432 Bear-san, Enters The Hot Spring
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Authorâs Note 1:n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
â»In the previous story, I forgot to correct Konohaâs age due to lack of confirmation and posted it.
Konohaâs age.
Before the correction, sheâs about Finaâs age.
After correction, she is about the same age as me (Yuna).
Iâve already corrected it.
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I will be staying at a ryokan, and Konoha is showing me to my room.
The ryokan is large and we head to the back of the building. The room was a sort of remote part of the inn.
When I entered the room, I saw that it was as large as Konoha had said it would be and definitely not a room for one person to stay in. Well, Iâm not alone either.
Thereâs Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear as well.
[No other guests will pass by this room, so you can stay here quietly.] Konoha
The room is indeed separated from the rest of the house, so no other guests will pass by. This room is more and more suitable for me.
I looked around the room and saw a nostalgic Japanese room with tatami mats covering the entire floor. Itâs true what they say, you donât know whatâs important until itâs gone.
As I quickly tried to climb up on the tatami.
[Iâm sorry, please take off your shoes when you enter the room.] Konoha
When I tried to enter with my bear shoes on, I was stopped.
My bear shoes donât get dirty, even with mud. So I donât mind walking on the bed. But itâs too much trouble to explain here, so Iâm going to take off my bear shoes before entering the room.
Oh, it feels good to walk on tatami with bare feet. I feel nostalgic for a feeling I havenât had in a long time.
At the time, I never paid any attention to the existence of a Japanese-style room in my apartment. But now that itâs gone for quite a while, Iâm glad to see its existence again.
Maybe I can make a Japanese-style room in the bear house. I think Iâll buy tatami mats later.
[You look happy, dear guest.] Konoha
[It felt a little, nostalgic.] Yuna
[Nostalgic, you say?] Konoha
[Yeah, itâs been a long time since Iâve felt this sensation.] Yuna
[I see. Thatâs why itâs okay for you to sleep on tatami mats, isnât it?] Konoha
While I was immersing myself in the nostalgic feel of the tatami on my feet, Konoha started walking to the next room, and I followed her.
[This is the hot spring. You can enter at any time, so please feel free to do so.] Konoha
When she opened the door, thereâs a changing room, and when she opened the door further, thereâs a hinoki bath with steam rising from it. The bath was large enough for a family. It looks like I can take a bath with Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear.
Then she briefed me on how to use the washroom. And things like, I have to say a word when I want to go out, or when I want to have a meal.
[Your meal will be brought to you when itâs time, or would you like to go out today?] Konoha
Well, what should I do? Even if I go out now, the sun will be setting soon. But I also feel like going out.
Hmmm, what should I do?
I thought about it and decided to start exploring the city in the morning. First, I decided to enjoy the Japanese-style room and the hot spring. I also had to contact Fina.
[I think Iâll take the rest of the day off.] Yuna
[All right. So, would you like bread or rice for your meal?] Konoha
[Do I get to choose?] Yuna
[Yes, we have guests from other countries staying here after all.] Konoha
[Iâll have some rice, then.] Yuna
After all, I came to a Japanese-like country, so I should eat Japanese-like food.
But they donât serve locusts and caterpillars and other insect dishes, do they?
[Well, we canât exchange the food that you donât eat food, but...] Konoha
[Like a bug maybe?] Yuna
Iâve never eaten one, but Iâm not a fan of bugs. I donât dare to put them in my mouth, even if they are food. Even if Iâm told to eat it, thereâs no way Iâll do it.
[No, it will be rice, soup with miso, vegetable stew, seafood with crab, etc.] Konoha
Iâm glad.
But itâs crabs. Crabs! Iâm looking forward to it.
[Is everything okay?] Konoha
[Yeah, Iâm fine.] Yuna
[Then Iâll bring it to you when itâs time to eat.] Konoha
Konoha bowed and walked out of the room.
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I had seafood in Milla, too. But crab and other seafood, Iâm looking forward to this one.
As soon as Konoha left the room, I summoned Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear in cub form.
[Swaying Bear, Hugging Bear, itâs Tatami!] Yuna
>
Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear walked on the tatami mat.
I decided to enjoy the tatami mats and the hot spring together with Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear. Besides, it would be boring to enjoy it alone. It might be a good idea to bring Fina along.
Yeah, itâs easy enough to bring them in if I set up a bear gate.
When I looked at Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear, they were running around the large tatami room.
[Both of you, donât scratch the tatami, okay? Be careful with your claws. Also, tell me when someone comes. After that, hide so that no one can find you.] Yuna
>
I gave them all the warnings.
They would be surprised if a bear was in the room, and it would be like bringing in a hidden pet. In the meantime, I am aware of this, so I asked them to hide. If push comes to shove, I can return them to the bear puppets.
Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear started lounging around on the tatami.
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As I watched them, I took out my bear phone and called Fina.
«Yuna-oneesan?» Fina
[Fina, Iâll be gone for a while, so take care of things there.] Yuna
«Are you going there?» Fina
[Donât tell anyone where Iâm going.] Yuna
From the time I could see land from Targui, I told her I was coming to that land.
«Are you sure about this? Isnât it dangerous?» Fina
[Itâs okay. Apparently, itâs the Land of Harmony.] Yuna
«The Land of Harmony?» Fina
[Yes, the country where rice and soy sauce came from.] Yuna
«Isnât that far away?» Fina
[With that being said, Iâll be staying here for a while, so call me if you need anything.] Yuna
«I understand.» Fina
[Fina, do you want to come too?] Yuna
«Iâd love to go, but my dad would be sad if I was gone too long.» Fina
......Gentz-san.
Well, he was separated from Fina when we went to the dwarven city.
Not too many days have passed since then.
[If you get the permission, give me a call anytime.] Yuna
«Yes, I understand. Please be careful, Yuna-oneesan.» Fina
After turning off the bear phone, I decided to enjoy the hot spring until dinner.
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[Swaying Bear, Hugging Bear letâs go, weâre going to the hot spring.] Yuna
When I called out, Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear, who were lounging on the tatami, came over. Apparently, they liked the tatami mat too. Iâm going to have to buy some tatami later.
I took Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear and moved to the changing room.
I took off my stuffy bear costume in the changing room and plunged into the hot spring.
The steam was amazing. The hot spring water was coming out of what looked like a tube.
I put my hand into the cypress bathtub to check the temperature.
[Itâs hot!] Yuna
The temperature seemed to be high.
But Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear goes into the hot spring like itâs normal.
As expected, they are strong in both cold and hot conditions.
I poured hot water over myself and slowly entered the bath, feet first.
Itâs hot, but if I go in slowly, Iâll be fine.
Then, I soak up to my shoulders.
[Ha~a ~] Yuna
That feels good.
Hot springs are the ultimate luxury.
Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear put their heads on the frame of the cypress bath and looked comfortable.
I want to see the scenery outside, but I canât since itâs not an open-air bath.
Is there an outdoor bath somewhere?
However, I would like to have a hot spring in the bath of the Crimonia bear house.
But we donât have hot springs in Crimonia, do we?
After enjoying the hot spring, I left the bathroom.
I wiped myself thoroughly, then wiped Swaying Bear and Hugging Bearâs bodies as well, and dried them with a hairdryer.
Iâve changed into a polar bear and entered the relaxed mode.
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As I was brushing Swaying Bear and Hugging Bearâs fur, Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear cried and looked at the door.
Looks like someoneâs here.
There is a knock at the door.
I told Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear to hide and opened the door. There was Konoha, who showed me to my room.
[I brought you your diner.] Konoha
[You brought it yourself?] Yuna
[Would my mother have been a better choice?] Konoha
[Not at all. I just donât want people to see me like this.] Yuna
She looked at my polar bear outfit.
[Youâre a white bear now.] Konoha
[And by the way, I have nothing to say about this outfit either.] Yuna
When I made the first move, she didnât ask me anything about clothes.
Instead, Konoha asked something else as she laid out the food.
[How was the hot spring?] Konoha
[That felt really good.] Yuna
[Thatâs good to hear.] Konoha
[Did you come alone, dear guest? Are your family members not with you?] Konoha
[Itâs just me.] Yuna
[How did you get all the way out here by yourself?] Konoha
[Even though I look like this, Iâm still an adventurer. I can handle a little danger.] Yuna
[An adventurer......?] Konoha
Konoha stopped her hand and looked at me.
She has doubtful eyes.
Well, even if she, believe me, itâll be difficult to accept.
[Yuna-san, youâre an adventurer, you say? Are you able to use amazing magic by any chance?] Konoha
[Well, maybe a little.] Yuna
[Itâs amazing. Then even a girl like Yuna-san can come to a place like this by herself.] Konoha
Apparently, she believed me because she thought Iâm a mage.
[Is there an adventurerâs guild in this city?] Yuna
[Yes, there is.] Konoha
I knew thereâs one here, Iâm just not sure about it.
The Adventurerâs Guild of the Land of Harmony, maybe Iâll take a peek tomorrow.
Do they use weapons like a sword? Do they have magicians?
Konoha finished arranging the food and left the room.
I called out to Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear, who were hiding.
Dinner was a sumptuous meal of rice, miso soup, boiled vegetables, and boiled crab.
Ooh, that looks delicious.
[Itadakimasu!] Yuna
I took my bowl and chopsticks and ate my food.
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Authorâs Note 2:
This is a hot spring episode.
Animals are not allowed on tatami mats, right?
But Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear are fine.
Sheâs been summoning Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear at the inn every time, but will she have to pay extra if they find out?
Do you think they will kick her out when that happens?
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