"Thank you very much" (Suzuran)
Suzuran-san looked happily at the picture I drew.
"I will treasure it for the rest of my life." (Suzuran)
"It's just a cheap treasure." (Yuna)
Well, it wasn't painted by a top-notch artist. It was drawn by an amateur. It couldn't be helped that people said it's cheap.
Even I didn't think my paintings had any value.
"Kagari-sama, what are you talking about? There is no painting that is as valuable as this one." (Sakura)
Sakura said while looking at the picture.
"That's right. You drew it so well." (Kagari)
"Yuna-sama's paintings should be made national treasures and kept in the royal treasury." (Sakrua)
Don't do that.
I'd be sad if it was just thrown away, but my paintings didn't have enough value to be designated as national treasures.
I didn't even want to think about my paintings being kept in a treasure trove forever.
I hated it more than having a picture I drew when I was a child framed and displayed.
"I understand, so don't get angry. It's just that I was embarrassed because concubine's painting was said to be a treasure." (Kagari)
Does that mean you're a tsundere?
Kagari-san had too many attributes.
Her heart was an adult (elderly), but she looked like a little girl. Her true identity was a fox that lived for hundreds of years. Furthermore, I added the tsundere attribute to it. If this were the world of manga or anime, it would be a very popular attribute.
"Lady, aren't you thinking something strange?" (Kagari)
Furthermore, she had a keen intuition.
For the time being, I said, "I'm not thinking," and smiled, trying to disguise it.
I also drew a picture of Sakura wearing Misa's clothes, although I couldn't take her with everyone else.
Sakura looked happy.
By the time I finished drawing Sakura wearing Misa's clothes, I looked outside and saw that the sun was setting.
"The meal is ready." (Shinobu)
Shinobu saw the timing and called us.
"Kagari-sama, please wake up." (Sakura)
"So, it's already morning?" (Kagari)
"No, it's time for dinner." (Sakura)
When I started drawing Sakura in Misa's clothes, Kagari-san yawned and fell asleep before we knew it.
Kagari-san was sleeping on a cushion, and Suzuran-san covered him with something like a large towel to keep him from catching a cold.
We returned to the room we were first shown to.
After each person sits on a cushion, the meal was brought to us.
Maybe they were preparing food so that we could eat right away as soon as I finished painting.
"So, Shinobu. When should we go to the castle?" (Sakura)
Sakura asked while eating.
Suzuran-san was not here now.
Kagari-san kept Suzuran away because Suzuran-san would be in trouble if something that shouldn't be asked came up.
Kagari-san also seemed to be paying attention.
"I was asked to come first thing tomorrow morning." (Shinobu)
"Is it that early?" (Sakura)
Sakura was surprised.
"The king also wanted to meet Yuna." (Shinobu)
"In fact, I felt like I should bring her in right away." (Kagari)
"I almost quit my job and came here." (Shinobu)
"That stopped with concubine's speaking skills. Be grateful." (Kagari)
I appreciated that though.
Weren't all kings too free?
I wondered if there was no proper king in this world.
Well, it's better than a tyrant.
"Um. Yuna-san, what did you do in this country? You said you defeated a monster." (Noa)
"It's the same with Sakura-chan, but I can't believe that even the King treats you this well." (Misa)
Noa and Misa, who didn't know that they had defeated the serpent, might be surprised at the hospitality they received.
"I just defeated the monster with a little help." (Yuna)
"I want to know the contents." (Noa)
"If I tell you myself, it will sound like I’m bragging, so I don’t really want to talk about it." (Yuna)
When I said that I defeated a ferocious monster and saved the country, it would sound like I was bragging. That's why I didn't want to talk about it too much.
Then, Sakura smiled and said, "Then, if Yuna-sama is okay with it, I will talk about it."
After taking a sip of tea, Sakura's story began.
"A long time ago, this country was attacked by a large monster called a large snake with four long necks. It was taller than a mountain, and it was a monster that humans could not fight against. The large snake killed many people. Many of the people of the Land of Harmoni risked their lives to protect what was important to them, but they were unable to defeat it." (Sakura)
Noa and the others stopped eating and listened intently.
"Just when everyone was about to despair, four foreign adventurers and a woman appeared and together they were able to seal the serpent away on a small island." (Sakrua)
Noa and the others felt a little relieved when they heard that they were able to seal it.
"It wasn't just those five people. Many people fought alongside those five people. Many people risked their lives to fight, which is why we were able to seal it. It's definitely not just those five people." (Kagari)
Kagari-san pointed out Sakura's words.
"That's right. Many people fought together and many died. However, if it weren't for those five people, I don't think we would have been able to seal away the serpent." (Sakura)
Sakura looked at Kagari-san and smiled.
I didn't know what happened back then, but Kagari-san fought the serpent this time as well. And I thought she saw a lot of people die right in front of her eyes.
When you thought about that, it was hard to say.
"So, something terrible happened."
"This happened several hundred years ago. However, the seal that many people had risked their lives for began to break. The seal could not be strengthened, and there was no countermeasure. The serpent's seal was broken. If so, many people will die just like they did hundreds of years ago. Just when we were wondering what to do, this thing appeared..." (Sakura)
Saying that, Sakura looked at me.
"Is it Yuna-san?" (Noa)
"Yes. When Yuna-sama heard our story, she agreed to take on the task of subjugating the monsters." (Sakura)
It's not like I accepted it. For now, I decided to hear from Kagari-san, and I was planning to make a decision after hearing the story.
"Yuna-sama used that mysterious door to bring in people she knew, and together with them, she subjugated the monsters." (Sakura)
I met Kagari-san and had her meet Mumloot-san. While I was doing that, the serpent came back to life.
I simply decided to subjugate the serpent as it was.
Sakura took a sip of her tea.
"The king was grateful to her for saving the country, and Yuna-sama was supposed to be the hero of this country. However, Yuna-sama refused to become a hero. Apparently, she didn't want to stand out." (Sakura)
Sakura looked at me and smiled.
"We respect Yuna-sama's feelings, and the memory of Yuna-sama who saved our country will remain in the hearts of only a few." (Sakura)
"I was almost made a hero." (Shinobu)
I tried to push Shinobu, but she refused.
"The king of this country was given that mansion as a token of Yuna-sama's gratitude." (Sakura)
Sakura's story ended.
There were some things she hadn't talked about.
It's about Sakura's precognitive dreams, Kagari-san, and Mumloot-san.
There's no need to talk about it, so maybe that's fine too.
When I stopped my thoughts and looked around, I noticed that Noa and the others were all focused on me.
"Yuna-san. You're always helping people somewhere."
"I don't usually do that." (Yuna)
I was not a good enough person to help anyone.
If I was always helping people, as Noa said, then I should be traveling to various places to help people in need, using the bear gear I received from God.
However, I was spending my time leisurely and freely.
"Yuna-san. Please don't underestimate my information about Yuna-san." (Noa)
What, what is that information about Yuna-san?
"Yuna-san saves the village by defeating the Black Viper. She saves the capital by defeating 10,000 monsters. She defeats the Kraken and saves Mileela. He defeats the Black Tiger and saves my sister, her classmates, and the villagers. In Sheelin, she attacked the Salvard family and saved Misa." (Noa)
"That's right. You helped me and my grandfather who were being attacked by monsters, and you also helped many people who were threatened by the Salvado family." (Misa)
Even Misa opened her mouth.
"There are many other things as well." (Noa)
I wondered what it's about.
The latest information that Noa knows is about fairies. Also, there was a possibility that Cliff and Noa knew about the desert through Ellelaura-san. I didn't think anyone knew about elves though.
There was also the matter of the lake city.
If you asked me, I felt like I was helping people wherever I went.
But I didn't try to help them all myself. It just happened with the flow.
When it came to Black Viper, it was because I wanted to see Black Viper. I only defeated the 10,000 monsters because it was on my way to pick up Cliff. It seemed that the town of Mileela was also because of rice, miso, and soy sauce. The black tiger's job was to protect Misa and other students. It's only natural for a person to attack the Salvard family to save Misa. Even though Noa and Fina were beaten, and Misa was kidnapped, it's a shame for me not to help. Even I have a heart like that.
Of course, I didn't think I could have done it without my strength. I had bear equipment that I received from God.
"I wonder if Fina knows anything else?"
Noa turned to Fina.
"Well, Yuna-onee-chan saved me from being attacked by a wolf." (Noa)
"Also, you helped mom." (Shuri)
Even Shuri joined in the conversation.
"Yuna-onee-chan is always protecting everyone." (Shuri)
"Hehe, Yuna-sama is helping a lot of people, not just Land of Harmoni." (Sakura)
I wanted to deny it, but what Noa and others said was true.
"Black Viper, Black Tiger, and 10,000 monsters..." (Shinobu)
"You are truly doing something unbelievable." (Kagari)
"I feel like I've found out a little bit of the secret to Yuna's strength." (Shinobu)
The secret of my strength?
It's the bear equipment and the combat experience I gained from playing the game.
Without bear equipment, I would not be able to use the combat experience gained in the game.
Without the combat experience I gained from playing games, I would have been too scared to fight monsters.
Without one of them, I couldn't become strong.
After eating and talking, we took off our Japanese clothes to take a bath.
Noa and the others were reluctant to leave their clothes behind, but Sakura said, "Please let me know if you want to wear them any time," so they finally took off their clothes.
They decided that they would like to try on Sakura's yukata when they sleep at night, so Sakura smiled and prepared yukatas for everyone.
Me?
I would sleep in a polar bear because I was everyone's bodyguard.
Author's Note
Thank you to everyone who watched the anime "Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear Punch" until the end.
In the activity report, I wrote information about the disc and Fina's Nendroid, so if you are interested, please take a look.
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*Thank you to everyone who reports typos.
Please note that some kanji have been revised to match the book, so some may not have been revised.