After a while, a small yellowish-green bird flew in. Shinobu stretched out her hand, and the little bird perched on it.

  “I’m glad to have you back.” (Shinobu)

  Shinobu gently strokes the little bird’s head with her fingers.

  “It’s cute.” (Fina)

  Fina watched the little bird perched on Shinobu’s finger.

  “Do you want to touch it?” (Shinobu)

  “Is that ok?” (Fina)

  “I am grateful to you, Fina, for all you have done for me. I will write a letter, so please hold on to it for me.” (Shinobu)

  Shinobu held out her hand towards Fina, and the little bird jumped into her hand. Fina strokes the little bird’s head with her tiny fingertips, and the bird closes its eyes pleasantly. Fina looked happy.

  At that moment, Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear approached Fina. It looked like they wanted some attention too.

  You don’t have to compete with that little bird. Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear are much prettier.

  “So, are you sure you want to bring His Majesty the King to this island?” (Shinobu)

  Shinobu checked with us while holding a small piece of paper and a pen.

  “Yeah, if we go to the castle as is, we might cause a commotion. I think it would be better if he comes to the pier on the island instead.” (Kagali)

  Shinobu writes on a small piece of paper precisely as Kagali-san said.

  “But will the King come to the island?” (Yuna)

  He’s the King of a country.

  I don’t think it’s that easy to ask him to come.

  “If he doesn’t show up, we’ll flee the country and leave everything in Shinobu’s hands.” (Kagali)

  At Kagali-san’s words, Shinobu moved her hand again after she finished writing to add something more.

  She then rolled the paper around and put it inside the tube hanging on the little bird’s neck, perched on Fina’s hand.

  “Well then, I’m counting on you.” (Shinobu)

  The little bird flew away from Fina’s hand when Shinobu said. Fina watched the little bird as it flew past by.

  “Are you sure it’s going to fly to the King’s place?” (Yuna)

  “If the King has the magic stone, it will reach him.” (Shinobu)

  “Magic stone?” (Yuna)

  She said that the tube attached to the little bird had a small magic stone attached to it and that the King had a piece of the same magic stone.

  It seems that the little bird would fly while following the magic of that same magic stone.

  “So, if you change the tube around Pīsuke’s neck, you can make it go to different places.” (Yuna)

  “I also have one.” (Sakura)

  Sakura pulled the necklace hanging from her neck out from under her clothes and showed it to me. At the end of the necklace was a small magic stone.

  “That’s amazing.” (Yuna)

  “It’s not easy, you know? From the time they are chicks, you have to find the chicks that respond to magic power and train them.” (Shinobu)

  “How far can it travel?” (Yuna)

  “It can’t go too far. But from here to the castle would still be fine.” (Shinobu)

  Well, of course. I think it’s impossible from here to Crimonia. Based on that, I believe Sanya-san’s summoned bird was more impressive.

  In the first place, the size was different. Sanya-san has a hawk-like bird. Compared to that, Shinobu’s Pīsuke looked pitiful.

  “Well then, let’s head for the pier.” (Kagali)

  Kagali-san rode on Swaying Bear, Sakura hung on Hugging Bear, and the rest moved on foot.

  Then we arrived at the pier.

  “Are we going to talk here?” (Yuna)

  There’s nothing but the pier. The view looks great, though.

  “Even if my male-repelling wards are broken, it will remain in effect for a few days. Therefore, since Suou cannot come to my house, there is no other place where we can talk to him. Besides, here, no one can eavesdrop on us.” (Kagali)

  “Well, perhaps no one can eavesdrop, but the people on the ship will still see you.” (Yuna)

  Even if they can’t hear the conversation, we’re in full view.

  “That’s true, though……” (Kagali)

  That doesn’t seem to make sense.

  Everyone fell silent. In the midst of it all, one person spoke.

  “Yuna-san, how about taking out your house? If we talk in your house, I don’t think the others will know who or what we are talking about.” (Ruimin)

  Ruimin spoke up as if she had a brilliant idea.

  “Yuna-sama’s house?” (Sakura)

  Sakura tilted her head slightly.

  “It’s a bear-shaped house. It’s so cute.” (Ruimin)

  With Ruimin’s explanation, Sakura tilted her head further.

  “Does Fina know about this too?” (Sakura)

  “Etto, yes. It’s a charming bear house.” (Fina)

  It’s the same answer as Ruimin.

  But of course, there’s no other way to explain it.

  “Bear-san’s house…… Yuna-sama, I want to see it too.” (Sakura)

  Sakura asked a little reservedly.

  If possible, I’d like to have a proper meeting place with the King and not in the bear house.

  “What, you even have a house like that? If so, I won’t be seen by anyone else.” (Kagali)

  Perhaps there’s a trend to invite Kings into the bear house?

  That being said, it’s rather annoying that other people can see us talking to the King at an empty pier.

  After some pondering, I decided to put up a bear house.

  “If you laugh, I’ll be mad.” (Yuna)

  I looked at Shinobu.

  “Why are you looking at me?” (Shinobu)

  “Because you’re most likely to laugh.” (Yuna)

  “I won’t laugh. Do I not have any credibility?” (Shinobu)

  “None.” (Yuna)

  “That’s terrible.” (Shinobu)

  The fox looked like she wanted to laugh at Shinobu, but she held it.

  I moved to a place near the pier.

  “Will it be fine around here?” (Yuna)

  “It’s fine.” (Kagali)

  I checked with Kagali-san, and then I set up the bear house for travel.

  And each of them reacted differently.

  “It’s cute.” (Sakura)

  Sakura looked at the bear house with her eyes sparkling.

  “A bear, huh? A fox would be prettier.” (Kagali)

  “Ku~u ~ n.”


  Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear protested before I could say anything.

  “Of course, the bears are cute. But the fox is cuter. The bear is only second.” (Kagali)

  “Ku~u ~ n.”


  Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear seemed to be saying that “bears are the best”. But Kagali-san won’t budge.

  I’ll leave the three of them alone arguing.

  “No, no, no, the shape of the house is one thing, but I’m wondering more about Yuna’s Item Bag, how big is the capacity? For a big house like this to come out.” (Shinobu)

  “It’s Yuna-sama. It should come as no surprise to you now. Shinobu has learned Yuna-sama’s secret, too. It’s just another thing to add to it.” (Sakura)

  “Really? Am I the odd one?” (Shinobu)

  No one denied nor affirmed that.

  “Come on, let’s go inside and rest until Suou gets here.” (Kagali)

  I expected Kagali-san would laugh, but she didn’t and simply headed for the bear house.

  I took everyone into the bear house.

  “It’s a little small, but it’s a nice room.” (Kagali)

  Compared to the building where Kagali-san was, that can’t help but feel small.

  “Yuna, Pīsuke might come back, so can I open the window?” (Shinobu)

  “Sure.” (Yuna)

  “His Majesty, will he come?” (Shinobu)

  “If it’s that guy, he’ll surely come.” (Kagali)

  “Also, Yuna. Will you lend me a room?” (Shinobu)

  “A room?” (Yuna)

  “I want to change my clothes. I can’t appear in front of His Majesty dressed like this.” (Yuna)

  Indeed, Shinobu’s outfit was in a terrible state because her clothes were covered with blood, and I cut her clothes with a knife to heal her wounds.

  “I don’t think he’ll care about that.” (Yuna)

  “Well, yeah, but the fight is over, and I want to get comfortable.” (Shinobu)

  “Sure. The bathroom is in the back, so if you just want to change your clothes, you can do it there. Fina, show her.” (Yuna)

  “That helps. I’ll borrow a little water.” (Shinobu)

  Shinobu said that and went to the bathroom. Fina guided her.

  “Now then we’ll rest until Suou arrives.” (Kagali)

  “Sit there. I’ll make you some tea.” (Yuna)

  There’s a table in the room with sofas on all four sides that can seat three people. Kagali-san jumps and sits on one of them, and Sakura sits next to her. Mumroot-san and Ruimin sit on the sofa together.

  I go to the kitchen and prepare some sacred tree tea.

  Everyone aside from Fina was exhausted and depleted of magical energy.

  For that, the sacred tree tea would be the best.

  I think cold tea would be better than hot tea, so I put ice in it and brought it to everyone.

  “Is this the tea from the sacred tree?” (Mumroot)

  After taking a sip, Mumroot-san noticed it immediately.

  “Everyone is tired, after all.” (Yuna)

  “Certainly. This is the best when you’re tired.” (Mumroot)

  Mumroot-san drank his tea in one gulp.

  Everyone was thirsty, so they all did the same.

  I refilled their cups.

  “It’s hard to believe we were fighting the Orochi just a few minutes ago.” (Sakura)

  “Sakura, are you alright? If you’re tired, you can rest in bed.” (Yuna)

  “I’m fine. If I go to bed, I feel like I may not want to get up later. I’ll wait until my uncle comes.” (Sakura)

  “Don’t push yourself.” (Yuna)

  “Yes.” (Sakura)

  Each of them seems relieved of their tension, and everyone really looks tired.

  Kagali-san is buried on the sofa, holding a cup of tea in her tiny hands and sipping it. Next to her, Sakura sits upright on the sofa, drinking tea.

  “If you’re hungry, I’ll give you something to eat.” (Yuna)

  “No, I’m fine. I am tired, but I’m more sleepy than hungry.” (Kagali)

  Apparently, they’re all of the same opinions.

  After a while, Shinobu, having changed her clothes, returned with Fina.

  Her clothes might look the same, but Shinobu was dressed in fresh, clean clothes.

  “I need to ask you something, Yuna.” (Shinobu)

  “What?” (Yuna)

  “What have you done to me? The wounds where the wyvern hits me have healed.” (Shinobu)

  “Isn’t it just a big scratch to begin with.” (Yuna)

  I tried to deceive her.

  “In other words, you don’t want to talk about it? If so, that’s fine. But I’ll just say I appreciate it. Thank you.” (Shinobu)

  “I haven’t done anything, so you don’t have to thank me.” (Yuna)

  Shinobu did not pursue my words any further.

  Then, a short time later, the little bird of Shinobu came back. It’s carrying a letter with one word written, “coming”.

  “I’ll be waiting outside. Everyone else, please take a rest.” (Shinobu)

  Shinobu said so and offered to wait outside, even though she must be tired. I offered her a cup of cold tea.

  Shinobu drank her tea in one gulp and then walked out.

  And we’ll be waiting for the King while drinKing tea.

  “The ship has arrived.” (Shinobu)

  Shinobu comes in front of the door and tells us.

  “I was surprised at how fast they were. Perhaps they were already in the vicinity.” (Yuna)

  Looking out through the window, I saw a ship.

  That’s how the bear house came into play.

  Next time, a talk with King Suou.