Chapter 455: Chapter 451 Bear-san, Protects Hugging Bear

“Your Majesty, how is the castle?” (Sakura)

Sakura asked as if nothing had happened.

What’s this, straight-face-jutsu?

The others didn’t seem to mind either.

I’ll do the same and go along with it.

“I’ve silenced them. No matter what she looks like, even if she’s young, she’s still a strong girl who has defeated Jubei. And I’m sure they’ve all received their own reports. I won’t let them complain.” (King)

The king said so and looked at me.

He can’t deny that I’m a bear, no matter how he looked at me.

“While I’ve read the reports, I didn’t expect you to be such a small girl. If it wasn’t for Sakura’s words, I’d doubt it.” (King)

No, I’m not small. You’re just big, king.

But he believes in Sakura’s words.

“Jubei, you really lost, didn’t you?” (King)

“Yes. Contrary to her appearance, she is stronger than any warlord. I swear the truth on this life.” (Jubei)

“I see. I guess there are small but strong people in foreign lands.” (King)

No, I don’t think there is.

So far, I have not met anyone who I think was stronger than me.

That’s because of the bear gear that God gave me. Without the bear gear, I would just be a girl with no power.

“And these are the beasts of hope Sakura was talking about? I’ve heard they’re fierce, but what can I say, they’re not scary bears.” (King

“”Ku~u ~ n””

At the king’s words, Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear cried in denial.

They have cool fighting faces, but right now, they have their relaxed faces on, so I can’t argue with the king’s words.

If they had always looked so fierce, I think the kids would have been scared to go near them.

“Is it okay to touch them?” (King)

“As long as you don’t hurt them.” (Yuna)

“No, I won’t. Now then, let me touch you.” (King)

The king touches Hugging Bear’s body.

“Ooh, it feels good on my skin. It feels good to touch. It’s also white and beautiful. I wish I had this kind of fur.” (King)

As soon as the king said that, Hugging Bear moved quickly away from the king and hid behind me.

“Kuu ~ n”

My body can’t hide a body that big.

Of course, I would protect him from the king if he tried to do that again.

The king sees the escaped Hugging Bear.

When I was about to ask him “don’t even joke about it”, Sakura opened her mouth first.

“Uncle! Please be careful with your words. Do you know how hard Shinobu and the others worked to bring Yuna-sama and Hugging Bear-sama here? What will you do if Yuna-sama gets angry at your words and leaves?” (Sakura)

Sakura got angry at the king.

“I’m sorry. I’m not saying I’ll take your fur. I just wanted to express how good it felt.” (King)

The king apologized honestly.

But just now, did she just exposed that the king was her uncle?

“I understand that, but there are good and bad things to say. Take responsibility for your own words.” (Sakura)

The king was being reprimanded.

“I get it, don’t be mad. And Sakura. Call me the king here.” (King)

“I’m sorry.” (Sakura)

This time, it was Sakura’s turn to apologize.

“Uncle? What’s the connection between you two?” (Yuna)

“Sakura is my sister’s daughter.” (King)

“So, Sakura is royalty?” (Yuna)

“No. My mother married my father, so she’s not royalty anymore.” (Sakura)

I’ve heard stories that if you marry an ordinary person, you’ll no longer be royalty.

“So I’m just an ordinary Miko.” (Sakura)

I don’t think an ordinary Miko was capable of having prophetic dreams.

But I think I understand now why the king believed Sakura’s words. It was more like the people around him were in denial.

“So the king believed Sakura’s words because of that.” (Yuna)

“Yeah, because my sister also possessed magical powers, too.” (King)

The king looked as if he missed something. Sakura and the other three fell silent at his words.

In the midst of all this, Sakura opened her mouth.

“My mother and father died when I was very young.” (Sakura)

Her mother and father, so they’re both dead then?

“That’s why I’m acting as her father. But because of my position, I had to make her address me as the King in public.” (King)

So, that’s what he meant that she should be calling him king earlier.

I feel sorry for a 10 year old orphan. But I know many children who have lost their parents or been abandoned. The faces of the children in the orphanage came to mind. They are smaller than Sakura. Yet, they are not sad and are doing well. Children can grow up without parents, but they need help from adults. That’s why the director and Liz-san are there.

Besides, Sakura has the king and Shinobu, and her personality is growing straight, so she doesn’t seem to have anything to worry about.

I hope she grows up not having a twisted personality like mine.

“Then you’re just like me. I won’t be able to see my parents anymore either.” (Yuna)

“You too, Yuna-sama?” (Sakura)

I’m not lying, though.

There’s no way for me to return to my former world. Therefore, the possibility of meeting them was close to zero. And if you ask me if I want to go back, I have a conflicting feeling about that.

If I could go back and forth, I would. But if I can never come back here again, I think I’ll choose to stay here. I’ve found people whom I care about in this world.

“Yes. But I have my Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear with me, so I’m fine.” (Yuna)

That’s right. My family, Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear.

Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear squealed happily.

“I have my uncle and the others, too, so I’ll be fine.” (Sakura)

Sakura replied with a smile.

Her face showed no sign of loneliness.

=====

“Now then, you said your name was Yuna, right? What do you want when this is all over? I can grant you a wish within my power. Money? Status?” (King)

Both of them are unnecessary for me.

If you were to ask me what I would dare to have, I would say a place to set up a bear gate. I can’t return to Crimonia without setting up a bear gate. If possible, I’d like a place where I can go in and out without being noticed. But I can buy a house, so something not so easy to get would be nice.

So I answered.

“I don’t want money or status. I was asked to seal the serpent safely, so please judge me by my contribution. Ask me at that time and I shall tell you.” (Yuna)

That means I’ll ask for it when it’s done.

“All right. I’ll make sure you get your wish then.” (King)

The king promised me.

If I succeed in sealing it, maybe I can ask for a house with a hot spring?

=====

Now then, let’s talk about the future plans.

“Then tomorrow I will take you to the island of Reenes.” (Shinobu)

Instead of fighting it suddenly, we’re going to meet with someone named Kagali, who’s in charge of the seal, and ask about it.

“Kagali-sama, who controls the barriers on the island of Reenes, knows the condition of the barriers the best.” (Sakura)

I was told that she has been in charge of the barrier for many years and knows a lot about the sealed serpent, so it’s decided that we should talk to this Kagali-sama.

“We prepared a room for you today, so please take it easy and get some rest.” (Sakura)

The king and Jubei-san leave, and I am shown to my room. By the way, Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear have been turned into bear cubs. They were my guards in case something happened.

“So, why are both of you here together?” (Yuna)

Sakura and Shinobu are in the room.

“I wish I could talk a little more with Yuna-sama.” (Sakura)

Then she looked at Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear.

It seems that her target was not me, but Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear.

“I’m in charge of Yuna. Please ask me anything.” (Shinobu)

“Oh right. Shinobu, I’ll give this back to you.” (Yuna)

I pulled out the bag containing the money that Shinobu had given me.

I was reminded of this earlier when I was talking to the king about rewards.

Shinobu told me that if she died, it was my duty to defeat Jubei-san, and be her parents’ avenger in her stead. However, Shinobu didn’t die, and I defeated Jubei-san. Since Shinobu lived, I would need to give it back to her. But still, it was me who defeated Jubei-san.

Above all, it was all an act, and the parental revenge was a lie.

So the promise was also invalid.

“That is……” (Shinobu)

When Shinobu saw the bag of money, she tried to reach for it, but quickly pulled her hand back.

“What’s wrong?” (Yuna)

“I can’t receive it” (Shinobu)

“Let me check with you. Is this money from the country?” (Yuna)

“No, it’s not. It’s my personal money. At that time, I really needed Yuna to fight against my master. And I wanted you to fight against my master so badly even if I had to pay for it.” (Shinobu)

The money seemed to be at Shinobu’s discretion.

“And then Yuna fought my master and won. You kept your promise to me, Yuna.” (Shinobu)

If this money came from the government, I would have taken it. But if this money was Shinobu’s personal money, it was a different story. I know how hard it is to make money.

“I’ll give it back.” (Yuna)

“Yuna?” (Shinobu)

“Because the promise was that I would ONLY get it if Shinobu died.” (Yuna)

“Yes, but Yuna defeated my master. The promise was that Yuna would avenge me and my parents, even if it was an act, Yuna kept her promise. If I received that, It’ll feel like everything was a lie. At that time, I was prepared to die in the fight. That feeling was not a lie.” (Shinobu)

I know. The look on Shinobu’s face at the time made me think she was serious, so I took the job.

But Shinobu doesn’t seem to want to accept it. The same can be said for me.

That’s why I often try to imitate certain scenes from manga and anime.

“Then, I’ll take this much.” (Yuna)

I took one gold coin from the bag of money.

“Yuna?” (Shinobu)

‘This would mean that I got the money, and at the same time I’ve fulfilled my promise to return it if Shinobu was still alive. That way we’ve kept our promise to each other, right?” (Yuna)

At my words, Shinobu looked at me with a stunned expression.

“Yuna, you’re very graceful, just like when you fought my master. When you saved me from Master’s three-step thrust, I almost fell in love with you. And if you do this to me, I’ll fall in love with you even more.” (Shinobu)

I pulled away from Shinobu.

“Why are you leaving me?” (Shinobu)

I’m not interested in men, but I don’t have that kind of hobby either.

***

Author’s Note:

Next time, we will go to the island.

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