Chapter 12: Fina’s Perspective (Part 1)

We ran out of my mother’s medicine.

We no longer have the money to buy any.

At home, there’s my mother and my little sister, who is three years younger than me.

My father is not around.

I heard he passed away when my sister was still in my mother’s womb.

I don’t remember much about him.

My mother is sick and cannot work.

So I do my best to work in her place.

But there’s not much a ten-year-old like me can do.

Sometimes, I help Uncle Gentz at the guild by doing skinning work.

I heard he knows my mother.

He’s always kind to me.

He even gave us medicine before.

And before that too.

But I can’t keep relying on him forever.

So I have no choice but to go outside the town to gather medicinal herbs myself.

I’ve seen those herbs many times at the guild, so I know what they look like.

I went outside the town.

I headed straight toward the forest where the herbs grow.

There are monsters deeper inside, so I decided to search near the entrance.

I couldn’t find any.

So I went a little further in.

I found them!

Now I can give my mother medicine.

I was so focused on the herbs that I didn’t notice.

I was surrounded by three wolves.

I can’t defeat them.

I tried to run.

But my legs trembled and I fell.

This is the end.

“Someone… please help…”

The wolves came closer.

Just when I thought it was over, they suddenly screamed and collapsed.

All three wolves were defeated in an instant.

Why?

From the forest, someone dressed in black appeared.

No… their outfit looked kind of cute.

“Are you okay?”

They spoke to me.

“Th-thank you?”

“Why are you saying it like a question?”

“Are you going to eat me?”

“I’m not going to eat you.”

“Are you… a bear?”

I smiled in relief.

The woman dressed like a bear said her name was Yuna.

When she took off her hood, I saw her beautiful black hair.

She was so beautiful it shocked me.

I’ve never seen someone this pretty before.

Yuna onee-chan said she came from another country and got lost in the forest.

I’m actually grateful she got lost.

She said I could repay her by guiding her to town.

Even if she had asked for money, I wouldn’t have been able to pay.

I’m glad she seems like a good person.

Yuna onee-chan tried to leave the wolves behind and walk away.

Wait.

The meat and fur can be sold.

And the meat is really, really delicious.

When I explained that, she said she couldn’t skin them.

Maybe she’s a noble lady.

Seeing how beautiful she is under that bear hood, it makes sense.

With her permission, I skinned the wolves.

And she even said I could have half the money.

That’s enough food for several days.

I was so happy.

After finishing, we returned to town.

Yuna onee-chan seemed to not know many things.

She kept asking me questions.

Maybe she really is a noble lady from somewhere.

We entered town and went to sell the wolf materials at the guild.

Uncle Gentz scolded me.

I made him worry, so I can’t complain.

We sold the fur and the meat that wouldn’t spoil.

Of course, I got permission from Yuna onee-chan to take some meat home.

We can eat meat for the first time in a while.

I’m so grateful to her.

I tried to give her half of the money.

But she refused and instead asked me to guide her to an inn.

I thanked her and showed her the way.

It’s located between my home and the guild.

It always smells really good around mealtime.

It has a good reputation, so I brought her there.

On the way, we attracted a lot of attention.

Yuna onee-chan’s outfit is unusual.

Even I would stare if I saw her walking in town.

It was a bit embarrassing, but she saved my life and is my client.

This much attention doesn’t matter.

After guiding her, I thanked her and went home.

I made medicine from the herbs.

I’m not an expert, so I can’t make high-quality medicine.

But it can at least ease my mother’s illness a little.

We also had meat for the first time in a while and gained some nutrition.

We even got money.

From tomorrow, we might be able to buy better food.

I’m really grateful to Yuna onee-chan.

The next morning, I woke up early.

It’s my usual routine.

I go to the guild to check for skinning jobs.

On the way, I passed by the inn I guided Yuna onee-chan to.

I wanted to thank her again.

But going inside might bother her.

As I was thinking that, a black bear came out.

It was Yuna onee-chan.

I thanked her again.

But instead, she thanked me for introducing her to a good inn.

She said she was going to the guild to make a guild card.

Since I was going too, we went together.

I wanted to hold her hand, but I held back.

That bear outfit looks so soft.

Someday, I want to touch it.

When we arrived at the guild, I went to Uncle Gentz, so we separated.

Unfortunately, there was no work.

Just as I was about to give up and go home, the guild became noisy.

From what I heard, Yuna onee-chan was going to fight some adventurers.

How did that even happen?

I hurried to the training ground.

Then Yuna onee-chan ran up to me with a smile.

She asked to borrow my knife, so I lent it to her.

There was no reason to refuse.

The match began.

It was a complete victory for Yuna onee-chan.

Her Bear Punch was amazing.

She didn’t even need the knife.

After it ended, she returned my knife.

Then she went inside to make her guild card.

I waited outside because I was worried.

This time, she came out without any trouble.

I was relieved.

When I told her there was no work today, she asked me to guide her around town.

And she even offered payment.

I can’t possibly sleep with my feet pointing toward her anymore.

I’ll have to check the direction of my bed when I get home.

First, we went to a weapon shop.

Yuna onee-chan bought a sword and one hundred knives.

She must be rich.

Also, that bear seems to be like an item bag.

I was surprised.

Next, we went to a clothing shop.

Maybe Yuna onee-chan doesn’t have much sense for clothes.

She asked me to pick them for her.

But I think that bear outfit is really cute.

I wonder if she’ll stop wearing it.

Then it was time for lunch.

She let me choose where to eat, so I picked the inn I had been curious about.

It was really delicious.

She even ordered dinner for my family to take home.

After lunch, we went to the bookstore.

She picked out a few books, and that was the end of today’s guiding.

It ended earlier than I expected.

Yuna onee-chan said she would read at the inn.

So I had nothing planned for the afternoon.

I got the dinner from the inn and went home early.

My mother and sister were very happy.

I hope tomorrow will be a good day too.