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Ranker's Return-Supplementary Story 25
Supplementary Story 25
Bung Bung Islandโa secret island that floated in the air, invisible to people. It was inhabited by the Marionette Bears, a mysterious species.๐๐งโฏ๐๐๐๐๐ป๐ัต๐ฆ๐.com
โWhere is he?โ
A small bear with white fur like snow was wandering around the forest of Bung Bung Island and looking for someone.
โChild, where are you?โ
Eventually, the white bear failed to find them with her eyes, so she made a sound and started to call for them instead. After walking around for five minutes, the white bear finally found what she was looking for.
โWhat are you doing here?โ
The white bear stopped in front of a small brown bear.
โHuh? Sister!โ
The brown bear raised his head.
โWhatโs wrong with your face? Did you not eat again?โ
The white bear sat down next to the brown bear and her paws turned the brown bearโs face back and forth.
โI ate. However, I didnโt eat much because it didnโt taste good.โ
The brown bear shook his head.
โI told you that you should eat it even if it isnโt delicious.โ
The white bear let out a sigh and swung her paws through the air. Then a black gap was created in the place where the claws scratched and passed. The white bear stuck her paws in between it.
โLetโs eat this.โ
The paws of the white bear that had slipped through the gap was holding a piece of meat full of blood.
โMeat, meat!โ
The brown bear rejoiced when he saw the meat. His eyes that were like dead fish came alive.
โWait a minute. Iโll cook it for you.โ
The white bear dissuaded the brown bear, who was about to rush over immediately. Then she started to prepare the meat. She picked up a stone that was the right size and used magic to make water and clean the stone. Then she heated the stone by making a fire with magic. The meat was placed on the stone and made a wonderful noise.
โDelicious...โ
The brown bear drooled at the sight of the meat being cooked.
โHow long has it been since youโve eaten?โ
The white bear showed pity for the brown bear.
โI think Iโve been starving all day...โ
Upon close inspection, his cheeks looked slightly dented.
โI had a bit of lunch...โ
โLunch? What about breakfast?โ
โI had breakfast. Dad secretly cooked meat without Mom knowing.โ
The brown bear replied with a smile.
โAh... really?โ
The white bear was dumbfounded for a moment, but held it in. She never uttered the words that came to mind.
โIt is the time when you are growing, so you have to eat well. Even if the meal isnโt delicious, you have to eat it, okay?โ
Instead, she spoke very very softly.
โI understand, Sister.โ
The brown bear nodded and shrugged.
โDelicious meat, meat.โ
He already couldnโt hear the words of the white bear very well. He let it enter one ear and flow out the other. He focused his whole mind only on the sound of meat being cooked.
The corners of the white bearโs mouth flinched when she heard the word โSister.โ It was only for a short time. The corners of her mouth soon rose.
โIt is done. You can eat now.โ
The white bear worked hard to lower the corners of his lips and extinguished the fire. Then she pushed the stone with the meat in front of the brown bear.
โI will enjoy it.โ
The brown bear nodded to the white bear and held out his paw toward the meat.
โHe eats well.โ
The white bear looked at the brown bear and smiled. The way he ate in a hurry was just cute in her eyes. The brown bear ate meat for a long time before suddenly raising his head to stare at the white bear.
โWhat is it? Do you want me to cook more?โ the white bear asked with a puzzled expression.
โItโs okay, Iโm full.โ
The brown bear shook his head from side to side.
โI just suddenly became curious.โ
โWhat are you curious about?โ
โThere is no place to get this type of meat on Bung Bung Island. I just wonder where they come from for you to cook it every day like this.โ
The brown bear had searched all over Bung Bung Island for meat, but he couldnโt find any beasts where he could obtain meat. Meanwhile, the white bear always had meat.
โAh, you were curious about that. It isnโt from Bung Bung Island. Iโm not looking for it here, but somewhere else. There are many beasts there.โ
โSomewhere else?โ
โYes, the continent.โ
The brown bearโs eyes were filled with curiosity.
The continentโhe wondered what type of place it was. Until now, the world of the brown bear had only been Bung Bung Island.
โNo, it is dangerous.โ
The white bear could read the thoughts of the brown bear. It was obvious what he was thinking.
โDangerous?โ The brown bear hesitated. The white bear wouldnโt lie.
โYes, it is very dangerous. There are many monsters and humans.โ
โMonsters? Humans?โ
โYes, didnโt you learn about it from Uncle and Auntie?โ
The brown bear nodded at the white bearโs words. He heard it often from his parents.
Monsters and humansโlifeforms that existed outside of Bung Bung Island. He was always told to be careful because it was dangerous.
โIs she getting meat from such a dangerous place?โ
โSister,โ the brown bear stared at the white bear and called out to her.
โHuh?โ
โThank you. You always take care of me.โ
The brown bear sat down and bowed his head.
โBe careful.โ
The white bear hurriedly pushed the brown bearโs head. If he went down a bit further, then his fur wouldโve touched the meat.
โIt is rewarding.โ
The white bear, Leah, grinned.
***
Time passed and the brown bear, who seemed like an immature child, got his name due to a connection. However, it wasnโt just a name. Tang-Eโs growth was very bizarre. It was an unparalleled speed in the long history of the Marionette Bears. It was too fast even if he had signed a โcontract,โ which was magic from ancient times.
Naturally, the way those within the tribe looked at the brown bear changed. It was from just a cute child to a pillar that would support the next generation of the tribe. However, there was one person who looked at the brown bear with unwavering eyes.
โTang-E, where are you?โ
The white bear, Leah, looked exactly the same as before as she wandered through Bung Bung Island in search of the brown bear.
โTang-E is here.โ
A brown bear, or now a golden bear, Tang-E appeared from among the bushes.
โWhat were you doing?โ
Leah approached Tang-E in an instant. It was like space was folded.
โSister, I was waiting for you.โ
โMe?โ Leah cocked her head. Did this mean he knew where she would look for him and waited?
โWhy didnโt you come to see me?โ
โI just thought you would come to me. It is because it has always been like that. In any case, that isnโt the point.โ
Tang-E stopped talking and dragged Leah somewhere.
โI will cook meat for you today.โ
Tang-E was ready to cook meat at the place where he took Leah. He just needed to set fire to the firewood and he would be able to cook the meat.
โIโve been saving meat.โ
Tang-E moved his paws to his chest, took out the meat he had stored in his subspace, and lit the firewood.
โHe has really changed...โ
Leah couldnโt hide her puzzled expression. She heard that there had been a big change in Tang-E in the last few months when she hadnโt seen him. She just never imagined it would be this much.
โSubspace magic and fire magic! I think he has enough magic power...โ
It was as if the Tang-E she knew before was gone.
โSister, didnโt you say it before?โ Tang-E opened his mouth as he looked at the burning firewood.
โMe? What?โ
โThe continent is dangerous.โ
โAh... I did.โ
She remembered. She definitely said that before.
โIt was true. The continent is dangerous.โ
โThatโs right, it is dangerous.โ
โThat is why Iโm even more grateful to you.โ
Tang-Eโs words ended here, but Leah could tell the meaning of the words.
โBy the way... there seems to be a misunderstanding.โ
The continent that Tang-E knew was clearly different from the continent that Leah knew. Leah was active only in the Hejin Great Mountain Range on the continent. That place was enough to get meat for Tang-E.freโฏ๐e๐๐ง๐ฐvโฏl.๐๐๐บ
โIn any case, wellโฆ it doesnโt really matter.โ
Any misunderstanding of this type was good.
โBy the way, it looks like youโve done this more than once or twice?โ
Leah was amazed to see Tang-Eโs perfect fire control.
โNow I canโt eat well at home. I eat a lot outside,โ Tang-E replied with a hesitant expression. It was an expression that showed he said something that shouldnโt be said.
โThen will you do it often in the future?โ
Leah patted Tang-Eโs head like she didnโt care.
โI should get more meat from Master dude.โ
โOkay, Tang-E will do it often.โ
Tang-E smiled and nodded. Leah found Tang-E cute like this.
***
Reina entered the office and paused momentarily. There wasnโt a person in the office, only two bears.
โTang-E, where did Hyeonu go?โ Reina asked as she approached Tang-E, who was stamping hard.
โHe went out because something happened. He will probably be back in a little while,โ Tang-E replied without even giving Reina a glance.
โYou donโt know what is going on?โ
โTang-E doesnโt know. Master dude has many secrets of his own.โ
โI see.โ
Reina gently nodded.
โBy the way... arenโt you getting along well with Master dude these days?โ
Tang-E put down the seal in his hand and slowly raised his head.
โHow do you know that?โ
Reina looked at Tang-E with a surprised expression.
โDo you think Iโm stupid? I have this much sense.โ
Tang-E raised an eyebrow.
โMy older brother noticed it.โ
Gom-E hugged Tang-E.
โI also heard it from Master dude. He said you ate together a while ago.โ
Tang-E exposed what he had heard from Hyeonu. Of course, he didnโt mention what Hyeonu said about Reina. He just gave the nuances.
โIt is very good to eat often with Master dude.โ
โWhy is that?โ Reina questioned Tang-Eโs words.
โThink about it. The faces of the people who can eat with Master dude.โ
Tang-E looked like she was pathetic.
โPeople who eat together?โ
Many faces passed through Reinaโs head. Yeongchan, Jin Sijong, Gang Junggu, Kale, Mason, etc.
โThere arenโt many people?โ
There werenโt many people that came to mind.
โDoes this mean Iโm part of that line?โ
Reina continued to speculate on her own while Tang-E spoke again, โIn particular, it is important that Master dude took you somewhere. It means the human who usually doesnโt like the hassle in the past is buying the meal and suffering.โ
Reinaโs expression changed strangely after hearing Tang-Eโs words. It looked like she liked something but she was trying to suppress the emotion.
โSo pretty human, why donโt you go out a bit more actively?โ
โActively? How?โ
โDo I have to tell you that?โ Tang-Eโs eyes narrowed.
โNo, it is okay. Iโll take care of it.โ Due to this sharp gaze, Reina couldn't help avoiding Tang-Eโs eyes for no reason. Then she started to think in earnest about how to get closer to Hyeonu.
โHow can I teach you something I donโt know, stupid human?โ
Tang-E saw this and secretly sighed with relief.
โI am trying like this, Master dude.โ
Tang-E smiled proudly when he thought of Hyeonu who had disappeared somewhere.
โI hope it will go well.โ
Tang-E hoped and hoped again. It was so that his efforts wouldnโt be in vain.