Fleeting
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🕑 Added 2025-03-07 17:50:54 +0000 UTCBear-san and Lize-san meet the Families
Lize-san, who crossed the gate using the magically created stairs, turned her eyes to the garden.
"It hasn't changed much." (Lize)
"That's right." (Bollard)
Lize-san and Bollard-san looked sadly at the frozen garden.
Perhaps it was filled with memories of their family and friends.
The frozen garden looked beautiful to me, but to them, it should be a sad sight.
They slowly came to the entrance, looking at the frozen garden.
"The front door is locked, so let's go in through the back door." (Bollard)
"Oh, as I said before, we melted the ice on the front door to get in, so... we broke the lock." (Kagali)
Kagali-san answered honestly.
"Don't worry about it. In that case, let's go in through the front door." (Bollard)
The door that was supposed to be freed from ice yesterday was frozen again.
Kagali-san seemed to think that it was her job to melt the ice, so she started melting the ice on the door immediately.
When the ice on the door melted, the door opened.
"It's like time has stopped." (Lize)
"Nothing has changed since the last time I came here." (Bollard)
"Let's go." (Kagali)
Lize-san went straight up the stairs and headed to a room.
"Sorry. Please melt the ice on this door as well." (Bollard)
This room was...
Kagali-san also seemed to remember, as she looked at me once and started melting the ice on the door. The ice melted and the door opened.
When we entered the room, there were people hugging each other in front of the fireplace.
Lize-san slowly approached the frozen figures and kneeled.
"Mom, big sister. It's been a long time. I'm sorry I haven't been able to come and see you often." (Lize)
It was her mother and big sister.
"I'm sorry I'm such a useless father and husband. I'm sorry I couldn't help you." (Bollard)
The two apologize to the frozen two.
But the frozen people could not reply.
They simply stayed frozen.
Never to move again.
Slowly time passed quietly.
Perhaps they were having a conversation in their hearts.
Kagali-san and I watched silently.
Lize-san's silent crying filled the quiet room.
Bollard-san gently hugged Lize-san.
Then the two of them stood up and turned to face us.
"Thank you, Yuna-san and Kagali-chan. I was able to say goodbye to my mother and sister." (Lize)
"I'm sure they're happy to see, Lize-san." (Yuna)
"I hope so. Maybe they resent me for still being alive." (Lize)
"I don't think so..." (Yuna)
"Don't say such naive things." (Kagali)
Kagali-san spoke in a louder voice of denial.
"K-Kagali-chan?" (Lize)
"Those who survive suffer... Have you been so happy that they would resent the three years you spent here? No, you didn't." (Kagali)
"..." (Lize)
Lize-san said she cried many times.
It seemed like it was more painful and sad for her than I thought.
She lost her loved ones, got no help, and lived in a situation where she could die at any time.
I couldn't imagine anyone would resent Lize-san for living like that.
After all, sometimes it was more painful to be alive than dead.
"Are they the kind of family members that would resent you for surviving?" (Kagali)
"...No. I don't think so." (Lize)
"Maybe you can't forgive yourself for surviving. But you've suffered and grieved for three years. You can forgive yourself now." (Kagali)
"... Kagali-chan" (Lize)
Lize-san hugged Kagali-san.
Perhaps Kagali-san could understand because she had a similar experience.
I heard that many people died fighting the serpent.
And at that time, Kagali-san and Mumroot-san were the only ones still alive after that battle. She also had suffered alone not being able to meet Mumroot-san for a long time.
So, Kagali-san's words carried more weight than my empty words.
"No one here holds any grudges. Even if they did, there's no need to worry. You have your own life. Those who survive have the right to live happily." (Kagali)
"...ah." (Lize)
"If you die, who else will remember your mother and sister? It's up to you, and your father, to remember them." (Kagali)
Kagali-san looked at Lize-san and Bollard-san.
"... I agree. Maybe Lize and I were both gripped by the guilt of having survived." (Bollard)
Bollard-san approached the frozen mother and daughter once again.
"You two don't have to worry about Lize, please rest in peace. And if you end up hating me, I will take the blame and accept the hate, but spare Lize from it." (Bollard)
"Father!" (Lize)
"This is my role as your father. And my kind wife and daughter won't hate you, but hate me instead. They would understand, Lize." (Bollard)
"..." (Lize)
"Yuna-san, Kagali-san. Thank you for today. We've reached a turning point." (Bollard)
Lize-san and Bollard-san were crying, but they were smiling.
But I wonder.
Kagali-san was saying good things, but she was in the form of a little girl, so it felt really weird.
Well, if I said the same thing dressed as a bear, it might also look weird.
Persuaded by Kagali-san, Lize-san said she also wanted to say hello to the servants who worked at the house.
Hearing this, we went around the rooms of the frozen servants.
Lize-san apologized and promised to continue living, no matter how painful it was.
Just as we were about to return to the Bear Bus, a voice called out to the two of us from the entrance, "Bollard-san! Lize-san!"
Hearing it, we hurried to the entrance.
At the entrance, we found the fisherman Baran-san.
"Bollard-san, a blizzard is coming!" (Baran)
Hearing Baran-san's words, Bollard-san ran out the front door.
We followed him.
"At this time!?" (Bollard)
When we opened the door, snow was falling outside and a strong wind was blowing.
In such a short time?
Until just now, it had been sunny.
There was no sign of a blizzard.
"Hurry to the carriage." (Yuna)
We closed the door and ran towards the Bear Bus.
We climbed up the small hill, crossed the fence, and returned to the Bear Bus.
"Kuuuuuh."
When we entered the Bear Bus, Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear welcomed us.
"Alright. We made it back safely." (Yuna)
"But what will we do? It will only get worse as time goes on." (Bollard)
"Should we wait somewhere for the blizzard to stop?" (Yuna)
"How long does the blizzard usually last?" (Kagali)
Kagali-san asked.
The blizzard was gradually getting stronger as we talked.
"It could last for one night, or it could last for days. We can't predict." (Bollard)
"What would you normally do if a blizzard hits, and you people were outside the mine?" (Kagali)
When it came to sudden blizzards, there should have been times when they were not in the mine when it happened.
"There are other caves around here. We can also take shelter in the town, we have secured some locations for that. Though, all we can do when it happens is to wait at a shelter and use the fire magic stones we carry to warm ourselves as we wait for the blizzard to subside." (Bollard)
Blizzard could also come suddenly when Baran-san went out fishing.
They were alive in such harsh conditions.
"It might prevent the blizzard, but won't it be cold with just the magic stones?" (Kagali)
Kagali-san was right, even if they had a fire magic stone, it couldn't warm up the whole body.
"If that's the case, it's better for us to stay inside the Bear Bus for now." (Yuna)
"It's certainly not cold inside." (Bollard)
It was my first time riding the Bear Bus while surrounded by cold weather, but it seemed like it could also protect us from the cold just like the Bear House.
Since I was wearing my bear gear, I often didn't notice such changes in the environment.
"Well then, we'll stay inside until the blizzard..." (Yuna)
Just as I was about to say that, Baran-san opened his mouth.
"Miss, can this bear carriage return to the mine?" (Baran)
"Baran?" (Bollard)
Everyone on the Bear Bus was surprised by Baran-san's words.
"My precious horse is in the shed. We need to get it back quickly. We can't let the monsters kill it." (Baran)
"Baran, I understand how you feel, but it's dangerous to travel in this blizzard." (Bollard)
"Dad…" (Lize)
Everyone looked pessimistic even if they cared for the horses.
"In the shed, it will be protected from the blizzard. Maybe the monsters won't show up, or they will just leave the horse alone." (Bollard)
"Perhaps so, but…" (Baran)
Only the monsters themselves could decide if they wished to harm the horses.
"After that incident, we reinforced the shed. Let's hope it's safe. Currently, protecting ourselves is our priority." (Bollard)
Everyone thought so.
Their own lives were more important than the horse.
But if something were to happen to the horse, Baran-san would be sad.
No, it was not just Baran-san. Everyone here would regret it.
I would be fine even if I went to check on the horse on my own in this blizzard.
But I was worried about leaving everyone behind.
Moreover, if monsters or the dragon appeared, there would only be Kagali-san, Swaying Bear, and Hugging Bear to deal with them.
In such a situation, there was only one way.
"Then let us all return together." (Yuna)
That was for the best.
"Will it be possible in this weather?" (Bollard)
"I think it'll probably be fine." (Yuna)
I've never driven the Bear Bus through a snowy mountain, but this was cheat magic.
"Can we really go home, young lady?" (Old man)
"I can force it to move, but I can't guarantee the ride will be smooth sailing." (Yuna)
"We don't mind." (Bollard)
"I'll be fine too." (Baran)
"Please, young lady." (Old Man)
"Yuna-san, can you please do so?" (Lize)
No one objected.
It was snowing outside.
We'd only been talking for a few minutes, and it was worse than before.
"Alright, even if we can't go any further, we'll be safe inside." (Yuna)
At worst, we could always move to my Bear House on the way.
Everyone agreed, so we decided to head back to the mine.
I sat in the driver's seat and started moving the Bear Bus.
