We left the store.
"Marne-san was truly an amazing person. To think he would bow his head like that. When I went there, I was chased out." (Lydia)
"I'm sure he had his reasons. You can't go against someone with power." (Marne)
Few people were able to resist authority. Even at school, you can't go against powerful students. If you resist, you will be bullied. I had also heard that even in a company, you can't go against what your boss says. Human society is structured like a pyramid. It's the same in this world. Commoners could not defy nobles.
"After listening to his story, I know that it's not the man's fault." (Lydia)
Just because you don't want to be bullied yourself is not an excuse for bullying others or forgiving them.
"I'm not asking you to forgive him, but you should wait and see how he behaves in the future before making a decision." (Marne)
"……yes" (Lydia)
Marne-san was also at the top of the pyramid. She was questioning the man in a threatening manner, but she was actually angry at him for doing something wrong. If the people at the top are nice, then the people at the bottom will be happy too, right?
"Even so, Marne-san. You looked like a teacher." (Yuna)
However, it felt very strange that Marne-san, who looked like a child, was being called a teacher by an adult.
"Should I call you Marne-sensei from now on? Marne-sensei." (Yuna)
"Yuna, calling me sensei is prohibited!" (Marne)
Marne-san kicked me with her foot. I decided to stop teasing her because I thought she'd get angry if I continued.
"Marne-san is a fine adult, right?" (Yuna)
"I'm an Adult, you know!" (Marne)
Marne-san yelled, puffing out her cheeks. She looked like a child, but was an adult inside. Just like Kagari-san, she's a proper adult.
"The medicine is ready, so we'll be heading home soon." (Marne)
Marne-san started walking. Lydia-san and I saw Marne-san, smiled and followed her.
When we returned to Lydia-san's house, Zect-san was in a panic.
"Lydia!" (Zect)
"Nii-san, what's wrong?" (Lydia)
"Est has a fever." (Zect)
We entered Est's room. Camilla was looking worried at Est, who was lying in bed, with a wet towel on her forehead.
"Mom" (Lydia)
"I just gave her the medicine." (Camilla)
Est was sleeping quietly in bed. But her face was a little red.
"Thank you Marne-san. She took the medicine you gave me and she calmed down immediately." (Camilla)
I was glad that Marne-san's medicine seemed to be working properly.
"Mom……" (Lydia)
Est's eyes opened.
"Est, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Better than usual." (Est)
"Good"
"Also, the medicine was easier to take than usual."
"Of course. It's made to be easy for children to drink." (Marne)
"Marne-san, you're so kind."
"Adults can hold themselves back and drink it, but many children dislike it if it has a strange taste or smell. It would be fine if they just didn't like it, but refusing to drink it is the worst thing they can do, so we make it as easy to drink as possible." (Marne)
Even in the original world, medicines for children were made to be easy to take. There is a saying that good medicine tastes bitter, and effective medicines are often bitter. However, there are now medicines on the market that are easy to take. I used to drink cold syrup when I was a kid, and it was easy to drink.
"As a pharmacist, it's natural." (Marne)
Marne-san looked embarrassed.
"Est, can you get up? I've made some medicine." (Marne)
"I'm okay" (Est)
With Camilla's support, she stood up.
"Is the medicine from before not good enough?" (Camilla)
Camilla asked.
"That's just medicine to temporarily suppress the fever. It won't cure the problem fundamentally. But I've prepared some medicine, so you'll be fine. Est, take this." (Marne)
Marne-san gave out two medicines made at the pharmacy. A blue pill and medicine to cure the red bumps. Camilla reached for a cup on a small stand near the bed. There was water in the cup.
"Water." (Camilla)
Est put the pill in her mouth and drank the water.
"Then you should just sleep." (Marne)
"Okay" (Est)
Est seemed to have calmed down, as I could hear her breathing in her sleep. We left the room so as not to wake her up.
"Marne-san, will this cure Est's illness?" (Lydia)
"Her symptoms aren't as bad as I thought, so if she takes some medicine for a while she'll be better." (Marne)
The Lydia-sans look happy at Marne-san's words. Marne-san taught them how to take the medicine.
"Give her this blue pill for a while, and give her this green pill for about three days even after the red spots have disappeared." (Marne)
"Should I still give it to her even after the spots have disappeared?" (Lydia)
"Even if you think it's gone, there's a chance it will come back. So I want her to take this for about three days until the bad stuff in her body is completely gone." (Marne)
"Understood" (Lydia)
"I'll come back tomorrow to check her symptoms. If there are no problems, she'll be fine." (Marne)
"Marne-san, thank you." (Lydia)
"Umm, what about the payment?" (Camilla)
Camilla asked timidly.
"I've already received payment from Lydia and Zect, so it's fine." (Marne)
"We haven't paid." (Lydia)
"You showed me where the medicinal herbs grow, didn't you? I was able to gather a variety of herbs, so that's enough. Also, if there are any herbs I need in the future, I'll counting on you." (Marne)
"Leave it to us."
As expected from someone older than us. Then, as the sun was setting, we asked Lydia-san and her family to show us the location of the inn.
"Well, we'll come tomorrow then." (Marne)
We left Lydia-san's house and headed for the inn. Then I rented a double room at the inn I was told about. The room was available, which was nice.
"What about dinner? Where should we eat?" (Yuna)
"Let's eat in the room. You and I might get caught." (Marne)
A child dressed as a bear. If anything, I think I'd get into trouble because of my bear costume.
"Plus, the food Yuna prepares will be delicious." (Marne)
I was glad to hear that. I put bread and some simple food I had prepared in advance on the table. Marne-san put the food in her mouth.
"As expected, Yuna's food is delicious." (Marne)
"Thank you" (Yuna)
"This bread is especially delicious." (Marne)
"That's bread from my shop." (Yuna)
"Bread from Yuna's shop?" (Marne)
Oh, that's right, I haven't talked about that. I told her that I ran a shop in Crimonia.
"You weren't just adventurers, are you?" (Marne)
"Well, it just happened, you see." (Yuna)
After we finished the meal, I gave her some pudding for dessert, and she ate three of them. Well, there were plenty of them, so that's good. I kept quiet about the fact that Marne-san's belly was bulging.
"Is Est really okay?" (Yuna)
Just to be safe, I checked. Maybe I couldn't tell her family.
"Yes, she's fine. Just take some medicine and she'll be fine." (Marne)
There's no need to lie to me. If so, I thought it's really okay. We decided to go to bed early and summoned Kumayuru and Kumakyu, who had turned into cubs, as our guards.
"If anything happens, wake me up, okay." (Yuna)
"Kyuu~n" (Both Kuma)
Marne-san and I went to sleep.
The next morning, I was woken up by Kumayuru and Kumakyu, and I managed to get up without oversleeping.
After a quick breakfast, Marne-san and I headed to Lydia-san's house.
"Marne-san, Yuna-chan, good morning." (Lydia)
Lydia-san greeted us. When I went inside the house, I found Zect-san and Camilla there too.
"How is Est doing?" (Marne)
"That, she woke up in good spirits and had breakfast."
"That kid who always says she doesn't want it." (Camilla)
Camilla looked like she's about to cry.
"It seems like she has regained her appetite, that's good." (Marne)
Marne-san went to Est's room to check on her condition.
"How are you?" (Marne)
"Marne-chan, no, Marne-san." (Est)
She rephrased.
"So, how are you?" (Marne)
Marne-san listened and asked again.
"Yes, I'm feeling great. And also, the red bumps—" (Est)
Est roller up her sleeves. The red bumps were fading.
"Let me check your stomach and back too." (Marne)
Est rolled up her clothes to show Marne-san her stomach and her back.
"You seem to be okay. Just take the medicine and you'll be better." (Marne)
"Really?" (Est)
"But it's not enough to just take medicine. You also need to eat well and sleep well, you see." (Marne)
"Yes" (Est)
We left the room.
"Thank you so much."
"Thank you."
"If we hadn't met Marne-san in the forest, Est would still be suffering."
"That's how connections with people are. Even if there is someone out there who is suffering, I can't do anything to help them. I can only do something to help them within my reach. I have knowledge as a pharmacist, but I'm also a national researcher." (Marne)
Marne-san worked at the Ministry of Magic doing various research. The range was wide, from medicinal herbs to magic circles and magical tools. But I think she helped a lot of people. Even if there was no Marne-san as a pharmacist, there were other pharmacists. That was why there was a profession called a pharmacist, and many people work as a pharmacist. However, among them, there were pharmacists who take advantage of people's weaknesses in order to make money. Making money was not a bad thing, but it was unacceptable to make others unhappy in order to get it.
"I forgot about everything yesterday, but Lydia, Zect, hand over the herbs you picked. I’ll buy them from you." (Marne)
"We also harvested together with Marne-san, so they're the same thing."
"It's fine. I can never have too many medicinal herbs. But make sure you keep those medicines safe for Lydia. Not only can you use them for yourself, but your family too, if an emergency occurs." (Marne)
"Yes"
The herbs were lined up on the table and Marne-san picked them all up.
"That much..."
"I added a little color to it for the future of our relationship." (Marne)
"Thank you very much"
"Give Est something nutritious and delicious to eat." (Marne)
When you're sick, the best thing to do is eat nutritious food. Recovery is also quick.
"Well then, let's go shopping." (Lydia)
"Wait." (Marne)
Lydia-san started to move, but Marne-san stops her.
"Lydia and Zect still have work to do." (Marne)
"What to do?"
Zect-san and Lydia-san looked at each other and thought. Marne-san sighed.
"Medicinal herbs aren't the only things you get from the forest, are they?" (Marne)
"Ah."
It seemed like they remembered. It's monster materials. I had forgotten too. In my case, I tended to just throw them into Bear Box and left them there, so I often forgot about them. For dismantling, I relied on Fina, so materials just kept piling up.
"Mom, I'm sorry. I..."
"About shopping, I'll go. Have fun, you two." (Camilla)
"Yeah"
We left the shopping to Camilla and headed to the Adventurer's Guild.
Author's Note
Sorry for the delay. I think I'll be a little late with my next post.
Side story volume 3 released on 12/20
[Announcement]
At noon on Tuesday, December 17th, "PASH UP!", where the comic adaptation of "Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear" is posted, will be changed to "Comic PASH! neo".
Therefore, the links will also change. Please check X (old Twitter) or the activity report (scheduled for December 17th) for details.
*"Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear" comic chapter 129 (11/13) is currently available on PASH UP (niconico manga chapter 124 is currently available)
*Episode 20 of the "Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear" spin-off is currently available on PASH UP (Episode 18 is currently available on NicoNico Manga)
If you have time, please check out the comic version.
...
*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.
Translation Note
It's a bit late, but which one should I use, which one is better for this context?
薬師 apothecary or pharmacist?
マーネ Marne or Mahne? (or other?)