790 Bear, gets the treasure - Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

"It seems we'll be climbing this mountain more than a few times," Kagari mused. Kagari, Liese, and I were riding on Kumayuru and Kumakyu, making our way toward the mountain peak. "I was born and raised in this land, but this is my first time climbing this mountain," Liese remarked. "Really?" I asked, surprised. "I was never one of those children who liked to climb mountains. And ever since the ice dragon made it its home, I've avoided coming close." She had a point. Only a few people truly enjoyed climbing mountains. I doubted most ordinary folks wished to clamber over rugged terrains. Though I’d occasionally dreamed of tackling something like Mt. Fuji, my recluse-like lifestyle and lackluster physical strength made the summit little more than a distant dream. But with this bear equipment and the help of Kumayuru and Kumakyu, perhaps I might attempt it one day. From somewhere, I could almost hear a voice saying, "That's not really climbing, is it?" But I ignored the phantom sound. "Is this the aftermath of a battle?" Liese inquired as we surveyed some parts of the mountain that seemed to have suffered landslides. Though I'd observed it yesterday as well, the sight was disastrous. "Yes," I replied. "Is that large thing a bear?" Liese pointed out. "I created it when fighting the ice dragon to protect the town from the dragon's icy breath," I explained. I had forgotten to dismantle it afterward. I needed to clean it up before returning home. Though no one currently lived in the town, I couldn't just leave it like that. A similar bear I constructed outside Milira Town to contain the kraken still stood, so I had to ensure I didn't repeat that mistake here. Finally, we reached the mountain summit. "So, this is where the ice dragon resided," Liese said, looking all around. "Gold and silver treasures, any riches lying around~," I sang softly as I dismounted Kumayuru. Kagari and Liese followed suit. "This is a treasure indeed," Kagari declared. Though there was no gold or silver, we found something valuable. "Are these ice dragon scales?" I asked, seeing the dull blue, beautiful scales scattered in the nest. "These are lovely," Liese said, picking up one scale about the size of an outstretched hand. Countless others lay strewn all around. "They must have been shed during molting," Kagari suggested. "Do you think the dragon left them as an apology for the trouble it caused?" I wondered aloud. If no one had nudged us to explore the nest, future adventurers might have claimed them instead. "An ice dragon that has lived for ages must know its scales are valuable," Kagari mused. Even the adventurer, Kuryuna-Halk, mentioned wanting some scales and horns. My eyes drifted to the other items of interest. "Do the eggshells from the ice dragon have any worth?" I asked, noticing the most eye-catching remains—shells of their eggs, their pale blue fragments glinting. "They should hold some," Kagari responded. "I know scales and horns, but what use are eggshells?" I pondered. Not exactly suitable for weapons or armor. "Anything rare possesses its own value," she replied wisely. True, items that can't be simply procured hold inherent worth. In my original world, scarce animals or plants were highly esteemed. Based on this definition, dragon eggshells might be akin to ivory. "Well, we might as well take them," I reasoned. Since no one would be hurt by us doing so, I set about constructing a box with earth magic to stash the dragon scales. "I'll help," Liese offered. "Kuu~n," whimpered Kumayuru and Kumakyu, eager to assist in gathering the scales. Kagari began to wander about, exploring. "Liese, would you like some?" I asked, watching her admire the scales resting beside the box. "They're so beautiful; I thought they might make nice jewelry. Ever since the ice dragon appeared, I haven’t adorned myself with anything." Trust Liese to have such a charming, feminine thought, unlike my own mundane approach. I felt sheepish for singing about treasures mere moments ago, seeing value solely in monetary terms, a reflection of my tainted heart. "Go ahead and take some," I encouraged. "Are you sure?" she asked. "There are plenty," I reassured. I never intended to hoard them for myself. Sharing wasn't a concern if someone wanted them. The challenge would be crafting them into jewelry, something achievable once we renewed connections with other cities. For now, Liese added her chosen scales into the box for safe transport. "Is this a claw?" I spotted an object resembling a dragon’s talon among the gathered scales. We gathered anything that looked like dragon materials, but the egg pieces posed a dilemma. The shell shattered when the young dragon emerged, leaving fragments scattered everywhere. I wanted to take it all back. The shell was about chest-height on me, so I crafted a similarly sized box with the front left open to safely stow the largest shell pieces, gingerly packing them in. The shell's pale blue hue was stunning. In games, such items might be used alchemically, but without alchemical skills or synthesis abilities, this was beyond me. Perhaps displaying the shells as an interior decoration, as Kagari suggested, would work. Maybe I’d reconstruct it next, needing every fragment for that task. Eventually, Kagari joined the effort, and together we secured all the dragon materials. "Thank you, Liese, Kagari," I said. "Kuu~n, kuu~n," my bears chimed in. "Of course, thank you, too, Kumayuru and Kumakyu." With the collection complete, Liese moved closer to the cliff's edge. "The view from up here is breathtaking," she remarked, her hair lifted by the breeze. I positioned myself beside her. From this vantage point, the landscape was magnificent: clear skies and endless blue ocean below dotted with white clouds. "It certainly is," I agreed. Previously, our visits revolved around meeting or battling the ice dragon, leaving little time to appreciate the scenery. Perhaps people climbed peaks for views like this, even if for someone like me, arriving via bear ride still moved me deeply. Climbing by one's own effort might amplify that awe, possibly explaining why people did it. "Thank you for bringing me here, Yuna," Liese said, her gaze on the sunlit city below, shimmering upon the frozen structures. Though not ideal to comment on such a scene with countless people encased in ice, the sight’s ethereal beauty lingered. Liese wore an expression suggesting she'd come to peace. Maybe witnessing the dragon's lair was part of that process. "How long do you plan on staying here, you two?" Kagari called. "You're right. Let's head back. They might be worried about us," I agreed, realizing our group’s venture to a dragon’s mountain top might have stirred concern despite Liese’s note. We returned to the mine entrance. "I was worried," Baran greeted Liese with relief. "I'm sorry, Father," Liese replied apologetically. It seemed we indeed had caused some concern. "I wanted to see the town from the top of the mountain," Liese explained. "And what did you think?" Baran asked. "It was beautiful. I wish I could have seen it with Mother and my sister," she replied. "And what about me? Am I not included in that wish?" he teased. "Of course, you too, Father," Liese assured him with a smile. Once we returned from the summit, we showed everyone the items we had acquired. As promised, I handed some of the ice dragon scales to Liese. "So these are the scales of the ice dragon..." Baran marveled, examining them. "They are quite beautiful," he added. I had been contemplating, and finally, I voiced my decision. "Please, take about half of them." Everyone looked at me in shock. "But these scales were given to you by the ice dragon," someone protested. "Yes, but with the ice in the town soon to melt, you'll have plenty to deal with. Once the ships are operational again, you can seek help," I reasoned. With Baran, a seasoned fisherman, on hand, they would be able to reach out for assistance. "Then, these can serve as proof of the ice dragon's presence, showing that it has moved on. It’s an explanation you can use," I continued. "True, but..." someone began hesitantly. "And, if you sell them, they’re likely worth a fair amount, which could aid in the town’s recovery," I pointed out. As much as I hated to consider it, when the ice melts, those frozen would return to their previous state. Although grim, the reality meant there would be need for burials and more hands to assist. "You're right, if you truly don't mind parting with them," Baran conceded. Ultimately, I decided to leave half of the scales behind, along with some claws and even one of the ice dragon’s horns. The horn was quite large, so we'd transport it to the foot of the mountain to hand over. I summoned the Kuma Bus, ready to take everyone back to the town.