After finishing the match with Shinobu and Juubei-san, I was talking with Noa and the others when I saw a girl coming towards me.
The girl was about the same age as me or older.
The girls' clothes were different from those of bureaucrats, officials, and servants. She was wearing a kimono similar to those worn by people above her.
"Honoka-sama!?" (Juubei)
Juubei-san was surprised when he saw the girl who had arrived.
"Juubei, who are those people?" (Honoka)
"They're guests of the king. Yuna, let me introduce her. She's Honoka-sama, the king's daughter." (Juubei)
"Does being the king's daughter mean you're a princess?" (Yuna)
"I'm Honoka." (Honoka)
I put my hands together in front of me, bowed my head slightly, and said my name.
Was it a good idea to let the person above you give your name first?
No good, right?
"Honoka-sama, she's Yuna, a guest of the king, and her friends." (Juubei)
"Father's guest..." (Honoka)
"Um, I'm Yuna." (Yuna)
When I said my name, Fina and the others introduced themselves even though they were nervous.
"They're important guests of the king. Please do not be rude." (Juubei)
Juubei-san didn't say this to me, but to the princess named Honoka.
No, wouldn't you normally say to me, "Don't be rude to the princess?"
"A girl dressed as a bear...Juubei" (Honoka)
Princess Honoka looked at Juubei-san as if to confirm.
"I can't say it, but I think you've guessed it." (Juubei)
"So, it really happened just as my father said." (Honoka)
She said that and looked at me.
"Shinobu, did she know about me?" (Yuna)
"I don't know how much the king is talking to Honoka-sama, but I think she's hearing a lot of things." (Shinobu)
Well, there must have been a big fuss when the serpent was revived, so it wouldn't be strange if they heard something about me.
Honoka's perspective
As I walked through the castle, I could hear the voices of the people working there. "Bear", "bear", "bear", etc. Well, I heard the word bear.
I asked one of the servants who said "bear."
"What about a bear?" (Honoka)
"Honoka-sama!? Well, right now, there is someone dressed as a bear in the castle with Sakura-sama."
"Is Sakura coming?" (Honoka)
Sakura was my cousin.
She's my father's sister's child.
I loved her like a little sister.
That Sakura was with someone dressed as a bear?
"I haven't heard any details either. However, I have been told not to approach her if I see her."
I had not received any such communication.
Did that mean they didn't need me?
Or did that mean I could contact them?
"Who gave the instructions?" (Honoka)
I wanted to confirm.
If I knew whether it's shrine maiden-related, military-related, commercial-related, or political-related, I could figure out who was involved.
"I'm told this is an order from the King."
My father's?
"Therefore, we are sharing information and trying to stay away from Sakura-sama and others as much as possible."
Are you doing that much?
Normally, even if a guest came, they didn't go that far.
If an important person came, someone of a certain rank would accompany them.
If that happened, no one would call you.
And to the person who is with Sakura?
Moreover, she was dressed as a bear.
"Thank you for telling me" (Honoka)
I said my thanks and left.
I was curious about the word "bear costume" and the fact that they were with Sakura.
Previously, there was an uproar in this country when signs of the serpent's return were seen. I hadn't heard the details, but back then, in Sakura's dream, she saw a future in which a light of hope would come to save the country.
Sakura had always been able to see the future through dreams.
She couldn't rely on it because I couldn't see it freely, but it was something we could trust.
Sakura saw the resurrection of the serpent and the light of hope.
After that, a real ray of hope appeared, but it turned out to be a girl dressed as a bear. I remembered that my father and high-ranked personnel were arguing because only a few people knew about Sakura's dreams.
After that, I tried to get information about the serpent and the light of hope, but before I could get any information, the serpent revived and was quickly subdued.
In fact, it was all over before I knew what had happened.
However, I remembered that my father was busy and moving around a lot and it was difficult.
Then, once the matter with the serpent had calmed down, Father took me to the room where the serpent's magic stone was kept.
The magic stone was large, and it was a monster, a large snake, that had this magic stone inside its body.
A record of the serpent was left in this room.
The total length and material of the snake. Everything related to the serpent was kept there.
At that time, my father spoke to me.
This country was saved thanks to a girl dressed as a bear.
Even if a girl appears dressed as a bear, never make fun of her and treat her with sincerity.
I didn't understand what he was saying, but I nodded.
It's because Father isn't joking, he's talking seriously.
A while after I heard that story, I heard that a girl dressed as a bear came to the castle, but I was never able to meet her.
The girl dressed as a bear has come to this castle again.
I asked the people who worked at the castle about the girl's whereabouts.
Once, I heard that she was heading upstairs, so I went up there, but I guessed I passed her by and she was already gone.
After searching further, I received information that she was heading towards a training ground for soldiers.
I quickly headed to the training ground.
When I arrived at the training ground, there were people there.
Juubei and Shinobu. Then Sakura.
Also, there were girls I didn't know.
She's wearing clothes I had never seen around here. Among them, there was a girl wrapped in dark clothes.
Bear?
I couldn't see it clearly because of the angle, but it looked like a bear.
I had heard that she was dressed as a bear, so I was imagining a scary bear, but I was wrong. It was a cute bear.
The bear girl and Shinobu moved to the center of the training area with weapons in hand. Sakura and the others around her left.
Maybe she'll have a match with Shinobu?
Even though Shinobu was a girl, she's stronger than most guys out there.
Sometimes she worked for my father, and sometimes she worked as my bodyguard.
I had even seen her practicing together with men. That's why I knew Shinobu's strength.
Shinobu was strong.
I thought Shinobu would win.
But it was different.
Shinobu moved around and attacked with the upper hand, but the girl dressed as a bear was blocking everything.
Then, when she had a slight chance, she attacked Shinobu, and Shinobu lost.
Was Shinobu that easy?
I couldn't believe it.
After that, many matches were held, but Shinobu never won.
In the end, Shinobu was thrown away and became unable to move.
That bear girl. Even though she had played against Shinobu so many times, she didn't seem tired. Even though Shinobu was exhausted.
The only time I had ever seen Shinobu got so one-sided was in a match against Juubei.
In other words, that bear girl had the highest level of ability in this castle and was as strong as Juubei.
It seemed like the match was over, so I tried to approach her to talk to her, but it seemed like Juubei and the bear girl were going to have a match this time, and they were both holding swords.
I missed the chance to call her, so I decided to watch the match between Juubei and the girls.
I wanted to see how far the bear girl who defeated Shinobu could fight against Juubei.
The match between Juubei and the girls began.
The weapons moved at tremendous speed.
My eyes couldn't keep up.
Juubei was not cutting back.
This was not a practice match to teach subordinates.
It was a serious match.
Juubei moved left and right, trying to land blows on her, but she blocked all attacks.
……amazing.
A few times, when I thought a fight broke out, Juubei jumped back slightly and raised his weapon.
Juubei's attack I had seen several times.
There were very few people in the castle who could defend against that attack.
The opponent who was attacked by that attack was almost completely defeated.
Even those who could prevent it said it was a 50/50 chance.
He attacks that bear girl!?
Juubei was serious.
Juubei moved.
Thrust!
It's a three-stage attack.
My eyes couldn't keep up.
In the blink of an eye, three punches were thrown, but the bear girl blocked them all.
The moment I thought it was amazing.
Earth raised up from the ground in front of the girl.
I didn't know what happened.
Even the attack and defense of the three-stage attack was so fast that I couldn't understand it.
But when I look at the current situation, I understood.
Juubei had pulled out the wakizashi from his waist.
It looked like she blocked it with earth magic.
Did you make a decision in that split second and use magic?
I was so caught up in Juubei's thrusts that I didn't notice that his hand was reaching for his wakizashi.
But that bear girl noticed and prevented it.
When I opened my hand, which I had been holding tightly, it was wet with sweat.
The girl dressed as a bear that my father and Sakura were talking about.
There was no doubt that she was the light of hope that defeated the serpent.
It looked like the match ended with Juubei losing.
I looked at the timing and appeared in front of everyone.
Author's Note
She is the daughter of King Suou, who I wanted to make appear someday.
[Notice]
The release date for Kuma Volume 20 has been decided.
It's August 4th.
Please see the activity report for more details.
Novels will be updated on Sundays and Wednesdays.
If we are unable to post, we will notify you in the afterword.
KuZiPA! has started the Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear Panchikuji.
Event period: 2023/7/11 (Tue) 12:00 to 2023/8/13 (Sun) 23:59 (Please see the activity report for details.)
Collaboration with Okuhida Bear Farm is ongoing until July 31st
[Release schedule]
[Figure]
POP UP PARADE Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear Punch! August 2023
Fina, Nendoroid Scheduled for January 31, 2024
KDcolle Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear Punch! Yuna 1/7 scale March 31, 2024 (Reservation period from Tuesday, June 20, 2023 to Wednesday, August 2, 2023)
[Anime disc]
Volume 1 released on July 26, 2023
Volume 2 released on August 30, 2023
Volume 3 Released on September 27, 2023
[Book]
Volume 20 of the book is scheduled for August 4, 2023.
Comicalized volume 10 released on May 2, 2023.
Comicalized Gaiden Volume 1 released on June 2, 2023.
Paperback volume 8 released on June 2, 2023.
*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.