Chapter 400 - Bear-san, Jumps Off (1/2)

Chapter 400  Bear-san, Jumps Off

When we arrived in front of the building, I walked around it to see if I could get a peek inside. But there was no place from where I could look inside. There’s a window, but it’s closed, so I can’t see inside.

[What’s going on in there?] Yuna

[There’s nothing else inside the building. The gate of trials is behind that door. But I’ve never been in there, so I don’t know the details.] Rikka

[You’ve never been in there? Are you sure you haven’t seen the inside of the gate of trials?] Yuna

If that’s the case, I wouldn’t be able to cheer for Jade-san. In the first place, that would be boring because I wouldn’t be able to see the trials.

[Only the blacksmiths who made the weapons and those who’re handling the weapons are allowed inside the gate of trials, no one else.] Rikka

I heard that you have to participate in the event to get inside the gate of trials. The event is there, but you can neither participate nor observe. As a former gamer, this kind of thing is killing me. It’s also entertaining to watch the event.

[From what I’ve heard from my father, Gordo, and Ghazal, there’s a large space behind the gate of trials. That’s where get to they try out the weapons they’ve made.] Rikka

[What do you mean by trying it?] Yuna

[My father, Gordo, and Ghazal didn’t tell me the details. But it seems that the trials differ depending on the weapon used.] Rikka

I feel like if the trials were different, I wouldn’t know whose weapon was the best.

[If so, we wouldn’t know whose weapon is better.] Yuna

[The weapon creation is already a battle in itself. Proving that the person you are now wasn’t the person you were yesterday, the person you were yesterday wasn’t the person you were a month ago, the person you were a month ago wasn’t the person you were a year ago. Well, that’s what my father used to say.] Rikka

I think I get what he’s saying.

[Isn’t this a competition though?] Yuna

It’s good to challenge yourself, but it’s also important to have someone to fight with. Sometimes you write a name of a friend, but read it as a rival. That’s how you grow.

[There are knives, swords, spears, hammers, and many other types of weapons. There is no way to choose which is the best. Each weapon has its own strengths and weaknesses.] Rikka

Well, if you put it that way, then yeah. Am I the only one who thinks it would be nice to have divisions? But I heard that the gate of trials was not judged by people, but by the gates of trials itself, so maybe it’s too much to ask for. But after hearing such stories, I become even more curious about the contents of the trials.

All I can do now is to ask Jade-san after the trials are over.

After that, we took a short break to enjoy the view of the city from the mountaintop before going back.

But, going back means taking that long flight of stairs once again.

[Fina, do you need a piggyback ride?] Yuna

[U~u, I’m okay. Why are you trying to give me a piggyback ride?] Fina

[Because you’re the youngest and you’re neither an elf nor a dwarf.] Yuna

I muttered in my mind, <not even a Bear>.

Elves seem to be lightfooted and dwarves have their physical strength. By the way, the Bears have an image of being all-rounders. So I felt that Fina was the weakest of the three.

Ruimin, who had been listening to the conversation between Fina and me, hugged me from my back.

[Then I’ll be the one riding on Yuna-san’s back.] Ruimin

Then I had an interesting idea, so I agreed.

[Etto, why the front?] Ruimin

I’m carrying Ruimin in my arms like a princess. I told Ruimin to hold on tightly to my neck.

[You’ll die if you fall.] Yuna

[Yuna-san, we’re just going down the stairs, right?] Ruimin

[…………] Yuna

I slowly turned my gaze away from Ruimin.

[Why are you looking away?] Ruimin

Without answering her question, I stood on the side of the stairs. There was a cliff next to the stairs, which was a good place to jump off.

[Yu, Yuna-san, there are no stairs there.] Ruimin

Ruimin looks anxious.

All right then, Fina, Rikka-san. We’re going ahead.

[Yuna-oneesan?] Fina

[Yuna-chan?] Rikka

I ran and jumped off the cliff.

A scream echoed from within my arms and Ruimin’s arms tightened around my neck.

I broke my fall by making a scaffolding on the way down, then continued my descent all the way to the bottom. I made a clean landing.

In my arms, Ruimin is clinging to my neck tightly. If this wasn’t wearing my bear gear, it would have been very painful.

[U u~u, Yuna-san. It’s terrible that you suddenly jumped off the cliff. I was so scared.] Ruimin

Ruimin got off of my arms and sat down on the ground. There were tears in her eyes. It looks like she was really terrified by that stunt.

[Because I thought it would be boring to just go down from there the normal way.] Yuna

It’s like a ropeless but safe bungee jumping. I thought she would enjoy it, although looking at her, I don’t think she did.

[You can’t feel your legs, perhaps?] Yuna

[And whose fault do you think it is!] Ruimin

Ruimin complained, but her legs were shaking and she couldn’t stand up properly.

Then, after a while, Fina and Rikka-san made it down.

[Ruimin-san, are you okay?] Fina

[U~u, I was so scared. I thought I was going to die.] Ruimin

Ruimin hugged Fina when she came over. Apparently, she can walk now.

[Do you want to try it next, Fina?] Yuna

[No, thank you.] Fina

I thought it would be fun, but she said no.