Chapter 538 - Bear-sans Blunder

Bear-sans Blunder

I left Cereilles group, then headed to Noas location.

I think shell be okay, but Im still a little worried. I was supposed to go to Cereilles house for a short while and return, but I had no idea I would have to go outside the city to fight monsters.

I entered the academy grounds, then headed to the lake. There, despite my worries, the scene was the same as it had been before I went to Cereilles house. I could hear the students playing happily, a barbecue was being prepared, and it even smelled good.

A little mistake and this scene would have been gone. Im glad we could stop the man from whatever he was attempting.

One mans love affair nearly made many innocent people grieve due to his malice. He was a really annoying guy. He had a talent for magic, so other women might have approached him if he had been on the right track.

Now, wheres Noa?

Ah, Yuna-san!

I was looking for Noa, and yet, she found me first. Noa came to me in a bathing suit.

Yuna-san, youre late. Were you able to meet with Cereille-sama? (Noa)

Yeah, I got to meet her. Im sorry it took me so long to get back here. (Yuna)

No, Im glad to hear that nothing happened to you. You were taking so long, so I thought you might have been roped into some kind of trouble. (Noa)

Shes got a sharp intuition.

But I thought you would be okay because you werent dressed as a bear today. I was still worried, though. (Noa)

Indeed, I always get into trouble because of my bear outfit. But that was definitely not the case this time.

Wait, if I dont have my bear equipment and still got involved, does that mean I am a trouble magnet?

So, you have finished your business with Cereille-sama, right? (Noa)

Its done. (Yuna)

I think Cereille and the others have a lot of things to do, like investigating the man, but I dont have anything to do with it.

Then lets go and play together. Yuna-san, please hurry up and change into your swimsuit. (Noa)

Noa grabbed my bear puppet.

Eh, Im good. (Yuna)

You promised to play with me when you come back. (Noa)

Oh right, I feel like I made that promise. Too many things have happened for me to remember.

Come on, lets go. (Noa)

Noa happily pulled my hand and started walking.

Ultimately, I could not escape from Noa, so I had to change into my swimsuit and play with Noa and s.h.i.+a.

It was nice to play, but there was no way my legs and back could keep up with the youngsters, and needless to say, I went down early. It was hard for a former social recluse to play with young people who were so energetic.

Incidentally, I put the bear equipment away in the bear box and played wearing the white bear puppet.

So s.h.i.+a and the others are leaving the city tomorrow, right? (Yuna)

Yes, Yuna-san, why dont you come home with us? You are going to stop by at the royal capital, right? (s.h.i.+a)

Ill stop by at the royal capital, but Im supposed to go to Cereilles tomorrow, so I dont think I can join you. (Yuna)

Besides, since I would be riding Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear back home, I would be seen by other students. That would be a ha.s.sle, so I would prefer not to go home with them.

What about you, Noa? Will you go back to the royal capital with s.h.i.+a? Or do you want to go back with me? (Yuna)

Im here as Noas escort, but she should be safe with s.h.i.+a and the other students.

Of course, Im going home with Yuna-san. (Noa)

Noa answered without hesitation.

Are you sure? Well be a little late. (Yuna)

Yes. I dont think my father will be angry if it is only for a few days. Besides, if I go home with Oneesamas group, he might think that you have abandoned your work. Of course, my mother and father will understand if you explain properly, but I dont think there is any need to add unnecessary trouble. (Noa)

Certainly, if Noa returns to the royal capital alone first, Eleanora-san would find out about it. If that happens, Cliff would be informed about it too. Im sure it would be okay if I explained it properly, but the explaining properly part was the exact problem.

Besides, we are going to ride back home on Swaying Bear-chan and Hugging Bear-chan. I cant miss that. (Noa)

Noa declared emphatically.

I lost to the bears. (s.h.i.+a)

s.h.i.+a deliberately made a sad face.

Dont look at me like that, Oneesama. Instead, I promised you that I would sleep with you tonight. Besides, we are going to the royal capital so we can be together again. (Noa)

Apparently, she promised to sleep with s.h.i.+a again this evening. However, she was tired of cheering yesterday and just fell asleep in s.h.i.+as room.

Yuna-san. I know I took the liberty of deciding, but is it okay if I stay at Oneesamas place? (Noa)

Thats okay. You havent seen s.h.i.+a in quite a while, right? Go ahead and play with her. (Yuna)

Its good that the sisters were close.

Then, I accompanied s.h.i.+a to buy some souvenirs, and the evening came.

Well, then, tomorrow Ill be in front of the academy at the same time as today (Yuna)

Yes. (Noa)

By the way, Swaying Bear escorted Noa yesterday, so Hugging Bear will escort Noa today. We have to do it alternately.

Hugging Bear, take care of Noa. (Yuna)

`Ku~u ~ n

Noa held Hugging Bear, who had turned into a bear cub, in her arms and went together with s.h.i.+a to her room.

I returned to the inn alone and collapsed on the bed.

Im tired ~ (Yuna)

After dinner, all that was left was to take a bath and go to bed.

I was physically tired because I was not wearing my bear equipment, and I was also mentally tired because of those youngsters, the energetic power of that group.

Honestly, its great to be young.

Out of nowhere, I heard a voice saying youre still 15 years old, you know But I dont care.

To be clear, I was dozens of times more tired playing in the lake with Noa and the others than fighting monsters. Moving around would be tiring if I dont have my bear shoes. In the water, its much slower to move around and it also puts more strain on the body. Its good exercise, yeah, but its also exhausting.

It reminds me of pool cla.s.s in elementary school. I used to get lazy and sleepy afterward.

I would like to go to the hot spring in the Land of Harmony and get rid of the fatigue of the day.

I want to go to the hot springs. (Yuna)

Feeling that way, the desire to go to the hot springs gradually grew.

I acted immediately. I took out the bear gate of transition, and I arrived (via bear gate teleportation) at the hot spring in the Land of Harmony.

The room was pitch black, so I used the bear light magic to brighten the room. Of course, there were no lighting on in the rooms that were not in use. The only room with a light on was probably Kagali-sans room.

Ill greet Kagali-san and then head to the hot spring. I entered Kagali-sans room. In the back of the room, I saw Kagali-san in an open window, looking out, and sipping a delicious drink. Her tail, which was sticking out from under her clothes, was wagging, as if she was in a good mood.

By the way, Kagali-san is still a little girl.

Good evening, Kagali-san (Yuna)

Its you, after all. Hot springs? (Kagali)

Kagali-san seems to be able to tell through her senses.

Is it because shes a fox?

Yeah, Im a little tired, so I came to take a dip in the hot springs. (Yuna)

So, whats with the weird outfit? I didnt recognize you for a moment. (Kagali)

I am still in my uniform.

I would change my clothes once I got out of the hot spring anyway, so I came as I was.

However, it may look weird from the perspective of the people here. The uniform may be unfamiliar form of clothing to them.

No comment on clothes. Ill be using the hot spring then. (Yuna)

This is your house. You dont need to ask for my permission. (Kagali)

In the meantime, youre the one taking care of it. (Yuna)

Its a common courtesy. Besides, Kagali-san may feel uncomfortable about entering the hot spring without being informed.

So I tried to say a few words to her when I came.

After saying my piece to Kagali-san, I headed for the hot springs.

When I came to the changing room, I summoned Swaying Bear, in cub form. I then took off my uniform and went to the hot springs with Swaying Bear.

I couldnt resist the urge to get into the hot spring and wash Swaying Bears body for protecting Cereille. Swaying Bear looked so comfortable. Next time I come back, I will have to wash Hugging Bears body too.

Now that I thought I should wash Hugging Bears body next time, I just dont know when it would be.

I finished was.h.i.+ng Swaying Bear, so I washed myself and went into the hot spring.

`Fu ha~a

Its a little hot, but the hot spring water soaks into my body.

It feels so good. I rubbed my thighs and arms to avoid muscle pain.

I need to physically work out more, especially without my bear equipment.

How many times have I thought of that? Most of the time, I ended up as a three-day monk.

Because muscle training is tiring, tedious, and annoying.

After I had relieved myself from exhaustion in the hot spring, I dried and brushed Swaying Bears fur when we got out of the hot spring. Then, when we returned (via the bear teleportal gate) to the inn in Euphalia, I fell into bed with Swaying Bear and fell into a dream world with him.

The next day, I was woken up by Swaying Bear, and so we head for the academy. When we arrived at the school gate, Noa and s.h.i.+a were waiting for me, just like yesterday.

Good morning, you two. (Yuna)

Yuna, we have a problem. (Noa)

Noa came running up to me.

Whats wrong? What happened? (Yuna)

Im not sure, but when I woke up in the morning, Hugging Bear-chan looked like this. (Noa)

Noa showed me Hugging Bear that she was holding.

Hugging Bear looked sad.

Hugging Bear, whats wrong? (Yuna)

In Noas arms, Hugging Bear made a sad `ku~u ~ n and didnt look at me. Is he sulking?

Could it be that he knew that I went into the hot spring in the Land of Harmony alone with Swaying Bear?

No, he definitely knew about it. I didnt mean to hide it. Hugging Bear was sulking at the fact that I left him behind and went to the hot spring with Swaying Bear.

What should I do, Yuna-san? Did I do something wrong? (Noa)

Noa looks anxious.

Its not your fault, Noa. Its mine. (Yuna)

Yuna-san? (Noa)

I went out with Swaying Bear a little bit last night. Hugging Bear felt like he was left behind, so I guess thats the reason hes sulking. (Yuna)

I received Hugging Bear from Noa and embraced it.

Im sorry, Hugging Bear. I didnt mean to leave you behind. Lets go together next time. Ill wash your body and sleep with you. (Yuna)

`Ku~u ~ n

Hugging Bear cried while turning away.

This might take a while until I could calm him down.

I learned a lesson today

No matter how tired I am, I should never go to a hot spring without both of them.

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Authors Note:

It has been a while since Hugging Bear sulked.