831 Encounter with the Bear Lydia Edition Part 3 - Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

We agreed to Yuna's suggestion. Thanks to this, Mane bought the medicinal herbs from us at a fair price, and she also agreed to make medicine for my sister. Meeting Mane in this forest has truly been a stroke of luck. Then, Yuna introduced us to the black and white bears. The black bear was named Kumayuru and the white one Kumakyuu—such adorable names. They claimed to have the ability to sense when beasts were nearby, just like my hearing. Even more surprising, Yuna seemed to be able to understand what Kumayuru and Kumakyuu were saying. She really is a mysterious girl. We continued progressing while chatting with each other. I asked about her bear outfit, and she evaded the question, claiming it was due to 'bear protection.' I've never heard of such 'bear protection' before. ... Unbelievable. Looking at Kumayuru and Kumakyuu, though... ... I've never seen or heard of bears getting so attached to humans. Watching how attached these bears are to Yuna, I'm starting to think maybe this 'bear protection' isn't so far-fetched after all. Before we set off, Mane made us apply a liquid on our feet and bodies that snakes hate. Considering we might come here again in the future, I'd definitely like to have such a potion on hand. The potion's efficacy was proven when my brother tried approaching a snake and it promptly fled. The effect was outstanding. "Mane, is there a potion that keeps other beasts away as well?" "For wolves, yes." "Really?" "Yes, a scent wolves dislike. But there’s a downside. If you're downwind, it won't work. However, if you're upwind, it should be fine. In a cave with no wind, it should diffuse effectively in all directions." If it works while upwind, planning the direction to travel could help us avoid wolves. Wolves around the Beltra grass might flee if we use it upwind. "What about that wolf-repelling potion?" "I don’t have it. It requires rather expensive herbs. Besides, I figured with Yuna around, wolves wouldn't be much of a problem." "Then why do you have the snake-repelling one?" Yuna asked on my behalf. "Because I dislike snakes." It wasn’t fear, it was dislike. "But that could sell well, you know?" "It won’t sell." Mane immediately responded to Yuna’s remark. "Why not?" "Adventurers are paid to defeat monsters, not make them run away. If monsters escape, it doesn't do the job." "And for villages..." "Like I said, it’s made with expensive herbs. Moreover, its effect lasts only a few hours. It's not practical for monster deterrence. It's just too costly." The cost indeed outweighs the benefits. However, it could still be useful for herbalists like me, travelers, or those camping outdoors. However, it's true that wolves aren't the only beasts out there. Considering its high cost, it might not be easy to use. As we discussed this, we exited the cave. Outside the cave, there were traces of a giant snake having passed through. Unfazed by these marks, Yuna instructed us to ride on the bears. My brother and I mounted the black bear, Kumayuru. It was remarkably soft and comfortable. After running so much, our legs were pretty fatigued, so not having to walk was a relief. If we had continued on foot, we’d have needed to rest many times along the way. That's how exhausted our legs were. The bears claimed they could sense when monsters approached. All I could do was differentiate sounds indicating nearby beasts. Perhaps my range was wider than the bears’ since I could still somewhat be of use by focusing on listening to surrounding noises. Mane, however, brought up something strange while I was listening with wind magic. I explained that I couldn't use magic. Mane said that because I was using wind magic to listen, I couldn't use other magic. Unbeknownst to me, I had been using wind magic to hear my surroundings. It wasn’t stress but magic that was preventing me from using other abilities here in the forest. Once I consciously stopped the flow of mana, distant sounds faded. The bird chirping and wing flapping I’d heard vanished, leaving me with the range of ordinary hearing that others experienced. Mane said that if I learned to switch my magic effectively, it could become a powerful tool. Sometimes listen, sometimes use magic in battle. If I could truly achieve that, I could be useful in fights, and I wouldn’t have to abandon my brother. However, if I lost focus, I began hearing distant sounds again. I really had been using it unconsciously all this time. With the sun setting, we decided to make camp for the day. I opted to find a spot for the night since I hadn't done much while riding the bear. However, Yuna stopped me, claiming she had a house with her. From her item bag, she produced a bear-shaped house. Everything was bear-themed. I couldn't help but agree with Mane’s claim that Yuna loved bears. With adorable bears like Kumayuru and Kumakyuu around, who wouldn’t? I felt like I could never fight a bear again. Inside the bear house, it was just like a normal house, aside from bear motifs scattered here and there—not that I minded. While Yuna prepared dinner, I helped Mane with her work. She even offered to teach me how to make the sunscreen we collected ingredients for today. We moved to the room next door. In the center stood a large table for tasks, and there was a spacious area with water. "This is apparently a dissection room." I was looking around when Mane informed me. I was impressed that even such a room had been prepared. As I examined the room, Mane laid the collected herbs on the table. "If you have any on you, take them out. Leaving them stored improperly will degrade their quality." Following her instructions, we took out the herbs we’d gathered. "Ah, there’s quite a lot. This is... I didn’t know these grew here." Mane identified each herb rapidly. I was once again reminded of how impressive she was. "Now, cut these like this and place them in separate containers." Mane demonstrated, slicing the herb with a knife. My brother and I followed her instructions. Mane, too, picked up other herbs and began processing them. "Mane, we're done." "Then tackle this next. Be careful of the thorns." "Okay." We processed the herbs like that for a while. "Mane, what's that?" "It's a magical tool for drying. If you dry them here, the quality won't diminish." "I didn't know magic tools like that existed." "Well, they're essential for us alchemists." "Mane, what's this?" My brother held up an herb. "For that one, let it soak in this mana-infused water." We proceeded to store away the herbs. It was quite educational. I had always thought I had been sufficiently careful while collecting herbs, but considering quality, it's clear that processing them quickly is better. ...And finally, one herb remained. "Mane, what about this one?" This was the herb she mentioned for sunscreen. "Now, let me teach you how to make sunscreen. Besides this herb, you'll need mana water, a moisturizing agent, and something to prevent skin issues like acne." "Wait a minute. That many ingredients?" "Well, you can make just sunscreen, but if you're a girl, you'll want them all." "But I'm an adventurer." "So why shouldn't adventurers care about sunburn or skin damage?" "Well..." There was no reason against it. "If you don't take care of your skin, you'll regret it when you're older. You can only enjoy being young now." "Women have it tough, don't they?" Mane gave my brother a piece of her mind. "You shouldn't say that maintaining a woman's skin is troublesome. Such men aren't popular. And for that matter, you should use it too. Unkempt men aren't attractive either." My brother fell silent at Mane's remark. Maybe she hit a nerve. After that, Mane concocted a simple skincare potion for us. However, adding all those beneficial herbs would definitely cost a lot. Not long after, Yuna called us for dinner. Warm dishes were arranged on the table, steaming invitingly. The food was delicious, and we enjoyed warm meals and soft bread after so long. It was hard to believe we were in the depths of a monster-filled forest. Even more surprisingly, there was a bath. Unbelievable. Having not bathed for days, I wanted to, but bathing in a place like this seemed dangerous. Though Yuna reassured me that with Kumayuru and Kumakyuu's presence, everything would be fine. They'd alert us if anything happened, and she claimed they could defeat wolves, ensuring the house could withstand their assault. Taking her word for it, I decided to indulge in a bath. The changing room was spacious, as was the bath itself. What caught my eye immediately were the bear decorations, with hot water flowing from a bear's mouth. Yuna really must love bears. I washed myself. After days, it felt refreshing to cleanse my body and hair. Mane lent me a soap that helped reduce hair damage. "After washing, you should also use this," she said. I applied the liquid Mane gave me to my hair and rinsed it out, feeling my hair become smooth. After washing, we sank into the bath. It felt wonderful. Spacious, allowing me to stretch my legs. Is this really a forest with monsters? I couldn't forget it, but it felt good. I asked Mane what I had been curious about: how she realized I was using wind magic. Not even I or my brother, who was nearby, noticed. Mane answered that my hair had been swaying and because she was an elf. She suggested I observe my surroundings. I did and saw the steam moving, seemingly gravitating towards me. Was I using it unconsciously? I need to learn to consciously switch it off soon. I'm grateful to Mane for revealing such a potential in me. After the bath, I returned to my brother. Kumayuru and Kumakyuu were in front of me when I opened the door. According to my brother, when we entered the changing room, they took their post by the door. Were they keeping watch for us? I shot my brother a glare. He hastily defended himself, but I trusted him, right? Afterward, my brother also took a bath, and we were given a room on the second floor. There was a bed, suggesting it was a guest room. "Brother, what do you think?" Sitting on the bed in our given room, I asked him. "It's all unbelievable. It's like my understanding of the world is being rewritten." "Is this what high-rank adventurers are like?" "The high-rank adventurers I know aren't this incredible." I agreed. "But she’s an adventurer hired by Mane, who works for the Magical Institute of the capital. It stands to reason she'd have such skill." "Are all capital adventurers like Yuna?" "Who knows? But someone who can defeat a giant snake and has an item bag that fits an entire house is already extraordinary." The capacity of her item bag was beyond belief. Just owning an item bag that could hold a house or a giant snake was proof of high rank. Not to mention, just eliminating a giant snake speaks volumes about her skill. "Her youthful appearance can be deceiving, but Mane's herb knowledge is exceptional." "And it seems true that she works for the Magical Institute." "We'll trust them, right?" "We negotiated, so we have to trust them." There was some fear of betrayal deep down. But I wanted to believe in the kindness of those we dined and bathed with. "For now, let's get some sleep." "Yeah." My brother turned off the lights. Collapsing onto the bed, I told him before falling asleep: "Brother, please, don't do something like that again." "What? Out of nowhere?" "Just don't sacrifice yourself." He attempted to sacrifice himself for my escape. It wasn't a joke, it was real. "That's a promise I can’t keep. If it happens again, I'll do it again." Stubborn. Since our father passed away, my brother has tried to be both a brother and a father figure. But, I want him to find happiness and marry. Maybe if he gets married, he won't worry about us. Once this ordeal is over, I’ll need to help find a partner for him. He’s an adventurer with dangerous work, with only swordsmanship as a skill... I wonder if we'll find someone. The room was dark, and with a full stomach and a bath, the feeling of safety lulled me to sleep. The soft bed added to it. Tomorrow, I’d finally get the Beltra grass... As I closed my eyes, sleep overtook me without a thought, exhaustion overwhelming me. The next morning, I slept soundly until Mane woke me up. This house is too comfortable—it spoils people.