Chapter 185: The Bear Arrives at Sheelin

Chapter 185:
The Bear Arrives at Sheelin

 

THE TOWN OF SHEELIN came into view before dusk. The gate looked a lot like Crimonia’s.

“Cliff, wait a moment,” I called out.

“What is it?”

“We’ll give them a shock if we come up to them like this. Is it okay if I dismiss my bears first?”

Soon enough, they’d be able to see us from the gate. Since we were still far away, it didn’t seem like they could tell we were riding bears, although they’d probably see soon enough. I didn’t want to cause a commotion.

“Ah, I suppose that’s true. You are riding bears.” Cliff looked at Kumayuru and Kumakyu and nodded. “They’ve been so well behaved that I’d forgotten.”

“What? Is Kumayuru leaving?” Noa clung to Kumayuru’s neck in protest. Behind her, Fina obediently dismounted from Kumayuru.

“I’m just recalling them. We don’t want to put the bears through dealing with scared townspeople. C’mon, do you want Kumayuru or Kumakyu to get attacked with swords or magic?”

I didn’t think that would happen if kids like Noa and Fina were riding them, but it would still be a whole scene.

“Ugh, fine,” Noa groaned. “Kumayuru, Kumakyu, thank you for bringing us this far.” She hopped off Kumayuru and patted each of the bears’ heads in thanks. After she finished saying goodbye, I sent my bears away.

From there, we ended up walking toward the town. Cliff offered to let Noa ride his horse, but she rejected him—“I’ll walk with Yuna”—and Cliff looked kind of sad. We walked until we were close enough to make out people standing in front of the gate.

The people by the town entrance were giving me curious looks, some of them even whispering the word “bear.” I pulled my bear hood low over my face so I couldn’t be seen.

“Please place your IDs on the crystal panel,” said the guard at the gate entrance.

Cliff went first, then the two guards, Noa, Fina, and finally myself. I held my guild card to the crystal panel and passed into the town without issue.

The gate guard did ogle me, but the crystal panel didn’t turn red, so I was let into the town without any problems. If you were registered as a criminal, the panel would turn red, and you’d be stuck outside.

Once we got in successfully, we immediately headed to Gran’s residence, and…

“Hm.”

“They’re staring.”

“They are.”

“They’re looking at us.”

“Everyone is looking at us.”

Cliff, the two guards, Noa, and Fina muttered to themselves. Then, everyone looked over at me.

“Yeah. Everyone’s probably looking at us because Cliff and Noa are nobles.” With two guards and two people dressed up like members of the aristocracy, of course we’d get looks. If I’d seen nobles walking around, I would’ve been just as curious.

“No!” said Cliff, slapping his palm to his forehead as if he just now remembered. “Everyone is looking at you. You’re dressed like a bear, after all.”

“You’re only realizing that now?”

“No, I just forgot how absurd your outfit is. You’ve poisoned my mind without me even realizing.”

“Your outfit isn’t weird, Yuna,” Noa cut in, sounding quite serious. “It’s cute, so it’s fine. The people are staring because you look so adorable.”

At any rate, it was too late to worry about stares. I couldn’t live comfortably in this world without my bear gear.

“If you don’t want to stand out so much,” I said, “maybe we should we split up?”

“If we split up, I’m going with you,” Noa declared.

“I’m going with Yuna too,” said Fina.

The two of them clung to my clothes. They were such nice kids.

“I’m not allowing that,” said Cliff, “since I’m sure the three of you will get yourselves into trouble. Let’s just move quickly.”

Even though he said to hurry, we had to walk since we didn’t have mounts—there was a limit to how fast we could go. We kept getting stares as we walked until we spotted a residence, one about the size as Cliff’s. I guess huge houses were just a noble thing?

Two guards stood out in front of the residence.

“I am Cliff Fochrosé.”

“We have been waiting for you. Do you have a written invitation?”

Cliff handed him a letter.

“Ah, yes: Lord Cliff and his daughter, young Lady Noir. I will call a guide right away, so please wait a moment.” One of the men headed to the residence.

The other stayed behind and looked me over. “Are those girls attendants of Lady Noir?”

He seemed less suspicious and more just…confused.

“They were invited to Misana’s birthday party,” said Cliff. “They happen to be my daughter’s friends, so I brought them along.”

“You’re saying they’re Lady Misana’s...ah, if you have an invitation, would you allow me to confirm?”

Fina and I both handed them over. The man went through each one, and his attitude changed.

“Pardon my rudeness,” he said, straightening up.

Since we had written letters, that made us guests. And guests got a warm welcome, whether they be peasant, adventurer, or bear. If he’d upset a guest because he lacked decorum, he’d risk upsetting Gran, the head of the estate, or even Misa.

 

Shortly after, a maid came out from the residence.

“Lord Cliff, I apologize for keeping you waiting.” The maid bowed to Cliff in polite greeting. She was in her twenties with beautiful light brown hair. She looked like Lala in that way, actually—did they choose maids based on appearance? A lot of them did tend to be pretty.

“Meishun, it’s been too long,” said Cliff.

“Yes, you seem well, Lord Cliff. And you’ve grown so much, Lady Noir.”

“Uh-huh, I’m taller.”

They knew one another, then. After greeting Cliff and Noa, Meishun looked over to me. “You must be Miss Yuna and Miss Fina. I apologize for keeping you waiting.”

“You know about us?” I didn’t think she’d know our names by sight…

“Yes, I do. Lady Misana and Lord Gran informed me about you,” Meishun said with a smile. I wonder what she was told? I mean, I hadn’t known Misa or Gran for long. I couldn’t have done anything odd in that time, right? “Well then, I will guide you to the rooms.”

“May we see Gran?” Cliff asked Meishun as we walked.

“My apologies, Lord Cliff, but he is greeting another guest at the moment.”

“It can wait until he has time. Please, just let him know I’d like to see him.”

“Yes, I will do so.” Meishun guided us to the rooms where we’d be staying. “Lord Cliff and Miss Noir, please make use of this room.”

“What? I have to be with my father?”

“Yes. The room next door has been prepared for Miss Yuna and Miss Fina. Your guards will be staying in rooms in a separate building.”

Noa latched onto Fina’s arm and mine. “But I want to be in the same room as Yuna and Fina…”

“Unfortunately, there are only two beds in that room,” said Meishun.

“That’s okay,” said Noa. “Fina and I can share. That’s okay with you, Fina, right?”

“I can sleep on the floor...”

“No!” said Noa, puffing out her cheeks slightly and grabbing Fina’s hand. “Let’s sleep together.”

“If that is what you would like, Lady Noa.” Meishun gave Cliff a troubled look.

“Sorry about this, Meishun,” said Cliff. “Just let Noa do as she wishes.”

“Understood. Well then, please make use of this room, Lord Cliff. Mademoiselle Yuna, Mademoiselle Fina, and Lady Noa, please make use of the adjacent room.”

“Thank you.”

“Please rest in the rooms until the evening meal.”

And so Fina, Noa, and I were to share a room together.

“I shall show your attendants to their rooms,” said Meishun, and turned to the two guards. “Please come this way.”

“Yuna, Fina, please keep an eye on my daughter,” said Cliff. “If she complains too much, I’ll take her off your hands. Just let me know.”

“F-Father. You’re so mean. I won’t complain at all, you’ll see!”

Hold on, she literally just complained about the room assignments. Had she already forgotten?

“Yuna, let’s head into the room, quickly,” said Noa in a hushed tone, as if she was making a daring escape from Cliff. She grabbed my hand, went inside, and immediately flopped onto a bed. “Ahh, I’m so tired.” Jeez, did she have any idea how to be ladylike?

“Yuna. Is it really okay for me to be here?” Fina stood in the middle of the room, unsure what to do with herself.

I shrugged. “I’m in the same boat.” She was a commoner, and I was an adventurer. Neither of us had the social status to participate in a noble’s party. Just like Fina, I wouldn’t have even attended if I could’ve avoided it.

“Yuna, I’m not sure about this.” Fina rubbed her stomach as if it ached. I got the feeling.

“At least we’re not going to Gran’s party. You shouldn’t need to worry too much.” We were just participating in Misa’s party. That was supposed to just be relatives, so we probably didn’t need to worry too much.

“But that’s so unfair,” said Noa. “You should come to Gran’s party too.”

“We didn’t get an invitation from Gran. And, unlike Misa’s party, won’t there be a ton of people?” I could imagine it now. Nope! No thanks.

“I don’t want to go either,” Fina added.

“Ugh, even you, Fina...” Noa puffed up her cheeks and sulked.