Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

I somehow got the gist of the story.

The magic stone was damaged. You have to go deep inside the labyrinth to replace the magic stones. To traverse the labyrinth, you need the crystal plate map. Who can use the crystal plate map was already decided. The crystal plate map was dropped by Karina in a pit. Karina wants to get the crystal plate map beneath the pyramid.

These details are what I understand so far.

But whether Karina wants to go with me, remains to be seen.

Well, the map may be a secret, but you should hire some good adventurers to go with you and get it. It’s no wonder Karina feels responsible, but it doesn’t change whether she’s coming to look for the crystal plate map or not.

On the contrary, it would be better if she doesn’t set foot inside.

[Why is Karina trying to pick up the map herself? I think you should ask an adventurer to do it.] Yuna

[What did you say?] Balima

Balima-san frowns at my words.

[Well, because Karina…] Yuna

[Yu- Yuna-san.] Karina

Karina, who is sitting next to me tried to stop me.

[Karina! Be silent! Yuna-san, could you explain?] Balima

Balima-san shut Karina’s mouth and urges me to continue.

Did I perhaps do something wrong?

[Um, Karina was in adventurer’s guild, asking the adventurers there to take her to the pyramid.] Yuna

[Karina!] Balima

Listening to my words, Balima-san lifts his eyebrows and stares at Karina.

At first Karina was looking down and only listening, but then she looks up and faced Balima-san.

[Father! This is my responsibility. And I know where the crystal plate fell.] Karina

Karina made a persuasive statement.

But does she really know where the crystal plate is?

[That’s a different matter!] Balima

Now I can’t ask about the crystal plate because Balima-san shouted.

Apparently, Karina made a request to the adventurer’s guild, instead of the injured Balima-san.

Originally, the request was to recover what was in the bottom layer of the pyramid. It seems the rest of the details were to be told to the person who received the request.

It seems that Karina took it upon herself without permission and added the escort job to the request.

[So you went to the adventurer’s guild alone.] Balima

Balima-san asks Karina with a slightly stronger tone.

[Dear, please don’t be so angry. This child also felt responsible about it.] Ristil

[That’s why…] Balima

[You musn’t. Karina had been excitedly talking about her role since she was young, so she felt responsible for the mishap.] Ristil

[Mother….] Karina

Well, it’s kinda difficult.

Karina feels responsible. Her father got injured because of her and she dropped the crystal plate map that had been passed down for generations.

Moreover, it may ruin the city because of it.

This burden may be too heavy for a 10-year-old girl to carry.

However, it is another matter whether that action is correct.

[So then, Balima-san is the one hiring adventurers to find the crystal plate.] Yuna

[Yes. No parents would let their daughter go to such dangerous places.] Balima

[But even though Karina was there, every adventurer was refusing.] Yuna

Everyone refused.

I think it’s fine to have some adventurer parties.

[It’s probably because of the phenomenons happening in the pyramids.] Balima

[Phenomenon?] Yuna

[Since the water magic stone has broken, monsters have gathered around the pyramid. If you don’t have the ability, you may not be able to get close to the pyramids.] Balima

[Monsters are gathering?] Yuna

[Maybe it’s because the water magic stone was broken, since then the number of monsters around the pyramid were starting to increase.] Balima

Ah, maybe that’s what the guard trying to tell me at the entrance of the city.

I thought he was just saying that the water magic stone was broken.

[Well, were there monsters in the pyramids too?] Yuna

If there is, it is troublesome in various ways.

[The upper layer where the broken magic stone currently in is a labyrinth full of traps, but there are no monsters. The lower layer however, is a cave where monsters resides.] Balima

A labyrinth and a cave, in other words a two for one deal?

In other words, if you got caught in a trap in the labyrinth above, you will end up to the monsters in the cave below, or something like that.

[Are the monsters that appear in the pyramids strong?] Yuna

[No, I’ve never heard of something like strong monsters. It was a hunting ground for adventurers who were able to subdue low-class monsters such as worms and earn money, also all the monsters in there can be found in the desert.] Balima

[Does that mean, the number is the problem?] Yuna

[There’s a lot of monsters around the pyramid, so there may be even more of them in the pyramids.] Balima

[Father, that’s not the only reason.] Karina

[Karina?] Yuna

[There are rumors that there are big monsters near the pyramid. There seems to be an adventurer who saw it, but the person who saw it had gone out of the town to run away and it seems that nobody knows the details. But there’s a lot of rumors among adventurers.] Karina

[Is that so.] Yuna

There are a lot of monsters.

There may be big mysterious monsters as well.

In such a situation, I think no one will accept it. If you add the escorting of the lord’s daughter there, then nobody can easily take it on.

Even so, I’d like to say that all the adventurers are subjugating the monsters, but when I heard Jade-san’s story, it seems that the city’s adventurers are mainly escorting those who travel between cities. It is also rare to be attacked by the monsters thanks to pillars.

To put it simply, there are adventurers who are not good at it.

To put it worse, there are no strong adventurers here.

Well, excellent adventurers doesn’t want to stay in such a hot place.

If I were to be told to choose between this city or Crimonia, I would definitely choose Crimonia without hesitation.

[Then you should ask the country, not the adventurer’s guild.] Yuna

I think the King will send out Soldiers, Knights and Wizards if he knew that this was the situation.

With a good number of fighting force, you can easily wipe out the monsters near the pyramid, then dive under the pyramid and find the map with ease.

The King said this city is an important city for trade, so I think he’ll be able to help you if you ask.

Although, it seems the next problem would be money.

However, Balima-san shook his head at my suggestion.

[I can’t do that.] Balima

[Why not?] Yuna

[Its because according to the treaty, each country cannot send soldiers and knights to this city. Whatever the reason may be, it would be considered as an act of aggression.] Balima

[So that’s why?] Yuna

[Yuna-san, a treaty is something that cannot be changed so easily. No matter which country, no matter what the reason may be, other countries will feel threatened when a lot of soldiers, knights and wizards, gather near the border. If something goes wrong, this city would become a battlefield. It’s a treaty to prevent that from happening.] Balima

I get what you’re trying to say.

No matter how much friendly relationship you have with other countries, you’ll never know what they are trying to pull off.

There is no denying the possibility of surprise attack.

I know the King of Elfancia, but not the other countries.

And I don’t know how the other country reacts about this one.

If the kingdom dispatches it’s troops, it may pose a threat to the other country. One might think that the situation of this city would be used as a reason to attack another country.

On the other hand, if my opponent’s army appears in front of me, even I would feel threatened.

And there is no denying that soldiers may remain in the city. Because they don’t take part in any country, they can be neutral and have a position immediately.

If you think about it, in any world, whether it may be politics or treaties, its very troublesome to deal with. If it is to protect their country though, it can not be helped then.

[Also, relying on one country means not believing in the other. If I ask for the Triform Kingdom, then Follout-sama will not feel good about it. And it goes the other way around.] Balima

It would be best for the armies of both countries to work together, but that would just take a while.

As expected, the only option is the adventurers.

[Are you not asking the adventurer’s guild in another city?] Yuna

[I’ve issued a request. But they may not be here in time.] Balima

[And that’s why you’re asking me.] Yuna

Normally, it’s not something to ask someone dressed as a Bear like me.

[If what the content of the letter and your guild card were true, then I would very much appreciate your help.] Balima

[Father, is Yuna really strong? I can’t tell if she is, even a bit.] Karina

[Yuna-san, can I tell my family where you got this magic stone?] Balima

[I don’t think they’re going to believe it though.] Yuna

[I think its up to them.] Balima

[That’s fine then.] Yuna

[Thank you.] Balima

[Father, where did she got this magic stone?] Karina

Everyone is looking at the magic stone on the table in front of them.

[This magic stone seems to be from the Kraken that Yuna-san defeated before.] Balima

[Isn’t the Kraken a big monster in the sea?] Ristil

[That’s right. It is normally a monster that takes many adventurers, banding together just to fight and defeat it. But Yuna-san subjugated it alone.] Balima

Karina and Ristil-san were stunned in Balima-san’s words.

[Father, is that true?] Karina

[Believing it or not is your freedom to do so. But I believe it.] Balima

[…Father, I understand. I’ll also believe it.] Karina

[I believe in you dear, from the beginning] Ristil

They’re happy and smiling, but family love is too dazzling for me.

Looking at them, makes me want to see Fina, Shuri and Tirumina-san.

Maybe I’m being homesick… Nah~ I don’t think so.

[So then, I want to ask Yuna-san to get inside the pyramid and find the crystal plate map. Of course, I didn’t said alone. This time we’ll be back with the adventurer’s guild, without the matters of escorting Karina.] Balima

[Father! I will go too.] Karina

[Denied.] Balima

[But if I go with her, we will know the position of the crystal plate much faster.] Karina

[Speaking of which, I asked you earlier, what’s the matter?] Yuna

[That is…] Karina

I watch as Balima-san checks with her.

Then, Restil-san nods and starts explaining.

[We have the feeling that our magic power is connected to the crystal plate by flowing magic power on the map of the crystal plate. We call this a contract. The contract gives us a rough idea of where the crystal plate is, we can feel it.] Ristil

I see, Karina was asking me to take her.

[It’s something that I have to do, I should’ve been the one to go…] Ristil

Ristil-san touches her belly. No way, you can’t go where the monsters are. I guess Ristil-san still has the bitterness of not being able to go.

[Karina, do you really know where the crystal plate is?] Yuna

[Yes, I do.. But I only know its general direction.] Karina

That’s enough.

[I understand what you’re saying. I’ll take Karina with me.] Yuna

[Yuna-san!] Balima

Karina is pleased, but her father, Balima-san is against it.

[Because we can find it a lot quicker.] Yuna

[That may be so..] Balima

[Please rest assured, I will protect her properly.] Yuna

So I declare, but it’s not really persuasive when its coming from a girl dressed like a Bear.

[Of course, I believe that Yuna-san is strong. But, Yuna-san what will you do when you’re fighting? She may be attacked by other monsters. Do you want the other adventurers to protect her? Then, the request will be the same as before, and nobody will take the request.] Balima

Well, that’s fine for me.

But to get rid of Balima-san’s anxiety, I stand up silently and move to where there is enough space in the room.

[Yuna-san?] Balima

[Please, don’t be surprised.] Yuna

When I raised my Bear Puppets forward, I summoned Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear.

[A Bear!] Ristil

[A Bear……] Karina

[A Bear! Oww!] Balima

The three of them were surprised to see Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear. But at the moment when Balima-san is surprised, he distorts his face with intense pain.

[Father!] Karina

Karina anxiously approached Balima-san.

[Yu, Yuna-san, what’re those Bears?] Balima

[These are my summoned beast.] Yuna

[Summoned Beast……] Balima

[I’ll let these children escort Karina. They’re stronger than any monsters, so don’t worry about it.] Yuna

[Father, please.. It’s my responsibility, I have to do it.] Karina

[Karina….] Balima

[Dear…] Ristil

When Balima-san saw his wife and daughter, he exhales a little.

[Thank you, Yuna-san, for escorting Karina.] Balima

Balima-san deeply lowers his head.