Trails with Cuddle-Cuddle Osbon
Translator: Tsukii
Editor: Helen
Read at Watashi wa Sugoi Desu!
Author Note:
Interacting with a member of Class VII Group B of April’s field study this time. It’s Fie’s chapter.
Thank you for the typo reports as always.
Chapter 023 – Fufufu, son. It’s a Lovable Rival
“Rean, can I ask for some of your time?”
It happened when Rean was fishing in the school’s pond.
When Rean, who was fishing in the pond at the back of the gardening club, turned around when he heard the voice, he saw Fie wearing a straw hat.
Rean looked at Fie’s appearance, and although Fie called out to him, she was left speechless wondering what she should say next.
As they stared at each other for a while, Rean, who felt this couldn’t continue, offered a topic.
“What’s wrong, Fie? It looked like you were in the middle of your club activities though.”
“That’s my line. Besides, the club activity for the day is already over. Why are you fishing?”
“There’s someone who wants gray crabs for dinner. They aren’t sold in stores, so they made a request to the student council to get some.”
“…………Is that supposed to be a request for a student?”
“Isn’t it fine to just consider it an interaction with the locals? I have caught the gray crab here anyway. Bracers are hardly seen in the Empire, but I heard people who asked for them said it was like searching for a cat in Liberl.”
Rean had already caught some Gray Crabs, but he continued to fish, to see if the fish available in the pond had changed.
Since the fishes available in each fishing spot might change based on the month and season, Rean always makes sure he caught a type of fish at least five times on each fishing spot during his marathons.
Fie watched his movements closely.
Rean held up his fishing rod to her gaze.
“Did you get attracted to fishing in Parm, Fie? Fish like anor carp require some tricks to catch, so it’ll teach you the fun of fishing. Or perhaps you would prefer to catch crayfish.”
“Hm…………”
Fie silently lined up next to Rean.
Once Rean pulled the rod, he prepared the fishing rod and bait for Fie via Osbon.
It seemed like she hadn’t forgotten what she had learned and Fie swung the rod into the pond with such quick movement that it was hard to believe that she was only doing it for the second time.
Silence continued for a while, and it was so quiet that one could almost hear the sounds of the fishing swimming in the bucket.
“You see.”
“Hm~?”
“What do you think of jaegers (ryouhei), Rean?”
“Yofie?”
“Enough with that joke already. So, what do you think?”
“Let’s see, My……………”
“My?”
“No, I guess it’s not something to be said to Fie, so don’t worry about it.”
Rean remembered what he had heard from Osbon about how the people who stole his mother and Rean’s own heart were degenerate jaegers.
He could say he hated them, but it was said that his biological father Giliath Osborne had already exacted vengeance on the noble officer who hired the assailants, and Rean himself only had vague memories of his childhood, so he couldn’t feel that his biological mother was taken away from him.
To Rean, Mother was Lucia Schwarzer, and his biological mother Kasia Osborne only existed in the depth of his memories.
Even so, thanks to Osbon, Rean still had the vague memories that showed how he was loved by his biological parents.
Therefore, for the current Rean, the word jaeger was a vague word that created a discrepancy between reality and perception.
Even so, although there was emotional involvement with that word, there were no dark feelings that welled up in his heart.
“Let’s see, depending on the amount of rewards, they could be enemies or allies, so in a sense, it’s the profession where one can live most freely…… I guess?”
“Eh?”
Perhaps finding Rean’s answer unexpected, Fie stopped swinging the rod and looked at him.
Rean couldn’t see her expression behind the straw hat, but he could tell from her voice that her eyes went wide.
“After all, if you think about it normally, they would accept any job in exchange for Mira, it means they are not very particular about themselves, or that they are willing to do anything. Not being particular about themselves might sound bad, but on the contrary, it could mean that they could accept and do anything.”
“That’s why I think they’re free,” said Rean.
On the other hand, Fie didn’t think that way.
Those who received Mira and carried out their work were mercenaries, and the ones among them who did a better job than most would have the title of jaeger.
The fact that there were no restrictions in their work meant that they were mostly used as devices of violence.
Because they often caused great harm to others in the same industry and sometimes to civilians, the first thing that came to mind to most people about them was disgust.
Especially in the Liberl Kingdom, it was even prohibited by law to hire them.
They held dirty jobs covered in blood and smoke such that, depending on the amount of Mira they received, they could kill the person they had talked to amicably just yesterday.
For Fie, who had expected him to reply with negative words, Rean’s words came as a shock to her since she never thought of things that way at all.
“Rean, do you really know about jaegers? They’re not mercenaries, you know?”
“It means if I was a jaeger, I could take a job to attack Thors in exchange for Mira, right? I understand that much.”
“Then why do you think they’re free…… ah.”
There, Fie noticed that Rean was referring to an individual jaeger.
Fie unintentionally assumed that her question referred to jaeger corps, that was, a group of jaegers, and Rean’s answer was about jaegers that did their business individually.
“But won’t people normally assume jaegers as corps in the first place……?”
Fie’s opinion of that was that both were extremely natural and foreign.
Fie once belonged to Zephyr, one of the two strongest jaeger corps in Zemuria, so she thought the existence of jaeger as corps was a natural part of life.
That was why she felt a little stifled at the moment.
“It doesn’t really matter how many people there are. If Fie, for example, is offered a request to attack a peaceful village that hasn’t done anything wrong, what will you do?”
“If my opinion counts, I won’t accept such a request.”
Even if the corps leader were to accept it, he would surely find a good compromise.
It was because while her father had many enemies, he was a person with big resources that was only hated by few.
“But if it’s a jaeger, they would accept it if they are convinced with it or have reason to do so. That’s a freedom I can’t do. They changed their ways to suit the other person, so it can be said they had the freedom to take responsibility for themselves, right?”
“Ah…………”
Fie was speechless at those words.
Did she hold such responsibilities during her role as a jaeger?
Wasn’t she just an ignorant child whose root as a jaeger was held up by the leader for the sake of family?
Perhaps that was why she felt so anxious now her family was gone.
Although Fie noticed that her thoughts were gradually falling in a negative direction, she was unable to stop them.
“The words ‘self-responsibility’ come first, no matter what they have done, but that is only if they accept the request. Wouldn’t those who accepted requests without taking responsibility be what they call jaeger thugs? I think there are decent jaegers that did their job professionally. Well, the fact they specialize in violent stuff meant that they were probably battle maniacs or something of that ilk, which is different from martial artists.”
“Not that I ever met one,” said Rean to conclude his words, which made Fie sighed in relief.
At the same time, Fie was ashamed of herself for being so upset by a single word from Rean. For some reason, she felt Rean had talent as a swindler… Well, that might be saying too much, but at least he had the talent to change people with words.
As Fie returned her gaze to her rod, she lowered her voice slightly.
“Rean really is a terrible person, huh.”
“Eh, why was I suddenly insulted?”
“……I see that you didn’t say anything bad about jaegers.”
“Hm~, I think it’s because I’ve never experience tangible damage from them. In that sense, my words might not be reliable, and I don’t think that’s the answer Fie is looking for.”
“It’s okay, really. It’s fine as long as I’m convinced of it.”
“So, does that mean Fie felt dissatisfied that you were once a jaeger?”
“………………Eh?”
Fie looked up at Rean again.
Rean didn’t turn to Fie, instead he removed the bait from the gray crab he had caught and said.
“I mean, there should be an appropriate reason why you are so strong at your age, Fie. Vander came to mind as a wielder of twin swords like Kurt is, but I’ve never heard of a school of martial arts about twin gunswords, and seeing how you utilized a lot of tools, I thought you weren’t a martial artist. I heard that you liked your father, so does that mean both father and daughter belonged to a jaeger corp?”
Seeing Rean was so casual about it as if he was asking what was on the menu for today’s dinner, Fie puffed her cheeks.
“You should have told me sooner if you noticed that. It makes me feel like an idiot for worrying.”
“Eh, is that something to be concerned about?”
“That’s normally something to be concerned about.”
“Is it really so?”
Rean was still casual about it.
I guess it’s because it’s not his problem, thought Fie as she completely lost her reservations towards Rean.
She was actually more used to such frank interactions.
Fie knew that it was something different from the peaceful atmosphere surrounding the academy, but she felt comfortable with the way it was handled.
Fie wouldn’t look down on Rean just because he was a vagrant who was adopted by a noble.
Fie was loved by her family. She was adopted and lived a life without shaming her parents and siblings whom she was not related to by blood.
They were the same.
Fie thought they were the same kind, but she didn’t grow up as absurd.
Even to Fie, who grew up in peace that was born from violence, it was clearly hard to say that Rean’s behavior was suited to the academy’s atmosphere…… despite being raised with love by an ordinary family.
He clearly had something similar yet different from her that made him feel isolated and different.
Fie had no idea whether it was because of the Power of Ashen or the Divine Knight in Schmidt’s class.
But even if he was burdened with something greater than her own burdens, he still finished the volunteer work for the student council activities, attended the specialized class called the Schmidt’s classroom with his friends, and existed properly within the harmony of the academy.
Compared to that, Fie’s trouble about being out of place due to her background as a former jaeger seemed extremely banal.
Of course, just because they were similar didn’t mean their trails were the same.
However, Fie didn’t want to admit her difference from Rean was because of the difference of the love they received from their respective families.
So first, Fie decided to be mentally equal by making her words stronger.
“Yes. I was formerly a jaeger. My father —— a jaeger corps leader picked me up and I was raised there. It’s the Zephyr. Have you heard of it?”
[“Fufufu, it’s one of the two strongest jaeger corps that represent Zemuria. Red Constellation and Zephyr were both famous as the strongest jaeger corps.”]
“Err, the jaeger corps that was competing for the number one in Zemuria, was it?”
“Yes,” answered Fie after a delay but her tone certainly sounded happy.
The rhythm of the swaying of the straw hat and her body gave an impression of a cute small animal.
From what Rean could guess, Fie seemed to have felt like she belonged there.
“I see, I understand Fie’s strength. Then why did Fie came to Thors?”
“That’s——”
Fie didn’t hide anything anymore and confessed her circumstances to Rean.
It could be said she just felt that it was idiotic to keep worrying in front of a boy who was well-known as an airhead.
Although Rean knew the harmony of peace, and even though he was burdened with something far from it, he still cherished the person he called dad.
It was like a familial bond, albeit a distorted one, in the jaeger corp.
“So, when the corps leader passed away, I was left behind by my family… then Sara picked me up, and somehow, I ended up here.”
“But isn’t that something that Fie decided?”
“I wonder about that. Perhaps like when I was picked up by the corps leader, it’s just because there’s nothing else to do. I wonder if I ever made a decision on my own.”
“What are you talking about, didn’t you just do it?”
“Yes?”
“It’s definitely Fie’s own choice to reveal that you were once a jaeger. You’re just taking my words too seriously. You became a jaeger because you wanted to help your family. That’s a choice you have nothing to be ashamed of.”
“But it’s still a jaeger, you know?”
“It’s better not to limit your family with such words. It’s about love and being loved. I think that as long as it is clear enough, it doesn’t matter what your occupation or appearance is. Since you said your family left you behind, then next time you see them, just say ‘I hate you onii-chans.’ If Elise were to say that to me, I would prostrate and beg for an apology.”
“I don’t think I ever call them onii-chan.”
“Then just tell them how you feel, like, ‘I don’t care about Xeno and Leo!’ They are terrible people to leave someone they cared for as their family alone, after all.”
“Don’t insult the two of them.”
“Hahah, sorry, sorry. Well, this is what I will say to you. I think Fie’s family wanted you to give an answer on your own? You were adopted, raised, and became a jaeger because of that. There’s no doubt about that. But perhaps they had imagined what would happen if Fie had instead gotten an ordinary family and was raised normally? Maybe that’s why they left you behind.”
“How does Rean know that?”
“Since Fie loved your family so much, I’m sure they also loved you equally. But since they left you behind despite all of that, I think there’s a reason why they did that. Even my biological father abandoned me for some reasons after all.”
At first, Osbon told Rean that he was abandoned to avoid getting him involved in a political battle, but once he got older, Osbon corrected the sentence to say that it was to evacuate Rean to Ymir so he wouldn’t get caught up in the iron path Giliath Osborne was walking down.
If Rean had been by Giliath Osborne’s side when he was a child, Rean might have chosen to follow his father’s path in order to help him.
In that sense, it could be said that despite the difference of status, Rean’s and Fie’s circumstances were similar.
What if Rean was actually the biological child of the Schwarzer family and adopted by the Osborne family due to circumstances?
Rean felt like Fie was like his what-if self.
“What I’m saying is that I’m guessing the reason. Fie should just ask them the truth directly. If you’re not convinced of being left behind, you can continue to search until you are convinced. Fortunately, we have field studies that will let us travel all over the empire, so there might be an opportunity to meet them.”
“At least, that’s how I’ll do it,” said Rean.
Fie could easily imagine how Rean, who was the personification of action, would behave based on his behavior at the academy and during the field study at Parm.
If Rean was in my spot and was in Zephyr, I’m sure he wouldn’t be coming to the military academy to begin with, such was how Fie thought.
“Was the only thing Fie wanted to talk to me about, about jaegers?”
“Hm.”
“I see. But why did you suddenly feel like talking to me again?”
“…………I guess it’s because I feel like I don’t want to lose against you.”
“When you say lose, do you mean by strength or grade?”
When Rean turned to Fie, she had just put down her fishing rod and shot a defiant gaze at Rean.
“No, I mean a lot of things. I don’t want to lose to Rean. I love my family just as much, after all.”
Fie declared so with heavy breath.
This was similar to when they bragged about their family like how they said their fathers were amazing, which they had done during a night at Parm before.
It was a childlike expression of love for their family without any pretense.
[“Fufufu, should I say how heartwarming it’s to see people compare the difference of their love towards their family? She might mean what she said literally, but it’s more of her saying it out than her intention.”]
{“What do you mean, Osbon?”}
[“Despite being fellow adopted children, and despite being loved by their respective families, Miss Fie must have felt the difference with my son. She was suffering trauma from being left behind by her family, just like when my son manifested power of ogre.”]
{“In other words?”}
[“She’s saying she’ll do her best from now on.”]
{“I see.”}
[“Is the reason she declared such intentions to my son out of sense of empathy, or perhaps……”]
While listening to the conversation between the two, Rean took off Fie’s straw hat.
Ignoring Fie’s gasp at his sudden action, Rean put the straw hat on himself and looked at her face.
Fie felt an unexpected sense of shame as Rean stared at her and her face flushed red.
“W-what?”
“No, I just took off your hat because I can’t see your face clearly. I was just wondering what kind of expression you were making when you declared your love for your family.”
“What’s with that?”
“I’m just curious whether I had the same expression when I said the same.”
“I think you did, right? Rather than that, that straw hat belongs to the Club Leader Edel, so give it back.”
“Oops, sorry.”
Rean put the straw hat back on Fie and started cleaning up the fishing rods.
“Is it the end?”
“Aah. I have to deliver the gray crab to the client after all. What about Fie?”
“Hm~…… Since I’m already here, can I come with you?”
“There’s nothing special about it, you know?”
“I’m just curious.”
“Then it can’t be helped.”
Rean smiled wryly when he heard something similar.
“Ah, Fie. It’s biting.”
“Eh?”
Rean pointed that out when he noticed that the rod Fie had placed there was shaking.
When Fie hurriedly pulled the ort, a slightly larger gray crab was caught.
“This is bigger than Rean’s.”
“You’re right.”
“Fufuhn, it’s my win. V.”
When Fie made a peace sign with a smug expression, Rean’s pride as an angler was stimulated. 1
“…………Wait a minute. I’ll start fishing again.”
“Don’t you have to deliver it to the client? It’s already evening.”
“Guh, I guess it won’t be able to make it for dinner then……”
“Then I’ll give you this. You can use my gray crab.”
“Is that sarcasm, you bastard!”
“I’m just being a busybody~”
Before they knew it, Fie won the fishing battle against Rean through beginner’s luck, and hummed as she put her catch into a bucket.
“That’s one win,” muttered Fie unconsciously and Rean had a hunch that he might receive similar challenges in the future.
“That’s right, Fie told me a secret, so I should tell you one in return.”
“Is there something?”
“I guess it’s this.”
With that said, Rean unleashed the power of ogre.
That said, only his hair and eyes changed to an easier-to-understand manner and he wasn’t enveloped in a sinister aura.
Still, Fie was surprised by Rean’s transformation, and her eyes and mouth opened wide.
After taking some time to return to her senses, Fie remembered something when she saw Rean.
“Come to think of it, when you were fighting the person called Aurelia, your hair seemed to look different……”
“Jaegers use a fighting spirit called Warcry, right? Just think of it as something similar to that. At first, I mistakenly thought I was abandoned because of this power, but now, I have a lot of memories with my dad.”
Without canceling the power of the ogre, Rean grabbed his and Fie’s bucket and walked away.
Fie hurriedly followed after him.
It was Rean’s way of consideration to tell her that someday, her trauma could be washed away just like his.
Since the bigger gray crab would be given to the client, meaning that Fie’s catch would be delivered to the client, the two walked through Trista.
Their appearances were like that of siblings, such was what the residents who saw them said.
The story that Fie had an older brother spread a little in Class VII and the gardening club, and thinking of Rean who ended up dragging her in a roundabout way, Fie thought she didn’t want to lose to Rean and renewed her enthusiasm.
Author Note:
This was the conversation between the two during their walk through Trista during the evening.
Fie
“I was thinking of talking to you about this the other day, but I couldn’t find you. Where have you been, Rean?”
Rean
(I can’t exactly talk about Vita-san and Eryn here……）
Fie
“Maybe you went outside Trista again?”
Rean
“Aah, I was chasing after an older woman, then one thing led to another, and I ended up being guided to her family house.”
Fie
“Eh.”
Seeing Fie was worried with a serious expression, Machias went to talk to her, which made the content of that conversation spread everywhere the next day.
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