I received the request to find the crystal plate map.
Well, the appointed time to go to the sea is still far off, so it’s okay if I am late for a few days. But, should I check with Fina at least?
[Then Yuna-san. I would like to gather some adventurers. Is it okay with you?] Balima
I’ll be fine if its just for a few days. I don’t want to waste time because I plan to go out to the sea.
[If it’s too late, I’ll go alone.] Yuna
[Please give me 2-3 days. I will have them recruited by then.] Balima
2-3 days, I wonder if you can do it.
I guess I should explore the city while I wait.
[I’ll come back two days later then.] Yuna
[Yuna-san, are you going somewhere?] Balima
[I’m going to secure an inn to stay in today and explore the city tomorrow.] Yuna
After all, as a former gamer, town exploration is a must whenever you come to a new city. Well, I always went straight to weapon shops and item shops back in the game, but in this case I’ll be looking for ingredients.
Or maybe go scout the pyramids.
[Yuna-san, if you would like it, please stay at my house while staying in this city. Also I haven’t thanked you for delivering the magic stone from the royal capital. Please feel at home during your stay.] Balima
[Is that okay?] Yuna
[Of course. Karina, tell Rasa to prepare the guest room.] Balima
[I… I understand.] Karina
Karina replies and leaves the room.
[And please bring this water magic stone with you Yuna-san.] Balima
The Kraken’s magic stone on the table was presented to me.
[With me?] Yuna
[Yes, neither me nor Ristil can move, so I guess you’ll have to accompany Karina, if you find the crystal plate map Yuna-san can replace the water magic stones.] Balima
Ristil-san has a baby on her stomach, and Balima-san is injured. Also, reports said that monsters are gathering in the pyramid.
I can’t just let them go to that place.
I agreed and shoved the Kraken’s magic stone into the Bear Box. It feels weird to put it back in after taking it out earlier.
[Yuna-chan, please give my daughter my best regards. She sometimes runs away from home, but she’s not bad child.] Ristil
Ristil-san left Karina in my hands.
I know that Karina is not a bad girl. However, I think the responsibility here is too heavy.
Somehow, I might carry her on my back, similar to Fina when I met her.
[I’ll be borrowing Karina, but I’ll return her without any injuries.] Yuna
(TN: kinda scary if it came from a certain P.Bear-san.)
[Fufu, thank you. Well then I’ll head back to the room now.] Ristil
When Ristil-san left the room, Karina returned as if they’re switching.
[Yuna-san I will guide you to your room.] Karina
[Then, Balima-san. I’ll be on your care for the time being.] Yuna
[You came from somewhere far away, so I’m sure you’re tired. Please have a good rest.] Balima
When I start to walk, the Bears followed… I didn’t forget them, but I’m not going to leave it like this, you know?
I will return Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear now.
[The Bears just disappeared.] Karina
Karina opens her eyes wide in surprise.
Well, it’s a summon beast, so if you unsummon it will disappear.
[Yuna-san, where are the Bears?] Karina
[They’re in this?] Yuna
I shake the Bear Puppets like I’m waving my hands.
Karina looks curious and touched the Bear Puppets.
[Those Big Bears….] Karina
Well, I’ve been wondering about it myself. It is a mystery of where the Bears are before they get summoned.
When I left the room, or rather dragged out of the room as if being pulled by Karina.
I was guided(taken) by Karina to the room where I’ll be staying for the next few days.
[Yuna-san, please use this room.] Karina
Once were inside the room, the brown-skinned woman that I met earlier is inside. It seems to be Rasa-san.
Rasa-san was preparing the room.
[I’ve been waiting for you. Please use this room freely.] Rasa
The room is quite large.
You prepared an excellent room, didn’t you?
[If you need anything else, please don’t hesitate to tell us.] Rasa
[Thank you. It’s enough for me if there’s a place to sleep.] Yuna
The bed is quite large and there is enough s.p.a.ce to sleep together with the Bear Cubs.
Rasa-san bowed and went out of the room.
Me and Karina were the only ones left in the room.
Karina changes her expression after Rasa-san left.
[Are you not scared of receiving such request? None of the adventurers took it. I don’t know what’s going on under the pyramid and I don’t even know if we’ll be able to go back safely.] Karina
Karina asks questions while feeling anxious.
Well, I think the reason why the adventurers did not accepted the request is that there are adventurers gathering in this city for the purpose of relatively safe escort work. So no adventurer would want to do something dangerous on their own.
Many adventurers in Crimonia works for their own livelihood, and not for others. So you can’t blame the adventurers who refused.
[Everyone is afraid and would not accept my request.] Karina
[Well, I’m not afraid.] Yuna
Of course, I’m scared if I don’t have my Bear Equipment, and I won’t be taking such a dangerous request either. In the first place, without the Bear Equipment, I wouldn’t be able to live in this world to this date.
However, the Bear Equipment is not the only cheat item, there are also the Bear Skills, and the Summoned Beasts. If it becomes really dangerous, you can even escape using the Bear Gate.
There are many ways to deal with troublesome things.
[Yuna-san is strong. I told my father that I’ll do it, but I’m still scared. I really want to escape. If there is someone who can take over, I would pa.s.s it all to that person. But it’s my fault it fell to that hole and I’m the only one who can do this…] Karina
Karina clenches her little hand. You can see that she is slightly shaking.
It’s inevitable for a 10-year-old girl. Even adults were scared of monsters.
But Karina knows her responsibilities even her roles and she will not try to run away.
This may be a role for a handsome hero to comfort a depressed girl, but Karina has to bear with a Bear.
I squatted, then I squeezed Karina’s little hands with my Bear Puppets.
[Yuna-san?] Karina
[Karina is not weak. You’re a very strong child.] Yuna
An ordinary girl with no cheats.
Such a girl is going to where the monsters are.
Her action is courageous.
And I understand exactly how scary her action is.
She’s not trying to accompany me without knowing anything. She understands the situation very well and tries to join me even though she acknowledge her fear.
Her heart is definitely not weak.
[But because of me, the situation became like this.] Karina
[Everyone makes a mistake. People grow by failing.] Yuna
[Yuna-san…] Karina
[Though it sucks to fail.] Yuna
Even in the game, I have tasted failures many times, but I still aim to clear the game. If you fail in the game at least once then gave up, the conclusion would be .
It is fun to challenge and clear the game many times. But if you die at least once in an RPG and have to start all over again at level 1, it’s definitely a s.h.i.tty game. It may be intense, but not fun.
Of course, games and reality are different. Life can go wrong with one mistake, and you can die easily. And it’s too early to ask such a heavy task to a 10-year-old girl. However, this time n.o.body died and you can start over. All we have to do is find the crystal plate map and switch the damaged water magic stone with Kraken’s magic stone. Children shall fail, but will also grow. They must learn from their mistakes.
Though if you don’t learn form it, you’ll be in trouble.
Some people make the same mistakes over and over again in the game. I got into trouble with that as well. At that time, I thought it wasn’t a party…. (TN: maybe she got rekt?)
[But, I lost the crystal plate map and my father got hurt because of me.] Karina
[Karina, we will find the crystal plate map. And Balima-san is not dead yet.] Yuna
[But my father got hurt.] Karina
[His injury is a some sort of medal for protecting his daughter. If Karina got injured instead, I think Balima-san would be blaming himself for failing to protect you.] Yuna
It is clear from the conversation earlier that Balima-san values Karina. If his daughter Karina got hurt, he would definitely blame himself. With that in mind, Balima-san and Karina are similar in their concerns about each other.
[So, let’s find the crystal plate map together for Balima-san and go replace the water magic stone.] Yuna
[Yes.] Karina
Karina’s downward face energetically lifts up.
[And don’t worry so much. I already made a promise with Balima-san. I’ll definitely protect Karina. And they will also protect you, so don’t worry about a thing.] Yuna
When I release Karina’s hand, I summoned Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear once more in their Bear Cub form.
[Bear-san …] Karina
Karina slowly approaches Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear as they roll.
[Yuna-san, do you have a name for these Bears?] Karina
[The black one is Swaying Bear and the white one is Hugging Bear.] Yuna
[So its Swaying Bear-chan and Hugging Bear-chan? Fufu.] Karina
Karina laughs.
[Why are you laughing?] Yuna
[No, I’m sorry. Because it was a very cute name. Thank you, Swaying Bear-chan and Hugging Bear-chan.] Karina
Karina is gently petting Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear.
Then the Bears cried, they crawl and rubs their faces against Karina.
Karina then began to play with the Bears while having a wonderful smile, until Rasa-san called us for dinner.