I left Anzu’s shop and now I’m walking towards the orphanage .
I haven’t been in the orphanage since I came back from the desert . I have the big eggs as souvenirs, but I’m thinking of making them at a later date .
Today, the children who’re working in the shop haven’t seen it, and they can’t cook it . So I’m going to show them the big eggs as souvenirs while we’re at sea or when the shop is closed . Today is purely to report my return .
When I got near the orphanage, I saw some children running around energetically outside . Are they playing tag? I can see one chasing the others .
When one of them noticed me, they stopped playing and came to me running .
[Yunoneesan!] Child
[I haven’t come here for a while, but are you doing well?] Yuna
[Yup . ] Child
When one child comes, the other children get together . Everyone was so delighted .
[Where is the director?] Yuna
[She’s over there . ] Child
One of the children holds my Bear Puppet . Then, other children grabbed the other Bear Puppet, and they also held onto the Bear Costume . They’re so happy that I can’t shake them off . It’s a bit hard to walk, but I’m going to be patient and head into the orphanage .
When we entered the orphanage, the children showed me to the director . Well, the place where the director was always the same, but the children still guided me .
It’s a playroom for children . The director was frequent in this room along with the children . When we entered the room, I saw the director talking with the other children .
[Yunsan?] Director
The director noticed me entered the room . And, the children who were with me, let go of me and went to the director . The director looked delighted to see such happy children .
After all, the director seems to be above me . Even the Bear Costume can’t win . To begin with, it is wrong to compare it with the director and Liz-san . They had a hard time taking care of orphaned children for many years . Just like a parent and a sister . Even if I dressed as a bear, I can’t beat them .
I walked towards the director who was sitting on the floor .
[Yunsan, welcome back . I heard from Tiruminsan that you returned yesterday, but were you injured?] Director
[No, I’m not . ] Yuna
I’m covered in Bear Armor, so I’ll never get injured . Maybe I would get hurt if I fought against a dragon . However, I might escape if it appears . Of course, I want to fight it, but my life is more important .
[Yunsan . I know you’re an adventurer, but please don’t overdo it . If anything happens to Yunsan, these children will be sad . ] Director
The director said to me while patting the head of the child who’s sitting on her lap .
The director who does not know my strength was worried from the bottom of her heart . She’s a kind person .
I sat next to the director
[Did anything happened while I was away?] Yuna
[If you look at the faces of the children, you’ll see it . ] Director
The director looks at the children in the room with a warm smile .
In the room, there are children who are enjoying themselves by reading picture books and holding the Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear plushies . There’s a child who’s sleeping comfortably while holding Swaying Bear plushie even though it’s very noisy inside the room .
[But the director does not let the children worry . ] Yuna
The director is the type of person who makes a sad face when the children are not around, and she smiles whenever in front of children . Therefore, I cannot trust what the director just said .
[No, It’s not like that . Now I’m happy to be with the children like this . ] Director
There is no problem if the director is really happy .
[Please let me know if there’s any problem . ] Yuna
It doesn’t matter even if it’s a tiny problem . I have connections and money . (TC: words of a big syndicate’s boss . )
There’s Cliff and also the King who seems to be willing to lending me their power . The commercial guild and adventurer’s guild are also more likely to help me .
Though when I think about it, nobody will go against me now, isn’t it?
[Fufu, of course, I will . ] Director
I and the director smiled at each other .
[By the way, Liz-san and Nifu-san are not here?] Yuna
At this time, the bird care should’ve been done . Liz-san should have free time right now . And, Nifu-san should’ve been in this room with the director .
[Tiruminsan asked us to prepare what we needed when we go to the sea, so they’ve gone shopping with the other children . ] Director
The two of them were out shopping?
Certainly, there might be some necessary things for travel . I can provide food and housing, but they have to prepare their own clothes . There may be other things we need that I’m not aware of .
In my case, most of my things are already in the Bear Box, so I don’t have anything that I need to prepare .
[But are you really going to take all the children?] Director
[It’s my way of thanking all of you for always being serious about your work . ] Yuna
[We’re able to keep working because of Yunsan, we’re very grateful to you . ] Director
I hear that a lot from Fina . Still, I’m grateful to them as well .
[Well, each person has different values in life . Please enjoy it as well director . ] Yuna
[Thank you, Yunsan . ] Director
While I and the director are talking about the sea, a girl hugging a Hugging Bear plushie comes to me .
[Yunoneesan . Can I bring Bear-san with me?] Child
The girl asked me while hugging the Hugging Bear plushie . On the other hand, the director opened her mouth the moment I tried to say,
[No, you can’t . We made a promised to keep our luggage few didn’t we?] Director
The director pays attention to the girl .
[But Bear-san . ] Child
[Sensei… I want to bring mine too . ] Child
[Me too……] Child
The children want to bring their Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear plushies, so they’re asking the director for permission .
The director was surrounded by children, and her expression was floating with embarrassment .
[We need to have less luggage . And we’ll be back soon, so just be patient for a little while . ] Director
[U~u . ] Children
The children sadly hugged their plushies .
U wa~a, the faces of Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear plushies also became sad .
[Umm, director . It’s just a plushie . ] Yuna
[But we have other luggage to take with us . It will cause trouble to Yunsan if we bring too much . ] Director
There are quite a few plushies in the orphanage . I’m not saying it’s one per person, but the girls and the little boys have it . If everyone were to bring their plushies with them, it would be quite a lot and it would become luggage in itself .
[Then, please use this . The plushies can fit in it . ] Yuna
I gave an item bag to the director .
[Are you sure?] Director
[Please use it . I’m happy that they like the plush toys that I gave them . ] Yuna
When I gave permission, the children became lively again . I’m glad that the gifts are being used, rather than getting shelved and forgotten somewhere . But I hope it won’t get tattered, though when you see the children playing with it, it’s kinda difficult to say that isn’t it?
After that, I killed some time at the orphanage for a while, but Liz-san and Nifu-san did not come back, so I decided to leave .
I left the orphanage and went to Noa’s house . Tiruminsan is the one who has an appointment, but if I go and see her she’ll say,
[Yunsan . Give me Bear-san’s essence!] Noa
See…
She told me that as soon as I met her .
[Noa, are you studying properly?] Yuna
[I’m doing it . So I can also go to the sea . Sometimes I went to Yunsan’s house to refill the Bear-san’s essence, but Yuna wasn’t there . ] Noa
[No, Noa should have known . I went to the capital . ] Yuna
[I thought you would be back sooner since you have the bears . ] Noa
Well, I have Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear, so I can go back and forth faster than any horse . But with the Bear Gate, it would be instantaneous .
For the time being, in order to replenish the Bear essence, I summoned Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear in cub form . Noah happily embraces Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear .
[U~u, I’m so happy . ] Noa
For an aristocrat, it’s very cheap happiness . Though I can’t help but understand that feeling . Holding Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear makes me happy as well .
[So, why are you here today? Of course, Yunsan is always welcome even if you don’t have anything to do here . ] Noa
[Today we decided on the schedule for the seaside trip, so I thought I should make a report?] Yuna
[You have decided?] Noa
I told her the schedule of departure .
[We’re leaving at sunrise, so don’t be late . ] Yuna
[I’ll do my best not to oversleep . ] Noa
Noa holds her small hand tightly .
Well, in Noa’s case, there’s the reliable maid, Lalsan, so it’s okay .
[But if you lend me Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear, I won’t be late . ] Noa
[I won’t lend them to you . ] Yuna
[That’s too bad . ] Noa
While I’m talking to Noa, Cliff came into the room .
[Excuse me for a moment . ] Cliff
[What’s wrong father?] Noa
[I would like to greet the bear because I will leave my daughter in her hands for quite some time . ] Cliff
Cliff looks at me .
[If my daughter does something unsightly, you can scold her . If you do that, she’ll listen to you . ] Cliff
[I won’t do that!] Noa
[If so, then don’t complain if the bears are taken by the other children . ] Cliff
Cliff picks up Swaying Bear that Noa is holding . Noa reaches out, but Cliff moves away .
Swaying Bear cried
[Father! Give him back please!] Noa
[Does the other children say the same thing when you do that?] Cliff
[That is……] Noa
[You have to be careful about your position and your words . Don’t forget that . ] Cliff
Cliff gave Swaying Bear back to Noa .
[To us who are lords, the people of the city are the assets . Do not loathe them . If you hate them, it will come back to you . You are a good lord only if you are liked by the people . ] Cliff
[I know that . ] Noa
[All right, then . I know that you don’t make fun of people . But when it comes to bears, you must behave yourself . ] Cliff
Cliff pats Noa’s head .
[U~u . ] Noa
Noa also knew about it so she remained silent .
[If you don’t want to be hated by that girl Fina and the bears, remember to be patient . ] Cliff
[I… I understand . ] Noa
Noa is basically a good girl . But when it comes to bears, she’s a little……
Still, Cliff has a good view of Noa . It reminds me of the first time Noa met Fina .
or , or so she declared to Fina . Such a nostalgic scene .
[So Yuna, you can scold Noa if she did something like that . ] Cliff
[Noa is fine . She’s a kind girl . ] Yuna
[If the bears weren’t involved, I can trust it . However…] Cliff
Yeah… I guess so~ .
But Noa’s love of bears, is it my fault?
When I saw Noa happily petting Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear, well, maybe it was my fault .
Let’s hope that someday I will be able to separate her from the bears .