Chapter 538 – Bear-san’s Blunder

Bear-san’s Blunder

I left Cereille’s group, then headed to Noa’s location.

I think she’ll be okay, but I’m still a little worried. I was supposed to go to Cereille’s house for a short while and return, but I had no idea I would have to go outside the city to fight monsters.

I entered the academy grounds, then headed to the lake. There, despite my worries, the scene was the same as it had been before I went to Cereille’s house. I could hear the students playing happily, a barbecue was being prepared, and it even smelled good.

!!

A little mistake and this scene would have been gone. I’m glad we could stop the man from whatever he was attempting.

One man’s love affair nearly made many innocent people grieve due to his malice. He was a really annoying guy. He had a talent for magic, so other women might have approached him if he had been on the right track.

Now, where’s Noa?

“Ah, Yuna-san!”

I was looking for Noa, and yet, she found me first. Noa came to me in a bathing suit.

“Yuna-san, you’re late. Were you able to meet with Cereille-sama?” (Noa)

“Yeah, I got to meet her. I’m sorry it took me so long to get back here.” (Yuna)

“No, I’m glad to hear that nothing happened to you. You were taking so long, so I thought you might have been roped into some kind of trouble.” (Noa)

She’s got a sharp intuition.

“But I thought you would be okay because you weren’t dressed as a bear today. I was still worried, though.” (Noa)

Indeed, I always get into trouble because of my bear outfit. But that was definitely not the case this time.

Wait, if I don’t have my bear equipment and still got involved, does that mean – I am a trouble magnet?

“So, you have finished your business with Cereille-sama, right?” (Noa)

“It’s done.” (Yuna)

I think Cereille and the others have a lot of things to do, like investigating the man, but I don’t have anything to do with it.

“Then let’s go and play together. Yuna-san, please hurry up and change into your swimsuit.” (Noa)

Noa grabbed my bear puppet.

“Eh, I’m good.” (Yuna)

“You promised to play with me when you come back.” (Noa)

Oh right, I feel like I made that promise. Too many things have happened for me to remember.

“Come on, let’s go.” (Noa)

Noa happily pulled my hand and started walking.

Ultimately, I could not escape from Noa, so I had to change into my swimsuit and play with Noa and Shia.

It was nice to play, but there was no way my legs and back could keep up with the youngsters, and needless to say, I went down early. It was hard for a former social recluse to play with young people who were so energetic.

Incidentally, I put the bear equipment away in the bear box and played wearing the white bear puppet.

“So Shia and the others are leaving the city tomorrow, right?” (Yuna)

“Yes, Yuna-san, why don’t you come home with us? You are going to stop by at the royal capital, right?” (Shia)

“I’ll stop by at the royal capital, but I’m supposed to go to Cereille’s tomorrow, so I don’t think I can join you.” (Yuna)

Besides, since I would be riding Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear back home, I would be seen by other students. That would be a hassle, so I would prefer not to go home with them.

“What about you, Noa? Will you go back to the royal capital with Shia? Or do you want to go back with me?” (Yuna)

I’m here as Noa’s escort, but she should be safe with Shia and the other students.

“Of course, I’m going home with Yuna-san.” (Noa)

Noa answered without hesitation.

“Are you sure? We’ll be a little late.” (Yuna)

“Yes. I don’t think my father will be angry if it is only for a few days. Besides, if I go home with Oneesama’s group, he might think that you have abandoned your work. Of course, my mother and father will understand if you explain properly, but I don’t think there is any need to add unnecessary trouble.” (Noa)

Certainly, if Noa returns to the royal capital alone first, Eleanora-san would find out about it. If that happens, Cliff would be informed about it too. I’m sure it would be okay if I explained it properly, but the ‘explaining properly’ part was the exact problem.

“Besides, we are going to ride back home on Swaying Bear-chan and Hugging Bear-chan. I can’t miss that.” (Noa)

Noa declared emphatically.

“I lost to the bears.” (Shia)

Shia deliberately made a sad face.

“Don’t look at me like that, Oneesama. Instead, I promised you that I would sleep with you tonight. Besides, we are going to the royal capital so we can be together again.” (Noa)

Apparently, she promised to sleep with Shia again this evening. However, she was tired of cheering yesterday and just fell asleep in Shia’s room.

“Yuna-san. I know I took the liberty of deciding, but is it okay if I stay at Oneesama’s place?” (Noa)

“That’s okay. You haven’t seen Shia in quite a while, right? Go ahead and play with her.” (Yuna)

It’s good that the sisters were close.

Then, I accompanied Shia to buy some souvenirs, and the evening came.

“Well, then, tomorrow I’ll be in front of the academy at the same time as today” (Yuna)

“Yes.” (Noa)

By the way, Swaying Bear escorted Noa yesterday, so Hugging Bear will escort Noa today. We have to do it alternately.

“Hugging Bear, take care of Noa.” (Yuna)

`Ku~u ~ n’

Noa held Hugging Bear, who had turned into a bear cub, in her arms and went together with Shia to her room.

I returned to the inn alone and collapsed on the bed.

“I’m tired ~” (Yuna)

After dinner, all that was left was to take a bath and go to bed.

I was physically tired because I was not wearing my bear equipment, and I was also mentally tired because of those youngsters, the energetic power of that group.

Honestly, it’s great to be young.

Out of nowhere, I heard a voice saying you’re still 15 years old, you know… But I don’t care.

To be clear, I was dozens of times more tired playing in the lake with Noa and the others than fighting monsters. Moving around would be tiring if I don’t have my bear shoes. In the water, it’s much slower to move around and it also puts more strain on the body. It’s good exercise, yeah, but it’s also exhausting.

It reminds me of pool class in elementary school. I used to get lazy and sleepy afterward.

I would like to go to the hot spring in the Land of Harmony and get rid of the fatigue of the day.

“I want to go to the hot springs.” (Yuna)

Feeling that way, the desire to go to the hot springs gradually grew.

I acted immediately. I took out the bear gate of transition, and I arrived (via bear gate teleportation) at the hot spring in the Land of Harmony.

The room was pitch black, so I used the bear light magic to brighten the room. Of course, there were no lighting on in the rooms that were not in use. The only room with a light on was probably Kagali-san’s room.

I’ll greet Kagali-san and then head to the hot spring. I entered Kagali-san’s room. In the back of the room, I saw Kagali-san in an open window, looking out, and sipping a delicious drink. Her tail, which was sticking out from under her clothes, was wagging, as if she was in a good mood.

By the way, Kagali-san is still a little girl.

“Good evening, Kagali-san” (Yuna)

“It’s you, after all. Hot springs?” (Kagali)

Kagali-san seems to be able to tell through her senses.

Is it because she’s a fox?

“Yeah, I’m a little tired, so I came to take a dip in the hot springs.” (Yuna)

“So, what’s with the weird outfit? I didn’t recognize you for a moment.” (Kagali)

I am still in my uniform.

I would change my clothes once I got out of the hot spring anyway, so I came as I was.

However, it may look weird from the perspective of the people here. The uniform may be unfamiliar form of clothing to them.

“No comment on clothes. I’ll be using the hot spring then.” (Yuna)

“This is your house. You don’t need to ask for my permission.” (Kagali)

“In the meantime, you’re the one taking care of it.” (Yuna)

It’s a common courtesy. Besides, Kagali-san may feel uncomfortable about entering the hot spring without being informed.

So I tried to say a few words to her when I came.

After saying my piece to Kagali-san, I headed for the hot springs.

When I came to the changing room, I summoned Swaying Bear, in cub form. I then took off my uniform and went to the hot springs with Swaying Bear.

I couldn’t resist the urge to get into the hot spring and wash Swaying Bear’s body for protecting Cereille. Swaying Bear looked so comfortable. Next time I come back, I will have to wash Hugging Bear’s body too.

Now that I thought I should wash Hugging Bear’s body next time, I just don’t know when it would be.

I finished washing Swaying Bear, so I washed myself and went into the hot spring.

`Fu ha~a’

It’s a little hot, but the hot spring water soaks into my body.

It feels so good. I rubbed my thighs and arms to avoid muscle pain.

I need to physically work out more, especially without my bear equipment.

How many times have I thought of that? Most of the time, I ended up as a three-day monk.

Because muscle training is tiring, tedious, and annoying.

After I had relieved myself from exhaustion in the hot spring, I dried and brushed Swaying Bear’s fur when we got out of the hot spring. Then, when we returned (via the bear teleportal gate) to the inn in Euphalia, I fell into bed with Swaying Bear and fell into a dream world with him.

The next day, I was woken up by Swaying Bear, and so we head for the academy. When we arrived at the school gate, Noa and Shia were waiting for me, just like yesterday.

“Good morning, you two.” (Yuna)

“Yuna, we have a problem.” (Noa)

Noa came running up to me.

“What’s wrong? What happened?” (Yuna)

“I’m not sure, but when I woke up in the morning, Hugging Bear-chan looked like this.” (Noa)

Noa showed me Hugging Bear that she was holding.

Hugging Bear looked sad.

“Hugging Bear, what’s wrong?” (Yuna)

In Noa’s arms, Hugging Bear made a sad `ku~u ~ n’ and didn’t look at me. Is he sulking?

Could it be that he knew that I went into the hot spring in the Land of Harmony alone with Swaying Bear?

No, he definitely knew about it. I didn’t mean to hide it. Hugging Bear was sulking at the fact that I left him behind and went to the hot spring with Swaying Bear.

“What should I do, Yuna-san? Did I do something wrong?” (Noa)

Noa looks anxious.

“It’s not your fault, Noa. It’s mine.” (Yuna)

“Yuna-san?” (Noa)

“I went out with Swaying Bear a little bit last night. Hugging Bear felt like he was left behind, so I guess that’s the reason he’s sulking.” (Yuna)

I received Hugging Bear from Noa and embraced it.

“I’m sorry, Hugging Bear. I didn’t mean to leave you behind. Let’s go together next time. I’ll wash your body and sleep with you.” (Yuna)

`Ku~u ~ n’

Hugging Bear cried while turning away.

This might take a while until I could calm him down.

I learned a lesson today…

No matter how tired I am, I should never go to a hot spring without both of them.

=====

Author’s Note:

It has been a while since Hugging Bear sulked.

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