I left Anzuâs shop and now Iâm walking towards the orphanage.
I havenât been in the orphanage since I came back from the desert. I have the big eggs as souvenirs, but Iâm thinking of making them at a later date.
Today, the children whoâre working in the shop havenât seen it, and they canât cook it. So Iâm going to show them the big eggs as souvenirs while weâre at sea or when the shop is closed. Today is purely to report my return.
When I got near the orphanage, I saw some children running around energetically outside. Are they playing tag? I can see one chasing the others.
When one of them noticed me, they stopped playing and came to me running.
[Yuna-oneesan!] Child
[I havenât come here for a while, but are you doing well?] Yuna
[Yup.] Child
When one child comes, the other children get together. Everyone was so delighted.
[Where is the director?] Yuna
[Sheâs over there.] Child
One of the children holds my Bear Puppet. Then, other children grabbed the other Bear Puppet, and they also held onto the Bear Costume. Theyâre so happy that I canât shake them off. Itâs a bit hard to walk, but Iâm going to be patient and head into the orphanage.
When we entered the orphanage, the children showed me to the director. Well, the place where the director was always the same, but the children still guided me.
Itâs a playroom for children. The director was frequent in this room along with the children. When we entered the room, I saw the director talking with the other children.
[Yuna-san?] Director
The director noticed me entered the room. And, the children who were with me, let go of me and went to the director. The director looked delighted to see such happy children.
After all, the director seems to be above me. Even the Bear Costume canât win. To begin with, it is wrong to compare it with the director and Liz-san. They had a hard time taking care of orphaned children for many years. Just like a parent and a sister. Even if I dressed as a bear, I canât beat them.
I walked towards the director who was sitting on the floor.
[Yuna-san, welcome back. I heard from Tirumina-san that you returned yesterday, but were you injured?] Director
[No, Iâm not.] Yuna
Iâm covered in Bear Armor, so Iâll never get injured. Maybe I would get hurt if I fought against a dragon. However, I might escape if it appears. Of course, I want to fight it, but my life is more important.
[Yuna-san. I know youâre an adventurer, but please donât overdo it. If anything happens to Yuna-san, these children will be sad.] Director
The director said to me while patting the head of the child whoâs sitting on her lap.
The director who does not know my strength was worried from the bottom of her heart. Sheâs a kind person.
I sat next to the director
[Did anything happened while I was away?] Yuna
[If you look at the faces of the children, youâll see it.] Director
The director looks at the children in the room with a warm smile.
In the room, there are children who are enjoying themselves by reading picture books and holding the Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear plushies. Thereâs a child whoâs sleeping comfortably while holding Swaying Bear plushie even though itâs very noisy inside the room.
[But the director does not let the children worry.] Yuna
The director is the type of person who makes a sad face when the children are not around, and she smiles whenever in front of children. Therefore, I cannot trust what the director just said.
[No, Itâs not like that. Now Iâm happy to be with the children like this.] Director
There is no problem if the director is really happy.
[Please let me know if thereâs any problem.] Yuna
It doesnât matter even if itâs a tiny problem. I have connections and money. (TC: words of a big syndicateâs boss.)
Thereâs Cliff and also the King who seems to be willing to lending me their power. The commercial guild and adventurerâs guild are also more likely to help me.
Though when I think about it, nobody will go against me now, isnât it?
[Fufu, of course, I will.] Director
I and the director smiled at each other.
[By the way, Liz-san and Nifu-san are not here?] Yuna
At this time, the bird care shouldâve been done. Liz-san should have free time right now. And, Nifu-san shouldâve been in this room with the director.
[Tirumina-san asked us to prepare what we needed when we go to the sea, so theyâve gone shopping with the other children.] Director
The two of them were out shopping?
Certainly, there might be some necessary things for travel. I can provide food and housing, but they have to prepare their own clothes. There may be other things we need that Iâm not aware of.
In my case, most of my things are already in the Bear Box, so I donât have anything that I need to prepare.
[But are you really going to take all the children?] Director
[Itâs my way of thanking all of you for always being serious about your work.] Yuna
[Weâre able to keep working because of Yuna-san, weâre very grateful to you.] Director
I hear that a lot from Fina. Still, Iâm grateful to them as well.
[Well, each person has different values in life. Please enjoy it as well director.] Yuna
[Thank you, Yuna-san.] Director
While I and the director are talking about the sea, a girl hugging a Hugging Bear plushie comes to me.
[Yuna-oneesan. Can I bring Bear-san with me?] Child
The girl asked me while hugging the Hugging Bear plushie. On the other hand, the director opened her mouth the moment I tried to say, .
[No, you canât. We made a promised to keep our luggage few didnât we?] Director
The director pays attention to the girl.
[But Bear-san.] Child
[Sensei... I want to bring mine too.] Child
[Me too......] Child
The children want to bring their Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear plushies, so theyâre asking the director for permission.
The director was surrounded by children, and her expression was floating with embarrassment.
[We need to have less luggage. And weâll be back soon, so just be patient for a little while.] Director
[U~u.] Children
The children sadly hugged their plushies.
U wa~a, the faces of Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear plushies also became sad.
[Umm, director. Itâs just a plushie.] Yuna
[But we have other luggage to take with us. It will cause trouble to Yuna-san if we bring too much.] Director
There are quite a few plushies in the orphanage. Iâm not saying itâs one per person, but the girls and the little boys have it. If everyone were to bring their plushies with them, it would be quite a lot and it would become luggage in itself.
[Then, please use this. The plushies can fit in it.] Yuna
I gave an item bag to the director.
[Are you sure?] Director
[Please use it. Iâm happy that they like the plush toys that I gave them.] Yuna
When I gave permission, the children became lively again. Iâm glad that the gifts are being used, rather than getting shelved and forgotten somewhere. But I hope it wonât get tattered, though when you see the children playing with it, itâs kinda difficult to say that isnât it?
After that, I killed some time at the orphanage for a while, but Liz-san and Nifu-san did not come back, so I decided to leave.
I left the orphanage and went to Noaâs house. Tirumina-san is the one who has an appointment, but if I go and see her sheâll say, or or something like that. (ããã¾ããæåãï½ï½ã)
[Yuna-san. Give me Bear-sanâs essence!] Noa
See...
She told me that as soon as I met her.
[Noa, are you studying properly?] Yuna
[Iâm doing it. So I can also go to the sea. Sometimes I went to Yuna-sanâs house to refill the Bear-sanâs essence, but Yuna wasnât there.] Noa
[No, Noa should have known. I went to the capital.] Yuna
[I thought you would be back sooner since you have the bears.] Noa
Well, I have Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear, so I can go back and forth faster than any horse. But with the Bear Gate, it would be instantaneous.
For the time being, in order to replenish the Bear essence, I summoned Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear in cub form. Noah happily embraces Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear.
[U~u, Iâm so happy.] Noa
For an aristocrat, itâs very cheap happiness. Though I canât help but understand that feeling. Holding Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear makes me happy as well.
[So, why are you here today? Of course, Yuna-san is always welcome even if you donât have anything to do here.] Noa
[Today we decided on the schedule for the seaside trip, so I thought I should make a report?] Yuna
[You have decided?] Noa
I told her the schedule of departure.
[Weâre leaving at sunrise, so donât be late.] Yuna
[Iâll do my best not to oversleep.] Noa
Noa holds her small hand tightly.
Well, in Noaâs case, thereâs the reliable maid, Lala-san, so itâs okay.
[But if you lend me Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear, I wonât be late.] Noa
[I wonât lend them to you.] Yuna
[Thatâs too bad.] Noa
While Iâm talking to Noa, Cliff came into the room.
[Excuse me for a moment.] Cliff
[Whatâs wrong father?] Noa
[I would like to greet the bear because I will leave my daughter in her hands for quite some time.] Cliff
Cliff looks at me.
[If my daughter does something unsightly, you can scold her. If you do that, sheâll listen to you.] Cliff
[I wonât do that!] Noa
[If so, then donât complain if the bears are taken by the other children.] Cliff
Cliff picks up Swaying Bear that Noa is holding. Noa reaches out, but Cliff moves away.
Swaying Bear cried .
[Father! Give him back please!] Noa
[Does the other children say the same thing when you do that?] Cliff
[That is......] Noa
[You have to be careful about your position and your words. Donât forget that.] Cliff
Cliff gave Swaying Bear back to Noa.
[To us who are lords, the people of the city are the assets. Do not loathe them. If you hate them, it will come back to you. You are a good lord only if you are liked by the people.] Cliff
[I know that.] Noa
[All right, then. I know that you donât make fun of people. But when it comes to bears, you must behave yourself.] Cliff
Cliff pats Noaâs head.
[U~u.] Noa
Noa also knew about it so she remained silent.
[If you donât want to be hated by that girl Fina and the bears, remember to be patient.] Cliff
[I... I understand.] Noa
Noa is basically a good girl. But when it comes to bears, sheâs a little......
Still, Cliff has a good view of Noa. It reminds me of the first time Noa met Fina.
or , or so she declared to Fina. Such a nostalgic scene.
[So Yuna, you can scold Noa if she did something like that.] Cliff
[Noa is fine. Sheâs a kind girl.] Yuna
[If the bears werenât involved, I can trust it. However...] Cliff
Yeah... I guess so~.
But Noaâs love of bears, is it my fault?
When I saw Noa happily petting Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear, well, maybe it was my fault.
Letâs hope that someday I will be able to separate her from the bears.