I walked with Noa while looking at the lake.
The weather was nice, and so was the view. The lake was beautiful. There were boats floating on the lake, and it looked like you could take a ride on them. It seems like a fun city. Many people were looking at the lake just like us. I was walking among them, but no one paid any attention to me.
As expected, no one would look at me if I wasn’t dressed as a bear. No one even bothered to look at my shoes or hands. Well, unless you look at me up close, I look like I’m wearing black and white gloves. No one would even notice my bear-feet shoes or my bear-faced gloves.
“What’s wrong, Yuna-san? Hurry up.” (Noa)
As I was walking, while being mindful of my surroundings, Noa, who was walking in front of me, turned around and called out to me.
“Noa, that’s dangerous. You need to look forward while walking.” (Yuna)
“It’s okay… u wa~a.” (Noa)
At the moment I warned her, Noah, who was walking backward, stumbled.
Noa stepped forward and tried to adjust her position. I hurriedly tried to reach out to her, but she continued to fall backward, away from my hand.
“Watch out!”
There’s a girl in a school uniform where Noa was about to fall. Just as she thought she was about to bump into the girl, the girl stopped Noa in her arms. Thankfully, Noa didn’t fall down.
“You have to watch where you’re going, or you’ll get hurt.” (Girl)
“I’m sorry.” (Noa)
Noa apologized as she moved away from the girl’s arms.
The girl who caught Noa was about the same age as Shia and me. The girl was wearing a different uniform from the one in the royal capital. Perhaps she was a student at Euphalia Academy.
“It’s all well and good to be cheerful, but girls are supposed to be graceful.” (Girl)
“I’m sorry.” (Noa)
Noa was visibly dejected.
The girl in uniform stared at Noa.
“…tell me, have we met somewhere before?” (Girl)
When asked, Noa looked at the girl in uniform.
Their faces came close to each other, and they stared at each other for a few seconds. Noa opened her mouth first.
“Are you Cereille-sama?” (Noa) (セレイユ)
“Noire, is it?” (Cereille)
They said each other’s names simultaneously.
It seems like they knew each other.
“It’s been a long time. Cereille-sama.” (Noa)
“Indeed, what’s Noire doing here? Oh, are you here to support Shia?” (Cereille)
The girl Noa called Cereille asked and gave her own guess.
“Yes, I’m here to support Oneesama who is participating in the magic exchange meet at the school. Yuna-san, let me introduce you. This is Cereille-sama, the daughter of the Forinz family that governs this city.” (Noa)
Noa introduced me to the girl. She’s the daughter of the lord of this city, apparently.
In other words, it looks like they knew each other through noble connections.
“It’s Cereille.”
“I’m Yuna.”
We said our names to each other.
“You’re a student from the royal capital who came for the magic exchange, right? You should be practicing at the academy by now, so why are you here? And why are you with Noire?” (Cereille)
“Etto, that is…” (Yuna)
I’m fumbling for words.
She seemed to think that I was a participant in this magical exchange meet because I was wearing a royal capital academy student uniform. I’m not a participant though, much less a student. However, since I was wearing a uniform, I couldn’t deny nor affirm, so I was at a loss for a response. Noa then followed up with me.
“Yuna-san is a friend of mine and Oneesama’s. We are not attending the event, but she said she was going to support Oneesama, so I asked her to take me along with her.” (Noa)
“Did you come separately from Shia’s group or did you arrive here with Eleanora-sama?” (Cereille)
“No, I didn’t come here with my mother. I came with Yuna-san this time. Yuna-san is strong, so she is also my escort.” (Noa)
In response to Noa, Cereille looked at me astonishingly.
“Excuse me, but how old are you? 13? 14?” (Cereille)
“I am 15 years old.” (Yuna)
“15 years old!?” (Cereille)
Cereille was surprised at my words.
I’m smaller than the average 15 years old, but I am indeed 15 years old.
“Let me confirm. You’re not a participant of this magical exchange, right?” (Cereille)
“Etto, yeah.” (Yuna)
In response to my reply, Cereille frowns and looks at Noa.
“In other words, you don’t have magic power. Noire, you may have a strong sense of urgency, but it is dangerous for two girls to come from the royal capital. You may be young, but you are still a nobility. You must understand your position as a noble. First of all, do you think that Eleanora-sama and Cliff-sama would approve of you coming here alone with her?” (Cereille)
“Yes, I was given permission to travel with Yuna-san.” (Noa)
“You’re not lying, are you?” (Cereille)
“Oneesama knows about it too, and if it would make you happy, you can also check with her.” (Noa)
Cereille looked at me curiously.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t leave you like this. Noire, I will escort you to the house. I can’t leave you alone like this.” (Cereille)
Cereille proceeded to interfere on her own.
Noa’s not alone, though. I’m her escort. But Cereille clearly doesn’t see me as an escort. I’m not a bear right now, yet she doesn’t trust me in my uniform either.
“Thank you for your concern, Cereille-sama. But I don’t need an escort. Yuna-san is stronger than anyone else and can protect me better.” (Noa)
Noa turned her trustful eyes on me.
Of course, I will protect Noa.
“I understand that Noire trusts her. But I don’t trust her. You are the daughter of the Foshurōze family. How could Eleanora-sama entrust Noire to a girl who is a mere student, just like this?” (Cereille)
It’s a terrible thing to say even when I’m not a bear. Although, if I had dressed up as a bear, I would still have gotten even less credit. She might even call me something worse than I am now.
“I’ll have to tell Shia about this.” (Cereille)
Somehow, the situation has become troublesome.
But if you think about it, she’s right. A normal student would not be strong enough to escort Noa, a noble.
Especially when they were coming alone from the royal capital.
“Cereille-sama, Yuna-san is really strong.” (Noa)
“If Eleanora-sama entrusts you to her, she may be somewhat strong. But what would you do if someone stronger than her appeared? What would you do if you were attacked by monsters or bandits while coming from the royal capital? You are in a position to think about yourself. For the time being, I think it will be alright if you return to the capital with Shia’s group, so I will escort you while you are in town.” (Cereille)
Cereille clearly denied me. But Noa tilted her head as if she didn’t understand Cereille’s words.
“Stronger than Yuna-san? I don’t think there is such a person. Even if a monster or a bandit group comes, Yuna-san will defeat them.” (Noa)
Noa knows that I saved Misa from the orcs, and she knows that I defeated the bandits. She knows that I fought the Knight Commander (I forgot his name) for Shia at the school festival, and she also knows about the Black Viper. (TN: Rutum is his name.)
Perhaps Cliff may have told her about the Kraken.
From Noa’s perspective, she may believe that I will protect her even if some strong people and monsters appear.
“And there are also Swaying Bear-chan and Hugging Bear-chan.” (Noa)
Noa murmured in a low voice so that Cereille couldn’t hear.
“If she’s so strong, as Noire says, she would be selected as a participant this time, wouldn’t she?” (Cereille)
That’s because I’m not a student.
But I’m wearing a uniform, so it’s not convincing.
I thought I wouldn’t get in trouble because I wasn’t wearing my bear costume, but I didn’t think a uniform would be more hazardous.
“That is……” (Noa)
Noa looked troubled.
She’s at a loss as to how to explain it.
“If not magic, then are you good with a sword, perhaps?” (Cereille)
At this rate, Noa would be taken away from me.
I could not just wander around by myself, leaving escorting Noa to others.
So I denied Cereille’s words.
“I can use the sword and magic. I am strong enough to protect Noa. So Noa doesn’t need another escort.” (Yuna)
Cereille’s eyes widened in surprise at my words. She didn’t think I would argue with her.
When Cereille looked at me, she approached me.
“Excuse me. Let me see your arm.” (Cereille)
Cereille approached me, grabbed my arm, and rolled up my sleeve.
“You can’t swing a sword with this white, soft, thin arm.” (Cereille)
My arms were white, had no muscles, and were squishy.
“Then, can you take the weird thing off of your hand and show me your hand?” (Cereille)
That weird thing was my bear gloves.
For the time being, I didn’t go against it. I removed the black bear puppet from my right hand and showed my hand to her. She touched my palm.
“It’s not the hands of someone who has been practicing sword swings.” (Cereille)
Cereille released my hand and said clearly.
Well, I practiced in the game. And since I practiced in the game, I couldn’t build muscle, and I couldn’t even get callouses in my hands.
“I don’t think you, being Noire’s escort, will work. You have never been selected as a member of this magical exchange meeting and have never held a sword.” (Cereille)
I can feel that this girl named Cereille was not a bad person. She was genuinely worried about Noa. She’s the type that imposes her good intentions.
But that doesn’t mean I would back down for both my and Noa’s freedom.
Besides, it would ruin Cliff’s image for entrusting her escort to me.
“You said you’re escorting Noa, but you’re a noble too, yet you don’t seem to have an escort yourself.” (Yuna)
She’s alone. She‘s a noble, yet she has no guards.
“There is no danger in the city where my father rules, so it should be fine.” (Cereille)
“Then we’ll be fine while we’re in the city.” (Yuna)
What she was saying was contradictory.
“But what if something happens to Noire? If anything happened to Noire in the city where my father reigns, how would I apologize to Eleanora-sama and Cliff-sama?” (Cereille)
She doesn’t back down either.
“So what would you do in that situation?” (Yuna)
“I am strong. I have studied swords since I was a child, have a background in magic, and am reasonably competent. I have been chosen as a member of this magical exchange. Please don’t put me with you.” (Cereille)
“So if I can beat you, that means you’ll accept me as Noa’s escort, right?” (Yuna)
“There’s no way you can beat me, but that’s how it is.” (Cereille)
“Then, let’s play a little game. If I win, you will have no say about this, right?” (Yuna)
She looked surprised for a moment at my offer but then smiled.
“Fufu, that’s fine with me. It’s also good to know what you’re capable of. If I win, Noire will be escorted by me.” (Cereille)
“Okay. If I win, you’ll get to keep your promise.” (Yuna)
Even though it was a bit of a hassle, I had to play with Cereille.
=====
Author’s Note:
She’s not a bear at the moment, but Yuna was still entangled with trouble.
The next update may be delayed. Please understand.
PS, the third episode of Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear’s comicalization is now available on pixiv comic.
Yoroshikuonegaishimasu.
