31
Chapter 31
The Human woman came back to life.
But she didn't come back as a Human.
As the Vampire had mentioned, she had turned into a different species.
[Ghoul lv.18]
┗Pw.36
┗Rnk.Uncommon
Ghoul.
That was the species name of the reborn woman.
However, she was far from what I imagined a Ghoul to look like.
The Ghoul in my imagination was a hideous monster.
Similar to a zombie, but an entirely different entity.
Pale skin.
Thin and elongated limbs.
Sharp teeth and long claws.
A man-eating monster that looked like a mix of Human and beast, possessing some degree of intelligence.
The woman was different from such a Ghoul.
Her species was simply Ghoul.
Her appearance wasn't hideous at all.
In fact, there was barely any change in her outward appearance.
If I had to point out a difference from when she was Human, it would just be that her skin had turned a bit bluish.
Of course, there were other changes besides her appearance.
Her movements had become incredibly sluggish.
Her intelligence seemed to have dropped significantly.
She experienced a Level Up from level 15 to 18.
Exceptional regenerative abilities.
These were the changes I could confirm right away.
"Ugh, uh......."
Well... congratulations for now!
Just think of becoming an undead monster as the price of resurrection!
An Uncommon grade Human can't instantly become an Elite grade Vampire, after all.
"My baby...."
Was it because she was no longer Human?
I could now understand what the woman was saying.
Did I acquire the Interpretation skill or the Monster Common Language?
I decided to slowly organize my thoughts on this later.
"Baby, my baby...."
Putting that aside, she probably didn't always speak with such a slur.
It seemed her speech functions had regressed along with her lowered intelligence.
The Ghoul woman desperately dragged her slow feet and eventually made it right in front of my nose.
Her maternal love was still as strong as ever.
To desperately seek her baby the moment she came back to life.
Slowly.
The Ghoul woman reached out toward the Baby Doll held in my arms.
I glanced up at the Vampire.
The Vampire was simply staring at the Ghoul woman.
I guess that meant the Ghoul woman wasn't dangerous.
Swish.
I handed the Baby Doll to the Ghoul woman.
The woman's eyes welled with tears as she preciously embraced her baby.
Even after becoming a Ghoul, she can still shed tears.
Even if they are tears of blood.
"Our, Bear Baby...."
I'm not a baby, though?
Please correct your form of address.
This time, the Ghoul woman hugged me tightly.
She probably didn't mistake me for her baby as well.
Even though we only spent a short time together—just a single day—it seemed her memories of me remained clear.
Then again, there's no way she wouldn't remember.
Because I was the very last thing she saw before she died.
"My baby, Mommy loves you... Bear Baby, too... thank you for protecting... our baby...."
For a while, the Ghoul woman held the Baby Doll and me in her arms, pouring out tears of blood.
How touching, truly touching.
"Kuo."
"Woong."
Jjokkomi and Tosuni, who had just been blankly watching the situation without their guard up, gently hugged the Ghoul woman.
Did you two also realize that this is a touching moment of reunion?
They really are surprisingly intelligent.
The Ghoul woman panicked at first.
However, she didn't push them away.
She must have realized that Jjokkomi and Tosuni had no hostile intentions.
Or rather, as if noticing that they were trying to comfort her, the Ghoul woman formed a gentle smile and accepted the two into her embrace.
Right then, the Vampire approached.
"Hey."
"Yes, Master...."
The Ghoul woman answered the Vampire's call.
She seemed to instinctively know that she was her master.
"For now, I resurrected you as my subordinate with the consent of our Teddy Bear, but... if you do not like your newly reborn form, you may end your own life right now. Since there are many who are reluctant to become undead, I have taken that into full consideration to grant you the right to die."
"No... I am, fine with this... because I was able to, meet my baby again......."
"Is that so, what a relie... no, understood. Then, continue to live."
What a kind Miss Vampire.
***
Before it grew completely dark.
Jjokkomi and Tosuni wore regretful expressions as they returned to their respective homes.
Even though the two of them left like that,
unlike before, I wasn't left alone.
You see, there are still four of us, including myself, remaining in my shelter.
The Vampire, the Ghoul, the Baby Doll, and me.
Like this.
It's nice that it's bustling even at night.
I felt as though I had gained a family.
The Vampire will probably leave soon enough, but the Ghoul woman and the Baby Doll will continue living with me from now on, right?
I guess I won't have to spend the dark nights lonely and by myself anymore.
"Hmm... even if she was originally a Human, I suppose she still can't wield it...."
I heard the Vampire muttering.
I momentarily stopped petting the Baby Doll and turned my head to look at her.
The Vampire and the Ghoul stood facing each other.
Listening to their conversation, it seemed they had finished the simple check they mentioned earlier.
I already knew what that simple check was.
They were trying to see if the woman, who was once a Human, could still wield her Soul Weapon after becoming a monster.
As for the result of that check.
The woman, now a Ghoul, was unable to wield her Soul Weapon.
Of course, I had known that for a while.
Because I saw that the power of the Ghoul and the Long Boots were acting separately.
They weren't granting their power to each other.
"The reason why only a Human can wield a Soul Weapon is, as I suspected, highly likely due to the fact that they don't have a Mana Stone inside their bodies."
What does that mean?
I'm curious, so please explain it properly.
Still hugging the Baby Doll, I approached the Vampire and tugged on her pants.
Then, I shook my head back and forth wildly.
It was my way of expressing that I was curious.
"Hmm? Are you curious about what I just said?"
Nod, nod.
What a perceptive Vampire!
I commend you!
"You sure are a curious Teddy Bear. It's still just my speculation, but if you really want to know, I'll explain it to you."
The Vampire's explanation began.
To summarize the details, it went like this:
Unlike monsters, a Human doesn't have a Mana Stone in their body.
The absence of a Mana Stone means the weakness of their species.
Not having a Mana Stone is a drawback for the Human race.
To make up for this weakness of their species, humans created artificial Mana Stones that they could use.
Artificially made Mana Stones.
A type of Mana Stone that isn't kept inside the body, but used like a tool.
They aren't simply processed Mana Stones, but various types of tools made using special techniques that have similar effects to the Mana Stones monsters possess.
She speculated that these are what Soul Weapons are.
The Vampire finished her explanation.
She then began to add the reason why only a Human could use a Soul Weapon.
"Ah. Before explaining that reason, first, Teddy Bear, did you know that a living creature can only possess a single Mana Stone?"
I didn't know that.
I just found out today.
"Seeing your confident expression, you must have already known. You really are a surprisingly smart Teddy Bear."
I told you I didn't know.
Did you lose your perceptiveness again?
"Anyway. As I just said, unlike ordinary tools made by simply processing a Mana Stone, a Soul Weapon is likely a tool bound to a living creature, just like the Mana Stones inside our bodies. That means it's only natural that we, who already have Mana Stones in our bodies, cannot wield a Soul Weapon. Because you can't have two Mana Stones."
Aha. I see.
Then it means it's not entirely exclusive to humans.
As long as they don't have a Mana Stone in their body, other living creatures could wield a Soul Weapon too, right?
"In conclusion, humans can wield a Soul Weapon because they don't have a Mana Stone in their bodies, and this one, who was a Human but became a Ghoul, most likely can no longer wield a Soul Weapon because a Mana Stone was born inside her body. Do you understand?"
I have fully understood.
I might actually be a smart Teddy Bear.
As I nodded my head wildly, the Vampire took off the Long Boots the Ghoul woman was wearing.
"That being said, it's not like a Soul Weapon is completely useless to us."
The Vampire lifted the Long Boots.
And brought them up to the Ghoul woman's face.
Wait, why are you making her smell them?
Are you trying to torture her or something?
"A Soul Weapon is good material for our growth. Like other Mana Stones, we can eat and absorb them to Level Up."
So it wasn't smell torture.
What a relief.
"I can't give you my anchor since I need to research it more, but I'll specifically grant you the Long Boots you were wearing. Now, eat and grow stronger."
As if doing a favor, the Vampire fed the Long Boots to the female Ghoul.
The Vampire's eyes were full of affection.
It wasn't just right now; she had been looking at her like that from the very beginning.
Hmm...
I'm pretty sure she muttered 'Subordination great success' to herself earlier while curling the corners of her mouth up, right...?
Come to think of it,
I think I know what that meant.
The female Ghoul is an entity capable of a Limit Breakthrough.
The Vampire probably saw through that, and I wondered if that was the reason she kept being so happy.
Naturally, she'd be delighted if her subordinate was competent.
[Ghoul lv.20]
┗Pw.40
┗Rnk.Uncommon
The female Ghoul's level went up.
It was thanks to eating the Long Boots Soul Weapon.
And, just like me, she became capable of a Limit Breakthrough.
Because she reached level 20, the required level to attempt a Limit Breakthrough for the Uncommon grade.
"Master, a strange feeling is... rising from within my body... as if, I could... become stronger......."
"Oh ho. It seems a Limit Breakthrough has become possible."
Miss Vampire's voice heightened.
It was my first time seeing her this excited.
"Fully accept the energy of Mana you feel within your body exactly as it is. Absolutely do not reject it."
"Yes... I will follow, your orders...."
Shortly after,
Whoosh-!
Mana erupted from the Ghoul woman's body.
That Mana instantly enveloped the woman's body.
It was a Mana Orb, a spherical shield that protects a creature undergoing a Limit Breakthrough.
Wow. It's my first time seeing someone else's Limit Breakthrough.
Is our Miss Ghoul woman going to the Superior grade before me?
I can't just let that happen!
How dare you go first, leaving your absolute senior monster behind?
Wait! I'm going too!
I immediately took a spot next to the Mana Orb.
[Would you like to attempt a Limit Breakthrough now?]
Heck yeah!
Miss Vampire will guard us, I suppose.