Bear-san, Feeling Responsible

I flipped to the next page to see if anything else was written.

“My work is done. All I have to do now is to dispose of the wand I used for my research. But I have no more strength left to move. If anyone reads this book, I ask you to take it as this senile old man’s last request. Please dispose of Kryna-Hark’s wand that I have. Never put magic power into the wand. It may deactivate Kryna-Hark’s magic tool, and the slime may start moving again. Well, I don’t think it’s possible unless you have as much magic power as I do. Remember, whatever you do, never pour your magical power into it. You mustn’t!”

The moment I read that sentence, I dropped the notebook on the floor.

It was so severe that he bothered to write it twice, emphasized!

“Yuna-oneesan!” (Fina)

“What!?” (Kagali)

“What?” (Mia)

“What is it?” (Carol)

Fina and others around me were surprised at my actions.

I picked up the notebook I had dropped to the ground and informed everyone what was written.

“Remember this wand?” (Yuna)

I took out the wand that the corpse had from the bear box.

“I guess so.” (Kagali)

“I put a lot of magic into it.” (Yuna)

“That’s right.” (Kagali)

“So that slime started to move because of me, didn’t it?” (Yuna)

There shouldn’t be any mistake in the timing because the slime appeared when we left the room after I poured my magic power into that wand.

In other words, what caused the slime to start moving was the fact that I poured magic power into the wand, which in turn interfered with the magic tool’s function to seal away the slime in the first place.

This time, it looks like I wrought havoc by unleashing the slime rather than stopping it.

“No, it’s because I asked you to do it. It’s not your fault, it’s my fault.” (Kagali)

“Yeah, but…” (Yuna)

Even if Kagali-san didn’t ask me, I would have done it as a test just for fun.

“It was because I went to the town of Heschlag to check it out and met with Yuna and the others.” (Mia)

“Yeah. If we hadn’t met Yuna-chan and the others, we might not have found the wand.” (Carol)

Even Mia and Carol say it’s their fault.

Pushing responsibility is not good, but neither is a self-sacrificing mindset.

“No, we would have investigated that town and that room regardless of you being there or not. It’s not your responsibility.” (Kagali)

As Kagali-san said. Even if we had not met Mia, based on both my and Kagali-san’s characters, we would have still explored the town and still ended up going to that room. Also, If we did, we would have still found the wand and channeled our magic powers into the wand as we did this time.

(E/N: basically, they would have still done this even if this was aa different timeline / another instance, they know their behaviors well)

“In the first place, you shouldn’t hold that thing dear to your heart even in death!” (Mia)

I agree with Mia’s screams.

None of this would have happened if I had just gotten rid of the wand quickly.

“But Mia-chan. That person researched alone, protected Kryna-Hark’s magic tools, and he could no longer move at the end.” (Carol)

“It may be so, but…” (Mia)

He devoted his life to research, protected the magical tools of Kryna-Hark, and miserably died alone in that room. I don’t want to speak ill of such a person.

In fact, thanks to him, we have been protected from the slime threat until today. But I broke the knight armors and poured magic power into the wand.

After all, I am the most responsible.

But as for the wand, Kyrna-Hark could have done something more about warning users about what would happen if the magic was poured into the wand.

“Also, he probably didn’t think that someone with enough magical power to spare would appear.” (Kagali) 𝗯𝗲𝗱𝗻𝐨𝐯𝗲𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

“He also didn’t think you’d pour magic into the wand before reading the notebook.” (Carol)

“Anyway, it’s my responsibility. You don’t have to worry about it.” (Kagali)

Kagali-san, like the elder she is, assumes responsibility.

She looks like a little girl, though.

“But now we know why the slime is after us. It seems that the slime was trying to purify us by taking us into its body.” (Kagali)

“Just in case, even if we die here…” (Mia)

“It’s no good. I don’t know how far it can detect, but someday someone will come across a slime. If that person runs away from the slime, it will chase after them as a target of purification.” (Kagali)

If someone encounters a giant slime, they’ll run away like us. If that person flees to a village or town, the slime will chase them there.

If that happens, the slimes will attack the residents.

I can’t imagine how much damage it will cause.

Unless someone or something is in there to take down the giant slime, there’s no end to the possibilities.

“As I am the one responsible for awakening that slime, I have no choice but to defeat it.” (Kagali)

“Can you beat it?” (Yuna)

“I don’t know. After all, I look like this.” (Kagali)

It seems like she can use magic, but not as powerful as when she was in her prime state.

“I will fight with it because I’m the one who poured magic into it.” (Yuna)

“Wait a minute. Are you really going to fight that slime? It was huge, you know.” (Mia)

I saw the slime once albeit from a distance.

A huge pond? I might call it a little lake instead.

“Because I’m responsible for pouring magic into that wand.” (Yuna)

“It’s my fault for telling you to pour magic into it.” (Kagali)

“Having said that, I found that wand.” (Yuna)

The conversation goes in circles.

“Uwa~aaaaaaaaaaaa~ah… It’s nobody’s fault anymore!” (Mia)

Mia shouted.

“If I had to say it, it would be everyone’s responsibility. To put it more simply, it was the idiot-bone-head-corpse fault in that room. He died while holding such an important wand. End of story!” (Mia)

“Fufu, you’re right. It’s no one’s fault. But everyone is responsible. Except Fina, so don’t worry about it.” (Kagali)

Fina shakes her head slightly at Kagali-san’s words.

“Etto. I used light magic to illuminate the room, so I’m also responsible.” (Fina)

Even Fina said such a thing.

In the first place, Fina’s light magic doesn’t affect anything.

“If you hadn’t used your light magic, Fina, I would have.” (Yuna)

“That’s right. A child like you shouldn’t be blamed. It’s my responsibility as an adult.” (Mia)

Mia sticks out her nonexistent chest.

“That’s so nice of you.” (Kagali)

“No, I’m not being nice. I’m just telling you the truth.” (Mia)

Mia blushes in embarrassment.

“…Well, just to confirm, since you’re a princess, can’t you call strong knights and mages…” (Mia)

“I’m sorry. That’s also a lie.” (Kagali)

“That’s a lie!?” (Mia)

“I did my best trying to hide it.” (Kagali)

After saying that, Kagali-san took off her clothes.

“Hey, what are you doing, taking your clothes off?” (Mia)

“Because it’s gonna get ripped.” (Kagali)

Kagali-san’s body grew. And gradually, she became a plump adult, with ears popping out of her head and a tail coming out of her butt.

It’s the second time, but it’s still a strange sight.

“Wha- wait!” (Mia)

“I’m a fox.” (Kagali)

“A fox?” (Mia)

“A fox that has been living for hundreds of years.” (Kagali)

Mia and Carol looked at Kagali-san in disbelief.

“I can’t believe it.” (Mia)

“This is the truth.” (Kagali)

Kagali-san made her ears and tail move.

“In other words, I am a fox princess.” (Kagali)

She thinks she’s a princess there.

“Really?!” (Mia)

“It’s true that I’m the greatest of my kind, because I’m the only one left.” (Kagali)

“Then that means, you have special powers to defeat that slime?” (Mia)

Kagali-san shook her head at Mia’s words.

“A while ago, I fought a huge serpent called Orochi and used up all my strength. That’s why I’m in that form to recover.” (Kagali)

Kagali-san returns to her young girl form.

“I can use magic, but I honestly don’t know how well I can fight in this condition.” (Kagali)

Kagali-san looks apologetic.

Her fox ears and tail droop in tandem with her expression.

“Haa~, I understand, so hurry up and get dressed.” (Mia)

Mia picks up the clothes on the floor and drapes them over Kagali-san’s shoulders.

“So Yuna and Fina are animals, too? Yuna is a bear but what about Fina?” (Mia)

Mia looks at Fina and me as if she is trying to figure out who we are.

“I’m human.” (Fina)

“So am I.” (Yuna)

“No, Fina may be human, but Yuna is a bear. You can’t find anyone in the world dressed like a bear.” (Mia)

Mia strongly affirmed, but there are several kids in Crimonia who work dressed up as bears.

“Well, even if there are children that do so, adults won’t.” (Mia)

“Ugh” (Yuna)

Certainly, no adult would be willing to.

“Then what kind of relationship do the three of you have?” (Mia)

“You also lied about there being a village nearby, didn’t you?” (Carol)

“I’ll just say that we came from somewhere far away. We’re only here for a walk.” (Kagali)

“As you’ve probably figured out from riding Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear, these kids can easily travel great distances.” (Yuna)

I turn my attention to Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear, curled up like a ball in the room.

“Indeed, those bears might be able to do it.” (Carol)

“As you can see from my appearance, I’m afraid I can’t answer your questions in detail.” (Kagali)

In order to keep my secrets, Kagali-san uses herself to deceive them.

“…I understand. I won’t pry anymore. But let me ask you one thing. Why didn’t you leave us and run away? With those bears, it should be possible for you.” (Mia)

“Even if we did, there’s a possibility that it will come after us. More importantly, I don’t like the idea of abandoning people.” (Kagali)

“Same here.” (Yuna)

I strongly agreed with Kagali-san’s words.

“I can’t do anything. But I also don’t want to abandon you Mia, Carol.” (Fina)

Fina also expresses her feelings.

If they were bad people, I would’ve left them. But Mia and Carol weren’t bad people.

If we abandoned them and went home via the bear gate, I would be so worried about those two that I won’t be able to sleep.

“Idiots…” (Mia)

Mia smiles happily.

“Well, it’s getting late, so let’s sleep and think about what to do tomorrow.” (Yuna)

“Are you going to sleep?” (Mia)

Mia was surprised at my words.

“First, we have to see if it still follows us at this distance. If the slime doesn’t chase us, it means we can go to your town.” (Yuna)

“If we can get to the town, we may be able to gather strong people and subjugate the slime.” (Kagali)

It’ll be bad if the town doesn’t have enough people to kill that slime.

“Either way, thinking about things now is often a waste of time. Might as well take a break when you can.” (Kagali)

“I get it but, by any chance, we won’t be inside the slime while we’re sleeping, right?” (Mia)

“Don’t worry. Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear will let me know if the slime approaches even in the middle of the night.” (Yuna)

“Kuu~n”

Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear cried as if saying leave it to them.

“I’m really begging you. I’ll put my trust in you guys.” (Mia)

Mia makes a serious request to Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear.

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Author’s Note:

Time moves fast.

Time flies when I’m writing a new book or a web version.

[Notice]

As I mentioned in the activity report, a bear TV commercial will be aired.

Please refer to the activity report for details.

※ Thank you very much for all the help in reporting typos.

Please note that some of the kanji have not been corrected since they have been adapted to the book.

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