The gatekeeper knew Tatiana and I had gone herb-picking. It seems he sent a soldier somewhat recklessly.

  “Sent just one person, probably thinking it was better to inform us anyway, whether we met or not,” I mused. It made some sense.

  In this case, the gatekeeper did well. Like me with my sixth sense for detecting danger, perhaps he too has developed something similar from his long tenure as a gatekeeper. Maybe something akin to a lucky star.

  Being married and happy, I find myself more generous towards others. I wish talents or blessings would flourish across the world. It seems to me, the happier people are, the more peaceful and pleasant the world becomes.

  Someday we'll have children, and I hope by then this world will have truly become a place of happiness.

  Lost in these soft thoughts, the city gates soon came into view.

  “Wow, what’s that? Looks like a storm has passed through here,” Tatiana exclaimed, her eyes wide.

  A carriage was overturned, and nearby, two men lay sprawled in a 'big' X-shape. They weren’t bleeding, but they weren’t moving either, which might mean they were dead.

  Near the gate, soldiers scrambled around, while further back, people who had been waiting to enter the city clustered together.

  And there was a man, back turned to us, standing alone. He was as broad and built as I am, a large axe strapped to his back. His clothes resembled those my mother used to make for me, complete with a fur vest.

  “He looks just like I used to,” Tatiana murmured, glancing up at me.

  Well, I’m still wearing a vest made by my mother, though the garments underneath it were bought here and are somewhat more fashionable.

  I avoided Tatiana's gaze and looked back at the man.

  ‘That fur vest… I thought my clothes were unfashionable because of my mother’s poor sewing skills, but it seems that’s just how clothes are here in Enorthos.’

  My mother’s handmade vests were always rather rustic, made simply by attaching animal fur directly without any fasteners or strings, just fur sewn together. Seeing this man’s garment, so similar to what my mother made, confirmed it was a regional style rather than poor craftsmanship.

  Back in the kingdom of Arenon, even the simplest peasant clothing would have extra fabric added and finely finished edges, making it stylish and attractive. The tailoring seemed slightly different there, giving even simple clothes a certain flair. I had tried on clothes in a shop here and felt instantly more dashing, though I couldn’t afford the high prices.

  In the forest, as long as you could hunt, you could have a fur vest for free, but here, fur was expensive. A fur coat or vest was considered a luxury item for a commoner, something to be afforded only once or twice in a lifetime.

  If one cares about appearance, Arenon garments might be preferable, but in terms of quality and warmth, mine are far better.

  ‘Come to think of it, Tatiana needs a fur coat too.’

  It would be better for me to hunt a beast in the forest and make one myself. There are tailors here, so I could just pay for the labor.

  Yes, that's a good plan.

  No, I must do that.

  It’s silly I hadn’t thought of it before. She was just a party member before, but now she’s my wife, and ensuring her comfort and happiness is both my duty and my right.

  ‘If that’s decided, I should hurry.’

  Winter is upon us, and there’s no time to waste.

  While my thoughts raced, the gatekeeper and the soldiers who spotted us cheered.

  “He’s here!”

  “The Dragon Slayer has come!”

  “We’re saved!”

  They must have been truly frightened. Even those who usually feared me a bit were now raising their hands high in cheer.

  As the soldiers shouted, even the onlookers who were stuck outside joined in the joy.

  The man in the fur vest, realizing that my arrival concerned him, turned around.

  “…”

  How strange.

  It’s a bear.

  A bear standing in human clothes.

  Its dark brown hair was bushy, and half its face was covered in a beard.

  Some parts looked distinctly human, but that was definitely a bear.

  “Isn’t that a bear?” Tatiana whispered in shock next to me.

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  As if confirming our soulmate bond, I felt oddly pleased that we were both thinking the same thing.

  The bear-man’s grim expression softened as he saw me. He seemed surprised.

  It appears he knows my mother.

  As the man’s mouth opened, I grumbled inwardly.

  Hey, gatekeeper and soldiers.

  Just because someone’s a barbarian doesn’t mean they’re Helga.

  It’s true my mother looks a bit manly at first glance.

  Even upon closer inspection, she looks more like a man than a woman, but she’s still a woman.

  She has no beard.

  ‘That’s definitely not my mother.’

  But there wasn’t more time to complain.

  The man’s face twisted.

  “Helgaaaaaaa!”

  He roared and then began charging towards me, thumping heavily on the ground.

  But something was off.

  My sixth sense wasn’t reacting.

  He doesn’t seem to want to kill me.

  But his distorted, bearish face was too frightening.

  While my mother and I do have rather fearsome faces, next to this man, we’re nothing.

  Seeing the man approaching, I stepped back, pulling Tatiana with me, and twisted my body slightly.

  I drew back my right arm, clenched into a fist.

  It didn’t seem like he intended to kill.

  ‘But let’s start with one punch anyway.’

  As the bear-man approached, I threw my fist towards his face.

  He flew back, crashing to the ground.

  “Waaaaaaa!”

  “That’s the Dragon Slayer for you!”

  “Everyone, pay up!”

  Cheers rose among the soldiers, though mixed within were some suspicious shouts.

  Those guys were betting on who would win.

  ‘Some bet on me losing, huh.’

  We’ll have to have a chat later.

  While I muttered to myself, the bear stood up quickly.

  “…”

  Impressive.

  I couldn’t help but admire him.

  Normally, one punch would have knocked someone out.

  But perhaps because his build was bear-like, he seemed almost unaffected by my punch.

  As he touched his cheek where I hit him, he muttered.

  [Brother, it seems your punch has gotten even stronger. You seem taller, too.]

  “…”

  What?

  Brother?

  My mouth hung open in confusion as the man laughed loudly.

  [Ha ha ha! You always dreamed of being a wife since you were young, and now you’ve grown even more manly. Who would take a guy like you for a wife? But well, what do you know, you managed to snag a man anyway. What about that duke’s son, though? Did he dump you, or did you kill him? Why are you here alone?]

  He started off laughing, but his last words were tinged with concern.

  [What’s with that dumb look on your face? Brother, your head was always as thick as iron, but you’ve forgotten your own brother’s face now...]

  He paused and tilted his head.

  [Wait, who are you?]

  He stared blankly at my face and asked.

  No, that’s what I’d like to know.

  From his words, he seems to be my mother’s brother, but could it be that my mother comes from a family of bears?

  Well, I know.

  I know he’s not actually a bear.

  It’s just too shocking.

  ‘So that’s why my face turned out this way, because I'm from that family.’

  I’m somewhat relieved I resemble my mother.

  The murmuring around us continued.

  Fortunately, since Uncle Bear spoke in Enorthian, no one understood the conversation.

  Except one.

  Tatiana stepped up beside me and asked in Enorthian.

  [Rafa, was that your uncle?]

  [Seems so. I only just figured it out myself, so I’m not entirely sure.]

  Our exchange made Uncle Bear blink rapidly.

  His face suddenly became stern.

  Strange.

  Aren’t Enorthians supposed to be happy when meeting family?

  Why such a fearsome face?

  Considering he’s my mother’s brother, should we fight, or do I greet him first? While I hesitated, Uncle Bear lumbered closer.

  His face was terrifying.

  Maybe I should punch him again.

  I positioned Tatiana behind me and clenched my fist, but as he approached, he suddenly pressed his face close.

  [Is it true? Are you really that guy’s son? Did he really have a child with that duke or whatever?]

  “…”

  Good thing I decided to wait a moment before punching.

  Uncle Bear seemed just curious.

  And maybe, just maybe, a bit happy.

  I recognize that expression.

  It’s the fearsome look my mother gets when she’s happy.

  ‘So they just look scary when they’re happy or embarrassed.’

  Looks like it runs in the family.

  [Yes, my parents get along well.]

  My words made Uncle Bear’s face go blank.

  [What? They get along? With that pretty boy? Didn’t he cry every day under her? Didn’t she force him into having a child?]

  That’s a bit too candid in front of their son.

  Well, I understand the disbelief.

  After learning why my parents live in the forest, I was curious too.

  Why my father seems so cheerful living like that.

  But they really are a happy couple.

  There must be something between them that I don’t know about.

  [They’re really just an ordinary couple.]

  Uncle Bear looked dazed for a moment but then nodded several times.

  [Oh, I see. That’s good. It was his dream to be someone’s wife.]

  [Really?]

  I asked, puzzled, and Uncle Bear burst out laughing.

  [Yeah. From birth, he was manly and stronger than anyone, destined only to be a warrior, yet he dreamed of being a wife. Can you believe it, with that face and that size? He was so clumsy at traditionally female tasks that he couldn’t even sew properly.]

  Uncle Bear slapped my back as he laughed.

  It hurt.

  [Our tribe’s men would run away at the sight of him, fearing he’d ask them to take him as a wife. They’d run like their tails were on fire to avoid being dominated for life by that face. That’s something they all dreaded.]

  [That’s a bit harsh.]

  Honestly, I had thought all Enorthian women were like my mother: large and manly.

  But from what he said, it seems different.

  Even his own family treated our mother that way.

  Isn’t that just too sad?

  Of course, I wouldn’t want to marry a woman who looks like my mother either.

  As Tatiana and I conversed in Enorthian, the soldiers grew curious.

  The soldier who came to fetch us tentatively asked.

  “Um... Mr. Rafa, is that someone you know?”

  “...”

  What should I say?

  It seemed a bit awkward to call him uncle.

  I smiled awkwardly.

  “That’s... someone I knew from Enorthos.”

  The soldier sighed in relief.

  “I see. But why did that man call you Helga earlier?”

  “...”

  What now?

  As I hesitated, Tatiana spoke up.

  “Helga is well-known to Enorthians. It’s kind of a greeting there, like a symbol of encouragement. It’s like saying, ‘Stay strong,’ or ‘Good luck.’”

  Tatiana’s explanation seemed to satisfy the soldier.

  “I see. It’s a disaster here, but it might be different in their country.”

  Uncle Bear scratched his neck and muttered.

  [Right, I forgot. You shouldn’t just throw around that name carelessly.]

  It seems Uncle Bear understands the common language.

  My mother had learned it too, so perhaps it was obvious.

  Then Tatiana pointed towards the gate.

  “Ah! It’s Jenny.”

  I turned and saw Jenny at the gate, her eyes wide, just like when I first arrived.

  The soldiers had probably called her too.

  Uncle Bear’s beard twitched as he saw her.

  “Oh!”

  It seems they knew each other.

  His voice sounded pleased, and Uncle Bear walked towards her.

  That moment, Jenny started running.

  She was quite fast.

  “Jenny!”

  As Uncle Bear strode forward, Jenny, who had been running madly, stopped in front of him.

  “... This feels a bit odd,” Tatiana whispered to me.

  “I feel the same,” I replied.

  Jenny, usually all smiles, had a face as if she had worn a horror mask.

  The others seemed to think something was off too.

  Suddenly, all was quiet.

  “Jenny, it’s been a long time. I’m back.”

  Just as Uncle Bear said that, Jenny swung her shoe right at his face.