73
Chapter 73
While we were out mining.
Jjokkomi finished her Limit Breakthrough and Evolution, being reborn as a higher species.
Her red fur that once flickered like flames had changed into ordinary brown fur, and her size was a bit smaller than before.
Aside from her bear-like traits, she had evolved into a completely new species.
So she didn't become a Doll.
Compared to Tosuni, it was a pretty normal Evolution.
Anyway, it seemed Jjokkomi could even speak now thanks to this Evolution.
...No, wait, she could already speak before.
To be precise, it seemed she had finally mastered systematic language.
"Ku-ohh! My little brother! What took you so long! Your Noona was so worried!"
Swoosh!
Jjokkomi ran over and hugged me tightly.
It feels a bit awkward hearing her speak so fluently.
Well, I'll get used to it gradually as we spend time together.
Anyway.
First of all, congratulations on learning how to speak, Jjokkomi.
But did you just call me your little brother a second ago?
This was the shock of a lifetime.
To think Jjokkomi saw me as her little brother all this time...!
She was clearly misunderstanding something.
Because I'm not Jjokkomi's little brother.
Even though I was born later than her, my mental age was much higher than Jjokkomi's from the very first day, so I was undoubtedly her Oppa.
I won't accept any counterarguments.
"You can't make your Noona worry like this from now on! Got it?"
Hey! I told you I'm the Oppa!
What kind of nonsense do you keep spouting, you punk!
I glared fiercely at Jjokkomi with a savage expression.
"Ku-oh? My little brother's face is all scrunched up... Was it uncomfortable because your Noona hugged you too tight? I'm sorry."
Stop! I'm the Oppa! I said I'm the Oppa!
How dare you call your Oppa a little brother?
Do you really want a scolding?
This won't do.
I need to establish the pecking order once and for all.
An ill-mannered little sister requires some discipline.
You're going to get hit by my loving Bear-Bear Punch today.
"Woong? Woo-woong, woo-woo-woong!"
"Gasp! Gom-jjang has completed her Evolution! And she can talk so well now! Ah, wait no... Gom-jjang is a nickname for the Doll Gom-jjang... Since she isn't a Doll anymore, do I have to give her a new nickname...?"
Between me and Jjokkomi.
Tosuni and Fox suddenly squeezed in.
Thanks to them barging in, I lost my chance to discipline Jjokkomi.
Argh, those clueless guys.
Well, it can't be helped for now.
I'll just have to postpone Jjokkomi's discipline for later.
Swallowing my unfairness, I turned my head.
Next to us, Ailee and Mr. Vampire were happily exchanging greetings.
Excuse me, Ailee.
I understand you're happy to be reunited with your master.
But please explain how Jjokkomi suddenly reached level 30 and achieved her Limit Breakthrough first.
Because I'm dying of curiosity.
As I stared intently at Ailee, Fox examined my face, then stealthily approached Ailee to ask a question.
Asking what had happened during the short time we were out mining.
To think she asked the question I wanted to ask instead.
I guess Fox is helpful sometimes too.
I thought she was just a stupid Fox, but it seems she's surprisingly tactful.
***
While we were away.
The Puppeteer Doll gave the Fake Dolls an order.
To go out of the Dungeon and hunt for prey.
Following the order, the Fake Dolls left the Dungeon and searched for monsters weaker than themselves.
Focusing solely on those taking Action alone without forming packs.
And whenever they found prey that met these conditions, they approached silently and launched a collective surprise attack.
The Fake Dolls continued hunting like that all day, bringing back a massive amount of prey.
Most of the prey was yielded to Jjokkomi.
The reason for funneling the prey to her was simple.
She was already a heavy eater to begin with, and they felt sorry that she had lost one of her front paws, so they wanted to take better care of her and feed her more.
Of course,
Ailee and the Puppeteer Doll also consumed the prey and the Mana Stones they possessed.
Ailee couldn't Level Up, but the Puppeteer Doll's level had increased by one stage.
[Puppeteer Doll lv.24]
└Pw.72
└Rnk.Superior
Anyway.
Without touching a single prey or Mana Stone in the storage, Jjokkomi reached level 30 solely by gorging on the prey brought back by the Fake Dolls.
And not long after, she entered the Limit Breakthrough mode on her own.
Thanks to the Dungeon's special effects, the Limit Breakthrough finished quickly.
That was the story Ailee told us.
Thanks to her, I easily grasped the situation!
Thank you, Ailee-wagon!
***
After storing all the Natural Mana Stones we brought back in the storage.
Miss Vampire decided to stay overnight in our Dungeon today.
Miss Vampire and Ailee.
Tosuni and Jjokkomi.
The four of them chatted for a long time before each grabbed a bed, lay down, and tried to sleep.
Ailee and Jjokkomi must have been tired from waking up mid-sleep, as they fell asleep right away.
Tosuni must have been tired too, as she fell asleep quite quickly.
Watching them sleep soundly,
I soon stealthily moved and climbed onto Jjokkomi's belly.
"...?"
The Puppeteer Doll also tilted its head and climbed up with me.
"Ku-oong, ku-huhuhul...."
Phew.
What should I do with this annoying little sister of mine?
A really big problem has occurred.
Thanks to Jjokkomi, everyone thinks I'm her little brother.
As she chatted, repeatedly saying things like my Teddy Bear little brother is super amazing over and over again, I really felt the urge to use my Bear-Bear Punch on her.
Of course.
It didn't seem like everyone suddenly started considering me Jjokkomi's little brother just today.
Listening closely to their chatter, it seemed Jjokkomi had been calling me her little brother even back when she was just going Ku-oh! Ku-ohh!
What a truly headache-inducing little sister.
There should be a limit to her delusions.
I'm so disturbed that I feel dizzy.
I even had the illusion that a headache was coming on.
Why am I making such a fuss, you ask?
Why can't I just live as the little brother?
Heck! Say something that makes sense!
That is the one thing I can absolutely never accept.
I've lived as Jjokkomi's Oppa from the moment I was born until now, so how could I!
I must become Jjokkomi's Oppa again.
I plan to protect that position no matter what.
This is a very serious matter.
Because I can't let the prestige I've built up plummet to rock bottom.
...Hmm. Did I even have any prestige to lose in the first place?
Anyway.
"Ku-ho-oong, ku-oo-huhul...."
Well, she fell asleep, so I lost my chance to discipline her again.
But I can't just wake up someone who's sleeping either.
There's no opening, no opening at all.
Do I need to set a specific day to discipline her?
After pondering for a moment, I let out a deep sigh and shook my head.
Phew, whatever.
Let's just give up on the discipline.
Come to think of it, there doesn't seem to be a way to actually discipline her.
Since I can't even speak anyway, right?
If I hit Jjokkomi under the guise of discipline, it would just be a random beating.
I can't call something that is nothing more than simple violence discipline.
Because no matter how much I hit her, Jjokkomi wouldn't know why she was being hit.
It was better not to expect Jjokkomi to notice my intentions and start calling me Oppa.
Then am I just going to let it slide, you ask?
No, I'm just enduring it for now.
Once I become able to speak later on, I plan to correct this wrong relationship.
For a bear's revenge, ten years is not too late.
A bear's revenge is never too late, even if it takes ten years!
It might not exactly be revenge, but you get the idea.
Anyway, just you wait! My little sister Jjokkomi!
Because I'm going to work hard so I can speak as soon as possible too!
Just wait and see until then!
I will never forget today's humiliation!
As I looked down at the sleeping Jjokkomi and made that promise to myself.
"Hehehe, be born pretty and healthy."
I heard Fox's voice faintly.
Turning my head, I saw Fox gently stroking the giant egg placed on the bed.
Fox, aren't you going to sleep?
"Eh? Gom-jjang and In-jjang over there, come here and pet it too. That way a pretty child will be born."
"...?"
Swish.
I turned my head away.
I'll pet it with you later.
I have things to do during the early morning.
After getting off Jjokkomi's belly.
I looked around to see if there was an empty bed.
There are six beds in total.
Miss Vampire, Ailee, Jjokkomi, Tosuni, Fox, and the egg.
With each taking up one bed, there was one left.
Good.
I can do it over there.
I immediately climbed onto that bed.
To proceed with the Limit Breakthrough I had been putting off.
Puppeteer Doll.
Shoo, shoo! Don't follow me!
Mana Orbs are going to form around me now, so step back! You could get hurt if you get caught up in it!
"...?"
When I gestured for it to step away, the Puppeteer Doll scratched its head and distanced itself from me.
Right after, I immediately entered Limit Breakthrough.
[Attempting Limit Breakthrough.]
[Displaying the list.]
================
[Available Evolution Species]
◎Golden Teddy Bear - Rare
◎Dragon Teddy Bear Lord - Rare
◎Dragon Teddy Bear - Rare
◎Moon Teddy Bear - Rare
◎Star Teddy Bear - Rare
◎Vampire Teddy Bear - Rare
◎Inferno Bear - Rare
◎Magma Bear - Rare
◎Fluffy Teddy Bear - Rare
◎Cursed Teddy Bear - Rare
◎Hell's Bear Puppet - Rare
================
Flash!
The options popped up before my eyes.
Unlike Normal Evolution using the Evolution skill, Special Evolution through Limit Breakthrough didn't display any separate descriptions for the species.
What the, do I have to just go with my gut feeling based purely on the species name again?