The compromise was him helping Azure slaughter his kind and save Hugh Ibrahim so it is not Reece's responsibility to make sure the bluebird was safe or not.

Above all, the bluebird was the most powerful among the four, so he could take care of himself.

"Anyway, what is a Stone Bear? I have never heard that birds could actually eat a bear, who is far more powerful."

Bears are all very strong and powerful animals. Despite the birds being strong and powerful too, they would surely not be able to hunt bears and even eats them without a proper explanation of what happened.

[Correct. However, the bear was alone and pregnant, which means she could not fight well.]

"I see. How unfortunate."

Reece felt pity for the unborn babies she was carrying but that is how life is.

To survive in the forest is to hunt or be hunted. There is nothing wrong with that.

It was the same for Reece. He wanted to bid farewell to his family before resting in peace, which is why he was doing this job he did not want in the first place.

[Stone Bears. They have fur similar to a stone, which is why they are called 'Stone Bears.' Unlike the Earth's bears, the 'Stone Bears' could survive in any type of environment as they have perfect adaptation ability. For further information, 'Stone Bears' furs always changed and resembles whatever they eat.]

"Well, bears are omnivores."

Reece shrugged.

"There is not really much of a difference from Earth's bears."

However, Daniel quickly simplifies the difference.

[By any environment, water and lava are included.]

"Oh."

There really is a difference. A huge one at that.

He really is in a different world.

"So you are saying that Stone Bears are called stone because they ate stone? But why eat a stone in the first place?"

Reece thought maybe they are the type who do not eat grass or any meat and only eat nonliving things.

[Eating nonliving things could make the bears gain new abilities.]

"Oh? Interesting."

If they have the ability to gain new abilities simply by eating, isn't that a cheat?

Reece thought.

So what if the bears eat lava, ice, poison, and more?

What kind of powerful ability could they gain?

"Tell me more."

[For instance, the 'Stone Bear' they captured was in a possession of . Agate is strength and courage as it tones and strengthens the mind and body, grounding and stabilizing emotions and physical energy.]

"So bears are quite special animals."

The birds were no special at all.

Although they are huge, had tall humanoid forms, and are stronger than normal, they are in a fantasy world where no humans live. It means the birds are considered normal.

[Yes. Furthermore, 'Stone Bears' also have very sturdy bones, which could be used as a weapon after crafting. And because the 'Stone Bear' they captured was pregnant, it has delicious meat.]

"... What?"

Reece has a blank face.

"Pregnant bears had delicious meat?"

[Yes. Whenever a bear is pregnant, they are in their healthiest condition and have additional nutrients in their body.]

"To put it another way, the babies are merely additional nutrients."

[That is the case.]

"How... saddening."

Reece took notice of the slight sting in his heart. He may be less of a good person, but babies are one of his soft spots, regardless if they are humans or animals.

Besides, hearing this stings quite a bit more as this reminds Reece of his unborn twin sister or brother.

[...]

Daniel did not say anything as he knew what exactly Reece is feeling. Surprisingly, Daniel was quite considerate and knows when to cross the line.

"Do their abilities stay even if they eat something new?"

If the bears continue eating things, just how overpowered would they become if their abilities stock up?

[Sadly, that is not the case. As soon as they ate something new, they lost their former abilities. In addition, they could survive without eating for 3 months.]

"Eh? It'll go away?"

[Not only that, although they could still freely eat meat, they rarely do that as living beings do not grant them abilities. Thankfully, they can still steal other's abilities.]

"Hmm, that's quite disappointing but their abilities are still terrifying from my standpoint."

[Agreed. Unfortunately, they are not a very intelligent race.]

Certainly, there is a restriction and limitation to what the bears could do but if their abilities and what abilities suit them are properly utilized, they could be a very powerful race.

It is just unfortunate that the bears of their current dimension are not very intelligent so they could not suitably exercise the full potential of their special abilities obtain by eating nonliving things.

However, before the two could continue on their conversation, the bag of Azure where Reece was resting slightly shook and the top was gradually opening.

It was Azure looking down at Reece with a tired face full of bruises and blood that undoubtedly belong to the female bear.

"Ah, you are awake."

"... Yes."

Azure whispered and Reece simply replied as he looks down again. However, Azure noticed that Reece was more discouraged than refreshed after replenishing his exhausted energy.

'Did he have a nightmare?'

Azure thought but did not ask.

Little did Azure know, Reece looked away because he was covered in blood that he looks more terrifying.

"How was your hunt?"

It was good that Reece spoke first or it will be gauche.

"Uh, it was successful."

"That is great."

Though Azure had initially intended to converse with Reece about his plan, Azure was well aware of how to read the atmosphere and Reece is certainly clouded, which is why he has to respect the fairy and spoke.

"Sir Reece, in an hour or so, we are going to travel back home. Please rest more."

Reece simply nodded without glancing back while Azure gently closes his bag.

'I am taking a new step.'

Reece's instantly thought the moment the bag is closed.

Finally, it's his first day on the job and it is going to start once he met Hugh Ibrahim, the lion mutant. Although worried about failing, there was a hint of excitement even if Reece denies it.

Staying quiet for a while now, Reece has clam down and is started getting bored as he could not sleep. Daniel only grants him a certain amount of time depending on how exhausted his mind is to recover and as he slept once, he could not take a rest.

Besides, even if he sleeps, his consciousness will always drift to where Daniel is. Hence Reece stood up and slightly opened the bag and found it was hanging on a tree.

'So that's why it was not shaky. I thought that guy was going to protect me and yet, he left me alone.'

Reece clicked his tongue. He believed that Azure always has great balance as the bag was not shaky at all.

Anyhow, noticing that no one was nearby the tree where he was hanging, and following Daniel's confirmation, Reece open the bag and flew up.

However, he was not able to move after witnessing something horrific.

'Hii—!'

Reece gasp in fear. His body has started to shake.

A bear, specifically the pregnant female Stone Bear, that would stand half the sizes of the 50-meter trees, was laying on the ground already cold and dead. It is so bloody and its appearance was gory enough for Reece to turn paler than he already is.

Though Reece was already aware that most creatures of the world he was currently in were filled with gigantic, fearful, and powerful creatures, he was still very surprised to see one in person. The bear with greyish fur and stone crack pattern was gigantic.

It was thrice the size of the Earth's bears!

On the other hand, Reece's current height was only the size of a typical adult palm.

Compared to the bloody bear laying on the ground—Reece was scared and is shaking for a second before Daniel lessens his fear.

"... Thank you."

[You are welcome.]

Reece, who averted his gaze a moment ago, turned towards the bear once more. He does not feel fear anymore so Daniel was effective.

Reece heaves a sigh as he observes the bear.

"The birds are quite brutal."

The appearance of the bear was enough to justify his claim. As well as the evidence on the surrounding as the trees nearby have traces of blood on them and bear claws.

[For your information. Long Fangs Birds Tribe is one of the most aggressive and unmerciful.]

"Hm. So that kid Hugh really has it hard."

Reece now understands why Hugh Ibrahim has unstable emotions swirling inside him as he suffered and endured a lot. If that was Reece in the boy's position, he would have already gone crazy.

"Well, that is one of a hell bear. How would they carry it home?"

[Indeed. However, it is one of the smallest bears as it was only a female. Males are a bit more enormous. Moreover, to bring it home to their tribe, they could simply shrink its size with a compressing device that most creatures who do not have shrinking functions frequently use.]

'A bit more?'

Reece tried to imagine a bear that is a 'bit' more enormous than the females. However, considering how huge this female one lying dead in front of Reece, he does not want to think about it.

"I see. Why are they not preparing it yet? Shouldn't fresh meat tasty?"

[It was because the bear has already died and is pregnant, it needed at least an hour to wholly absorb her babies inside. This is how the babies became nutrients to their parent's meat.]

"... Is that so..."

Reece watched the female Stone Bear with a blank face. However, Reece realizes something the more he looks at the bear.

"I wonder just how enormous this world could be for allowing such gigantic monsters to exist."

[This is the fourth oldest world but is second only in size and powerful creature to the oldest one.]

"Just asking, why I am in the fourth world instead of the first?"

[You are sent to a less dangerous and difficult world.]

Less dangerous and difficult world.

Reece gulps as he was already aware of how this current dimension is very dangerous and difficult for him.

Then, what about the other worlds?

Will he go there too?

He does not want to think about it or he will get severe headaches and he might die in stress.

"I see... Ahem. Now that I think about it, why is there a bear in the forest? A female, also pregnant, and alone at that."