Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

Bear-san Visits the Castle

I woke up to the sound of birds singing.

I got up and looked around and saw Noa and Misa sleeping with Swaying Bear hugging them from either side. Sakura and Shuri were sleeping with Hugging Bear.

Yesterday, when they were going to sleep, there was a battle between who would be sleeping with Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear, so I suggested the idea of making them grow bigger and hugging them from the left and right.

Fina didn’t participate in the battle, so everything was settled peacefully.

However, there was one change from the previous arrangement before we went to bed: Kagali-san was now sleeping on Swaying Bear’s stomach.

Yesterday, she didn’t take part in the Swaying Bear battle.

I think she climbed up there herself, not because she wanted to sleep on Swaying Bear’s stomach, but because she was worried about her sleeping position.

Well, Swaying Bear slept without seeming to pay any mind to Kagali.

After waking up, I looked at the futon where Fina had been sleeping, and it was neatly folded. Fina was gone.

I could sense someone’s presence from behind the sliding door.

I quietly got up and opened the sliding door, and I found Fina sitting on the veranda.

“Fina” (Yuna)

“Yuna Onee-chan!?” (Fina)

“Good morning.” (Yuna)

“Good morning.” (Fina)

“You were already awake?” (Yuna)

“Yeah, a little while ago. And when I looked outside, it looked like a nice day.” (Fina)

Fina was correct – it was a pleasant morning.

Looking at the garden certainly made me feel the pleasantness even more.

“Good morning, Yuna-san, Fina.” (Noa)

Noa called out from behind me.

It seemed like she had woken up.

“Good morning.” (Yuna)

“Good morning. Noa-sama.” (Fina)

When Noa woke up, everyone else woke up as well.

The last person to wake up was, needless to say, Kagali-san.

Despite being the oldest member of the tour group. 

They used to say that older people wake up early, but I guess that was not always the case.

And when they finished getting dressed, the food was brought in.

“We’ve got a carriage ready for you, so after you guys have finished eating, we’ll go to the castle.” (Shinobu)

Shinobu appeared out of nowhere while we were having breakfast.

Perhaps she was preparing the carriage for us.

Next, we moved to the carriage Shinobu had prepared for us.

It was a splendid carriage.

It was different from a cart.

From its decoration, one could easily tell that the coach was a carriage made for important people to ride in.

“Are we going to ride in this carriage?” (Yuna)

“It’s for esteemed guests. Please ride it.” (Shinobu)

The inside was spacious, so Noa, Misa and Fina sat opposite me.

Sakura and Shuri sat on either side of me.

Kagali-san had an audience with the King yesterday, so she stayed home and didn’t go today.

“I’m a bit nervous.” (Noa)

“Well, we’re just going to be touring the castle, right?” (Yuna)

“Yes.” (Noa)

“From what Shinobu and Kagali-san were saying yesterday, uncle… the King wants to meet Yuna-sama.” (Sakura)

“But he just wants to meet Yuna-san, right?” (Noa)

“I don’t know. I think he will also be interested in meeting Noa and the others who are with Yuna-san.” (Sakura)

“Yuna-san, is there anything I shouldn’t talk about?” (Noa)

“If it’s simply the King, then it’s fine. But if there are other people around, it would be better if you didn’t talk about me too much.” (Yuna)

“That’s right. Basically, Yuna-sama’s affairs are a secret. As I said yesterday, only a few people know about Yuna-sama’s achievements. So, if anything goes wrong, please tell me or Shinobu. The best thing to do is to stay close to me.” (Sakura)

“I understand.” (Noa)

“So I should stay with Sakura-chan, right?” (Shuri)

“You should not leave her side either, Shuri.” (Fina)

“Don’t worry, I’ll hold Shuri’s hand.” (Sakura)

“I won’t go away~!” (Shuri)

I think there was no need to worry. Shuri basically listened to what we told her.

But somehow, I still could imagine her ending up wandering off to wherever she wanted to go.

The carriage being driven by Shinobu arrived at the castle.

The carriage stopped at the entrance, but as soon as Shinobu spoke a few words with the gate guard, the carriage started moving again and passed through the entrance.

The carriage continued moving for a while and then stopped.

“We’ve arrived. Please step out.” (Shinobu)

Shinobu, who drove the carriage from the driver’s seat, opened the door.

When everyone got out of the carriage, they looked up.

“This is the castle. It’s different from the castles in our country.” (Noa)

“Fina said the same thing. Is it really that different?” (Sakura)

“Yes, it’s very different.” (Noa)

“Not only the shape and color are different, the structure is also fundamentally different.”

Noa and Misa shared their impressions of the castle.

“But, is it really okay for us from a different country to enter  the castle?” (Noa)

Noa said, looking worried.

Indeed, castles were places where important people, including the King, gathered.

It would be a disaster if the castle were to be attacked.

That’s why I doubt they would let people from other countries in so easily.

“Don’t worry, it’s fine. There are certainly important places. Entry to those places is prohibited for everyone except those involved. But if you just want to look around the castle normally, there’s no problem.” (Shinobu)

“Besides, Fina and Shuri have already been here. There’s nothing to worry about.” (Sakura)

“I hope that’s the case.” (Noa)

Noa and Misa were relieved by Sakura and Shinobu’s words.

“Well then, I’ll show you around.” (Sou)

As Shinobu started walking, she saw someone she recognised approaching her.

“Uncle!?” (Sakura)

Sakura was surprised.

No wonder she was surprised. The person who had arrived was the King of this country.

“I’ve been waiting for you.” (Sou)

“Why are you here?” (Sakura)

“I was told Yuna was on her way, so I decided to wait for her.” (Sou)

The King looked at me.

“Yuna-san, is this person perhaps…” (Noa)

Noa asked in a hushed voice.

“Well, it’s the King.” (Yuna)

Noa and Misa were surprised by my words.

“So you are the ones Yuna brought along with her.” (Sou)

The King looked at Noa and Misa as if to size them up.

“My name is Noire. I apologise for entering the castle without notice.” (Noa)

“I am Misana. I am grateful for the King’s generosity.” (Misa)

Noa and Misa stepped forward and greeted him politely.

It was in these cases where Misa and Noa showed a different side of them.

“I am King Sou. Are you nobles or something?” (Sou)

“We are…” (Noa)

“No, never mind. Please pretend you didn’t hear that. I don’t care who you are. I’m going to treat you as Yuna’s friend, so there’s no need to be formal.” (Sou)

It might be troublesome if people found out that Noa and Misa were the foreign noble young ladies.

What’s more, Noa was the daughter of the Lord who ruled over Mileela.

“I understand.” (Noa)

“Thank you.” (Misa)

Noa and Misa accepted the King’s words.

“The two of you have been here before, right?” (Sou)

The King then turned his attention to Fina and Shuri.

“Yes. I am Fina.” (Fina)

“And I am Shuri.” (Shuri)

By now, Fina had already met him a few times, but she still looked nervous.

Well, she was interacting with a very important person. She just couldn’t get over that, I guess.

“So, uncle, did you just come to greet Yuna-san?” (Sakura)

The King raised his right arm and ordered the waiting soldiers to step back.

The soldiers bowed and stepped back.

“The benefactor who saved our country from the crisis has come to grace us with a visit after a long time. We should at least show our gratitude by having a cup of tea with her. Come along for a bit.” (Sou)

The King started walking, and we had no choice but to follow him.

I couldn’t help but comment, “That moment, Noa and Misa looked and behaved like young noble ladies.”

“Yuna-san, excuse me. We are the true young ladies of noble birth.” (Noa)

“That’s right.” (Misa)

“Sorry, sorry. It’s just that you don’t act like that normally.” (Yuna)

“We cannot be rude to the King.” (Noa)

“Yes. First impressions are important. If you offend the King, it will only bring you harm.” (Misa)

Even though they were young, they were unquestionably ladies of noble families well versed in nobility etiquettes.

Noa and the others were looking around the castle as we continued inside.

Of course, Fina and Shuri, who have only been here once, were also looking around happily.

“It’s not like the castle we have.” (Noa)

“I can see wooden pillars everywhere.” (Misa)

“Of course, that’s expected.” (King)

The king, who was walking in front of them, seemed to have heard what Noa and Misa were saying and told them

“Well, in our country’s castle, you don’t normally see any wooden pillars.” (Noa)

That’s true, you wouldn’t see any of them.

The pillars were white, so they could also have been made of stone, you know?

I was not very knowledgeable about buildings, so I didn’t know how the castles of each country were built, but I could tell that they were different.

“I see. I have never seen a castle in a different country.” (Sou)

The Land of Wa was an island country. Even if they wanted to go to another country, they must board a ship.

It would take a long time just to travel, and I think it would be difficult for a King to be away from his own country for a long time.

If he had that kind of time, he would also have time to go and see Kagali-san.

“Speaking of which, why didn’t Kagali show up?” (Sou)

“Kagali-sama met with uncle yesterday, so she decided not to visit today.” (Sakura)

“It’s been a long time since she visited. She’s so heartless.” (Sou)

Although he said that, he wasn’t angry.

In any case, I think he was just happy to see Kagali-san after such a long time.

We walked down the corridor and were shown into a room.

“We can talk about anything here.” (Sou)

It wasn’t a Japanese-style room, but a room with tables and chairs.

We each sat down in a chair, and the king looked at me.

“I didn’t think you would bring new guests with you. Kagali and Shinobu have told me about them, so I can assume that they know about you?” (Sou)

The King wanted to ask me whether they knew about my secrets.

He was under a contract spell, so if he accidentally revealed my secrets to someone who didn’t know about them beforehand, he might end up dying from laughter after all.

“Yeah, kind of…” (Yuna)

“What do you mean by ‘kind of’?” (Sou)

“They know about the Gate and the magic tool that allows one to talk to people far away.” (Yuna)

“Well, considering you’re here, that’s obvious. Yuna saved our country. They can also freely tour the castle.” (Sou)

“Is that okay?” (Yuna)

“That’s how much I owe you. It’s no problem. Take your time and look around.” (Sou)

“Thank you.” (Yuna)

“Sakura, Shinobu. Make sure you show them around well.” (Sou)

“Yes.” (Sakura)

“Of course!” (Shinobu)

Well, as long as Sakura and Shinobu were with us, it should be okay even if I walked around the castle dressed as a bear.

Can’t wait to read more? Want to show your support? Click here to be a sponsor and get additional chapters ahead of time!

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!