Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear - Chapter 404: Bear-san, Goes To Watch The Trials
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Chapter 404: Bear-san, Goes To Watch The Trials

Chapter 404 Bear-san, Goes To Watch The Trials

Afterward, we return to the Commercial Guild to pay for the purchase.

The guild receptionist was surprised when I paid the money in full, but as instructed by the Guildmaster, the procedure was completed without any unnecessary word from her.

Having successfully purchased the house, I returned to Fina and Ruimin, who was cleaning the house. Its a long way to go without my bear gear, but since Im not going to live there, its not a problem.

When I entered the house, I saw Fina and Ruimin cleaning the house with dustpans and brooms.

[Welcome home, Yuna-oneesan.] Fina

[Yuna-san, its a lot bigger than I thought it would be, so its going to be tough!] Ruimin

[I wont live here, so you dont have to take it too seriously.] Yuna

[But Im bothered with dust and stuff.] Ruimin

Ruimin took a broom and swept a corner where there seemed to acc.u.mulate a lot and since I couldnt let the two of them do it alone, I also started cleaning.

[Did you try upstairs?] Yuna

[No, not yet.] Fina

[Its already difficult enough on just this floor.] Ruimin

[Well go upstairs then.] Yuna

[[We?]]

Fina and Ruimin looked at each other.

[Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear.] Yuna

I summoned Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear, who had been transformed into bear cubs, to help me clean up. I asked Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear to clean the floor from back then. Well, theyre too small to do much more than sweeping the floor.

I opened the window and started cleaning.

Then, the five of us split up and finished the cleaning around dusk. We were able to clean up the acc.u.mulated dust and ventilated the place. We couldnt finish everything in half a day, but it was enough since we werent going to live there.

I come to a warehouse on the first floor. Theres nothing in there yet. There are only empty shelves that were used by the previous occupants.

I will set up a bear gate at the far end of the wall.

[With this, now you can come to this city anytime you want. But its a pity that only Yuna-san can use it. If I could use it, I would be able to come to this town and see Fina and her sister whenever I want.] Ruimin

I sometimes wish anyone could use it, but if anyone could use it, it would be a pain in the a.s.s, so this is fine.

[Yuna-oneesan, are we going to use this door on our way back?] Fina

[Hmmm, I guess it depends on Jade-san and the others. Well use it if were parting with them here, but we cant use it if were going back together.] Yuna

[Its nice to have an easy way home, but its also a shame we cant ride Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear on our way back.] Ruimin

Well, at worst, we could send Ruimin back to the elven village and move separately. Well, its up to Jade-san and the others.

[Now then lets take a bath and clean ourselves up before we go home.] Yuna

Both of them were sweating from cleaning and the heat. And even though they were wearing ap.r.o.ns to prevent their clothes from getting dirty, their hair and other parts of their bodies were covered with dust.

I opened the door of the bear gate in front of me and moved to the bear house in the elf village. Then the five of us, including Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear, took a bath, washed off our sweat, and cleaned our bodies before returning to the inn.

The next day. The official start of the Gate of Trials begins today. Jade-san doesnt plan to join us today, but we decide to go and observe how it will be done.

[But why are you going so early in the morning?] Ruimin

The sun has just risen. Fina and Ruimin are looking sleepy.

[Thats because I want to get to the Gates of Trials before it gets too crowded.] Yuna

Its because of my appearance.

I dont know what the situation will be, but if people gather like at a festival, it will be a big problem. It would be dangerous if people gathered around me at the stairs.

Besides, according to Rojina-san, there are fewer people in the early morning. I thought there would be a lot of people who would be the first to arrive, but apparently, thats not the case. Weaponsmiths have no problem waking up and going to work right away. But as the weapons handler, the adventurers, theyd be in better shape if they ate breakfast a little later in the day. Anyone who tries to use a weapon half-asleep will find that their brain is not awake and their body will not be ready. Its almost impossible to get good results.

So Im going to try to get to the entrance of the Gates of Trials before the crowd gathers.

Then, after checking on the products of a few blacksmiths, I plan to leave.

[But Im still sleepy.] Ruimin

[You can go back to sleep if you want.] Yuna

[Im going.] Ruimin

The Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear who woke me up were sent back, then we head out for the Gate of Trials venue.

As I had expected, there were still few people on the street. When I came to the front of the stairs, however, there were no people in sight.

[Fina, feel free to tell me when youre tired. You wont be embarra.s.sed if no one is watching.] Yuna

[Yes. But Ill do my best to climb.] Fina

[Yuna-san. Why are you not asking me that?] Ruimin

[Because I dont think Ruimin will need it after watching you climb up so easily. But I can help you get down, if you want.] Yuna

[No thank you!] Ruimin

Ruimin climbed the stairs as if she was running away. She ran up the stairs the moment I told her I can help her go down. We were going to jump down the cliff after all.

Fina and I followed Ruimin up the stairs. Fina was out of breath, but she climbed the stairs on her own, step by step. With sweat beading on her forehead, she made it to the Gates of Trials venue.

[Good job.] Yuna

I offered chilled water to Fina and Ruimin.

It was still early and there was no one in sight. Are we too early?

[Theres no one here.] Ruimin

[Yuna-oneesan, Ruimin-san. Theres someone over there.] Fina

When I looked in the direction Fina was pointing, I saw a person. Someone was staring at the building housing the Gates of Trials. That person seems familiar.

[Its Rojina-san.] Ruimin

Rojina-san is standing in front of the building, just as Ruimin said.

[Rojina-san, is he partic.i.p.ating?] Ruimin

[Hmmm. But, Rojina-san didnt make any weapons.] Fina

He hasnt made any weapons since we came to town. He has been making the pots and pans that we ordered. Even before that, Rikka-san told us that he wasnt making weapons anymore. Rojina-san looked as if he was having a hard time. When I missed my chance to call out to him, he looked at us.

[Hey, girls. Whats the matter? Why are you here so early? Its going to be a while before the people start gathering here.] Rojina

[No, I just came early because Im dressed like this. How about you, Rojina-san? Are you going to partic.i.p.ate, by any chance?] Yuna

[No way. I havent made any weapon in years.] Rojina

[Then why are you here?] Yuna

[Perhaps, because of a loose end.] Rojina

[A loose end?] Yuna

[I want to make a weapon.] Rojina

[Then, go on and make one.] Yuna

[Its not that simple, you know. I have a desire to make weapons, but my heart became empty after Ghazal and Gordo left. I was looking forward to watching them grow up together. And grow up they did. But now that they were gone, I couldnt make weapons anymore. Its no longer fun to make weapons without them.] Rojina

Its not like your daughter got married or your girlfriend died, you know? But I guess its because I have a dirty mind. Besides, his apprentices will have to set up their own stores and will disappear someday. Theres no end to the loneliness he would feel if he were to miss them every time. Why wont he take a new apprentice after his apprentice becomes full-fledged and leave his master?

[So, I thought that seeing an apprentice blacksmith would bring out the old pa.s.sion for making weapons.] Rojina

So thats why hes here so early.

[So you girls came to watch too?] Rojina

[Well, sort of.] Yuna

[People usually dont come here so early if theyre not a blacksmith or a merchant.] Rojina

[Isnt this the big event in town?] Yuna

[Its a big event for the blacksmiths. But for the average people, they dont get to see the trials and tribulations. Plus, they have to climb this long flight of stairs.] Rojina

Thats what I thought as well. Not being able to see the trials and tribulations is the least exciting part. At least, if there was a camera or something to show whats going on inside, people could enjoy it.

And then theres the matter of the long staircase.

[Why is the Gate of Trials way up here? Why not make it a little lower? In the first place, did someone build the Gates of Trials? Or has it always been there since forever?] Yuna

[It is said that a wizard created it a long time ago. It is also said that this place was easy for the magic to gather and create magic.] Rojina

I wonder if its easy for magic power to gather here, like a spiritual or dragons vein. In games and comics, there are times when people talk about places where power can easily gather.

But the Gate of Trials was built by a wizard. Its not like the pyramids just sprouted out of nowhere.

[Could it be that the reason you didnt know when the Gates of Trials would open is that its made of that magic?] Yuna

[Correct. The Gates of Trials was being closed by magic power. And when the magic builds up, the gate opens.] Rojina

Thats why no one knows the exact date of the opening of the Gates of Trials.

[Looks like its about to open.] Rojina

When I look in the same direction as Rojina-sans gaze, the door of the building opens. A dwarf emerges from inside. I dont know how old he is, but he looks to be about the same age as Rojina-san.

[Whos that?] Yuna

[That is Guildmaster of the Blacksmith Guild. Every year around this time, the officials stay in the building. And when it opens, they report to Guildmaster. Im guessing the Guildmaster who received the report stayed overnight to prepare.] Rojina

When the Guildmaster of the Blacksmith Guild came out of the door, he made a small sneeze and noticed us.

[A Bear !? And Rojina?] Guildmaster

The Guildmaster of the Blacksmith Guild looks at me and Rojina-san in turn.

[Shes a friend of mine. I hope you dont mind.] Rojina

Rojina-san followed up for me.

[Well, I dont mind it if you say so, but I see you know a girl who dresses pretty.] Guildmaster

[She knows my disciples who had gone far away. She just came to this city, so Im just been taking care of her.] Rojina

[Right. So, did you come to watch again this year? Or did you come to partic.i.p.ate?] Guildmaster

[No, Im just here to watch.] Rojina

[Youre still not making weapons?] Guildmaster

[I dont know. Maybe Ill make it, maybe I wont.] Rojina

[So, which one is it?] Guildmaster

[I mean, I dont even know it myself.] Rojina

[So youve come to watch it again this year. Ill serve you some tea inside, so have a drink.] Guildmaster

[Is that okay?] Yuna

[Until the people arrive, that is. Im sure Miss Bear and the girls are tired from climbing the stairs. Ill serve some tea if you like.] Guildmaster

Well take you up on your offer then. We also wanted to see the inside of the building, after all.

Authors Note:

Its been a week. Ive been working on the book at a leisurely pace.

There are so many things I want to fix, I cant finish it on time.

Yuna has come to the Gates of Trials. Were getting closer to the end of the arc now. Here is another request from the author. Please try to refrain from making predictions in the comments section. If you do, the author will take damage.

The next post may be a little late. Ive ordered a new computer. It will be delivered shortly. Im not sure how long it will take me to set it up, so please bear with me.

Please keep an eye out for SS for the book bonus of volume 8 in the activity report. Yoros.h.i.+kuonegais.h.i.+masu.