/
“Let’s rest here for the time being. As for the river water… Hagisawa, we’ll leave analyzing it to you. If it’s not good, we’ll ask Yukinari to go get some water. Let’s pitch up some simple tents and take turns resting.” Shigenobu says.
“Okay.”
Everyone jumps right into setting up camp.
Fortunately, none of us are injured.
Should I say we are getting used to this?
Being separated from everyone was terrifying. I don’t want to lose anyone ever again. If it’s for that, I’ll do anything. With such thoughts in mind, I clench my fist.
“Seems like we’ll be able to get drinking water from here. Minori-san, can I ask you to bring out some rice? We can cook it here and prepare it to eat with everyone.” Hagisawa says.
Even though it’s only been a couple of hours, quite a lot has happened. Honestly, I’m exhausted from moving around so much. Even with Minori-san and the others with recovery abilities, recovering fatigue isn’t easy. I’d be better off either sitting or lying down somewhere. However, I can’t just slack off while everyone else is working.
“Gauu.”
Punching Bear licks me constantly. I know he’s treating me, but it feels like I’m just being tasted. Will licking me all the time help recover my fatigue as well?
“Ano… Hanebashi-kun.”
The girls from the base group who were captured call out to me. It seems like Minori-san was able to remove the poison from them by using Base Recovery. To begin with, thanks to the quick actions of Shigenobu and the others, they were rescued before the Parasite Bees were able to do anything to them. However, because we weren’t sure if there was anything else, the focus was on healing them.
“Yeah?”
“It’s just… It’s thanks to you, Hanebashi-kun, that none of us went hungry. So don’t worry about it and get some rest.”
“You don’t need to worry, take a short break.”
“No, I…”
I have to stay vigilant so that I can act as a shield for everyone if needed.  As I’m thinking that, Shigenobu appears.
“Yukinari, you’re probably pretty worn out too. From what I just heard, you acted as vanguard all on your own.”
“… Yeah.”
“Sorry, I should have left a message or written something down…”
I shake my head to Shigenobu’s apology.
“No one remembers me when I’m in Japan. Besides, you probably didn’t have any time to prepare anything, so it can’t be helped.”
I took my eyes off everyone for just 10 minutes, and that uproar happened. Even if I had requested for a letter or something, he would have forgotten about it, so it’s nothing that can be helped. Rather, I’m happy that they considered returning here.
Urgh… I’m feeling a bit faint…
“Yukinari?”
Shigenobu calls out to me as he places his hand against my forehead.
“Did you catch a cold? Hagisawa, Minori-san!”
“I- I’m fine, just tired. I’ll get better after some rest.”
“This time you went too far. At any rate… I’ll have Hagisawa create some medicine and Minori-san apply Base Recovery on you again.”
“Yukinari-kun, did you push yourself too much? You haven’t been sleeping at all lately, have you?” Minori-san asks.
“Yeah. Take some medicine, but go back to Japan for a bit and take it slow.” Hagisawa says.
“I can’t do something like that.”
It’s because I went back to Japan that this all happened in the first place. Also, up till now, my going back has only created unneeded trouble for everyone.
That is why… I won’t go back unless it’s to get something we desperately need– Is what I am about to say, but Shigenobu grabs my shoulders.
“It’s fine… Yukinari, you just rest for tonight. Hagisawa will make plenty of mana recovery potions. You can watch us with remote viewing… just let your body rest.”
“But…”
“Come to think of it, your ability is called remote viewing 1. Can’t you share someone’s vision?”
At Hagisawa’s inquiry, I tilt my head.
Can I do something like that?
“You’re right; going by the ability’s name, that is possible. Yukinari, give it a shot.” Shigenobu says.
“Got it.”
I designate the location of remote viewing. As Shigenobu is pointing at himself, I select him. My face is then displayed within my sight. It completely aligns with Shigenobu’s eyes. When Shigenobu moves, so does my field of view.
“It seems like I was able to align my remote viewing with Shigenobu’s line of sight.”
“When it comes to what can be registered, it might be a different type from Meguru-san’s clairvoyance?”
Hagisawa explains such with his arms crossed. He immediately covers his mouth, his expression realizing what he just said.
“In any case, Yukinari, take it easy for tonight so you can get back to fighting shape. From here on out, it’s like the final stretch.” Hagisawa says.
“……..”
“Relax, Yukinari. As long as you can see what I see with remote viewing, you won’t get left behind, right? Everything is alright, so just calm down and get some rest. Please.” Shigenobu says.
“…Okay.”
If they’re going to say that much, then it can’t be helped.
Shigenobu and the others look pleased at my reluctant nod.
“Gau?”
“What should we do about this guy?” Shigenobu asks.
“Since he can be taken along as gloves, can’t he just go too?” Hagisawa proposes.
“Wow, Kuma-san is going to Yukinari-kun’s home?”
Silence falls over the area at Minori-san’s comment.
Yeah, this might be fine in this other world, but bringing Punching Bear to Japan is risky no matter how obedient he is.
A bear has appeared in a residential area!
Such a commotion would happen.
“For tonight, can you stay here and protect everyone for me?”
“Gau!”
Punching Bear salutes as though he understands.
“Yukinari, normal mamono may return while you’re not here. If that occurs, return as soon as possible.” Shigenobu says.
“Got it. Well then… I leave it to you. Although, I’ll be back before you know it.”
With those words, I use transfer to return to Japan.
There, while taking Hagisawa’s medicine on a routine basis… I check on everyone one by one to see if anything is wrong multiple times as I rest.
Punching Bear looks to be docile even while I’m not there…
Night is slowly giving way to early morning when I return. Shigenobu is on watch duty, rowing a boat.
“Gau Gauu.”
Punching Bear, upon noticing I’ve returned, bounds with joy as he rushes over to me.
Yeah, his body is big, but his reactions are adorable.
Extremely adorable.
Does owning a pet dog make people feel like this?
“Hm… Oh, Yukinari? Welcome back. How was it?” Shigenobu asks.
“I took a night to relax and now feel great.”
“Hearing that is a relief… By the way…”
Shigenobu crosses his arms as he looks at Punching Bear, seeming to be in thought.
“What’s wrong?”
“That bear. You know how we all forget about you when you go back to Japan? He seems to remember.”
“Gau!”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, after you returned, everyone realized the bear was a friend. However, we had no idea who his owner was. We wondered if it was either Minori-san or Hagisawa. While we were talking, he would just shake his head.”
I look towards Punching Bear at Shigenobu’s words.
To put it another way, he recalled who he belongs to?
“Then, when we asked, ‘Who is your owner?’ he picked up a rock and threw it. Then he shook my hand, like that… he did all sorts of crazy gestures. I wasn’t sure what he was trying to do at the time, but I think he was impersonating you.”
Fumu, I stare at Punching Bear.
Could this be…
“Could it be that we’re linked in some manner because I’m his owner? Could that be why he didn’t forget me?”
“Perhaps.”
“Gau.”
Punching Bear snuggles against me and lays down.
…What is this? A light sense of ease is washing over me.
“Well, with this we can conclude he’s resistant to your problem. Make sure you take good care of him.”
“You’re right.”
Even though our relationship was only one of me asking for treatment, it evolved into more. It’s impossible for me to ignore him now.
He’s giving it his all for me after all.
“Should I get you some food? Or… would you prefer I comb your fur?”
“Gauu.”
Using remote viewing, I look into my room for a comb and use it to straighten up Punching Bear’s fur. He relishes it while laying down.
“I’ll keep watch, so you go and rest, Shigenobu.”
“Yeah… Then, I’ll take you up on that offer and lay down for a bit.”
“Gauu.”
Punching Bear waves a paw at Shigenobu as he leaves for his tent.
“Oh, that bear. He helped us all quite a bit. He’d tell us whenever he detected the presence of other mamono.”
“That so? You did great.”
“Gau gau.”
He cries out in pleasure as I stroke him.
The members of the battle group who are also out keeping watch smile at the sight.
******
Yukinari Hanebashi:
1) Teleport objects /Self to Earth
2) Point/yen conversion. (Tells others it’s a shopping catalogue)
3) Remote viewing
4) Bestowal transfer
boxing gloves: strawberry wallaby medal, kangaroo knight medal, punching bear medal (belt)
Kitchen knife
Meguru’s Metal turtle sword
Baby Blue Punching Bear Punching Gloves
Effect: Dynamic Vision Increase; Wind Punch; Bear Claw; Earth Crash; Wild Sense
Instant Expansion Ability: Kangaroo Step; Boxer
Baby Blue Punching Bear King’s Medal
Effect: King’s Protection; Glove Strengthening;
Enabled: 1 VS 1
Punching Bear Lv 15
Ability: Boxer
Unique Ability: Assist; Insect Killer
Meguru Hiyama:
1) Teleportation
2) Clairvoyance
3) Material transfer (uses pillars of light)
4) Transfer to the other world
Shigenobu Sakaede
1) Black Smith
2) Mining Correction
3) Equipment Strengthening
4) Grant Effects
Hammer??
Minori Himeno: Has a polite/formal way of speaking
1) Healing/recover mana
2) Charge with mana
3) Repair (doesn’t fix missing pieces/chips)
4) Item box
Crowbar??
Dai Hagisawa
1) Craft things
2) Identify
3) Trade
4) Collection Improvement
Hammer??