#647 The Bear Returns

Although it was unfortunate that we couldn’t have grilled salmon, my desire for it was still strong. 

After all, I have yet to taste the pinnacle of salmon cuisine—fresh, raw salmon!

Still, cooking one fish isn’t enough to satisfy me anymore.

So, I proposed a grand salmon fishing trip to everyone!

“OOOOOOOH!!!” 

I recruited volunteers from the farm, including Orkubo and Gobukichi, and headed back to the river with our team in tow.

“It seems the salmon are currently in the middle of their upstream migration. Let’s catch them in moderation to enjoy nature’s bounty while maintaining balance.”

Seriously, when did this few-year-old artificial canal become a spawning ground?

But thanks to it, we can savor the taste of salmon. So, we humbly accept the opportunity to catch them in moderation.

Junior caught his with a fishing rod, but it would be inefficient for a large group to catch each salmon individually.

So, we prepared nets and spears to catch salmon all at once!

And then, we’ll freeze and preserve them for a long time!

I heard that some cultures even make shoes and clothing out of salmon skin, so maybe Batemy’s creativity will contribute in that area too!

Without further ado, let’s work hard and catch as much salmon as possible!

But when we returned to the river...

...someone was already there.

* * *

“...A bear?”

That’s right, a bear.

This is no bear-y tale, there really is a member of the mammal family Ursidae and genus Ursus in front of us.

How bear-y unexpected to come across one.

...

This is no time to be caaaaaaaaaaaalm!

It’s a beaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar!

A ferocious carnivorous beast that can wipe out entire villageeeeees!

Prepare for battle! Everyone, brace yourselves! We must protect our farm from the bear’s onslaughtttttt!

“My Lord, please wait!”

“What’s wrong?!”

“That bear is acting weird! Please take a good look!”

Even if you tell me to take a good look...

...Ah?! The bear is entering the river!

With a serious gaze, it stares at the flowing water...

Raises its foreleg...

...and swings it downward!

The surface is violently struck, splashing water everywhere!

Amidst it all, an exceptionally sturdy silhouette dances through the air!

“IT’S A SALMOOOOOOOOON!”

Undoubtedly, the salmon leaped out of the water due to the bear’s powerful punch!

The bear is catching salmon?!

“Haven’t I seen this kind of footage before?!”

Come to think of it, bears love salmon, don’t they?

Before hibernating, when they want to store plenty of food in their stomachs, salmon that swim upstream have the ideal quality in quantity, taste, and nutrition!

What a N*tG*o-like spectacle!

“This is the magnificence of nature...!”

No, no, this is no time to be mesmerized!

Even if it’s for some purpose, the danger of bears appearing around the farm doesn’t change. And at this rate, the bear will take all the salmon, and there won’t be any left for us!

This is also a harsh competition for survival. 

We must repel the invader known as the bear and protect the natural resource of salmon!

“W-Wait, My Lord!”

“Is there something else?”

As I was stopped by Orkubo, we continued to observe, and the bear caught two or three salmon before cutting it short and heading to the bank. 

It seems to have noticed our presence and generously allowed us to have the riverside.

“Oh, thanks...?”

What a well-mannered bear...

Then it neatly packs the salmon it caught with its front paws into a basket.

“A basket?!”

Why is the bear carrying and using a basket?!

I’m starting to get confused...

Could this bear be more than just an ordinary bear beyond our expectations?!

“Oh, could it be?!”

“What’s wrong, Gobukichi?”

The timely insights of Orkubo and Gobukichi have been nonstop since earlier.

“Isn’t that the same bear, My Lord?! We’ve met it before!”

“W-What?!”

Who is it?

Don’t keep us in suspense!

“We met it when Lady Veil renovated the dungeon and conquered it together.”

“Ahh, I see, I see. Yeah, I remember that.”

But wasn’t that a story from a loooooooong time ago?

Letasreit and Horkosfon weren’t there yet...were the elves already with us?

“Remember, My Lord, we encountered a bear monster on the final level there!”

“Ahh!”

“Do you remember now, My Lord?!”

“Ahh! Ah, ah, ah! Ahhh!!!”

My mind was so far away from any possible connection that the sound echoing in my brain was a simple “ahh...”

But wait, there is something! 

I distinctly remember encountering a particularly formidable monster—a bear—in Veil’s mountain dungeon (the multi-level one).

That was in the Winter Area, right?!

After defeating it, I spared its life, and it went on to travel to the outside world to become even stronger through rigorous training, right?

Yes! That was it! Okay, I remember now!

“Are you the bear from back then?! It’s good to see you again!” I exclaim with joy upon seeing the bear.

Emotionally overwhelmed, I hug it tightly, and then we shake hands. 

Its paw pads are firm.

“What brings you back all of a sudden? ...Ah, could it be that you’ve leveled up through your training, and now you’re ready for a rematch with me?!”

The bear had left to train in the outside world, but now that it had returned, it could only mean one thing: a battle was about to ensue...!

“Hmm, I see now. Ah, is that so? Right...” 

Orkubo and Gobukichi are translating the bear’s words.

A bond between monsters?

“Bearmon said it left the farm to travel the world and focus on its training.”

How industrious.

“On its journey, it met a heroine, and they began to explore dungeons together.”

What? A heroine?!

“Perhaps Bearmon was impressed by the heroine’s strength and offered to accompany them?”

“No, it seems Bearmon was concerned about the danger involved and wanted to watch over her.”

I see...

“That heroine has recently become a pro wrestler and is busy with events all over the place, so she doesn’t have as much time for dungeon exploration anymore.”

“A heroine turned pro wrestler? What in the world?!” 

Do you really have the motivation to do this, heroine?!

“It seems that since Bearmon couldn’t participate in pro wrestling, it decided to take the opportunity to return to its hometown and visit.”

“Oh, I see!”

Bearmon has undoubtedly gained a lot of experience.

Therefore, we will welcome it back with all our might!

After all, this is your hometown!

Its doors are always open for you!

“All right! Let’s resume salmon fishing with Bearmon! A few fish won’t be enough! Let’s catch salmon to our hearts’ content!”

“UOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHH!!!”

Thus, the salmon frenzy became a welcome party for Bearmon’s return, and everyone caught salmon with all their might.

And...

“Hmm? What’s wrong, Mieral?”

One of the elves who accompanied us on the fishing trip, Mieral, is responsible for woodworking.

She is skilled at carving impressive wooden figures, but...

“That motif...it’s perfect!”

“What?”

When I followed Mieral’s gaze, there was Bearmon, who had returned to its home and was passionately fishing.

“That feral texture, that sturdy body...! It would become a wonderful masterpiece if I carved that into wood!”

“Oho!”

“Moreover, if I could incorporate its dynamic movements of catching salmon, it would be even more magnificent!”

...

Wait a minute.

A wooden figure of a bear? And with a salmon in its mouth?

Why does this motif ring a bell...?!

“I cannot stay any longer, Lord Saint! Excuse me, but I must return and create it while my heart is still on fire!”

“Wait, Mieral! The woodcarving you’re about to make is the most delicate one in Japan! What do you plan to do with it after you make it?! At least think about the aftermath! Aaahhhh!!!”

Despite my objection, Mieral triumphantly completed the “Wooden Figure of a Bear with a Salmon in Its Mouth” with all her soul, and it was displayed at the entrance of my house.

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kibori kuma is a Japanese rural craft that consists of a wooden carving of a bear with a fish in its mouth. the sculptures are mainly produced in Hokkaido; small carvings are sold as souvenirs of the island. the most common design depicts a brown bear biting a chum salmon.

there's even an entire museum (the only one of its kind in jp) dedicated to just these bear woodcarvings--thats how historically and culturally ingrained they are : )