Chapter 438

438 Bear-san, Eats Wagyū Beef

When I returned to the village, I asked

Hugging Bear to go back into the bear puppet.

[I’m sorry, Hugging Bear. I’ll stay with you when I get back.] Yuna

Hugging Bear looks a little sad, but I pat him on the head and then return him to the bear puppet.

[I feel sorry for him. Hugging Bear looked so sad.] Shinobu

[Yeah, but they’d be surprised if they saw there were more bears.] Yuna

[Yeah, but…] Shinobu

[So I’ll report as soon as I can then quickly go back to the town.] Yuna

Let’s go back to the inn as soon as possible, take a hot spring bath with Hugging Bear, and sleep with him at night.

=====

When we returned to the village, we found several men waiting for us.

[Good. You’re back safe and sound.] Itsuki

[There really is a bear. And she’s really dressed like a bear.] Man 1

[Is this bear-dressed girl going to defeat Kamaitachi?] Man 2

The men’s eyes were drawn to Swaying Bear and me, who’s dressed as a bear.

Well, the reaction is the same everywhere.

Next to me, Shinobu muttered in a small voice, .

[So, girls. Where’s the Kamaitachi?] Itsuki

[We’ve beaten them.] Yuna

To prove it, we took the monsters we had defeated out from our respective item bags. Most of them were defeated by me, Swaying Bear, and Hugging Bear.

When the men saw the Kamaitachi, they were surprised and compared us to them.

Like Shinobu, he probably didn’t think a girl like me could defeat the Kamaitachi.

[They really took down Kamaitachi.] Man 1

[Now we can live in peace.] Man 2

[You girls are amazing.] Man 1

[See, I told you, I saw them take down the Kamaitachi, so it’s okay.] Itsuki

Itsuki-san, who went to the adventurer’s guild yesterday, said to the other men with a bit of pride.

[What are you saying? You said yesterday that you asked a weird girl dressed as a bear.] Man 1

[Yes, but then the Adventurer’s Guild introduced me to another adventurer, so I told you It’ll be fine.] Itsuki

[But even then, you were anxious since you were introduced to only one girl.] Man 2

Unsurprisingly, female adventurers make people anxious, don’t they?

But then, it could be because of our age. Both Shinobu and I are young compared to the other adventurers. If we had grown up a little more, things might have been different.

[Most of the monsters were defeated by Yuna, so she didn’t really need me to come.] Shinobu

The men’s expressions became even more surprised at her words. Perhaps they thought that Shinobu had defeated them.

Of course, I could have defeated them by myself. But if I hadn’t heard about the silver Kamaitachi from Shinobu, I wouldn’t have been able to defeat it easily. There’s a big difference between having information and not having it.

It’s like the difference between looking at a game strategy site and charging at the area boss blind.

[With this, the cows and other animals won’t be attacked, right?] Man 1

The villagers looked happy.

But there is one thing that bothers me.

[Sorry to burst your bubbles, but we only defeated the monsters around the village. They might still come from deep in the forest.] Yuna

[Based on my experience, Kamaitachi moves in packs. But there’s no problem in assuming that you’ve defeated all of them since there were so many of them in one place. And Swaying Bear confirmed it, didn’t he?] Shinobu

Shinobu looked at me and Swaying Bear as if to confirm.

[Yeah, there aren’t any in that area.] Yuna

I answered on behalf of Swaying Bear.

[If Swaying Bear can guarantee it, then it’s even safer.] Shinobu

Apparently, we don’t have to worry about what happens after we leave.

One of the men is looking at the Kamaitachi. Then he changes his expression.

[Isn’t this a silver Kamaitachi?] Man 2

[It’s true. There are three of them.] Man 1

The men looked at the silver Kamaitachi in surprise.

[Me, Yuna, and Swaying Bear here have defeated one each.] Shinobu

[The bear too?] Man 2

The men are surprised with the bear, but which of the bears surprised them? There are two bears right here.

[I had a hard time defeating it. They moved too fast and my clothes got torned.] Shinobu

Shinobu shows the arm part of the clothes that were ripped. The part of her clothes that were torn was around her arm and her abdomen. As expected, she hid the abdomen part.

When I saw it earlier, it was tighter than my stomach.

I’ve always thought that I should exercise too, but I just don’t bother.

[Are you injured!?] Itsuki

The man asks with concern.

[I’m okay. It’s just my clothes. I don’t think you mind if I charge you extra for it, right?] Shinobu

Wait, you’re really saying that?

Shinobu looks at the torn clothes and the villagers.

[…I will pay an additional amount.] Itsuki

Shinobu looks happy with the man’s words.

Well, I guess that’s normal for an adventurer, huh?

If you killed a different monster than you were requested, there should be an additional reward for it.

[How about little lady over there dressed as a bear? Are you okay?] Itsuki

[I’m fine too.] Yuna

[That bear over there is awesome too. I can’t believe it defeated a silver Kamaitachi.] Man 1

[That’s not all. Swaying Bear knows where the Kamaitachi are. That’s why we were able to defeat the Kamaitachi that were hiding.] Shinobu

For some reason, Shinobu explained while boasting about Swaying Bear.

My Swaying Bear is amazing. And that’s a fact.

[When I fought the silver Kamaitachi, some of the trees were cut.] Yuna

I explained the devastation of the forest. I explained that I have cut down several trees.

[That’s okay, we’ll use it in the village.] Itsuki

Apparently, the woods will not be wasted, which was good.

[I’m sure you’re tired from fighting the Kamaitachi. I’ve prepared a room for you, so you can get some rest.] Itsuki

[Is that so? Well then, thank you for letting us rest.] Shinobu

Shinobu accepts the man’s generous offer.

[Well, I’m going back first.] Yuna

[Eh? You don’t want to stay and get some rest?] Shinobu

[I’m not tired.] Yuna

If I’m going to rest, I’d rather stay at an inn with a hot spring. I want to laze around on the tatami mats with Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear.

[Now don’t say that. I’ll prepare lunch.] Itsuki

[The beef in this village is delicious, you know.] Shinobu

Maybe it’s Wagyu beef because it’s a country of harmony?

My heart was shaken.

You can eat cow meat even in Crimonia.

But when people say it’s good meat, then I want to eat it.

I’d like to eat it. However, after seeing the cow earlier, I thought it would be too much for me… But now I’m not so sure.

I’ve eaten wolf meat, I’ve eaten the birds they raise at the orphanage, and I’ve even seen them butchered. In the past, I might have refused, but now that I’m in another world, my heart seems to have grown stronger. Well, I still can’t dismantle it.

After much thought, I decided to treat myself to some quality meat.

=====

We were led into a house.

Shinobu is in the lead, followed by me, then Swaying Bear.

As we’re about to enter the house, the man opened his mouth, a bit reluctantly told me.

[Ano, that bear…….] Itsuki

That bear? I wonder which one? I look at Swaying Bear.

Swaying Bear tilted his head slightly as if saying,

[I’d like it to stay outside if possible.] Itsuki

[Is it really unacceptable?] Yuna

[Because it’s too big.] Itsuki

Should I ask swaying Bear to wait outside or return him like Hugging Bear? Or should I just say no and go home?

As I pondered, Shinobu beside me opened her mouth.

[This bear also contributed to defeating the Kamaitachi. We were able to defeat all the Kamaitachi without missing a single one thanks to Swaying Bear, and he also defeated the silver Kamaitachi. Yet you want him to stay out here?] Shinobu

Well, a bear is an animal, and there’s probably no way around that.

Then, the man looked at Swaying Bear at Shinobu’s words, then thought, growled, he opened his mouth and said, .

[Good for you, Swaying Bear. Let’s eat meat together.] Shinobu

Shinobu pats Swaying Bear’s head.

Swaying Bear looks pleased.

Swaying Bear is starting to get used to Shinobu.

Could it be the ninjutsu? I’ve heard that kunoichi use color tricks to extract information out of people.

Is she trying to get information out of Swaying Bear? I thought it’s something stupid since there was no way she could understand Swaying Bear’s words. She just seems to like Swaying Bear in general. The expression on Swaying Bear’s face is getting happier as she pets him.

=====

Then we walked into the room with Swaying Bear.

[Just give me a minute, okay?] Itsuki

The man left the room.

[I’m looking forward to it.] Yuna

Swaying Bear also looks happy.

[So, why did Shinobu come along with this request?] Yuna

Swaying Bear is in the room, but we’re alone, so I ask Shinobu.

[What do you mean?] Shinobu

[I’m asking, why did you take this job?] Yuna

[That’s because I was afraid he’d say no if Yuna is alone.] Shinobu

[But wouldn’t matter to you, Shinobu, even if I refused.] Yuna

That’s what work is all about.

I can understand that much.

Even if I’m not part of the workforce back in my former world, I do in this one.

[……That is.] Shinobu

[That is?] Yuna

[It’s because the cute bear was in trouble. And what girl wouldn’t want to talk to a cute girl?] Shinobu

[That’s a man’s line, you know?] Yuna

Even though, I’ve never been approached by a man.

[No, no, even girls talk to pretty girls.] Shinobu

I looked at Shinobu with suspicion.

[Oh c’mon, don’t look at me like that. Oh, the meat is here. Let’s eat.] Shinobu

Shinobu looks at the door deceptively, and a man returns to the room with charcoal and meat.

[Sorry to keep you waiting.] Itsuki

The man lights the charcoal. I wanted to ask Shinobu a few more questions, but I gave up because of the bad timing.

Then, when the coals are hot enough, the meat is placed on the net.

The meat made a sizzling sound while getting seared.

Looks delicious.

There is a sauce that looks like soy sauce, which is extremely tasty when eaten.

I think I’ll buy some as a souvenir.

It might be a good idea to buy a lot of them and keep them in the bear box. Then I can eat wagyu anytime I want.

Swaying Bear is looking at it like he wants to eat it now.

I put the roasted meat in Swaying Bear’s mouth.

He’s not a bear cub right now, but a full-grown bear, so he has a big mouth. Still, Swaying Bear eats deliciously.

[Swaying Bear, do you want some of my meat?] Shinobu

Shinobu puts her own grilled meat in Swaying Bear’s mouth.

[I want a big piece of meat.] Shinobu

When Shinobu said this, the man brought some meat for Swaying Bear.

This was going to cost a lot of money, so I refused the request for an additional serving. Then, Shinobu also refused.

[It’s okay because I’ll sell the Kamaitachi.] Itsuki

That’s the case, it seems.

Then, I bought extra meat for Hugging Bear, who was the only one who could not eat.

I could easily imagine the tormented Hugging Bear when I summon him later.

So it’s better to have as many bribes as possible to put him in a good mood.

=====

Author’s Note:

So the request is now over.

And Hugging Bear is pitiful for the first time in a long time……