Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

Chapter 723

Bear-san Guides Deiga-san, Part 2

“It’s been a while.” (Deiga)

It felt like it had been ages long since we last visited Mileela for an employee trip. Though only a few months have passed, you know?

“Why is father here?” (Anzu)

“Well, I just wanted to see how you were doing…” (Deiga)

“I didn’t expect you to show up here unannounced.” (Anzu)

“I’m sorry.” (Deiga)

It was like their positions were reversed.

“Anyway, if you continue standing in the aisle with your big body, you will be in my way, so sit down.” (Anzu)

“Oh.” (Deiga)

“Anzu-chan, go back to cooking for now. Guests are waiting for food.” (Seno)

“Yes.” (Anzu)

Seno-san said, and Deiga-san and I sat on the empty seats while Anzu returned to the kitchen.

Fornet-san asked Deiga-san, “So, why did you come here all of a sudden?”

Deiga-san replied, “It’s because I wanted to know what’s going on with my daughter.”

Suddenly, Seno-san entered the conversation, “Anzu-chan said she was sending you letters.”

“But she could be lying in her letters, you know?” (Deiga)

“Oh, so you don’t believe your daughter.” (Seno)

“That, that’s not it. But she was saying that I don’t have to worry about her, that the store is full of customers, that everyone is nice to her…” (Deiga)

This time I interrupted, “Does that mean you don’t trust me either?”

“I believe you, missy.” (Deiga)

Deiga-san found himself cornered by three women.

“Yuna Onee-chan, big sister Seno, don’t bully Uncle Deiga. Mother once said, [A father will always worry about his daughter, no matter how old she is.]” (Fina)

“Yeah, I can see that. Mine has a habit of being blunt, but he talks to me all the time.” (Seno)

“When I was a kid, if a boy made me cry, my dad would get angry and try to go to the boy’s house to complain.” (Fornet)

Seno and Fornet spoke nostalgically.

I was neglected as a child.

Well, I was not a cute kid.

I would have been adored if I had been a cute girl like Fina.

“Well, I know you came here because you were worried about Anzu. I didn’t think you’d come without a word, you know?” (Yuna)

“Well, it’s because I’m just worried that Anzu’s cooking skills may have gotten dull, that’s all.” (Deiga)

“Oh, then why not take an order to have a taste of her cooking?” (Yuna)

“Well then…” (Deiga)

Deiga-san ordered some food.

Fina was reserved about it, but I asked her to order as well.

“Well, then, please wait a bit.” (Seno)

Seno and Fornet-san also went back to work.

“By the way, there are many people here. And everyone seems to be eating well.” (Deiga)

“That must be because Anzu’s food is delectable.” (Yuna)

“That’s right. I can tell by the looks on the customers’ faces that Anzu’s culinary skills have not declined. But I have to check with my own palate.” (Deiga)

He was a strict father.

But he seemed relieved to see customers eating with relish.

“Miss, thank you for preparing such a fine place for Anzu.” (Deiga)

“I promised, remember? I’m the one who invited Anzu to Crimonia.” (Yuna)

“But it costs a lot of money, didn’t it?” (Deiga)

“…Right, about that, Uncle Deiga, listen to this…” (Seno)

Seno, who was bringing the food, interrupted the conversation and explained how they started.

“…And she even lets us live on the second floor of this restaurant for free, and we’re supplied with ingredients for the store, so we’re also having free food. But the salary we receive, despite all the free stuff, is still the same amount we would receive working in other restaurants.” (Seno)

“It’s more than that. I don’t think I can work anywhere else because of how comfortable it is to work here.” (Fornet)

Even Fornet, who was carrying the food, also chimed in the conversation.

“It’s a fair salary.” (Yuna)

I consulted Tirumina-san about this, and she made a final offer to which I also approved. But that was only because I did not know the market rate of salary for the people working in Crimonia, so I left everything to Tirumina-san.

I had no intention to earn more by making Anzu and the others work for a low salary.

I simply wanted them to cook good food, and I could eat whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, and the food would be served to me.

“Really, it’s a great place to work.” (Deiga)

“Un, thank you Yuna-chan.” (Seno)

Everyone looked at me with warm eyes.

I was embarrassed, so I wanted them to stop.

As if to break the air of embarrassment, Anzu and Petora-san brought the food.

“Here you go.”

“Eat it while it’s still warm.”

“Oh!”

On the table were dishes ranging from Mileela’s seafood to the country of Wa.

Everything looked delicious.

Deiga-san immediately started to eat the dishes on the table.

Fina and I also started to eat with him.

The food was delicious, as always.

“You haven’t lost any of your skill, have you?” (Deiga)

“Of course I did not. Even after I came here, I’ve been cooking according to Father’s teachings.” (Anzu)

Deiga-san seemed happy to hear those words.

I wanted them to continue the conversation, but a customer came in, so Anzu returned to work.

Deiga-san watched on.

“Welcome.” (Anzu)

A new customer had entered.

The store was top-rated.

“Deiga-san?” (???)

The man who entered the store called out to Deiga-san.

“Toto?” (Deiga)

“Why is Deiga-san in Crimonia? Did you come to check on Anzu?” (Toto)

“Yes, I did.” (Deiga)

“What, you didn’t believe a word I was saying?” (Toto)

“It’s not that I don’t believe you.” (Deiga)

Two of them seemed to know each other.

“Deiga-san, who is this guy?” (Yuna)

“Oh, this is…” (Deiga)

“I am Toto, a merchant. I sell things between Mileela and Crimonia. When I went to Mileela, I was taken care of by Deiga-san.” (Toto)

Ah, is this the shopkeeper-customer relationship.

“And you, my dear. You’re the bear I’ve heard so much about.” (Toto)

“Do you know who I am?” (Yuna)

“Oh, come on, there’s not a merchant in Crimonia who doesn’t know who you are.” (Toto)

“Is she that famous?” (Deiga)

“Well, yes. Yuna has killed many monsters. In particular, she can kill wolves with a single blow without damaging their pelts in the slightest. The most important point is that the furs of the wolves that she kills are sold for a lot of money because they are so carefully dismantled.” (Toto)

I looked at Fina, who was eating beside me, looking red-faced and embarrassed.

It was Fina who was dismantling the wolves.

Perhaps she was embarrassed because she was told that her dismantling was very precise.

“The last time she took down a Black Viper, we had a lot of trouble fighting over the materials, you know.” (Toto)

Mylene told me that she had benefited considerably from the project.

I have benefited from it as well.

Next, Toto mentioned his inventory that was still sitting in the warehouse of the merchant’s guild and that he was waiting for a good time to sell them when it became more high-priced.

I also have Black Viper’s skin and fangs in my bear box.

Since I was not in need of money, those materials were just sleeping in my bear box.

“Miss. Did you even kill such a monster?” (Deiga)

“Long time ago.” (Yuna)

It was a fond memory.

“Uncle Deiga, is the Black Viper such a great monster?” (Seno)

Seno-san asked, perhaps having heard our conversation as she brought the food.

“I’ve only heard about it from a few adventurers, but it’s a big monster.” (Deiga)

“It’s not just big. It’s the biggest monster killed in Crimonia in years.” (Toto)

“That big?” (Seno)

Everyone looked at me with respect.

“But well, I guess it was expected that Yuna-chan is capable of doing that much, right?” (Seno)

“Indeed.” (Deiga)

“What? What did you do in Mileela?” (Toto)

“I haven’t done anything.” (Yuna)

“Hmm, yeah.” (Seno)

“Right.” (Deiga)

They all smiled implicitly, while the merchant uncle had a confused face.

After finishing the food, Deiga-san moved to a corner where he could look into the kitchen area without disturbing the work.

Somehow, Fina and I also joined him.

“I wanted to see the kitchen, but they said that I’ll get in the way. However, they allowed me to look from a distance.” (Deiga)

“So, how are Anzu’s cooking skills? From my point of view, I think she’s doing fine.” (Yuna)

Deiga-san turned his attention back to the kitchen where Anzu was.

“The heat, temperature, and knife work, it’s all good. She doesn’t skimp on preparation. And she is also doing well with the ingredients she did not use at Mileela. She is already a great chef.” (Deiga)

Lunchtime came to an end without Deiga-san ever once interrupting Anzu’s cooking.

A sign was posted at the outside entrance saying that the food was being prepared.

Anzu and the others ate their lunch and started cleaning up. Anzu and Petora cleaned up the kitchen, while Seno and Fornet cleaned up the dining area.

Deiga-san and I tried to help, but we were stopped by the four of them.

“It’s our job. Yuna-chan, Fina, and Father as well, please sit down.” (Anzu)

We were not allowed to help them.

Then, after the store was cleaned up, we all sat down in our chairs.

“Anzu, you’ve grown up!” (Deiga)

“Father…” (Anzu)

“I’ve heard about you from those who come to Mileela. I knew you were doing well. But I was worried because I couldn’t see it with my own eyes. I’m sorry I came without informing you.” (Deiga)

“No, I’m glad you came to visit me but is everything alright at our Inn?” (Anzu)

Deiga-san explained, as he had explained to me, that his wife, her brother, and a helper would be there to cover for Deiga.

“So, how long can father stay?” (Anzu)

“If your skills had declined, I was going to stay for a while and train you again, but it looks like that won’t be necessary.” (Deiga)

Anzu looked pleased at those words.

“Well then, if Deiga-san won’t leave right away, why don’t you let your daughter show you around Crimonia?” (Yuna)

“Right. The day after tomorrow is our day off, so that it would be good.” (Seno)

Seno said, and everyone else nodded.

“So, about where Deiga-san will be staying, do you have a spare room? I’d like Deiga-san to stay here. Is that okay?” (Yuna)

“Missy, I’d look for a separate place to stay.” (Deiga)

“According to Mylene-san from the Merchant’s Guild and Cliff the Lord, it’s currently not easy to find a vacant place to stay in town.” (Yuna)

I explained that there was even a mansion that they had to convert into an Inn.

“I don’t mind if you stay here.” (Anzu)

Anzu looked at Seno and the others.

“We won’t mind, Uncle Deiga can stay with us.” (Seno)

“Yes, I agree as well.” (Fornet)

“But you know. Didn’t we turn the empty rooms into storage rooms?” (Petora)

“I’d like to clean it up, but I have to prepare dinner now.” (Anzu)

“Well, I’ll clean it up then.” (Yuna)

“I’ll help as well.” (Fina)

Fina offered to help.

“I’ll just…” (Deiga)

“You can help them prepare while you’re at it. It’s been a while since you’ve seen her, right? So stay with Anzu.” (Yuna)

Seno showed me to one of the storage rooms, and we started to clean up the room.

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