jjokkomi's Hellfire was added to their bodies.
My flames and Jjokkomi's Hellfire mixed harmoniously, quickly devouring the Bugmen.
In the end, the Bugmen stopped moving entirely.
Their annoying screams also stopped echoing.
It was over.
Thump, thump.
I stepped onto the charred corpses of the Bugmen, raised my Cane, and struck a gentlemanly victory pose.
"Gom-gom."
Manners.
"Gom-gom."
maketh.
"Gom."
the Teddy Bear.
***
The charred corpse of the Bugman.
The quality of the Mana Stone extracted from it wasn't bad at all.
It was definitely not a Mana Stone that would normally come out of a low-level Thunder Ant's body.
It seemed that when they underwent a temporary Evolution, the Mana Stone inside their bodies upgraded as well.
I didn't bother Dismantling the other one.
I only dismantled the first one because I was curious if its Mana Stone had changed.
Dismantling wasn't my job, anyway.
I'd just go back to the Dungeon and leave it to the Slaves.
"You should eat the Mana Stone you just got, Dongsaeng-Oppa."
"Gom-gom."
"Kuo?!"
Swish!
I tossed the Mana Stone right into Jjokkomi's mouth while she was talking.
Jjokkomi looked surprised before instinctively swallowing the Mana Stone that had entered her mouth.
"Kuo... I told you to eat it, Dongsaeng-Oppa...."
"Gom."
Ahem!
When Oppa yields, you should accept it without a word!
My conscience dictated that I had to yield at least this much for now.
After all, I was planning to gorge myself once we returned.
I intended to hit level 40 today and attempt a Limit Breakthrough.
After that.
We hunted amiably for a bit longer before returning to the Dungeon.
***
The lights in the Dungeon began to emit a soft glow.
Sensing that the outside world had grown dark, the lighting automatically adjusted its brightness.
It was evening.
We all gathered on the 2nd Floor.
Then, we took our seats one by one at the chairs in front of the long, antique dining table.
"Hoeh! It's a super cool dining table!"
"Yong-yong! The atmosphere completely changed just because of this!"
"...!"
These were the dining table and chairs I had just made.
I didn't make them because I wanted to, but because Ms. Vampire asked me to.
I heard about the appearance of the table and chairs used in the Vampire Castle and tried to make them roughly similar, and she was delighted, saying they looked almost exactly the same.
I naturally took the seat of honor.
Then I turned my head and checked that everyone was gathered around the table.
Now, then....
"Gom-gom, gom-gom-gom."
We will now begin our first Dungeon Meeting.
"Woong?"
"Kuo? Dungeon Meeting?"
"Bear Baby, what's a Dungeon Meeting?"
I heard that they hold something called a Dungeon Meeting at the Vampire Castle.
So I'm just trying to copy it.
Because the scale of our Dungeon has grown quite a bit, too.
There's nothing particularly special just because it's called a meeting.
I'd decline a stiff atmosphere, so we can just have a friendly chat in a free and easy environment.
And enjoy dinner together after the meeting is over.
Of course.
I have no intention of engaging in meaningless small talk.
Reporting unique occurrences.
Sharing information.
The Dungeon's problems.
Suggestions.
And so on.
I intended to make constructive conversation the main focus.
Since it is nominally a Dungeon Meeting, after all.
When I explained the purpose of the Dungeon Meeting to everyone, I received positive reactions.
"True, our Dungeon has grown a lot, so if we want to manage it properly, these kinds of meetings will be essential in the future."
"...!"
"Yoooong. Sounds good."
"Woong, woo-woong."
"Kuo. I'm okay with whatever Dongsaeng-Oppa wants to do."
"Hoeh... Can I really join such an important gathering? I feel like I've become someone amazing...!"
"Everyone's reactions aren't bad. For reference, the Dungeon Meeting was my suggestion to the Teddy Bear."
Ms. Vampire wore a satisfied smile.
There was no problem with her attending our Dungeon Meeting.
Although she isn't a member of the Dungeon, she is still part of the Alliance.
"Gom-gom."
Focus-gom.
When I said that, everyone's attention turned to me.
"Gom-gom-gom, gom-gom."
First, I have a piece of information to share with everyone.
"Kuo? Information to share?"
"Yoooong?"
I told everyone the story regarding the Barrier.
The story I had just heard from the Vampire Lord.
Since it was information that wouldn't hurt for them to know.
Naturally, I asked the Vampire Lord for permission.
She said it didn't matter if I talked about it.
When I finished the story leading up to The Abyss.
Ailee, who had been nodding and focusing on my words, muttered.
"But... you're saying this Continent is a place where relatively docile monsters were driven? It doesn't seem that way, though......."
"Hasn't a long time passed? As generations passed, the number of those with fierce personalities must have increased."
Ms. Vampire said.
Her words were probably the right answer.
"More importantly, that's an astonishing fact. To think the Barrier had such a history. Today is also the first time I'm hearing the story about The Abyss."
Gom?
Wait, Ms. Vampire.
Did you not know either?
How could it be your first time hearing this information?
Are you actually not that close with the Lord....
"Yooooong. That was extremely useful information. I've acquired another piece of knowledge about this world. It's always a joy to learn about the world I was born into."
"...!"
The Little Yellow Dragon and the Princess Doll listened carefully to my story.
It seemed to be information that piqued their interest.
For reference, Ailee was continuously providing real-time Interpretation for the Princess Doll.
"Woo-woong."
Tosuni was focusing on my face rather than the story.
Isn't she staring a bit too openly?
At this rate, she's going to burn a hole in my face.
It was slightly burdensome.
"Kuo, I see. That's amazing."
"Huhing... I didn't understand."
Jjokkomi didn't look particularly interested.
It seemed she had little interest in how the world worked.
Fox just had an expression that said she couldn't understand.
Anyway.
That's the end of the information sharing.
Since the others said they had no information to share, I told everyone to report at least one unique occurrence next. Excluding the Doppelganger incident.
Once the reports on unique occurrences are done, the meeting is over.
I have no intention of dragging out the meeting.
Since it's our first meeting today, I should keep it brief and wrap it up.
With that, Jjokkomi started reporting her unique occurrences.
"Kuo? A unique occurrence report? Ah! I went hunting with Dongsaeng-Oppa today! And... I don't think there's anything else!"
"Gom-gom."
Jjokkomi finished her report.
Shortly after, Tosuni opened her mouth.
"Woong, woo-woong, woo-woo-woong. Woo-hoo-hoong."
"Gom."
She said she played hide-and-seek with the Little Yellow Dragon.
They had fun playing while I was gone.
It didn't seem like there were any other unique occurrences.
Next, Ailee spoke up.
"You know that Magic Tool Chunja has been working on for a few days? She says the restoration should be finished by tomorrow."
"Gom-gom."
Having finished her piece, Ailee shifted her gaze to the side.
Fox looked around, glancing at everyone.
She had a flustered face, like she didn't know what to say.
"Hoeh, hoeh...."
"Gom-gom-gom."
If you have nothing, just say so.
When I said that, Fox shook her head.
"No, I'm going to say something too!"
Fox pondered, pressing down firmly on her forehead.
I peed today!
I wondered if she would give a report like that.
"Ah! I thought of one! I went to the Tomb with Gom-jjang earlier, and the top of the Tomb was swollen! It was weird!"
Oh, right.
That did happen.
Contrary to my expectations, Fox gave a proper report.
Our Fox has grown up, too.
"Hmm? Baby Fox, the top of the Tomb was swollen?"
"That's right! You should go take a look later!"
"Kuo, I should have mentioned that too."
Next up was the Princess Doll.
"...!"
Hmm.
Since the Princess Doll can't speak, it can't be helped.
Then next is Ms. Vampire....
Wait, Ms. Vampire isn't a member of our Dungeon, so pass.
I shifted my gaze to the Little Yellow Dragon.
He was the last one.
"Yooooong... I was going to talk about playing hide-and-seek, but Mama Tosun beat me to it."
"Woo-hoo-hoong."
"Yoooong... Ah, I just thought of one. Earlier, Mama Vampa tripped over her own feet and fell with a thud."
"Hey, why bring that up... And I didn't trip over my own feet, I just lost my footing."
"Gom-gom."
With the Little Yellow Dragon finished, the unique occurrence reports were complete.
That concluded today's meeting.
***
After the meeting.
We began our meal in earnest.
I was a bit greedy today.
I brought out the Pink Mana Stones I had been storing and was consuming them in large quantities.
Not just to Fox, of course.
I also asked for everyone's understanding.
Asking them to prioritize my growth just this once.
There was only one reason I was trying to grow so hastily.
I plan to visit the Lake soon, and I wanted to increase my weight class before then.
It wasn't for safety.
Since I'd be going with Tosun's Mom as insurance, safety wouldn't be a major issue.
Even if I grew a little more, it wouldn't make much difference.
Nevertheless, the reason I wanted to bulk up was so I wouldn't be underestimated when I went there.
I'm the Dungeon Master with the biggest stake, so I can't afford to be looked down upon, right?
"Gom-jjang, you eat so well! You're a total Meok-jjang!"
"You certainly eat heartily."
The Pink Mana Stones I had received as gifts all this time.
The result of continuously inhaling them.
[Gentleman Teddy Bear lv.40]
┗Pw.160 (+25)
┗Rnk.Rare (Limit Breakthrough possible upon reaching lv.40)
[Consumption Mana: 13,110/27,020]
[Domain: Luck]
┗Grade - Divine
┗Assimilation Rate - 2.06%
[Skills]
[Helper lv.3], [Evolution lv.4], [Action lv.3], [Teddy Bear Camouflage lv.2], [Bloodsucking Enhancement lv.2], [Flame Manipulation lv.4], [Synthesis lv.2], [Rolling lv.3], [Gourmet lv.2], [Dragon Mimicry lv.4], [Monster Common Language lv.1], [Cane lv.1]
Finally!
I had achieved level 40, making a Limit Breakthrough possible!
Pat, pat.
I patted my bulging belly, swollen from the unabsorbed Mana Stones inside me, and stared into the air.
Helper.
First, pull up the Evolution list for me in advance!
You did it for me last time, so it should be possible this time too, right?
[Confirmed. Possible.]
Just like before.
Unlike Normal Evolution, the Evolution descriptions wouldn't be displayed separately.
Anyway, the time to finally reach the Elite rank was right around the corner.
[Displaying list.]
================
[Evolvable Species]
◎ Mecha Teddy Bear - Elite
◎ Kingka Teddy Bear - Elite
◎ Queenka Teddy Bear - Elite
◎ Teddy Bear Bloodmoon - Elite
◎ Great Explosion Teddy Bear - Elite
◎ Bear Puppet Lord - Elite
◎ Yong Doll - Elite
◎ Dragon Doll - Elite
◎ Beardoppelganger - Elite
◎ Original Bear King - Elite
================