Bear-san, Gets A Thank You

Well then, Yuna. As I have promised, I have prepared something good. Can you confirm it for me? If you dont like it, you can refuse. (King)

Have you got it ready? (Yuna)

But of course, I dont want people to think Im a king who cant give my grat.i.tude. (King)

I didnt expect him to get it ready while they were cleaning up after Orochi.

Im sure hes swamped with the cleanup work.

What about my booze? (Kagali)

Ill have it ready when you return to your original form. I have told you many times that I will not let you drink while in that form. (King)

Wait, when will that be? And even though I look like this, Im still older than you. (Kagali)

Its a matter of appearance. Besides, how am I supposed to know when you will grow, Kagali? (King)

Mumu.

(Kagali)

Kagali-san puffed her cheeks.

She looked like a child acting spoiled.

After all, appearance was important.

I kinda agree with it whenever I look at Kagali-san.

Your bears can run over the ocean, right? (King)

King Suou slightly looked at Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear.

Yeah. (Yuna)

King Suou, who had already received the report from s.h.i.+n.o.bu, nodded as he confirmed.

Im sorry, if I take Yuna and the others on the s.h.i.+p with me, its going to be a ha.s.sle to explain. Im sorry, but could you meet us over there instead? (King)

Certainly, it was King Suou, Sakura, and s.h.i.+n.o.bu who disembarked on the island. Even if I returned Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear, it would still be strange if Kagali-san (a young girl) and I (a bear) appeared together. And moreover, this was the place where the Orochi had appeared. It would be strange if we were in such a place.

Fine. I should pick up this house too, right? (Yuna)

Yeah, its better over there than here. (King)

We parted when we decided where to meet.

King Suou, s.h.i.+n.o.bu, and Sakura went to the pier. After putting away the bear house, Kagali-san and I rode on Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear on the sea.

They can really run on the ocean, cant they? (Kagali)

But you can fly, cant you, Kagali-san? (Yuna)

Personally, I would have preferred a flying skill more than the newly learned underwater swimming.

I cant fly in this form. (Kagali)

Is that so? (Yuna)

I can only fly when Im in great fox form. (Kagali)

Cant you just turn in that form? (Yuna)

I wont be as big as when I fought the Orochi, but I can be a fox. (Kagali)

Kagali-sans figure on top of Swaying Bear disappeared when she said that, leaving her clothes behind. I hurriedly stopped Swaying Bear.

Kagali-san? (Yuna)

When I called out to her, Kagali-sans clothes wriggled, and a fox cub peeked out from under her clothes.

Fuu

, just about this size now. (Kagali)

Maybe its because you dont have much magic powers because you made stone statues earlier? (Yuna)

No, it has nothing to do with that. It could be a physical problem. Or it could be the bears curse. (Kagali)

That doesnt exist, you know? (Yuna)

The tiny fox, Kagali-san, tried to float on top of Swaying Bear.

I can fly, but only about this much. (Kagali)

The tiny fox, Kagali-san, landed on top of Swaying Bear and then slipped into her clothes, reverting back to her original little girl form.

But I envy her just for being able to fly.

I think that since she can use magic, she should be able to fly.

Im not very flexible in that area.

And when Kagali-san and I reached the meeting place, we waited for King Suou.

Its a street a short distance away from the royal capital where the castle was. Kagali-san was lying comfortably on Swaying Bear. But I wonder if shes still tired. She cant go back to her original form after all.

After waiting for a while, we saw s.h.i.+n.o.bu and Sakura on a horse (probably Hayatemaru) and King Suou on another horse. Also, Jubei-san was coming toward us.

Weve kept you waiting~. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Yuna-sama, sorry for being late. (Sakura)

Sakura also came. (Yuna)

Yes, if its not too much trouble, Ill show you around. (Sakura)

Im not bothered. Im counting on you. (Yuna)

Yes! (Sakura)

Sakura replied happily on top of Hayatemaru that she and s.h.i.+n.o.bu were riding. Behind her, King Suou and Jubei-san were watching me.

Jubei-san, you also came. (Yuna)

King Suou has entrusted me with his protection. (Jubei)

I couldnt leave the city with only s.h.i.+n.o.bu as an escort. I had no choice but to ask Jubei because Jubei knows Yuna as well. (King)

Jubei-san dismounted from his horse and came to me.

Youre still in the country. I was worried because when I asked King Suou and s.h.i.+n.o.bu about Yuna, they didnt tell me anything. (Jubei)

Well, they cant say that I already left the country and just came back because they did contract magic for the bear gate.

Master, you were worried about Yuna, but I couldnt tell you anything because King Suou had told me not to. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

I had to keep Yunas existence a secret. (King)

For the time being, I am a secret.

Im glad youre not hurt. I was worried because King Suou didnt let me see you. Let me thank you. Thank you for saving our country. Thank you. (Jubei)

Of course, Jubei-san knew that I fought and defeated the Orochi.

I got down from Hugging Bear and said a few words back to Jubei-san.

Im just glad we defeated it. (Yuna)

I saw the Orochi, and I was astonished that a girl like Missy could defeat such a big monster. No wonder I lost to you. (Jubei)

It would have been easier if Jubei-san had been there. (Yuna)

Thats not the case. I could only slow it down at best. (Jubei)

Jubei-san was strong. I wasnt sure how he would fare against Orochi, but I wished he had been there when fighting wyverns and volgla.s.s. If he had been there, s.h.i.+n.o.bu would not have gotten herself injured, and Sakura would not have had to do anything dangerous.

Also, thank you for saving s.h.i.+n.o.bu and Sakura-sama. (Jubei)

Jubei-san bows his head lightly.

I dont like it when people thank me in earnest because it makes me itch.

Im glad I was able to protect them. (Yuna)

Jubei-san smiled and returned to King Suous side.

Then we set off for the hot springs. As we departed, Sakura looked at Hugging Bear for a moment and said, Yes, lets go.

Perhaps she wanted to ride Hugging Bear?

But maybe she felt sorry for Hayatemaru if she switched. Ill probably make time for her to spend with Hugging Bear later.

So where are we going? I thought it was in the city. (Yuna)

Were moving away from the royal capital where the castle was located.

Outside of the city, but not that far. (Sakura)

Im sure youll be surprised when you see it, Yuna. (King)

Is that so? (Yuna)

s.h.i.+n.o.bu says something meaningful and doesnt tell me the destination. He looks at Sakura and says, Its a secret.

Do you know about it, Kagali-san? (Yuna)

How could I, who has been with you all this time, know anything about it? (Kagali)

Thats for sure. Weve been together for the past few days, and we came here together. There was no way that Kagali-san could have known.

Where in the world were they taking us?

After a short distance, a forest came into view.

Was it perhaps in the forest?

Sure, in the forest, the bear house would be inconspicuous. Perhaps, Im a Bear, and I must be in the forest?

Dont tell me youre going to give that to Missy? (Kagali)

Kagali-san uttered such words as if she knew where were headed to.

Kagali-san. Perhaps you know something? (Yuna)

If I am not mistaken (Kagali)

Ah, Kagali-sama. Please keep quiet. (s.h.i.+n.o.bu)

Kagali-san was about to tell me, but s.h.i.+n.o.bu stopped her.

From the way Kagali-san talks, it sounded like a fantastic thing.

I think its about time you tell me. (Yuna)

Its a secret. A secret. Youll know when we get there. If you dont want it, I shall have it.

Kagali-san said something strange, but apparently, they wont tell me until we arrived.

Well, if they say youll know when you get there, then go. But if you dont want to, you can simply say no.

We entered the forest.

The path was properly paved, and it continued through the forest. Earlier, I glimpsed a sign that read No Entry Beyond This Point. There was also what looked like a royal coat of arms below it.

Theres something ahead, thats for sure.

As we continued down the road, I saw a large mansion.

We pa.s.sed through the gate and arrived at the front of the mansion.

I knew it. Its this place. (Kagali)

Kagali-san looked at the mansion.

Dont tell me youre going to give me this mansion as a gift? (Yuna)

What? You dont like this mansion? You could at least check the inside. (Kagali)

No, no, its too huge. (Yuna)

Its about the size of Cliffs mansion.

Its a three-story j.a.panese-style mansion.

You saved the country from the Orochi. No one died. There was no damage to the country, and you even gave us the Orochis magic stone and materials. If you consider the damage that would have been done if the Orochi had come to our country, even this wouldnt be a sufficient reward. (King)

When I heard of this, I was surprised at first. But Yuna-sama defeated the Orochi and saved the country. Considering that, I dont think it is strange either. (Sakura)

Yes, thats right indeed. Its a small price to pay for avoiding the destruction of the country. (Jubei)

The three said it as a matter of course.

Certainly, its enough for the price of Orochis magic stone and materials. And considering the damage when the Orochi came to the country, one mansion would be a cheap price.

But it seems too large for me.

Because its a big mansion.

But why is there a mansion like this in the middle of the forest? (Yuna)

I had it built so I can rest. People wont come here since this part is on the royal grounds. And as you wished, the bath is a hot spring. (King)

A large mansion with a hot spring and without people coming.

Whats that? Sounds like prime real estate.

With Yunas bears, it should be easy to get to and from town, so getting around shouldnt be a problem. (King)

With Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear, its easy to get to the city. Even if I come by the bear gate, I will not be seen by anyone.

People would be surprised if a girl dressed as a bear came out of a house they thought no one was using. But I feel safe here.

Isnt there a hot spring in the city?

Perhaps you had the mansion built here just for the hot springs? I dont know if the capital doesnt have hot springs, but dont they have it in the next town? (Yuna)

Yuna-sama, youll understand that once you get inside. (Sakura)

Sakura implied.

Was there something more?

We entered the mansion.

=====

Authors Note:

A mansion with a hot spring was provided.

Next time, the mansion interiors.

Sorry once again. The next post will be delayed. Please understand.