Chapter 429

429 Bear-san, Ends The Match

[U~u, I’m exhausted.] Shia

Shia was gasping for air as she fell to the ground.

She’s wearing a skirt underneath, that’s dangerous. There’s a dangerous creature called Marcus nearby.

I told her to get up and gave her a glass of water. She thanked me and drank the water.

[Yuna-san, you had a match with me and Marcus, why are you still so relaxed?] Shia

[Even though I look like this, I’m still an adventurer, so I’m still training whenever I can.] Yuna

Yeah, that’s a lie.

Inside this costume is a poor body that doesn’t go on exercise. I’m not fat, but I don’t have muscle either. My upper arm is flabby. If I took off my bear gear, I wouldn’t be able to move like Marcus or Shia.

[I’ve been training hard, though.] Marcus

[I thought I was training hard enough, too.] Shia

Shia agreed with Marcus’ murmur.

But back in my gaming days, I was training to level up and stuff. So it can’t all be a lie, you know?

[I knew Yuna-san was strong, but I don’t expect such a difference.] Marcus

[Such swordsmanship, such skills. And she can even use magic.] Shia

[Just the thought of having a match with her using magic scares the hell out of me.] Marcus

[I’ve challenged her with magic before. Now I that think about it, I was being so reckless at that time.] Shia

But you were simply protecting your sister, Noa. The first time you saw me, you didn’t feel good about it. Maybe she was angry at Cliff for putting someone like me in charge of guarding her sister.

After the match, I gave them my impressions briefly.

This is just my subjective opinion, but I will tell them the good and bad points of them both.

[Marcus’ attacks are powerful, but your strikes are very one-dimensional. You move the same way quite a lot. Also, you’re only thinking about attacking, so there are too many gaps. Just because I’m using a knife, you thought you can flick it off my hands. I can pass a knife through your defense.] Yuna

[That’s not how it normally works.] Marcus

Well, normally speaking, if a swordsman and a knife user fight head-on, the swordsman has the advantage over the knife user, unless there is a difference in their abilities.

[But if you can evade the attacks, you can still take the sword down with a knife.] Yuna

A knife is faster than a sword. I guess it’s more about how you move your body than how you handle the weapon in this area.

[On the other hand, Shia moves better than Marcus, but I think the sword is too heavy for her. She was being swung around by the sword. You might want to choose a lighter one.] Yuna

[Yes, it was a little heavy. I should have chosen a lighter one. But Yuna-san is using the same sword, right?] Shia

Well, thanks to my bear puppets, I can handle a heavy sword as if it were a wooden sword. Without the bear puppets, I wouldn’t be able to wield a sword properly.

[As expected, you’re really strong, Yuna-chan.] Eleanora

[But I’m sure both Marcus and Shia are reasonably good students.] King

Oh, the King is praising these two.

But the two of them don’t look too happy about it.

[You two, the King is complimenting you, you know.] Yuna

[Even if you say it’s a compliment, I couldn’t hold a candle against Yuna-san.] Marcus

[She even held back, and I’m still in this condition. And I couldn’t even get her to run out of breath.] Shia

It seems that the two of them can’t honestly rejoice when they are praised by the king for such reasons. I’m also strong thanks to my cheat equipment, so I can’t honestly be happy about it either.

[Well, even Rutum lost to her. I think both of you did well.] Tilia

[Bear-san, is amazing.] Flora

Tilia riding on Swaying Bear comforts them, and Flora praises me on top of Hugging Bear.

Marcus and Shia were convinced by Tilia’s words.

[Damn it, it’s hot in this.] Marcus

Marcus begins to take off his armor.

[I’m sweating like crazy, too.] Shia

It’s still a hot season. So, if you move around a lot, you will be covered in sweat.

[Yuna-san, what your wearing looks like it’s hot inside, but are you okay?] Shia

[As I have told you before, these clothes control the temperature inside, so it’s cool and comfy inside.] Yuna

It’s made of the best material for clothing. It will be cool in summer and warm in winter. The only drawback is that it’s a stuffy bear costume. I always wish this was a cool-looking piece of equipment.

I used to have a lot of cool armor made from rare materials that I got back in the gaming days. Now, all I have is the bear costume. I clenched the bear puppet.

[Well, I’ve made something cold for you guys. Shia, Marcus, would you like some?] Yuna

[Something cold?] Marcus

[I originally brought it for Flora-sama, but there’s enough for everyone.] Yuna

[Ara, Yuna-chan. Of course, you have some for me too, right?] Eleanora

Eleanora-san reacted when I talked about food.

[I hope you got some for me as well.] King

And even the King reacted to it.

[Yuna, I know you have some for me too.] Tilia

It’s contagious, even to Tilia.

I’ve made a lot for Flora-sama, including the share of the king and Eleanora-san, so adding Marcus, Shia, and Tilia is not a problem.

[I’ve made more than enough for everyone.] Yuna

[I’m glad. It’s unfair since it was always Father, Mother, and Flora.] Tilia

It couldn’t be helped. In the first place, I didn’t know about Tilia’s existence until the school festival. Considering the king’s age, I figured he must have a child around Tilia’s age, but I didn’t even try to find out. That’s why I didn’t even know she exists until I met her.

However, I don’t think I would have prepared food for someone I had never met, even if I knew they existed.

[Bear-san, is it delicious?] Flora

[It’s cold and delicious.] Yuna

Flora-sama asked me, so I answered softly, and she looked very happy.

[You are really sweet to Flora.] Tilia

When you say that, I can’t say anything.

Perhaps I am vulnerable to the innocence that I, myself, do not possess. My heart is dirty.

[But it’s cold food. Yuna-chan’s food is delicious, so I’m looking forward to it.] Eleanora

[Well then, I shall be grateful. The garden will be fine. You two, come over after you wipe off your sweat.] King

His Majesty the King says to Shia and Marcus, who are sitting down.

[I’ll go ahead and get things ready then.] Eleanora

The King and Eleanora-san said such things and left the training grounds.

=====

At His Majesty, the King’s words, both Shia and Marcus puckered their mouths, looked at each other, and hurriedly started to move.

Marcus and Shia wiped off their sweat and put away their armor and weapons. Their movements were fast.

Meanwhile, I decided to persuade Tilia and Flora-sama to get off of Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear so I can return them to the bear puppets.

After all, they tried to go to the garden riding on Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear.

[If you leave like that, the others will be startled. Let’s just walk from here.] Yuna

Flora-sama is clinging to Hugging Bear and refuses to let go. That’s why I gave her a stuffed animal as a gift, but it seems the fake ones can’t beat the real ones.

[U~u] Flora

[If Hugging Bear was seen as a danger and the soldiers attacked, we would be in trouble.] Yuna

Well, if Flora-sama and Tilia were actually riding on top of Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear, I don’t think they would get attacked, but there might be some idiots who would try to save her and attack in the name of idiocy.

[You wouldn’t like it if Hugging Bear gets stabbed with a sword, would you?] Yuna

[…… Un] Flora

Alright, I successfully convinced her.

But just when I thought that Flora-sama’s persuasion was successful, Tilia started to say something unnecessary.

[Why don’t you make them smaller, then? Then I think it’ll be fine.] Tilia

That would just be procrastination.

[Small bear-san? Yeah! Small bear-san is fine.] Flora

Ah, Flora-sama is starting to wish for a smaller bear. If this happens, it’s going to be impossible to get them to return.

Well, since I rarely come to the royal capital, I’m going to let her stay with Hugging Bear a little longer today.

[Well then, Flora-san. Will you promise me? That you’ll let him go when it’s time for me to go back.] Yuna

[Yeah, It’s a promise.] Flora

After making Flora-sama make a promise, I made Hugging Bear smaller. Flora-sama hugged Hugging Bear cub.

And inevitably, I have to turn Swaying Bear that Tilia was holding had to a bear cub.

[Big bears are cute, but little bears are even cuter.] Tilia

After Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear turned into cubs, Marcus and Shia will return.

When they saw Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear in cub form, they were not surprised by it and simply stroked their heads.

[Swaying Bear-chan, Hugging Bear-chan, I haven’t seen you like this since the seaside trip.] Shia

[Thank you for that time.] Marcus

Shia last saw them in their cub form back when she went to Mereera, but Marcus might not have seen Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear like this since that time I was escorting them.

=====

After cleaning up, we head for the garden.

Swaying Bear is being held by Tilia, and Hugging Bear is walking beside Flora-sama.

In the meantime, I heard Marcus and Shia talking.

[We’re going to be dining with His Majesty the King now, right?] Marcus

[Looks that way.] Shia

[A meal with His Majesty the King…] Marcus

[I’m nervous.] Shia

[Me too.] Marcus

Marcus held his stomach.

Apparently, they’re nervous about having a meal with His Majesty the King. It’s something I kinda miss.

[Yuna-san, what are you laughing at?] Shia

When I remembered the old days, I unknowingly smiled.

[Seeing you two act like that reminded me of Fina when she was told we will be having a meal with His Majesty the King.] Yuna

[Is it true that Fina-chan was taken to the castle by mother and had a meal with His Majesty the King?] Shia

[Fina is the little girl that I saw with Yuna-san during the school festival, right? Is she an aristocrat?] Marcus

[No. She’s just a normal girl.] Yuna

[Don’t do devilish things, Eleanora-sama. Bringing a commoner child to have a meal with His Majesty the King? I would’ve been beyond nervous if I was her.] Marcus

[So do I.] Shia

[Even Shia gets nervous by this?] Yuna

[Of course. He’s the king. He’s the most important person in the kingdom. It’s funny that you’re having a casual conversation with him without any hesitation.] Shia

I was also nervous the first time, but I’ve gotten used to it.

[But you’re fine with Tilia, right?] Yuna

[I’ve spent a lot of time with Tilia-sama at the academy, and she’s easy to get along with.] Shia

[Shia, is that a compliment?] Tilia

Tilia, who’s walking in front of us, looked back.

Apparently, she was listening.

[Of course, I’m complimenting you.] Shia

Well, when the first time we met, she asked me to call her by her name. Maybe that’s what makes her so friendly and approachable.