"Feels good" (Yuna)
Shia and I were soaking in a large bathtub.
I was not sweating, but taking a bath after working out felt good.
And the temperature of the hot water was just right.
"When you put your hands together again, you will understand Yuna-san’s strength." (Shia)
Shia said while massaging her arm.
She swung her sword over and over again. Taking care of your muscles was important to avoid muscle pain.
I was fine thanks to the bear suit, but if I didn't have it, I didn't think I'd be able to move due to muscle pain tomorrow.
"I remember Shia from when I first met." (Yuna)
"Please forget about that time." (Shia)
Shia seemed embarrassed, as if remembering the first time we met.
"I'm not ashamed of that because I was angry because for my sister Noa." (Shia)
When Shia learned that I was a bodyguard dressed as a bear, she got angry and decided to make a deal with me.
It couldn't be helped since her precious sister's bodyguard was dressed as a bear.
However, it was Ellelaura-san who arranged the match.
"I guess I’m getting stronger." (Shia)
"As I said earlier, you're getting stronger." (Yuna)
"In that case, I'll be happy." (Shia)
Then, we talked about the match in the bath.
Shia listened to my words, listened to my advice, and thought about various things.
Maybe if she thought about it properly, she could become stronger.
"But I don’t think an aristocratic daughter will ever need to become that strong." (Yuna)
"Because we're a noble, we get stronger to protect ourselves." (Shia)
"There will be guards." (Yuna)
"We don't always have guards with us. In fact, there are no guards inside the school." (Shia)
Certainly not.
"...And sometimes nobles are hated." (Shia)
Shia opened her mouth with straight eyes.
"I think that neither my father nor my mother will hold a grudge against me. Even so, I don't know when someone will hold a grudge against me and attack me. In fact, my father made a mistake at the orphanage in Crimonia." (Shia)
"It wasn't Cliff's fault that happened." (Yuna)
A subordinate who was managing the orphanage was embezzling money from the orphanage.
"The residents don't know about it. They'll think father did it." (Shia)
I thought so too.
The director of the orphanage thought so too.
"If the people involved in the orphanage held a grudge, Father and Noa might have been in danger." (Shia)
If the children at the orphanage had been left without food, their friends had died, and the director had died, the children might have held a grudge against Cliff.
Those who hold a grudge did not know what they would do.
"That’s certainly true." (Yuna)
"The nobles are able to live a good life thanks to the residents. In return, we work to make life easier for the residents." (Shia)
It's difficult to move the economy and people.
Village chief, small town, big city, small country, big country. As the number of people and money increased, it became more difficult. Village chiefs could not control the country.
It required a lot of study and environment.
"During that process, there may come a time when you have to choose to be hated by others." (Shia)
It was difficult to choose a method that would make everyone happy.
Sometimes you took the larger one and cut off the smaller one.
If that happened, they might earn resentment from the children who were cut down.
Maybe the people who was abandoned would hate the lord who abandoned them.
"At that time, you may be resented and put yourself in danger." (Shia)
"So, that's why you're practicing?" (Yuna)
"That's one thing, but there's also the fact that I like swinging swords and using magic." (Shia)
Shia smiled.
It seemed difficult to be an aristocrat.
If you thought about it that way, the stupid lord of Sheelin town was an outrageous aristocrat. His son was also an idiot.
Maybe such aristocrats would be hated.
I was glad Misana's father became the lord.
Noa was also studying properly, and maybe both Noa and Shia would become good noble daughters.
Crimonia was also safe.
For that, he had to get a son-in-law though.
It seemed difficult to find a man who could match Noa and Shia.
After taking a bath, Shia and I felt refreshed and relaxed until Ellelaura-san returned.
Shia changed from her school uniform to casual clothes that looked like a white dress, and she was wearing a comfortable outfit.
Me? I was still a black bear.
While we were talking in Shia's room, there was a knock on the door. When Shia gives permission, Surilina-san entered.
"Madam has come home. I would like to inform her that Yuna-san is here and ask you to take her to the reception room." (Surilina)
Apparently, Ellelaura-san had come back from work.
Shia held a picture frame with pressed flowers and said, "Let's go." Shia and I headed to the reception room where Ellelaura-san was.
"Mother, I brought Yuna-san." (Shia)
"Go in" (Ellelaura)
Shia and I opened the door and entered the room.
"Yuna-chan, thank you for coming. Please have a seat." (Ellelaura)
Shia and I sat on the chairs in front of Ellelaura-san.
Shia placed pressed flowers on the table in front of us.
"Well, that's okay, though. So, what is this precious flower? I heard from Shia that it's this blue flower." (Yuna)
I pointed to pressed flowers with a bear puppet.
"The blue flower is called Masouka[1], Magic Blue Flower, and it seemed to be a precious flower that contains mana." (Ellelaura)
"Masouka…" (Yuna)
That was the name.
I was glad it's not called pressed flowers.
"So, in what way is it precious?" (Yuna)
"This kind of thing is out of my jurisdiction, so I don’t know much about it either." (Ellelaura)
I thought Ellelaura-san would know everything.
"Even I, there are many things I don’t know." (Ellelaura)
"Don't read people's minds" (Yuna)
"It was written on your face." (Ellelaura)
It's really showing up on my face lately.
I was supposed to be good at putting on a poker face.
"Well, unless you're a professional, you won't notice." (Ellelaura)
"You don’t learn at school either." (Shia)
"People who want to go to the Ministry of Magic. Moreover, when it comes to plants, there are far fewer people who understand." (Ellelaura)
It's not just flowers. There were many experts in this world, including other plants, minerals, wood, food, magic, and economics.
Because these people are studying various things, that field would develop.
Maybe the people who noticed this Masouka this time also noticed it because they were studying it.
"So what should I do?" (Yuna)
"That's right. I don't mind if I ask you the details. Tomorrow, I'll be discussing about the same thing at the Ministry of Magic, so let's ask them for more details."
"Wait a minute, talk at the Ministry of Magic." (Yuna)
"Yuna-chan is to go to the Ministry of Magic." (Ellelaura)
"I didn't hear that." (Yuna)
"Because I just told you." (Ellelaura)
Ellelaura-san made a look that said, "Am I wrong?"
It fitted though.
I met Ellelaura-san today, so there's no timing for me to ask.
"Maybe you should let me know in advance by letter." (Yuna)
"When I wrote the letter, I was planning to ask Yuna-chan to come to the capital, listen to her story, and then talk about the rest. However, the other day, when I met Marne-sama (マーネ), we're talking about taking Yuna-chan to the Ministry of Magic." (Ellelaura)
"Marne-sama?" (Yuna)
"This time, she's the person from the Ministry of Magic who noticed the Masouka. So, what do you think?" (Ellelaura)
"By the way, do I have the right to veto?" (Yuna)
"Of course you do. I can't force you." (Ellelaura)
I thought they were going to take me away by force.
"But I'm sure Marne-sama will be sad. She's an avid researcher, and she's old, so even if she dies from shock, it won't be Yuna-chan's fault." (Ellelaura)
Ellelaura-san looked a little sad.
What, that threat?
"Is that Marne-sama an elderly person?" (Yuna)
"She's quite old, isn't she?" (Ellelaura)
"Shia, really?" (Yuna)
There's a possibility that Ellelaura-san was lying, so I checked with Shia.
"Yes. Marne-sama is quite old." (Shia)
Apparently it's not a lie.
"It seems that Mane-sama wants to meet Yuna-chan and hear her story." (Ellelaura)
Well, that's how it was.
I expected to be asked a lot of questions about where I had picked it.
But it was Ellelaura-san, and I didn't think it was someone else.
"So, what are you going to do? You can refuse, though. In that case, I'll have to listen to your story to some extent." (Ellelaura)
"I'll go. I'm going to the Ministry of Magic, right?" (Yuna)
Actually, when I heard about the Ministry of Magic from Shia, I was curious because it seemed like a different world.
After all, it's the Ministry of Magic.
It didn't exist in the original world.
It's been a long time since I'd been a former gamer.
"Yes, especially." (Ellelaura)
"Good. It's hard to get in." (Shia)
Shia said with envy.
"Because they're conducting important research, basically only those involved are allowed in."
Well, it's the same everywhere.
It would be a problem if someone from another company entered a company without permission, and I would also be in trouble if someone I didn't know entered the kitchen of my store, "Bear's Relaxing Shop."
Even though I'd never worked in a company, I understood that much.
Moreover, it is a place where important magic and magic tools are handled.
"Then let's go tomorrow."
That night, I tried to go back to the bear house in the capital, but I was stopped because Shia and Ellelaura-san wanted to listen to Noa's story.
I thought Cliff might have told me about fairies in a letter, but he never told.
That's why I didn't talk about fairies either.
Author's Note
So, she decided to go to the Ministry of Magic.
Volume 20.5 of the book and volume 10 of the paperback version will be released on May 2nd.
I wrote the information in the activity report.
Some stores have signed books, so if you are thinking of purchasing, please check them out.
*I may take a break for the next post. Please note that.[2]
[Book]
Book volume 20.5 Scheduled to be released on May 2, 2024. (Next volume, planned for volume 21, currently under construction)
Comicalized volume 11 released on December 1, 2023.
Comicalized Gaiden Volume 2 released on March 5, 2024.
Paperback volume 10 scheduled to be released on May 2, 2024. (The application deadline for the BIG acrylic stand giveaway campaign of Yuna and Sanya on the cover is August 20, 2024, and will be given to 20 people by lottery)
*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.
Translation Note
[1] 魔蒼花 literal translation is Magic Blue Flower. Which one should I use?
[2] Do not worry! I have expected this one. Next chapter will be the same schedule, but it makes us be at exactly 2 weeks (plus 8 hours) after the original.