Chapter 11: The Bear Goes Shopping

“Yuna onee-chan.”

“What is it?”

“What kind of clothes do you want?”

“For now, something I can wear under this outfit.”

I tug at the bear suit.

Under this… is just underwear.

At the very least, I need a shirt.

“There are expensive shops and cheap shops.”

“Either is fine, but what’s the difference?”

“The expensive shops sell clothes nobles wear. I’ve never been inside, but they’re really pricey. The cheap shops sell things normal people can afford. There are also secondhand shops. Sometimes you can find good stuff there. What do you want to do?”

Personally, I could go to an expensive shop, but judging from Fina’s expression, she doesn’t seem comfortable with them.

Maybe they choose their customers.

Thinking about my current appearance… yeah, I might get kicked out.

Let’s go with a normal shop.

Secondhand underwear is a hard no.

“Let’s go to a normal shop for now. We can decide the rest later.”

Fina guides me to a clothing store.

A woman in her mid-twenties greets us.

She glances at my outfit, her smile falters for a moment, then recovers.

“Welcome. What kind of clothing are you looking for today?”

“Underwear and some clothes.”

“Underwear is in the back. As for clothes… we don’t carry anything like what you’re wearing…”

Of course you don’t!

“I’ll just look around.”

We head to the back.

First, underwear.

I must graduate from bear panties.

After that, I ask Fina to help pick inconspicuous clothes.

Result:

I bought panties.

But bras don’t exist here.

Clothes-wise, I got shirts and simple outfits I can wear under the bear suit.

“Thanks, Fina.”

“No, I’m glad you found what you needed. What next?”

“A bookstore or library. Is there one?”

“There’s a bookstore, but no library. I heard there’s one in the royal capital.”

“Then the bookstore. But first, lunch. Any recommendations?”

“Anywhere is fine?”

“Yeah.”

“Then I want to eat at your inn. I heard the food is really good. I’ve never tried it.”

“The inn?”

“Yes. During the day, they serve regular customers too.”

“I see. Let’s go.”

Fina happily heads toward the inn.

Inside, it’s bustling.

The smell of food fills the air.

“Welcome—oh, Yuna! Back already?”

Elena, carrying dishes, notices us.

“We came for lunch.”

“Lunch is extra.”

“I know. Any seats?”

“It’s full right now. Some should open up soon.”

“Can food be prepared quickly?”

“Yes, most of it’s ready.”

“Then can we eat in my room?”

“That’s fine.”

“Great. Fina, order whatever you like.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. You’re guiding me afterward, so this is proper payment.”

“Thank you. Then…”

After a short wait, Elena brings the food.

“Here you go.”

“Thanks, just put it on the table.”

“Please bring the dishes down when you’re done.”

“Got it.”

The table is filled with delicious food.

Soft bread, meat dishes, salad.

I wonder if this world has rice.

As a Japanese person, I want rice, soy sauce, and miso.

Not yet, but eventually I’ll crave them.

“Let’s eat while it’s warm.”

“Yes, thank you for the meal.”

“The bread is so soft! The meat is delicious!”

“Yeah, it’s really good.”

Fina suddenly stops eating.

“What’s wrong?”

“Um…”

“What?”

“Can I take half of this home?”

“Why?”

“I have a little sister and my mom. I want them to eat this too.”

She stares at the food.

I don’t have family, but I want to respect her feelings.

“You can, but eat this. I’ll order three portions for dinner. Take those home and eat together.”

“Really?”

“Today is special. Not tomorrow.”

“Thank you.”

After finishing, I return the dishes and ask Elena to prepare three takeout meals for dinner.

With full stomachs, we head to the bookstore.

It’s on the opposite side of the weapon shop.

As usual, people stare at me.

I ignore it.

Until I know it’s safe, I can’t take off this bear outfit.

We arrive at the bookstore.

It’s… small.

Not even close to a large bookstore.

Inside, books are piled everywhere.

Stacks on the floor too.

Finding anything will be a pain.

“Welcome.”

An old woman greets us.

“Grandma, don’t you organize this?”

“I know where everything is. Tell me what you want.”

“Really? Then books about monsters, magic, and a map if you have one.”

“Wait a moment.”

She disappears and returns with books.

“These are monster books.”

She hands me two.

“One covers common monsters, the other legendary ones.”

“I’ll take both.”

“This is a beginner magic book.”

“I’ll take that too.”

“The map only covers this area. Better ones are in the capital.”

“That’s fine.”

I pay and leave.

That was fast.

Thanks to her.

“Yuna onee-chan, what next?”

I think for a moment.

“I’ve got everything I need. I’ll read at the inn. You must be tired too.”

Thanks to the bear shoes, I’m not tired at all.

Without them, I’d be dead by now.

“I’m totally fine!”

She’s energetic.

Unlike me.

“I still want to visit tool and armor shops, but I’ll head back today. What about you?”

“I’ll get the food from Elena and go home.”

“Alright. Here’s your payment.”

I hand her one silver coin.

“Are you sure? You already paid for dinner.”

“Today only.”

“Thank you, onee-chan.”

We return to the inn and part ways.

I go to my room and take out the books.

First, the map.

This must be the forest I was in.

The town is nearby.

The road opposite leads to the royal capital.

Hard to judge distance.

Maybe I should visit someday.

There are villages nearby too.

I memorize the layout.

A detailed map would be nice.

Like auto-mapping in games.

Next, the magic book.

Beginner Magic.

Are there intermediate and advanced ones?

Probably in the capital.

I start reading.

Hmm.

I see.

Got it.

“Let’s try it. First, gather mana.”

I follow the same feeling as in the game.

Gather mana in my right hand.

Then chant.

“Light.”

A glowing orb appears.

But…

It’s not a sphere.

It’s a bear face.

Exactly like my gloves.

I check my status.

Name: Yuna
Age: 15
Level: 8
Skills: Otherworld Language, Otherworld Text, Bear Dimensional Box, Bear Appraisal Eye
Magic: Bear Light

Equipment
Black Bear Hands (Non-transferable)
White Bear Hands (Non-transferable)
Black Bear Feet (Non-transferable)
White Bear Feet (Non-transferable)
Bear Suit (Non-transferable)
Bear Underwear (Non-transferable)

There’s now a magic section.

Bear Light

Creates bear-shaped light using mana gathered in the gloves.

So… without the gloves, no magic?

I try removing them.

“Light.”

Nothing.

Of course.

I really am one with the bear now.

I put the gloves back on.

I want to test attack magic, but not inside the inn.

So I just read for today.

At dinner, I go downstairs and eat.

Then take a bath.

Switch to white bear mode.

And crawl into bed.

“Good night.”