Chapter 226: The Bear Reaches Laluz

Chapter 226:
The Bear Reaches Laluz

 

THE SKY WAS STILL GRAY when I woke the next day. We’d be able to head out, but sooner or later, we knew that the rain would start coming down on us. For the time being, we’d just cover as much ground as we could.

Although…the ground was a total mess after yesterday’s rain. There were horrible puddles, full enough that they’d probably stop carriages in their tracks. They didn’t put a stop to our bears, but their paws were getting filthy. Their everything was getting filthy, and Kumakyu’s white fur looked particularly terrible. I knew that they’d clean right up if I resummoned them, but I still felt bad for them.

They’d splash mud water if they went too fast, so I kept them at a leisurely sprint.

“I see it!”

After several breaks and some more progress, we caught sight of the wall surrounding the town. The dark clouds still hung over us threateningly…but we’d made it before they could follow through on that threat.

Riding in on my bears would’ve caused a commotion, so I let Sanya know I was recalling them. “Right. If we get closer, someone will see them and make a fuss over it.” We got off of my bears.

“Thank you for carrying us up to this point,” Luimin said to my bears. Sanya thanked them too and gave them a pat.

I thanked my bears too, and then recalled them. “Well, let’s get going.”

We started walking to Laluz. It wasn’t far off or anything—we could see it, after all. Once we started getting closer, we began to notice horses heading out of the town.

According to Sanya, the town was usually bustling with people coming in and out, but this was low traffic. Probably the rain’s fault, she guessed. I really didn’t mind, since it meant we wouldn’t need to wait in line.

 

We didn’t see anyone trying to get in when we got near the gate, so we didn’t need to wait in the first place before entering town.

The gate guard there was shocked when we came by. “Miss, what is that outfit you’re wearing?”

“I’m dressed as a bear. Why do you ask?” I was used to this; what else could I say?

“You traveled all the way here in that…?”

“Can we just move on please?”

“I see. Guess you must have your reasons for dressing like that.”

The gate guard seemed to have reached some conclusion on his own. He didn’t ask any other questions and held my guild card up to the crystal panel. The panel let us through—though I can’t imagine why it’d glow red and keep us out. We weren’t criminals.

“You’re welcome to come in,” the guard said.

He probably saw a lot of people in his job as guard for a big town. He was probably used to just rolling with the weird stuff. Fine by me. That meant I could get into town without comments.

But the moment we entered, the stares gathered.

“We’re being watched, aren’t we?”

“We are.”

The sisters were right.

Anybody would stare at a mysterious outsider girl in the bear onesie.

Just another day for me.

After that, we got a room at an inn and went straight to the Adventurer Guild. We wanted to find the adventurers who’d “worked” with Luimin as quick as we could.

“Could you wait at the inn, Yuna?”

Translation: “You’re an embarrassment to be around, so could you make yourself scarce at the inn?” (That’s what I assumed, at least.)

But I really wanted to see the guild too! As a former gamer, it wasn’t like I could just sit pretty at an inn after traveling this far! Plus, wanted to know who in the guild would start talking to Luimin…and I had a hunch they’d head over to the merchant right after.

If Luimin were a complete stranger, I might not have cared, but we’d traveled far now. We’d really gotten to know each other, and I wanted to tag along…if they’d let me.

“Sanya, I’d like to go with you if it wouldn’t cause trouble,” I said, “but I’ll stay put in the inn if that’s what you really want.”

Sanya seemed a little flustered, as if she hadn’t expected that response. “Yuna, I’m so sorry. That’s not what I meant. Everyone’s been giving you such strange looks, and I just assumed that it bothered you. I thought you’d prefer staying at the inn.”

I’d just gotten the wrong idea. She’d just been trying to be nice. “Nah, I’m used to this. It’s all good. If you two are okay with it, I would really like to tag along.”

“I’d be fine with that!” said Luimin.

“You mean it?”

“I think you’d be lonely at the inn all by yourself. So, let’s go together!”

She was so gracious as she said it. It made me feel kind of giddy.

“You’re right!” I said. “In that case, let’s go to the guild together—all three of us.” Since they were so nice to me, I took them up on it.

But only a few minutes passed before we hit a snag...

“We’re being watched, aren’t we?”

“We are.”

People hadn’t stopped watching us just because we’d had a nice conversation. No, there were people passing by us and looking. Some even stopped in their tracks. Regardless of what they were doing, they were all staring at me. I pulled my bear hood low over my face so no one could see me.

“Let’s go fast.”

“Uh-huh.”

The two of them started speed-walking in order to escape from the stares. I guess it’d be best if I kept my distance from the two of them? I fell back to give them some space.

“Yuna, what are you doing?” said Luimin. “We’re in a hurry.” She ran over to me, grabbed my bear puppet, and started pulling me along. I guess they didn’t like my idea…but I was kind of happy that Luimin didn’t mind the three of us walking close together.

She pulled me all the way to the guild, a big building that was almost as large as the one at the capital.

“I’ll greet the guild master,” said Sanya. “Luimin, you look for the adventurers, and Yuna, you...” Sanya went silent.

Uh. What?

“Just…keep out of trouble, will you?”

What a nice order. I wish I could follow it, but trouble seemed to come to me whether or not I wanted it to. Or maybe it was my bear gear that attracted the trouble.

Either way, I promised to try the best I could.

Sanya left to go meet the guild master, so I followed Luimin as she tried to find the adventurers. If they showed any sign of having duped Luimin, I’d give them a fitting payback. Once I got into the guild, even more eyes were on me than before.

“A bear?” “What’s with that outfit?” “Huh? That is a bear, right…?” “Is that a girl…?” “What’s she doing in the Adventurer Guild?” “How adorable!~” “Luimin?” “That is a bear, isn’t it?”

One of those words was not like the other. Just as we got ready to look for their speaker, they approached us instead.

Luimin gasped. “Miranda?”

“I knew it was you, Luimin,” said the speaker, an adventurer in her early twenties.

Two women appeared after Luimin called out to Miranda.

“Is Luimin really here?” one asked.

Another said, “She is!”

“It’s been so long, Miranda,” Luimin said.

“It hasn’t been that long!” Miranda gave Luimin a firm hug. “We were worried after you disappeared on us”

“C-can’t breathe…!” Luimin looked pretty uncomfortable being squeezed like that. Miranda let her go quick enough, though.

“You really worried us.”

“Sorry,” Luimin apologized.

Another woman entered the conversation. “Really, now. I can’t believe you’d just hand off your precious bracelet to Doglud!” The woman pinched Luimin’s cute little cheeks.

“I-I’m sorwy...I didn’t want to cause trouble for all of you.”

“That’s no reason to not talk to us and to disappear.”

“I’m sorwy…!” Luimin was released from the cheek-pincher strike.

“Still, I’m glad you’re okay.” Luimin got a gentler hug now.

“Did you get to the capital safely?” a woman cut in—she looked like a mage.

“Yes, somehow,” said Luimin.

“You know, Eriel was saying that she was going to run after you.”

“Yep! We were all worried.”

“Obviously.”

So, these were the adventurers who’d helped Luimin out.

From their conversation, they didn’t seem like the type to trick her out of her bracelet. They seemed like they’d been pretty worried about Luimin. Maybe I’d been too paranoid…

“So, Luimin, is that cute girl in the bear outfit a friend of yours?”

They all looked at me as I just kinda stood there beside Luimin.

“Yes, she came with me from the capital,” said Luimin, not quite answering the question. She just smiled mysteriously.

“That’s quite a cute outfit she’s got there!” Miranda was looking at me now, so I figured it was time for me to speak up.

“I’m Yuna. I came here with Luimin and her sister.”

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Miranda. I worked with Luimin for a short time.”

“And I’m Eriel. You’ve got a cute outfit there!” Eriel sidled up to me. I took a step back.

“Don’t frighten the girl, Eriel,” said the mage girl, tugging Eriel away before she could go for a hug. “Back off, okay? I’m Sharla, by the way. Nice to meet you.”

“But that outfit is so cute!” Eriel groaned. “How can I not hug her?”

“Don’t be so pushy!!!” said Sharla, giving Eriel a quick bop on the head. “Sorry about that. Eriel just loves cute girls.”

Uh, say what? I took another step back at that.

“Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m completely normal!”

And maybe another step back, just in case?

“Ahhh, don’t back away from me! Just one little hug. Just one! You look so soft, I gotta feel that!”

Everyone broke out into laughter.

“I heard the commotion.” Sanya had come back. “Of course it was your doing, Yuna.” Did she really have to say that? It really wasn’t me this time!

“Did you finish, Sanya?” I asked.

“Yes, we’re done talking. You’re not the adventurers who took care of Luimin, are you?” She looked at the adventurers with us.

“Yes, they are,” said Luimin. “This is Miranda’s group.” She introduced them, one by one.

“Thank you for taking care of my little sister,” said Sanya.

“Not need for that. I’m just sorry that Luimin let go of her bracelet.”

And so, Sanya and Miranda, who I half-expected to duke it out, exchanged pleasantries.