Trails with Cuddle-Cuddle Osbon
Translator: Tsukii
Editor: Helen
Read at Watashi wa Sugoi Desu!
Author Note:
This is the chapter about what is done to the Salt Pale fragment.
Thank you for the typo reports as always.
Chapter 054 – Fufufu, Son. It was an Incident
That day, the Principal Office at Thors Military Academy was shrouded in silence.
It was because Rean had brought with him the fragment of the Salt Pale he had discovered.
The day after Rean returned to Trista, he had first reported to Sara that he had retrieved the fragment of Salt Pale, only to be severely scolded.
Although Rean said that he had reported it before taking it to the Schmidt Classroom, it was still too late.
While enduring her headache, Sara urgently contacted Olivert to inform him of the situation, and he visited the academy that very day.
Now, the group consisting of Vandyck, Olivert, Sara, and Schmidt, whom Rean had called, had gathered.
“Well then, let me present it one more time. This is the fragment of Salt Pale I discovered in North Ambria.”
Rean placed the box he had brought with him on the principal’s desk and opened it.
The seal on Celine’s magic had been removed beforehand.
However, he still remembered how Emma, who was with Celine, was completely at a loss for words.
Celine told Rean to leave Emma in her care, but Rean wondered if she would be okay.
“……………”
“……………”
“……………”
The reply he got was silence.
That was perhaps to be expected.
Even though the people here had become all too familiar with how outrageous Rean was over the past few months, they still couldn’t comprehend the idea that he was bringing fragments of disaster back with him.
[“Fufufu, son. Seeing is believing. Just let the fragment touch something. It doesn’t have the same amount of power as it did back then, but it should be able to corrode things like stone into salt with ease.”]
Following Osbon’s instruction, Rean took out a random stone from his uniform.
Rean held up the stone for the four to see.
After making sure their gaze was on it, Rean dropped it into the box.
The moment it touched the solid white part of the cone —— the stone silently merged into salt, covering the solid part.
Upon seeing that, the four of them finally believed what Rean was saying.
The first to break the silence was Olivert.
“Hahah, I never thought it would lead to such an outcome…… I guess I underestimated Rean-kun’s fate by a little.”
“What do you mean?”
“Regarding this field study, I was the one who recommended it to Sara-kun. Rean Schwarzer-kun, in all the places you have visited during your field studies, you have uncovered one secret after another, of the Provincial Army. It is as if a string of fate connects you to everything.”
“I was skeptical and wanted to think of everything as just a coincidence, but now that we have already come this far, even I can’t help but feel that way.”
“According to the reports, the supposedly dead Jaeger King was also there, right? And the Zephyr is currently employed as Duke Cayenne’s escort…… but why would the Provincial Army reach out to North Ambria, which lies outside the Empire……”
“That’s because of Rutger-san……the Jaeger King’s personal social network. According to his daughter, Fie, the Jaeger King owed a debt of gratitude to Instructor Sara’s father, and was trying to repay that debt.”
“Hmph, I don’t give a damn about that. The problem is the fragment of that Salt Pale is right here. Schwarzer, give it to me now.”
“I’d love to do that, but it’s dangerous, you know? Besides, I’d need permission from the principal and His Highness for that.”
After Rean said that, Schmidt glared at Olivert and Vandyck.
His gaze said, “There’s no need for permission, just let me research it already.”
While Vandyck grimaced, Olivert gave a definite refusal.
“No, I think I need to hand this over to a priest I know…… the Gralsritter. They are in charge of recovering artifacts. Regarding the Salt Pale, it should be within their domain.”
“What?”
“Gralsritter?”
Schmidt’s irritated voice and Rean’s suspicious gaze pierced Olivert.
Olivert answered the question with a wry smile.
“I would have liked to keep this off the record, but…… you could say it is the hidden side of the Septian Church. They are the department in charge of recovering artifacts, the premature gifts from the Goddess. They’re a force that carries out rough operations, using unique weapons and magic.”
In short, they were something similar to the soldiers of the Church.
Additionally, they were often in charge of cases that couldn’t be made public, and they seemed to be people who were brought together by a certain amount of power and faith.
“Does Your Highness know anyone in that department?”
“Yes, due to the Liberl Incident and the Land of Shadow…… Well, they have helped us out in many ways. Anyway, the reason I want to send this Salt Pale to Gralsritter is not only for their protection—— but also to prevent interference from that side of the church. You can’t keep a lid on people’s mouths, and even if a professor researched the Salt Pale, some information will definitely leak out somewhere. It’s the best way to avoid getting the students of the Military Academy from getting caught into it.”
“That’s rubbish. Schwarzer, pass it to me. I’ll analyze it. Maybe it will be possible to restore salt in North Ambria to its former state, you know?”
“Is that possible……?!”
Sara’s eyes widened at Schmidt’s words.
What he was saying was nothing more than a delusion to avoid losing his research subject, but there was his track record and the fact that the stone did indeed turn into salt at this moment to consider.
Reverse calculating the effect was a category that had been studied in all genres.
A faint hope was born within Sara, but Olivert put his hand out to stop it.
“I’d be happy if that were to come true, but that’s not like you, professor. If anything, it’s more likely to end up being destructive. Moreover, even if we manage to get rid of the salt, it’s possible that the land of North Ambria will still remain dead…… either way, we can’t just leave this bomb lying around. It might not be a gift from the Goddess, but it’s definitely beyond what Zemuria can handle.”
“Then this is the end of our contract. I will leave. Of course, I will take it with me on my way out.”
Olivert, who was aware of objects like that, opposed its use. Schmidt, on other hand, couldn’t give up on its potential as an engineer. With neither of them willing to take a step back, a tense atmosphere hung over them.
That was when Vandyck stepped in the middle to mediate.
“Calm down, both of you. I’m not saying this as a compromise…… But how about we set a deadline? In a week, His Highness will have a trusted Gralsritter dispatched. Until then, the professor will be free to conduct research. If he can find out something about it, the Church might allow the professor to continue with the research even after the Salt Pale is taken.”
“That’s……”
“The benefits that Schmidt Classroom has brought to Thors and the students this year has been great. The fact that you, Schwarzer-kun, were able to detect the movements of the Provincial Army and discover this fragment of Salt Pale, is all thanks to the professor’s guidance, right?”
“In that guy’s case, he just acted on his own and found it.”
“Fufu, let’s consider that’s the truth. Anyway, I would like you to refrain from breaking the relationship unnecessarily. Of course, I wish you would keep the Salt Pale a secret regardless of your choice……”
“Even if you hide it, someone will probably find it on their own. In particular, that gloomy girl will likely be the first to notice.”
“Gloomy girl?”
“…………I think he means Beryl.”
When the topic of his friend came up, Rean supplemented.
The adults around looked at him with considerate eyes, perhaps mistaking him for being angry because someone had said something bad about his friend.
But in the midst of all this, Olivert asked Rean a question.
“By the way, what do you think, Rean-kun?”
“What do I think?”
“It was you who brought this here, Rean-kun. Since you consulted with us, I think you’ll leave it to us, but…… I want to hear your personal opinion as well.”
“Your Highness? You suggest presenting it to Gralsritter……”
“Yes, that’s my personal opinion. But wouldn’t it be more humane to ask Rean-kun, who brought it here, as well?”
“What do you think?” asked Olivert in a calm voice.
Rean took a breath and timidly said.
“I think it would be better if the research itself is carried out. However, I would like to invite an outside collaborator.”
“Outside collaborator?”
“I have already introduced Gandolf-san, the craftsman of a clan who are involved with the Divine Knight, to the principal and professor before…… but I’d like the head of that clan to participate in that research.”
“Schwarzer, what are you hiding?”
“I’m sorry, but they have their circumstances as well…… but the professor is also aware that Gandolf-san himself is a skilled engineer, right?”
“Don’t change the topic…… in the first place, the techniques of that man called Gandolf has gone beyond the scope of an individual. It’s clear that they are the culmination of techniques that have been passed down continuously on the scale of a clan.”
Perhaps as expected of Schmit.
Even though he had only collaborated with Gandolf on research, he was beginning to become vaguely aware of his background.
He probably didn’t know he was from a clan of witches, but it seemed he realized there was something that backed Gandolf up.
“……Could I have some more time? I want to confirm with that person. As expected, since it’s about Salt Pale, she should come in person.”
“Does that person happen to be a difficult person?”
“No, on the contrary, she would prefer if she could visit casually. It’s just…… Well, her appearance doesn’t make her trustworthy to be introduced as an engineer.”
That was the sole reason why Rean introduced Gandolf instead of Roselia to begin with.
Moreover, she wasn’t an engineer, but a witch.
They are beings with skills that were the polar opposite of machines.
“Rean-kun. I know a girl in Liberl who is younger than you but has skill that puts even skilled engineers to shame. I don’t think age has anything to do with skills. Right, professor?”
“If they have skill worthy for it, that is.”
“Ah~ to be precise, she isn’t an engineer…… but that’s something to talk about once she comes in person.”
“Fumu……Then let’s dismiss it for now. Schwarzer-kun, could you bring that person with you? If you want, I can even give you a substitute day off for tomorrow’s class for you to go pick her up.”
“Is that okay, principal?”
“I can’t prioritize classes over something like Salt Pale, after all.”
Vandyck spoke in a tone that showed the seriousness of the issue.
“I understand. But rather than a day, an hour…… No, could you give me just a few dozen minutes? I think she can come right away once I get in touch with her.”
“Does she live nearby?”
“U~hn…… I will explain all of that later. Well then, please excuse me for now.”
Saying this, Rean bowed his head and left the room.
He immediately called Emma and asked her to come.
After a while, Emma arrived looking anxious.
As soon as Emma came, she confronted Rean.
“Rean-san, what’s with Salt——hmu.”
Rean put his finger over Emma’s mouth to stop her words and also put a finger on his own mouth.
Although Rean sensed no presence around, the topic was still not something to be talked about loudly.
It seemed that she understood Rean’s intention, because Emma nodded obediently.
Rean took Emma to a random room, locked it so no one could enter, and explained the situation once again to Emma.
From Olivert wanting to hand it over to Gralsritter and Schmidt wanting to research it, to Rean acting as an intermediary between them, and that the research would continue until the deadline as well as that he wanted Roselia to join in with the research.
“You want obaa-chan to join?”
“As expected, Salt Pale is beyond what we can handle on our own. I’d like to leave it all to Roselia-san, but Professor Schmidt is really into it, after all. I think if Roselia-san is called, we’ll have to explain about witches. That’s why I want to confirm……”
Are you okay with revealing the existence of witches? Such was Rean’s wordless question.
To be honest, Rean hadn’t intended to say anything about it until Emma was willing to reveal it on her own, but the circumstances deemed it necessary so he could only suppress his regret.
Emma put her hand on her chest and nodded.
“Okay, I don’t refuse disclosing it. With the scale of the situation, it’s not the time to keep it a secret, after all.”
“Thank you. I’ll still try to keep it a secret as much as I can. Let’s contact Roselia-san then.”
Rean operated ARCUS and sent a message to Roselia.
After about ten seconds, the other side answered the call.
“H-Hello? Is that you, brat?”
“Yes, it’s been a while, Roselia-san. I am contacting you suddenly because there is an urgent situation——”
After a brief exchange of greetings, Rean mentioned that he had discovered a fragment of Salt Pale in North Ambria and would like Roselia’s help in analyzing it.
Emma, who was listening beside him, felt the fate-like something that Rean had brought in the form of things that went beyond the scale of trouble.
Although she knew she still had a lot to improve on, Emma resolved that she must guide Rean properly as a witch.
Rean pulled his ear off ARCUS and called out to Emma.
“Emma, did you bring Geass with you at the moment? It seems Roselia-san wants to use that as a coordinate to teleport here.”
“It’s fixed on my ARCUS, so I have it with me.”
As Emma held up her ARCUS, Rean nodded and told Roselia that the coordinates were active.
In an instant, a magic circle appeared between Rean and Emma, and a blonde Rean hadn’t seen in a while appeared.
With her fluffy blonde hair fluttering around, Roselia’s familiar smile wasn’t there and she turned to Rean with a serious expression.
“It’s been a while, Emma and Schwarzer. Well then, guide us there right now.”
“Yes, please come with me. Emma too.”
“I understand.”
Roselia would normally tease and chat a lot with them, but this time, she came as the chief witch and acted seriously without any hint of a joke.
It seemed that Salt Pale was something that couldn’t be ignored, after all.
Rean then entered the principal’s office once again, and after demonstrating the effect of Salt Pale for Roselia and Emma, he began to introduce them as a clan of witches that had been around for hundreds of years to the others.
Everyone was surprised at the existence of witches, and even Schmidt seemed intrigued by it, and Roselia quickly agreed to cooperate without much small talk.
Incidentally, it was revealed for the first time that the reason Rean disappeared from the academy when he first enrolled was because Emma teleported him elsewhere by accident.
“So that’s how it is,” said Sara as she tried to change her impression of Rean…… but then she realized Rean would cause problems anyway, regardless of whether the accident happened or not.
“Well then, first, regarding the matter with the church that the prince mentioned, we will also contact them through our connections.”
“Roselia-san, do you have any connections with the church?”
“Fufu, if you live long enough, you will have many different connections. But we could also understand the prince’s personal concern, so we don’t mind you informing them as well. Well then, let’s move on to analyzing it right away.”
“That’s encouraging…… But Prince, what will you do about Schmidt’s Classroom in the meantime? If you cancel classes and act out of the ordinary, it will arouse suspicion.”
“First, I’ll have the students process Zemurian Ore as an assignment. In the meantime, I’ll analyze the Salt Pale in parallel.”
“Did you acquire an Zemurian Ore?”
“That man named Gandolf brought it in.”
“Gandolf-san did?”
“That’s something we told him to bring. You’ll eventually need tachi made of Zemurian Ore for Valimar, right? In that case, we gave him some so people could learn how to craft it first, so it could be used for your personal use later.”
“Does that mean……”
“Yes. We gave enough amounts to make a tachi for Schwarzer, a magic wand for Emma, and for one more person. You can just let the students learn that and turn people’s attention to it.”
“So it’s enough for one more person. Then can you make that one into my weapon?”
“Instructor Sara, what are you saying out of nowhere?”
“Well~ there are many people who want weapons made of Zemurian Ore, after all.”
Sara, who requested that while laughing, had her request denied.
Rean had planned for the weapon made for him, Emma, and Rosine whose weapon would be Templar Sword that could be modified into a bowgun.
Since the three of them were essential for collecting combat data on Divine Knight and Magic Knight, the members of Schmidt’s classroom would help with it without feeling any sense of incongruity.
“But with Instructor Makarov and George-Senpai, both the analysis and processing might be able to proceed at a faster pace.”
“……Maybe we could get all of the witches to explore the Spirit Cave. If we switch the processing from a personal weapon to Divine Knight’s weapon, it should buy us some time.”
“Is that okay? I was planning to collect it on one of my free days eventually, though.”
“The Salt Pale takes priority, after all.”
Various discussions continued afterwards, and preparations for the Salt Pale research continued.
Olivert wanted to participate, but he was busy as he needed to prepare for the “West Zemurian Trade Conference” that would be held in Crossbell next month, so it was decided that he wouldn’t be participating in analyzing the Salt Pale.
“Ah yes, Sara-kun, I have something to tell you……”
“Do you have some kind of evil plan?”
“Fufu, there’s no need to be so cautious. It’s mainly about the field study from now on and how to treat Rean-kun——”
Olivert, who had begun to understand the extent of Rean’s influence without Rean’s knowledge, asked Sara to adjust the schedule for the next field study.
Emma overheard their conversation, but she watched Rean talking with Roselia and Schmidt, and wondered what they might do next.
＊
A new assignment was given to the students of Schmidt’s Classroom, and as the students and instructors there learnt how to process the Zemurian Ore, Schmidt and Roselia, with Rean and Emma as their assistants, were analyzing Salt Pale in secret.
Although the progress couldn’t be said to be smooth, data on the mechanisms behind the Salt Pale and material transformation it caused seemed to be coming together smoothly.
As data on orbal engineering and witches’ interference on spirit particles began to gather, hopes were rising.
Impressed by Schmidt’s skill, Roselia called him a modern-day Gnome and was excited by her old fantasy such as a race teaming up with a witch, and she put her efforts into the collaboration even without the factor known as the fragment of Salt Pale.
Roselia was introduced as Gandolf’s daughter.
The story went that her talent was discovered as an observer of ley lines, a type of energy that was separated from orbal energy, and helped Schmidt with the data he collected between his students’ assignment.
The fact it wasn’t a complete lie was a clever way to put it.
Because she looked young, Roselia had a beautiful, well-groomed doll-like appearance, so she was quickly accepted as eye candy by Mint and the other students of Schmidt’s Classroom.
But as the research with Zemurian Ore and Salt Pale progressed, an incident occurred.
It happened on the third day the research began.
The Salt Pale fragment, which was supposed to be securely sealed, was stolen.
A full-scale investigation that ignored the effort of covering up the existence of the Salt Pale was launched to find the culprit, and one student especially came under scrutiny.
The name of said suspect was Rosine——
Author Note:
I’ll hold off the slice-of-life chapters for this month and continue this series as a kind of field study episode.
I have a lot of things I want to write (like Sharon-san’s visit), but the Salt Pale takes priority for now.
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