Chapter 447

Bear-san, Meets Sakura-sama

The next day, I left the inn to meet Sakura-sama and the king of this country.

The hot springs were nice and the food was delicious. (Yuna)

I thanked Konoha for taking care of me for the past few days.

Im glad you said that. (Konoha)

Then Konoha said, Please come again.

Yeah, Ill visit here with Fina next time in the future.

Then, s.h.i.+n.o.bu and Jubei-san rode their horses, while I rode Hugging Bear.

Oh, its Hugging Bear today. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Well, yeah. (Yuna)

I only summoned Swaying Bear for the duration of the battle after all, so when I summoned both of them last night, Hugging Bear was sulking.

I couldnt leave s.h.i.+n.o.bu behind at that time, and the reason I summoned Swaying Bear was because s.h.i.+n.o.bu was more familiar with him. Besides, I was also worried because Swaying Bear had been attacked.

But for Hugging Bear, he felt left out. So today, I summoned only Hugging Bear.

Even so, Yuna, it seems like youre a celebrity. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

What do you mean by that? (Yuna)

Actually, I heard a little story from an adventurer who knows you, Yuna. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

I didnt think there was any adventurer in town who knew me, but then, it reminded me of the first time I came to the Adventurers Guild.

There was a man who looked at me and muttered, b.l.o.o.d.y Bear.

He said he came from another continent. It seems Yuna has defeated some monsters there. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Maybe that guy knew me for a different matter?

In the first place, it depends on how much an adventurer knows about me.

If its just Crimonia, theres only the Tiger Wolves and the Black Viper. The Kraken isnt known, is it? And theres no chance of finding out about the big Scorpion.

Now that I think about it, it would have been better if you just allowed us to inspect your guild card. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Even if thats the case, I would have politely declined because I didnt want anyone to know the contents of my guild card. Even if someone suddenly asked me to show them the contents of my guild card, I would never let them see it due to my personality. Especially if it was s.h.i.+n.o.bu, who was a hundred times more suspicious. Of course, I wouldnt show it to anyone else either, even if they asked me to.

When you think about it, isnt it still difficult to capture me?

Oh, by the way, Jubei-san. Are you still wearing that eye patch all the time? (Yuna)

Jubei-san is still wearing an eye patch. But judging by the way he looked yesterday, his eye didnt seem to be injured.

This is a good way for me to train myself, and its also a good way for me to gauge my opponents strength, so I basically wear it for that reason. (Jubei)

I heard that its a good way for measuring the ability of subordinates and apprentices. Thats why the first goal of a subordinate or an apprentice is to remove their masters eye patch. After that, they need to be able to dodge the masters three-step thrusts, then dual wield swords, use magic on top of all that, all in the process to become stronger and stronger. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

The gradual power increase, like some kind of battle manga.

I really wanted to pull off my masters dual wield technique and show it to you, Yuna. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

But if you want to see how good I am, whats the point of showing me Jubei-sans fighting style? (Yuna)

Thats not the case. I would have given up if you had run away when you saw my masters fighting prowess, Yuna. I had a standard for judging that a person who cannot save a single person cannot save a country. But you, Yuna, you saved me. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

s.h.i.+n.o.bu looked pleased.

And I wanted to show you our fight to see how you could handle it. Young Miss, you handled it beautifully. (Jubei)

Apparently, every action was a test in itself.

By the way, the tone of his voice at that time was like mocking me, but now, Jubei-sans tone seems to be his true self here. I think he has the talent to be an actor.

I really thought he was just a battle junkie.

=====

Then, we rode our horses and a bear, and before noon we saw walls as high as Crimonias. It was the royal capital.

Sakura-sama and the king are over there. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Within those walls, theres the shrine maiden who can use precognition, the root of all of this mess. And the king.

Now, what kind of person is she?

Speaking of which, let me first warn you. If that shrine maiden and the king laughs at me, Ill immediately leave. (Yuna)

I will nail them to a wall.

If theyre going to ask me to do something, they should at least have some manners.

s.h.i.+n.o.bu glanced at Jubei-san.

Ill contact the king later. (Jubei)

Is that supposed to be said out loud?

Moreover, in front of me.

Sakura-sama is probably fine. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

In other words, the King will probably laugh, but Sakura-sama may be fine with me.

After a Short while, the gates came into view.

Are you sure its okay to go in there as is? (Yuna)

I turned my gaze to Hugging Bear. Then the other two looked at Hugging Bear and then me.

What do you think? (Yuna)

I think its okay with me, but we might cause a commotion. (Jubei)

But either way, Yunas outfit stands out. Shes the center of attention whenever shes walking down the street. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

s.h.i.+n.o.bu seemed to be referring to the time when we were looking for Jubei-san together.

Well, the residents were watching me back then, too.

Then will you ride with me on my Hayatemaru? (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

s.h.i.+n.o.bu stroked Hayatemarus neck.

Surely a bear on a horse would still be inconspicuous, wouldnt it?

As I was thinking about such things, Hugging Bear made a lonely sound.

Dont be so sad.

And then I thought about it.

I asked Hugging Bear to turn himself into a cub.

Yunas bear became smaller!? (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

After weighing up whether to have him return or to ask him to turn into a cub, Hugging Bears mood improved, so I decided to stay with the Hugging Bear in bear cub form.

s.h.i.+n.o.bu and Juubei-san looked at Hugging Bear, who had turned into a bear cub, with surprised faces.

My bears are special bears. (Yuna)

Are they really holy beasts, by any chance? (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Well, they were given to me by G.o.d, so they might be more correctly cla.s.sified as divine beasts.

Oh well, either way, Im not going to tell s.h.i.+n.o.bu about it.

I picked up Hugging Bear and asked Hayatemaru to carry us, while s.h.i.+n.o.bu rode behind me.

Ive ridden in a carriage before, but this might be my first time riding a horse.

And so, Hayatemaru, carrying us, started trodding towards the gate.

Yuna (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

What? (Yuna)

Youre soft, it feels good. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

s.h.i.+n.o.bu is hugging my body.

I turned around and stared at s.h.i.+n.o.bu.

If you do anything weird, Ill hit you. (Yuna)

Whats with the silence? (Yuna)

U~u, I understand. I dont want you to stare at me so intensely. I wont do anything else. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

s.h.i.+n.o.bu looked disappointed.

Then the guards inspected our guild cards and let us pa.s.s through the gate.

Of course, the gatekeepers looked at me as if they were surprised, but since I was with Jubei-san, they didnt call out to me or stop me.

=====

Yuna. Welcome to Tessera. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu) ()

We have arrived to Tessera, the capital city of the land of harmony, or should I say the royal capital, or the Miyako* capital?

Its not Edo or Kyto, apparently.

Then, a j.a.panese style scene spreads out in my field of vision, like the capital of Kyto. Beyond that, I can see a castle that is different from the Western-style castle where Flora-sama lives. It looks more like a j.a.panese castle.

I have never been inside a castle in j.a.pan, even when I was in my former world. I didnt go to castles in elementary school trips, and I was a hikikomori** in junior high school, and I dont have a hobby of visiting castles alone. Ive only seen those on TV or the Internet.

Is Sakura-sama in that castle? (Yuna)

Shes not here. Sakura-sama is somewhere else. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Im a little disappointed. I would have liked to go inside the castle.

But the king is there. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Well, of course, he is. So does that mean I can go inside the castle when I meet the king?

But theyre watching us, arent they? (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Yeah, theyre watching us. (Jubei)

s.h.i.+n.o.bu and Juubei-san looked around.

The people around us are looking at me. Not at Hugging Bear that has turned into a cub. Im the one whos drawing all the attention, after all.

s.h.i.+n.o.bu. Im going to report to the castle. You should guide her to Sakura-sama first. (Jubei)

Jubei-san said, kicking the horse lightly in the side, and the horse galloped towards the castle.

Ah, Master, thats not fair! (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Jubei-sans figure disappeared, ignoring s.h.i.+n.o.bus voice.

We were left behind.

He said he needed to report, but he just ran away, didnt he? (Yuna)

Isnt it like saying he didnt want to be with me, the center of attention?

Then well go to Sakura-sama too. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

s.h.i.+n.o.bu lightly kicked Hayatemaru in the side and headed for where Sakura-sama was.

I looked around from the top of Hayatemaru. There were more people and more buildings than in the city near the sea.

Is it so unusual? (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Yes, it is. Its so different from where I live. (Yuna)

Even in my former world, there are apartments and buildings. But there were no such j.a.panese style buildings in my neighborhood.

Thats right. Id like to go to the continent where Yuna lives someday. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Well, I dont know how far away it is, but its not easy to get back and forth.

Hayatemaru kept on going.

So, are we near to where this Sakura-sama is yet? (Yuna)

Gradually, the streets become less and less crowded.

Since a while ago, weve been traveling beside a long wall.

Were already here, but the entrance is still further ahead. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Is it perhaps on the other side of this wall? (Yuna)

Thats right. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

I looked up at the wall.

Apparently, she lives in a house on a huge plot of land.

=====

After a while, I saw the entrance to this wall. Two gatekeepers with spears were standing at the entrance.

The gatekeeper glanced at me, but then quickly looked at s.h.i.+n.o.bu.

s.h.i.+n.o.bu-dono, weve been expecting you. Sakura-sama is waiting for you. Gatekeeper

I understand. Yuna, well be walking from here. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

s.h.i.+n.o.bu and I got off of Hayatemaru.

Another premonition perhaps? (Yuna)

I ask s.h.i.+n.o.bu in a whisper.

Its like they knew we were coming.

No. I contacted them yesterday. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

s.h.i.+n.o.bu unsummoned Hayatemaru and went through the gate.

The gatekeeper looked at me as if he was looking at something strange, but I was able to pa.s.s through without being told anything.

Once inside the gates, I found a large garden and a large building at the end of the walk.

We went straight into the building. We walked down the aisle and s.h.i.+n.o.bu stopped in front of one of the sliding doors.

Sakura-sama, were here. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

s.h.i.+n.o.bu opened the sliding door and I saw a person wrapped in a white shrine maiden costume sitting at the back of a large tatami room.

Is that Sakura-sama?

Looking at her closely, shes small.

Could she be a child?

=====

Authors Note:

Sakura-sama was a child, it seems.

Postscript.

Im working on the book, so my next post will be delayed. Thank you for your understanding.

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Translators Note:

*( ) ( ) Miyako: Im not sure what pun Yuna is making since both of these Miyako means (capital, metropolis).

** ( ) Hikikomori: Socilally withdrawn, a shut-in.