771 Bear, heading to the mine - Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

We decided to head to the mines to meet any other survivors. "My house..." When I stored the bear house into the bear box, Bollard and Liese were astonished. "It's a house you can carry around with you." "That's why there was a house in the middle of the road, wasn't it?" "But an item bag that can fit such a large house…" They stared curiously at the white bear puppet. I made the white bear puppet's mouth move. "Now, you two can ride on Kumayuru." "Kuu~n" Kumayuru responded with a noise as if acknowledging its name. "We're riding a bear?" "It's faster and easier that way." Kagari and I mounted Kumakyu. Watching us ride Kumakyu, the two approached Kumayuru timidly. "Don't worry, it's safe." "Y-yes. Um, Kumayuru-chan, nice to meet you.” "Counting on you." "Kuu~n" Kumayuru made a sound and sat down. "Does it understand our words?" "Yes, it does. So if you're scared, it'll be sad, and if you insult it, it'll get angry." "Yuna's bears are smart." Though hesitant, Bollard and Liese managed to get onto Kumayuru. "So, please guide us along the way." "Yes. Please head in that direction." Following the direction Liese pointed, Kumayuru and Kumakyu began to run. We exited the town and raced along the path leading to the mines. As we distanced ourselves from the town, the ice disappeared, revealing a normal landscape. "This area doesn’t seem to be affected, does it?" "Yes, that's why we were saved." "But those who were in the town…" They were frozen. We traversed a gentle mountain path, making our way to the mines. Soon, the terrain became rugged with many rocks. "We’re almost there." Just as Liese said, we arrived at an open space. There were several small huts that appeared to be workspaces and a hole leading into the mountain. An older man stood near the huts. "Bollard!? Everyone, Bollard and Liese are back!" The older man shouted towards the hut. People emerged from within. The six survivors Bollard and Liese had mentioned. Three senior men, one woman, and a man and a woman about forty years old. A total of six people. "Bollard, who are the girls with the bears?" "They're the cause of the light in the town. The bears are fine as long as no harm comes to them." To reassure everyone, Bollard gently touched Kumayuru. "I see." "Where are you young ladies from? Is there no one else?" "I'll explain." Bollard and Liese explained about us. They gave a vague explanation of me and Kagari's appearance, which prevented any deep questioning. While they explained, we were repeatedly scrutinized. "Are you really offering food?" "Not just fish, right?" "We have bread, meat, and vegetables. Where can we eat?" "There's a place inside the hut." We learned that the hut was where the elderly couple lived while managing the mines. Leaving Kumayuru and Kumakyu to wait outside, we entered the clean and tidy hut. The table seems to have been added later, with eight chairs around it. It was clear they had been supporting each other to survive. Even though squabbles over food might have been expected, everything remained peaceful. I placed bread on the table. "Baran and the others can eat plenty." An elderly man spoke to another man of a similar age as Bollard. "That's right. He always risks himself to catch fish for us in these dangerous times." We learned that the older couple's son was a fisherman. Since the town had been frozen, he would go to the sea to catch fish. "It's nothing. You all go into the caves’ depths to fetch water." "And what about water?" "There used to be a river, but since a dragon settled at the mountain’s peak, it has frozen over. There is a spring we found while digging in the mine, so we're bringing water from there now." A spring? That must be groundwater. To prove we had plenty of food, I placed more ingredients on the table. "There’s not just bread; plenty more, so don’t worry." "Meat!" "Is it really okay to have this much?" "We have a lot, so it's fine." It was wolf meat. We still have plenty in stock. "I’ll cook it then. It’s been a while since I prepared meat." An older woman cheerfully took the meat to the kitchen. "Mother-in-law, I’ll help too." I recalled that they mentioned a son and his wife. The two began preparing the meal. Everyone happily consumed bread, meat, and vegetables. "Delicious." "I thought we’d never eat like this again." "Thank you, young ladies." "By the way, Liese, your clothes?" A man noticing the change in Liese’s attire inquired. "Yuna gave them to me." "Also, now that you mention it, don't the two of you look cleaner?" "Well, we got to take a bath." Everyone was surprised. Bath customs vary by country, but if there’s a culture of bathing, people would want to take one. They all seemed envious. While I considered letting them use the bear house bath, I had a thought. "Bollard, may I take a look around the area?" "I don’t mind, but why?" "I’m thinking of making a bath." My intention surprised everyone. "I’ll guide you if so." "I'll come along too." I left the hut with Kagari and Liese. Outside, Kumayuru and Kumakyu approached us. "You're really going to make a bath?" "Wouldn’t it be nice to have one?" "Yes, but…" If we use the bear's teleportation gate to other towns, a bath might not be necessary, but I need to hear more about their situation to decide. Besides, creating a bath doesn’t take much effort. I can do it with magic easily. I looked around. A slightly spacious spot near the cave would be good. "Liese, is it okay to make one around here?" There was an open space to the right side of the cave. "It's okay, but how will you make it?" "Like this." I moved to the chosen spot and infused the ground with magic. The earth rose, forming into a large reclining bear. It resembled a mini bear house. "You really do like bears, don’t you?" "Not sure if I mentioned it before, but I have the protection of the bear, and making things bear-shaped makes them stronger." Though I couldn't guarantee it against dragons, it wouldn't freeze over. "Amazing. Creating something so big in an instant. Can any magician do that?" Since I didn’t know the abilities of other magicians, I looked to Kagari. "Kagari, what do you think?" "You really do ask me, don't you?" "I thought you'd be more knowledgeable than me." "To sum it up, if a magician has enough magic power, they can do it." "So it really comes down to the amount of magic power. If only I had more magic, I could go see my mother." "Your mother?" Come to think of it, I haven't heard about her mother before. "My mother and sister are frozen. But the house is frozen, so I haven't been able to see them. Bende once managed to melt the door for me, but it was tough, so I'm not asking him to do it again." Bende must be one of the older men, I think? To break the somber mood, I resumed building the bath. I attached a door to the side of the lounging bear and went inside. Inside the bear's belly, I created a central room about 2 meters wide. Though called a room, it was more like a corridor. I added doors on both sides. One side would be the men's bath and the other the women's bath. I installed showers and a bathtub, fitting them with magic stones for fire and water, completing the setup. I designated the bear's head side as the women's bath and the tail side as the men's bath. Kagari also helped along the way, so it was finished in no time. "Later, everyone can use it." "Yuna, Kagari, thank you so much." When we emerged from the Kuma bath, Bollard and the others were looking at the bear house. "Father, it’s amazing! Yuna used magic to create a bear house and, just like that, turned it into a bath!" Liese excitedly explained. "This bear is a bath?" "Yes. Inside, the head side of the bear is the women's bath, and the tail side is the men's." Liese explained on my behalf. "And the water?" "It's equipped with water and fire magic stones, so hot water comes out. I've already filled it up, so it should be ready for use soon." Everyone went into the bear house to verify what Liese and I had said, then emerged shortly after. "It really is a bath." "Can we really use it?" "Yes, I built it, so I'd be glad if you did." Everyone joyfully entered the bear structure. Only Bollard and Liese, who had bathed first, stayed behind. "Yuna, thank you for everything. So, just to confirm, what are you planning to do next? We don’t understand how you got here. Being able to use such powerful magic, you must have arrived in a way beyond our imagination." Bollard seemed to grasp the ambiguity we had maintained about our situation. "We discussed it earlier. If possible, could you at least take this child with you?" Bollard gently pushed Liese forward. "Father!" "You're still young. There's no need for you to stay." "You're young too, Father. And so are Baran and everyone else." Bollard shook his head. "Baran isn't willing to leave his parents behind. Bende and the others have vowed to stay until their comrades find peace, watching over them until death." "And what about you, Father?" "I am a lord, after all. I intend to see this through to the end. If the dragon leaves and the ice melts, someone has to be here in the town. It’s my last duty as lord." He gently placed his hand on Liese's head. The dragon had been there for three years. No one knew when it would leave. It could be tomorrow, years later, decades, or after Bollard had passed away. Yet he chose to stay. "Also, I can’t leave my wife and daughter, who sleep there." "I... I want to stay too!" "Please don't trouble me." Neither of them would give in. Kagari, stepping between the father and daughter, interjected. "Hold on, you two. We have our own circumstances too." Kagari looked at me, leaving the decision on whether to use the bear's teleportation gate up to me. "That's true. We'll be staying in the town a bit longer, so please think it over." "Yes, I understand." I have no intention of abandoning Liese and the others. But I also have no intention of dragging away those who chose to remain in the town. It might seem harsh, but I can't take care of them forever even if I brought them along. Whether living here or elsewhere, various things are necessary for survival. It’s a difficult issue.