Lise-san crossed the gate using the stairs made with magic and turned her attention to the garden.
"It hasn't changed." (Lise)
"That's right." (Bollard)
Lise-san and Bollard-san looked forlornly at the frozen garden.
It might be full of memories with family and friends.
The frozen garden that looked beautiful to me might look sad to both of them.
Both of them slowly come to the front door, looking at the frozen garden.
"The front door is locked, so let's go through the back door." (Bollard)
"Ah, as I said earlier, I melted the ice on the front door to get in, so...I broke the lock." (Yuna)
I answered honestly.
"Don't worry about it. In that case, let's go in through the front door." (Bollard)
The door that was supposed to have melted yesterday was frozen.
Kagari-san seemed to think that it was her duty to melt the ice, so she began to melt the ice on the door.
When the ice on the door melted, the door opened.
"It's like time has stopped." (Lise)
"Nothing has changed since the last time I came here." (Bollard)
"Let's go" (Lise)
Lise-san went straight up the stairs and headed towards a room.
"I'm sorry. Please melt this door as well." (Lise)
This room...
Kagari-san seemed to remember as well, as she looked at me once and began to melt the ice on the door. The ice melted and the door opened.
When I entered the room, I saw people hugging each other in front of the fireplace.
Lise-san slowly approached the frozen figure and knelt down.
"Mother, sister. It's been a while. I'm sorry I haven't been able to visit you often." (Lise)
It looked like it was her mother and older sister.
"I'm sorry for being such a helpless father. I'm sorry that I couldn't help you." (Bollard)
They both apologized to the frozen two.
However, the two did not respond.
They just remained frozen.
They would never move again.
However, only quiet time passed by.
Maybe they were having a conversation in their mind.
Kagari-san and I watched quietly.
Lise-san's quiet crying voice spread through the quiet room.
Bollard-san gently hugged Lise-san.
They both then stood up and turned to us.
"Thank you, Yuna-san and Kagari-chan. I was able to say hello to my mother and sister." (Lise)
"I'm sure they both are happy to meet Lise-san." (Yuna)
"I hope so. Maybe they have a grudge against me for surviving." (Lise)
"That kind of thing is……" (Yuna)
"You, don’t be so naive." (Kagari)
Kagari-san's voice was louder than my voice of denial.
"K-Kagari-chan?" (Lise)
"Those who survive have the pain of surviving. Were you so happy that you hated the three years you lived in this land? No, I don't think so." (Kagari)
"…………" (Lise)
Lise-san said that she cried many times.
Maybe it was more painful and sad than I thought.
She lost someone important to her, there was no help, and she was living in a situation where she could have died at any time.
I couldn't imagine hating Lise-san for living like that.
Sometimes life was more painful.
"In the first place, are you the kind of family that would hold a grudge against you if you survived?" (Kagari)
"...That's not true. I don't hold a grudge against my mother or sister." (Lise)
"Maybe you can't forgive yourself for being a survivor. However, you have lived in pain and sadness for three years. I think you can forgive yourself now." (Kagari)
"...Kagari-chan" (Lise)
Lise-san hugged Kagari-san.
Maybe Kagari-san understood because she'd had the same experience.
I heard that she fought against a giant snake and lost many people.
And at that time, Kagari-san and Mumloot-san were the only people who were still alive who fought against the serpent. While she could not meet Mumloot-san, she might have suffered alone.
Therefore, Kagari-san's words carried more weight than my mere words.
"They don't hold a grudge against anyone. Even if they did, they wouldn't worry about it. You have your own life. Those who survive have that right." (Kagari)
"……right" (Lise)
"If you die, who will remember your mother and sister? It's up to you and your father to do that." (Kagari)
Kagari-san looked at Lise-san and Bollard-san.
"...That's right. Lise and I may have been caught up in the guilt of having survived." (Bollard)
Bollard-san once again approached the frozen mother and daughter.
"Don't worry about Lise and sleep in peace. And if you have a grudge against me, hate me for not being able to help you." (Bollard)
"Father!" (Lise)
"This is my role as a father. And my kind wife and daughter won't hold a grudge against me. I'm sure Lise knows that." (Bollard)
"......" (Lise)
"Yuna-san, Kagari-san. Thank you for today. We've made a break." (Bollard)
Lise-san and Bollard-san were crying, but their faces were smiling.
But what was it?
Kagari-san was saying nice things, but since she was in the form of a little girl, it just felt weird.
Well, if I were to say the same thing while dressed as a bear, it might look strange from the outside.
Persuaded by Kagari-san, Lise-san said she also wanted to greet the servants who worked in the house.
I listened to their wishes and went around the rooms of the frozen servants.
Lise-san apologized and vowed to continue living no matter how painful it was.
Just as we were about to return to the Bear Bus, a voice called out to them from the entrance, "Bollard-san! Lise-chan!" echoed inside the mansion.
We hurried to the front door.
Baran-san the fisherman was at the door.
"Bollard-san, there's a blizzard!" (Baran)
Hearing Baran-san's words, Bollard-san ran out the front door.
We continued.
"No way, at this timing!?"
When I opened the door, it was snowing outside and a strong wind was blowing.
In this short time?
It was sunny until just now.
There was no sign of a blizzard.
"Quickly head towards the carriage." (Yuna)
We closed the door and ran toward the bear bus.
We climbed the stairs, crossed the wall, and returned to the Bear Bus.
"Kyuu~n" (Both Kuma)
When I entered the bear bus, I was greeted by Kumayuru and Kumakyu.
"Good. I see you came back safely."
"But what should we do? As time passes, it will get worse."
"Are we going to wait somewhere for the blizzard to stop?"
"How long will the blizzard last?" (Kagari)
Kagari-san asked.
While we were talking, the blizzard was gradually getting stronger.
"It can last as little as one night, or as long as many days. We can't judge that."
"What would you have done if there was a snowstorm outside of the mine?" (Yuna)
If there was a sudden snowstorm, there must have been a time when they weren't in the mine.
"If it's at sea, there are caves. There are also some shelters in town. There, I'll wait for the blizzard to subside with the fire magic stone I carry around." (Baran)
It could also happen if Baran-san was out fishing.
He lived in such harsh conditions.
"It might be able to prevent a blizzard, but it's too cold with only magic stones." (Kagari)
Indeed, as Kagari-san said, in the ice, even if there was a fire magic stone, it would be impossible to warm the entire body.
"In that case, it would be better inside this bear." (Kagari)
"It's certainly not cold in here." (Lise)
This was my first time on a bear bus in the cold, but it seemed like it protected me from the cold just like the bear house did.
When I was wearing bear gear, I often didn't notice this.
"Then stay here until the blizzard stops." (Yuna)
Just as I was about to say that, Baran-san opened his mouth.
"Miss. Is it possible for this bear carriage to return to the mine?" (Baran)
"Baran?"
Everyone on the bear bus was surprised by Baran-san's words.
"My precious horse is in the shed. I have to get it back soon. I can't let the monster kill them again." (Baran)
"Baran, I understand how you feel, but it's dangerous to travel in this snowstorm."
"Dad" (Baran)
Everyone looked gloomy.
Everyone valued horses.
"It's inside the hut. It'll be protected from the blizzard. The monsters might not show up, or maybe they'll overlook it."
"Maybe so." (Baran)
This was something only monsters could understand.
"After what happened, we reinforced the hut. Let's hope they're safe. Our priority now is to protect ourselves."
Everyone knew it.
What was more important than the horse?
But if something happens to the horse, Baran-san would regret it.
No, it's not just Baran-san. Everyone here woudl regret it.
If I was alone, I would be fine even in a blizzard.
But I was also worried about leaving everyone behind.
If a monster or dragon appeared, I'd be worried about Kagari-san, Kumayuru, and Kumakyu only.
If so, there's only one way.
"Then let's all go home." (Yuna)
That's the best.
"You, is that possible?" (Kagari)
"I think it's probably okay." (Yuna)
I had never run a bear bus in the snowy mountains, but this was cheat magic.
"Miss, can we really go home?"
"However, since I will be forcing it to move, I cannot guarantee that it will shake." (Yuna)
"I don't care"
"I'm fine too."
"Miss, please."
"Yuna-san, can you please?"
No one had an opposing opinion.
There's a blizzard outside.
We had only been talking for a few minutes, and it's worse than before.
"Even if we can't move forward, we'll be safe inside." (Yuna)
In the worst-case scenario, there was a way to rush to the bear house on the way.
Everyone agreed, so we headed back to the mine.
I sat in the driver's seat and drove the bear bus.
Author's Note
...
*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.