Chapter 17: The Bear Reports
“Yuna-chan! Yuna-chan! Wake up!”
“You’re so noisy…”
Rubbing my sleepy eyes, I sat up.
“Finally awake.”
Rurina was peeking in through the small window. I stretched my back and loosened my muscles.
“It’s not fair that I was working hard dismantling everything while you built a house and took a nap.”
“But dismantling was your job, right? So, are you done?”
“I’m done. But when I came out of the cave and saw a house, I was shocked. Then I looked inside and you were sleeping. And there wasn’t even a door to get in.”
I used magic to open a hole and stepped outside. Looking at the sky, the sun was already tilting. It was probably around 3 PM.
“There were just too many goblins. It was exhausting. And you didn’t help at all.”
She complained, but I ignored it and changed the subject.
“Is there anything left in the cave that we need?”
“No.”
“Then I’ll seal it up. It’d be troublesome if other monsters moved in.”
I used earth magic to block the entrance. That should prevent anything from settling there.
“Alright, let’s head back.”
“I’m exhausted though…”
“It’s fine. I’ll carry you.”
There was no way I was going to take it slow.
“Yuna-chan… don’t tell me…”
“It’s a mountain path, so don’t talk or you’ll bite your tongue.”
I smiled brightly and picked her up, then began descending the mountain. Jump, jump, jump. Each time I leaped, Rurina screamed.
She was so loud right next to my ear, but I ignored her and kept running.
When we reached near the village entrance, I set her down and approached the guard. Rurina’s legs were wobbling, but that must have been my imagination.
After greeting the guard, we headed to the village chief’s house.
“Ah, you’re back quite early… was it too difficult?”
“No, we finished it.”
“What!?”
“The goblin subjugation is complete. Here are the magic stones as proof.”
Rurina took out a leather pouch from her item bag and showed the contents to the chief. It was probably full of goblin stones. I definitely didn’t want to look. A pile of blood-covered stones would ruin my appetite.
“Oh! Then you really defeated them. But… isn’t this too many?”
“There were nearly a hundred.”
“A hundred!?”
The chief was shocked. Naturally—double the expected number near the village would alarm anyone.
“Don’t worry. We eliminated them all. We also sealed their nest, so new monsters shouldn’t move in.”
“Th-thank you very much.”
The chief bowed deeply.
“Then, we will prepare lodging for tonight—”
“Yes, thank you—”
“No, we’re heading back.”
Our voices overlapped.
“Yuna-chan, it’s already late.”
“We can make it back before sunset.”
We stared at each other.
“…Are you planning to carry me again?”
“It’s the same whether once or twice.”
“But they’re offering hospitality…”
“I like to finish things quickly.”
“…We’re really going back?”
I nodded.
“…Alright. I also need to report the goblin king, so let’s go.”
“Goblin king?”
The chief reacted immediately.
“Yes. The one leading them was a goblin king.”
“And… that goblin king?”
“It’s been defeated. Everything is safe now.”
“Thank you!”
After receiving their gratitude, we left the village.
“Run gently, okay? And no jumping!”
“Got it.”
Maybe I had scared her earlier while jumping down the mountain.
Rurina clung tightly to me.
“…Though I hate to admit it, this bear is actually very comfortable to hold.”
She started stroking the bear suit.
I wish she’d stop. It felt weird.
So I picked her up again and started running.
On flat ground, it was much easier than the mountain. I ignored the monster reactions in the distance and kept going.
We passed adventurers and carriages, but their voices faded instantly behind us.
Soon, the city gate came into view.
“This is embarrassing, so can you put me down now?”
She whispered urgently, but I ignored her and kept running.
“Y-Yuna-chan… please!”
She tightened her grip, but it didn’t hurt.
We reached the western gate.
The guard looked shocked.
Rurina looked embarrassed.
I was dressed as a bear.
All three of us stayed silent.
I set her down and handed over my guild card.
The guard silently checked it.
We silently entered the city.
“…Should I carry you all the way to the guild?”
“No!”
With a red face, Rurina walked beside me as we headed to the guild to report.
There were many adventurers gathered at the entrance. Just as I wondered how we’d get through, they noticed me and parted.
Like the sea splitting, a path opened.
“…Is this okay?”
“Seems fine.”
Inside, the reception was crowded. As we were about to line up, someone called out.
“Rurina, what happened?”
“Ranz? Why are you here?”
Ranz and Gill were sitting and looking at us.
“I figured you’d come back, so I waited. Looks like I was right. You must’ve run away after seeing the goblins.”
Ranz smirked.
“Too bad. We finished the job.”
“…Huh?”
His dumbfounded face got even worse.
“The job’s done. Around a hundred goblins, plus a goblin king.”
“…What nonsense are you spouting? That’s not even funny.”
“It’s not a joke.”
The guild went quiet, then erupted.
“A hundred goblins?”
“A goblin king?”
“No way.”
“That’s impossible.”
“But… it’s that bear…”
“That bear…”
“If it’s that bear…”
“Rurina, is this true?”
Helen approached us.
“Please come this way.”
We were led to an empty counter.
“Please explain. The request was to subjugate about fifty goblins near Toz Village.”
“Yes, but there were nearly a hundred.”
The adventurers listening in started murmuring again.
“Do you have proof?”
Rurina handed over the pouch of magic stones.
Helen checked them with a device.
“These are confirmed as freshly obtained. And the goblin king?”
“Yes, that was their leader.”
“…Then we need to issue an emergency request—”
“It’s already been defeated. Yuna-chan did it.”
“…She defeated a goblin king alone…”
“The bear beat a goblin king…”
The words spread like an echo.
“Do you have proof?”
“I brought the body.”
“…Ah, your bear item bag. Please come to the next room.”
A crowd of adventurers followed us.
“Please take it out here.”
I summoned the goblin king.
Gasps, shouts, and groans filled the room.
“This is undoubtedly a goblin king.”
Its face looked terrifying even in death.
“Thank you. May we purchase it?”
“Is it useful?”
“Yes. Its hide is strong enough for armor, bones for weapons or tools, and its magic stone is valuable.”
“I’m fine with that. Rurina?”
“Me too.”
We returned to the counter.
“This request was accepted by Rurina’s party, but Yuna assisted. How should we proceed?”
“Make it a joint request.”
“Rurina?”
“She’s the one who defeated them. I only did dismantling and negotiations.”
“…Understood.”
“Submit your guild cards.”
“I’m out.”
“Ranz?”
“I did nothing.”
“Same here.”
“Then it will be processed for Rurina and Yuna.”
We received two bags—payment and rewards.
Rurina handed me the goblin king reward.
“I can’t take this. And here’s half of the request reward.”
“Are you sure?”
“We worked together. Even if I only did dismantling.”
I accepted and stored it.
“And… sorry about this. I’ll talk to Deborane and Ranz.”
Ranz looked awkward behind us.
“It’s fine. I got good magic practice out of it.”
Testing my magic against a goblin king was valuable.
After leaving the guild, Rurina invited me to dinner.
We ate together with Ranz and Gill.
Ranz apologized, and Gill did too.
We accepted it and had a pleasant meal.
“Are you sure about treating us?”
“It’s fine. Consider it part of the goblin king reward… or Deborane’s medical bill.”
“…Alright, thanks.”
After dinner, I returned to the inn, told Elena I didn’t need food, skipped a bath, and collapsed straight into bed.