Chapter 509

Bear-san, Caught By A Girl

I walked with Noa while looking at the lake.

The weather was nice, and so was the view. The lake was beautiful. There were boats floating on the lake, and it looked like you could take a ride on them. It seems like a fun city. Many people were looking at the lake just like us. I was walking among them, but no one paid any attention to me.

As expected, no one would look at me if I wasnt dressed as a bear. No one even bothered to look at my shoes or hands. Well, unless you look at me up close, I look like Im wearing black and white gloves. No one would even notice my bear-feet shoes or my bear-faced gloves.

Whats wrong, Yuna-san? Hurry up. (Noa)

As I was walking, while being mindful of my surroundings, Noa, who was walking in front of me, turned around and called out to me.

Noa, thats dangerous. You need to look forward while walking. (Yuna)

Its okay

u wa~a

. (Noa)

At the moment I warned her, Noah, who was walking backward, stumbled.

Noa stepped forward and tried to adjust her position. I hurriedly tried to reach out to her, but she continued to fall backward, away from my hand.

Watch out!

Theres a girl in a school uniform where Noa was about to fall. Just as she thought she was about to b.u.mp into the girl, the girl stopped Noa in her arms. Thankfully, Noa didnt fall down.

You have to watch where youre going, or youll get hurt. (Girl)

Im sorry. (Noa)

Noa apologized as she moved away from the girls arms.

The girl who caught Noa was about the same age as s.h.i.+a and me. The girl was wearing a different uniform from the one in the royal capital. Perhaps she was a student at Euphalia Academy.

Its all well and good to be cheerful, but girls are supposed to be graceful. (Girl)

Im sorry. (Noa)

Noa was visibly dejected.

The girl in uniform stared at Noa.

tell me, have we met somewhere before? (Girl)

When asked, Noa looked at the girl in uniform.

Their faces came close to each other, and they stared at each other for a few seconds. Noa opened her mouth first.

Are you Cereille-sama? (Noa)

(

)

Noire, is it? (Cereille)

They said each others names simultaneously.

It seems like they knew each other.

Its been a long time. Cereille-sama. (Noa)

Indeed, whats Noire doing here? Oh, are you here to support s.h.i.+a? (Cereille)

The girl Noa called Cereille asked and gave her own guess.

Yes, Im here to support Oneesama who is partic.i.p.ating in the magic exchange meet at the school. Yuna-san, let me introduce you. This is Cereille-sama, the daughter of the Forinz family that governs this city. (Noa)

Noa introduced me to the girl. Shes the daughter of the lord of this city, apparently.

In other words, it looks like they knew each other through n.o.ble connections.

Its Cereille.

Im Yuna.

We said our names to each other.

Youre a student from the royal capital who came for the magic exchange, right? You should be practicing at the academy by now, so why are you here? And why are you with Noire? (Cereille)

Etto

, that is (Yuna)

Im fumbling for words.

She seemed to think that I was a partic.i.p.ant in this magical exchange meet because I was wearing a royal capital academy student uniform. Im not a partic.i.p.ant though, much less a student. However, since I was wearing a uniform, I couldnt deny nor affirm, so I was at a loss for a response. Noa then followed up with me.

Yuna-san is a friend of mine and Oneesamas. We are not attending the event, but she said she was going to support Oneesama, so I asked her to take me along with her. (Noa)

Did you come separately from s.h.i.+as group or did you arrive here with Eleanora-sama? (Cereille)

No, I didnt come here with my mother. I came with Yuna-san this time. Yuna-san is strong, so she is also my escort. (Noa)

In response to Noa, Cereille looked at me astonis.h.i.+ngly.

Excuse me, but how old are you? 13? 14? (Cereille)

I am 15 years old. (Yuna)

15 years old!? (Cereille)

Cereille was surprised at my words.

Im smaller than the average 15 years old, but I am indeed 15 years old.

Let me confirm. Youre not a partic.i.p.ant of this magical exchange, right? (Cereille)

Etto

, yeah. (Yuna)

In response to my reply, Cereille frowns and looks at Noa.

In other words, you dont have magic power. Noire, you may have a strong sense of urgency, but it is dangerous for two girls to come from the royal capital. You may be young, but you are still a n.o.bility. You must understand your position as a n.o.ble. First of all, do you think that Eleanora-sama and Cliff-sama would approve of you coming here alone with her? (Cereille)

Yes, I was given permission to travel with Yuna-san. (Noa)

Youre not lying, are you? (Cereille)

Oneesama knows about it too, and if it would make you happy, you can also check with her. (Noa)

Cereille looked at me curiously.

Im sorry, but I cant leave you like this. Noire, I will escort you to the house. I cant leave you alone like this. (Cereille)

Cereille proceeded to interfere on her own.

Noas not alone, though. Im her escort. But Cereille clearly doesnt see me as an escort. Im not a bear right now, yet she doesnt trust me in my uniform either.

Thank you for your concern, Cereille-sama. But I dont need an escort. Yuna-san is stronger than anyone else and can protect me better. (Noa)

Noa turned her trustful eyes on me.

Of course, I will protect Noa.

I understand that Noire trusts her. But I dont trust her. You are the daughter of the Foshurze family. How could Eleanora-sama entrust Noire to a girl who is a mere student, just like this? (Cereille)

Its a terrible thing to say even when Im not a bear. Although, if I had dressed up as a bear, I would still have gotten even less credit. She might even call me something worse than I am now.

Ill have to tell s.h.i.+a about this. (Cereille)

Somehow, the situation has become troublesome.

But if you think about it, shes right. A normal student would not be strong enough to escort Noa, a n.o.ble.

Especially when they were coming alone from the royal capital.

Cereille-sama, Yuna-san is really strong. (Noa)

If Eleanora-sama entrusts you to her, she may be somewhat strong. But what would you do if someone stronger than her appeared? What would you do if you were attacked by monsters or bandits while coming from the royal capital? You are in a position to think about yourself. For the time being, I think it will be alright if you return to the capital with s.h.i.+as group, so I will escort you while you are in town. (Cereille)

Cereille clearly denied me. But Noa tilted her head as if she didnt understand Cereilles words.

Stronger than Yuna-san? I dont think there is such a person. Even if a monster or a bandit group comes, Yuna-san will defeat them. (Noa)

Noa knows that I saved Misa from the orcs, and she knows that I defeated the bandits. She knows that I fought the Knight Commander (I forgot his name) for s.h.i.+a at the school festival, and she also knows about the Black Viper.

(

TN: Rutum is his name.

)

Perhaps Cliff may have told her about the Kraken.

From Noas perspective, she may believe that I will protect her even if some strong people and monsters appear.

And there are also Swaying Bear-chan and Hugging Bear-chan. (Noa)

Noa murmured in a low voice so that Cereille couldnt hear.

If shes so strong, as Noire says, she would be selected as a partic.i.p.ant this time, wouldnt she? (Cereille)

Thats because Im not a student.

But Im wearing a uniform, so its not convincing.

I thought I wouldnt get in trouble because I wasnt wearing my bear costume, but I didnt think a uniform would be more hazardous.

That is (Noa)

Noa looked troubled.

Shes at a loss as to how to explain it.

If not magic, then are you good with a sword, perhaps? (Cereille)

At this rate, Noa would be taken away from me.

I could not just wander around by myself, leaving escorting Noa to others.

So I denied Cereilles words.

I can use the sword and magic. I am strong enough to protect Noa. So Noa doesnt need another escort. (Yuna)

Cereilles eyes widened in surprise at my words. She didnt think I would argue with her.

When Cereille looked at me, she approached me.

Excuse me. Let me see your arm. (Cereille)

Cereille approached me, grabbed my arm, and rolled up my sleeve.

You cant swing a sword with this white, soft, thin arm. (Cereille)

My arms were white, had no muscles, and were squishy.

Then, can you take the weird thing off of your hand and show me your hand? (Cereille)

That weird thing was my bear gloves.

For the time being, I didnt go against it. I removed the black bear puppet from my right hand and showed my hand to her. She touched my palm.

Its not the hands of someone who has been practicing sword swings. (Cereille)

Cereille released my hand and said clearly.

Well, I practiced in the game. And since I practiced in the game, I couldnt build muscle, and I couldnt even get callouses in my hands.

I dont think you, being Noires escort, will work. You have never been selected as a member of this magical exchange meeting and have never held a sword. (Cereille)

I can feel that this girl named Cereille was not a bad person. She was genuinely worried about Noa. Shes the type that imposes her good intentions.

But that doesnt mean I would back down for both my and Noas freedom.

Besides, it would ruin Cliffs image for entrusting her escort to me.

You said youre escorting Noa, but youre a n.o.ble too, yet you dont seem to have an escort yourself. (Yuna)

Shes alone. Shes a n.o.ble, yet she has no guards.

There is no danger in the city where my father rules, so it should be fine. (Cereille)

Then well be fine while were in the city. (Yuna)

What she was saying was contradictory.

But what if something happens to Noire? If anything happened to Noire in the city where my father reigns, how would I apologize to Eleanora-sama and Cliff-sama? (Cereille)

She doesnt back down either.

So what would you do in that situation? (Yuna)

I am strong. I have studied swords since I was a child, have a background in magic, and am reasonably competent. I have been chosen as a member of this magical exchange. Please dont put me with you. (Cereille)

So if I can beat you, that means youll accept me as Noas escort, right? (Yuna)

Theres no way you can beat me, but thats how it is. (Cereille)

Then, lets play a little game. If I win, you will have no say about this, right? (Yuna)

She looked surprised for a moment at my offer but then smiled.

Fufu

, thats fine with me. Its also good to know what youre capable of. If I win, Noire will be escorted by me. (Cereille)

Okay. If I win, youll get to keep your promise. (Yuna)

Even though it was a bit of a ha.s.sle, I had to play with Cereille.

=====

Authors Note:

Shes not a bear at the moment, but Yuna was still entangled with trouble.

The next update may be delayed. Please understand.

PS, the third episode of k.u.ma k.u.ma k.u.ma Bears comicalization is now available on pixiv comic.

Yoros.h.i.+kuonegais.h.i.+masu

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