Chapter 398

398 Bear-san, Goes Shopping

Rikka gave up on the gazes around her and started walking.

I don’t have the option of taking off my bear suit. I’ll have to ask Rikka to just give up.

[But there really are a lot of dwarves here.] Yuna

I’ve seen some in Crimonia and in the royal capital. But I’ve never seen so many of them in one place. Whether you look to your right or left, there are dwarves everywhere. Even the one walking in front of us is also a dwarf.

[Because there are a lot of mines, forests, and other resources here, so it’s a good place for us dwarves to live.] Rikka

Resources are very important in any country. Moreover, dwarves are a race that specializes in making things.

But then again, dwarves are not very tall. Even grown men are not that tall. They are about the same height as me or a little taller. Female dwarves are the same height as me or a little shorter. By the way, Rikka is a little shorter than me.

And then, Rikka asked us.

[So, is there anywhere you guys want to go, anything you want to see?] Rikka

I think I’d like to check out some of the places that are selling the city’s specialties. It’s a dwarven city, so they might have some unusual items.

Also, since we came here without saying anything to Noa, she will definitely complain, , So I’d like to get her a souvenir…

[If there is anything unusual, I’d like to have it as a souvenir.] Yuna

[Is it for your boyfriend, perhaps? Is he dressed as a bear as well?] Rikka

Rikka asks with shining eyes.

[Do you think I HAVE one?] Yuna

I asked back in a slightly stronger tone.

If I ever have a boyfriend, I need to take him to the eye doctor. It’s a very serious condition. It could be terminal.

And I definitely don’t want to go out with a boyfriend dressed as a bear. But then again, no man would want to go out with me dressed as a bear, either. Well, I don’t plan to go out with a man or even a woman, so there’s no point in thinking about it.

At my words, Rikka looked at me intently. Then, she slowly turned her gaze away.

What, don’t stare at people and then look away with a sad look in your eyes.

Rikka looked uncomfortable and shifted her gaze to Fina and Ruimin.

[Is there anything you want to see or want, Fina-chan, Ruimin-chan?] Rikka

[Etto, I also want to buy something for my sister who stayed behind at home.] Fina

[I think I’ll buy one for my brother then.] Ruimin

Fina’s words made Ruimin say something like that, too.

So, we decided to explore the city, looking for something to take home as a souvenir.

[How about this place? They sell cute little metalwork trinkets and accessories.] Rikka

It’s a small general store. Rikka walked into the store without even checking with us. Once inside, we saw a variety of handcrafted accessories.

[It’s beautiful.] Fina

There are rings, necklaces, hair ornaments, brooches, and other accessories for women. All of them are handmade and made of iron.

I picked up a flower-patterned brooch. Will it look good on Noa? This one would look good on Fina and Shuri.

[How about this one, Fina-chan?] Rikka

Rikka picked up a beautiful blue-colored flower ornament and showed it to Fina.

[It’s a pretty flower. The colors are beautiful.] Fina

[And I think red would look good with your light green hair, Ruimin. See, it looks good on you, like a flower blooming.] Rikka

Rikka put the hair ornaments in both Fina and Ruimin’s hairs and checked them.

[Really?] Fina

[Look, there’s a mirror. Take a look.] Ruimin

Fina, wearing a hair ornament, is shyly checking herself in front of the mirror.

[It’s beautiful, but does it look good on me?] Ruimin

[You’re so cute.] Rikka

[Then it’s my turn in the mirror.] Ruimin

Ruimin switches with Fina and checks her hair ornaments in front of the mirror. The girls are having a pleasant conversation. But I see Fina looking at the price tag and worrying about it.

[But it’s probably a little expensive.] Fina

[Back in the village, we don’t spend much money, so I don’t have much money of my own either.] Ruimin

Fina and Ruimin compared the prices of the items and slowly placed them back on the shelves.

[If you both like it, I’ll buy it for you.] Yuna

[But……] Fina

[Don’t worry about it. Fina has always been a great help to me, and Ruimin gave me a lot of mushrooms and wild vegetables from everyone in the village, so you can think of it as a thank you. In return, you can buy your own souvenirs for Shuri and Lucca.] Yuna

Fina and Ruimin thanked me happily for my words, and happily began to put on various hair ornaments, necklaces, brooches, etc., and check them in front of the mirror.

They’re both girls. And that’s a feature I don’t have. I don’t mind choosing accessories for other girls. But when it comes to my own, I can’t even think about what to choose.

[Are you not buying one for yourself, Yuna-oneesan?] Fina

[Unlike you two, I don’t look good with it.] Yuna

No matter what hairpiece I put on my bear hood, a necklace around my bear neck, a brooch on my chest, or a bracelet on my wrist, it will not look good on my bear costume.

If any of the idiot rangers I met at the mine were here, they might say, . But I don’t have a collar. And if someone did say it, they would get a bear punch.

[Yuna-oneesan has beautiful hair, so I think it would look good on you.] Fina

[Yuna-san, your hair is long and beautiful, you know? If I were a man, I would never leave you alone.] Ruimin

[Thank you, both of you.] Yuna

I’m not one to take their flattery for granted. And moreover, these two really adore me. I may not be able to tell if they were telling the truth. So I’ll just listen to what they have to say.

After Fina decides on hair ornaments for herself and Shuri, we decided to look for something that will go well with Noa’s golden hair. Red, blue, green, and silver all seem to go well with Noa’s golden hair.

Then we each buy a hair ornament.

I’ll pay for the hair ornaments. However, Fina would pay for Shuri’s hair ornament by herself. I also thought about getting one for Flora-sama, but I didn’t know if it would be appropriate for royalty to wear, so I decided not to.

Fina and Ruimin quickly put on the hair ornaments they had purchased. Fina has a hairpiece made of blue flowers, and Ruimin has a hairpiece made of red flowers.

[You both look good.] Yuna

[[Thank you very much.]] Fina/Ruimin

A pretty girl looks good no matter what she wears. If I wear it, I’d still look like a female bear.

[But what should I buy for Lucca? He won’t be happy if I buy him hair ornaments or accessories.] Ruimin

[Since he’s a boy, maybe a knife would be nice?] Rikka

That’s a daughter of a blacksmith for you, her immediate suggestion would definitely be a knife.

[Hmm, but dad might get mad if I give Lucca a knife without permission.] Ruimin

[Does your brother have anything he likes?] Yuna

[In the village, the part where we’re running around in the forest.] Ruimin

We explored the city, looking for things that might be a suitable souvenir of Lucca.

[Oh, maybe this is a good place.] Ruimin

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Ruimin looked into the store through a small window.

[Those are figurines.] Ruimin

As we entered the store, we saw rows of figurines made of iron, each as tall as a can of juice or a small plastic bottle.

There are figures of armored knights and adventurers made of iron. There are many different poses. Some are standing normally, others are holding swords.

If you put this one and this one together, it looks like they are fighting. In that case, it may be better to put a monster in the middle.

Even so, it’s well made for something out of iron.

[It looks cool. Maybe Lucca will like this.] Ruimin

[It’s very popular, and merchants come from all over the city to buy it. That’s why you can buy them cheaper than in the royal capital or other cities.] Rikka

[The shelves over here are lined with animals.] Fina

There are horses, cows, pigs, birds, and animals I’ve never seen before. If I bought them all, I could make a miniature zoo. There are also reptiles on the other shelves. I wonder who would want snakes and frogs?

While I was thinking about such things, Fina and Ruimin were seriously looking at the shelves lined with animals, as if they were searching for something.

[I don’t see any bears.] Fina

[Yeah, it’s not here.] Ruimin

Apparently, the two of them were looking for a bear. But I’m pretty sure there aren’t any. Maybe they don’t make them because they’re not popular? Although, that makes me sad.

A female clerk approached Fina and Ruimin, who was looking so disappointed.

[I’m sorry. All of the bear figurines have recently been bought by the merchants of the Kingdom of Erfanica. I heard that the number of customers who want to buy bears is increasing. So, even though I feel bad for you bear-loving girls, I’m sorry but we’re sold out.] Clerk

The store clerk told us while looking at my appearance.

I don’t dress like this just because I like bears. But the shopkeeper was looking at me with a smile.

Oi! Don’t look at me like that.

[But I wonder why the bears are selling so well?] Rikka

[U~u, I wanted a bear.] Ruimin

There was no iron bear figurine, so we gave up and left the store.

She should have bought the knight one. A knight figurine would have been cool.

But Ruimin never gave up.

Next, we went to a woodcarver’s store, but there were no woodcarvings of bears either. As expected, a merchant from the Kingdom of Erfanica had bought it.

[I don’t think you need to be so fixated with bears.] Yuna

[No, Lucca likes bears too, so I’m sure he’ll like them so much.] Ruimin

You don’t have to say it like that. But still, why are the bears selling so well. I can’t help but wonder.

Then we went around to another store and got a bear figurine, which made Ruimin happy.

And for some reason, Fina bought one too. If it had been made of clay or stone statues, I would have made it for her with magic. But that wouldn’t be a good souvenir, right?

I also found something good. I bought it without everyone noticing and gave it to Fina and the other two.

[Yuna-oneesan, what’s this?] Fina

[I saw a beautifully crafted little box for sale, so I bought it. You can put away the hair ornaments you just bought or the ones you bought at the royal capital’s school.] Yuna

[Thank you, Yuna-oneesan.] Fina

[Yuna-san, me too?] Ruimin

Ruimin looks at me and the small box alternately.

[Because I don’t want to buy only for Fina.] Yuna

[I’ll treasure it forever.] Ruimin

I’m afraid it’s going to be hundreds of years when Ruimin the elf says it.

[But why did you also get one for me?] Rikka

Rikka wondered while holding a small box.

[To thank you for showing us around town.] Yuna

[But to get it from a younger girl…] Rikka

[I’m already 15.] Yuna

[Well, I’m 18.] Rikka

Rikka and I tilted our heads at the same time.

[Eh~~~~! Yuna-chan, you’re 15 years old? I thought you’re a little younger.] Rikka

[I thought we were about the same age.] Yuna

Yeah, I don’t know how old the dwarves and elves are.

I don’t know if I’ll be sued for age fraud any time soon.