While being attacked by many Red Monkeys, Yuna-chan fought the Giant Monkey alone.
To let us escape, even though we were surrounded by Red Monkeys.
Yuna-chan casted a fire spell, but the Giant Monkey slashed it with the sword.
"Amazing." (Lydia)
Yuna-chan narrowly dodged Giant Monkey's great sword.
If you get hit with a blow from that big sword, it's the end.
Scary.
If it were me, I wouldn't even be able to stand in front of the Giant Monkey.
I was shaking and couldn't do anything.
But Yuna-chan was facing the issue head-on and fighting.
Even a weak person like me could understand how amazing that was.
As Yuna-chan's body spun, the Giant Monkey was blown away.
I had no idea what was going on.
"What?" (Lydia)
"Yuna twisted her body and kicked the Giant Monkey away." (Marne)
Marne-san told me.
Even if you kick it, will that big body fly?
But in reality, the Giant Monkey was kicked backwards and rolled.
"How much training do you need to do to be able to do something like that?" (Lydia)
I would never be able to do that.
My brother and Marne-san couldn't hear the Giant Monkey, but I could.
When the Giant Monkey let out a "Kikikiki" sound, the Red Monkeys surrounded Yuna-chan and attacked her.
Yuna-chan created wind and lifted the Red Monkeys into the air.
There's no way I could create that much wind.
Yuna-chan raised her arm and fired a spell at the Red Monkeys in the air.
The Red Monkeys were pierced by something and fell to the ground.
"What's that magic?" (Lydia)
Something transparent was coming out of Yuna-chan's hand.
It's not earth magic, nor was it fire or wind magic.
So, it's water? I thought, but then Marne-san said something different.
"It's Ice." (Marne)
"Ice?" (Lydia)
Ice magic...few people use it in battle.
The reason was that it was difficult to handle.
If you wanted to hit something hard, you could just use earth magic.
Above all, it's easier to imagine earth than ice.
Therefore, ice magic was generally not used much in battle.
"Why ice magic?" (Lydia)
"No one knows that except for Yuna, who is fighting." (Marne)
Yuna-chan's specialty magic might be ice magic.
The Red Monkeys attacked Yuna-chan again.
Yuna-chan created wind just like before, sending the Red Monkeys flying up into the air.
Despite being attacked by such large numbers, Yuna-chan was still gaining the upper hand.
If things continued like this, Yuna-chan might win.
The battle of Yuna-chan made me feel that way.
Yuna-chan was about to cast an ice spell at the Red Monkeys, that were flying into the sky.
"...!?" (Lydia)
We could see it from a distance, looking at the whole picture.
The Giant Monkey was running towards Yuna-chan.
Yuna-chan didn't seem to notice and was still looking up.
"Yuna!" (Marne)
Marne-san let out a small cry.
Even though there was no way she could hear the voice, Yuna-chan lowered her arm and casted ice magic at the Giant Monkey.
Were you aware?
However, the Giant Monkey cut the ice that Yuna-chan had thrown with the sword.
It was prevented.
By the time I had that thought, Yuna-chan was in front of the Giant Monkey.
Yuna-chan stepped on the Giant Monkey's sword as it was swung down and kicked it in the head.
Just as it seemed that Yuna-chan's kick was about to hit the Giant Monkey's head, the Giant Monkey caught it with its hand.
Yuna-chan's body was easily lifted with one hand.
Just when it seemed she was about to be slammed into the ground, Yuna-chan slipped out of the Giant Monkey's hands.
It all happened in an instant and I didn't know what happened.
The attack and defense between Yuna-chan and the Giant Monkey was too fast.
But Yuna-chan's movements didn't stop.
When the Red Monkeys, who had been flying up in the air, fell to the ground, they immediately attacked Yuna-chan.
Yuna-chan immediately used wind magic and once again sent the Red Monkeys flying up into the air.
It looked like a tornado flashing yellow.
Even though Yuna-chan was not attacking, the Red Monkeys that fell to the ground became motionless.
"What did she do?" (Lydia)
"I don't know. I think she used some kind of magic." (Marne)
"I mean, what was that fight about?" (Lydia)
"This is a battle between first-class adventurers..." (Marne)
A realm I couldn't reach no matter how hard I try.
A realm that only a select few could reach.
The battle between Yuna-chan and the Giant Monkey.
The Giant Monkey swung its sword and Yuna-chan dodged.
The knife appeared to flash like the tornado from earlier.
This time was not the time to worry about such things.
Yuna-chan was being cornered by the Giant Monkey's attacks.
Yuna-chan did her best to dodge.
Yuna-chan ran backwards.
"That way!"
Yuna-chan was unaware.
A cliff! I thought to myself, but then Yuna-chan had disappeared.
"Yuna-chan!"
Yuna-chan fell off a cliff.
The Giant Monkey jumped following her.
I tried to stand up to rush over, but someone grabbed my arm.
"Nii-san." (Lydia)
"Don't move." (Zect)
"The Red Monkeys are here." (Marne)
When the two of them told me, I realized.
Even though Yuna-chan defeated them, there were still about 10 Red Monkeys left.
"Kyuu~n" (Both Kuma)
Kumayuru and Kumakyu stood up and puffed out their chests.
"What happened?" (Lydia)
"It's like they're saying she'll defeat it." (Marne)
"I'm worried about Yuna. Let's head there." (Zect)
Everyone nodded at my brother's words.
We headed to where Yuna and the Giant Monkey were fighting.
Yuna-chan, stay safe.
As we headed towards where Yuna-chan and the Giant Monkey were fighting, the Red Monkeys started jumping off a cliff to escape.
We ran.
As we got close to the cliff, Kumayuru and Kumakyu cried "Kyuu~n" twice in sad voices.
Maybe Yuna-chan.
We hurriedly looked down the cliff.
At the bottom of the cliff, Yuna-chan was still fighting the Red Monkeys.
Seeing that, I felt relieved.
What was that sad cry from Kumayuru-chan and _KUMAKYUUCHAN_ just now?
"Hey, the Giant Monkey is eating the Goblin King." (Zect)
I searched for the Giant Monkey.
It's true. The Giant Monkey was eating the Goblin King.
I felt ill.
When I tried to look away, the inside of the Giant Monkey's body began to glow.
"Didn't the inside of the Giant Monkey's body just glow now?"
I saw it too.
But does the Giant Monkey's body glow from inside?
"Marne-san......"
My brother and I looked at Marne-san looking through the telescope.
"There were two lights. So, this was just my guess, but the ones that were shining were the Giant Monkey's and the Goblin King's magic stones." (Marne)
"Magic stone..."
"I don't know what effect it will have, but it seems like the Giant Monkey's body has gotten bigger." (Marne)
"It's big..."
"That means..."
"It's possible that it's stronger than ever before." (Marne)
It's already strong, but has it become even stronger?
As Marne-san said, the Giant Monkey's movements became faster.
There was no way someone like that could handle it.
"It's bad"
Yuna-chan was grabbed by the Giant Monkey and thrown away.
Yuna-chan rolled across the ground and came to a halt when she hit a tree.
Everyone was shocked by the sight.
However, Yuna-chan stood up, albeit unsteadily.
I was relieved she was alive, but I couldn't take it anymore.
Yuna-chan, run away.
"Because I asked you to bring me." (Marne)
Marne-san gritted her teeth as she watched Yuna-chan fought despite her injuries.
I wanted to scream out to them to stop fighting and run away.
Even if I ran away, I didn't think I could escape that Giant Monkey.
Yuna-chan was fighting.
She was fighting a giant monkey with her small body.
All by herself.
Slashed repeatedly with a small knife.
"It's not Marne-san's fault. I said I wanted to come with you, so if it had been just the two of you, Marne-san and Yuna-chan, you could have gotten on Kumayuru-chan and _KUMAKYUUCHAN_ and escaped. But because we were there, we were a hindrance, and Yuna-chan ended up fighting the Giant Monkey..." (Lydia)
Because we were together, Yuna-chan was dying.
"Kumayuru-chan, _KUMAKYUUCHAN_, forget about us, go help Yuna-chan." (Lydia)
"Kyuu~n" (Both Kuma)
Kumayuru and Kumakyu shook their heads.
"Why? Someone important to Kumayuru-chan and _KUMAKYUUCHAN_ is in danger." (Lydia)
"Stop it. I'm sure these children want to go to Yuna too. But Yuna's orders are to protect us. They're just following her orders." (Marne)
"But if things continue like this, Yuna-chan..." (Lydia)
"Stop crying. Yuna is fighting to let us escape." (Marne)
When the Giant Monkey attacked, Yuna-chan did not hesitate to prioritize letting us escape, and headed toward the Giant Monkey.
People's feelings come out more in times of emergency.
When things get dangerous, some people will push others down to protect themselves.
I think that's the majority of it.
But Yuna-chan was different.
Without a moment's hesitation, she acted.
"If you want to help Yuna, then you help her." (Marne)
"I……" (Lydia)
I was weak.
I couldn't fight.
I was scared and couldn't even get close.
I realized my words were pathetic.
I would ask Kumayuru-chan and _KUMAKYUUCHAN_ and not do anything.
I was just scared.
"Then I'll do it." (Zect)
"If you go, you're only going to die." (Marne)
"That's me, too."
It's the same.
Even if I went to the Giant Monkey, I would be killed without being able to do anything.
"You have wind magic and a bow. Aim from here." (Marne)
Marne-san touched my arm.
"From here." (Lydia)
I aimed for the Giant Monkey from the top of the cliff.
It was far away. And most importantly, the Giant Monkey moved fast.
"I can't do it, I can't do it." (Lydia)
"Then all we can do is watch in silence as Yuna is killed." (Marne)
Yuna-chan dies.
"You have a talent for wind magic. Listen to the sound of the wind. Wrap the arrow in wind." (Marne)
Marne-san's words entered into my mind.
I took a deep breath.
I didn't know if I could do it.
But it's better than abandoning it.
If I could attract them, maybe even Yuna-chan would be able to escape.
I had decided.
"……I'll do" (Lydia)
The moment I grabbed the bow, Yuna-chan was blown away.
The Giant Monkey used its tail to blow Yuna-chan away.
Still, Yuna-chan stood up.
Don't cry.
Crying won't help Yuna-chan.
When you cry, your eyes become cloudy.
Holding back my tears, I used wind magic to convey my voice to Yuna-chan.
"Yuna-chan, please lure the Giant Monkey over here." (Lydia)
I didn't know if my message got through to her, but I readied my bow.
You have only a moment. Don't miss the chance.
The battle between Yuna-chan and the Giant Monkey began.
Yuna-chan moved little by little.
Don't look away.
Look carefully.
Yuna-chan wielded a knife.
Not yet.
The two of them moved quickly.
Make the arrow wrap around the wind.
Yuna-chan cut off the Giant Monkey's tail.
The Giant Monkey got angry.
The Giant Monkey launched an attack on Yuna-chan, but Yuna-chan dodged it as well.
The Giant Monkey's arms went up.
At that moment, an arrow was released from my bow.
Without even checking the result of the arrow, I set the next one and turned my eyes to the Giant Monkey.
The first arrow pierced the Giant Monkey's eye.
And yet, the Giant Monkey attacked Yuna-chan.
I absentmindedly fired the second arrow.
If they moved around, there would be no second chance.
This time was the only time that Yuna-chan could keep the Giant Monkey in place.
Yuna-chan cut off the Giant Monkey's neck, but the Giant Monkey did not stop moving.
I adjusted the direction of the arrow using wind magic aimed at the Giant Monkey.
It hit.
The second arrow, wrapped in wind, also pierced the Giant Monkey's eye.
It's over.
Yuna-chan immediately stabbed the Giant Monkey in the chest with a knife.
Author's Note
By the way, because the wind is blowing in a different direction, Lydia doesn't hear Yuna's "Understood."
The third volume of the side story is scheduled for release on December 20th.
*Posting will occur every 4 days.
*If I will be taking a break, I will announce it in the postscript, and if I am suddenly unable to post, I will let you know in the activity report or on X (formerly Twitter).
*"Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear" comic chapter 128 (11/13) is currently available on PASH UP (Niconico Manga chapter 123 is currently available)
*Episode 20 of the "Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear" spin-off is currently available on PASH UP (episode 17 is currently available on NicoNico Manga)
If you have time, please check out the comic version.
[Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear to be released]
Book volume 20.5 was released on May 2, 2024. (The next volume, volume 21, is planned and in the works.)
The 12th volume of the comic was released on August 3, 2024. (The release date for the next volume, 13, has not yet been decided.)
Comicalized spin-off volume 2 was released on March 5, 2024. (The next volume, volume 3, is scheduled for release on December 20th.)
The 11th volume of the paperback edition was released on October 4, 2024. (The deadline for the campaign to win a big acrylic stand featuring Yuna and Shuri on the cover is January 20, 2025. 20 lucky winners will receive a prize.) (The release date for the next volume, 12th volume, has not yet been decided.)
*Thank you to everyone who reports typos.
Some of the kanji have been corrected to match the book, so please understand that there are some parts that have not been corrected.