Chapter 426

Since Noa and I got back after seeing the bears, I’ve been taking it easy and living in seclusion.

But the isolation won’t last long in a room with no TV, no games, no computer, no manga, no novels, or any form of entertainment.

I decided to go out and end my reclusive life early. I didn’t even last more than three days. But I wondered if being isolated for three days would be a good thing.

I made some things in the kitchen and put them in the bear box.

[Swaying Bear, Hugging Bear, I’m going out.] Yuna

I called out to Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear, who looked lazier than I was. They say they take after their owners, but they didn’t take after me, did they?

I returned Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear in the bear puppets and moved to the room with the bear gate. I opened the door and moved to the bear house in the royal capital.

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I was wondering what’s happening to Rikka-san and Ghazal-san right now, but today I’m heading to the castle to see Flora-san.

[Yuna-dono, you’re here. It’s been a long time. Have you come to meet Princess Flora?] Gatekeeper

I was approached by the gatekeeper. At first, he was surprised for a moment, but then he started calling me by name. I don’t know his name, though.

[That’s right. Is it okay to go see her?] Yuna

[Yes, that’s fine. I think Flora-sama is also waiting for you. After all, she’s always carrying a stuffed black bear with her all the time.] Gatekeeper

A black stuffed bear, which means it’s a Swaying Bear plushie. According to Anju-san, whenever she goes out, she carries her black bear plushie, so that she doesn’t need to worry about it getting dirty. And in her room, she hugs her Hugging Bear plushie on the bed.

I’m glad to know that she’s using the stuffed animals I gave her. If the stuffed animals got dirty, they can just wash them, and when they get tattered, I can give her new ones.

Rather than being left on display and neglected, the stuffed animals will be happier if they are hugged until they fall apart.

But please don’t throw it around, or take its arms or legs apart, or swing it around.

Only once in the orphanage did I see the Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear plushies flying in the sky.

That was sad.

Then, after greeting the gatekeepers and entering the castle, one of the gatekeepers runs off.

Yeah, it’s the usual scene.

As expected, It’s a good thing I have prepared the King’s portion as well. I’ve given up resisting in that area.

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[Yuna!]

As I was heading towards Flora-sama’s room, taking in the scenery around me. From somewhere, a girl’s voice called my name. I looked for the person who had called my name, and I was able to find her immediately. Someone was running towards me, with her long hair swaying.

[Yuna, you came to the castle.] Tilia

The one who stopped me was the first princess of this country. She’s the King’s daughter, Princess Tilia. She’s Flora-sama’s older sister.

But it was rare to see Tilia at the castle.

[Did you come to see me, by any chance?] Tilia

[It’s Flora-sama.] Yuna

[Isn’t that the part where you lie and say you’re here to see Tilia?] Tilia

What kind of pick-up guy do you think I am? I don’t think you’ll be happy to hear me say something unconvincing.

As I was talking with Tilia, someone came running from behind her.

[Tilia-sama! Please don’t start running so suddenly.] Marcus

Two familiar faces came over.

[I mean, if you see a bear walking through the castle, wouldn’t you normally chase it?] Tilia

[I know how happy you are whenever you find Yuna-san. But that doesn’t mean you should suddenly run.] Shia

[And you’re even calling her out loud.] Marcus

[I’m sorry, both of you.] Tilia

The two people who came after Tilia were Shia and Marcus.

There’s a chance I might see Tilia at the castle. But it’s rare to see Shia and Marcus.

[But why are you in the royal capital, Yuna-san?] Shia

[And at the castle on top of that.] Marcus

They’re asking me the same questions Tilia was asking me.

[I’m just here to see Flora-sama.] Yuna

[Yuna always brings something delicious whenever she visits Flora, or something that she thinks will make her happy.] Tilia

Well, even if I didn’t have any souvenirs, I’m sure Flora-sama would be happy to meet Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear. Somehow, I’ve gotten into the habit of bringing souvenirs whenever I come to the castle.

Perhaps it was a certain group of adults that caused this.

[She even gave me stuffed animals as a gift at the school festival.] Tilia

When I met Tilia at the school festival, she asked for Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear plushies, so I gave them to her.

[By stuffed animals, do you mean stuffed Swaying Bear-chan and Hugging Bear-chan?] Shia

Shia reacted to the words stuffed animals.

[Yeah, Yuna gave it to me.] Tilia

[How nice. I saw those in Noa’s room the other day when I went back to Crimonia’s house. Yuna, I want stuffed animals too.] Shia

[I don’t mind. Do you really want those?] Yuna

I’m not one to talk about age. But Shia seems to be in her delicate age.

Well, I have them displayed in my room, too.

[You’re giving it to me?] Shia

[Which one do you want, by the way?] Yuna

[What, you’re not going to give me both?] Shia

Shia was surprised by my question.

[I’m just kidding. I was just wondering if Shia likes Swaying Bear or Hugging Bear better.] Yuna

[They’re both so cute, so it’ll be hard to choose.] Shia

Well, I can’t choose either. Choosing one over the other is the ultimate decision in my life.

If I could only save one of them, which one would I save, you say? That’s the question. If both are important to you, you can’t choose.

I took out the Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear plushies from the bear box and handed them to Shia.

[Thank you, Yuna-san.] Shia

Shia happily hugged the Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear plushies.

[So, how did Shia and Marcus end up in the castle?] Yuna

[I came with my mother. Then I met Tilia-sama.] Shia

[I wasn’t busy, so I invited her to have tea.] Tilia

[I came here to ask my dad to let me join the soldiers’ training, but the two of them caught me.] Marcus

[He’s bad at listening to people. So he couldn’t participate in the practice and he looks bored, so I thought kinda invited him.] Tilia

I was told that the practice was canceled because the unit of soldiers who were supposed to participate in the practice had to go to work.

But if all three of them are here, does that mean the school is closed?

When I look at these three, Marcus was staring at me.

[What?] Yuna

When I asked him about it, Marcus opened his mouth, looking a little uncomfortable.

[……Yuna-san. If you’re not too busy, will you be my sword opponent?] Marcus

[Sword opponent?] Yuna

[Yuna-san, you’re strong. You also had a match with Rutum-sama, didn’t you? Shia and the others saw the match, but sadly I didn’t.] Marcus

[Only Tilia-sama and I saw it. Timor and Cataleya didn’t.] Shia

[Yeah, but… a friend of mine who also saw that match excitedly told me about it, so it must have been a great match. Yuna-san, please.] Marcus

Marcus puts his hands together and asks, but there’s something I don’t understand.

[I have something to ask before that, but who is that Rutum fellow?] Yuna

I don’t remember having a match with anyone with that name in my brain.

But at my words, the three of them looked at me as if I were an idiot. I’m not an idiot, I’ll have you know.

[Yuna-san, are you really saying that?] Shia

[You had a match with Rutum-sama, right?] Marcus

[So, who is this guy named Rutum?] Yuna

I don’t know what I don’t know.

[Are you sure you’re not confusing me with someone else?] Yuna

[Apparently, she’s serious about it.] Tilia

[Unbelievable.] Marcus

[Yuna-san, that was the captain of the knights who fought you at the school festival.] Shia

…………Pon.

I spread the mouth of one of the bear puppets and hit it with the other one.

[Oh, you mean that annoying crazy uncle?] Yuna

Just as Shia said, it was apparently the name of the opponent who had a match with me at the school festival.

I couldn’t remember right away, so he’s called Rutum or something.

[Yuna-san, did you really forget about it?] Shia

[I don’t remember the name of that old man.] Yuna

If you had told me he’s the one I fought at the school festival, I would have recognized him right away. But if you just told me his name, there’s no way I would have remembered him.

[Old Man……] Marcus

[Only Yuna-san would call Rutum-sama an old man.] Shia

Marcus was taken aback, but Shia seems to be laughing at it.

[But you’re having a match with Yuna-san, right?… Do you have a death wish, Marcus? Even Rutum-sama can’t win against her, you know.] Shia

[There’s no way I can defeat Yuna-san, who subjugated the Black Tiger. Even in my dreams. I just thought I’d ask her to give me a hand. Well, if she had the time, that is. It’s a good learning experience to fight someone strong.] Marcus

Marcus looked at me with a respectful gaze.

People really do change, don’t they? I wish I had a recording of our first meeting so I could show it to Marcus.

[Hmmm, a match with Yuna-san? If that’s the case, I’ll ask her too.] Shia

Following Marcus, Shia also started to say such things.

[But weren’t you just about to have tea with Tilia?] Yuna

It’s just a hassle, so I tried to find a way out.

[I was thinking of having tea with you too, but I also think I’d like to see you fight.] Tilia

Following Marcus and Shia, Tilia joined the clamor.

I just stopped being a neet and came to see Flora-sama.

[I have to go see Flora-sama. Besides, I don’t want to stand out too much in the presence of other people.] Yuna

I told them as tried I run away.

When it comes to a match, the place is limited.

There might be soldiers or knights practicing. I don’t want to fight in such a situation.

[In that case, the indoor training area in the back should be fine since it should not be in use right now.] Tilia

I was trying to escape, but Tilia blocked my way.

[Tilia-sama, are you sure?] Marcus

[No problem. I’ll get the permission. Now, I’m going to borrow the key to the indoor training area. You know where it is, right?] Tilia

The story goes on and on.

I reiterate my purpose for coming here.

[I’m going to see Flora-sama.] Yuna

[Don’t worry about that either. I’ll go get Flora. That’s fine, right? I’ll borrow the key to the room and take Flora with me, while Shia and Marcus will go to the training grounds with Yuna.] Tilia

After saying that, Tilia ran off without listening to my reply.

I was left behind to go to the training ground with Marcus and Shia.