Chapter 493

Bear-san, Heads To The City

I woke up to the sound of voices. I opened my eyes and got up to see Sakura and Ruimin talking.

 

“Good morning, Yuna-sama.” (Sakura)

“Good morning, Yuna-san.” (Ruimin)

“Good morning. Both of you are early.” (Yuna)

 

I rubbed my eyes and greeted them.

 

“I’m always early in the morning.” (Sakura)

“Because everyone wakes up in the elf village at this time.” (Ruimin)

 

It seems customary for Sakura, and Ruimin, the elf who lives in the forest, to wake up early in the morning.

When I looked toward the futon, I noticed Shuri was still sleeping while cuddling her bear plushie. Kagali-san was sleeping with a pillow in her arms.

 

“Are? What about Fina?” (Yuna)

 

Swaying Bear was not here either. Sakura was holding Hugging Bear in her arms.

 

“If you’re looking for Fina, she went for a walk outside.” (Ruimin)

“Is she alone, perhaps?” (Yuna)

“You don’t have to worry about her because she has Shinobu with her. And there’s no danger around here in the first place. Besides, Swaying Bear-sama is with them.” (Sakura)

“Swaying Bear went with them?” (Yuna)

 

I was worried since Swaying Bear wasn’t here, but it looks like he followed Fina.

 

“As I was wondering what conversation did Hugging Bear-sama and Swaying Bear-sama have because suddenly Swaying Bear-sama started followed them.” (Sakura)

 

Perhaps he went along as Fina’s escort because I always asked them to do so? Moreover, I wanted to see such a rare situation of Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear talking to each other.

 

“Sakura, Ruimin, you didn’t go with them?” (Yuna)

“I stayed because I knew you would be worried if both Fina and I were not here when you woke up.” (Sakura)

“I was still half-asleep when they left.” (Ruimin)

 

Indeed, I would have been worried if Fina and the others had not been there when I woke up. I might have thought that Shinobu had kidnapped them or something.

 

“Fina, who was awake, asked me if it would be all right if she could walk around the house, and I replied yes. But Shinobu, who was also awake, offered to go walk with her.” (Sakura)

 

Shinobu also gets up early.

 

“I see, Yuna-sama is concerned about Fina.” (Sakura)

“Well, because she’s the daughter of someone I know.” (Yuna)

“I envy Fina, who Yuna-sama worries about.” (Sakura)

“I also care about you, Sakura. I felt sorry for you since you kept seeing the Orochi, so I decided to help you.” (Yuna)

 

Sakura looked surprised at my words.

 

“……Yuna-sama is so cool.” (Sakura)

“I’m dressed like this, you know? I’m a bear.” (Yuna)

 

I grabbed my polar bear outfit and showed it to her. Sakura seemed to have bad eyesight, thinking such bears looked cool. I wonder if the healing magic would cure her?

 

“Fufu, actions, words and deeds. It means Yuna-sama has a cool heart. Yuna-sama, if you were a man, I would have married you.” (Sakura)

“I’m a girl, so that’s a no.” (Yuna)

“Yes, that’s just too bad.” (Sakura)

 

Sakura was smiling, though I’m not sure how serious she was.

 

Then I changed into a black bear and woke Shuri and Kagali-san up.

Shuri went back to sleep and said “Oneechan, a little more” and Kagali-san said “another year”, but they both eventually woke up.

 

When I finished putting away the futons, Fina returned with Swaying Bear in her arms along with Shinobu.

 

“Welcome back. How was your walk?” (Yuna)

“It was nice to be in the forest. Also, the lake was beautiful.” (Fina)

 

Apparently, they took a walk at the lake.

 

“Oneechan, no fair! I wanted to go too.” ((Shuri)

 

Shuri puffed her cheeks out as she was left behind by Fina, who was talking about her walk.

I feel the same way. If you were going for a walk, you should have woken me up as well.

 

“I’m sorry. I woke up early and looked outside and it seemed nice. Shinobu-san said she would keep me company.” (Fina)

“She’s an important guest. Besides, Swaying Bear came to escort us.” (Shinobu)

“Thank you, Swaying Bear.” (Yuna)

 

I stroked Swaying Bear’s head that Fina was holding.

 

“So what about breakfast? I’ll prepare bread if you’re okay with it.” (Yuna)

“I don’t mind, but how about we go to town and have a meal instead? I’ll buy you a drink this time.” (Shinobu)

“Looks like you’re on a roll.” (Yuna)

“I got a reward after all.” (Shinobu)

“Alright Shinobu, I’ll take you up on your offer then.” (Yuna)

“A normal person would accept it. Yuna and Kagali-sama are the weird ones for refusing it.” (Shinobu)

 

I got the mansion instead of money, so I think mine was more extravagant in terms of value. I don’t mind having money, but I prefer a house with a hot spring.

 

After discussing it for a while, we decided to go to town for breakfast, but Kagali-san wanted to stay at the mansion.

 

“Today, Suzuran will be coming. It would be pitiful if we missed each other. Besides, I would also like to sleep a little longer. So, you can go on by yourselves.” (Kagali)

 

We left Kagali-san behind and went to the city.

 

“Oh, that’s right. Since we’re going to the city, I have to give this to Ruimin.” (Yuna)

 

I took out the card that looked like a guild card, which King Suou had given me.

 

“Is that a guild card?” (Ruimin)

“It’s something similar. King Suou said it’s a substitute for a passport. With this, you can go into the city with no problem, and it seems you can even meet Sakura in her mansion.” (Yuna)

“I am sure that if you show it to the gatekeepers of my house, they will let you through. This is a promise made to Mumroot-sama. Ruimin-san, you can come and see me anytime.” (Sakura)

“Yeah, okay. I’ll go and visit you.” (Ruimin)

 

Ruimin poured her magic power into the card and it became Ruimin’s personal card.

Shuri, who was watching me, grabbed my clothes.

 

“Yuna-oneechan, what about me? Can I enter the city without that card?” (Shuri)

 

Shuri asked me anxiously.

 

“You don’t have one, Shuri, but you’ll be fine if you’re with me.” (Yuna)

“Really? It’s good then.” (Shuri)

“So don’t you leave my side.” (Yuna)

“Un!” (Shuri)

 

Ruimin and I are riding Swaying Bear, while Shuri, Fina, and Sakura are riding Hugging Bear.

 

“Hugging Bear, are you okay carrying three people?” (Yuna)

`Ku~u ~ n’

 

It’s okay. That’s what he replied.

Two normal adults can ride on him, so three children would be nothing for him.

 

“Are you sure?” (Yuna)

`Ku~u ~ n’

 

Hugging Bear replied, but not to me.

Sakura is riding in the front, Shuri behind her, and Fina in the back. Hugging Bear stood up on all his four legs as if to say he’s fine with the three of them riding on his back.

 

“Well then, we’re off.” (Shinobu)

 

We then departed for the city where the castle was located, led by Shinobu riding Hayatemaru.

 

“But I wanted to have dinner with Sakura-chan, too.” (Ruimin)

“I’m sorry. I have to go back once. But I have time this afternoon so I can stay with you.” (Sakura)

“Then why don’t we all just have breakfast together at your home?” (Ruimin)

“I’m sorry, I didn’t want to dampen the excitement everyone was having.” (Sakura)

 

While we were leaving and moving on, I heard from Sakura that we could not have breakfast together.

She said she had something to do. I guess she was just trying to be considerate, but it was a little disappointing. It seems that Shinobu did not know about it either. She would not have insisted on breakfast in town if she had known.

But she said she could stay with us this afternoon, so that’s good.

 

After a while, the entrance to the city comes into view.

 

“Shinobu, is it safe to go on Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear with that card?” (Yuna)

“Yeah, I think if you show them your card, they’ll let you through without saying a word, but they’ll be surprised.” (Shinobu)

 

It’s going to be a hassle unless I show them my card.

 

“Should we just walk from here?” (Yuna)

“If you don’t want to cause any unnecessary trouble, that would be for the best.” (Shinobu)

 

As usual, I returned Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear before the gate and decided to walk away.

And we were approaching the gate. There were six girls with nobody else with them. And one of them was dressed as a bear. The gatekeepers’ eyes were fixed on me as I approached. Rather than being suspicious, they looked at me as if they wondered, “What’s with that outfit?” Instead, they were looking at me as if they were looking at something mysterious.

 

I put the card given to me by King Suou into the mouth of my bear puppet. As we approached the gate, the gatekeepers looked at us. I silently showed him my card. One of the gatekeepers looked surprised momentarily and then looked at me and the card alternately. But he didn’t say anything, just like Shinobu said.

 

“Please, go through.” (Gatekeeper)

 

Ruimin also showed her card, and just like with me, he didn’t say anything.

 

“Am I okay to go?” (Shuri)

 

Both Shuri and Fina looked worried but were able to enter without incident.

Shuri and Fina scurried around as they entered the city. Everything seemed new to them. The buildings and clothes were different from those in Crimonia.

Shuri’s eyes stopped as she scurried around.

 

“Yuna-oneechan, what’s that?” (Shuri)

 

Shuri pointed at the castle.

 

“It’s a castle.” (Yuna)

“Uh, no. That’s not a castle.” (Shuri)

 

The castles that Shuri knew were castles in the country where she lives or castles depicted in books. Therefore, it seemed that the Japanese-style castle in front of us did not look like a castle to Shuri’s eyes. It may just be a strange building in Shuri’s eyes.

 

“That’s a castle, too. Castles are different in different countries.” (Yuna)

“Really?” (Shuri)

“Look, the houses around you and the clothes they wear are different from the ones in Crimonia, right?” (Yuna)

 

She looked at the landscape in front of her. It was different from Crimonia in every way.

 

“Yeah, it’s different.” (Shuri)

“Do you understand what the culture means? The path that people living in that area have taken. Hmm, can you tell me?” (Yuna)

 

While I’m at a loss for how to explain it, Fina opened her mouth.

 

“Let’s see, Shuri. Yuna-oneesan, Ruimin-san, and Sakura-chan. We all dress differently, don’t we? Each of us is different since we live in different places. You don’t see dresses like that in Crimonia, right?” (Fina)

 

You may see someone dressed like Ruimin, but you will never see me and Sakura dressed like Ruimin.

 

“So, in other words, it’s different in every country or city, right?” (Fina)

“Yes.” (Yuna)

 

Each country has its own culture that it has walked in its path.

It seems that Shuri also understood, and nodded.

But I would like to correct one thing. Even in my hometown, there were no people walking around in animal costumes. If they do, it’s only in pajamas. Or, only those who wear them to some events. There was no one who generally lives wearing in an animal costume.

However, the explanation would become complicated if I deny it now, so I swallowed the words.

 

“I understand how you feel. I was also surprised when I saw the town and castle for the first time because they are different from the elven village. But I guess it’s different in every country.” (Ruimin)

“Is it really that different?” (Sakura)

“The castles and buildings I know are different. And no one is dressed like Sakura-chan.” (Ruimin)

 

Sakura looked at the kimono she was wearing. You won’t see them in Crimonia or in Royal Capital.

 

“A lot of adventurers and merchants wear a variety of clothing.” (Fina)

 

Most of them must be from other countries in that area.

 

=====

Author’s Note:

Yuna and her friends are going to the city. It’s going to be a tour of the country of harmony.

=====