Chapter 433 - 433 Bear-san, Buys Tatami Mats (1/2)

433 Bear-san, Buys Tatami Mats

The next morning, I woke up on a futon laid out on the tatami floor.

It’s morning already?

Yesterday, after finishing the meal. I went to the hot spring once again and fell asleep while my body was still warm.

When I got up, the cub-sized Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear, who had been sleeping curled up on either side of me, also got up.

[Good morning, both of you.] Yuna

<<Ku~u ~ n>>

After putting away the futon and changing into my black bear, I thought about my plans for the day.

I want to buy tatami mats if I can and visit the Adventurer’s Guild. I’d also like to buy some other souvenirs for Fina and the others if there are any. Finally, I’d like to discover some unusual things.

As I was thinking about my plans for the day, there was a knock at the door.

I told Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear to hide. Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear trudged off to the next room to hide.

When I opened the door, I saw Konoha.

[Good morning. I’ve brought you breakfast.] Konoha

[Thank you.] Yuna

[Did you sleep well?] Konoha

[Yeah, the hot springs were nice too.] Yuna

[I’m glad to hear that.] Konoha

Breakfast was simple, grilled fish, miso soup, seaweed, and pickles.

Speaking of which, I’ll have to eat lunch outside, but I wonder if there’s anything good to eat out there.

=====

After breakfast, I returned Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear to the bear puppets, then left the room.

Then I see Konoha near the entrance of the inn.

[Are you going out?] Konoha

[Yeah, I have a question though, is there a place that sells tatami?] Yuna

[Tatami?] Konoha

[Yeah, I like it so much. I think I’ll buy some and set it up back in my home.] Yuna

[I’m glad you like it. You can find the store selling tatami mats by walking for a while along the road to the right after leaving the inn. But can you take it home with you?] Konoha

[I have an item bag, so it’s okay.] Yuna

I also asked for the location of the commercial guild, the adventurer’s guild, and the city’s tourist attractions, and wrote them down on a piece of paper.

[Thanks.] Yuna

I thanked her and left the inn.

=====

I’ll head to the tatami mat shop first.

As I walked along the streets, people who saw me shouted in surprise.

<Bear?> <What’s that?> <A Bear?> <Where is she from?>

The bear costume stands out wherever I go.

I pulled my bear hood to cover my face.

When a few kids came up close and started to go around me saying <It’s a bear!> and <You look weird!> I wanted to kick them, but I put up with it.

As soon as I shouted a loud <Waa>, they left.

You people are not doing a very good job of educating these kids. You should learn from the kids in the orphanage and Fina and the others.

Still, these are Japanese-style houses lined up. The roof tiles alone are enough to make a difference. If there were no roof tiles, the houses might have been ordinary wooden structures.

I wonder if they have castles in this country?

Is there a castle, like the ones in Japan?

If they have it, I’d like to see it. I’ll ask Konoha about it when I get back to the inn.

=====

I walked up to the tatami mat shop while suffering from being repeatedly pointed at as they shout <bear>.

[I think it’s somewhere around here.] Yuna

As I looked at the map on the paper and looked around, I saw a signboard with a picture of tatami mats on it.

Here it is.

[Pardon the intrusion~] Yuna

I called out as I entered the store.

[Yes~.] Clerk

A woman wearing an apron comes running towards me.

[Sorry to keep you waiting-…… bear?] Clerk

The woman froze when she saw me.

Well, it’s always the same, so I talked to her, ignoring the word <bear>.

[I want to buy tatami mats.] Yuna

[Etto, tatami?] Clerk

What else do they sell at tatami shops?

[I heard I could get it here.] Yuna

[Ah, yes. Tatami mat. You can buy it here.] Clerk

The woman seemed to be concerned about my outfit, but I immediately asked her about the tatami mats.

[Well then, Sweetie. How many tatami mats do you need? Where is your house? Are you asking for replacements? Do you need it in a rush?] Clerk

The woman asked me a lot of questions.

Well, she would normally think that I’m asking for tatami mat replacements.

I kind of imagine that no one takes tatami mats home with them.

[My house isn’t in this city, so I just need the tatami mats.] Yuna

[Is that so? Sweetie, did you come here by yourself?] Clerk

[I’m on my own.] Yuna

I don’t want her to treat me like a child, but I guess I look like a child in this outfit.

After all, it’s the first time she’s seen this kind of outfit. I always wonder if this outfit looks childish, especially for those who’s seeing it for the first time.

If so, being called strange might be better.

[Etto, Sweetie. Take a look at what I’m talking about. Tatami mats are big and heavy. So you can’t carry them home by yourself……] Clerk

The woman showed me the tatami mats in the store.

A sheet of tatami is large and heavy. If I didn’t have my bear gear, I wouldn’t be able to lift it.

[Did you come in a carriage, by any chance?] Clerk

The woman glanced outside.

[I have an item bag. So I’ll be fine.] Yuna

[Item bag? Would that work? So how many do you need?] Clerk

The woman seemed convinced and proceeded with the transaction.

She asked me again how many tatami mats I wanted to buy.

Four and a half tatami mats? Six Tatami? Eight Tatami?

Is six tatami mats enough?

I can change the bear house in the royal capital, the top room of the bear building in Mereera town, or one of the bear houses for travel.

And I can imagine the children in the orphanage lounging around on the floor. Maybe tatami mats would be better than carpets.

I did a simple calculation and answered the woman.

[About sixty, I think.] Yuna