In front of the inn, I recalled Kumakyu before heading inside. The innkeeper seemed worried to see me arrive so late, but after I explained what had happened with Noa, things were fine.
Well, I guess this was mine now...
I put the mana gem on the table. Under the ceiling light I found out it was green.
“Hm?”
I saw a magic circle on the gem’s surface, but I didn’t really know anything about them. Hoping that I’d be able to find something out, I changed into my bear onesie and used my bear observation skill, but it was just labeled as a normal mana gem. I guess it couldn’t tell me about magic circles.
At times like this, I really wished I had a magic circle reading and writing skill or something, but whining wouldn’t benefit anyone.
Okay, so I’d taken this gem, but like...it wasn’t important to the town or anything, yeah? The person in the hood had been throwing it away…right?
Honestly, it worried me so much I couldn’t really sleep anyway. Maybe the gem was needed for the lake or something, so I decided to ask Seleiyu about it when I woke up. Since she was the feudal lord’s daughter, she’d probably know about any mana gems important to the town. If she didn’t, then I would have her ask her dad. That’s what I told myself, at least.
I put the mana gem away in my bear storage and summoned Kumakyu again, so we could take a bath together. After all, I wasn’t in my bear onesie, so I didn’t have constant A/C built into my clothes. I’d really worked up a sweat.
After I got out of the bath, I changed into my white bear onesie to sleep in after the day’s fatigue. Kumakyu seemed happy with my choice.
“We’re always matching when we sleep,” I said.
“Cwoon.”
I hugged my bear and headed to bed.
“Night, Kumakyu. Wake me up when it’s morning.”
“Cwoon.”
I was still stressed about the mana gem, but either because I was tired from the gathering or because of my white bear onesie, or even because Kumakyu felt nice in my arms, I slept like a log.
The next day, Kumakyu woke me up and I put on my uniform to go see Shia and Noa at the academy. I was kinda getting used to the uniform by now.
I crossed the long bridge and got to the academy, where I met up with Noa and Shia.
“Good morning, Yuna.”
“I’m so sorry I fell asleep yesterday.”
“You must have been tired after all that cheering. Conking out early means you did a good job at it. So what are you two doing here?”
“I thought it’d be bad if everyone saw Kumayuru, so we left early to wait for you.”
That was considerate of them.
“Thank you, Kumayuru.”
Noa gave my bear back to me.
“Thanks for watching over Noa, Kumayuru.”
“Cwoon.”
I gave Kumayuru a pat on the head to show I was grateful. Then I recalled them. Noa looked a little disappointed, but she knew better than to complain.
“Okay, let’s get ready to hang out by the lake.”
“Okay!” Noa had fully regained her cheer.
We headed to the lake. Some of the students were already in bathing suits having fun.
“We’ll go get changed there.”
I saw a small building where Shia was indicating. Was that a changing room?
“I’m good. You two have fun without me.”
“You’re not going to hang out with us?!”
“I need to talk to Seleiyu, so I might not have time. You two sisters have some bonding time for once. You won’t be able to see each other when we go back to Crimonia, after all.”
“Okay, fine... But after you’re done talking to Seleiyu, you have to spend time with us.”
Noa and Shia headed to the building to get changed. I just watched the students playing until Seleiyu arrived. Rulina had mentioned this before, but I guess this world really did have bathing suits. Some were simple, but some were actually pretty cute.
Were these students really around the same age as me though? Some of them seemed big...in certain areas. Maybe they stuffed or something? Yeah. Definitely. That must be it.
Regardless, everyone was having fun together. You wouldn’t have been able to tell they’d spent two days locked in bitter conflict. I did wish they’d stop using magic while playing in the water though.
There was no sign of Seleiyu, though. Was she not going to join us? I guess I could just go to her manor, but she could also be somewhere in the academy. I didn’t know what to do.
While I was thinking it over, the girl who’d used wind magic in our battle yesterday came up to me.
“You’re not going to go play in the lake?”
She was completely drenched, even her hair was dripping.
“I had something I needed to talk to Sel... Lady Seleiyu about. I’m waiting for her.”
She seemed to respect Seleiyu a lot. I didn’t want to get a scolding, so I made sure to use Seleiyu’s title.
“Lady Seleiyu? Oh, I haven’t seen her today actually. This isn’t really her thing, but she should show up at least. Maybe she’s busy? Did you need something from her?”
“Yeah, kinda.”
I couldn’t talk about the mana gem, so I just agreed ambiguously.
“Just a sec. I’ll ask if anyone knows where she’s at,” the girl said. She ran off to the lake, where all the girls were playing. After she talked to them, she came right back.
“No one’s seen her,” she said, out of breath.
“Thank you. I guess I’ll just stop by her house really quick. If she does show up, can you tell her I had something I needed to talk with her about?”
“Sure.”
After that, I told Shia and Noa I’d be going to Seleiyu’s house.
“Once I’m done there, I’ll come right back, so don’t leave Shia’s side, Noa.”
“Come play with us when you come back, Yuna.”
“Sure, if there’s time.”
It was a rejection, but it was a roundabout one.
“Okay, I’ll be waiting.”
Noa was so pure that my rejection it didn’t get through to her. In times like these, I felt like I needed a shower, but on the inside.
I headed off to Seleiyu’s place on my own. When I caught sight of her manor, a horse was racing out of it.
“Seleiyu?”
She was riding on the horse, completely oblivious to me as she galloped away. I only caught a glimpse of her face, but it seemed like she was tense or in pain or something.
Without even thinking, I sped away after her.