Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

Chapter 397 Bear-san, Buys Cooking Utensils

When I swung the knife, a third of the iron bar fell to the floor.

Yeah, it’s a great success.

The rest of the iron rod was still properly held by Rojina-san’s hand. I didn’t send the iron rod flying, I simply cut the iron rod. Of course, Rojina-san’s hand is still attached to his arm and there’s no blood dripping anywhere.

[............]

But Rojina-san has no reaction.

[I already cut it.] Yuna

I called out to Rojina-san, who’s holding the shortened iron rod in a daze. Rojina-san clutches the rod and smiles.

[I barely felt the impact in my hand. And the cut is so smooth. The letter from Ghazal said you had the skill to cut iron, but I didn’t expect this much.] Rojina

Apparently, this test was due to Ghazal-san’s letter.

Rojina-san asked me to show him the knife, so I hand the Swaying Bear knife to Rojina-san.

[No chips. There are no cut marks anywhere either. It’s proof that the magic is flowing efficiently on the knife.] Rojina

[The knife Ghazal-san made was amazing. I bet his master was even more amazing.] Yuna

At my last words, Rojina-san made an embarrassed gesture.

[That’s only natural. Who do you think taught him? He should be able to do at least this much. It seems that Gordo and Ghazal have good eyesight. I’m sorry for testing you.] Rojina

Rojina-san happily returned the Swaying Bear knife to me. I put it back in its sheath and returned it to the bear box.

[Anyway, Miss. You’ve got such great skills. So why are you dressed like that? If you’re going to claim to be an adventurer, you might as well dress accordingly. Some people will think you’re a joke. It’s important to dress appropriately for your abilities, as well as your weapons. A lot of people judge you by your looks.] Rojina

I think this is the first time I’ve been given some real advice. People are judged by their looks first and then they start hanging out. Normally, you wouldn’t want to be friends with someone who walks around town in a stuffed animal suit. Because this is a different world, it’s kind of allowed.

......It’s allowed, right?

[It seems that neither Gordo nor Ghazal ever judged people by their looks.] Rikka

I think it’s because they’ve already heard various rumors about me. In Gordo-san’s case, he seems to have connections with the Adventurer’s Guild. In Ghazal-san’s case, there is also the matter of the mithril golem, and he knows about me from Gordo-san’s letter.

[Yuna-chan, you didn’t happen to be the only girl dressed as a bear, do you?] Rikka

[It’s amazing how cute you look.] Wyola

Rikka and Wyola-san were touching my clothes and looking at me strangely.

Then we talked about why we had come to the city.

Thirty percent of the reason for coming to town was to have the bearmonite examined, and the rest was to explore the city and do some shopping.

[So you’ve all come here to buy pots and pans, right?] Wyola

[Well, it was the information about the mysterious ore that I was after. The acquaintances of mine asked me to do some things for them since I was going to the dwarven city of Ludnik.] Yuna

However, it was not me who was asked to do this, but Fina and Ruimin. Well, I’m also thinking of buying some cooking utensils for the bear house anyway.

[Then why don’t you buy it from us? It’s a pot made by a former excellent weapons smith.] Wyola

[The former part is unnecessary!] Rojina

[It’s true though. But, Dad. Don’t you feel of wanting to make weapons now after seeing Ghazal and Gordo’s knives? And after witnessing Yuna-chan’s amazing skills?] Rikka

[......Hmm.] Yuna

Rojina-san neither confirmed nor denied Rikka’s words. The fact that he didn’t deny it might mean that deep inside, he wanted to make a weapon again, and if he was motivated after seeing the two knives, it might have been worth showing it to him. It would have been a waste of time if he hadn’t made them again, since he had the skills to do so.

And so, we decided to buy pots, pans, and other cooking utensils from Rojina-san’s store. We moved into the store, then we each started searching for our own cooking utensils.

[Wyola-san. Do you have all of these?] Ruimin

Ruimin soon gave up looking for it herself and showed multiple notes to Wyola-san instead.

[Ara, that’s quite a lot.] Wyola

[When my mother found out I was coming to this town, she went to the neighborhood and asked everyone if they need to buy something. That’s why I got so many notes.] Ruimin

[That’s great for the store.] Wyola

[But there’s too many of them.] Ruimin

Ruimin looked at the note in her hand and hanging her head down.

Looking at Fina, I can see Rikka helping her looking for cooking utensils.

[Rikka-san, do you have a pot a little bigger than this?] Fina

Fina already gathered two pots, pans, and other cooking utensils that Tirumina-san asked her to get for her house. She asked Rikka what she can’t find.

[Yes, we have.] Rikka

Rikka smoothly found a pot of the size Fina had asked for.

[Then there’s...... For the store and the orphanage.] Fina

[That pot is quite big. We don’t sell many large pots, so we only make them per order.] Rikka

Rikka replied, looking at the note Fina was holding.

[That means we’ll have to go to another store.] Fina

[How long are Fina and the others going to stay in this city?] Rikka

Fina looked at me when Rikka asked her.

[I haven’t really decided yet. But I think we’re going to stay for a few days.] Yuna

I answered on behalf of Fina.

I’m planning on touring the city, and since I’m here, I’d like to see the event where the blacksmiths participate in the opening of the trial gates. I’d like to participate if I can, but I don’t want to make a big deal out of my participation. In the first place, I don’t think any blacksmiths would enlist me.

[Then you can order it and I’ll have dad make it for you by then.] Rikka

[But it’s going to cost more, isn’t it?] Fina

Certainly. When we entered a shop before, they said that there would be an extra charge if we made it to order. Unlike me, Fina is very particular about money, and she seemed to be concerned about the extra charge. If it were me, I’d just order it without worrying about it. I should learn a little from her. Money is finite. We have to use it carefully.

At Fina’s words, Rikka looks at Wyola-san.

[You don’t need to pay extra since you told us about Gordo and Ghazal.] Wyola

[That means we’ll be fine at the regular price.] Rikka

[Thank you. Then please do.] Fina

[It seems that we have to make Ruimin-chan’s order as well. I’ll give you a little discount.] Wyola

I looked over at Ruimin and saw a pile of cookware near her. How many people, or should I say, how many households are we talking about?

[Are? You’re buying a hammer too?] Yuna

Hammers and nails are also mixed in the pile.

[It was mixed in with the notes. Mom sure did ask a lot of people.] Ruimin

Well, there are no blacksmiths in the elven village, so I suppose they can only buy it at times like this.

We can buy them in Crimonia or the Royal Capital, but I’m also going to buy some pots and pans for the bear house. Of course, since I’m buying a lot, I’ll get a discount.

[So, Fina-chan and the others are going to go around the city.] Rikka

After this, I plan to wander around the city.

Rikka offered to show us around the city. I’m not sure if she’ll be able to guide us, but I already have Ruimin and Rikka has a job to do.

[What about your job? Is it okay for you to leave?] Yuna

[Mom.] Rikka

Rikka looked at Wyola-san pleadingly.

[All right. Go ahead.] Wyola

[Thanks, Mom.] Rikka

With Wyola-san’s permission, it was decided that Rikka will show us around the city.

After all the available pots and pans were purchased, I put them in my bear box. Rojina-san looked at the list of pots and other things he was supposed to make, and let out a sigh.

[Dad, do your best.] Rikka

[Didn’t you try to get me back making swords again?] Rojina

[It’s pots and pans for now. Do your best to make pots and pans and earn some money.] Rikka

Rikka told Rojina-san to make pots, pans, and other cooking utensils, and left the store with us, leaving Wyola-san to look after the store.

After a bit of walking, I heard the usual voices: <It’s a bear>, <What’s that outfit?>, and so on. Of course, I pretend not to hear them as I walk.

[............]

[............]

Fina and Ruimin were both used to it. But there’s one person that wasn’t.

[Etto, why are you dressed like that, Yuna-chan?] Rikka

Rikka asked while looking around. At her words, Fina and Ruimin are seen gesturing, <Don’t ask>. Indeed, I don’t want to hear about it. Could it be that I’m making you two feel uncomfortable?

[Maybe I shouldn’t have asked?] Rikka

[Well, if anything, I don’t want to hear it.] Yuna

[But everyone was watching Yuna-chan, so I was curious.] Rikka

Rikka looks around shyly. Passers-by and people in the distance are looking at us.

[I’m sure because we’re a group consisting of a dwarf, an elf, a human, and a bear. We’re all different species, so we seem to be a rare case.] Yuna

With my bear puppet, I pointed to Rikka, Ruimin, Fina, and finally myself. So it’s not my fault.

[Yuna-oneesan......] Fina

[Yuna-san, ......You called yourself a bear?!] Ruimin

Fina and Ruimin looked at me with a frightened face.

Because if you put me in the human race category, I feel like I’ll get a tsukkomi.

[Well, if you don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine with me. You stand out a lot though. Are you guys okay with that?] Rikka

[I’m fine. I’m used to it.] Fina

Fina smiled and said she’s used to it. What do you mean, <used to it?> Being seen with me? Being embarrassed?

[I can’t get used to it. I feel like I’m being watched.] Ruimin

Ruimin looks around while fidgeting.

[Well, Yuna-chan’s appearance is rare in this city. In the royal capital, are there many people wearing clothes like Yuna-chan?] Rikka

At Ricca’s words, Fina and Ruimin looked at each other.

[I’ve only been to the royal capital once.] Ruimin

[I’ve only been there a few times.] Fina

They both know that no one in the royal capital wears a bear costume, but they’re trying to deceive her. I’m fine, so just honestly tell her that there is no one else. The bear is crying lonely in the shadow.

[Yeah, I guess so. But if there were lots of them, they’d be so cute.] Rikka

If the adventurers and residents of the royal capital were filled with people dressed in costumes like mine, just the thought of it would destroy my spirit.

I can’t say I’m very happy about the new friends I’ve made.

Besides, if that were to happen, it would be the end of the history of human dress.

Author’s Note:

It looks like they will be able to purchase a large amount of cookware safely.

※The next post will be in 4 days due to real-life reasons.