“But Yuna, if you had something useful like that, couldn’t you have used it when we were carrying back the wolves?” Fina asked,
“I was lost, so I got confused and forgot.” I tried to come up with the best lie I could. I actually had been confused, since I’d only just changed worlds back then.
Since I’d finished buying the sword, throwing knives, and harvesting knife, I left the weapons shop. Next, I needed new underwear.
Chapter 8:
The Bear Goes Shopping
“WHAT KIND OF CLOTHES do you want?”
“For now, things that I can wear under these clothes.”
I tugged on my bear onesie. I was wearing underwear underneath. I wanted a shirt, at least.
“So…there’s an expensive store and a cheap one.”
“Either one is fine, but how are they different?”
“The expensive one has clothes that the aristocrats wear. I haven’t gone in before, but the prices are high, so they seem finely made. The cheaper store sells things priced so that normal residents can buy things. And there are also stores that sell secondhand clothes. Sometimes there are good finds there, so I like checking it out. Which would you like?”
Personally, I wouldn’t have minded going to the expensive store, but when Fina explained the expensive store, she didn’t seem very positive about it. I wondered
if there was an issue with it—were they selective about their customers? Considering how I looked, there was a chance they wouldn’t let me in.
Maybe the normal store was for the best. I’d pass on the secondhand one this time around.
“For now, could you take me to the normal store? I’ll consider going to the other stores later.”
Fina led me where I asked. A woman in her mid-twenties greeted us inside. When she saw my clothes, she looked shocked for a moment, but immediately went back to smiling at us.
“Welcome. What kind of clothes are you looking for today?”
“Just some underwear and clothes.”
“The underwear is over there in the back. Actually, we don’t have clothes similar to the ones you’re wearing…”
“That’s fine.” Like I’d want multiples of this outfit!
I left the employee where she was and went with Fina to the back. Underwear came first—I needed to graduate from the bear panties. After that, with Fina’s help, I bought a shirt-like thing I could wear under the onesie, and some unremarkable, ordinary clothes to wear the rest of the time.
“Thanks, Fina.”
“Not at all. I’m glad you found something to buy. What would you like to do next?”
“Maybe go to the bookshop or a library? Are there any in this town?”
“We have a bookshop, but no library. I feel like I’ve heard an adventurer saying that they have one in the capital, though.”
“Then I guess we’ll go to the bookshop. But before that, let’s eat lunch. Do you have a place you recommend?”
“Umm, is anywhere fine?”
“Yeah.”
“In that case, I’d like to eat where you’re staying. I’ve heard it’s really good.”
“At the inn?”
“Yes, guests from outside the guild come in around this time of day, since the adventurers who stay there are usually out for work.”
“I had no idea. In that case, let’s go.”
Fina was clearly delighted by the prospect of lunch at the inn as we headed back. When we got to the inn, it was bustling with customers. A delicious aroma wafted through the air. Elena, who was carrying a load of dishes, noticed us enter.
“Welcome,” she said. “Oh, Ms. Yuna! Are you back already?”
“For lunch,” I told her.
“There’s an extra fee for lunch.”
“That’s fine. Also, do you have two open seats?”
“We’re actually completely full right now. I think seats will open in a bit.”
“Can you make the meals immediately?”
“Yes, that we can do. It’s mostly all ready to go.”
“In that case, could we eat in my room?”
“Yes, that’s no problem.”
“We’ll figure out our orders. Fina, you can get whatever you want.”
“Are you sure?” Fina said, seeming very hesitant.
“It’s fine. Once we’re done eating, I’m going to ask you to take me to the bookshop as compensation.”
“Thank you so much. In that case…”
After waiting in my room for a while, Elena brought our lunch up and I took the tray from her. The contents of the plates were still steaming. They looked delectable.
“Once you finish, it’d be such a help if you could bring the plates downstairs.”
“Got it. I’ll bring them once we’re done.”
“Sorry for asking, but I’d be much obliged.”
We set our meals side by side on the tabletop. There was fluffy bread, meat, and even a salad. I wonder if there’s rice in this world, I thought. It’s only my second day, so I’ll manage…but I am Japanese, so I’m going to miss rice, soy sauce, and miso.
“Fina, how about we eat while it’s warm?”
“Yes!” Fina happily grabbed the bread. “The bread is so soft. The meat is delicious, too.”
“Yeah, it’s good.”
Fina’s hand paused as she was eating.
“What’s wrong?”
“Um.”
“What is it?”
“Could I take half of this meal home?”
“Why?”
“I have a younger sister at home,” she said, staring at her half-touched food. “I’d like to share it with her and Mom.”
Aww.
“That’s fine, but eat this. I’ll order two—no, three more later, so you can take that home.”
“Really?”
“Today is special. I won’t do it tomorrow, though, so don’t worry about it.”
“Okay. Thank you, Yuna.”
After we finished our meal, I brought the empty plates to Elena and ordered three portions to go for dinner. Our bellies full, we headed to the bookshop, which seemed to be in the opposite direction of the weapons shop. As usual, I tried not to mind the stares from the passersby as we went. I thought about wearing the clothes I’d bought, but I remembered what happened at the guild. Until I knew I was safe, I wasn’t taking off the bear gear.
When we came to the bookshop, the inside was half-buried in heaps of merchandise. The books that couldn’t fit on the shelves were stacked across the floor like a mountain range. It would be quite the undertaking to browse all of
