I finished cleaning up my room today, and the rest would be done tomorrow.
At least I thought I could sleep.
The magic that Kagari-san and I used was very useful.
At first, everyone was surprised to see me dressed as a bear and the little girl Kagari-san using magic.
Normally, Kagari-san would not be able to use magic at her apparent age. But she's actually the one who'd been around longer than anyone else.
But Kagari-san couldn't say that, so she told everyone, "I am special, so don't imitate me."
Then, as the sun began to set, Bollard-san returned.
Lise-san's family, including me and Kagari-san, gathered in the room.
"So how was the city?" (Lise)
"The people who were frozen were safe." (Bollard)
"Good" (Lise)
Lise-san looked relieved after hearing Bollard-san's story.
However, it seemed that the area where the ice dragon landed caused quite a bit of damage.
Bollard-san then went around the city to assess the situation.
The ice began to melt everywhere, and residents were said to be cleaning up their houses that were covered in ice.
"No one noticed that it had been frozen for three years." (Lise)
"Ah, just like you guys. I remember the part where the ice dragon appeared and it got cold, but beyond that I don't remember anything else." (Bollard)
"It feels like yesterday for us too." (Lise)
"But an explanation will be necessary. The fact that it was frozen for three years doesn't change. There will be no interaction with other towns, and some people will think it's strange." (Bollard)
It would be strange if there were no ships coming from other cities.
We could not remain silent.
"I've met with Bende, Baran, and the others and talked about the future. So, I decided to gather all the important people in town and have a discussion. I'll ask Lise to come at that time as well." (Bollard)
"Me too?" (Lise)
"We'll ask Bende and the others to come, but we don't know how much they'll believe just by our words. Even if they look at us, they can't tell how much we've changed from three years ago. But Lise is different. Things have changed in three years." (Bollard)
Even if you looked at Bollard-san and the others, maybe it's too subtle to notice that three years had passed.
However, those who knew Lise-san knew that she had grown over the past three years.
"I’m sorry to make you look like a spectacle." (Bollard)
"No, don't worry about it. If I can help, I'll help too." (Lise)
"Sorry." (Bollard)
This was something only Lise-san could do.
Bollard-san talked about the current state of the city and its future.
Bollard-san and others were already starting to follow the path they should take. We were not needed.
"Bollard-san, we'll be heading home tomorrow too." (Yuna)
At my words, Bollard-san turned his eyes towards me and Kagari-san.
"I would like the two of you to join us because you defeated the Ice Dragon." (Lise)
"I don't think anyone will believe that we fought the ice dragon. Besides, there's no need to say it. I'm not even going to say that we saved the city." (Yuna)
Even if a little girl wearing a bear costume fought an ice dragon, no one would believe her.
Not convincing.
"That's right. Even if we got together and talked about it, no one would believe. Just tell them that three years have passed and that the ice dragon has left." (Kagari)
"Then please at least accept my gratitude." (Bollard)
"I don't need any thanks." (Yuna)
"I also don’t need." (Kagari)
"It's going to be tough from now on as the city rebuilds. So don't worry about it."
I thought about wanting a place to build a bear house or a small house, but this time I was going to put Bear's Transfer Gate in an inconspicuous place.
"Not only did you fight the ice dragon, but you also gave us its horns and scales, and we have nothing to thank you for." (Bollard)
"That's right. I haven't been able to properly thank Yuna-san and Kagari-chan. I can't believe how much we were saved by meeting them." (Lise)
"I didn't do it because I wanted to thank you." (Yuna)
Personally, I was satisfied because I also obtained the ice dragon material.
In response to our words, Bollard-san said, "I understand."
"But if you have any trouble in this town, please let me know." (Bollard)
That's a compromise.
"Please do so then." (Yuna)
Once the discussion was finalized, Kagari-san spoke to Lise-san.
"Lise" (Kagari)
Kagari-san had a serious expression on her face.
"I think things are going to be tough for you from now on. Unlike Bollard and the others, you look different than you did three years ago." (Kagari)
"..." (Lise)
"People around you might look at you strangely." (Kagari)
"..." (Lise)
"Maybe there are people who avoid you or say something behind your back. Sometimes people avoid you if they're different from you." (Kagari)
"Kagari-chan…" (Lise)
Kagari-san was right. It's like one child who was a junior high school student now became a high school student. I didn't have any friends the same age as me.
Even if you thought of someone as a friend, that didn't mean they would treat you the same way.
The 3 year difference in childhood was huge.
"You have spent three years that no one else can experience. It is not a waste. I am sure it has become your sustenance." (Kagari)
"……Yeah" (Lise)
"That's why you will never lose." (Kagari)
She hadn't met anyone yet.
We didn't know how she would be seen.
Kagari-san was talking about it as one of the possibilities.
Of course, it would be best if that never happened, but if a friend grew up three years overnight, I didn't know how to interact with them.
Even I didn't know if I would be able to treat Fina the same way as before if I woke up and Fina had grown up for three years.
This was something you wouldn't know until you met each other.
"Kagari-chan, thank you for worrying about me. I can't say that everything is okay, but I will never give up. I promise to look ahead and move forward." (Lise)
"It's okay because I'm here. No matter what happens, I'll protect Lise." (Lua)
Lua, who had been listening to the story, answered.
"That's right. Your family should protect you. Don't forget that you are not alone. Just remember that." (Lua)
"Yeah" (Lise)
Kagari-san believed Lise-san and Rua's words and did not speak any further.
That night.
Kagari-san and I were given a guest room and decided to stay the night.
Lise-san seemed to have decided to sleep with her mother Lindsay-san and her older sister Lua.
I collapsed on the bed.
After all, what was the "bear signpost" referring to?
I took out the "bear signpost" from the bear box.
It was not shining. Nothing showed.
Even if I shook it or tapped it lightly, there was no reaction.
"Is that the ball that was shining towards this city?" (Kagari)
"Yeah, I think there's a reason, but I was wondering what it was." (Yuna)
What happened when we came to this city?
1. I met Lise-san and others.
2. I met an ice dragon.
3. Talked to the ice dragon.
4. Obtained the ice dragon material.
5. Saved the city.
Maybe it's not a magic tool to point out where people are in trouble, right?
"Is that so?" (Kagari)
"Kagari-san, do you know something?" (Yuna)
"I don't know that. I guess it was just showing you this city." (Kagari)
"I think so" (Yuna)
"If you don't know what the light was pointing at, there is no answer. If you are the one who intends to have it, don't be swayed. If the light continues to shine, you will understand." (Kagari)
As Kagari-san said, it could not be determined by a single phenomenon.
If it continued to shine, I was sure I would know its purpose.
So, I wouldn't worry about it for now and put the "bear signpost" in the bear box until it lighted up again.
It might or might not shine.
This was all I didn't understand.
The next morning, Kagari-san and I woke up and prepared to leave.
"Then let's go home." (Kagari)
"It's been a bit of a long outing." (Yuna)
Just once, I told Fina that I was going out with Kagari-san for a little while, and if anything happened, I told her to call me on bear phone, so I was not worried.
I thought about telling Sakura about Kagari-san, but Kagari-san said it wasn't necessary, so I hadn't told anyone.
"I hope Suzuran hasn’t come." (Kagari)
Kagari-san's body was shaking.
I wondered if Suzuran-san was scary when she got angry.
Maybe she would be worried if she disappeared without permission.
When Kagari-san and I arrived on the first floor, Lise-san and other people had gathered.
Bollard-san, Baran-san and his wife, Bende-san and his grandfather, and six people who were in the mine.
"What happened to everyone?" (Yuna)
"I heard that the girls are coming home."
"I thought of it as a final thank you."
"I have received it many times as a thank you." (Yuna)
I had tried to return many times, and each time I had received words of gratitude.
"Yes, but I guess I'm really going home this time."
"Yeah"
"Please let me see you off."
"I know it's going to be difficult, but please do your best."
"Compared to the three years we lived together as a group of six people, it's not that difficult."
"That's right. All that awaits is a pleasant struggle."
"Ah, if it’s a hardship I can do with my family, I’m grateful."
"Also, I will give this to you two." (Bollard)
Bollard-san handed me a card.
"It's a special card issued by the lord. If you have this, you can freely enter the town. If you show it at the gate of your house, they will pass it on to me and Lise." (Bollard)
That meant they wanted us to come again.
There's no reason to refuse, so Kagari-san and I accepted the card.
"Yuna-san, Kagari-chan, please come again." (Lise)
Lise-san held my bear puppet and Kagari-san's hands.
"Yeah, I'll come." (Yuna)
"I'm also concerned about your condition." (Kagari)
"It is a promise" (Lise)
We said our goodbyes and left the mansion.
Author's Note
*As for future plans, I would like to take a break for a while once the Ice Dragon arc is finished.
There are a lot of things going on, but I would appreciate it if you could give me some time to write the 21st volume and think about the development of the next story.
...
*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.