-Toya POV-
What appeared was Bear Missy riding on her black bear.
[Why are you here?] Toya
[Senia-san told me you were here, so I came to help.] Yuna
[Whereâs Senia?] Toya
[She went back to the city with the others and being escorted by Hugging Bear.] Yuna
I feel relieved to hear that.
She went back to the city safe and sound. Thatâs why Bear Missy came to check on me.
[So, do you need any help?] Yuna
Missy looks at the Big Boars.
The Big Boars turned to Missy and grunted menacingly.
[I feel like they want to fight me.] Yuna
No, not to you, but to the bear that you are riding.
Missy tries to move.
[Missy, can you wait for a minute? Let me take care of these guys.] Toya
[Both of them?] Yuna
[Yeah.] Toya
I moved and attacked from behind one of the Big Boars, whoâs snarling at the girl. I thrust my sword into Big Boarâs body. The flesh was thick. I pushed the sword in as hard as I can. The Big Boar started to flail. I pulled out my sword and swung it down at Big Boarâs body.
It may not be fair, but unfortunately, I canât take down both of them head-on at the same time. Itâs the Big Boarâs fault for getting distracted by me. This is a fight for life and death. Iâm not strong enough, nor am I kind enough, to show mercy to my opponent.
The Big Boarâs large body collapsed after being slashed by the sword.
Thereâs only one left.
I looked at her with an expression saying, . Missy has a look of disappointment.
[Whatâs wrong?] Toya
[I just thought that if you were going to beat it normally, you would go and cut the red horns.] Yuna
Donât ask me to cut the horn as if itâs so easy. If Missy had easily cut the red horn in front of her, I may not be able to recover mentally. I would definitely judge, . Thatâs how different you and I are.
Jade, Mel, and Senia are all excellent adventurers. Iâm the only one whoâs ordinary. I must have a strong heart.
[Sorry, sorry about that, donât feel so bad Missy, but Iâm going to take down that Big Boar over there, too.] Toya
I turn my gaze to the remaining Big Boar. The Big Boar snarled at me, probably because its friend was killed, and its red horns turned even redder. I need to have at least one more experience right now. And if itâs just one, it can be my practice partner. So I canât give it up to you, Missy.
But then, something unexpected comes out of Missyâs mouth.
[Iâm going to go kill the other Big Boras. Iâm going to leave Swaying Bear with you, so if anything happens, please call for help. And Swaying Bear, if Toya is in danger, please help him.] Yuna
Wait a minute. What did you just say, Missy?
I turned my gaze from the Big Boar to Bear Missy.
[Hey! What do you mean, by ?] Toya
Are you still there?
[I donât think this is the time to be talking to me. If you donât look at them, theyâll come at you from behind like the Big Boar you just beat.] Yuna
I quickly turn my attention back to the Big Boar at her words, and the Big Boar is running towards me.
I dodged it at the last second.
The next time I looked at Missy, all I saw was the black bear.
What the hell? Thereâs still more? And youâre saying youâre going to beat them so easily when people around you were struggling?
But thanks to you, Missy, I have a one-on-one match. Besides, I feel safer when I think of the bear left by Bear Missy. I canât call myself a man if I canât slash a red horn under such circumstances.
The Big Boar lunged at me. I pulled myself to the edge, dodged to the side, and swung my Mithril sword at the magic-filled red horn, but the sword keeps bouncing back every time. It was hard. The horn is redder than before.
Donât sound so worried. Itâs just a training partner your master gave me. Itâs not your turn yet. Just stay there and watch over me.
I look at the bear, who looked mildly concerned, and smiled.
I remember when I slashed the sword, I slashed it several times, even by chance.
I remember the feeling.
I repeatedly dodged the Big Boarâs thrusts and timed them well.
I tried to dodge Big Boarâs attack in the last second, but Big Boarâs body moved slightly in the direction I dodged.
Itâs unavoidable.
My body bounced multiple times. Oh no. Unlike before, the impact was too strong. I fall to the ground. I try to get up quickly, but the pain is so intense that I canât get up right away.
Come on, get up or youâll get crushed by that.
I put strength into my arms and legs.
Get up!
Dodge!
I commanded my body.
I put all my strength into my body and stood up. As I look the Big Boar rushing towards me, I knew I canât avoid that. And while Iâm thinking of that, a black object hits Big Boar.
The bear that Missy left me hit the Big Boar from the side. He saved me. The Big Boar was hit by the black bear and fell over on its side. The black bear cried and looked at me.
[You saved me. Thank you.] Toya
I thanked Missyâs bear.
I didnât think that he would really help me when I was in a pinch. It feels strange to think that a bear was watching over me, but it indeed saved my life.
I feel frustrated at my lack of ability. Why am I so weak?
Itâs impossible for me to cut the horn of a moving Big Boar right now. But what if I cut the horn of a fallen Big Boar?
I forced myself to move my body, which was in agonizing pain and approached the fallen Big Boar. The Big Boar tried to get up, but itâs too sluggish due to its large size. I stepped forward forcefully, put strength into my hands, pictured the sword line in my mind, and swung the Mithril sword down at the red horn.
The horn was slashed, but I kept going, cutting all the way to the back, and plunging my sword deep into the Big Boarâs neck.
The Big Boar stopped moving.
......Itâs over.
I picked up the red horn.
......It was cleanly cut. It made me laugh. It was the best slash Iâve ever done. But I canât do it while moving, so itâs no wonder Iâm considered a half-wit. I need to work harder.
I turn my gaze to Bear Missyâs bear who was watching over me.
[Swaying Bear, right? Thanks.] Toya
When I thanked it, it cried a happy, .
Damn it, it sounds so cute, I can see why Senia and Mel love it so much.
I pat it on the head and thanked it. What is this? This softness. It feels good.
No oneâs watching, right?
I checked my surroundings. I buried my face in Swaying Bearâs body, after making sure that no one is around.
Oh, it feels so good. What is this fluffy feeling? My body is tired, so I feel even more comfortable. If I fall asleep like this, I might feel good. I gave in to this temptation and closed my eyes.
[Toya, what are you doing?] Senia
I quickly opened my eyes and looked away from Swaying Bear. Then I looked in the direction of the voice. Senia was there, riding a white bear.
[Why are you here, Senia?] Toya
[I was worried, so I came to help you out. But then, I saw Toya hugging Swaying Bear.] Senia
Senia looks at me and Swaying Bear alternately.
[No, thatâs not it.] Toya
When I move away from Swaying Bear, it sadly cries .
[No, thatâs not it.] Toya
I also told Swaying Bear that itâs not it.
[Whatâs not it?] Senia
?
I look at Senia and Swaying Bear alternately.
[Thatâs not it. ï½ï½ï½ï½ï½ï½ï½ï½ï½ï½ï½ï½!] Toya
My cry echoed throughout the forest.
Then the white bear that had brought Senia to me went to the Bear Missyâs side. Senia asked it to bring her to me after all.
Whether itâs the black bear Swaying Bear or the white bear Hugging Bear, they understand human language, they obey their masterâs orders, and they can detect if their master is in danger. It makes me wonder if they are really bears. The best part is how comfortable they are to the touch. Itâs like being wrapped in the finest fur. I want to sleep wrapped in that fur.
But it was not good that Senia saw me hugging Swaying Bear.
[Senia, that was just a bear supporting me, I was badly hurt after all.] Toya
I explain to Senia, who is tending to me, as an excuse.
[You were hugging Swaying Bear happily.] Senia
[Itâs just your imagination.] Toya
I feel like Swaying Bear is looking at me with a face. Itâs bad because it can understand peopleâs words. I canât even say hurtful words.
Senia smiles. As she looks at my hand.
[Did you cut the horn?] Senia
Iâm holding the red horn of the Big Boar in my hand.
[Yeah, but itâs all thanks to Bear Missy and Swaying Bear.] Toya
[Swaying Bear?] Senia
When I said Swaying Bearâs name, she lunges at me.
[That Bear Missy, she has two bears. So I was just making a distinction between them.] Toya
[You usually just say a black bear and a white bear, though.] Senia
You remember all the details?
[Itâs just your imagination.] Toya
I looked at Swaying Bear.
[Are you sure you donât want to go to your master? Iâm safe now.] Toya
It replied, but it doesnât move. I canât tell from its expression if it thinks it doesnât have to go because the white bear is on its way to its master, or if itâs following its masterâs word and stayed by my side.
[What happened to Yuna?] Senia
[There are other Big Boars out there, so she went to take them down.] Toya
[Then we have to go help her.] Yuna
After Senia heard what I said, she stood up.
Just then, I thought I heard a sound of rustling grass and trees, the Bear Missy appeared riding on a white bear.
[Miss, youâre safe.] Toya
[Toya, are you all right?] Yuna
She tilted her head while looking at me, who was being tended to by Senia.
[Oh, thanks for the bear you left for me, Missy.] Toya
When I looked at Swaying Bear, it happily ran up to its master, Bear Missy. She gets off the white bear and pets Swaying Bear on the head.
[Thank you.] Yuna
Swaying Bear looked happy when it was praised by its master, Bear Missy.
It was at that moment that I once again realized Swaying Bear had saved me, not because it was trying to save me on its own, but because it had been ordered to do so by its master, Bear Missy.
Damn it, Iâm not gonna miss you Swaying Bear.
[So what happened to the other Big Boars?] Senia
[Yeah, there were three of them in the vicinity, so I took them out.] Yuna
She said it as if she simply defeated some Wolf. Then, Missy took out the Big Boar from her bear-faced glove, and in her hand were three red horns.
I had a hard time getting it, but she gets it so easily. She must have slashed the horns of the moving Big Boars. I slashed the one that Swaying Bear had knocked down.
This is the difference between a genius and an ordinary person. Itâs difficult to close this gap.
Before I can do that, I have to be able to stand next to Jade, Senia, and Mel. Itâs going to be a long road. I look at the single red horn in my hand. This is the first step.
Authorâs Note:
One more bear lover!
Now Toya is also captivated by the bear.
It seems that Toya was able to grow up with the help of Swaying Bear.
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