Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

The scenery was the same everywhere, and the walls were crumbling. I occasionally went inside the buildings to check, but nothing did indicate what had happened to this town, so I remained clueless.

I expected there might be some people who became bones or something, but there aren’t.

“If no one lives in the town, it will become like this. It’s kind of lonely.” (Fina)

Fina looks a little lonely.

There’s a difference between no one in nature, such as in a forest, and no one in a town with buildings.

I don’t have any experience with this, but maybe I would feel this way in an empty school.

“Nothing of interest.” (Yuna)

“Has it already been taken by someone? Maybe it’s weathered and disappeared, I don’t know. I’m getting bored.” (Kagali)

“For now, let’s go to that big building.” (Yuna)

I pointed at the large building ahead of us.

“You think someone great lived there?” (Yuna)

“Maybe so.” (Kagali)

I wouldn’t call it a castle, but it’s a fairly large building.

I’m pretty sure it’s the biggest building in the ruins.

“If so, then there may be a treasure to be found.” (Kagali)

“Looking at the situation in this town, that’s also doubtful.” (Yuna)

We may not be the first to discover this town when it falls into ruins.

“Well, even if they don’t have any treasure, if we found something rare, it would make a nice souvenir for Sakura.” (Kagali)

I agree with that. I don’t need money or jewellery, but I would be happy with something rare.

So we decided to head for the largest building.

As we headed toward the building, Swaying Bear, who was carrying me, made a small “kuu~n” cry.

“What’s wrong?” (Yuna)

It’s hard to judge the way it sounds.

It’s not a cry that signals danger. But one that wants to tell me something.

Just in case, I used the detection skill and found that there were two reactions from people behind us.

Since when?

Apparently, he was trying to tell me this.

I reached out and stroked the head of Swaying Bear.

Beside me, Hugging Bear is looking at it enviously.

I’ll pet you later. I said it in my mind.

Hugging Bear understands that. It seems my feelings have been conveyed.

While we were moving, I was looking at the detection skill, and the two reactions were following us.

Now, what should I do? It would be safer to have Fina and Kagali-san, with Hugging Bear, go ahead of me and let me handle the situation myself.

“Kagali-san.” (Yuna)

“I’m not going anywhere.” (Kagali)

“I haven’t said anything yet.”

“Your bears have been watching our backs since a few minutes ago. And you heard them squealing just now. Their master patted the bears on the head as if to thank them. And then their master checked behind. Which means something’s coming from behind, so you called out to me to go ahead.” (Kagali)

It was as if she was reading my mind.

“You’re not getting senile, at least.” (Yuna)

“In other words, I am correct, aren’t I?” (Kagali)

“……”

“Yuna-oneesan, is that true?” (Fina)

Fina, who hadn’t noticed until now, asked me in concern.

“Monsters or humans?” (Kagali)

It seemed that I couldn’t deceive her anymore, so I answered honestly.

“Humans, they seem to be following us.” (Yuna)

“Do your bears know how many there are?” (Kagali)

“There’s two of them.” (Yuna)

Since it’s troublesome, I answered honestly.

“Then you and I should be enough to handle it.” (Kagali)

“Handle?” (Fina)

“Kagali-san, be careful what you say. Fina will get scared.” (Yuna)

“I’m sorry. So what’s the plan?” (Kagali)

“For the time being, I don’t know if it’s dangerous or not, so let’s have a conversation with them. If they attack, I’ll deal with them with Swaying Bear. Kagali-san and Hugging Bear, please take care of Fina.” (Yuna)

Kagali-san looks at Fina riding in front of her.

“It can’t be helped.” (Kagali)

“Kuu~n“

They both agreed.

Having decided on a course of action, Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear, with us on board, stopped walking and turned around.

“I know you’re following us. Come on out.” (Yuna)

I checked the direction with my detection skills and called out in that direction.

“Mia-chan, we have been found out.”

“Calm down.”

“That’s why I told you, let’s not follow them.”

“Because it’s a bear. Moreover, a white bear is rare, isn’t it?”

“Yes, but…”

Due to the quietness of the surroundings, I can hear the two girls talking to each other from here.

But the two, who weren’t aware of that, kept talking.

“And there’s a bear on top of a bear. Isn’t that interesting?”

“But…”

“Of course, I’m also curious about the children riding the black bear.”

(TN: The author made a typo here and said (黒いクマ) black bear, instead of (白いクマ) white bear)

“They’re not coming out.” (Kagali)

Kagali-san looked at me like, “What are you going to do?”

So I decided to call out again.

“Ano~, I can hear your voices, you know.” (Yuna)

“……!?”

They stopped talking.

A girl who looks to be a high schooler emerges from behind the collapsed wall with her hair tied back. Another girl comes out as if hiding behind the girl. They are about the same age.

“Fufufu, it can’t be helped if you noticed us. Who are you? No, wait, it’s polite to say our names before asking.”

The girl asked her own questions and answered them herself.

“My name is Mia. A venturer, Mia.”

“Etto, I’m Carol.”

The girl who introduced herself as Mia proudly announced her name, and the stuttering girl introduced herself as Carol.

“A venturer? Not an adventurer?” (Yuna)

(TN: [ 冒険家 ] [ 冒険者 ] basically the same stuff, just different kanji)

“Don’t lump us with those barbaric adventurers. We are venturers looking for treasure.” (Mia)

Perhaps she’s striking a pose because she thinks it’s cool?

“Etto, why is ‘that’ kind of adventurer following us?” (Kagali)

“Well, in a desolate place like this, if you see a girl dressed as a bear riding a bear, and a little girl riding a bear, you’d be curious, right? Besides, it’s the first time I’ve ever seen a white bear.” (Mia)

The girl named Mia looked at Hugging Bear.

“Etto… You, riding in front of that white bear.” (Mia)

Mia points her finger at Fina and asks.

“M- me?” (Fina)

“Yes, you. So who are you, and why are you here?” (Mia)

So after looking at me, Kagali-san, and finally Fina, she decided who to talk to.

Well, I am a bear, and Kagali-san is a little girl in a kimono.

“Etto, that’s…” (Fina)

Fina looks at me as if she’s troubled.

It was Fina who was asked, but I’m the one who answered.

“I’m Yuna. The girl you were talking to just now is Fina. The little girl sitting behind her is Kagali-san.” (Yuna)

“Don’t call me a little girl!” (Kagali)

I ignored Kagali-san’s protest and continued.

“We found this place while taking a walk (on Targui), so we decided to explore it.” (Yuna)

“A walk? Are you making fun of me? What kind of children come for a walk in a place like this?” (Mia)

Children, am I also counted as one?

I’d like to make an objection, but the conversation won’t progress, so I’ll stop.

Besides, even if she says a place like this, I don’t know anything about the surroundings, so I don’t know how crazy this place is.

“We have these kids, so we can at least take a walk, even if it’s far away.” (Yuna)

I turned my attention to Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear.

“Kuu~n“

Mia looks at Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear and makes a strange expression.

“Fine, I get it. So where are you guys from? I’ve never seen anyone dressed as a bear before.” (Mia)

Well, no one in this world wears a weird costume.

“That’s……” (Yuna)

“I’ve never seen the clothes that little girl is wearing either.” (Mia)

That means she doesn’t know about the Land of Harmony.

“That girl is probably the only one who looks decent.” (Mia)

Mia looks at Fina.

“Mia-chan, it’s not nice to complain about other people’s clothes.” (Carol)

Carol grabs Mia’s arm and stops her.

“I’m not complaining, I think it’s cute. I’m just saying I’ve never seen it before.” (Mia)

“That’s right, but…” (Carol)

Mia is a strong girl, and Carol is a timid one.

“In the meantime, I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t pry about our clothes.” (Yuna)

“Well, I’m fine with the clothes. So you’re really just here for a walk?” (Mia)

“So where are we? We have no idea.” (Yuna)

It would be helpful if she could tell us, but would she?

“Then it can’t be helped if you don’t know anything. Then I’ll tell you. This is Heschlag.” (Mia) (ヘシュラーグ)

I don’t understand it even if you say it with a proud face.

I look at Fina and Kagali-san, but they both shake their heads.

Good to see I’m not the only one who doesn’t know.

“Mia-chan, you don’t know how to talk to normal people. Look, all three of them have a face like “What’s that?”, you know.” (Carol)

“Eh, but it’s Heschlag, you know! A town made up of people who research magic tools. Isn’t that common sense?” (Mia)

“We venturers may know about it, but the normal people have no interest in it, nor do they know about the city that was destroyed.” (Carol)

It’s kind of funny, like watching a stand-up comedy.

“Etto, you guys really don’t know?” (Mia)

Mia looks at us as if to confirm.

“I don’t know.” (Yuna)

“Dunno.” (Kagali)

“I’m sorry. I don’t know.” (Fina)

Mia looked at us as if she could not believe what she just heard.

“No way, you don’t know Heschlag. Then I’ll tell you.” (Mia)

Mia looks at us.

“Heschlag is a town made up of magic tool and grimoire technicians.” (Mia)

“Magic tool technicians?” (Yuna)

“It is said that an unknown magic tool made by such technicians is sleeping here.” (Mia)

“We came looking for it.” (Carol)

“Find it, sell it, get rich!” (Mia)

Mia raised her fist high and declared so.

“And so, I don’t know where you guys came from, but don’t get in our way, go home quickly.” (Mia)

Mia shakes her wrist as if shooing us away.

“Oh come on, Mia-chan. Don’t do that. Mia-chan, apologize!.” (Carol)

Carol grabs Mia’s hand to stop her, bows her head, and makes her apologize.

“But if you’re going to stay, you’d better be careful. There are many mysteries left in this city, and some things can be dangerous.” (Mia)

For some reason, they don’t seem to be bad girls when I see them revealing to me things about this place and giving me generic advice.

“Actually, you’re all children, so Mia-chan was worried and followed you.” (Carol)

“You don’t have to tell them that!” (Mia)

Mia covers Carol’s mouth.

“I’m just worried about the bear. Well, we’ll be on our way, you guys be really careful on your way home.” (Mia)

Mia walked by us with her chest out and continued on the path we were about to take.

Carol bowed her head as she walked by us.

We watched the two of them in silence.

======

Author’s Note:

So here is a tsundere girl and a quiet girl.

[Notice]

Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear, comicalized volume 4, is scheduled to be released on March 27.

The cover design is Yuna and Noa. For more information, please check our activity report and Twitter.

※ As always, thanks to everyone who has reported typos. Since I am unable to reply, I will leave this here.

======