Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

Bear-san Talks to the Receptionist

We sat down nearby, and the receptionist began to talk.

“Those knights think they are very strong and thus make fun of adventurers. They will try to get involved with adventurers who come here unaware of the situation, so be careful.” (Receptionist)

“Are they strong?” (Blitz)

I saw them fight wolves yesterday, and I could tell that they were good at what they do. That didn’t mean I couldn’t win against them.

“Yes, they are strong, so no one can raise a complain.” (Receptionist)

The receptionist affirmed.

“They are that strong?” (Blitz)

“If it was just one person, we could manage, but not against their numbers.” (Receptionist)

It was true that it would be easier to deal with one person but not with all the knights. It seemed like not only those knights we saw possessed that power. It would be normal to think that there were more.

Maybe that’s why the receptionist couldn’t even get mad at the knights yesterday and kept quiet.

“It’s infuriating, you know. It’s not even their own power.” (Receptionist)

“…not their own power?” (Blitz)

Blitz uttered.

“I guess the adventurers in other places don’t know. As I told you ladies yesterday, they are using someone else’s power.” (Receptionist)

“You mentioned that yesterday, how can they do that?” (Yuna)

I tried to ask yesterday, but was interrupted before I could ask.

The receptionist seemed a little distressed, and then started to whisper in a hushed tone.

“Rumor has it that the fairies are said to be taking the magic of the town’s inhabitants and passing it to the knights.” (Receptionist)

“”…!?””

At the receptionist’s words, we looked at each other, bewildered.

“There are fairies involved?” (Yuna)

“I’ve never actually seen them, so it’s just a rumor. But we have heard many times from the knights about fairies, and they call themselves fairy knights, so we believe that fairies do exist and are involved. Above all, I doubt that weak knights will suddenly become strong without the help of someone.” (Receptionist)

Was Primme’s sister granting power to the knights?

If we looked into those fairy knights, we may be able to get some information about Primme’s sister.

“But why are you asking about the fairy knights?” (Receptionist)

“Because…” (Yuna)

“Perhaps you heard a rumor that there are fairies here and tried to ask knights about it yesterday? Then you shouldn’t have done that. They are ones who like getting involved with women and children. Besides, even if someone asks them directly, they wouldn’t tell. Sometimes they divulge it themselves, but if you ask them, they get tight-lipped.” (Receptionist)

I was troubled.

Should I tell her the truth?

“Also, I didn’t tell you yesterday because I thought you’d be leaving town soon, but you should get out of town fast. Especially the two magicians over there.”

I looked at Rosa-san and Ran.

“Why?” (Rosa)

“Because regardless of the town’s inhabitants, if they stay in this town, they will be deprived of their magic power. It’s not a problem if you just want to spend the day, but it will be a matter of life and death for those who dabble in magic. That’s why every single magician in this town has left. Well, it’s not only the magicians who are in trouble but also the craftsmen who use magic.” (Receptionist)

“So people are still being robbed of their magic power?” (Yuna)

“Not yesterday, not today. Every few days, at midnight, magic power is taken away. If you feel tired in the morning, you should think that you have been deprived of magic power. You might think you’ve become ill if you don’t know any better.” (Receptionist)

“Well, you mean to say that the fairies themselves don’t take away people’s magic power directly, but just by being in the town, your magic power will be taken away?” (Yuna)

“Well, I’ve also heard stories of people saying that they have been robbed of magic power directly by fairies, but those might have been hoaxes, and in reality, they were simply deprived of their magic power by being in town. That’s why you guys should get out of town as soon as possible.” (Receptionist)

I now understand why there were no adventurers in this town.

Being in the town would rob you of your magic power.

I also found out why those knights called themselves fairy knights.

There was a possibility that Primme’s sister was the one who was giving these knights their power.

I wanted to ask the receptionist for more information, but I needed to figure out how much it was okay to probe around.

“Sorry, but we can’t leave this town. Actually, we’re looking for a fairy.” (Blitz)

As I was wondering, Blitz asked.

“Looking for a fairy? You shouldn’t be. There have been others like you in the past, but none have returned. If you value your life, you’d better get out of this town.” (Receptionist)

Did that mean they were killed when they tried to look for the fairy?

“What if I told you that we are here to take down that fairy?” (Blitz)

“No, you can’t do that. We don’t know where the fairy is. If you want to defeat the fairy, those fairy knights will come to you.” (Receptionist)

It meant that to find Primme’s sister, we had to deal with those fairy knights.

“Excuse me, may I have a word?” (Noa)

“What is it?” (Receptionist)

Noa, who had been silently listening, spoke up.

“A knight is supposed to obey the king of the country and the lord of the town, right? What kind of person is the lord of this town, and what kind of orders does he give to the knights?” (Noa)

That certainly was true.

I was so distracted by the talk about fairies that I forgot about the knights committing unchivalrous acts.

“Don’t mention it. I can’t tell you anymore. It would put you and the others in danger. I can’t blame you for being interested in the fairies, but you shouldn’t go any further. Return to your village as soon as possible.” (Receptionist)

The receptionist said gently.

“The same goes for you, adventurers. If you care about your fellow adventurers, you shouldn’t pry any deeper into the matter.” (Receptionist)

I knew that the receptionist genuinely cared for our wellbeing.

Well, we could talk to the receptionist about Primme and ask the guild to help us.

However, it wouldn’t be a good idea to let the guild branch know about Primme while we were in this town.

If someone assumed that Primme was involved with the fairy knights, and those who had bad intentions towards fairies found out, there would be a possibility that they would attack us.

The receptionist may also attack us out of the blue upon discovering that we had connections with fairies.

But if Primme’s sister was involved with the knights and even the lord of this town, I wanted information about them from someone who knew about the town.

I decided.

“Is there a room where no one can hear us?” (Yuna)

“Of course there is. Why?” (Receptionist)

“I have something important to tell you.” (Yuna)

She saw the serious look on my face and let out a sigh.

“Okay. Come here,” she said and led us to a back room.

…

“This room is safe from public eyes. So, what do you want to talk about?” (Receptionist)

“Primme, come on out. I think we need you to get some information out of them.” (Yuna)

As I said this, Noa’s pouch moved, and Primme came out.

“Fairy…” (Receptionist)

“She’s Primme, a fairy.” (Yuna)

“Wait, can’t fairies only be seen when they are on the same wavelength as you? So how come everyone in this room, including me, can see her?” (Receptionist)

Everyone in the room looked at Primme.

“I can’t tell you the details, but if Yuna is here, the others can see me as well.” (Primme)

“I can’t believe it. Then maybe you’re the fairy who is stealing magic from the city’s residents and giving power to the knights…” (Receptionist)

The receptionist narrowed her eyes and glared at Primme.

“No, it’s not Primme. I think it’s Primme’s sister who grants those knights their power.” (Yuna)

I told the receptionist the real reason why we came to this town.

“Well, this fairy asked us two to come to this town to find her sister. And then, by chance, we ran into some adventurers we had met before, and they agreed to help us.”

I didn’t mention anything about Crimonia, the fairy forest, or the fairy mirror.

“So that story about the monster your father dismantled was a lie.” (Receptionist)

“Not everything we told you was a lie. I am an adventurer. I am the one who defeated the monster, but not the one who dismantled it. I knew you wouldn’t believe me even if I told you that. I also had other reasons for not telling you the truth.” (Yuna)

“A fairy, a bear girl, an adventurer…” (Receptionist)

The receptionist held her head in her hands.

“That’s funny. I haven’t even had a drink yet today.” (Receptionist)

She was starting to escape reality, you know.

“Missy, the tone of your voice is different from yesterday.” (Receptionist)

“…oh.” (Yuna)

I was talking normally now, completely forgetting that yesterday I was wearing a bear outfit, acting like a meek cat, and playing the role of a weak girl from a nearby village who didn’t know any better.

“Sorry. This is the way I normally talk. I talked differently yesterday as I thought that would be less suspicious.” (Yuna)

“So that cute girl was acting.” (Receptionist)

She seemed to be disappointed in me.

It could be easier to communicate if I continued acting that way, but I didn’t think I would last long in that kind of character setup.

The sham would be found out eventually. Since that was the case, it was better for me to reveal my true self early on.

In the first place, I had forgotten entirely about acting and was now talking in my usual tone.

“Just to confirm, that girl over there isn’t an adventurer by age, is she?” (Receptionist)

The receptionist asked, looking at Noa.

“Yes. I am not an adventurer, so please don’t worry. You can think of me as an ordinary girl next door.” (Noa)

Noa replied politely.

Knowing Noa’s true identity, I was tempted to respond, “You are far from just an ordinary girl anywhere.”

“Are you some young lady in disguise? I mean, your tone and mannerisms are very different.” (Receptionist)

She was certainly the daughter of a noble family.

But I couldn’t mention it, and knowing I could not explain it, Noa just smiled smugly.

The way she responded was not that of a normal girl, either.

“What, Noire-chan is a young lady?” (Rosa)

Rosa-san asked.

“No, I’m just an ordinary girl from anywhere, so please continue to call me Noire-chan as you have always done.” (Noa)

She smiled like a young lady.

Maybe noble daughters exuded a certain elegance even when they had changed their attire.

It was the same as how I wouldn’t look like a noble lady even if I was wearing a beautiful dress.

“I wonder if it’s okay for us to do that.” (Receptionist)

I think it would be alright because Noa would not punish anyone for something like that, even if they did discover that she was a noble young lady.

In the first place, I was calling her “Noa” the same as “Cliff” and others.

I could have been punished for disrespect (lesse majeste) now that I thought about it.