Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear
chapter-661

Bear-san goes to the Castle

After receiving the materials and money from Sanya-san, we returned to the Guild Master’s room, where Fina and the others were.

When I entered the room, Fina and Shuri were eating some delicious snacks that Sanya-san had prepared, and Tirumina-san was drinking tea.

“We’re back.” (Yuna)

“Are you done?” (Tirumina)

“Yes.” (Yuna)

Sanya-san looked at Shuri, who was still eating, and gave her a piece of paper to wrap the leftover sweets in for her to finish later.

Sanya-san then guided everyone out of the guild.

“Thank you, Yuna-chan.” (Sanya)

Sanya-san thanked me.

This time, the bear box felt cleaner, and I also had more money to boot.

“Thank you, as well.” (Yuna)

I didn’t know what to do with the extra money, though. However, when I needed money, it would be a problem if I didn’t have any. Having money without an idea to spend it was better than having none.

“What are you going to do until the evening?” (Yuna)

I asked Tirumina-san and the others as we left the Adventurers’ Guild.

“Well, we could spend the rest of the day looking for souvenirs. We were thinking of buying some souvenirs for Gentz and the children at the orphanage.” (Tirumina)

“Hmm, okay, I’m going to the castle then.” (Yuna)

After a moment’s pondering, Tirumina responded, “The castle?”

“I’ve been summoned by the King.” (Yuna)

I didn’t want to be summoned by the King again because of not meeting him this time, so I decided it would be better to go there and get all this annoyance over with.

“Yuna-chan, what did you do?” (Tirumina)

Tirumina-san asked, her face turning pale.

“Well, I don’t think I did anything wrong. I was probably just summoned to discuss the monsters I provided for this event.” (Yuna)

“I see.” (Tirumina)

Tirumina-san’s expression changed to one of relief.

“Since Yuna-chan is involved, I thought you had done something to the King.” (Tirumina)

I wonder what kind of person she thinks I was.

If the king was a terrible king and showed hostility to me, then I might have done something about him. I think the King of this country was a good King compared to the ones I imagined (from manga, novels, and anime). He was not arrogant and did not get angry when I interacted with him in a casual speech.

(Editor’s note: In certain cultures, customs, and national laws, speaking using casual language to a member of the monarchy can be considered as lèse-majesté.)

However, I doubt that he was that great of a King when he would skip work just to meet me and eat the food I brought along with me.

I was once told that if a superior skips work, the work of those below them would also be affected. Hopefully, the people around the King would assist him with his work to avoid that pitfall.

I left Tirumina-san and the others and arrived at the castle alone.

A soldier standing in front of the castle gate looked at me.

I wondered, was it really possible to just show up and meet the King?

It would be challenging for an ordinary person to meet the King in manga and novels.

And originally, I didn’t even have a letter of introduction either.

Sanya-san only told me about being summoned. If I asked Ellelaura-san for more details, I would be owing her a favor, and I also didn’t want to bother the gatekeepers by telling them that I had come to see the King directly, either.

However, I had an idea.

If I went to see Flora-sama, the King would definitely try to come to see me. If he didn’t, I would think of something else then.

So I decided and informed the soldier that I had come to see Flora-sama.

Then, as usual, I passed through the gate with a face-pass, or bear-pass, and one of the soldiers ran towards the castle. This should let the King know that I have come to the castle.

I walked through the passageway I had passed many times before and arrived at Lady Flora’s room.

I knocked on the door to Flora’s room, and Ange, who was taking care of Flora, came out of the room.

“Yuna-san?” (Ange)

“Um, it’s been a few days?” (Yuna)

When we arrived at the royal capital last time, Ellelaura-san kidnapped us which led to Ange meeting Tirumina-san and the others when we were touring the castle.

“What brought you to visit us today? Did you come to see Flora-sama?” (Ange)

“I was actually summoned by the King, and I was wondering if it was alright if I just showed up here.” (Yuna)

When I told the truth, Ange-san looked surprised.

“I am surprised that you have been summoned by His Majesty the King, but I am also surprised that you came to Flora-sama’s place first instead of meeting His Majesty.” (Ange)

“I was actually thinking of asking the gate guards at first, but thinking again, I considered that doing this was a better idea since the King will also be contacted when I come here.” (Yuna)

“Yuna-san…” (Ange)

Hearing my story, Ange-san now had a troubled look on her face.

“I can go to His Majesty to tell him about Yuna-san’s visit.” (Ange)

“You probably didn’t need to. If I wait here, he’ll come, I think, so it’ll be fine.” (Yuna)

“Only Yuna-san would treat His Majesty the King that way. Ah, no, Ellelaura-sama might treat him like that as well.” (Ange)

“What, I’m treating him like Ellelaura-san?” (Yuna)

“Anyway, come right in, for now.” (Ange)

Ange-san brushed off my question with a smile and let me into the room.

“Bear?” (Flora)

As I entered the room, Flora-sama noticed me and came running up to me.

“You came to visit me?” (Flora)

“I’m here to see Flora’s father, so I thought I’d meet him here.” (Yuna)

“My father?” (Flora)

“Yes, so can I stay here for a while?” (Yuna)

“Yes!” (Flora)

Flora-sama showed me a big smile.

Then, I summoned Hugging-bear and Swaying-bear to play with Flora-sama, while I sipped the tea Ange made for me and waited for the King.

“Yuna-san, what are you going to do if His Majesty the King doesn’t come?” (Ange)

“In that case, I’ll go home.” (Yuna)

My calculations should be happening soon.

There was no doubt that the soldier who was guarding the gate went to the King. And he would have been notified of my arrival.

Even if the King himself did not come here, he would send at least someone to summon me.

Ange looked troubled at my response, but soon enough, the King arrived at Flora’s room.

“Why are you in Flora’s room?” (King)

He said this to me as soon as he entered the room.

“I thought if I came here, I could see you.” (Yuna)

“What do you think you are making a King do?” (King)

“It’s because I didn’t know how to properly meet the King.” (Yuna)

“Why didn’t you ask Ellelaura about it?” (King)

I also thought about that idea but decided not to go ahead with it.

“I only got notified by Sanya-san earlier when we were at the Adventurers’ Guild. Anyway, what’s the reason for the summons?” (Yuna)

“I heard that you gave that big Scorpion to the Adventurers’ Guild.” (King)

“They said they needed it for an event, and I didn’t want to keep it forever.” (Yuna)

“I told you that if you ever want to sell it, I would buy it.” (King)

I did remember him saying something like that.

“But how did you know about it when it was only shown once during the event yesterday?” (Yuna)

“Because Ellelaura reported it to me; you were watching the event with Ellelaura, right?” (King)

I also remembered that Ellelaura-san had said something about an inspection tour. I thought she was just using it as an excuse to skip work.

Was she really doing her job?

“And I also heard about cockatrice.” (King)

“For those, they were monsters I encountered and defeated when I went to the elven village with the Guild Master, Sanya-san” (Yuna)

I made no promises to the King regarding that.

“It looks like you had wyverns as well.” (King)

“It’s the wyverns I defeated when I encountered the 10,000 monsters. Did you want them as well?” (Yuna)

“I’m not picking on you. You killed those monsters. You’re free to do what you want with them.” (King)

I didn’t get his point.

“Then what’s the reason for the call?” (Yuna)

“I’m just checking in with you. I heard that you won’t give up on those monster’s magic stones. Are you going to sell it to someone else?” (King)

“Hmm? I have no intention of selling them to anyone right now.” (Yuna)

I was simply collecting them.

It was only instinctive for gamers to keep rare items in reserve.

Like the Scorpion’s shell, materials originally intended to be used only for crafting armor. I have the Bear Equipment given to me by God, and as long as I have this set of armor equipped, I wouldn’t need any new armor soon. Even if I had the materials to make something, I only intended to sell them if it was necessary.

On the other hand, when it came to magic stones, I couldn’t just sell them to someone. There was basically only one magic stone in a monster, so it was more valuable than any other material.

Besides, there could be various ways to use a magic stone.

Moreover, large magic stones should be even more valuable.

It was not easy to find a huge monster, and it was not easy to defeat it, either. Nor were monster cores something that could be easily bought with money.

“I see, so you’re not going to sell it to anyone.” (King)

“I have no such plans right now.” (Yuna)

“Then, let me repeat it. If you are ever in need of money and plan to sell it, sell the magic stones to me. Don’t sell it to anyone else.” (King)

“Why?” (Yuna)

“A large magic stone is precious. They can be used for good, but they can also be used for evil. You have seen it, right? The one in Dzelt was used to grant water blessings, and the one in Eupharia was used to summon monsters. Not everyone can do it, but people in this world can use them for incredible things. A small magic stone can only create small scale effects, but the bigger the magic stone is, the bigger, and the more powerful the effects it could create.” (King)

It was impossible for a small magic stone to supply water to the whole city of Dzelt. It was only possible because of the Kraken’s large water magic stone. It would not have been possible to attract monsters to the city of Eupharia with a small magic stone.

“As a country and as its King, it’s my responsibility to ask you what you would do with the magic stone you have.” (King)

So that’s why I was summoned.

“For now, I don’t plan to sell it to anyone, and I’m not going to give it to someone who will use it for something evil.” (Yuna)

“But you know, sometimes you don’t even realize that those materials will be used for evil. There are people in this world who may look like good guys on the outside, but behind their masks, they are evil people.” (King)

There was no denying that.

It wasn’t always easy to figure out a person’s true nature.

You need to be able to read minds to judge good and evil at the first meeting.

“If I ended up giving it to the wrong person, then I would be responsible for dealing with it.” (Yuna)

For the record, I was not trying to set up a flag.

I have no plans to give it to anyone else in the first place.

“Those who have strong power. Those with strong tools. Those with great strength. If used in the wrong way, it will only bring misfortune to those around them.” (King)

The King said, as if reminding himself.

If a person with bad intentions were to use my Bear Equipment, they could easily kill people, they could destroy cities, and even if they did something evil, they could easily escape by using the Bear Transfer Gate.

On the other hand, it could also be the power to become a hero who saves people’s lives.

Power could be wielded for good or evil, depending on who used it.

Well, I was the kind of person who thinks it would be best if I and the people around me were happy without becoming either side of the coin. I have neither the qualities of a Demon King nor those of a Hero.

But if there was ever a threat looming around me, I would do my best to protect the people around me, especially those with connections to me, with my Bear Equipment.

“That’s all I want to talk about. So, any good food today?” (King)

He sounded cool at first, like an actual King, but his closing words spoiled the moment.

It was almost lunchtime, so I served the eel rice bowl I had bought in the Nation of Wa, and the three of us, including Flora, enjoyed it.

I again asked Ange-san to apologize to Zeref-san, the head chef, and handed her some unadon to share with him, which should make him pleased.

By the way, Ellelaura-san and the Queen did not show up.