Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

Bear-san, Cheering for Shia. Part 2

After the target shooting was over, several human-shaped clay figures that were densely packed together took shape next.

The dolls were then given a black and white flag in their hand, with more dolls bearing white flags than black.

The teacher explained the rules. Only hit the ones with the black flags and not the ones with white ones.

The contestants can’t do a “spray and pray” method this time. They have to hit the correct dolls with precision magic.

I recalled a similar arcade shooting game. It’s a game where a police officer shoots criminals with a gun. Sometimes there were civilians and hostages, but it’s a game where you shoot only the bad guys.

Even so, compared to this, that game was less challenging because the civilians and the bad guys don’t suddenly appear, densely packed, on the screen. However, between what is a game and what is real life, there are always differences. In a game, if you accidentally shoot a civilian, your score will only go down, but in real life, you can injure them or even kill them.

Perhaps this was a message to the students and the ones spectating to let them know that magic was dangerous if not properly controlled.

The doll shooting began.

In the wind magic category, many students used air bullets. This was because a wind blade would hit even dolls with white flags nearby. Therefore, Teams swapped the excellent students from the previous target shooting competition.

Some students hit the dolls with white flags with their magic, but most of them hit the dolls with black flags accurately because they were specifically chosen for this portion of the event.

The difference was time management. Some students took their time and carefully aimed. They were the ones that had to hit the target one at a time, so they took their time. And most students used the “hit a few shots at the targets” strategy.

When you think about it, my bear puppet, with aim assist, is a massive cheat. If I aim to a certain degree and release the spell, it would still accurately hit a stationary target.

Then, it was Shia’s turn in the fire magic category, releasing her magic at a good tempo and hitting the dolls with the black flags. Although she lost to Cereille by one doll count, she still came out on top (in the fire magic category).

It’s a pity because, without Cereille, she could have had a shot at the highest score.

That Cereille continued to compete with wind, water, and earth magic categories and obtained good results. However, she may not be good at water magic since her score was lower than the other magic scores.

The competition continued, and the contestants were supposed to hit the clumps of dirt that the teacher would send flying toward the sky in the next portion.

I imagine it like clay pigeon shooting, where you shoot at targets that pop up with a rifle. I have never played this game.

Was this supposed to be a simulation to fight flying monsters?

That reminds me, the flying monsters that I’ve fought were Volglass and Wyvern.

It’s challenging to defeat a flying monster with a sword. That’s where magic comes in. Of course, there’s the bow and arrow, but it’s difficult for an ordinary girl to use. While I have never tried it, I’ve heard that pulling the bowstring is difficult. I also heard that with diligent practice, you could do it. Even so, if you have magic power, it would be easier to use magic than to shoot the bow.

The clay pigeon magic shooting began. Surprisingly, the students were accurately hitting the targets. The people-watching cheered every time a target was hit and sighed when the magic missed.

I don’t want to stand out, but as a former gamer, I’m tempted to give it a try.

“Yuna-san, would you like to give it a try?” (Noa)

Noa guesses my feelings. Or maybe she can see it on my face?

I rubbed my cheeks with my bear puppet.

“Well, I just think it looks fun.” (Yuna)

However, because the bear puppets have aim assist, they almost always hit the target, so it might actually be boring. But as a gamer, it’s in my nature to want to try it.

And then, the clay pigeon target shooting was over.

“Shia and Cereille did great.” (Yuna)

Shia and Cereille hit all the targets, and both were at the top. However, even here, Cereille seemed to be a step ahead of the rest.

“I want to hurry up and use magic, just like Oneesama.” (Noa)

“Maybe Cliff gave you permission to go here for the sake of learning magic.” (Yuna)

There’s a difference between passionate learning and learning uninterestedly.

You can absorb everything in your favorite subjects like a sponge, but on the other hand, no matter how much you try, you can’t understand a thing about the subjects you hate.

But, as the saying goes, if you want to learn, you need to like it first.

The morning events were over, and there would be a break for lunch.

It looks like the students will be eating lunch prepared by the school.

“Well then, let’s have lunch, too.” (Yuna)

“Yes.” (Noa)

I took the bread out of the bear box.

“We have a lot, so eat up.” (Yuna)

“Thank you very much.” (Noa)

Shia came over to eat the bread that Morin made for us.

“Good work out there.” (Yuna)

“Oneesama, good job.” (Noa)

“Thank you, but I lost to Cereille even though Noa cheered for me. I’m sorry.” (Shia)

Noa shook her head at Shia’s words.

“You don’t need to apologize. You were cool out there. I respect you even more now.” (Noa)

“That’s right. Even though you lost, it’s a very close match.” (Yuna)

Shia was happy with our words.

“I’m glad you say that, but Cereille is going easy in every event.” (Shia)

“It’s frustrating, but I feel like Cereille is a step ahead.” (Yuna)

“Cereille-sama is amazing, but I think she wouldn’t have won if Yuna-san was there.” (Noa)

“Now that’s not a nice thing to hear.” (Cereille)

I looked in the direction of the voice and saw Cereille.

“Cereille-sama!?” (Noa)

Noa was surprised at the appearance of Cereille.

“Noa. I lost to Yuna with a sword, but I won’t lose with magic. Above all, Yuna wasn’t selected for this event, so maybe her magic is inferior to other students?” (Cereille)

Noa had a troubled expression on her face with Cereille’s words.

She seems to be wondering what to say since I am not a student. As for me, I don’t mind talking about the fact that I am not a student of the royal capital.

Shia opened her mouth, regardless of knowing how I feel, or she’s just not thinking about it.

“Well, that’s because Yuna-san is not a student from the royal capital.” (Shia)

“What do you mean by that?” (Cereille)

“That’s right. Yuna-san is very capable, but she’s not a student, so she’s not participating in this event.” (Noa)

“But she’s wearing your school’s uniform, isn’t she?” (Cereille)

Cereille looked at me.

I am wearing the uniform of the royal capital academy.

“I thought it would be impossible for Yuna-san to enter the school if she was in her usual appearance, so I asked her to wear a uniform instead.” (Shia)

“What do you mean by ‘usual appearance’? It doesn’t matter how she dresses. If she’s someone Shia knows, she can come in, you know?” (Cereille)

If I dressed “normally”, that is.

Cereille doesn’t seem to understand what Shia is saying.

“Of course. But this was the best way to get in without getting into any trouble, without all those questions and explanations.” (Shia)

“You’re dressed in a way you can’t enter the school without being questioned and had to explain?… Don’t tell me, you’re naked!?” (Cereille)

“Wrong!” (Yuna)

I immediately denied it.

What are you saying out of the blue? No one goes out naked. Those are only perverts. I didn’t think she’d say something more embarrassing than wearing a bear costume.

“You see, Cereille-sama. Yuna-san is always dressed as a bear.” (Noa)

Noa exposed me.

Well, I’m not hiding it, though. It’s quite well known in Crimonia, and even in the royal capital, I am dressed in a bear costume.

However, this time I’m just wearing a uniform so as not to trouble Shia.

Making excuses like this makes me feel like I want to wear a bear costume. Could it be that my soul has been infected by the bear as well?

“The other day, when we stayed at Cereille-sama’s house, you saw Yuna-san dressed as a bear at night, right? That’s what she always looks like.” (Noa)

“That cute bear outfit? That bear outfit is your normal outfit?” (Cereille)

Cereille looks at me curiously. Don’t look at me like that.

“You really like bears, don’t you?” (Cereille)

I won’t deny it.

But I want to say that I don’t wear the bear costume because I like it.

“I understand now why Yuna is currently wearing a uniform, but I was surprised that she wasn’t a student at the school.” (Cereille)

“Well, I’m an adventurer, at least.” (Yuna)

I haven’t done any adventurer-like work from the guild lately, though.

Oh, but I did a job in the Land of Harmony, so there’s no problem, right?

“…An adventurer. So you are that strong. While I was practicing in a safe place, Yuna is risking her life at such a young age. I think I now understand the reason for Yuna’s strength.” (Cereille)

No, my sword technique was acquired in the game world where I can respawn when I die. Also, the adventurer’s job was safe thanks to the bear equipment. Not really.

“I think I understand why Shia and Noa trust her. But that makes me want to know even more about Yuna’s magical abilities.” (Cereille)

“Unfortunately, I’m not a student, so I can’t participate.” (Yuna)

“How about a special pass?” (Cereille)

“I shall politely decline.” (Yuna)

“That’s a shame. By the way, what kind of magic are you good at, Yuna?” (Cereille)

“I’m neither good nor bad with magic. I can use all kinds of magic like you, Cereille.” (Yuna)

“It made me want to compete against you even more.” (Cereille)

The competition sounds interesting, but I wouldn’t do it because it’s too troublesome to deal with Cereille.

After saying that, Cereille left. What was she doing here again?

“By the way, Shia, is your magical power still okay?” (Yuna)

“I’m fine. Besides, I’m drinking herbal tea that restores magical power.” (Shia)

“Perhaps that’s the stuff the students have been drinking since a while ago?” (Yuna)

They pass the drink along with food around.

“Well, only a little, but it speeds up the rate at which my magical power recovers. So I drink it during breaks to recover a little.” (Shia)

“So there is such a thing.” (Yuna)

It reminds me of the tea of the sacred tree.

“I have a similar tea. Would you like some? It also restores magical power.” (Yuna)

Sacred Tree Tea restores physical strength and magical power. But thanks to the white bear equipment, I had no chance of using it.

“Tea that restores magical power? Yuna-san, the tea that you have had a tremendous restorative rate in magical power.” (Shia)

“It can also alleviate fatigue.” (Yuna)

“I’m very attracted to the idea, but I’m not going to drink it this time if I recover my magic power from drinking, I feel like I’m doping in the competition, so this time I’ll have the tea that everyone else is drinking.” (Shia)

When she said the word “doping”, I couldn’t let her drink it now.

I felt like I was cheating myself, so I followed up on Shia’s feelings and stopped serving sacred tree tea.

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Author’s Note:

※ Thank you for reporting the typographical error.

I’m sorry I can’t write a thank-you reply for the typographical errors in the new system.

※ Sorry, I will be taking some time off, albeit a little early, as I am not sure how long it will take to work on volumes 11.5 and 12. In the meantime, we are planning to resume around January 10 or 15 at the latest. If I finish early, I will resume early. Thank you for your understanding.

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