13
Chapter 13
An Evolution list appeared before my eyes.
Thanks to my skill level going up, there were two options.
Fist-Firing Teddy Bear.
Flame Teddy Bear.
Hmm.......
Fist-Firing Teddy Bear?
I rather like the name.
An attack that fires fists, isn't that romantic?
But there might be a trap here.
I just have a feeling I'd have to manually retrieve the fired fists.
New fists might grow back, or the detached fists might automatically return, but I didn't want to gamble on something uncertain.
For that reason, fist-firing is out.
Naturally, only one option remained.
[Will you choose [Flame Teddy Bear]?]
Flame Teddy Bear, huh.......
Seeing this option pop up, it seems a little of my mother's DNA remained in me too.
Wait, since I'm a Doll, I guess I wouldn't have DNA.
Anyway.
I really like this option.
The Flame Teddy Bear must be a species that handles fire.
In other words, there was a high chance I'd be able to use flame attacks.
I'm finally going to get a proper attack skill.
I quickly made my choice.
Let's go, Flame Teddy Bear!
To a species similar to Jjokkomi!
[Evolution is complete.]
Flash!
As always, the Evolution happened immediately.
"Gwuoh!!!"
"Woooong!!!"
Jjokkomi and the rabbit witnessed my Evolution.
They both raised their front paws high into the sky and shouted at the same time.
Hehe.
Were you guys surprised?
I crossed my arms and struck a cool pose.
One of my arms had grown back.
"Gwuo, gwuoh!"
"Wooooong!!!"
They continuously let out sounds of admiration.
As if amazed and fascinated, their eyes sparkled brightly as they stared intensely at me.
Their reaction was better than I expected.
I'm glad I showed them.
For reference, the change in my appearance was minimal.
My body had just turned a little red.
To be exact, it was brown skin with a slight reddish hue.
***
[Flame Teddy Bear lv.5]
┗Pw.10 (+4)
┗Rnk.Uncommon (Limit Breakthrough impossible)
[Skills]
[Helper lv.1], [Evolution lv.2], [Action lv.2], [Feeding lv.1], [Magic Chef lv.1], [Teddy Bear Camouflage lv.1], [Bloodsucking lv.1], [Spicy-Sweet Fist lv.1], [Flame Manipulation lv.1]
[Current Physical Adaptability is 28.]
As always.
My level dropped by one as the cost of Evolution.
And without fail, I received a reward.
There were two Evolution rewards.
Additional power and a new skill.
It seems I was lucky this time too.
I gained 2 additional power.
This must be because it's the Uncommon rank.
Since Uncommon grants 2 basic power per level.
The new skill was as follows.
[Flame Manipulation lv.1]
─Can generate fire by consuming Mana (Consumption).
─Can only deal damage to targets recognized as enemies.
─Normally immune to fire. However, fire generated independently by entities of Rare rank or higher is an exception.
Wow! Flame Manipulation!
A Teddy Bear that handles fire!
On top of that, normally immune to fire!
This Evolution was very satisfying.
Since I got a new skill, should I try using it right away?
[Using the [Flame Manipulation lv.1] skill.]
Whoosh-!
Flames erupted from my entire body.
I instantly became a Teddy Bear engulfed in flames.
Naturally, the flames didn't cause any damage to my body.
"Gwuohhh!"
Clap clap clap clap!
Jjokkomi clapped her front paws together wildly like a seal.
It was an even more intense reaction than when I regenerated my arm through Evolution.
This is a bit embarrassing.
"Woong? Woongwoong...!!!"
The rabbit's reaction was different from Jjokkomi's.
It jumped up and down in surprise.
It seemed to think the suddenly generated flames would harm me.
Don't worry.
Because I am a Teddy Bear who has mastered flames! Ahem!
After reassuring the rabbit with body language, it finally let out a sigh of relief.
Afterward.
I temporarily stopped using the skill.
Maybe because I emitted too much fire, my Mana was being consumed too rapidly.
I calmly settled my excited heart.
Then I stretched my arm straight out forward.
Above my palm.
Hoping for just one tiny flame to be generated.
The moment I showed that intention.
[Using the [Flame Manipulation lv.1] skill.]
Whoosh-!
A massive flame was generated.
Ugh. It's not easy.
This was no different from a failure.
I succeeded in generating a flame above my palm, but it was much larger than the size I had envisioned.
Is it because I lack proficiency?
I should keep practicing for a bit.
If I do that, I'll be able to control it perfectly someday.
It was while I was constantly using Flame Manipulation to overcome my inexperience.
"Gwuooo, gwuo."
Jjokkomi came and sat down next to me.
Then, she held out her front paw to generate a small flame and began playing with it freely as if it were clay.
Our Jjokkomi is a Flame Manipulation master.
As expected, my little sister is amazing.
I was envious.
I should work hard to reach that level too.
"Gwuoh!"
Jjokkomi soon held the flame out toward me.
The flame was shaped like a heart.
You're a real grandmaster....
"Woong-woong?! Woong-woong!!!"
The rabbit, who had sat down next to me at some point.
He also immediately copied Jjokkomi.
Using his own blood, he made a heart shape and showed it to me.
Rabbit, you're a master of blood manipulation too....
I also tried to clumsily imitate the two of them.
However, I couldn't even make a circle, let alone a heart.
It seemed like I'd need to raise the skill level before it was even a matter of proficiency.
"Gwuo, gwuukwu."
"Wooooong."
Comforted by the two, I continued to practice with my shoulders slumped.
***
The coastline of the continent where the Teddy Bear was born.
The morning fog here slowly lifted, revealing the horizon.
A ship emerged from beyond the horizon, rapidly approaching the land.
"Captain Ppas! Land is just ahead!"
A Sailor shouted from the deck.
Hearing that shout, the Captain hurriedly ran over to the Sailor.
Snatch!
The Captain snatched the Sailor's telescope.
Then, he immediately brought it to his eye.
"Ooh! We've finally... finally arrived at the Legendary Continent where no Human has ever set foot before...!"
The Unknown Continent.
Or the Legendary Continent.
Humans were not entirely unaware of this continent's existence.
It was just that all routes to the continent had been blocked by an unknown barrier, preventing access for a long time.
And the Humans currently approaching the continent were the first to discover that the barrier surrounding it had vanished.
By pure luck, having accidentally passed near the barrier.
"But Captain Ppas. Are you sure it's okay for just us to go? Shouldn't we at least request support from the Slayer Guild......."
A Sailor cautiously expressed his opinion to the Captain.
The Captain flared up at the Sailor and raised his voice.
"Don't be stupid! If we do that, our achievements might be stolen!"
"That's true, but... aren't our lives more important than achievements...? We have no idea what kinds of dangers are lurking there, and charging in blindly like this without proper preparation just doesn't seem right no matter how I think about it......."
"Then get off."
"Pardon?"
"If you're so scared, get off right here and swim back. I can't turn the ship around just for you."
"No, what kind of nonsense...."
"If you're not going to do that, then shut up."
"......."
The Sailor quietly closed his mouth.
Looking around, it seemed like there were no other Sailors who shared his opinion.
"And I have no intention of going deep into the continent either. We plan to only conduct an ecological survey near the coast and return, so stop talking nonsense and making the others anxious, and just stay quiet."
The Captain of this ship.
Name, Kollok Ppas.
The one called the Great Explorer.
He looked at the continent and muttered quietly so the others wouldn't hear.
"If I'm the first Human to set foot on that continent, I can become a Special Grade too. That alone is a great enough achievement."
Kollok Ppas stroked the Badge attached to his chest.
A Red Badge.
It was an ID card issued by the Monster Slayer Guild and a token of the Orichalcum Slayer, the highest among the metal ranks.
***
The ship had anchored at the coast before anyone noticed.
The sound of dropping the anchor.
The clanking of heavy iron chains cut across the quiet shore.
A wooden bridge connecting the deck to the land was set up, and with Kollok Ppas at the lead, the Sailors began to disembark from the ship one by one.
"Huh?"
Suddenly, one Sailor's gaze stopped at a certain spot.
In the direction he was looking.
A certain woman was standing with her hands behind her back.
The Sailor pointed at the woman and called for the Captain.
"C-Captain Ppas! There's a woman over there!"
Kollok Ppas's reply could not be heard.
"Captain?"
Sensing something was wrong, the Sailor turned his head.
An unbelievable sight unfolded before his eyes.
Kollok Ppas and all the other Sailors had turned into mummies.
"W-What! How did this..."
The Sailor couldn't finish his sentence.
Because he too, like the others, had the blood rapidly drained from his entire body and turned into a mummy.
[Vampire lv.40]
┗Pw.240
┗Rnk.Elite
"Hmm. I guess Human blood doesn't suit my taste."
The Vampire who had absorbed the Humans' blood.
She approached the side of Kollok Ppas, who had fallen and become a mummy.
"This must be the tool called a Soul Weapon that the Humans made."
The Vampire picked up the Soul Weapon.
It was an anchor-shaped weapon that Kollok Ppas had slung over his shoulder.
"Maybe I should have waited until he used his Soul Weapon."
The Vampire scratched her head and took the Soul Weapon.
She heard it was a weapon only Humans could use, but she thought that if she modified it well, she might be able to use it herself.
*
After the Vampire left.
When a few days had passed, countless ships began swarming like waves to the coast where Kollok Ppas's group was annihilated.
The Monster Slayer Guild.
Various nations from other continents.
The Magic Tower, where those who study skills gather.
The Holy Order.
The Merchant Union.
The Monster Protection Agency.
And so on.
It was a massive Expedition Team formed for the purpose of an ecological survey.