Trails with Cuddle-Cuddle Osbon
Translator: Tsukii
Editor: Helen
Read at Watashi wa Sugoi Desu!
Chapter 070 – Fufufu, Son. Make Sure to Do Your Groundwork
Since the day they hit it off, Rean had been helping Millium, who joined the Cooking club, with terrorist investigations during their free time.
Although they had requested the cooperation of Principal Vandyck, no one behaved suspiciously since the incident and when they asked Thomas, he said that none of the artifacts had been activated.
In other words, if there was a spy, he might have just been issuing orders with a radio in hand, or he might have anticipated the upcoming investigation and decided not to act to begin with.
Of course, there was no way they could pick up every single conversation among students, so the idea of installing a spying device throughout the entire academy to eavesdrop was rejected.
This thus resulted in a painstaking long investigation and several days passed without any progress.
Among them, Airgetlam was equipped with optical camouflage and flight capabilities, so Rean, like Millium, was given a ride on Airgetlam’s arm, and he also disappeared with it, surprising Emma, as it wasn’t like he did nothing to help.
However, the opportunity to investigate some long-standing concerns had come.
Incidentally, when Emma was called out to during Airgetlam’s optical camouflage, she jumped in surprise, startling many students around her and everyone fell into a temporary state of panic.
Apparently, when Rean got off Airgetlam to call out Emma, he was slightly out of range of the optical camouflage, so what Emma and other students could see was a ghost-like sight of an arm in a red uniform waving in empty air.
Naturally, he was lectured that they should refrain from behaving conspicuously and they shouldn’t use Airgetlam to travel around the school grounds to begin with. 1
Along the way, Emma ate some of the macarons that Machias had gave her, but she refused to share any.
Afterwards, for some reason, Machias invited them to Kirche’s, and the three talked about various things, but Rean couldn’t find the information he wanted.
Furthermore, the next day, Beryl consulted Rean on whether it should be added to the new seven wonders of academy, to which Rean said he didn’t mind.
“So, you want me to accompany you in the negotiation with Rufus Albarea?”
“Aah. But I don’t want you to show yourself, I want you to become invisible by using optical camouflage and just secretly observe the situation.”
In the corner of the athletic ground, behind the gym storeroom, Rean and Millium were making plans for the future, holding the refreshments given by Sharon and some snacks made by the Cooking club.
Sharon’s cookies aside, the ones that Millium prepared actually hadn’t lost their shape and were delicious. As Rean wondered whether Millium actually cooked very well, Millium told him that the cookies were made by the club leader Nicholas while the ones that Millium had really made had already turned into black charcoal. Rean decided to thank him later.
“You guys…… you called me out during club activities, yet what are you doing?”
“Hm, do you want some, Jusis?”
“Really? I guess it can’t be helped, I’ll feed you. Here you go, ah~n.”
“I don’t want it! Stay away from me!”
Jusis, who had taken time off during the riding club’s walk while taking care of his beloved horse, Strahl, yelled at the carefree pair.
Rean broke half of the cookie in his mouth and swallowed it whole, shifting to tell Jusis his thoughts.
“I want Millium to accompany us during the negotiation with Lord Rufus.”
“What did you just say?”
“Don’t worry, she won’t get in the way. Look, Lammy can disappear using optical camouflage, right? We’ll have Millium secretly watch the negotiation.”
“The reason being?”
“……I know bringing the issue up again will upset you, Jusis, but if the Albarea family is part of the ‘Noble Faction’, then there’s a chance he’ll be connected to Duke Cayenne. Of course, it’s entirely possible that it’s not Lord Rufus but Lord Helmut who is pulling the strings.”
“That’s……”
Jusis couldn’t deny that.
No matter how much his brother proclaimed about “noblesse oblige,” the current head of the family is their father, Helmut Albarea, and Rufus wasn’t yet the head of the family.
Of course, he was to be the next head of the family, but he didn’t have the absolute decision making power within the family, and there was a possibility that Rufus would just follow their father’s judgment, like Jusis would.
[“Fufufu, son. Their titles of the Four Great Houses are only in name and they will likely try to take initiative and make a move against each other. That’s when you should strike.”]
Both Marquis Hyarms and Aurelia-san are such nice people so it’s easy to get the wrong idea, but I wonder if all nobles are like them.
[“Most of the nobles you have met so far are the good kind.”]
Musse may look like that, but she is a count’s daughter, and the girl Elise has become close to is actually Princess Alfin.
{“Rean, aren’t you also acquainted with Olivert, Cedric, Kurt, and above all, Laura and Jusis?”}
Patrick isn’t a bad guy at his core, after all. Thinking about it, I guess I’m blessed to have met so many good people. I hope the only one I haven’t met, Marquis Rogner, is a good person too.
[“Fufufu, instead of thinking about the people you haven’t met, think about what’s in front of you.”]
Oh, right. My bad.
With a quiet smile on his face, Rean accepted Osbon’s advice, before making a suggestion.
“If we…… if the negotiation does not reach a concession, it wouldn’t be strange if I got arrested on the spot for lese majeste or whatever crime they come up with. In the event that happens, Millium would serve as an insurance to inform the outside world of the situation. Of course, it’s best if nothing happens.”
It would be possible for Rean on his own if he called upon Loa Valimar or the Divine Knight on the spot, but doing so could potentially arouse hostility towards the Schwarzer Baron Family.
Even though Rean did things as he liked at the military academy, the reason the Schwarzer Family wasn’t harmed by it was largely due to his connections with Marquis Hyarms and Aurelia.
However, the duke family held the highest status aside from the imperial royal family, and regardless of their feelings, they didn’t have to bow to the two’s authority, or rather, many had to bow and side with the Albarea Family instead.
In fact, although Rean wasn’t present in the group, back at May’s field study, Machias was unjustly detained in Bareahard, and Jusis was also put under house arrest.
At that time, they were released, thanks to Rufus’ intercession, but depending on the negotiation this time, he might come as an enemy.
When Rean told him this, Jusis had a difficult expression, thinking through it, based on his own experience. Millium devoured the snacks without care, but her bold behavior instead made her look more reliable.
“I’m going to ask for Duke Cayenne’s blunder and try to bring him down.”
Basically, if Rufus could find Duke Cayenne’s weakness, Rean would give him information about the Divine Knight in exchange.
But since it was Rufus who would be taking the Trial, if his abilities weren’t good enough, he wouldn’t be qualified to become the Awakener, but Rean wouldn’t bother with that much.
That said, since Rufus was a master of court swordsmanship, according to Jusis, someone as strong as him should be able to pass the Trial without any problem.
“I’m surprised. I thought you were ignorant of such things.”
“Actually, the idea isn’t mine. I have a reliable brain to rely on.”
“……I see, so it’s the conclusion you made in the Imperial Capital.”
It seemed that Jusis had learned through Alisa and Gaius that Rean and Emma went to Imperial Capital during the last few days off from the academy.
Since Musse’s existence was kept a secret from others, they might be thinking that she was a connection made through Prince Olivert. In reality, the said brain was clinging on Rean’s left arm.
[“But things probably won’t go on that smoothly. From Duke Cayenne’s perspective, cutting down the terrorist is as good as not suffering any wounds. But……”]
But if that would stop the terrorist, that would be alright.
In truth, Rean didn’t seek so much.
Information was passed from Sara and Vandyck to Olivert, who then exerted influence over the military, and with assurances from Neithardt, the adults skillfully maneuvered the Regular Army to keep the Provincial Army in check.
In particular, they seemed to be searching the area around Roer where the Panzer Soldat were likely to be made, and they were also keeping an eye on the Provincial Army, which was originally meant to protect the territory, through use of the Railway Military Police.
According to Sara, they were doing what adults should do and glared at each other in public.
Therefore, if they could block the behind-the-scenes operations of terrorists, they would be able to leave Duke Cayenne with no options.
Moreover, it would be fantastic if Rufus could really defeat the Divine Knight used by the terrorists.
Although it would mean giving a Divine Knight to the “Noble Faction”, Olivert could write up a signed contract beforehand, and defying it would mean betraying the trust of the imperial family. Nobles who value honor would want to avoid that.
As Rean said that, Millium, who had been silent up until then, suddenly exclaimed in admiration.
“Hah~ Rean has surprisingly thought it through in deep detail. I am actually a bit surprised. It feels as if you’re oji-san.”
“Really? I’m glad.”
“Ahahah, most people would either feel reserved or frown when they are told they are similar to oji-san, but Rean is weird, after all.”
“Are you praising me?”
“I am~”
Millium laughed out loud.
Although Rean had never met him, he didn’t think it was bad to be told that he resembled his biological father.
Seeing Rean like that, a thought occurred to Jusis that perhaps his brother had his eyes on Rean, not the Divine Knight.
As if trying to suppress the unpleasant emotions welling up in his chest once again, Jusis spoke to Rean.
“My brother said he will be coming to Thors on his next free day.”
“Hm, is it okay that I visit Bareahard instead?”
“The Divine Knight Trial will take place in the Old Schoolhouse, right? Besides, Thors Military Academy was founded by Emperor Dreichels. If it’s about prestige, that’s good enough.”
“I see. In that case, I’ll report to the principal. Thanks, Jusis. What about Millium?”
“I’ll finish the things on my side, so just contact me if you need anything.”
“Okay then. See you later.”
With that, Rean ran to the principal’s office to report the situation to Vandyck and Olivert. Looking at his leaving back, Jusis had a long look in his eyes.
“What’s wrong, Jusis? If you have business with Rean, shouldn’t you go after him?”
“That’s not it……”
“Then, let me ride behind you~”
“Oi, listen to me.”
Millium jumped onto Strahl on her own.
However, the white horse began to struggle, trying to throw her off, as it was unhappy Millium had mounted it so suddenly without its master’s permission.
“Wawawa.”
“Don’t ride on top of it all of sudden.”
Millium’s momentum made her drop——but she didn’t fall. Jusis caught her as she was about to fall off the horse.
“Heheh, thanks, Jusis~”
“Hey, don’t hug my face!”
As if expressing gratitude with her entire body, Millium wrapped her legs around Jusis’ waist and embraced him, just as she had once done toward Rean.
Jusis also forcefully pulled her off just like Rean did and admonished her for the indecent behavior.
“If you’re still female——”
“Rather than that~ this horse is smart, so I’m sure I can’t ride it without Jusis’ permission, right? In that case, let me ride on the back.”
“Listen to me!”
Jusis had a headache for a different reason than with Rean. Jusis sympathized with Emma, who had to take care of that free-spirited man, but he never thought that he would end up in a similar position.
“But you see~ Jusis has a troubled look on your face. Let’s go for a ride, I’ll comfort you.”
“You just want to ride Strahl, don’t you……?”
“Heheh, you found that out. But can I really not~?”
“…………The club activities are in progress at the moment, and it’s also time to take Strahl for a walk.”
“Then, it’s decided. Hurry up and ride! If Jusis doesn’t, I won’t be able to ride either, after all~”
Millium pushed Jusis to ride Strahl.
Her behavior, not caring about other people’s feelings, was like watching a smaller Rean.
But compared to Rean’s outrageous behavior, Millium’s behavior seemed nothing more than a childish whim.
Jusis resigned himself to his fate and got on horseback, walking Strahl at the front.
“Ooh~ that’s amazing~ it’s a different view from when I rode on Lammy. Can’t it run faster?”
“This is your first time riding a horse, right? You almost fell earlier.”
“It’s okay, it’s okay, I won’t fall again. Look, you can get to the highway from there.”
Strangely enough, Jusis thought that it was similar to when he had previously ridden side by side with Rean, but he increased Strahl’s speed while ensuring Millium’s safety.
“Uh~n, it feels good~ it really feels good to move forward while cutting through the wind like this.”
“……Yeah, it feels good.”
Seeing Millium having fun riding the horse, Jusis thought of his first memory when Rufus taught him.
Everything that made him who he was today was given to him by Rufus.
So, in addition to investigating the Divine Knight he was asked to, Jusis was able to obtain information about piloting it and pass it on to Rufus, which should be of great help, but somehow, a vague feeling of unease swirled within him.
“Go~ go~!” Hearing Millium’s carefree voice that sounded far away, Jusis sprinted on Strahl, shaking off his hesitation.
But whether Millium’s cheerful voice had really penetrated his wavering…… it was proven by the slightly relaxed crease on Jusis’s mouth.
Author Note:
I thought about getting Millium to dig a little deeper at the end and letting out all of Jusis’ worries, but I thought that Millium at this stage might not be able to understand his feelings to a large extent… so I left it as it was.
I hope she evolves to Millium onee-chan soon.
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