Chapter 46:

The Bear Who Ruled the Plain Has Arrived!

The terrifying figure that had appeared moments ago was nowhere to be seen.

It was just a round, bulky bear.

Kruaah?

It seemed completely clueless about the situation.

Bbyak took the lead first.

Bbyak-bbyak.

Kruaah!

Bbyak—

Kruaah.

What was it trying to say?

Soon after, Bbyak finished communicating with the bear and explained.

The bear’s name was Brown Moon Bear.

It was said to be the guardian protecting the hidden plain.

In other words, it was on the same level as Chun San Gun.

The reason the plain had remained safe until now was all thanks to the Moon Bear.

If even the slightest trace of a hostile monster appeared,

it would retaliate with its massive front paws.

The bear eats people—

No, it crushes monsters.

That’s how the Moon Bear has been protecting this plain.

But now a new master has appeared.

That master is me.

After earning the plain as a reward for 10 tickets, some unknown power began guarding this place.

Thanks to that, the Moon Bear finally got a much-needed rest.

So, for the first time in my life, I spent several lazy days just lying down and sleeping.

There were no bad monsters anyway, and even if I moved, I’d just get hungry.

But recently, a gate I had never seen before appeared, and monsters flooded in one after another!

No matter how many skeleton guys kept coming back to life, I couldn’t leave the place empty.

Eventually, the Moon Bear woke from its long slumber but hadn’t eaten anything until now.

I guess this is all my fault.

I should’ve been more careful.

Of course, now that I’ve set a toll fee, it’s fine, but for the plain’s sake, I’ll have to fight even if I have to cook meals while doing it.

I can’t help but feel sorry.

“Somi, could you bring out all the food we have?”

Bbiee—

I prepared a feast for the hardworking Moon Bear so far.

Fifteen grilled fish, twenty carrots, and twenty pieces of fruit.

At this, the Moon Bear let out a triumphant roar.

Kruaah.

Satisfied, it began to eat the food laid out.

One bite of grilled fish, one bite of fruit.

Back to the grilled fish, then cleansing its mouth with carrot.

It even had a jar of honey jelly for dessert.

Seeing it eat so deliciously made even me feel good for some reason.

Soon, its belly was full, and it lay on the ground, thumping its rounded stomach.

Kruaah, kruaah.

Big and yet cute at the same time.

This is unfair.

This might be the threat that steals the plain’s mascot spot.

So far, there had been many worthy contenders.

The small, fluffy Ddadang Rabbit from the Rabbit’s Craft.

The top bee flying across the sky.

But this time?

It was the Moon Bear that looked just like a bear plush.

Its face was round and friendly-looking—a likable appearance.

Everyone should be a bit nervous now.

The competition for the plain’s mascot became even more intense with the arrival of this new contender.

Watching the Moon Bear lying full on its back, a sudden thought came to me.

I had raised the toll fee some time ago, so why had it only appeared now?

If it had been hungry, it would have moved to find food earlier.

“Is there still a gate left?”

Kruaah, kruaah.

It nodded its head.

There were still gates remaining?

Dusik had said all the goblins had been wiped out and disappeared.

Could there still be monsters inside?

If that’s the case, this isn’t the time to sit idly by.

They just can’t cross now because of the toll fee, but who knows what could happen next.

We should clean it up once and for all.

“Can you guide me?”

Kruaah.

When I asked for the gate’s location, the Moon Bear suddenly stood up.

Then wagged its short tail and headed somewhere.

After walking for a while, we finally reached the edge of the plain.

It was much larger inside than I had imagined.

But then, strange monsters kept jumping out that I had never seen before.

Curious, I looked around.

Tall trees and unfamiliar plants.

Colorful flowers swayed gently in the breeze.

Wait, this isn’t the time for sightseeing.

That’s that, first let’s close the gate.

We can’t let this peaceful plain be ruined.

Carefully, I reached in to enter the gate.

Then, as if it had been waiting, a message appeared.

[Do you wish to enter Dead’s Tomb?]

Just the name was scary.

Dead’s Tomb.

They said there were skeleton monsters here—undead monsters like skeletons.

But we have Bbyak and Toto.

What is there to worry about?

Without hesitation, I stepped forward.

Then—

Ting—

I was pushed back by some unknown force.

No matter how many times I tried again, it was the same.

Something kept pushing us out.

[Adjusting the balance of the tomb.]

[Monsters of level 5 or above cannot enter this zone.]

A sudden notice window appeared.

Balance of the tomb?

What’s this now?

They suddenly want to worry about balance?

Ridiculous.

They’re way too petty.

Since they can’t handle it, the system just blocks it altogether.

There’s no mercy here.

Hmm, then what should I do?

None of us have monsters above level 5.

It’s safe and stable thanks to our good items, but we lack the firepower to wipe out undead monsters.

Only Somi with her rifle and Dusik, the blind swordsman, come close.

But who knows what traps lie inside? It’s too dangerous to take just the two of them.

I thought of Chun San Gun, but even so, it’s a bit much to ask Taebaeksan to clear it.

After all, Seo Rin, not me, is the master who made the contract.

Is there no worthy candidate, and do I have to give up just like that?

Just because of one system?

Frustrated, I got angry for no reason.

That was the moment.

Kruaah?

Right before my eyes stood a huge Moon Bear.

Come to think of it, it was a guardian too.

The same rank as Chun San Gun.

And it even seemed to have some home advantage.

“How about it? Think you can do it?”

I asked, looking at the Moon Bear who had come along.

It shook its head.

Ah, well. What did I expect?

We can barely communicate, so no point in wishing.

But then—

Kruaah!

It confidently nodded its head.

It wanted to enter immediately and punish the bad guys?

Even if its rank was lower than Bbyak or Toto, it was still a level 4 guardian.

The undead coming out of the tenth floor couldn’t be a match.

Then—

“Alright. Let’s give it a try.”

Kruaah, kruaah!

We got a reliable ally. No doubt about it.

The undead gate extermination begins.

Long live the Moon Bear!

Pierce them in two!

***

The conquest of Dead’s Tomb began with the Moon Bear.

Inside the gate, the scene was far worse than expected.

There was no sunlight, and a chilling cold lingered.

It felt like a ghost could appear at any moment.

At that moment—

Dulgul-rak.

A chilling sound echoed.

Bones clashing together.

It was a skeleton made entirely of bones.

The creature held a bow in one hand.

It spotted us and drew the bowstring.

Then—

Puk—

The Moon Bear, who had already charged forward, smashed the skull with a huge fist.

Its speed didn’t match its size.

It was really in the blink of an eye.

Kruaaahhhh!

The victorious roar of the Moon Bear.

I had been worried before entering, but it was all for nothing.

Overwhelming force.

No need for defense.

Dulgul-rak, dulgul-rak.

The noisy sound attracted the nearby monsters.

One by one, skeletons gathered around.

Some held swords, others bows.

But none could stand against the guardian of our plain.

Arrows flew and swords swung, but the Moon Bear just took the hits and attacked.

It was a different strategy than that of Bbyak or Toto we had seen so far.

How to put it?

It was more like a man’s approach.

Attack?

If you get hit, so do they.

Puk—

Refreshing.

With one punch, many skeletons collapsed.

In just a few minutes, it cleared dozens of skeletons.

Bone fragments scattered on the ground.

It was a massacre.

But something was strange.

All the nearby monsters seemed dead, but it didn’t end.

Dulgul-rak.

That was when—

A broken skeleton began to move and slowly merged together.

Soon, a resurrected skeleton ambushed from behind me.

A sudden situation.

But it was too slow.

Don’t underestimate it just because it looks like that.

It’s already been blessed by Bbyak’s Blessing.

It has inhuman-level physical abilities and reflexes.

I barely turned my head to dodge, then landed a left jab.

My fist struck the skeleton’s face.

Then—

Hwa-rur-ruk—

Its body began to burn.

“It’s, it’s gone.”

It disappeared into a handful of ashes.

Unlike when the Moon Bear knocked it down, it didn’t come back to life.

Could this be thanks to Bbyak’s Blessing?

Monsters that come back to life no matter how many times you kill them

are useless against the purifying flames.

It was truly a perfect counter.

I was no different from a reaper inside the gate.

I also knew how to eliminate them, and I had a good method.

I took off Bbyak’s Feather Bracelet from my arm and slipped it onto the Moon Bear’s thick wrist.

Kruaah?

The stretchy bracelet fit perfectly on the bear’s thick wrist.

“It’s a gift. Let’s sweep them all away with this.”

Kruaah!

The Moon Bear happily nodded at the word “gift.”

“Let’s see what you’ve got.”

This time, it pounced on all fours with a terrifying aura and crashed into the skeletons.

The impact was so strong that the remaining bones burned up almost instantly.

One by one, the Moon Bear tore through the skeletons.

As long as they don’t revive, there’s no problem.

They’re actually weaker than orcs.

Maybe because they don’t have any muscle?

As it kept relentlessly pounding, only one remained.

But the presence it gave off was on a different level from the others.

Mounted on a skeletal horse, it wielded a massive greatsword.

Wearing rusted armor and helmet, it faced us with a cold gaze.

Hiiiiiing—

The skeletal horse neighing as the figure charged toward the Moon Bear.

Its old broken sword aimed for the bear’s neck.

Cheng!

Of course, the Moon Bear didn’t go down easily.

It quickly raised its front paw in defense.

Then twisted its body and kicked it away.

Go-o-o!

I didn’t think the Moon Bear’s equal existed among the guardians.

I thought it would end easily as usual, but nothing ever goes as planned.

But there’s one thing it has that they don’t.

“Moon Bear, once this is over, I’ll make sure you eat grilled fish until you burst.”

The cheering captain.

Stepping back, cheering with food.

There’s nothing better than encouragement for strength.

Kruaaahhhhh!

Fueled by my support, the Moon Bear let out a powerful roar.

Then charged forward.

They collided again.

But this time, the Moon Bear was superior.

It ignored the swinging sword and used its weight to ram, staggering the opponent who had been standing still like a flower arrangement.

That small opening—

The Moon Bear did not miss it and drove its fist into the opponent’s head.

Crack—bang—flash—

It was so powerful that the split-second felt like it was breaking apart.

The skull crushed and flew off far away from its neck.

Flare.

The figure burst into flames.

Soon a system message popped up.

[Dead’s Tomb has been purified.]

[The land of the hidden plain has become the property.]

[Reward] Hidden Highland

[Reward] Undead Summoning Necklace