Trails with Cuddle-Cuddle Osbon
Translator: Tsukii
Editor: Helen
Read at Watashi wa Sugoi Desu!
Chapter 056 – Fufufu, Son. You Should Carefully Look Around Yourself [B]
With that, Aurier got up and left the room.
She probably went to write a referral to help Rean get into the girls’ academy.
“Once again, it’s been a while, Rean-san. What business brings you here today?”
“I have already told Aurier-san earlier, but I want to get into St. Astraia Girls’ Academy for certain reasons. Because I don’t have an appointment, there’s a high chance I won’t be allowed in. So, since the security guards outside there were Vander swordswomen, I thought I’d ask Kurt to confirm my identity.”
“I see…… Indeed, the girls’ academy is guarded by Vander’s skilled disciples, so your guess is correct.”
“My adoptive sister also studies there, so she’ll be in your care. By the way, it seems that there are a lot of soldiers in the Imperial Capital. Did something happen? It’s still early for the summer festival, and their atmosphere seems far too tense for a patrol.”
“……I haven’t been told about it either. I think my father, mother, brother, and uncle probably know why, though……”
With the rest of his family busy arranging something, Kurt expressed his dissatisfaction at being left behind.
Although he was aware that they tried to not involve him out of consideration of him being so young, Kurt still cannot shake the feeling that he was powerless to do anything.
Could the missing Gralsritter have wandered into the Imperial Capital? Or is this something else?
The recent commotion was about the fragment of Salt Pale and the Gralsritter’s effort to recover it.
What Rean needed to do was to find the culprit who stole the fragment of Salt Pale, and unleash Armor Breaking Punch and Termination Slash to the person who attacked Rosine that was mentioned in the document.
If it was the same perpetrator, Rean wouldn’t hesitate to add Loa Valimar as well as Valimar’s main body to strike as well.
Kurt broke into a cold sweat as Rean began to give off such a dangerous aura.
“R-Rean-san?”
“Hm? Oops, sorry, there’s something, but it’s nothing.”
“No, I think claiming it’s nothing after all that won’t fool anyone……”
“……The truth is, my friend has been caught up in some trouble and was falsely accused. In order to solve the issue, I’m going to ask a girl at the girls’ academy for help.”
Rean didn’t want to hide anything from the person he was asking help from, but since he couldn’t tell him about the Salt Pale fragment, he just told him what he could.
Kurt realized, based on his attitude, why Rean was angry earlier.
“What about you, Kurt?”
“What do you mean?”
“You said so, back at Parm, didn’t you? You said that there’s someone you wanted to protect. Is it a friend?”
“………………”
“Kurt?”
“Friend …… that person called me that. But I think I might not be good enough for that……”
The topic Rean casually brought up for a casual chat turned out to be contrary to his expectations, causing Kurt’s face to cloud over.
It seemed to be a more delicate issue than he expected.
[“I guess it’s like the issue of power of ogre to you? According to Madam Aurier, his swordsmanship seems to have improved since April…… but it doesn’t seem to have solved his problems fundamentally.”]
Like the issue of the power of ogre to me……
Although Rean, with Roselia’s help, could freely control his power of ogre, had Rean not met Osbon, it might have cast a deep shadow over Rean’s heart, just like it did for Kurt now.
Perhaps that was why.
He probably shouldn’t be wasting his time on other things while helping Rosine…… but before he knew it, Rean found himself saying things.
“As I have said before, I am working to capture the person who framed my friend for a false accusation. Even if that person is stronger than me, I have no intention of running away. If your strength isn’t up to par, will you just give up and leave the person you want to protect behind, Kurt?”
“No way! That kind of thing is……”
“You’ll be fine if you feel that way. If your desire to protect that person is true, then I think your confidence to fulfill it will also follow. But most importantly, it was your friend who asked you to be their friend, wasn’t it, Kurt?”
“Yes, it’s too much of an honor for me, though……”
It seemed that the said friend was of a noble birth, perhaps a noble or something.
But that didn’t change what Rean had to say.
“Then, by denying it…… Well, you didn’t do that, but leaving things vague could hurt that person’s heart, Kurt. That’s not a sincere attitude towards a person you want to protect.”
“That’s…………”
Kurt fell silent.
Perhaps it was because of his serious personality that he couldn’t argue with Rean who said whatever he wanted.
“Thank you for waiting.”
Aurier arrived with a letter at that moment.
Kurt looked down as if he was thinking about something, and Rean wondered whether he should call out to him, but Aurier stuffed the letter into his hands.
“I’m sorry. I think I said something that might have depressed your son.”
“No, it’s fine. By the way, Rean-kun, regarding the compensation for connecting you to the girls’ academy.”
“Ah, that’s right. If there’s anything I can do…… perhaps sparring with all the disciples? If it’s that, I don’t have time right now, so I’ll have to decline, but if it’s at a later date——”
“No, I want you to take Kurt along with you.”
“Eh?”
“Mother?”
Rean exclaimed in shock at the unexpected compensation.
Kurt also questioned her in doubt.
“Since they learn the Vander style, they would recognize Kurt’s face, after all. You can think of this as a way to deal with the situation if the letter alone doesn’t convince them. Of course, if Rean-kun decides that he will be a hindrance, you can leave him behind.”
“What do you think?” asked Aurier as her suggestion remained unchanged.
To be honest, there was no reason for Rean to take Kurt with him.
If he could enter the girls’ academy and meet Musse, the rest would be down to Rean.
Even without Kurt’s help, the business would be concluded in a short time.
Aurier must be aware of that, but she still asked for that as compensation.
Rean tried to guess her intention, but before he could, Kurt raised a question.
“Mother, why? Even if I accompany him, I won’t be of any help……”
“Kurt, even though you’re the second son, you are still a man of the Vander family. Vander is a sword of guardianship that vanquishes evil and reveals righteousness, but I want you to know that there is more to Vander than just its strength.”
“More to Vander than just its strength?”
“I believe that you would be able to learn more on that when following Rean.”
Aurier said that as she glanced at Rean.
Rean didn’t understand why she trusted him so much.
But staying and worrying in place would only shorten the time limit for rescuing Rosine.
If the person who stole the fragment of Salt Pale was too much for Rean to handle, he thought it would be best to have Kurt take refuge inside the Divine Knight and keep them out of danger.
“I understand. It might be only for a short time, but I will take care of your son for a while.”
“Fufu, please take care of him.”
“Rean-san, mother……”
“Kurt, let’s go to the girls’ academy now. We don’t have much time left.”
With that said, Rean urged Kurt on and they headed off to the girls’ academy once again.
Kurt looked back and forth between Rean and Aurier, but gave up seeing how his mother said nothing and followed Rean.
Aurier muttered as she watched her son.
“There has never been anyone who would talk to you about your ‘friend’, after all. I hope that this will be an opportunity to improve your relationship with His Highness……”
During a conversation between her son and Rean, Aurier was impressed by the words Rean used about not hurting one’s heart.
She thought that Rean had reached the point of learning what was essential to taking on the role of a guardian.
A guardian’s duty is to protect not only the body, but also the heart. Kurt, I hope you can understand at least a little of that from Rean, who is acting for his friends.
Aurier, who loved her son, wished for Kurt’s growth as a mother.
＊
When Rean returned to St. Astraia Girls’ Academy, he immediately asked Kurt to deliver the letter to the female security guard.
Seeing Kurt being fondly referred to as the “young master,” Rean thought it was the right decision to bring Kurt along, before asking the security guard for directions through the gate of the girls’ academy.
Seeing Rean and Kurt being led by the security guard, the surrounding female students started making a lot of noise.
The high-pitched voices made Kurt uncomfortable, so Rean tried to ease the tension by starting a conversation, but for some reason, the girls’ voices got even louder. Rean didn’t understand why.
“The person you are looking for is enjoying tea in the indoor garden up ahead at the moment.”
They went through the indicated door.
Sure enough, Musse was there.
She appeared to be enjoying tea time with fellow female students, laughing elegantly and enjoying casual conversations.
Suddenly, she noticed the group and turned her head—— and her eyes met Rean’s.
“Eh?”
“It’s been a while, Musse.”
“R-Rean-san? Why are you here?”
After standing up with a loud noise in her chair, unbecoming of a young lady, Rean approached Musse, who was looking at Rean in shock.
It seemed like there were people next to her, but Rean paid no attention and gently took Musse’s hand.
“Eeh?!”
Musse let out a scream that was unbecoming of a lady.
Rean heard someone’s gasp, but he ignored it. He ended up ignoring that.
“Musse, come with me. Don’t ask anything.”
“Eeeeeehhhhhhhh?!”
Musse looked around frantically, but Rean only saw her.
Therefore, Rean didn’t notice the black-haired and blonde-haired female students sitting at the same table at all.
“……Laura-san, I finally understand the true meaning of what you said in your letter……”
Kurt had heard on the train that night and in the letter from Laura that it was said that Rean Schwarzer was a strange guy who often manipulated those around him.
His image of Rean was that of a reliable older person who would give him advice when he was troubled.
However, Kurt finally woke up from the illusion and learnt about the true existence of Rean Schwarzer.
At this moment, Kurt had no way of knowing that this would be the moment he would start shouldering an unavoidable hardship.
Author Note:
Since it’s the Imperial Capital, Kurt’s scene that was previously cut returned with a bombshell.
Just like his first appearance in Aurelia’s case study, it feels like his position in the story has yet to be established.
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