Chapter 451

Authors Note 1:

In the previous episode, I had written that s.h.i.+n.o.bu saw the bear flame, but I deleted it.

In the scene where Yuna fights Jubei in episode 444, I had written a story where she produces bear flames to surprise Jubei, but I forgot to delete it. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to readers who read the story before the correction.

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Bear-san, Protects Hugging Bear

Your Majesty, how is the castle? (Sakura)

Sakura asked as if nothing had happened.

Whats this, straight-face-jutsu?

The others didnt seem to mind either.

Ill do the same and go along with it.

Ive silenced them. No matter what she looks like, even if shes young, shes still a strong girl who has defeated Jubei. And Im sure theyve all received their own reports. I wont let them complain. (King)

The king said so and looked at me.

He cant deny that Im a bear, no matter how he looked at me.

While Ive read the reports, I didnt expect you to be such a small girl. If it wasnt for Sakuras words, Id doubt it. (King)

No, Im not small. Youre just big, king.

But he believes in Sakuras words.

Jubei, you really lost, didnt you? (King)

Yes. Contrary to her appearance, she is stronger than any warlord. I swear the truth on this life. (Jubei)

I see. I guess there are small but strong people in foreign lands. (King)

No, I dont think there is.

So far, I have not met anyone who I think was stronger than me.

Thats because of the bear gear that G.o.d gave me. Without the bear gear, I would just be a girl with no power.

And these are the beasts of hope Sakura was talking about? Ive heard theyre fierce, but what can I say, theyre not scary bears. (King

Ku~u ~ n

At the kings words, Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear cried in denial.

They have cool fighting faces, but right now, they have their relaxed faces on, so I cant argue with the kings words.

If they had always looked so fierce, I think the kids would have been scared to go near them.

Is it okay to touch them? (King)

As long as you dont hurt them. (Yuna)

No, I wont. Now then, let me touch you. (King)

The king touches Hugging Bears body.

Ooh, it feels good on my skin. It feels good to touch. Its also white and beautiful. I wish I had this kind of fur. (King)

As soon as the king said that, Hugging Bear moved quickly away from the king and hid behind me.

Kuu ~ n

My body cant hide a body that big.

Of course, I would protect him from the king if he tried to do that again.

The king sees the escaped Hugging Bear.

When I was about to ask him dont even joke about it, Sakura opened her mouth first.

Uncle! Please be careful with your words. Do you know how hard s.h.i.+n.o.bu and the others worked to bring Yuna-sama and Hugging Bear-sama here? What will you do if Yuna-sama gets angry at your words and leaves? (Sakura)

Sakura got angry at the king.

Im sorry. Im not saying Ill take your fur. I just wanted to express how good it felt. (King)

The king apologized honestly.

But just now, did she just exposed that the king was her uncle?

I understand that, but there are good and bad things to say. Take responsibility for your own words. (Sakura)

The king was being reprimanded.

I get it, dont be mad. And Sakura. Call me the king here. (King)

Im sorry. (Sakura)

This time, it was Sakuras turn to apologize.

Uncle? Whats the connection between you two? (Yuna)

Sakura is my sisters daughter. (King)

So, Sakura is royalty? (Yuna)

No. My mother married my father, so shes not royalty anymore. (Sakura)

Ive heard stories that if you marry an ordinary person, youll no longer be royalty.

So Im just an ordinary Miko. (Sakura)

I dont think an ordinary Miko was capable of having prophetic dreams.

But I think I understand now why the king believed Sakuras words. It was more like the people around him were in denial.

So the king believed Sakuras words because of that. (Yuna)

Yeah, because my sister also possessed magical powers, too. (King)

The king looked as if he missed something. Sakura and the other three fell silent at his words.

In the midst of all this, Sakura opened her mouth.

My mother and father died when I was very young. (Sakura)

Her mother and father, so theyre both dead then?

Thats why Im acting as her father. But because of my position, I had to make her address me as the King in public. (King)

So, thats what he meant that she should be calling him king earlier.

I feel sorry for a 10 year old orphan. But I know many children who have lost their parents or been abandoned. The faces of the children in the orphanage came to mind. They are smaller than Sakura. Yet, they are not sad and are doing well. Children can grow up without parents, but they need help from adults. Thats why the director and Liz-san are there.

Besides, Sakura has the king and s.h.i.+n.o.bu, and her personality is growing straight, so she doesnt seem to have anything to worry about.

I hope she grows up not having a twisted personality like mine.

Then youre just like me. I wont be able to see my parents anymore either. (Yuna)

You too, Yuna-sama? (Sakura)

Im not lying, though.

Theres no way for me to return to my former world. Therefore, the possibility of meeting them was close to zero. And if you ask me if I want to go back, I have a conflicting feeling about that.

If I could go back and forth, I would. But if I can never come back here again, I think Ill choose to stay here. Ive found people whom I care about in this world.

Yes. But I have my Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear with me, so Im fine. (Yuna)

Thats right. My family, Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear.

Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear squealed happily.

I have my uncle and the others, too, so Ill be fine. (Sakura)

Sakura replied with a smile.

Her face showed no sign of loneliness.

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Now then, you said your name was Yuna, right? What do you want when this is all over? I can grant you a wish within my power. Money? Status? (King)

Both of them are unnecessary for me.

If you were to ask me what I would dare to have, I would say a place to set up a bear gate. I cant return to Crimonia without setting up a bear gate. If possible, Id like a place where I can go in and out without being noticed. But I can buy a house, so something not so easy to get would be nice.

So I answered.

I dont want money or status. I was asked to seal the serpent safely, so please judge me by my contribution. Ask me at that time and I shall tell you. (Yuna)

That means Ill ask for it when its done.

All right. Ill make sure you get your wish then. (King)

The king promised me.

If I succeed in sealing it, maybe I can ask for a house with a hot spring?

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Now then, lets talk about the future plans.

Then tomorrow I will take you to the island of Reenes. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Instead of fighting it suddenly, were going to meet with someone named Kagali, whos in charge of the seal, and ask about it.

Kagali-sama, who controls the barriers on the island of Reenes, knows the condition of the barriers the best. (Sakura)

I was told that she has been in charge of the barrier for many years and knows a lot about the sealed serpent, so its decided that we should talk to this Kagali-sama.

We prepared a room for you today, so please take it easy and get some rest. (Sakura)

The king and Jubei-san leave, and I am shown to my room. By the way, Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear have been turned into bear cubs. They were my guards in case something happened.

So, why are both of you here together? (Yuna)

Sakura and s.h.i.+n.o.bu are in the room.

I wish I could talk a little more with Yuna-sama. (Sakura)

Then she looked at Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear.

It seems that her target was not me, but Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear.

Im in charge of Yuna. Please ask me anything. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Oh right. s.h.i.+n.o.bu, Ill give this back to you. (Yuna)

I pulled out the bag containing the money that s.h.i.+n.o.bu had given me.

I was reminded of this earlier when I was talking to the king about rewards.

s.h.i.+n.o.bu told me that if she died, it was my duty to defeat Jubei-san, and be her parents avenger in her stead. However, s.h.i.+n.o.bu didnt die, and I defeated Jubei-san. Since s.h.i.+n.o.bu lived, I would need to give it back to her. But still, it was me who defeated Jubei-san.

Above all, it was all an act, and the parental revenge was a lie.

So the promise was also invalid.

That is (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

When s.h.i.+n.o.bu saw the bag of money, she tried to reach for it, but quickly pulled her hand back.

Whats wrong? (Yuna)

I cant receive it (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Let me check with you. Is this money from the country? (Yuna)

No, its not. Its my personal money. At that time, I really needed Yuna to fight against my master. And I wanted you to fight against my master so badly even if I had to pay for it. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

The money seemed to be at s.h.i.+n.o.bus discretion.

And then Yuna fought my master and won. You kept your promise to me, Yuna. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

If this money came from the government, I would have taken it. But if this money was s.h.i.+n.o.bus personal money, it was a different story. I know how hard it is to make money.

Ill give it back. (Yuna)

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

Because the promise was that I would ONLY get it if s.h.i.+n.o.bu died. (Yuna)

Yes, but Yuna defeated my master. The promise was that Yuna would avenge me and my parents, even if it was an act, Yuna kept her promise. If I received that, Itll feel like everything was a lie. At that time, I was prepared to die in the fight. That feeling was not a lie. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

I know. The look on s.h.i.+n.o.bus face at the time made me think she was serious, so I took the job.

But s.h.i.+n.o.bu doesnt seem to want to accept it. The same can be said for me.

Thats why I often try to imitate certain scenes from manga and anime.

Then, Ill take this much. (Yuna)

I took one gold coin from the bag of money.

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

This would mean that I got the money, and at the same time Ive fulfilled my promise to return it if s.h.i.+n.o.bu was still alive. That way weve kept our promise to each other, right? (Yuna)

At my words, s.h.i.+n.o.bu looked at me with a stunned expression.

Yuna, youre very graceful, just like when you fought my master. When you saved me from Masters three-step thrust, I almost fell in love with you. And if you do this to me, Ill fall in love with you even more. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

I pulled away from s.h.i.+n.o.bu.

Why are you leaving me? (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Im not interested in men, but I dont have that kind of hobby either.

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Authors Note:

Next time, we will go to the island.