29
Chapter 29
A calm flow of Mana.
That meant the spark of life had gone out.
Naturally, a calm flow of Mana drifted from the female Human's corpse.
However, that flow gradually changed.
The Blood Orb seeped into the corpse's body, and the once calm flow of Mana began to fluctuate unsteadily.
The unstable flow of Mana persisted.
It showed no signs of shifting into a lively and dynamic flow of Mana.
When is she going to resurrect?
Is it not an immediate resurrection?
Stare- I gazed intently at the woman's corpse.
As I did, the Vampire spoke.
"It will take some time for her to rise. She will likely wake up around nightfall."
Glance.
I looked up at the Vampire.
You should have told me that sooner.
I was watching with high hopes for nothing.
"Of course, I could make her rise right now if you wish."
Really?
Then please resurrect her right away!
I urged her, waving my arms wildly.
"But if I do, she will wake up with all her past memories gone. If you want her to fully retain her memories as a Human, wait patiently."
No, then you shouldn't have brought it up in the first place.
Are you messing with me or what? Pfft.
I had no choice but to wait.
I shouldn't let her lose her memories, of course.
Because if she resurrects without her memories, it's hard to see her as the same person she was before she died.
I looked down at the woman's corpse again.
By the way, what race will she become when she resurrects?
A Bloodsucking Human? A Vampire?
Hmm. For starters, I don't think she'll be a Vampire.
Because it makes no sense for someone to be reborn as an Elite grade being so simply.
Well, I'll find out when night comes.
"Teddy Bear. Do not just wait here like this. First, let us move to the place where you originally lived."
Oh, right.
I was so distracted by this that I completely forgot.
The fact that I could finally return to my dearly missed home.
Sounds good!
I was planning to go home anyway!
Now, let's head back quickly!
I hugged the Baby Doll tightly.
The Vampire gathered the woman's corpse and the High Orc's carcass.
Just like that, we climbed the mountain following the traces of the Slow Stone.
***
An empty space revealed through the dense thicket.
The place where the solitary, towering Boxwood had been ruthlessly crushed.
...I finally returned.
To my beloved home!
The Teddy Bear's chaotic otherworld forest adventure, ending early!
As soon as I returned home, I spotted some familiar faces.
"Woong!"
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
Tosuni was striking the ground with her front paws.
"Kku-o!"
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
Jjokkomi was likewise pounding the ground with her front paws.
The two were facing each other, lying flat on their stomachs.
They were wildly beating the ground as if playing the drums.
Both of them were completely in a trance.
To think they didn't even notice I had arrived.
I approached the two of them with quick steps.
Hey guys!
I'm back!
Stop playing for a second and look over here!
I approached them while purposely making loud footsteps.
Only then did Tosuni and Jjokkomi notice my presence.
"Woong?"
"Kku-o?"
They turned their heads at the same time.
You're finally looking at me!
Suddenly, both of their mouths dropped wide open.
They had expressions of sheer surprise.
"Woooong!!!"
"Kk-kku-o-o-o!!!"
Tosuni and Jjokkomi jumped up and down in pure joy.
Shortly after.
Shedding tears of deep emotion, they started running toward me at full speed.
"Wooong!"
Tosuni flew at me first.
She hugged my body and rubbed her face all over me.
Yes, yes, I'm glad to see you too, Tosuni.
"Kku-o-o!"
Following right behind, Jjokkomi leaped high into the air.
Hmm. If I get tackled by that, my body might just explode, right?
While holding Tosuni.
I subtly stepped to the side.
Thud-!
Jjokkomi flopped down face-first onto the ground.
"Kku-o?"
I'm sorry for dodging, Jjokkomi.
I thought it would be dangerous to catch you.
After all, you are quite large.
Your name is just Jjokkomi.
"Kku-o-o!"
After a brief moment of panic, Jjokkomi immediately sprang up from her spot.
Then, looking around, she ran toward me again.
Did she learn her lesson?
She didn't jump high this time.
She ran up, reduced her speed right in front of me, carefully hugged me, and rubbed her face all over me.
Tosuni on my left.
Jjokkomi on my right.
As if they never get tired, the two continued to rub their faces against my body.
Like that, as I was endlessly receiving their affection.
"It seems you made friends here as well. A touching reunion with friends... It is a pleasant sight to see."
The Vampire slowly walked over belatedly.
She had a pleased smile on her face as she looked at us hugging each other.
"By the way, what was that action of pounding the ground just now? Were they performing some kind of ritual?"
No. It's not like that.
The two were just playing.
Tosuni likes the game of pounding the ground.
"Ah. They must have been praying for you, Teddy Bear, to return safely."
I said no.
You keep jumping to conclusions as you please.
"Anyway, if they are your friends, Teddy Bear, then they are my friends too."
The Vampire bent her waist.
Then, after hesitating for a moment, she slowly reached her hand out to Jjokkomi.
"You are a Flame Bear, right? Seeing you maintain a friendly relationship with other races, you must be a Mutant. Nice to meet you."
She seemed to want to stroke her head.
But she couldn't stroke it.
Because Jjokkomi quickly stepped backward, wary of the Vampire.
"Kku, kku-o!"
"...Hmm. Why is she hostile towards me? Was she not a Mutant?"
Flames fiercely flared up from Jjokkomi's fur.
It was clearly showing open hostility.
As expected, she wasn't friendly to just anyone.
"Kku-o-o!!!"
"As expected, getting along with a Flame Bear is impossible. I don't know how the Teddy Bear and Blood Rabbit became friends with her."
Jjokkomi glared fiercely at the Vampire.
As she was growling, baring her teeth, Tosuni hopped over and calmed Jjokkomi down.
"Woong, woo-oong."
"Kku-o-o?"
"Woo-o-oong, woong."
"Kku-o-o."
What kind of conversation did they have?
Jjokkomi became docile again.
Tosuni soon hopped closer to the Vampire.
"Woong!"
"Yes, it has been a while."
Huh? It's been a while?
Are the two of them acquainted?
The Vampire stroked Tosuni's head.
Watching the Vampire do that, I tilted my head.
Excuse me.
How do you know our Tosuni?
Tapping the Vampire's leg lightly with my fist, I kept tilting my head.
"Hmm? Why are you... Ah, are you wondering how this child and I know each other?"
Nod, nod.
She's getting quicker on the uptake.
"The Blood Rabbit race has maintained a friendly relationship with our Vampire race since long ago. Interactions between our races are quite frequent. I have met this child once before during a past exchange."
Aha. I see.
No wonder Tosuni wasn't wary at all from the start.
Rather, she made a brief welcoming expression, so I thought I saw it wrong, but I saw it right.
But why are the two races in a friendly relationship?
Because they share a common habit of consuming blood?
No, wouldn't that make them competitors?
I was curious, but I couldn't ask.
Because it's practically impossible to ask such a complex question without using language.
Whatever, I'll probably find out later if the opportunity arises.
Let's just let it go for now.
"Kku-o......."
Jjokkomi looked back and forth between Tosuni and the Vampire.
Then, letting her guard down, she slowly approached the Vampire.
"Kku-o."
Jjokkomi arrived right in front of the Vampire.
The Vampire reached out her hand toward her again.
This time, she didn't dodge.
Jjokkomi quietly accepted the Vampire's touch.
"Ohhh. Yes, what a good girl."
"Kku-o-o."
Pat, pat.
The Vampire smiled brightly and stroked Jjokkomi's head to her heart's content.
It's nice to see everyone getting along so well.
"I guess you really do see everything if you live long enough. To think the day would come when I'd be friends with the endlessly ferocious Flame Bear race."
It seems Flame Bears are fundamentally ferocious.
Then again, Mother Bear and Urami had that kind of personality, too.
Jjokkomi must be a Mutant like me.
"Good, I will give you a gift as a sign that we should get along from now on."
The Vampire turned around.
Then, she dragged over the High Orc carcass she had left behind.
"Here, this is freshly killed prey. Eat to your heart's content. You too, Blood Rabbit."
"Kku-o!"
"Woong!"
Hooray!
Jjokkomi and Tosuni cheered, raising their front paws high.
Hehe. Eat up, guys.
This is Rare grade premium meat that Ms. Vampire and I hunted together.
Ah. Did we not hunt it together?
"Teddy Bear. This Human will be placed by the Boxwood... Ah, the Boxwood I saw last time has been crushed. Anyway, I will leave it near the crushed Boxwood."
The Vampire dragged over the female Human's corpse as well.
She laid the corpse to rest beside the dead Boxwood.
"Kku-o!"
"Woong!"
Hip, hip, hooray!
Jjokkomi and Tosuni cheered once more.
This time, rapidly circling around the female Human's corpse.
Hey! Don't be happy about that!
This Human isn't prey, you guys!
I pulled Tosuni and Jjokkomi away with all my might.
"Kku-o?"
"Woong?"
Shoo, shoo!
It's not food, so get away!
Go over there and eat the High Orc meat!