Trails with Cuddle-Cuddle Osbon
Translator: Tsukii
Editor: Helen
Read at Watashi wa Sugoi Desu!
Author Note:
Thank you for the typo reports as always.
Chapter 072 – Fufufu, Son. It’s Time for The Field Study This Month
Jusis was overwhelmed.
It was a huge space that clearly went beyond common sense. A mysterious structure with gears moving in space. A region was enveloped in a misty haze that seemed like smoke or clouds.
Rean had told him that the Trial ground was where the contract with the Divine Knight was made.
When he saw it for himself, he started to wonder if the Divine Knight he often saw in Thors really had to go through a place like this to obtain it.
“Jusis, you seem excited.”
“I-I’m sorry, brother.”
“No, I don’t mind. I feel the same way after all.”
Hearing this, Jusis noticed the excitement in his brother’s voice.
It was a rare sight to see the person he respected, who was normally unmoved and possessed nobility and composure.
“I really never thought I would get the chance for something like this.”
To whom were those words addressed?
Feeling it wasn’t him at least, Jusis chased after Rufus as he started walking.
As he watched his brother slaughter the puppets and monsters that roamed in the realm of shadows with a single slash or with orbal magic, Jusis stared at his brother’s back in the distance, wondering if he really was capable of supporting him.
In fact, Rufus marched through the realm without even looking back at Jusis.
As if in a fever, his steps were too powerful to be called sleepwalking, and Jusis was confused that he couldn’t see the gentlemanly back he had always admired.
“B-Brother……?”
“Hmm, what is it, Jusis?”
Rufus, who had been quickly exterminating the monsters, turned around.
Jusis gasped at the sight of his face.
“I-It seems that the sealed door can be opened by activating a gimmick.”
“Yes, so it seems…… It looks like the gimmick is placed in a scattered manner. Jusis, let’s split up a bit and go our separate ways.”
Jusis was relieved that he was able to cover it up with the words that came out of his mouth.
Rufus operated the gimmick with a brisk walk, freeing the way ahead. As they headed toward the location of the gimmick, which was in a different location, Jusis recalled the look on Rufus’s face earlier.
“What, was that……? Was that really my brother?”
Jusis saw Rufus smiling.
It wasn’t the elegant smile he had been accustomed to seeing since childhood. It was something false and dark inside…… something that even his mask of elegance couldn’t hide.
Jusis was unable to put it into words.
However…… The only thing that came to mind was doubt of whether the Rufus he had seen up until then was truly him.
＊
After defeating the gatekeeper known as the guardian, Rufus and Jusis returned to the Old Schoolhouse.
As Emma spoke up after sensing this, the group of Emma, Rean, and Millium entered the Old Schoolhouse, along with them were Oliver, Cedric, and their escort, Kurt. In the Old Schoolhouse, where a golden knight doll with a sharp, horn-like helmet was enshrined in the place where Valimar had once been enshrined.
“The Auric Knight, El-Prado……”
Emma muttered the name of the Divine Knight.
As could be inferred from the color of the Divine Knight that the power the Albarea brothers had won appeared to be the Auric Divine Knight.
Seeing its majesty and beauty, Cedric exclaimed in admiration, while silently looking up at the Divine Knight.
Rather than focusing on the Divine Knight, Jusis focused his attention on Rufus who was standing next to him.
“You did well, Jusis. It looks like you passed the Trial without a hitch.”
“A-aah. But it wouldn’t have made any difference whether I was there or not.”
Jusis seemed somewhat depressed.
He said that even if he hadn’t been there, Rufus could have gotten through it by himself. All he did was just make the Trial conclude in less time.
While Millium comforted Jusis, Rean looked at Rufus, who was still wearing the same smile he saw in the principal’s office.
But Rean noticed that Rufus was radiating even more joy than usual in that expression.
“Congratulations, Lord Rufus.”
“Fufu, I’m just Rufus at the moment. You can call me Rufus-san like earlier. I’m grateful to you for giving me this opportunity.”
“Then I’ll call you Rufus-san. I can’t give the Divine Knight until we capture the terrorists…… but would you like to try and pilot it? It’s the so-called trial run.”
“I assume you mean a mock battle with your Divine Knight? I’d love to say yes, but I’ll hold off for now. I haven’t fulfilled my side of the agreement after all. It’s a formal contract witnessed by the members of the imperial family ……So let’s hold off on the handshake. I look forward to working with you when this is all over.”
“If that’s the case, I’ll take care of this Divine Knight until then.”
Rean clenched his fist, determined to keep a close eye on more than just the lock, to at least prevent terrorists from getting in again.
“R-Rufus-dono! Can I take a closer look or maybe touch the Divine Knight?”
“Cedric, that’s just too indecent.”
Smiling at Kurt who was trying to calm Cedric, who had gleaming eyes, down, Rufus gave his permission, saying it was fine, and Cedric smiled like an angel after being allowed to do so.
Kurt tried to hold back Cedric who had come running toward the Divine Knight, but Rean realized that Kurt himself was also interested in the Divine Knight and gave him a slap on the back.
“Come on, Kurt, go take a closer look. You’re curious, aren’t you?”
“Eh…… W-well, but my role……”
“Permission was already given by Rufus-san. Rufus-san, is it alright for Kurt to come and take a look?”
“Yes, of course. I hope you and Your Highness will go and see the part of legend.” 1
“Just like Kurt’s name.”
“Rean-san! N-No, excuse me, Lord Rufus. T-Then, please excuse me.”
After a cough, Kurt stood next to Cedric and began looking at El-Prado.
Kurt seemed mature, but he was still fourteen after all. It was an age when boys became interested in those sorts of things, and since Rean had gone through it, he understood very well.
“But looking at this, it does seem to be connected to the original source~”
Suddenly, Millium, who had come next to him, muttered as she looked at El-Prado.
“Connected?”
“Yes, I’ve heard a lot from oji-san, but it’s really hard to tell unless one got connected to it. But well, I think I can report a lot of things.”
Rean frowned as Millium spoke profound words.
Though Rean didn’t know the details, he vaguely felt that the relationship between Millium and Airgetlam was similar to that of a Divine Knight and an Awakener…… at least he felt that way.
Will Rufus-san’s suspicions be cleared with this?
[“It’s hard to say. But if he’s going to deal with terrorists, it’s probably only a matter of time before the allegation come to light.”]
Indeed, if he was suspected, he would desperately try to clear it, and if he was connected to terrorists, his movements would be detected.
Whatever the case might be, it would be important to keep an eye on Rufus’s future movements.
“By the way, Your Highness. I want to talk to you about something……”
“Hm…… okay. But is it okay? To leave your future partner like this.”
“Rean-kun said he will take responsibility for it, so I trust him. It’s not good to chat while standing, so please come over here……”
With their eyes on him, Rufus tried to leave the Old Schoolhouse with Olivert.
In an attempt to stop the two, Rean spoke to held them back.
“Ah, Rufus-san. His Highness is also planning for celebration, or rather, a party to celebrate……”
“No, I want my brother to take my place for that.”
“What is it, Lord Rufus? Are you going to turn down such a generous invitation?”
“Please excuse me. But I want to take measures against terrorists as soon as possible.”
“Oops, if you mention that, I have no choice but to agree. That is really difficult.”
As if to say Rufus got the upper hand, Olivert apologized to Rean for refusing the invitation and this time finally left the Old Schoolhouse with Rufus.
Rean felt that this was yet another step forward in counter-terrorism effort, but he was troubled by the fact that Jusis, who should be comforted by Millium, was looking at Rean with a serious expression.
He must have talked to his brother during the Trial, but perhaps something was on his mind?
“Well then, Jusis, Rufus-san has gone, but Sharon-san should be waiting for us at the third student dormitory, could you please tell Prince Cedric and Kurt about the Trial? I want to hear about it too.”
“Didn’t you receive it too?”
“My circumstances are a bit special. I can’t really explain it.”
Emma next to him seemed to say it would be troubling if Rean told them the story of how Osbon had helped them to shortcut the Trial and how they fought the guardian, Loa Erebonius, and Rean absorbed it.
Rean thought it wasn’t a big deal, but Emma firmly stated that she couldn’t destroy Cedric and Kurt’s dreams, so Rean nodded.
Although Emma was pumping her fist in excitement for some reason, Olivert and Rufus participated in the celebration, but Sharon had prepared a grand dinner party where Cedirc and Kurt were also going to attend.
Midway through, the returning members of Class VII were extremely shaken by the sight of the imperial family, but with Rean’s help, as well as seeing the interactions between Laura and Kurt who shared intimate embrace like siblings reunited, a joyous time passed in the third dormitory, with sounds of surprise and laughter echoing throughout the building.
Meanwhile, with Rean and Millium forcibly approaching him to spill the beans, Rufus’s words repeated endlessly in his mind.
[“Jusis, are friends really that valuable? To the point it blew away all your other thoughts and you show no interest in the Divine Knight at all.”]
That question…… no, that muttering that slipped out Rufus’s mouth was something that Jusis was still unable to give an answer to.
＊
Their free days passed, and now it was July, the season that changed the uniform, but the practical exam remained the same.
With Rean’s skill impressive to begin with, Emma had shown a rapid improvement this month. The two of them teamed up and was powerful enough to defeat Sara.
The puppets were meaningless, and thanks to Rean’s influence, Class VII’s abilities had improved considerably through their tactical link.
As shameful as it was to admit, Sara wondered if she should call Neithardt for reinforcement, but her pride as an instructor meant that she faced against everyone.
When fighting Rean, she fought him one-on-one when he used only his raw strength without assistance from the power of ogre and Loa Valimar, but Rean, who had been training with Sara from time to time since May, had sharp movements, to the point that Sara felt a sense of crisis that her chance of winning seemed to have been reduced to 70%, or even 60%.
Without letting anyone know her inner thoughts, Sara announced the pairings for this month’s field study.
Group A: Emma, Fie, Millium, Machias, and Gaius. The field study destination is the Imperial Capital Heimdallr.
Group B: Alisa, Laura, Jusis, and Elliot. The field study destination is the Imperial Capital Heimdallr.
Group C: Rean and the others. The field study destination is the Imperial Capital Heimdallr.
“Everyone has the same destination?”
“No, more importantly.”
“Group…… C?”
“The others?”
“Leaving Rean-san alone, what are you thinking?”
“Instructor, what on earth is this ——”
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Instructor Sara.”
Just as Rean was about to ask a question, a cheerful voice interrupted.
When he turned around, he saw Towa, Crow, George, and an unfamiliar woman come toward them.
“Hello, kittens. Your bodies glistening with sweat as you move…… it’s really a feast for sore eyes.”
Saying this, a woman in a suit that accentuated her elegant figure raised her hand.
In particular, it seemed her passionate gaze was directed at the women, mainly Fie and Millium.
“Student council president, Crow-senpai, George-senpai…… Also.”
“Hello, Rean-kun. We have met occasionally through request, but I would like to introduce myself again. I am Angelica Rogner. Nice to meet you.”
Angelica said with a wink.
Still, Class VII, especially Rean, didn’t understand why the seniors were there, so Sara explained.
“These kids are the test students for the ARCUS trial, and in the truest sense of words, they are your seniors, but have suddenly decided to have them participate in the field study. I actually would have been happy with just one of them but……”
“Geez, Crow-kun, I won’t tolerate you slacking off so much to the point you might have to repeat a year! We’ll have to give up your holidays and graduate with us!”
“Okay, okay. I really feel bad about that, as expected.”
“I actually think it’s fine if it’s just Crow, but this happened.”
Sara spoke on behalf of the four people who got along well with each other.
“That boy over there…… Crow Armbrust was in danger of having to repeat the year due to his issue with the number of attendance. In exchange for extra lessons, he will be taking part in the field study session in the imperial capital. They are members of Group C ——Rean’s teammates for the field study.”
“Anyway, it’ll only be for a while, but I’ll be counting on you, juniors.”
As Crow greeted them, everyone in Class VII was left speechless.
Author Note:
It was supposed to be a perfect field study session with five people each, but I thought it was about time to get the seniors involved in earnest, and this is what happened.
Student council president Towa’s caring nature and Crow’s lack of attendance days are a reliable combination that can get Angelica and George involved without question…
That said, since I used quite an amount of plot in Rosine Arc, I think this field study will be shorter than usual.
I won’t deny the possibility that it might get longer as I write, but surely, maybe, it might get shorter, perhaps.
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