Chapter 532

Bear-san, Saves Keith

You want to defeat me and kill the monsters while dressed up as a bear? Are you trying to make me laugh? (Man)

The man was really laughing at my outfit, and he seemed to be having fun.

I know its not convincing as a combatant dressing up as a bear in a serious situation, but the way he laughs in front of me like this, p.i.s.ses me off in a different sense.

Yuna. I dont know why you suddenly dressed as a bear, but I dont think that would provoke him. (Cereille)

Even Cereille was looking at me in disbelief.

I know. Her brother had been taken hostage and countless monsters were about to attack the city. And I started wearing a bear costume next to her, even though the man ordered her to take off her clothes and put on a collar to her magic. Of course, thats the kind of reaction shell give.

Even so, we have no choice but to fight.

I let out a small breath, cleared my mind, and pointed my bear puppet at the man once again.

Im not fooling around. As I have said, Ill beat you to a pulp, kill monsters, and save Keith and Cereille. (Yuna)

Fufu, I have no time for your jokes. Cereille-sama, start undressing, put on the collar, and come to me. (Man)

The man ignored me and offered his hand to Cereille. He tried to put his hand on her uniform, but I talked to the man to stop him from doing so.

Can you still say the same thing after you see this? (Yuna)

I took out the magic stone from the bear puppet that I picked up at the lake last night. I point the magic stone at the man so that he can see the magic circle.

The moment the man saw the magic stone, his smile disappeared.

That magic stone (Man)

This is the magic stone you hid in the city. Anyway, after Cereille takes off her clothes and puts on the collar, youll say at the lake. Then, youll laugh at us while we stare at the lake. (Yuna)

It sounds like something a small-time crook would think up.

This means that this man did not intend to tell us from the beginning.

Is that true? (Cereille)

Cereille looked at the man and the magic stone Im holding.

Dont lie to me, little girl. I threw the magic stone into the lake last night. How could you possibly pick it up? That must be a fake. (Man)

He changed the young lady to a little girl, and he switched his tone.

Also, he just revealed to us that he threw the magic orb in the lake. His character was broken

Do you think a little girl like me would normally have a magic stone of this size? And are you so stupid that you forgot the magic circle you drew? (Yuna)

Again, I made the man look at the magic circle engraved on the magic stone.

Little girl! If thats the real thing, why, why are you holding it? I threw it into the lake. How did you pick it up from that deep lake? Furthermore, it was just last night! (Man)

The man shouted.

Finally, that sickening smirk was gone. On the contrary, it has turned into anger. This is much better than that disgusting smile on his face.

I happened to pick it up when I was taking a walk in the lake last night. (Yuna)

Are you mocking me? (Man)

I know its silly, but its true that I stumbled upon it while taking a walk around the lake at night.

Well, picking up the magic stone was a coincidence. I picked it up because I was curious when I saw a hooded figure dumping something in the lake. It was also thanks to my curiosity. Im really glad I didnt hurry back to the inn.

So, what now? Will you use your life force to control the monsters like that man who tried to take revenge on the king? (Yuna)

I laughed like a fool.

Little girl, youve got a lot of nerve! (Man)

The man shot fire magic at me. I created a water wall to block it.

The monsters will gather around this magic stone. So, if we break this magic stone. (Yuna)

I try to close the mouth of the bear puppet.

Stop! Do you have any idea how long it took me to make that! (Man)

No, I dont know anything about that. (Yuna)

Its a big magic stone. While I think it was a bit of a waste to destroy it, its a dangerous item that attracts monsters. I dont know how the magic circle works, but it could attract nearby monsters.

If it reacts even if its in the bear box, theres a possibility that wherever I go, monsters will approach me. If that were to happen, Crimonia would be in danger.

The idea of leaving it in Targui came up, but I have no need for such a thing, nor do I intend to give it to anyone else.

I gathered magic power into my black bear puppet with a magic stone in its mouth and released an electric shock. The magic stone broke with a cracking sound and the splinters fell to the ground.

Little girl (Man)

What are you going to do? Now that all you have left is to use your own magic power and life force to control the monsters? If so, you wont be able to be with Cereille. (Yuna)

I smiled. He has been laughing at us so many times. Theres nothing wrong with laughing back a little.

Yuna, you (Cereille)

Cereille, dont listen to this man anymore. (Yuna)

But Keith. (Cereille)

Cereille turned to Keith, who was in the middle of the monster horde.

Yes, thats right. I still have him. If I stop giving orders, the monsters will attack your brother immediately. And if you are attacked by this monster horde, you will not survive. If you do not follow my orders, all of you will die. (Man)

When the man remembered Keith, he thought he was in a better position and started talking happily.

Are you perhaps threatening me? That number is not a big deal. (Yuna)

What are you saying? (Man)

I s.h.i.+fted my gaze from the man to Cereille and took her hand in mine.

Cereille. I know youve been working hard to avenge your mothers death. I really want to punch that man, but Ill give that role to you. (Yuna)

Yuna? (Cereille)

Ill go save Keith. Thats why Cereille, you can go beat that man with your own hands. (Yuna)

What are you saying? Save her brother? Her brother, in the middle of that monster horde? Dont make me laugh even more. Your outfit was already hillarious enough. (Man)

The man who had been listening to the conversation between me and Cereille, burst into laughter and spoke to me.

I dont want to tell anyone, but Ill say it to refute the man and to rea.s.sure Cereille.

Oh right, let me tell you something good. You know the man who tried to take revenge on the king? There was no A-rank adventurer who defeated the monster horde, it was me. (Yuna)

What are you saying? (Man)

Compared to that time, this number is small. Isnt your feeling of revenge insufficient? If you want to take revenge, you have to devote your life and give your all to it. (Yuna)

I dont think its a good way of living. Even the man who tried to take revenge on the king must have been a good mage. However, his way of thinking went in the wrong direction. Otherwise, he would have been an excellent mage and would have been very useful in the royal capital.

And then theres Cereille. Shes the daughter of a n.o.ble family, beautiful, and well-liked. Such a person has devoted her precious childhood to avenging her mothers death.

I have no intention of denying her grudge. If Fina and the others were killed, I would probably go berserk on their killers. No, I would definitely do that.

But that has to end at some point.

However, this man killed Cereilles mother just because he was rejected by a woman, and not only that, hes trying to get his hands on her daughter, Cereille, as well. His methods include taking hostages and using monsters for revenge. He was trying to get everything while not devoting his life.

I understand Cereilles reason for revenge. But its not right to hold a grudge just because you were rejected.

Cereille, believe in me. (Yuna)

I urged Cereille with a serious expression on my face, and the bear costume on my body.

Yeah, I cant convince myself either.

Cereille closed her eyes for a few seconds at my words, then opened them.

Fufu. (Cereille)

Cereille begins to laugh.

Alright. I believe in you, Yuna. I will defeat that man. So, please take care of Keith. (Cereille)

Cereille lowered her head to me.

What are you talking about? Save her brother? Youre heading to that monster horde? (Man)

So what? As I said, if you want to stop me, then those monsters arent enough. (Yuna)

Little girl! (Man)

His tone changes immediately. I think he has low resistance to being taunted at.

Cereille, Ill leave Swaying Bear to you. If you think you cant beat him, run away. Ill take care of him later. (Yuna)

When I summoned Swaying Bear, the man and Cereille were surprised.

The black bear from earlier. (Man)

But Swaying Bear was (Cereille)

Hes a summoned beast, so all I had to do was repatriate him. It was so easy since both of you were only looking ahead. Swaying Bear, please protect Cereille. (Yuna)

`Kuu~n

Swaying Bear cried as if saying, Leave it to me.

I also summoned Hugging Bear.

Ill go with Hugging Bear to save Keith. Hugging Bear, lets go! (Yuna)

`Kuu~n

I jumped on Hugging Bear, and Hugging Bear ran towards Keith.

I needed to secure Keith before the man saw what I was doing and order the monsters to attack. Its a race against time.

We went straight for Keith. They didnt attack us, as if they had been ordered not to. But it was only for a short time. The demon began to move and roared. And then they attacked us.

It seems that the restraint has been released.

But theyre too slow. Keith is already in front of me.

Hugging Bear, go faster. (Yuna)

`Kuu~n

Hugging Bear increased his speed. I used magic and proceeded to defeat the approaching monsters. The monsters began to approach Keith.

From here, hes well within reach.

I blew away the monsters surrounding Keith with wind magic. Then I came in front of Keith, who was lying on the ground. I jumped down from Hugging Bear and took Keith in my arms. Hes alive. He was only sleeping. Maybe he was drugged or something.

For the time being, I felt relieved.

I shouted to inform Cereille that Keith was safe.

Keith is alive! So dont worry about him! (Yuna)

I told Cereille that Keith is alive. The next step would be to ensure Keiths safety.

I took the bear house out of the bear box. I held Keith in my arms, went inside the bear house, and lay him down on the sofa on the first floor. Hell be safe here.

I thought about having Hugging Bear protect him, but there were too many monsters. It would be dangerous for Hugging Bear to fight the monsters while protecting Keith.

Then, the safest thing to do would be to move through the bear gate, but as expected, it was not possible to use it in this situation, so I ended up with the bear house.

This place was safe enough.

I left the quietly sleeping Keith and went out of the bear house.

Now all I have to do is to eradicaate all the monsters.

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Authors Note:

It would have been over if Yuna had punched the man, but she gave the honors to Cereille.

Its almost time for the Euphalia arc to end.