After successfully replenishing the magic power, Guildmaster and I left the room. Then Rojina-san greeted us outside the door.
[Well, it looks like it worked.] Rojina
Rojina-san said as he looked around at the brighter surroundings. The surroundings are now brighter than when we first entered the room. It seems that the magic power is being used properly.
[I think we can trick them somehow with this. The only question is, how long will it last?] Yuna
[Well, I guess weâll see.] Guildmaster
In the worst-case scenario, I can add magic power to it. Although, itâs troublesome, so Iâd rather not.
[Iâm sure youâve got a lot of magic power in you. But if you had that much magic power, you would normally live as a wizard, so you shouldnât be that much proficient with knives.] Rojina
[Indeed. Just the fact of having a lot of magic power gives one an advantage using magic. Thatâs why those with a lot of magic power often fight with magic at a safe distance instead of the dangerously close combat with melee weapons.] Guildmaster
Of course, if you attack from a distance, youâll be safe, though if you want to use magic, youâll need some practice first. If you have time to practice with weapons, then use it to practice magic instead. I also know a new adventurer girl who practices magic every day. Thereâs even a saying, .
If you practice handling weapons, you will neglect your magic, and vice-versa. Thatâs why those with more magic power are less likely to handle weapons.
The same can be said for the game world. Wizards donât fight with swords. Only magic swordsmen use magic and weapons.
[Moreover, at your age, it shouldnât be easy to acquire that kind of skill.] Rojina
I learned it by playing games.
Unlike in this world, you can practice fighting 24 hours a day if you want to. If you go outside the city, there are monsters, and if you go to the battlefield, there are NPCs (non-player characters) and players. In the real world, if you run out of energy or get injured, you wonât be able to practice. But in a game, you can recover your strength and heal your injuries by using recovery medicine. You can play as many games as you want.
Even in just one year, I have fought a dozen times, almost a hundred times more than the inhabitants of this world. How many people in this world have defeated tens of thousands of monsters? And how many people in this world have fought as many people with different professions as I have?
Above all, no one in this world died as many times as I have. Most people cannot learn from death. But I have died so many times that Iâd lost count, and there are many things I have learned from my death. Thatâs the difference between me and the people in this world.
More importantly, I canât use that technology or power without the bear equipment. This is really harassment, isnât it?
I look down and sigh when I see my fluffy figure. It would have been nice if I had at least been wearing something cool.
We opened the outer gate and went back to the building where Fina and Ruimin were. Then Fina and Ruimin came running up to us. It seems that they were waiting for us at the door.
[Yuna-oneesan!] Fina
Fina came in front of me. I stared at her.
[Yuna-oneesan?] Fina
[Youâre the real one, right?] Yuna
[The real one?] Fina
Fina tilted her head slightly.
Looks like sheâs the real deal. Of course, Iâm skeptical after what just happened. After all, I was fooled by the silhouette on the magic wall and the voice at that time. But Iâm sure, itâs definitely Fina in front of me.
I lightly tap Fina on the head with my bear puppet. Fina looks puzzled at my incomprehensible action.
[Nothing happened to either of you, right?] Yuna
Have you ever had anything strange happen to you, like your memory suddenly being copied?
[Etto, the guild staff is here.] Fina
I looked behind Fina and saw two girls in guild uniforms doing their work. When the guild ladies noticed us, they ran up to Guildmaster.
[Guildmaster! Where have you been! When I came here, you were not around. There were only two girls here and they said you went inside the Gate of Trials.] Guild Worker 1
[Hey, I was just checking the inside of the Gate of Trials.] Guildmaster
[Together with the blacksmith Rojina-san and the bear girl?] Guild Worker 1
She looked at Rojina-san and then at me.
[Thatâs.......] Guildmaster
[Iâm sorry, I was the one who forced him to do it. An acquaintance from far away wanted to see the inside of the Gate of Trials.] Rojina
When Guildmaster was faltering, Rojina-san came to his rescue. Then he glanced at me. I see, he canât tell her that I challenged the Gate of Trials, so heâs going to pretend that it was his selfish request and went inside. But isnât this my fault?
[Guildmaster, is that true?] Guild Worker 2
The other guild lady sharply asked Guildmaster.
[...Iâm sorry.] Guildmaster
[The guild staffs are not allowed to go in without Guildmasterâs permission, so you canât just let a girl go in just because Rojina-san asked you!] Guild Worker 2
Guildmaster flinched at the angry expression on the Guild ladyâs face.
[Now, now, itâs not like I showed her the trials itself.] Guildmaster
Guildmaster said as if to make an excuse. He doesnât seem to have the dignity of a Guildmaster. Or maybe the guild lady is the resolute one?
[However, rules are rules. And you have to follow them.] Guild Worker 2
[Iâm sorry.] Guildmaster
[I apologize as well.] Rojina
[Iâm sorry.] Yuna
Following Guildmaster, Rojina-san apologizes, so I apologize as well.
The guild ladies let out a small sigh.
[Young Lady. Only those who are challenging the Gate of Trials are allowed in here, except for Guildmaster. We canât enter either. Donât be selfish just because you want to see whatâs inside, okay.] Guild Worker 1
I guess I looked childish, so the guild lady forgave me.
Well, no one wouldnât think that I already challenged the Gate of Trials, you know?
[And Guildmaster, just because sheâs a little girl, that doesnât mean you donât have to follow the rules.] Guild Worker 1
[Yes, I understand.] Guildmaster
[Now, can we then begin the reception for the blacksmiths and adventurers waiting outside?] Guild Worker 1
[Yes, please.] Guildmaster
The receptionist opened the door. Then several pairs of blacksmiths and what appeared to be adventurers entered the building.
One of the receptionists will be at the counter and the other one will be outside.
[Somehow, we got this thing started on time.] Guildmaster
Guildmaster is happy to see the weaponsmiths and the adventurers. Both are young, possibly apprentice blacksmiths and new adventurers. Then the first group arrives at the reception.
[Tarotoba, youâve been a great help this time.] Rojina
[Okay sure. Now, make your own weapons and participate next year. Then I wonât complain.] Guildmaster
[I know. Iâll be there with my best weapon.] Rojina
Rojina-san said heâd participate with his best weapon. Does this mean?
[However, if the Bear-girl wants to participate, it should be on the last day. Itâs the only thing thatâs non-negotiable.] Guildmaster
Guildmaster seemed happy at Rojina-sanâs words and walked behind the door with the first group to challenge the Gate of Trials.
Well, even if Guildmaster said that. Iâm not going to participate anymore. I donât want to get into trouble again. Besides, I already had my fill of the trials at the Gate of Trials.
[Rojina-san, Iâm also going now.] Yuna
A little more time and people will start to gather. I want to leave before that happens.
[Oh, youâve shown me something good, Missy. I appreciate it. Iâll be done with what youâve ordered by tomorrow, so come and pick it up by then.] Rojina
Rojina-san said he would stay behind for a while and watch the blacksmiths who came to challenge the Gate of Trials.
I called Fina and Ruimin and went back.
[Yuna-oneesan, how did the trials at the Gate of Trials go?] Fina
Fina asked as she climb down the stairs.
Ruimin is going down the stairs alone as if sheâs running away from me. I asked her if she wanted to come down with me, but she ran away.
[Well, it was... It was a test of the weaponâs performance, the weaponâs wielder, and the wielderâs mind.] Yuna
[That sounds difficult. So, did Yuna-oneesan completed the trials at the Gate of Trials?] Fina
Fina, who was a few steps down from me, looked back and asked.
[I cleared it for the time being.] Yuna
[Youâre amazing, Yuna-oneesan. But you canât talk about the details, can you?] Fina
[Well, thatâs the rule.] Yuna
Besides, Iâm embarrassed to talk about fake Fina. And itâs the same with my own copy. Itâs also embarrassing to imagine a battle between a bear costume vs. a bear costume.
I use the rules as a shield and set the details aside.
[But I wanted to see you fight, Yuna-oneesan.] Fina
[Me too.] Ruimin
Perhaps hearing Finaâs voice, Ruimin, who was a few steps below Fina, agreed.
[Oh, right. Yuna-oneesan, please listen to me. Ruimin-san tried to enter the Gate of Trials without permission. I told her not to do that.] Fina
[Ah, oi, Fina-chan. You donât have to tell her. I didnât go inside anyway.] Ruimin
Ruimin, whoâs a few steps below, runs up and tries to cover Finaâs mouth.
[You were saying, just a little bit.] Fina
[Fina-cha ~ n] Ruimin
[In the end, she couldnât do it because someone from the guild came. If they hadnât come, she definitely would have sneaked in. It was hard to stop her.] Fina
[Because Iâm so curious.] Ruimin
Ruimin makes excuses, but I canât blame her since I also know that feeling, I was curious too. Thatâs why I climbed the long stairs to the Gate of Trials. I even took the challenge with Rojina-sanâs suggestion. So, I canât blame Ruimin.
Then we descended the infamous long flight of stairs. While doing so, we passed several pairs of blacksmiths and their adventurer partners. Each time they looked at me, but I simply passed them by and went down the stairs.
Iâm curious to see what kind of trials they will go through. I hope they will do their best and challenge the trials head-on.
[What are you two going to do now? I think Iâll go back to the inn and get some rest.] Yuna
[Iâll go back with you.] Fina
[What am I going to do?] Ruimin
Ruimin began to worry alone.
[Weâre going to leave after we get the pots, pans, and the other stuff from Rojina-san, so you can do whatever you want until then.] Yuna
[Iâve already had my fill though.] Fina
[Thatâs right. Itâs still early in the morning. I think Iâll go back and sleep as well.] Ruimin
When Ruimin gave a small sigh, Fina and I followed suit.
Certainly, it was still early in the morning. Besides, I had used up a lot of my magic power after all. I should go to bed after returning to the inn.
When we returned to the inn, I summoned Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear in cub form, and tried to sleep with them in my arms like stuffed animals. But they were taken away by Fina and Ruimin, and I had to sleep by myself, all alone.
......Iâm lonely now.
Authorâs Note:
This is the end of the Gate of Trials (Bear Edition).
Toya? I havenât forgotten him.
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