88
Chapter 88
My Evolution skill reached level 4.
As a result, four Evolution options appeared this time.
It also stated that the number of options would no longer increase even if the Evolution skill level went up.
Only the Special Evolution options would be strengthened.
Three Normal Evolution options.
And one Special Evolution option at the very bottom.
By the looks of it, all the choices that had appeared so far must have been Normal Evolution options.
But Special Evolution?
Wasn't the Evolution from Limit Breakthrough a Special Evolution?
Well, I suppose this is a slightly different kind of Special Evolution....
It seems there are various types of Special Evolutions.
Just because it was a Special Evolution didn't mean the racial grade increased.
That was obvious.
After all, I wasn't performing a Limit Breakthrough.
However, fitting the name Special Evolution, the rewards were much better compared to a Normal Evolution.
Not only were there no level reductions, but it also gave a whopping 8 additional power.
The other options only gave 4 additional power, making this twice as much.
Wouldn't it be an absolute gain to just pick the special option?
Or are there cases where normal options are better than special ones?
...Well, I'll find out later.
Anyway.
Right now, picking the Special Evolution option was the right answer.
[Special]
◎ Gom-gom! Talking Teddy Bear! - Rare
┗No level reduction.
┗Acquire 8 additional power.
┗No appearance change.
┗Acquire Monster Common Language lv.1.
┗Limit Breakthrough impossible for this entity.
※The Curse of Communication Restriction placed on you (Reincarnator) by this world will undergo Annihilation. As a result, acquiring a Language Skill becomes possible.
Setting aside the much better rewards compared to the normal options,
I could finally obtain the Language Skill I had so desperately wished for.
Giving this up would be ridiculous.
Spring has finally come for me.
I'll finally be able to fix my relationship with Jjokkomi.
Wait a minute.
More importantly, what is the Curse of Communication Restriction?
Was I under something like that?
There wasn't any Debuff like that in the Information Window....
Is it a curse that doesn't show up?
Seeing that it was a curse placed directly by the world, it seemed this world didn't welcome the existence of Reincarnators.
In other words, I guessed it disliked souls from other worlds.
Of course, this was just a guess and I couldn't be certain yet.
There might have been some underlying reason why it had no choice but to place a curse.
[Will you select [Gom-gom! Talking Teddy Bear!]?]
Hold on a second.
I shouldn't choose too impulsively.
One must take Action carefully at every moment.
It's not an urgent situation, so I should double-check the other normal options to see if I missed anything. I'm not going to choose them anyway, but just in case.
Fly Teddy Bear.
It would be nice to be able to fly, but pass.
It's a shame, but if I want Flight, I can just ride the Little Yellow Dragon.
Papa Dragon Teddy Bear.
It's a pity to miss out on the Parenting Breath, but pass.
It can't compare to the ability to speak.
Assassin Gomttugaksi.
What even is Gomttugaksi, and why does it keep appearing?
Anyway, the Stealth skill must be a different type from the Teddy Bear Camouflage skill.
Maybe it's an Invisibility skill.
...Or maybe not?
In any case, the Stealth skill is intriguing and tempting, but pass.
Normally, I would have deliberated longer, but the Special Evolution option was so overwhelmingly good that the normal options didn't appeal to me at all.
Finally.
I also checked if Limit Breakthrough was possible.
Even if an option isn't great, my mind could be swayed depending on whether Limit Breakthrough is possible.
Since I never know when an option capable of Limit Breakthrough will appear again.
Upon checking, every single option without exception was an entity incapable of Limit Breakthrough.
I'll have to wait until the next Evolution.
Alright, re-evaluation complete.
Having looked through them perfectly and meticulously, it's now time to make a decision.
[Will you select [Gom-gom! Talking Teddy Bear!]?]
Let's go!
To the world of language!
***
[Gom-gom! Talking Teddy Bear! lv.28]
┗Pw.112 (+25)
┗Rnk.Rare (Limit Breakthrough impossible)
[Consumption Mana: 20,150/23,110]
[Domain: Luck]
┗Grade - Divine
┗Assimilation Rate - 2.05%
[Skills]
[Helper lv.3], [Evolution lv.4], [Action lv.3], [Teddy Bear Camouflage lv.2], [Bloodsucking Enhancement lv.2], [Flame Manipulation lv.4], [Synthesis lv.2], [Rolling lv.3], [Gourmet lv.2], [Dragon Mimicry lv.4], [Monster Common Language lv.1]
Flash!
My body shone for a moment as the Evolution was completed.
No one nearby noticed that I had evolved.
They just thought my body glowed for no reason.
After all, I can make my body glow whenever I want to now.
"Are we playing a flashing game-yong? I'll shine too-yong!"
Flash, flash!
The Little Yellow Dragon came over and made his body glow.
Hehe. Shall I try talking to him first?
Tap, tap.
The Little Yellow Dragon looked at me, tilting his head with a 'Yong-yong?'.
Hello.
"Gom-gom."
"...Yoooong?! Papa spoke-yong!"
The Little Yellow Dragon was startled.
His eyes grew incredibly huge.
But wait, what is this?
Gom-gom? Did I just say 'Gom-gom'?!
Couldn't I speak a systematic language?
Don't tell me I need to possess the Language Skill or Interpretation skill instead of the Monster Common Language skill to speak a systematic language?
...Ah. Or maybe it'll be possible if I raise the Common Language level.
I quickly shook off my disappointment.
Regardless, the Curse of Communication Restriction was gone.
So there shouldn't be any problems with communication now.
Tosuni only goes 'woong' but communicates just fine, doesn't she?
Even Jjokkomi communicated without any issues back when she used to go 'kku-o, kku-o'.
[Consumption Mana: 19,150/23,110]
More importantly, why has my Mana decreased so much?
I'm pretty sure I had over 20,000 just a moment ago.
Or am I wrong? Am I remembering it incorrectly?
I must have caught Dementia or something.
There's no way speaking just once consumed this much Mana.
Still, just in case, I tried making a sound again.
"Gom-gom."
[Consumption Mana: 18,150/23,110]
Helper! Helper!!!
What on earth is going on here!?
Why is it consuming so much Mana!!
This was clearly an abnormal situation.
If it was normal to consume this much Mana just to say a single word, other monsters would constantly be depleted of Mana.
[Question confirmed.]
[The abnormally high Mana consumption is due to the remnants of the curse.]
[The higher you raise the skill level, the fainter the curse's remnants will become.]
Ugh.
At this rate, I'll have to save my words unless it's an absolutely necessary situation.
It's a good thing I'm overflowing with White Natural Mana Stones right now, because if I lacked the resources to replenish my Mana, I would have had to live with my mouth shut all the time.
The curse of the world, fucking hell!
What did I do wrong to deserve such a curse!
Even after Annihilation, it leaves remnants to torment me to the bitter end!
Gom! Gom! Gom! Gom!
Just as I was stomping my feet and taking my anger out on the floor.
"Everyone gather around-yong! Papa just spoke-yong!!!"
The Little Yellow Dragon shouted in a loud voice.
At that shout, everyone stopped what they were doing.
"What? Really?!"
"...!?"
"Kku-o-o!? Our little sibling can speak!?"
"Woooong?!"
"Hoeeeek! Gom-jjang!!!"
And they gathered around me.
With eyes full of expectation.
***
My race name is Talking Teddy Bear.
Not a noise-making teddy bear.
In other words.
Gom-gom, gom-gom, gom-gom-gom.
This meant it wasn't just a simple animal cry.
Like Tosuni, I was able to convey the clear content of what I wanted to say to the others.
However,
"Gom-gom, gom-gom."
"...?"
The Puppeteer Doll alone could not understand my words.
It also seemed that it hadn't been able to understand Tosuni's words until now.
Could it be that the Curse of Communication Restriction was also placed on him?
That seemed highly possible.
If so, is the Puppeteer Doll also a Reincarnator?
.......
I decided to check on this separately later.
Because I didn't want to complicate my mind, at least for now.
Right now, my priority is to converse freely with the others, as if to relieve the pent-up frustration I've had all this time.
Just for today, it was fine to talk to my heart's content.
It's my first day being able to speak, so I should splurge a little to celebrate.
So, hugging a White Natural Mana Stone tightly in my arms, I conversed a lot with the others while replenishing my Mana.
Ah, for reference.
Even though Tosuni doesn't use a systematic language, of course, I am now able to understand the meaning of her words.
Because I learned the Monster Common Language skill and the Curse of Communication Restriction disappeared.
For now, I was satisfied with just this much.
"Woong, woooong!!!"
Honey, congratulations on being able to speak!
That was what Tosuni just said.
"Gom-gom."
Yeah, thanks.
"Woong, woong."
"Gom-gom-gom."
"Woooong, woong."
"Gom-gom, gom-gom."
"Wooooong, woooong."
"Gom-gom-gom, gom-gom."
Ah. This is so comfortable.
The frustration that had been tying me down all this time has completely vanished.
To think that being able to communicate with others was such a happy thing.
"...?"
The Puppeteer Doll kept tilting his head.
He had a frustrated expression, not knowing what we were talking about, just like the old me.
Hold on a little longer.
Someday, you'll be able to become like me too.
...Ah. Would it be a bit difficult for the Puppeteer Doll?
Since it seems he doesn't have the Evolution skill.
Because breaking the curse was all thanks to the Evolution skill.
Still, don't worry, I'll help you somehow.
Tap, tap.
I patted the Puppeteer Doll's shoulder to console him.
After that, I quickly turned my head and looked at Jjokkomi this time.
It was time to do the most important thing I had to do once I became able to speak.
"Gom-gom."
Jjokkomi.
"Kku-o-o? What's Jjokkomi?"
"...Jjokkomi? By any chance, is that a nickname for the Flame Bear? Our Bear Baby must have been secretly calling the Flame Bear Jjokkomi all this time."
"Gom-gom-gom, gom-gom-gom-gom."
I'll get straight to the point.
I am not your younger sibling.
"Kku, o...? What are you talking about, you are my younger sibling."
"Gom-gom-gom-gom. Gom-gom-gom-gom-gom-gom-gom!!!"
Don't talk nonsense.
I'm not your younger sibling, I'm your Oppa!!!
I revealed the shocking truth.
At my revelation, Jjokkomi and Ailee's eyes shook.
The others beside us also made surprised expressions.
"Kku-o? Why are you my Oppa...."
"Right, Bear Baby is suddenly spouting nonsense."
*Sigh*, denying it to the very end.
You must be flustered because your lie was caught, right?
Ah. Come to think of it, it wasn't a lie.
Because she truly seems to firmly believe that she is the Noona.
Anyway, the truth is bound to come out eventually.
And that is today!