30
Chapter 30
The corpse of the High Orc.
Jjokkomi tore off and ate its flesh.
Tosuni sucked up its blood, slurping it down.
Even while eating frantically, they constantly urged me to join them.
I politely declined their offer.
It's fine, I appreciate the thought.
You guys go ahead and eat plenty of that corpse.
But would you mind giving up the Mana Stone for me instead?
It's not that I want to eat it, but I want to try feeding it to the Baby Doll.
If you don't want to give it to me, I guess it can't be helped.
It's okay even if you don't yield it to me.
It would just be a little bit of a shame, that's all.
"Kkuo?"
"Uwoong?"
At that moment, their gazes turned toward the Baby Doll.
The two of them temporarily stopped eating and belatedly began to show interest in the Baby Doll.
Uh... did you guys seriously just notice her now?
She's been in my arms this whole time, you know?
It seemed that because of other stimulating things, their interest in the Baby Doll had been pushed to the back burner, leaving her completely out of their minds.
"Kkuoo."
"Uwoong, uwwoong."
It's good that they're taking an interest.
But I'll be mad if you try to eat her, alright?
Just like the corpse of the Human woman, this Baby Doll is not prey, so don't get the wrong idea!
Jjokkomi and Tosuni slowly approached me.
The two maintained an appropriate distance.
Moving their heads side to side, they looked the Baby Doll up and down.
They showed no signs of trying to eat her.
Moreover, they weren't being wary of her either.
I really can't figure out what their standard for being cautious is.
Jjokkomi and Tosuni.
Although the two have very gentle personalities, they don't freely show a favorable attitude to just anyone.
When Tosuni first met Jjokkomi, she was guarded for a brief moment. Jjokkomi was a bit wary of my changed appearance, and when she saw the Vampire, she was extremely guarded.
Hmm. Just what on earth is their standard for being on guard?
Are they just moody, with their standards changing depending on the situation?
It was giving me a headache, so I stopped thinking about it.
"Kku!"
"Woong!"
Jjokkomi and Tosuni raised one of their front paws.
It seemed like they were saying hello to the Baby Doll.
Yes, yes, get along well from now on.
Because as of today, this Baby Doll is a part of my family.
"Kkuo."
"Uwoong."
Their interest quickly cooled down.
After giving the Doll only a brief greeting.
They turned their backs and went right back to ravenously devouring the High Orc's corpse.
What's this? I thought they liked Dolls?
It seems Human Dolls just aren't their cup of tea.
So they only liked me because I'm a Teddy Bear.
Then again, to be honest, a Teddy Bear is much cuter than a Human Doll.
***
A little bit of time passed.
The corpse of the High Orc was now completely erased from the world.
Because every single part of it, except for the bones, had gone straight into the stomachs of Jjokkomi and Tosuni.
Jjokkomi even devoured all the internal organs with gusto.
The last remaining bones were scheduled to disappear soon as well.
Crunch, crunch.
Because having finished her meal, Jjokkomi was chewing on them for dessert.
Our little piggy, Jjokkomi.
She really eats everything without leaving a single scrap.
Well, I suppose that is proper etiquette toward one's prey.
While Jjokkomi was fully enjoying her dessert time.
Tosuni carefully held the Mana Stone she had gotten from the High Orc's corpse in her arms and hopped over to the Vampire.
"Uwoong, uwwoooong. Uwoong."
"Hmm? Are you asking if you can give that Mana Stone to the Teddy Bear? Do as you wish. It was a gift to you both, including the Mana Stone, in the first place."
"Uwoong!"
Tosuni rubbed her face affectionately against the Vampire's leg.
It seemed to be her way of expressing gratitude.
Then,
Hop, hop!
Tosuni hopped over to me.
She stopped right in front of me and shyly held out the Mana Stone she had been cradling in her arms.
"Woong...!"
Why is she acting so embarrassed?
It's not like she's proposing or anything.
Regardless, I was touched.
To think she would yield such a precious Mana Stone.
Our Tosuni is a total angel.
No wonder her fur is so white.
Deep down, I had hoped she would give it to me.
But I never once made any gestures asking for it.
I didn't even subtly let it show on the outside.
Because I didn't want to look like a greedy Teddy Bear.
"Woong-woong...!!!"
Tosuni urged me.
What are you doing not taking it right away? My arms are falling off!
She looked as if she was saying exactly that.
Thank you, Tosuni.
I'll put this Mana Stone to good use.
Just as I bowed my head to express my thanks and was receiving the Mana Stone from Tosuni.
"Kkuo?"
Jjokkomi's gaze turned toward us.
She set down the bone she was eating and abruptly stood up.
Then, hauling her heavy body, she hurriedly came running in our direction.
What's going on?
Does Jjokkomi have no intention of letting the Mana Stone go?
"Kkuuuu!"
Jjokkomi stopped in front of me.
And she began shaking her body wildly from side to side.
Shake, shake, shake.
Thud!
A small stone dropped from within her fur.
It wasn't an ordinary stone.
It was a mineral imbued with Mana, a Mana Stone.
Jjokkomi picked up the Mana Stone and immediately held it out to me.
"Kkuo!"
Aha.
You came running over to gift me a Mana Stone too, didn't you?
I misunderstood, thinking you rushed over because you didn't want to yield the Mana Stone.
But Jjokkomi.
Where did you get this?
There was only one Mana Stone pulled from the High Orc's body.
In other words, this means it isn't the High Orc's Mana Stone.
Ah. You kept one you got from other prey until now?
Another wave of emotion washed over me.
To think she saved a Mana Stone just to gift it to me.
As expected, our Jjokkomi was an absolute angel too.
An angel with red fur!
When I received the Mana Stone, Jjokkomi pointed at Tosuni beside her with her front paw.
"Kkuo, kkuoo."
Jjokkomi's front paw then pointed at the Mana Stone I was holding.
Then she pointed at Tosuni again, and subsequently at herself.
The Mana Stone, Tosuni, and Jjokkomi herself.
Jjokkomi continuously pointed at the three in turn.
I think I have a rough idea of what she meant.
She probably means that she got this Mana Stone together with Tosuni.
I bowed my head to Jjokkomi.
I bowed my head to Tosuni one more time to express my gratitude.
Afterwards.
I stared down at the two Mana Stones in my hands.
The Mana Stone that the High Orc had harbored.
Due to its large size, its appearance is not much different from other Mana Stones.
The unidentified Mana Stone I received from Jjokkomi.
This Mana Stone was small and had a slightly unique color.
It had a faint black tint to it.
"Oh. This black Mana Stone is no ordinary Mana Stone."
Jeez, you startled me!
The Vampire suddenly thrust her face in from behind.
Hey, make some noise when you approach.
I was so startled I almost threw a Bear-Bear Punch at your face.
"It seems to be a Mana Stone that was harbored by a great living creature."
A great living creature?
Are you saying it's a Mana Stone that belonged to a super strong monster?
How did Jjokkomi and Tosuni manage to get their hands on a Mana Stone like that?
"However, the Mana Stone hasn't grown at all. At this level, it's as if it died the moment it was born......."
The Vampire turned her head.
She looked at Jjokkomi and Tosuni and asked.
"Where did you get this Mana Stone? Did you get it by hunting for it yourselves?"
"Kkuo? Kkuooo."
"Uwoong, uwwoong."
"You got it from a corpse that was already dead? Do you happen to remember what kind of creature it was?"
"Kkuoo, kkuo."
"Uwwooong."
"It was so badly mangled that you couldn't tell what kind of creature it was... What a shame. I was curious to know what kind of entity it could have been."
The Vampire turned her head back toward me.
"Anyway, you won't gain much effect even if you absorb it. If you're lucky, a Limit Breakthrough might become possible, but the chances of that are extremely slim, so don't get your hopes up."
After the Vampire said that.
She pointed at the High Orc's Mana Stone held in my other hand.
"Rather, that Mana Stone will be much more helpful for your growth. Even if its grade is lower than the black Mana Stone, it's a Mana Stone that has achieved sufficient growth over a long period of time."
Nod, nod.
Thanks for the useful information.
Listening to the Vampire's words, I made a decision.
I would eat the black Mana Stone, and yield the High Orc's Mana Stone to the Baby Doll.
Baby Doll.
You eat the better Mana Stone.
Eat this, grow up strong and healthy, and become my hunting partner.
Let's be an invincible Doll duo someday!!!
I shoved the large Mana Stone into the Baby Doll's mouth.
Ugh.
It doesn't go in easily.
Once again, I pressed down hard and forcefully shoved it in.
Don't be a picky eater, just eat what you're given!
[Dirty Doll lv.10]
┗Pw.10
┗Rnk.Normal
Ooh. Her level went up.
Her absorption is incredibly fast.
It took me some time when I first absorbed a Mana Stone.
Is it a difference in talent?
No, she must have already eaten a Mana Stone before.
She definitely wasn't born at level 3; the Human woman must have fed her Mana Stones.
I had to believe that.
I didn't want to believe that I had no talent.
The Baby Doll leveled up, but she still didn't move.
It was a given.
Because she still wouldn't have the Action skill.
She could probably obtain the Action skill as long as the Baby Doll desperately wished for it.
The desperate will to move achievement.
If you just achieve this achievement, it gives the Action skill as a reward.
Surely this isn't an achievement that only I can accomplish.
Baby, oh baby.
Do you have no desire to move?
Why aren't you achieving the achievement?
Staring intently at the Baby Doll, I soon popped the black Mana Stone into my mouth.
[Armadillo Teddy Bear lv.20]
┗Pw.40 (+8)
┗Rnk.Uncommon (Limit Breakthrough possible upon reaching lv.20)
[Skill]
[Helper lv.1], [Evolution lv.2], [Action lv.2], [Teddy Bear Camouflage lv.1], [Bloodsucking Enhancement lv.1], [Flame Manipulation lv.3], [Synthesis lv.1 (Unavailable)], [Rolling lv.2], [Gourmet lv.1]
My level went up by 1.
And, one more change occurred.
By consuming the Mana Stone, a Limit Breakthrough became possible.
Ms. Vampire?
Didn't you say the chances were extremely slim?
It seems I just beat those odds?
I wondered if this even made sense.
I really might be a super Lucky Teddy Bear.
However, my Physical Adaptability didn't increase.
It seems it doesn't unconditionally increase just because my level goes up.
It doesn't really matter.
Because I don't need a Normal Evolution right now.
After all, I can undergo a Special Evolution through the Limit Breakthrough.
[Would you like to attempt a Limit Breakthrough now?]
No. It's not urgent, so I'll hold off.
I plan to do the Limit Breakthrough a bit later.
Because it's slowly starting to get dark.
The Human woman should be waking up soon.
I need to watch her resurrection before doing anything else.
I also had to exchange greetings with the resurrected woman and congratulate her on coming back to life.
Ah. By the way, my Helper friend.
Could you perhaps show me the list of possible evolutions for the Limit Breakthrough in advance?
[.......]
If you can't, then just say you can't, you punk!
Don't look down on a Teddy Bear!
[.......]
I guess it's a no.
Sigh. I'll just check it later.
Fucking Helper.
[The list of possible evolutions upon Limit Breakthrough will be displayed.]
...Huh?
So you can do it?
Thanks, Helper friend.
A list of species I could evolve into appeared before my eyes.
================
[Evolvable Species]
◎ Chaos Teddy Bear - Superior
◎ Cosmos Teddy Bear - Superior
◎ Flame Bear - Superior
◎ Dragon Teddy Bear - Superior
◎ Lucky Teddy Bear - Superior
◎ Gommun-gommun Teddy Bear - Superior
================
Are there six choices this time?
Alright, I should start thinking about it in advance.
Which one would be the best to choose?
Just as I was carefully pondering while stroking my chin with my front paw.
"Teddy Bear. She will wake up now."
The Vampire's voice could be heard.
When I turned my head, a change was occurring in the Human woman's corpse.
Hiss-
Hazy smoke rose from the woman's body.
The smoke completely filled the gaping hole in her side and created new flesh.
Twitch.
The woman's fingers trembled ever so slightly.
Soon after, her dead eyes flashed red and the woman abruptly sat up.
The woman placed her hands on the ground, struggled to her feet, and staggered.
"Uh, uuugh...."
The resurrected woman reached her arms out in front of her.
And she began to approach me with slow steps.
More precisely, it looked like she was aiming for the Baby Doll in my arms.
"My, baby......."
[Ghoul lv.18]
┗Pw.36
┗Rnk.Uncommon