We got into the elevator and went to the rooftop. When I exited the elevator and looked up, I could see the blue sky with white clouds slowly floating by.
"What is this place?" (Yuna)
"It's a place to use when conducting experiments on magical tools and the like. It's spacious here, and no one will see us." (Marne)
I took out the ice dragon's horn and scales. The horn was large, taller than me.
"It looks like the horn of the ice dragon that was depicted in the book." (Marne)
Marné-san touched it.
"Yuna, just to confirm once more, are these real?" (Marne)
"There's no reason to lie. If you think these are fake, I'll put it away." (Yuna)
There's no need to force yourself to believe it.
"I’m sorry, but I believe you. This size, this cold mana. And those beautiful pale scales. It can't be anything other than an ice dragon. Yuna, can I scrape off the Ice Dragon's horn? Of course, I'll pay you." (Marne)
"Don't worry about the money. How about considering it as one favor owed?" (Yuna)
"A favor in exchange for the Ice Dragon's horn is quite scary, isn't it?" (Marne)
"If I have a request, I'll just ask, but if it's impossible, you can say no." (Yuna)
As always, it didn't have to be money. I also made a lot of money from selling things at the last dismantling event. If I needed money, there were plenty of things to sell. Instead, it might be more beneficial for the future if I were to do Marné-san a favor, since she had knowledge of medicinal herbs, magic circles, and magic tools. It was better to have many connections and it was an upfront investment.
"Well then, I'll shave the horn a bit." (Marne)
Marné-san took out two knives and a glass vial from her item pouch. Then she put the knife against the Ice Dragon's horn and tried to shave it. But it just glided around the corner.
"As I thought, you can't cut it with an ordinary knife." (Marne)
Saying that, she took another knife and placed it against the Ice Dragon's horn, starting to shave it. This time it was properly carved away and fit into the glass vial.
"Is that knife a mithril knife?" (Yuna)
"Otherwise, you won't be able to cut it down." (Marne)
"What's with that knife from earlier?" (Yuna)
"I wanted to check the hardness, so I tried using an iron knife. But it didn't cut through." (Marne)
Saying this, Marné-san carefully and slowly shaved the Ice Dragon's horn. After a while, about 80% of the bottle was filled with shavings. Marné-san closed the lid tightly.
"Thank you" (Marne)
"Is that all?" (Yuna)
Just one small bottle.
"This is enough. Ah, but please give me some more when I've used it all up." (Marne)
"Roger that" (Yuna)
"If you ever sell it, please sell me some too." (Marne)
There were no plans for that at the moment. I wonder if I can make a weapon out of this horn. Then I put away the Ice Dragon's horn.
"Next, let me see those scales too." (Marne)
Marné-san approached the ice dragon's scales.
"Beautiful" (Marne)
The sunlight reflected off the scale, making it sparkle.
"Shall I give you one?" (Yuna)
"Huh?" (Marne)
She looked at me with a look that said, "What are you talking about?"
"What are you talking about?" (Marne)
Not just in facial expressions, but in words.
"There are plenty. Just one will do." (Yuna)
"You didn't really defeat it, did you?" (Marne)
"I just got it from the Ice Dragon's nest." (Yuna)
"The horn too?" (Marne)
"It snapped." (Yuna)
"...I won't ask any more questions." (Marne)
She said, moving her eyes to the Ice Dragon's scales.
"Yuna, you shouldn't say you'll give it away so easily. People will take advantage of you. I don't know how you got it, but I do know that it wasn't easy. You say you got it from their nest, but even finding an Ice Dragon's nest is an immense challenge. The place where the Ice Dragons live is far away, covered in snow and ice. It's not an easy place for people to get to." (Marne)
No, an ice dragon just took up residence on a normal mountain, had a baby, and then left. It's like an unexpected gift. Well, there were some struggles along the way.
"I'll confirm with you, but are you planning on charging extra for this request?" (Marne)
"No, but—" (Yuna)
"Well, after all that happened. For now, I'll pay you double the fee I was supposed to pay this time." (Marne)
"That's fine." (Yuna)
"No. Or what? Are you saying your life is that cheap?" (Marne)
"I don't mean it that way." (Yuna)
"I place a value on your own life. You protected me from dangerous monsters. You healed me when I was poisoned. Honestly, you're worth more than twice as much." (Marne)
"I was just doing my job." (Yuna)
"Your kindness is one of your great qualities, Yuna, but it's lowering your own self-worth." (Marne)
"I don't think that's the case." (Yuna)
It was a power given to me by God and I didn't think of it as my own. Maybe that's why I was lax in that regard. If this was a skill I had acquired through years of training, I might not be selling it cheaply.
"But if you say you'll give it to me, I'll take it." (Marne)
Marné-san stroked the scales happily.
She had said some really good things, but it was all ruined.
"Marné-san, that last words ruin it." (Yuna)
"Earlier, it was just advice from an elder. But whether I want those or not is another matter. Of course, I want those." (Marne)
I felt sad that I had respected Marné-san even for a moment just now.
"If I refuse, I'll never get it again. I can even make medicine using the scales infused with the dragon mana." (Marne)
I decided to give up one of the Ice Dragon's scales. However, with conditions.
"Don't tell anyone or sell it." (Yuna)
"I promise. There are potions, magical tools, and lots of other things I'd like to try." (Marne)
Her eyes sparkled, like a child interested in something fun. We returned to Marné-san's workshop and I received a signature for completing the request and some money. If I took the request completion paper to Adventurer's Guild, the request would be completed and my rating would increase.
"Well then, let's start making the medicine." (Marne)
"Earlier, you said that you didn't have enough materials." (Yuna)
"Yes, it's not enough. But I want to confirm the current effect." (Marne)
"Will such a half-hearted effort actually be effective?" (Yuna)
"The current medicine has caused some growth, but once the effect wears off, I will go back to normal. However, since I was able to get my hands on two materials this time, I would like to know the rate of growth and how long it will take." (Marne)
It was similar to the drugs that appeared in works in some ways, with the appearance of a child and the mind of an adult. Regardless of my feelings, Marné-san began compounding the medicine. Somehow, I missed the chance to go home, so I sat on the sofa, summoned Kumayuru and Kumakyu in their cub forms, and spent the time relaxing. Then I remembered that the King had asked me to meet his daughter, Flora-sama, so I said to Marné-san, "I'm going to go and see Flora-sama for a bit," and left the room. After playing with Flora-sama, I returned to Marné-san's laboratory again. Since she left the door unlocked, I was able to enter the room right away.
That's careless. What if her research materials get stolen? I wondered, as I called out to Marné-san, "I'm back." However, there had been no response from Marné-san and she was still mixing the concoction. I was relaxing on the sofa with Kumayuru and Kumakyu when I heard Marné-san cry out.
"That's it." (Marne)
"Yes? Did you manage it?" (Yuna)
I asked, almost falling asleep.
"Yuna, are you there?" (Marne)
Apparently, she hadn't noticed me for the past few hours. Moreover, it seemed she didn't even know that I had left or come back. That just showed how focused she was on making the medicine.
"I'm worried about the effects of the drug." (Yuna)
"Well, that's fine. So, Yuna, can I ask you to time me?" (Marne)
"Okay." (Yuna)
After agreeing, Marné-san began to take off her clothes.
"Why are you suddenly taking off your clothes?" (Yuna)
"It'll be tough when I grow up. If I am not careful, my clothes will get torn." (Marne)
I didn't know how much she would grow, but adults can't wear children's clothes.
"Previously, when I took the medicine before taking off my clothes, it was a disaster. It felt like I was being constricted, and it was unbearable." (Marne)
Marné-san took off her clothes and wrapped herself in the bath towel that had been prepared.
"Okay, I'll take some medicine, and when it starts to get bigger, please measure it." (Yuna)
Marné-san put the clock on the table and moved to the full-length mirror in the corner. I moved to a position where I could see the clock and Marné-san.
"Whenever you're ready" (Yuna)
Marné-san drank the liquid from the vial.
There was no response.
But I felt like she was getting taller.
"Yuna, how is it?" (Marne)
Marné-san, who was standing in front of the mirror, turned around. The cute girl became a beautiful girl.
"Amazing" (Yuna)
The girl who was about elementary school age had grown into a girl about junior high school age.
"It's growing, but is it a success? Will you grow even more?" (Yuna)
Marné-san's age was equivalent to that of a grandmother in human terms. But, what about from a half-elf's perspective?
"This is the same form as last time, isn’t it? I don’t know if this is my true form or if I will turn into something like Sanya’s. If the medicine gets closer to completion, you might be able to see the true form, don’t you think? But ideally, gradual growth would be better. After all, I’d like to experience being around Yuna’s age myself." (Marne)
Marné-san stood happily in front of the mirror.
"Hmm, as I thought, the growth is not good with just the materials I have now. I wonder if the medicine is not effective." (Marne)
"It looks like you're growing just fine to me." (Yuna)
"Yuna, are your eyes bad? Take a closer look." (Marne)
Marné-san came close to me and stood with her arms folded. The girl who was about 10 years old had now grown taller, legs and arms.
"I think you're really growing up though." (Yuna)
"Kyuu~n" (Both Kuma)
Kumayuru and Kumakyu, who were sitting next to me, agreed with me.
"Right here. Right here." (Marne)
Marné-san thrusted her chest out.
"Are you talking about your breasts?" (Yuna)
I could tell because it was wrapped in a bath towel, but there was no bulge.
"Yes. If the drug works, it should grow, right?" (Marne)
"No, it depends on the person." (Yuna)
"It has to be at least bigger than Yuna." (Marne)
"Are you trying to pick a fight? If so, I'll take you up on it." (Yuna)
Even Marné-san could not forgive this.
"Hey, I was just kidding. Don't take it seriously." (Marne)
When I glared at her, Marné-san stepped back.
"So, what are the effects of the medicine?" (Yuna)
"It took about 30 minutes last time. I think it depends on the effect of the materials I get this time." (Marne)
The result was twice as long.
"As expected, it was too long to do it in a day. But it took twice as long and I was 1cm taller than last time. If I keep gathering the ingredients for the medicine and make the finished product, there's a chance I'll be cured." (Marne)
I would be happy if it helped you grow even a little. However, please don't blame the medication if your breasts aren't growing.
Author's Note
This concludes the Marné arc.
From next time onwards, I think I'll be talking about a more relaxed atmosphere.
Thank you for your favorites, ratings and comments.
Book 21 on sale February 7th (Fri)
Please check the activity report for details such as the cover and distribution locations of in-store purchase bonuses.
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*131st chapter of the "Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear" comic is currently available on PASH UP! neo (125th chapter of NicoNico Manga is currently available)
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If you have time, please check out the comic version.
[Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear to be released]
Book 21 released on February 7, 2025. (Next volume, volume 22, 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 Gaiden Volume 3 was released on December 20, 2024. (The release date for the next volume, Volume 4, has not yet been decided.)
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, 12, has yet to be 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.