780 Bear talks to the Ice Dragon again - Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

The reason the Ice Dragon is here is quite simple: Because of its egg. “Humans are always wary of stealing a dragon's egg,” Kagari commented. “But why would anyone steal an egg?” Yuna asked, puzzled. Surely they aren't going to eat it? “I can't say for sure, but I've heard they're sometimes used in creating elixirs.” Indeed, in games, dragon eggs are often regarded as valuable items. This makes it understandable why the Ice Dragon would want to keep humans away. But why lay its egg here of all places? One can't help but wish it had chosen a more secluded spot. As a result, numerous people have been frozen solid. “Human child, leave this place. Do not approach further,” the Ice Dragon's voice reverberated, its icy aura intensifying. Yuna quickly conjured a barrier of wind to shield everyone. “We’re not here to harm your egg.” First, she needed to calm the dragon to facilitate a conversation. The dragon was seemingly upset with their presence from the start. “Can I ask one thing? Once your baby hatches, will you leave this place?” Yuna inquired. “When that time comes, I shall depart from this land.” Finally, the words they most wanted to hear had been spoken. It was a relief to know the dragon wouldn't remain here indefinitely. “So, when will it hatch?” “I do not know.” Could it be possible that the dragon has been nurturing the egg for three years already? Hopefully, it won't be several more years. “Nah, it should hatch soon,” Kagari said confidently. “Do you really think so, Kagari?” “It's just a feeling, but the egg seems eager to hatch,” Kagari replied, her intuition likely aided by her ability to sense magic. What exactly does that feel like, Yuna wondered. Perhaps Kagari's sensitivity to magical energy allowed her to sense it. “So, we just need to wait, right?” If Kagari’s intuition was right, the hatching was imminent. Once the baby dragon is born, the Ice Dragon would leave. There would be no need to fight it, as there'd be no advantage to engaging it in a battle. In a game, players would rejoice at the prospect of obtaining dragon materials, but currently, such resources were unnecessary. Yuna and her companions decided to leave before they provoked the Ice Dragon further. “Kagari, do you really think it's going to hatch soon?” Riding on the back of Kumayuru, Yuna queried Kagari. “As I mentioned before, it’s just a feeling. The magic within it wants to be released, but whether that happens tomorrow or a month from now, I cannot say.” “That’s quite a broad range.” “I know nothing about dragon ecology; it’s not surprising.” Being told of her ignorance left Yuna without a retort. She, too, knew nothing about dragon life cycles. In games, dragons simply appeared out of nowhere as adversaries to battle or as sources of materials to gather. Some games included dragons that provided advice or even became allies. But how long it takes for a baby dragon to hatch from an egg was a mystery to her. “Well, I wouldn’t worry too much about it; it should happen soon.” For now, Yuna chose to trust in Kagari's words. “Once the Ice Dragon’s baby is born and it departs, it will be a relief for Liese and her people.” Defeating the Ice Dragon would not bring back those who had perished. It might offer Liese some solace, but the risks were too high. “The real concern is when the baby will be able to fly,” Kagari pondered. “……” Yes, Yuna thought. Even if it hatches soon, it won’t be ready to fly immediately. Imagining it like a bird, one would think of scenes where the parent feeds it. “However, once it hatches, the parent can carry it either in its mouth or its claws. We can only hope it hatches and relocates soon,” Kagari added. Right, Yuna thought. “By the way, I expected you to ask the Ice Dragon about the familiar magic it mentioned,” Kagari mused. “I did think about it, but it wasn’t the right atmosphere to discuss such things with a mother protecting her egg, was it?” Yuna replied. Besides, how many years ago would that familiar magic have been from? If it was from over a hundred years ago, even if there were a blood connection, it wouldn’t matter now. Even if such a person was mentioned, it wouldn’t resonate with Yuna. Perhaps finding out where the Ice Dragon had encountered that magic could have been useful, but for now, their priority was to inform Liese and the others about the Ice Dragon. They returned to the mines. “Did you really manage to talk to the Ice Dragon?” Liese asked, incredulous but hopeful. “Yep, it’s preoccupied with protecting its egg and can’t move,” Yuna explained. “But it did say it would leave once the egg hatches,” Kagari added. Their explanation surprised Liese, but relief was evident in her eyes. “If that's true, it would be a great relief.” “The dragon didn’t seem to be lying, and there’s no reason for it to. The only issue is when the egg will hatch. Though Kagari feels it will be soon...” “It’s just a feeling. Don’t hold onto false hope because of it,” Kagari cautioned. “Still, it’s better to believe in a brighter future than to see none at all,” Liese said, smiling. That sentiment brought out smiles all around. The perpetual threat of the Ice Dragon seemed inescapable, but now, knowing that it might leave, Liese and the others seemed genuinely happy. That night, they held a farewell party for Yuna and Kagari. “Thank you, Yuna, Kagari,” Liese expressed her gratitude. “Thanks as well for all the food supplies,” Kagari added. “Liese, you’ve decided to stay, haven’t you?” Yuna asked. “Yes, if the Ice Dragon is leaving, I will stay. Besides, I want to build graves for my mother and sister.” “Kagari, once the Ice Dragon is gone, will the ice around the town melt?” “It’s infused with magic, so it might not melt easily. But without the constant supply of magic, it should eventually thaw,” Kagari explained. That was a relief. “Once the Ice Dragon departs, we must seek help from nearby towns,” Baran, the fisherman, volunteered. “In the end, we never found out where you two came from or how you arrived here,” Liese remarked. “Sorry about that,” Kagari replied. Explaining things like the moving island of Tarougue or the fact that Kumayuru and Kumakyu can run over the sea, and that they'd be returning using the bear’s teleportation gate, would be quite cumbersome. “You two are truly mysterious girls. Coming here all by yourselves, with those peculiar bears, and wielding such powerful magic. It makes me realize how much there is in the world that I don’t know,” Liese mused. “Well, one thing’s for sure: you saved us. We are grateful,” an elder nodded, sipping the liquor Kagari had provided. Kagari tried to drink as well, but Yuna stopped her; watching a young girl indulge in alcohol would be inappropriate. “All we did was speak to the Ice Dragon,” Kagari continued. “We can’t even reach the summit, let alone face the dragon,” someone remarked. “For us, meeting the Ice Dragon is beyond terrifying,” another added. That’s normal, Yuna thought. Even she wouldn’t have dared without her bear gear. It would be a death sentence otherwise. “We’ll miss you two when you leave,” Liese confessed. “We’ll come back,” Yuna promised. “Really?” Liese asked, hopeful. “I’ll be curious about the outcome with the Ice Dragon,” Yuna said. “We’ll be waiting,” Liese said, relieved. By setting up the Bear’s Teleportation Gate, they could return anytime they wished. To begin with, they had to install the gate somewhere to make their way back, ensuring there would always be a connection to this place. Their farewell gathering lasted late into the night. The next day was clear and sunny. As Yuna and Kagari made preparations to depart, everyone gathered around to see them off. “Thank you so much, Yuna, Kagari.” “We'll be waiting for you anytime.” “You're always welcome here.” “I won’t ask how you’ll get back, but please be careful,” the villagers said with warmth. Yuna and Kagari rode off on Kumayuru and Kumakyu, leaving the settlement behind. Looking back, they saw Liese waving. “It’s a bit hard to leave,” Yuna admitted. “That can’t be helped. We can’t stay forever,” Kagari reminded her. “True,” Yuna agreed. It would have been nice to stay until the Ice Dragon left, but there was no telling when that might happen. They couldn’t afford to linger indefinitely. “Will Liese and the others be alright?” Yuna wondered. “It was their decision to remain. Besides, once the Ice Dragon leaves, there will be much to do,” Kagari pointed out. Once the Ice Dragon is gone, ships will likely return, and once the ice around the town melts, there will be sorrowful tasks to attend to. It wouldn't be wrong to say the Ice Dragon killed all the town's residents. Yet, none of the survivors had wished for the dragon’s demise. “Aren’t they resenting it?” Yuna mused aloud. “You mean Liese and the others?” Kagari picked up on Yuna's muttered thoughts. Hearing it was unavoidable. Yuna decided to voice her thoughts openly. “The Ice Dragon froze their family and forced them to live in the mines for three years. Normally, wouldn’t they harbor resentment?” “I imagine they did at first. But against an opponent they can’t touch, resignation tends to come first. There’s nothing they can do. Defeating it is impossible. People learn to give up,” Kagari explained. “Is that really how it is?” Yuna questioned. If a loved one were killed by someone, one would normally harbor hatred. Even more so if it were family. “That’s likely because you see the Ice Dragon as someone you can potentially defeat,” Kagari pointed out. “……” Indeed, Yuna thought she wouldn't know until she tried. She wasn’t prepared to concede either. “Hypothetically, if someone dear to you was a sailor and their ship suddenly encountered a storm, the sea raged, and they perished as the ship sank—would you aim to conquer the sea or the weather?” Kagari challenged. “That’s a natural disaster,” Yuna retorted. “To those without power, the Ice Dragon is practically the same—a natural disaster. It came out of nowhere, froze the town, and took family members without a fight. It’s a type of natural calamity,” Kagari concluded. Yuna understood, yet something still felt off to her. “The Ice Dragon is a living creature, but a disaster is not,” Yuna argued. “What if the disaster was caused by a deity?” Kagari countered. “……” “A deity who controlled the weather from somewhere unreachable. Even then, you’d be powerless,” Kagari suggested. “Gods don’t do such things,” Yuna protested. “There are also evil gods. They’re not all benevolent,” Kagari reminded. Faced with such reasoning, Yuna found herself at a loss for words. “What I mean to say is, just because you’re capable doesn’t mean others are. People have their own standards. It’s best not to judge by your own,” Kagari advised. Without her bear gear, Yuna might never have thought of confronting the Ice Dragon, resigning herself to a quiet life similar to Liese’s.