815 Bear, goes further in the forest - Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

"Is there no other way to obtain it elsewhere?" "The moss that clings to monsters over long periods is different from other moss. Besides, even if that monster is there, you'll end up slicing its body during the hunt. Blood-soaked and covered in mud, it's impossible to harvest." Ah, that's true. If you slash with a sword, blood will gush out. If you use fire magic, the moss might burn away, and using wind magic to slash would be the same as using a sword. When the monster moves around, it gets caked in mud. "It's not that there's a wide range of uses for it, but when it's needed and not available, it's a problem..." Mane looked at the alligator. "Alright, I'll swiftly take care of it." "Yuna?" "I just have to defeat it without damaging the moss, right?" "Exactly, but that's the hard part." Well, it'll work out somehow. "Mane, please stay close to Kumayuru and Kumakyu." I headed towards the alligator alone. Without my bear gear, I'd be too scared to approach. Ever since I realized I was fine even after being bitten by the Black Tiger, I've felt a sense of security. As I got closer to the alligator, it turned to face me. I couldn't attack the moss on its back. An attack from the outside was out of the question. That means I have to attack from the inside, as usual. While I contemplated how to defeat it, an alligator opened its mouth wide. "Yuna! Look out!" Simultaneously with Mane's shout, a water ball was shot from the alligator's mouth. I instinctively thrust out my bear puppet and shattered the water ball. Right, these aren't just alligators; they're creatures called Gators. Since they looked like alligators, I didn't expect them to shoot water. When one Gator unleashed a water ball, the others followed suit and began firing at me as well. I shattered the incoming water balls with my bear puppet. The ones that missed me left holes in the ground where they landed. Seems like they pack quite a punch. They might be as hard as a softball. Dodging the water balls, I ran. Electricity crackled around my black bear puppet. I aimed a bolt of lightning into a Gator's wide-open mouth. One by one, I electrocuted each Gator's mouth. Seeing its companions fall, a Gator that was further away retreated into the pond. I didn't pursue it. Four Gators lay defeated by the pond's edge. "Yuna, are you alright?" Mane approached on Kumayuru. Being on Kumayuru is safe, but there might still be attacks from within the pond. "Mane, there are still some in the pond, so don't get too close." "Okay." I stored the defeated Gators in my bear box. Then, moving away from the pond, I took the Gators out again. "They're really dead, right?" Mane nervously asked, hiding behind Kumayuru's back. Looks like she's afraid of the Gators. I remember how scared I felt the first time I saw real monsters in a game. One gets used to it over time, I suppose. "Don't worry, they're dead." Mane extended her arms, cautiously poking the Gator's body with a stick she found somewhere. Watching her, a mischievous thought crossed my mind. I quietly circled around behind her. And then... "Boo!" "Ah!" Mane dropped to her knees, hiding behind Kumayuru. She moved surprisingly fast. From behind Kumayuru, she peered at the Gator, then glared at me. "Was that you, Yuna?" "Sorry, I just couldn't resist after seeing you." I apologized sincerely. "Yuna, don't you know there's a line between jokes you can make and can’t?" Mane puffed up her cheeks, beginning to scold me. "I'm really sorry." "And let me just say, Gators are terrifying for any grown-up. So there's nothing embarrassing about how I acted." She's right. Most people find alligators scary. There might be a few people who like reptiles or raise alligators, but they're quite rare. "And if you scare me again, I'll really be mad next time, okay?" She pointed the stick at me as she spoke. It wasn't exactly a mature gesture. "I promise I won't do it again." "It's a promise, alright?" Even though Mane is older, I should be more mindful. Still, the way she poked the Gators with a stick out of fear was so cute that I couldn't resist playing a prank. Once Mane confirmed the Gators were dead, she began harvesting the moss clinging to their bodies using a spoon-like tool. She placed the collected moss into a jar. "I have to do this for the medicine's sake... I can do this," Mane muttered to herself as she harvested the moss. "Do you want some help?" "This is my job. Plus, it's my personal request, so Yuna, please keep watch." I stood guard so Mane could work peacefully. The Gators that fled into the pond might come back out. I could probably take them down by casting lightning magic into the pond. However, if they sink to the bottom, retrieval would be troublesome. Magic might make it possible, but it would be a hassle. Additionally, using lightning magic could harm other creatures in the pond. If the fish and other organisms died and were left to rot, it would be disastrous. So, as long as they don't attack, I'll leave them alone. With Kumayuru and Kumakyu, I kept an eye on the surroundings while Mane continued her harvesting. Though in truth, my job was merely to watch the detection skill. After a while, Mane finished gathering the moss. "Great job." Satisfied with the moss collection, Mane seemed pleased. She used her water magic to wash her hands. I then stored the Gators in my bear box. This would make an odd souvenir for Fina. Bringing Gators as souvenirs for an 11-year-old girl? Not the best choice. "Which direction should we head from here?" "I've heard we should go around the pond to the right." We decided to walk around the pond to the right. "There's another ribbon." That meant we could continue forward. Just as I was feeling that things were going smoothly, Mane said something unexpected. "Kumayuru, you're veering off path. Keep going straight." "Kuu~n." Despite Mane's directions, Kumayuru shook its head sideways. "Yuna, Kumayuru isn't listening. We'll get lost at this rate." I checked the bear's mapping skill. We were moving perfectly straight. Not veering at all. "Kumayuru is going straight." "Really?" Mane glanced around. "No way..." "What's up?" "Yuna, just to check. Do you feel any strangeness in the direction these bears are heading?" I thought for a moment. "Nothing feels off to me. Do you sense something, Mane?" "I can't say for certain. Kumayuru, keep walking straight ahead." "Kuu~n." Kumayuru and Kumakyu continued on their path. "There's definitely something wrong," Mane muttered after a while, shaking her head. "Mane, are you alright?" "I'm fine. It's just like my sense of direction is being denied in my mind." "...?" I didn't quite understand what Mane was saying. "It feels to me like Kumayuru is turning to the right as it walks. I've experienced this before. There's probably a Maze Flower blooming nearby." "Maze Flower?" "It's a flower that emits powder to confuse those who enter the forest. This powder can throw off your sense of direction." A flower like that... "If you wander aimlessly, you'll keep walking in circles, eventually exhausting yourself, and could face serious risks, even death." Endlessly circling the same spot doesn't just sap physical strength. It also takes a mental toll, not to mention issues with food supply, or potentially being attacked by monsters. "Kumayuru is heading straight, but to me, it feels like right is the direct path. Sorry, Kumayuru, could you head left?" "Kuu~n." Kumayuru began to walk to the left. "This is such a strange feeling. My brain is trying to lead me right. Are you okay, Yuna?" "I'm fine, thanks to this hood protecting me." I suspect it's due to my bear hood that I'm unaffected. It was already proven effective when I wasn't influenced by the fairy's sleeping powder. "So that bear isn't just cute after all." Mane enveloped her hand in wind magic, creating a gust around herself and Kumayuru. "This is a method to counter it. I can handle magic at this level." Following Mane's directions, we reached a clearing where blue flowers were blooming everywhere. "Those are Maze Flowers." "So these flowers are the cause..." The flowers had four open blue petals. "Is it safe to get close?" "The flowers themselves aren't dangerous. They just cause confusion." "The name's pretty straightforward, isn't it?" "They confuse monsters, animals, and people to keep them away. Adventurers started calling them Maze Flowers, and the name stuck." Well, straightforward names are easier to remember. "Yuna, can I gather some of these flowers too?" "Go ahead. By the way, what kind of medicinal effect do they have?" "It's used for motion sickness. Some people feel sick riding horses or carriages." "Yeah." That's when you feel nauseous from the motion. "It also helps with hangovers. Of course, there are substitutes, but medicine made from Maze Flowers is more effective." An advanced anti-nausea medicine, I suppose. Since I don't ride in carriages often and don't drink alcohol, it's not useful for me. Mane took out a basket from her item bag and started picking the flowers. There really are so many plants and flowers with different effects. To someone like me, who knows nothing, they just look like weeds or pretty flowers. Mane then took a pot and a small shovel, and began to dig up the Maze Flowers. She carefully transplanted them into the pot with precision. "You're really good at this." "Making mixtures isn't the only part of my job. Growing plants is part of it too." "You don't leave it to others?" "Sometimes I do, but some plants are too hard to grow, so I can't always rely on others." I remember growing morning glories for an observation diary in elementary school over summer vacation. That was a hassle. Even I was just a regular elementary school kid when I first started.