Chapter 564
Bear-san Teaches Magic Part 1
As we talked about magic, I heard “Kuu~n“. When I looked in the direction of the sound, I saw Shuri sleeping while hugging Swaying Bear in cub form in her arms.
Swaying Bear informed me that Shuri had fallen asleep.
“Shuri, you have to sleep on the bed.” (Fina)
I stopped Fina from reaching out to wake Shuri up.
“Fina, don’t wake her up.” (Yuna)
I approached Shuri and carried her in my arms as she hugged Swaying Bear. With my bear gear, it was easy to carry both Shuri and Swaying Bear cub in my arms.
I carried the two of them to the bed.
“I’m sure she’s tired from all of the activities today.” (Yuna)
While Shuri was wearing a dress, she looked more energetic than usual. She had also taken her bath. Furthermore, it’s already nighttime, so no wonder she’s become sleepy while cuddling Swaying Bear.
“I think Shuri enjoyed it. She’s never been to a birthday party like this before.” (Fina)
Only now, Fina and Shuri may have experienced something resembling a birthday party.
Even if it was Fina, her sister’s birthday party, she seemed happy.
I pat Shuri’s head lightly.
When it’s Shuri’s birthday, we have to celebrate her birthday properly too.
“Well then, it’s already late. We should go to bed.” (Yuna)
“You’re right. Since Shuri took Swaying Bear-chan, Hugging Bear-chan, would sleep with me.” (Noa)
Noa embraced Hugging Bear cub in her arms after declaring that.
“Noa-oneesama, that’s unfair. I also want to sleep with Hugging Bear-chan.” (Misa)
Misa grabbed Hugging Bear’s foreleg. If this became a pulling match, it might become like Ooka Echizen*.
“Then why don’t you sleep together with Hugging Bear in between? The beds are connected, so it should be fine.” (Yuna)
“That’s it!” (Noa)
“As expected of Yuna-oneesama.” (Misa)
They moved to the opposite side of the bed from where Shuri was sleeping and climbed onto the bed with Hugging Bear between them.
Hugging Bear was embraced by two from both sides.
Hugging Bear looked at me, but Swaying Bear was also dealing with Shuri. Besides, it’s Noa’s birthday today. I think it would be okay for him to sleep with them for at least one day.
“Well then, shall we sleep too?” (Yuna)
“Yes.” (Fina)
I called out to Fina, turned off the room’s light, and moved to the bed.
The bed has five lines and two dots. From right to left, Misa, Hugging Bear, Noah, me, Fina, Swaying Bear, and Shuri. And all were bears.
It would be a quandary and embarrassing if others were to see me in such a place.
Even so, the bear party wasn’t too shabby since everyone seemed to enjoy it.
“Good night, you guys.”
“Good night, everyone.”
“Yeah, good night.”
“Good night.”
“U~u, Swaying Bear-chan…”
Despite everything that happened, it was a fun day.
As expected, wearing dresses and other clothes was tiring, and I felt sleepy when I got into bed.
I fell asleep, surrounded on both sides by girls dressed as bears.
When I woke up the following day, Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear were sleeping next to me.
Looking to the left and right, the four girls were sleeping comfortably.
What happened while I was asleep?
I changed into the black bear suit and woke everyone up.
Then the birthday party was over, and a few days later, Misa went home with Gran-san. Of course, Marina and her party, who had come as their escorts, were with them.
They also went to my shop and complimented me that the food was delicious. I was genuinely happy to hear that.
Then, Fina also had dinner with her family at a fine restaurant with a gift she received from Cliff.
At that time, Tirumina-san notified me that she had borrowed a ring that would serve as a medium for using magic.
As promised, I will teach Noa and Fina magic.
“Well then, let’s practice magic.” (Yuna)
“Yes!” (Noa)
“I’ll do my best.” (Fina)
The place we’re going to practice magic is the garden of Noa’s house. Noa’s house has a wide garden, so we can call someone and take a break if something happens. They won’t be using big magic or dangerous magic. It’s the perfect place to practice magic.
We spread a sheet in the garden and sat down.
“Yuna-san, thank you for your time today.” (Noa)
“I’ll be in your care.” (Fina)
When Noa bowed her head to me and thanked me for granting her request, Fina did the same.
“As I said before, I’ve never taught magic to someone who’s never used it before, so I don’t know if I’ll be able to teach you well.” (Yuna)
I’ve taught a rookie adventurer girl before, but this would be the first time I’ll teach someone who has never used magic before.
Teaching a child who can swim how to swim faster differs completely from teaching a child who has never even been in the water.
“Yes, I understand.” (Noa)
“Yes.” (Fina)
Did they really understand?
“Well, first of all, we have Fina, who knows nothing about magic, so let’s touch lightly on the study of magical knowledge.” (Yuna)
“Eh~~” (Noa)
“If you don’t want to, I’ll do it alone with Fina.” (Yuna)
“I didn’t say I don’t want to. I will study.” (Noa)
But I know little about it either. So, I will ask Noa, a teacher who has been studying magic, to help me.
“Well then, Noa-sensei. Can you give us the basics of magic?” (Yuna)
“You mean me?” (Noa)
“Noa, you have studied the subject thoroughly, so you would be more suitable than me, a self-learned. I’m sure Fina feels the same way.” (Yuna)
“Yes. Noa-sensei, please.” (Fina)
Noa looked happy when Fina and I called her sensei.
“Understood. Please leave it to me.” (Noa)
Too easy.
“So what is magic?” (Yuna)
“Everyone has magic, big or small. And we can use magic at around age 10.” (Noa)
“Why around 10 years old?” (Yuna)
I asked for reconfirmation.
“It’s been said for a long time. There have been many cases where gathering magical powers when one is too young makes it impossible to use magic as an adult. That’s why they say it’s better to use magic only after the age of 10.” (Noa)
I guess it’s based on mankind’s past experience.
I came to this world just recently, I was over 10 years old, but could I use magic regardless?
Or was it because of God?
Thinking about it wouldn’t give me any answer, so I’ll just listen to Noa.
“Magic is activated by gathering magic power. Therefore, if the amount of magic power you have is too little, or if you cannot gather sufficient magic power in one go, you will not be able to cast magic.” (Noa)
It’s the same thing as collecting magic power in my bear puppet.
“Noa-sama, can I use magic?” (Fina)
Fina, who was listening to the conversation, asked anxiously.
“As I said at the party, you won’t know until you try it. There are cases where children can use magic even if their parents can’t. I have also heard the opposite, so there is a possibility that I cannot use it either. But Fina’s mother can use magic, so your chances that you can are high.” (Noa)
Noa smiled gently to reassure Fina.
“So, Noa. Which magic do we learn first?” (Yuna)
“First, it’s light magic. Light is the most common thing. People prefer bright places to dark places. That’s why light is the easiest to visualize and the first magic to learn.” (Noa)
To set an example, I gathered magic power in my black bear puppet and created light magic.
“It’s a bear.” (Noa)
A ray of light in the shape of a bear’s face emerges.
Even if I do it unintentionally and sloppily casts light magic, it’ll become a bear light.
“Now then, let’s try some light magic.” (Yuna)
When I said this, Fina looked a little troubled.
“Yuna-oneesan. How do you collect magic power?” (Fina)
“Even if you ask me, I don’t know how to explain the collecting magic power.” (Yuna)
Yes, it’s true.
If you could try it, if possible, you don’t need a teacher.
That being said, I can’t explain how to gather magic power very well. Gathering magical power is a sensory experience.
If it were easy to gather magic power, no one would have a hard time. Noa said earlier that it’s difficult to gather magical power.
“Noa, how do you learn magic normally?” (Yuna)
“It’s more like practicing to move, or rather gather, the magic power in your body. As I said before, you cannot use magic without gathering magic power.” (Noa)
“By the way, do you know how to practice that?” (Yuna)
“Etto, it seems that it’s not easy to move the magical power inside your body, so I think someone who can use magic should teach you how to move the magical power. I don’t know about that. How was it when you learned magic, Yuna-san?” (Noa)
I can’t say I learned it from the game.
“How was it, indeed?” (Yuna)
I laughed and covered it up.
But should I teach them magic sense?
Somehow, I think I understand what I’ve said.
Well, let’s see if they can do it.
“Well then, let’s try it. Hold my hand. Who wants to try first?” (Yuna)
When I see the two of them, Fina hesitantly opens her mouth.
“I, I’ll go last, Noa-sama first.” (Fina)
“I understand. I’ll try it first.” (Noa)
When I offered my black bear puppet, Noa grabbed it with the pendant in her hand.
“Then I’ll try moving the magic power.” (Yuna)
“Yes.” (Noa)
I tried moving the magic from my body to Noa’s body.
“Something is flowing from Yuna-san’s hand. So this is magic.” (Noa)
“Do you get what’s your magic now?” (Yuna)
“I can understand it somehow. It seems to flow with Yuna-san’s magic power.” (Noa)
I try to move magic to every corner of Noa’s body.
“It’s flowing right down to my feet. I’m beginning to understand the flow of magic.” (Noa)
She could feel the flow of magic.
“Now, I’ll take my hand away, so try to gather your magic power into your hand.” (Yuna)
“Yes.” (Noa)
Noa closed her eyes, clutched the necklace Eleanora-san gave her and began concentrating.
“I can see the magic coming together.” (Noa)
“Etto, then, light it up.” (Yuna)
“Yes.” (Noa)
Noa closed her eyes, then said, “Light!”, and Noa’s clenched hand glowed.
“It glowed. Yuna-san, it’s glowing.” (Noa)
Noa looked happily at her shining hand and me.
“Yeah, it’s glowing.” (Yuna)
“Congratulations, Noah-sama.” (Fina)
“Thank you.” (Noa)
Noa happily holds out her glowing hand.
“Then I guess it’s Fina’s turn.” (Yuna)
“Yes.” (Fina)
“Good luck, Fina.” (Noa)
I held out the bear puppet to her, and Fina gripped it fearfully.
=====
* (Ooka Echizen) = Something samurai drama period from the 70s that was broadcasted on Japan’s TBS TV’s “National Theater”. Dunno…
=====