Chapter 466

Bear-san, Watching Over

“Sakura?” (Yuna)

At Sakura’s words, everyone looks at her.

“I know how to use the magic circle because Mumroot-sama taught me how to use it. Even with my magical power, I should be able to activate it.” (Sakura)

“Wait, I explained to you that you have to keep pouring in the magic. If a child, such as yourself, continues to pour in magic, you may not be able to use it in the future.” (Mumroot)

I’ve heard from Noa that if a child uses a little bit of magic, there’s no problem, but if a child uses a lot of magic or magic power, it will affect them when they grow up. That’s why there were no child mages in this world.

But Sakura shakes her head slowly at Mumroot-san’s words.

“If my country can be saved simply by me not being able to use magic, I don’t mind. If I have to choose between my country and magic, I will choose my country without hesitation.” (Sakura)

Sakura answered Mumroot-san with serious eyes.

But Mumroot-san can’t nod his head at the decision of a girl he just met.

If I, Kagali-san, and Mumroot-san go to strengthen the seal, there will be no one left to fight the resurrected snake. So I understand what Sakura was saying. However, I also don’t want her to do anything dangerous.

I have a way to get mages from elsewhere, but the fastest one was to get the elven inhabitants. But I don’t know what will happen to Mumroot-san and Ruimin when I explain about the bear gate. Furthermore, it wouldn’t be a good idea to put the elves, who are not involved, in danger.

Perhaps Mumroot-san wouldn’t let me either.

And who would immediately nod their heads after hearing the explanation about the giant snake? Even if they nodded their heads, people around them might stop them. I don’t have time to persuade those people. I don’t want Mumroot-san to leave me now.

When Mumroot-san could not answer, Kagali-san, who was standing next to him, stared at Sakura intently and opened her mouth.

“Sakura, are you sure? It may kill you.” (Kagali)

“Yes. I cannot run away to a safe place when I know there is something I can do. While I don’t have the strength to fight the serpent, I can at least delay the resurrection of the serpent.” (Sakura)

“Sakura…” (Kagali)

“If I am in danger, don’t come to my aid. I will not be a hindrance to you. I will prolong the seal as long as possible. Therefore, I ask you to take care of the serpent.” (Sakura)

Sakura bowed her head.

Seeing Sakura like this, Kagali-san bit her lip hard.

She’s going to a place where the snake may come back to life. There’s still a possibility that not only the snake but also monsters will come.

But Kagali-san understood everything and opened her mouth.

“I understand. I’ll leave one of the seals to Sakura.” (Kagali)

“Kagali-sama…” (Sakura)

Kagali-san, who knew Sakura the best of all these people, made the decision. So I can’t interject.

I don’t know how to answer that either.

Besides, the ground has been shaking since a while ago, albeit small. It could revive at any moment. We are running out of time.

“Ruimin-san. I don’t think I can keep that promise, but if I survive and can use magic, please invite me again.” (Sakura)

I don’t know what kind of promise she made, but Sakura smiles as she says that to Ruimin.

Ruimin, on the other hand, has nothing to say.

“I’m glad to meet you, Ruimin-san.”

“Sakura-chan…”

Ruimin couldn’t say anything to Sakura’s words.

She tried to say something out loud, but struggled with what words to use.

In the midst of all this, Kagali-san opened her mouth.

“We don’t have time. Let’s split up and reinforce the seal. Worst case scenario, we can hold out until backup arrives. Mumroot, quickly teach me how to use the magic circle, quickly.” (Kagali)

“Wait a minute.” (Ruimin)

Ruimin raised her voice. Everyone looked at Ruimin. Ruimin’s face had a look of determination on it.

“What? We don’t have much time. Missy, you can go back to your house. This will be a battleground soon.” (Kagali)

“I, I’ll help out too. Right now, we need magical power, even if it’s just one person more.” (Ruimin)

“Ruimin-san!” (Sakura)

“What are you talking about!?” (Mumroot)

Mumroot-san was surprised by Ruimin’s words.

Of course, so did I. I was going to ask Ruimin to return.

“Grandpa. You don’t have time to explain the magic circle to Kagali-san. But I know it because I saw you explaining it to Sakura earlier. So, I’ll go for the other seal.” (Ruimin)

“Ruimin…” (Mumroot)

Ruimin is not a replacement for Sakura. So she said she’s going for the other seal.

What we are lacking right now is someone to pour magic power into the magic circle. Ruimin understands this.

“Ruimin-san, no. It’s dangerous.” (Sakura)

“If we sealed the two together, Yuna-san and Kagali-san would be able to fight. That way, we have a better chance of winning.” (Ruimin)

“Ruimin-san…” (Sakura)

“Grandpa, please. Let me help out too!” (Ruimin)

Mumroot-san glanced at Ruimin for a moment.

“No, you’re going home.” (Mumroot)

“Grandpa! At first, I just came because I thought I could help Yuna-san. But Sakura-chan, who I met, is in trouble. I can’t escape alone. ” (Ruimin)

Ruimin grabbed Mumroot-san’s clothes and tried to persuade him.

“Ruimin…” (Mumroot)

“Grandpa wouldn’t go home even if Kagali-san and Yuna-san told you to go home either, right?” (Ruimin)

“But…” (Mumroot)

The ground shakes.

It’s gradually getting bigger and bigger.

Discussion time is running out.

“Grandpa, please. Let me help out too.” (Ruimin)

“Mumroot, we don’t have time to argue. It may be harsh, but you must decide soon. If you want to ask me what I think, it would be helpful if she stays.” (Kagali)

The ground shakes even louder.

This is the biggest tremor I’ve ever felt so far.

“Grandpa!” (Ruimin)

Mumroot-san made an agonizing decision.

“Ruimin, you must promise me. If you find it dangerous, run away immediately.” (Mumroot)

“……Grandpa. Yeah, okay. I’ll run away if I think it’s dangerous.” (Ruimin)

Indeed, this is the best way to go in the current situation.

If Ruimin and Sakura have decided to do this, I will only support them.

I call out to Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear in my heart.

“I’m sorry. You have to put even your granddaughter in danger.” (Kagali)

“Ruimin decided for herself. You both have your item bags, right?” (Mumroot)

“Yes.” (Ruimin)

“Un.” (Sakura)

Mumroot-san handed them both a carpet and a pouch from the item bag each. When they received it from Mumroot-san, they put it in their item bags.

“I’m heading to the center, to the body. I’m leaving the heads to you.” (Mumroot)

“Got it.” (Ruimin)

“Un.” (Sakura)

“Ruimin and Sakura will leave the door open for you, so if worse comes to worst, you can escape there. The snake shouldn’t be able to get inside the door.” (Yuna)

It has a huge body. So it should not be able to pa.s.s through the bear gate.

“Got it.” (Ruimin)

“Un.” (Sakura)

The two nodded.

Our eyes fell on Shin.o.bu, who laid unconscious on the ground as we all tried to move.

It’s not safe to let her sleep here.

“Should we lie her down at the otherside of that door?” (Sakura)

“It’s okay. I have a trusted child to take care of her.” (Yuna)

I take out my bearphone.

Shortly after the other party left.

‘Yuna-oneesan?’ (Fina)

“Fina, I’m sorry, but I need you to go to my house right now.” (Yuna)

‘Eh? What happened?’ (Fina)

“I’m sorry, I don’t have time to explain. I put a person sleeping in front of the bear gate, can you see it? The clothes are b.l.o.o.d.y, but she’s just fainted, so it’s okay.” (Yuna)

‘Yuna-oneesan?’ (Fina)

“Call me if something happens.” (Yuna)

‘Yuna-oneesan!’ (Fina)

Fina was trying to say something, but I didn’t have time to explain.

I closed the door of the bear gate once and connected it to the bear house in Crimonia.

Then, I went through the bear gate with the Shin.o.bu in a princess carry and laid the unconscious Shin.o.bu down. Then, I made sure Fina could get into the bear house since Fina couldn’t get in at this moment.

Fina would take care of the rest.

I closed the bear gate, opened it again, and connected it to the elven forest.*

“Who were you talking to, Yuna-sama?” (Sakura)

“The most trustworthy girl I’ve ever met. You don’t have to worry about Shin.o.bu.” (Yuna)

“I understand.” (Sakura)

I don’t want her to worry about Shin.o.bu, so I told Sakura to rea.s.sure her.

When we’re finally ready, the ground shook the strongest so far.

The shaking did not stop.

Earlier, the tremors would have stopped immediately.

But this time, the quaking doesn’t stop.

The shaking gradually increased.

Ruimin and Sakura began to lose their balance and almost fell over.

At that time, Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear came and supported them.

“Swaying Bear-chan!”

“Hugging Bear-chan!”

They hugged Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear to keep themselves from falling over.

However, the shaking kept on going.

The ground quaked and loud noises echoed. It felt like something was rising from the bas.e.m.e.nt.

I checked my detection skills.

A part of the snake was displayed.

Gogogogogogo, it’s the sound of the ground rumbling.

We can hear the sound of trees falling in the distance.

It’s coming out of the ground.

And something big rose up. It’s recognizable even from here at a distance.

“Orochi…”

A towering, building-like thing is wriggling.

It’s so BIG!**

“So that’s the giant snake……” (Yuna)

“It’s huge.” (Ruimin)

“I never wanted to see that again.” (Kagali)

“I agree with that.” (Mumroot)

n.o.body would want to see that thing.

“Neither of you can back down now.” (Mumroot)

“Yeah.” (Ruimin)

“Un.” (Sakura)

Sakura and Ruimin replied while looking at the giant snake.

I can imagine their hands are shaking right now.

We are going to the place where that giant snake’s heads are sealed. How could they not be afraid?

“Swaying Bear, Hugging Bear. Take care of Ruimin and Sakura. If something happens, take them and run inside the bear gate.” (Yuna)

“Ku~u ~ n”

In case they could not escape by themselves, Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear would pull them back even if they were forced to do so. Besides, they will protect those two even if monsters come close to them.

Ruimin rides on Swaying Bear and Sakura rides on Hugging Bear.

“Well, we’re off then!” (Ruimin)

“We’re going.” (Sakura)

Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear, carrying the two, started running.

“I’m also going, just take it easy, both of you.” (Mumroot)

“Leave it to me, I’ll weaken it splendidly.” (Kagali)

“I know you don’t mind taking them down, right?” (Yuna)

“Fufu, you’re making it sound like it’s the easiest thing in the world. When you’re the one saying it, Missy, it sounds like you’re really going to do it.” (Mumroot)

Mumroot-san laughs and starts running.

“Well then, let’s go.” (Kagali)

We ran towards the head of the newly resurrected giant snake.

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Author’s Note:

I don’t have much time, but I have a lot of things to talk about.

I want to be able to write around that area a little better.

※ In the activity report, the store bonus for volume 10 and a newly written SS short story is still available.

Until next time.

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Translator’s Note:

*( わたしは扉を閉じ、再度エルフの森へと扉を開ける。) = Not so sure about this one going to the elven forest.

** That’s what she said (^^)