Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

Chapter 401 Bear-san, Taking A Social Studies Tour

The next day, I was woken up by Fina and Ruimin, who were woken up by Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear. As usual, Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear were taken by the two of them. I felt lonely. So I took out my Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear plushies then went to bed.

While we’re eating breakfast in the inn’s dining room, Mel-san and Senia-san come over.

[Good morning, you three.] Mel

Mel-san called out to us and Senia-san raised her hand in greeting. We returned the greeting.

[Yuna-chan, I’m sorry about yesterday. Did you met Rojina-san?] Mel

[We met him.] Yuna

Although, I was surprised that it wasn’t a weapons store anymore.

[So, Mel-san, are you guys done with your shopping?] Yuna

[Yeah, we bought almost everything we need. We still have to go around. Since we also have a few things that need to be made.] Mel

Then I asked about Toya.

[U~n, even the well-behaved Toya is seriously depressed. I think it’s okay to go to another blacksmith. Toya is troubled because he says he doesn’t want to have it made anywhere else but by Xelo-san] Mel

[But he made that promise himself.] Senia

Senia-san said that she would let Toya do whatever he wanted until he finished the test. If he failed the test, he promised to go to another blacksmith to make it.

I don’t think his skills will improve in just a few days, but he’ll be fine.

[Toya is good at what he does. He’s just not very good at the real thing, though. He usually says things like he’s good with it, but that’s partly to hide his true feelings. He seems to think that people don’t know that.] Mel

Oh, yeah. I thought he was just a normal uptight guy.

[So we’re going to let Toya do whatever he wants this time. It’s okay to do the shopping without Toya anyway. So, Yuna-chan, what are you guys going to do today?] Mel

[We’re going to Rojina-san’s place again today.] Yuna

[You went there yesterday, didn’t you? Are you going to have them make you a weapon?] Mel

As I thought, Mel-san didn’t seem to know that Rojina-san is no longer making weapons. So I told them that Rojina-san had stopped making weapons and was now making pots and pans.

[You’re not lying or joking, are you?] Senia

[He’s making pots and pans now?] Mel

[Somehow, I’m thinking that those pots and frying pans are overpowered.] Senia

I can’t help but agree with Senia-san’s words.

[So today, we’re going to visit Rojina-san’s place to watch how he makes those pots and pans.] Yuna

Well, it’s like a social studies tour.

At dinner yesterday, Fina and Ruimin asked if they could watch him at work and Rojina-san agreed. But as for me, I wanted to see the process of sword making.

After finishing our breakfast, we went to Rojina-san’s store. When we entered the store, Rikka-san greeted us.

[I’ve been waiting for you. Dad is also expecting you. He’s already working at the back, so come on in.] Rikka

After getting Rikka-san’s permission to go to the workshop at the back of the store, we heard the sound of iron getting hammered coming from behind the counter.

[U~u, it’s so hot.] Fina

[He’s working in such heat.] Ruimin

As soon as Fina and Ruimin entered the workshop, they immediately felt the heat. I don’t feel the heat because I’m wearing my bear costume. So I don’t understand how they feel.

[Oh, you really came? I thought you were just joking yesterday. Do you really enjoy watching me pound the iron like this?] Rojina

Rojina-san, who was making the pot, said that as soon as we arrive.

[Yes, it’s exciting to watch how strangely the iron changes its shape.] Fina

[There are no blacksmiths in the Elven village, so this is new to me as well.] Ruimin

[Well, if you just want to see, then go ahead and watch. But don’t touch anything in here without permission, because there are some dangerous kinds of stuff lying around here. Also, don’t get too close. We don’t want your soft skin to get burned now, do we?] Rojina

After Rojina-san said his words of warning, he continued pounding on the iron.

[Are you not going to making weapons anymore, Rojina-san?] Yuna

[...............] Rojina

I don’t know if he heard my words or not, but he continued to hammer the iron in silence. He doesn’t want to answer, so I stopped asking and silently watch him shape the iron. As Rojina-san kept striking the iron, the shape changes rapidly.

Fina and Ruimin were watching the metalwork with sweat dripping down their foreheads.

I told them to tell me when they were thirsty so they wouldn’t get dehydrated.

And so, after some time, the thing that used to be an iron plate changed shape and became a pot. Now that’s craftsmanship.

After finishing one pot, Rojina-san takes a break in the next room. It’s dangerous to work long hours in this heat after all.

[Did you enjoy watching?] Rojina

Rojina-san asked Fina and Ruimin, who had been watching diligently the whole time while drinking water.

[Yes. It felt strange to watch the hard iron change its shape with each strike.] Fina

[When iron is hot, it changes shape easily. And when it gets cold, it gets hard again.] Ruimin

[Rojina-san’s hands were like magic.] Fina

[It’s as simple as that.] Ruimin

Rojina-san looks happy to be praised by Fina and Ruimin.

[Which is easier, making a sword or making a pot?] Fina

[......It’s more difficult to make a sword. Swords not only need to be made strong, but also be able to stab, slash, and block. When making a sword, you have to think about the temperature of the iron, the amount of force used to strike it, and many other things. And even if you make it the same way, you won’t get the same result every time. Because of that, even if you make the best sword, you will never be able to make the exact same sword.] Rojina

Rosina-san answered Fina’s question in a small voice.

Just because pots, pans, and cooking utensils are easy doesn’t mean that the craftsmen who make them are stupid. There’s hard work involved in making a pot. However, there’s no limit to how far a weapon can go and what is required of it. A pot can be replaced after a certain time period. If you have a few weapons, you can replace them as well, but the best weapons are needed to fight the strongest enemies. If it had been a little sharper, he could’ve defeated his enemy. If it had been a little sturdier, it might not have broken. If it were a little lighter, it might have been easier to use. There is no limit to the number of times a weapon can have that <little bit more>. And that <little bit more> could save the life of the wielder. The lives of those who use the weapon are in the craftsman’s hands. That’s why it’s so hard to make a weapon.

Xelo-san said something similar.

[Well, that depends on what the blacksmith is trying to do. That’s just my opinion.] Rojina

Then, after a short break, Rojina-san went back to the workshop and made a new pot.

Fina and Ruimin couldn’t stay in the hot room for a long time and left the workshop halfway.

[Is everyone okay? The workshop must have been too hot for you.] Rikka

Rikka-san serves us cold tea.

[Yes, it was hot in there.] Fina

[It was loud, too.] Ruimin

The two of them drank the cup of tea in one gulp.

[It’s hot, it’s also noisy. There used to be three of them working in there, so it was three times louder.] Rikka

Rikka-san looks nostalgic.

I wonder if Gordo-san and Ghazal-san will return to their homeland someday. There is no hometown for me to return to. But, I guess I could say that Crimonia is my hometown now.

The next day, we came to the outskirts of town to bring Toya some refreshments.

[How’s Toya’s training going?] Yuna

I asked Senia-san, who came with me.

[He’s trying his best. Somehow, by chance or a miracle, he’s been able to cut one out of 10 or so times.] Senia

By chance or a miracle, huh. Let’s just say he got the ability there.

[Is that so? Then I guess he’ll get a passing grade now, right?] Yuna

[Toya is not convinced. Besides, Xelo-san told him that he has three chances. If he can’t do one out of three, then Xelo-san won’t make him a sword.] Senia

[That’s tough.] Yuna

[No, not at all. It’s actually a sweet deal. The object is not moving. You have time to concentrate and you can take your time to slash it. Both the monsters and opponents are moving. In fact, you have to deal with a moving enemy in actual combat. So, this test is a sweet deal.] Senia

That’s true, I’ll agree with it if you ask me. In the end, all you have to do is cut a stationary object. You can step in any distance and at any moment. You can take a deep breath and calm your mind. But monsters are usually moving and they won’t give you time to calm your mind. They won’t give you time to prepare so that you can easily cut them. If you’re too far away, your sword won’t reach them. If you’re too close, you can’t swing your sword properly. In fact, you’ll have a hard time defeating a moving monster.

When you think about it, the test probably is a sweet deal, just like Senia-san said. And there are three chances.

[If you can cut a stationary object, you’re half a person. If you can cut a moving object, then you’re a whole.] Senia

Senia-san expressionlessly said.

And so, we arrive at the place where Toya is, and we see him waving his sword.

[Toya, I brought you some food.] Senia

[Thank God.] Toya

Toya stopped swinging his sword and looked at us.

[What? You girls came too?] Toya

[How is it going?] Yuna

[Well. I’ll definitely get old man Xelo’s approval and have him make that sword for me.] Toya

Toya sheathed his sword and sat down on a nearby rock that looks comfortable. Then he ate the bread we had brought him.

[How are you doing? I heard from Senia-san that you’ve been able to slice it a few times, albeit by chance or a miracle.] Yuna

[It’s not by chance or a miracle. It’s my ability. It’s...... just one in a few dozen.] Toya

[That’s what you call <by chance>.] Senia

[But I think I’m almost there, I can feel it. Whenever I can cut well, the sensation remains in my hand. I wish I could have that feeling whenever I want.] Toya

Toya stared at his hands.

[Asking Jade or Senia isn’t helpful either, because they can do it just fine.] Toya

[The difference between a genius and an ordinary person.] Senia

[Fuun! I’ll prove to you that even ordinary people can do it if they try.] Toya

There are geniuses in this world. If you teach them, they can do anything. Some can even do it just by observing.

[It’s difficult for ordinary people when there’s a genius by their side. I know that feeling too.] Yuna

[......]

[......]

[......]

[......]

Fina, Ruimin, Senia-san, and Toya all looked at me with dumbfounded <What are you talking about?> expressions on their faces.

[What?] Yuna

[Miss, that’s called sarcasm. You’ve defeated so many powerful monsters. Your powerful magic is only a part of your talent, and you know how to use weapons, don’t you?] Toya

[Yuna is a genius. And also fluffy.] Senia

[Yuna-oneesan is a great person.] Fina

[I agree with you.] Ruimin

Apparently, I was considered a genius.

Other people think I’m a genius, but in my case, I’m not a genius, I’m a cheater.

Author’s Note:

Toya, hang in there!

My computer is getting worse in the summer.

It froze up many times and it was very difficult. I remember saying the same thing last year, though.

My computer is old, so it might be about time to reach the end of its life.

(Press F for the author’s PC.)