Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

“Etto, what about you, Fina?” (Yuna)

I ask Fina, who is about to enter the futon with Swaying Bear cub.

“What are you going to do?” (Yuna)

Fina tilts her head slightly.

Apparently, she didn’t get my hint, as the crux of the matter went over her head.

“Are you going back to Crimonia?” (Yuna)

This time, Fina is surprised by my words.

“What about you, Yuna-oneesan, Kagali-san?” (Fina)

“I’m staying because I can’t leave Mia and Carol behind.” (Yuna)

When we return to Crimonia, it’s either when we have defeated the slime or when we failed to do so and fled with Mia and Carol.

“That’s right, for the time being, you could stay here until it gets perilous. As I said earlier, it’s also my responsibility. I will do everything I can.” (Kagali)

“I was the one who poured the magic into the wand, even though Kagali-san instructed me to do so. But Fina…” (Yuna)

The person herself tried to take the blame by saying that the whole ruckus happened because she used light magic, but to me that’s not a reason to stay here.

Still, Fina shakes her head a little.

“No, I think it would be better if I stayed too. Otherwise, Mia and Carol would find it strange if I suddenly disappeared, but if you think that’s the only way……” (Fina)

Fina hesitates while embracing Swaying Bear.

Fina has a valid point. If Fina suddenly disappeared, the two of them would panic. How could she have left, or why did we let her go home alone, or wouldn’t the slime chase after her? Not telling them about the bear gate would make them uneasy.

Besides, Fina is not a hindrance.

If anything, Mia and Carol are ‘the baggage’, not Fina.

“It’s troublesome to explain to those two, and it’s helpful if you stay. But if I think it’s getting too dangerous, I’ll have you return to Crimonia.” (Yuna)

If Fina is in danger, her life is more important than hiding the bear gate.

“Yes, that’s right. If we think you are in danger, you’ll have to go home.” (Kagali)

“Can you promise?” (Yuna)

“Yes!” (Fina)

Fina nodded honestly. Her expression looked a little happier.

“Kagali-san, can you actually pull it off?” (Yuna)

“There are several ways to deal with it, but whether or not I can do it is another matter.” (Kagali)

“Do you have a plan, Kagali-san?” (Fina)

Fina, who was listening to our conversation, asked.

“First is to put magic power back into Yuna’s wand to stop the slime from moving. The magic tool of Kryna-Hark should be somewhere in the town, so we have to go back there.” (Kagali)

“Then it’s not good for Yuna-oneesan to put magic into the wand here, is it?” (Fina)

“That’s right.” (Kagali)

“The next step is to destroy the magical tool located inside the slime. If we destroy it, the command ‘purify people’ may get cancelled.” (Yuna)

With the command core, the slime might continue chasing us.

“The question now is, where is the magic tool in that giant slime.” (Kagali)

It’s like searching for a coin in a huge lake.

Well, it’s easier than looking for pebbles out in the desert.

“Even if we could find it, there’s the question of whether we could destroy it. The notebook said that the slime absorbed the magic. I don’t know if our magic will be able to damage the slime.” (Kagali)

I don’t know what the mages’ level was at the time, but it’s possible that magic won’t work.

Even if ordinary magic doesn’t work, bear magic might.

“Well, it just means we’ll never know until we try.” (Kagali)

“The best thing that could happen would be for the slime just to give up and go away to the middle of nowhere.” (Yuna)

“Well, that will depend on how the slime behaves in the future. So, let’s take a rest for now. Bears, if the slime comes, I’ll be counting on you.” (Kagali)

Kagali-san asks toward Hugging Bear, whom I am holding, and Swaying Bear, whom Fina is holding. Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear cried “kuu~n” as if to say leave it to us.

And then, Kagali-san lay down on the futon and fell asleep just like she had done what she said.

“Let’s go to bed, too. Fina, you must be tired. Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear are here, so you can sleep with peace of mind.” (Yuna)

“……Yes.” (Fina)

I darkened the room and decided to rest now.

******

-Mia’s Point Of View-

I got into the futon, but I’m worried about the slime, so I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep immediately.

“Carol, what are you going to do?” (Mia)

While covering myself with a blanket, I asked Carol on the bed next to me.

“Yeah, what to do?” (Carol)

Carol returns the same words I just asked.

I was thinking about various things while running from the slime, but I had no answer.

“But is there really a way to beat it?” (Carol)

“If it’s going to chase us no matter what, why don’t we get on a boat and go out to sea? Then, won’t it sink to the bottom of the sea and die?” (Mia)

If it sank to the bottom of the sea, it may die.

“Slimes can live underwater, so I don’t think that’s a good idea. On the other hand, it might absorb the water and get bigger.” (Carol)

The method I devised, which sounded stupid, was quickly dismissed.

It grew up in that underground water, so there’s a good chance that it may even thrive.

“Uu, if it grows bigger than it is now, the world might end.” (Mia)

I don’t even want to imagine it.

“I know Kagali and the others said it wasn’t my fault, but it was. It’s because I came to Heschlag. Because I tried to search for the treasure.” (Mia)

When I think about the cause, I feel like I’m the worst.

Carol just followed me, so she’s not at fault.

“Kagali-chan… Kagali-san said that. Even if we didn’t come, those two would have explored it anyway.” (Carol)

“So you’re saying I’m not responsible?” (Mia)

“No, I’m not saying that we ●● are not responsible. We actually went to Heschlag, met with Kagali-san and the others, negotiated, went to that room, and found the wand.” (Carol)

“That’s right. But without Yuna’s magic.” (Mia)

Would the wand not have been activated if it were just the two of us?

In front of Yuna and the others, I said coolly that I was responsible, but in reality, I wanted to think I wasn’t accountable. Somewhere in my heart, I want to run away.

I don’t think I could shoulder the responsibility if that slime attacked the city and many people died. So when Kagali said it was not my responsibility, I was relieved.

My heart is filthy, and my soul is dirty.

Even so, I can’t defeat such a huge slime-like monster.

It’s enormous, even from a distance. It’s tall and wide. How can you attack such a thing?

I can’t do it with my knife. Even Carol’s magic is useless. there’s nothing we can do.

I’m so helpless. I am painfully aware of my powerlessness.

“It’s all that researcher’s fault. If it weren’t for that wand, nothing would have happened. Take responsibility until the end!” (Mia)

If that researcher’s skeleton had not had the wand, I would not have found it, Kagali would not have made Yuna put her magic into it, and Yuna would not have done so. It was all the fault of the researcher’s corpse.

“But the three of them are kind, aren’t they? They could leave us behind and run away, yet they didn’t, and they even rescued the horse we rode.” (Carol)

“Yeah, they’re a bunch of good-natured people.” (Mia)

I think it’s possible to escape by riding on those bears called Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear.

They ran while carrying us for quite a distance, yet they didn’t show a hint of tiredness.

So I asked, “Will you leave us and run away?”

Their reply was kind.

It’s different from my dirty mind, which was only thinking of getting treasure with the help of Yuna and the others.

Right, even the little Fina says she’s responsible for using light magic.

All three of them are truly good-natured.

So, it makes my heart look even more black.

“But I never would have imagined that Kagali-san was a fox.” (Carol)

“Indeed. She suddenly became an adult and grew fox ears and a tail.” (Mia)

I’ve never seen or heard of an animal becoming human.

“I’d still rather believe that Yuna is actually a real bear.” (Mia)

She easily defeats the knight armors that we can’t even hope to beat, she has two bears with her, she is dressed as a bear, and Yuna is more convincing as a bear than Kagali is a fox.

“Fufu, that’s right. If Yuna-san was actually a cute bear, like Swaying Bear-chan and Hugging Bear-chan, I would definitely believe it.” (Carol)

In that case, would Yuna be the bear princess?

Just imagining it makes me smile.

“I don’t quite understand the relationship between those three.” (Mia)

“A fox who can shapeshift into a human, a girl dressed as a bear, and a normal girl.” (Carol)

I really don’t understand their relationship.

When we met for the first time, the relationship between a girl, a little girl, and a bear already made no sense, but now that Kagali is a fox and has become an adult, their relationship has become even more confusing.

“But a girl like Kagali exists, the world is vast. There are many things I don’t know. I want to see more of the world.” (Mia)

“Mia-chan, perhaps your grandfather and your parents may have become venturers because they feel the same as you now, Mia-chan.” (Carol)

It makes me feel bad when people say I’m like my parents, but I might understand how they felt if I wasn’t thinking about money.

But that is no reason to neglect your children!

While talking about Kagali and Yuna, I already forgot about the slime and gradually became sleepy.

Perhaps the threads of nervousness have snapped.

I can hear Carol calling, but I can’t even answer anymore.

“Good night, Mia-chan.”

In my mind, I replied, “Good night,” and fell asleep.

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Author’s Note:

They all went to sleep, thinking about how to deal with the slime.

[Notice]

New anime information has been released.

The broadcast date of the anime has been released and the casts of Noa, Misa, and Shuri have been announced.

For more information, please see the activity report and the official anime website.

※ Thank you, as always, to everyone who has reported typos.

Please note that some of the kanji characters have not been corrected, as they have been adapted to the book.

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