Chapter 231: The Bear Gets the Bracelet Back

Chapter 231:
The Bear Gets the Bracelet Back

 

ONCE WE GOT TO THE SHORE, I summoned Kumayuru and Kumakyu and we hopped on ’em at once, riding them across the raging waters.

This was the second time Sanya was going through this, so she didn’t seem panicked this time. Just like before, the river was furious, but my bears ran over it regardless. We finished crossing without a hitch.

“Yuna, let’s get to the shop quickly. We have time, but we should get there sooner than later.”

It still wasn’t evening yet. I still hurried along just like Sanya told me to. I didn’t want to deal with being even a second late, nor any quibbles that that could open us up to.

There was a carriage stopped in front of Doglud’s shop. When we headed inside, the young guy who worked at the place noticed us.

“You’ve already made it back?” he asked, sounding surprised.

“Could we see Mr. Doglud, by any chance?” Sanya asked.

“Yes, he is currently with Mr. Retbelle. That’s the fellow who wants to buy the painting.”

If Retbelle the merchant was here, I guess he was the owner of that carriage. Seemed a bit early, though. It wasn’t even evening yet…

The guy headed to the back room’s door and knocked before opening.

“Sir,” the employee said—and at once, Doglud noticed us.

“You’ve made it back?” he asked hurriedly.

We joined him in the back the room. Doglud sat there with an older guy, someone I didn’t recognize.

“What is this? A girl in a bear outfit? And an elf...why, you couldn’t be…?” As surprised as the man was to see me, he was even more shocked at the sight of Sanya.

“These are the ones I was telling you about,” said Doglud. “The ones who went to get the painting. Ms. Sanya, were you able to acquire it?”

“Yes, and with no issues,” said Sanya, and she looked at me.

I was the one actually carrying the painting, so I brought the crate that contained it out of my bear storage.

The two men looked surprised about the whole producing-a-gigantic-crate-from-a-bear-shaped-puppet thing, but soon enough, they were focusing on the crate.

“If you don’t mind me doing a check…” Doglud opened the crate and looked inside. “Yes. There is no doubt about it. Mr. Retbelle, if you’d like to take a gander?”

“Yes, this is the genuine article. I recognize the artist’s signature.”

“You’ve really made it back with it,” said Doglud.

Retbelle nodded vaguely. “I simply cannot believe it…”

“Mr. Doglud, does this mean you’ll honor our agreement?” Sanya asked.

If, after all of this, the answer was no…well, I’d have to get grizzly on this guy.

“Yes, of course I will. Is this satisfactory to you, Mr. Retbelle?” Doglud checked in with the stranger in the room—I guess this geezer was the one who wanted Luimin’s bracelet.

“You are a relative of the elf who owns the bracelet, then?” he asked.

“I am, and I’ve come for it. I’m very sorry that my ill-bred sister caused you such trouble.”

“I suppose,” the old man said slowly, “that no amount of money could tempt you to part with the bracelet?”

“Correct. That bracelet is important to my people. We cannot give it away. We will not give it away.”

The old man stroked his beard, deep in thought. “But how did you cross the river in this rain?”

Sanya grinned. “It’s a trade secret.”

“And to think, I’d believed such a feat impossible…” Retbelle wondered aloud. Not that I could blame him for that part. He shook his head, disappointed. “What a pity.”

“I’m sorry. If I had anything else of worth,” said Sanya, “I would give it to you.”

“No, that’s not necessary. I wanted the bracelet, yes, but it wasn’t for the money.”

“Then…why?” Sanya asked. “Why did you want it?”

“I was going to give it to my granddaughter as a gift. An elven bracelet has the blessing of the wind. Of course, I know that it means nothing if the wearer isn’t a skilled practitioner of wind magic, but I thought it would protect her, in the very least. One can never know how the future will turn out.”

So, he was getting his grandkid a present. I guess it could’ve made for a good protection charm.

“I’m sorry,” said Sanya. “I really can’t give this away.”

“Understandable,” said the old man. “Tell your sister, please, to never to let it leave her hands again. There are surely many others who would seek such an artifact.”

“Yes, I’ll be sure to tell her.”

He wasn’t anything like what I’d imagined. I thought he’d be some sinister supervillain, but he seemed like a doting grandfather.

In the end, Sanya was able to buy the bracelet back. She upended her item bag and jewels came tumbling out onto the table. Doglud examined them all—jeez, how much were they worth?—before taking a few of them and nodding.

“Yes, that’ll do,” he said, and returned the rest to Sanya.

With the trade done, Sanya took the bracelet. It looked exactly like the one she wore. It was Luimin’s, after all.

“Thank you, Yuna,” said Sanya. “Thank you for everything. If you hadn’t been here, the bracelet might’ve been sold off before we even reached the town, let alone before we could even bring the painting over.”

I guess we’d gotten here pretty quick thanks to my bears. If they’d gone by carriage, they’d still be out on the road…

“If you’re going to thank anyone,” I said, “thank Kumayuru and Kumakyu.”

“Yes, of course.”

With that, we were done. Once we got the bracelet back to Luimin, the whole thing would be settled. We could finally head out to the elves’ village without anything holding us back.