Chapter 26: (Fina’s Perspective 3)

We pass through the gate and leave the town.

Come to think of it, I never asked where our destination was.

Do Tiger Wolves appear in a nearby forest?

Then Yuna Big Sister says that the destination is far away, so she’s going to bring out transportation.

Bring out?

I don’t understand what she means.

She tells me to step back a little.

When Yuna Big Sister raises her bear-gloved hands, a black object and a white object appear.

What are they?

The large shapes begin to move.

They’re bears.

Huge bears.

They’re scary.

They stand up and rub themselves against Yuna Big Sister.

Yuna Big Sister hugs them and strokes their heads.

As I watch her—

“Don’t worry. They’re my summoned beasts, so they’re safe. Here, Fina, try touching them too.”

She says that to me.

I’m scared, but I slowly approach and touch one.

It’s soft.

It might actually be cute.

The white one is called Kumakyu, and the black one is called Kumayuru.

I’m going to ride Kumakyu.

I climb on.

My viewpoint becomes much higher, which is a little frightening.

But it feels stable, and I don’t feel like I’m going to fall.

At first, we start walking.

Then, once I get used to it, we pick up speed.

It’s fun.

It’s fast.

The scenery changes rapidly.

I’ve never come this far before.

We continue climbing the mountain.

Yuna Big Sister comes to a stop.

She says we’ll take a break in a flat area on the mountain.

To be honest, even just riding has made me tired.

I thank Kumakyu and climb down.

When Yuna Big Sister gets off Kumayuru, she begins checking the area.

Then she raises her hand, and suddenly a house appears in front of us.

What am I even saying?

I check again.

Yuna Big Sister does something.

Then a house appears.

I still don’t understand.

Can houses really be made that easily?

That can’t be right.

Even a child like me knows that carpenters build houses.

But why is the house shaped like a bear?

While I’m wondering about that—

“For now, let’s go inside and take a break.”

All I can do is nod at Yuna Big Sister’s words.

The inside of the house is unlike any room I’ve ever seen before.

She tells me to take off my shoes at the entrance.

The floor is spotless.

I can see why she wouldn’t want it dirtied.

I remove my shoes and enter the house.

At Yuna Big Sister’s suggestion, I sit down on a chair.

As I nervously look around, Yuna Big Sister brings me some fruit juice.

It’s cold.

That surprises me.

But it tastes incredibly good.

I ask the question that’s been on my mind.

“Yuna Big Sister, are you some kind of noble?”

“No.”

“Then are you a princess?”

“There’s no way a princess would be like me. I’m just an ordinary adventurer.”

Apparently, both guesses are wrong.

But I don’t think she’s an ordinary adventurer.

She can make houses appear out of nowhere.

She can summon Kumakyu and the others.

She defeats monsters all by herself.

And above all, I’ve never seen an ordinary adventurer dressed like a bear.

After finishing my questions, we discuss today’s plans while drinking juice.

Yuna Big Sister is going to search for Tiger Wolves by herself.

I’ve been given permission to search this mountain for medicinal herbs.

She also says I can do dismantling work if I want.

For now, I decide to look for herbs for a little while.

Going alone is scary.

But Kumakyu is going to stay with me.

If that’s the case, then it’s safe… right?

If I can’t find any herbs after searching for a while, I’ll return and do dismantling work.

That’s what I came here for, after all.

Yuna Big Sister leaves together with Kumayuru.

I also ride Kumakyu and go searching for medicinal herbs.

We travel through the mountain.

I hope I can find some herbs.

It would be wonderful if this bear could help me find them.

“Kumakyu, can you find medicinal herbs?”

I ask without expecting much.

Kumakyu turns its head toward me and nods.

Huh?

Does it actually understand?

Kumakyu keeps moving forward.

Maybe it’s searching for them.

I also look around for herbs from atop Kumakyu.

I’ve seen these herbs many times before, so I can recognize them even from a distance.

Then Kumakyu suddenly speeds up.

That’s—

I can see medicinal herbs ahead in the direction Kumakyu is running.

Amazing.

I climb down from Kumakyu and gather the herbs.

If I take them all, none will grow back, so I only harvest half.

Even then, it’s quite a large amount.

Maybe nobody comes this deep into the mountains to gather them.

While I’m collecting herbs, I hear rustling in the grass.

I look toward the sound.

A wolf is there.

Startled, I step back.

The wolf immediately runs away.

That’s right.

I have Kumakyu with me.

The wolf probably fled after seeing Kumakyu.

“Thank you, Kumakyu.”

I pat its head.

Mmm, it’s adorable.

I put the herbs into my bag and decide to head back.

I’m glad I found them so quickly.

Now I can return and do dismantling work.

Well then, let’s go back.

I climb onto Kumakyu.

As I’m about to leave, I realize something.

I don’t know the way back.

I have no idea which direction to go.

I’m lost.

Just as I think that, Kumakyu starts walking normally.

Does it know the way home?

“Do you know where the house is?”

When I ask, it nods.

This bear is smarter than I am.

After a while, the bear house comes into view.

I’m glad I didn’t get lost.

Thank you, Kumakyu.