811 Bear, the bear's blessing - Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

The bears carrying us—Kumayuru and Kumakyuu—dash forward. "Hey, Yuna." "What is it?" "This might be a late question, but why are you dressed like that?" It's truly a question asked too late. "Generally, I don't really care what someone wears, but I can't ignore the looks you get. Besides, when I come to the adventurer's guild alone, adventurers usually approach me, but this time, all their gazes were on you." I suppose it means that my outfit stands out more than Mane-san's. But for adventurers to bother a child with such an appearance, they must have a lot of free time. "Well, I'm dressed like this because I have the blessing of the bear..." I give my usual excuse. However, Mane-san looks at me with suspicion. "Is there really such a blessing?" "These two are proof." I pat the back of Kumakyuu that I'm riding. "Indeed..." "If the bear's blessing truly exists, I'd love to research it." Though she has a youthful face, she's showing the expression of a researcher. Yet, since the bear's blessing is a lie, I doubt she'll uncover anything through research. "Still, do these creatures really run at this speed for hours?" Mane-san touches the back of Kumayuru. Maybe she didn't realize it, having fallen asleep soon after we left the capital. "These bears aren't like the ones you find around here." "Amazing. No wonder Ellelaura and Sonya acknowledge you." And so, Mane-san and I talk about each other while we move forward. "You live in Crimonia, Yuna. That's why it took you a while to come to the Ministry of Magic." That's part of it, but it's also because I was taking it easy after hearing from Cliff. "Have you been at the Ministry of Magic for long, Mane-san?" "How should I put it? I don't keep track, but I was there when Ellelaura was a student, so it's been over ten years." Ellelaura is around thirty-five, right? So, Mane-san might have been there for fifteen to twenty years. Being a half-elf, perhaps her sense of time is as lenient as an elf's. "Have you been involved in growth research all this time?" "Not continuously. I research when I receive information related to growth, find relevant research materials, or when there new presentations. If I don't do other work, I'll be kicked out." Well, if you're not working, it's only natural to be let go. There's a saying that those who don't work shouldn't eat. In a company setting, you have to do the company's work. Although I have little real-world experience, I feel I'm not suited to be a cog in the societal machine. "In any case, there’s no place better than the Ministry of Magic for acquiring information. Even without searching myself, people at the Ministry bring me information and rare herbs." Working for an organization tied to the nation provides more information than researching alone. Having colleagues help indicates a good workplace environment. "A friend from the guild told me about the incident in the western forest." "It's good to have companions." I also owe the success of my shop to people like Tirumina and Morin who lend a helping hand. In this world, I've been offered help by many. While I could live alone, I think life is better with people willing to help. "Yes, but when I first joined the Ministry, I was teased because of my appearance." I understand that feeling. I've been mocked and ridiculed because of my bear outfit. Though some have called it cute. We shared stories, growing closer as we journeyed. Even after just a few hours, we began to warm up to each other. I've truly grown. As we talk, the path gently curvy to the left. "We go straight from here, right?" If we follow the road, we'll reach a town. However, our destination is the western forest. "If Sonya's directions are correct, yes." "Then let's prepare to camp a little off the path." The sun is starting to set. Kumayuru and Kumakyuu head off the road, looking for a camping spot shielded by rocks or trees, invisible from the road. "How about here?" Kumayuru and Kumakyuu stop. "By the way, Sonya mentioned something about a house. What did she mean?" "Exactly what she said." I dismount Kumayuru and pull the portable bear house from the Bear Box. "Wha, a bear!?" Mane-san looks at the bear house, shocked. "A bear? An item bag? At this size?" Mane-san glances back and forth between the bear house and my white bear puppet. "Where do I even start! That came out of the white bear just now, right? I knew it was an item bag when you took out bread at lunch, but something this big?" Mane-san comes over, gripping my left-hand white bear puppet with her small hands, causing its face to change shape. "It's incredible that something so big fits. And for a private individual to possess it, are you royalty? Or a merchant's daughter?" Evidently, she's more intrigued by the item bag than the bear house. It might be the instincts of someone who researches magic tools and circuits. "I'm just an ordinary person." "Ordinary people don't have such an amazing item bag. Where did you get it?" "Well, that's also thanks to the bear's blessing." A lie atop another lie. Though, since I'm the only one who can use it, maybe it's not entirely false. "Bear's blessing..." Mane-san looks at me, then at the puppet she's gripping, at Kumayuru and Kumakyuu, and finally at the bear house, muttering "Bear." "Anyway, you must be tired. Let's rest inside." I gently release Mane-san’s grip on my hand and shrink Kumayuru and Kumakyuu. "The bear just shrank!" Oh, she didn't know they could shrink. Mane-san holds the now smaller Kumayuru. "What kind of trick is this? Why did it shrink?" Her questions come in rapid succession, eyes gleaming as if she's discovered a new research subject. "Kumayuru and Kumakyuu are special bears, so they can shrink." "Special? Even if they're special, shrinking doesn’t seem possible." She's not easily fooled like a child. For someone knowledgeable, it might be an inexplicable phenomenon. For me, the ability of Kumayuru and Kumakyuu to shrink is as natural as magic. "What is the mechanism, I wonder?" Mane-san examines Kumayuru closely, checking its paws, looking inside its mouth, and observing its tail. "How peculiar." "Just so you know, even if you ask me, I won't have the answers." "Even though they're your bears?" "All I know is if I wish for them to be smaller, they shrink, and if I wish for them to be larger, they return to their usual size." "They can grow larger?" "Not larger than their normal size. That's it. And by the way, it's all due to the bear's blessing." I decide to attribute everything to the bear's blessing. "Bear's blessing..." It's hard to tell if she's convinced or not, but we can't stay outside forever, so we decided to head into the bear house. "Have a seat anywhere you like." Mane-san sits down on the sofa. Kumayuru and Kumakyuu settle down on either side of her. "Here's a drink." "Thank you." Mane-san glances around the room, taking it all in. "It really is a house. To think something this large could fit inside. You said it was due to the bear's blessing." Mane-san directs her gaze toward the white bear puppet again. "Yes, this item bag is something only I can use." I place the white bear puppet on the table in front of Mane-san. She tries to move it, but it doesn't budge. "It’s heavy? No, that's not it. It won't move." I easily pick up the white bear puppet and slip it onto my left hand. "It’s the bear's blessing." You could call it the bear's curse too. Though if I said that, it might make Kumayuru and Kumakyuu sad, so I won't. "So there really is such a blessing. I've lived a long time, but I never knew. I still have much to learn." She seems convinced, though mainly because she saw it firsthand and felt it. It’s a lie, yet here we are. "An item only usable by its owner is a concept similar to the guild card." The guild card indeed only responds to registered magic power. "While it's understandable it belongs to you alone, the fact it won't move is a mystery. Is that the effect of the bear's blessing?" She begins thinking intensely, a typical researcher expression on her face. She mutters to herself words like "Hmm," "How does it remain fixed?" and "Is it immobile magic?" I decide to leave Mane-san to her thoughts and start preparing dinner—albeit simple fare. I wash the vegetables, make a salad, and stir-fry the leftover vegetables with meat. Vegetable stir-fry pairs well with rice, and it’s great in sandwiches too. I prepare rice for myself and set aside bread for Mane-san. When I bring the cooked dinner to the table, I find Mane-san playing with—or perhaps examining—Kumayuru and Kumakyuu. "Is that rice?" "You've seen it before?" "Once, my father brought it from somewhere." Perhaps she has visited a country known for its rice, or maybe it's cultivated elsewhere too. Mane-san places meat between her bread and takes a bite. "It's delicious." "I'm glad you like it. Once you're done eating, don't forget to take a bath." While preparing the meal, I had already filled the bath with water. It should be ready by now. "A bath... You really have one." "If you don't eat properly, bathe, and get a good night's sleep, you won't recover from fatigue. Don't worry about safety—if you're inside this house, you're protected from lesser monsters. Plus, if there's any danger, Kumayuru and Kumakyuu will let us know." "I understand now why Ellelaura and Sonya said that traveling with you would be reassuring. This is the most safe and comfortable journey imaginable." Mane-san says as she takes another bite of her bread.