823 Bear, learns about the power of Lydia - Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

Exiting the cave, the ground bore the marks of a massive snake's slithering path. Is that giant snake the only one around here? The drawback of my detection skill is its inability to distinguish between different snakes, even when they register. After ensuring no monsters were nearby, I dimmed the light from my bear companion and consulted the bear map. We had veered left after entering the cave. So, that's the direction we've emerged from. If I pinpoint the cave's entrance and exit, I can return without traversing through it again. Although it's a detour, with Kumayuru and Kumakyu, the distance isn't a concern. "So, what should we do next? Gather the Beltra grass first, or search for the herbs Mane is seeking?" We needed to decide on our next destination. "Let's gather the Beltra grass. The herbs I'm searching for are uncertain, and I don't even know if they're here. It makes more sense to secure the Beltra grass first." "Now that you mention it, I haven't asked why Mane and the others are in this forest." "We're hunting for herbs, just like you." "Zect and Lidia are familiar with where herbs grow in this forest, right? Maybe you should ask them about the herbs you're looking for." Since they have knowledge about the forest's herbs, it wouldn't hurt to inquire. "That's a good idea. Do you two know anything about the Lurebella flower?" So that's the name of the flower. "The Lurebella flower? Lidia, have you heard of it?" "No, I haven't." "It's a red flower that blooms on trees. I've heard it's blooming somewhere, but have you seen it?" "No, I've never seen it. We don't know everything about this forest, after all." "We tend to avoid areas with monsters, so it might be in a place where they are." I expected them to know, but no luck. In a game, they would act as informants, but reality isn't that convenient. Still, the herb Mane is searching for turns out to be a flower that blooms on trees. Perhaps I could spot it from above. "Alright then, Mane, join me over here. Zect and Lidia, ride Kumayuru." "We're also going to ride on those bears?" "It's to conserve energy. If we get tired, we won't be able to move when it matters." Moreover, they've been in the forest for ten days. They're likely more fatigued than they realize. If I had to navigate the forest without my bear gear, I wouldn't last a day. "Kumayuru, please take care of them. We'll switch later." "Kuuu~n" Kumayuru lowered herself to let Mane off. After she dismounted, Mane approached Kumakyu, where I was waiting. I extended my hand to Mane and helped her onto Kumakyu. She sat in front of me while I took the rear. Lidia approached Kumayuru, who had also lowered herself. "Is it really okay to ride the bear?" "It would be slower on foot." If they walked, we'd have to take frequent breaks. Kumayuru and Kumakyu possess the stamina to keep running for extended periods. Lidia eagerly approached Kumayuru. She had been eyeing Kumayuru and Kumakyu while we walked through the cave, clearly wanting to ride them. Lidia touched Kumayuru. "Uh, Kumayuru, nice to meet you." "Kuuu~n" Lidia placed a hand on Kumayuru's back and leapt aboard. "Wow, it's so soft and comfortable. Hurry, brother, get on too." "Oh, alright." Unlike Lidia, Zect warily approached Kumayuru. "She won't bite, right?" He seemed somewhat hesitant. Was he really that intimidated by Kumayuru? "Brother, stop being so scared." "I'm not scared at all." But he certainly seemed to be. Nevertheless, trying not to show his apprehension, Zect finally touched Kumayuru. "Alright, I'll get on." Zect mounted behind Lidia. Once they were settled, Kumayuru stood up. "Okay, lead the way, please." "Kumayuru, head over there." "Kuuu~n" We followed Lidia's direction. "Hey, Yuna." As Kumayuru and Kumakyu began moving, Lidia initiated conversation. "Hmm? What is it?" "Have you fought a giant snake before? You seemed so at ease battling it." "Not snakes specifically, but I've dealt with similarly large monsters." Like a Black Viper or a giant serpent. Among others. "You must be joking. It's not common to encounter monsters that big." Zect gave me a look of disbelief. Since arriving in this world, I've encountered large monsters time and time again. "Let alone fighting them." "Most would run in those situations." For the sake of the boy striving to protect his village, I faced the Black Viper. When the capital faced threats from worms and wyverns. The cockatrice that menaced an elf village. A giant scorpion, for a girl determined to care for her family. A colossal serpent, to assist a girl defending her country. An ice dragon, for the residents of a frozen city. And the kraken, for seafood and rice... Hmm? That last one seems a bit different... Oh, it was for the people struggling with food supplies. That's right, I face large monsters for the people living in those places. Retreat isn't an option. "How do you even come across such huge monsters and end up fighting them? I've never encountered a snake that big before." "Other adventurers hardly mention them either." "Are monsters of that size really so rare?" "Large creatures like dragons exist, but regular monsters with large variants are uncommon." Giant monsters like the big snake, kraken, and ice dragon seemed to be in a category of their own. "Snakes usually aren't that big. Finding one that size is rare. It's an unusual occurrence to encounter such monsters." Originally, it was the same snake. Detecting skills indicate them as just snakes. The same applies to other monsters. There were countless times I wished they'd be named "King" or "Jumbo." "Yuna, are you an adventurer from the capital?" "I do work there, but I'm based in Crimonia." "Crimonia? That's quite far away." "You came from such a distant place?" "Thanks to these two, traveling is easy." I glanced at Kumayuru and Kumakyu. Though, I actually use a bear teleportation gate for travel. "These bears are amazing." Lidia petted Kumayuru. We continued our journey, engaging in light conversation. Periodically checking with my detection skill, there were signs of wolves or goblins far off, but none seemed to approach. The deeper we ventured, the more numerous the monsters became. "Up ahead is Amethra grass, Mane. What would you like to do?" Amethra grass? "We have Amethra grass in the castle's herb garden, so that's not necessary." "Does the castle's herb garden contain a lot of herbs?" "There are quite a few varieties, but since they're mainly for experiments and mixing medicines for the royal family, the quantities aren’t large." It seems the medicines used by the royal family primarily come from their own herb garden. It minimizes the risk of accidental poisoning from externally purchased herbs. "And what about the Poponpa flower?" "Yes, I would like that." Prompted by Mane, we decided to gather this Poponpa flower. Its name reminds me of dandelions. We reached the spot where it grows and began collecting the yellow flowers. "Mane, what does this herb do?" "It's a sunscreen. Female adventurers love it." "Really? I wanted to buy some, but it's quite expensive." "Didn't you know?" "I was told by an alchemist to collect it whenever I found it, but they never mentioned its effects..." "Would you like me to teach you how to make it? It's quite simple." "Really, you don't mind?" "As long as it's for personal use, there's no issue." While Lidia and Mane started gathering flowers, I and my bear companions, Kumayuru and Kumakyu, kept watch. Zect took care to place the collected flowers carefully into a bag. Maybe I should consider using sunscreen too. I hear sun damage can lead to future skin spots. "This forest is truly a treasure trove of herbs." To me, they looked like nothing more than weeds or ordinary flowers, but to someone knowledgeable in herbs like Mane, it's a trove indeed. And if Mane is enjoying herself, all the better. Once we finished collecting the Poponpa flowers, we moved on. Progress was smooth until we spotted wolves ahead. Kumayuru and Kumakyu gave me a look, as if asking what to do. Continuing as we were would mean encountering three wolves. Though they might be trivial to me, it wouldn't be wise to charge ahead without caution. "Wait." "Stop." My voice overlapped with Lidia's. "Did you notice the monsters too?" "Yuna, you did?" "Yeah, sort of." "What? There are monsters up ahead?" Mane asked, reacting to our caution. "Yes, there are wolves up ahead." Lidia had even identified the type of monster. I could tell from my detection skill, but Lidia shouldn't have been able to see them. "You could tell even that?" "I heard the rustling of leaves and the wolves growling." Isn't her hearing a bit too sharp? "I just have good ears." She replied, noticing my reaction. "No, that's not it," Mane interjected, looking at Lidia. "Not it?" "You're using magic, aren't you?" Mane addressed Lidia with curiosity. "Magic? I'm not using any." "Then it's happening subconsciously." "Mane, what do you mean Lidia is using magic?" "Wind magic. She's surrounding herself with air currents, directing sounds to her." Could it be the same wind magic I used during the fairy incident to eavesdrop on knights from afar? "I'm not doing anything like that." "That's why I said it's happening subconsciously." "Subconsciously..." "Don't you notice you can't hear distant voices in the city?" "How did you know that?" "You’re subconsciously using wind magic to monitor the surroundings for monsters. Since there’s no danger in the city, it doesn’t activate." "......" "Also, sometimes you can't use magic in the forest like you can in town, right?" "That's..." Seeing Lidia's expression, it seemed Mane had hit upon something she hadn't realized. "So even if you have magic power, you might not be able to use significant magic. You're gradually depleting your magic unconsciously all the time." "I always thought I couldn't perform well under pressure." There are people who can't use their abilities when it counts. "Yes, but thanks to that, you've been able to detect monster locations, avoiding danger and surviving." "True. I always thought it was just good eyesight and hearing." Given it was happening unconsciously, that conclusion wasn’t entirely wrong. Perhaps her instincts for self-defense made her act this way. We dealt swiftly with the wolves that approached us.