Trails with Cuddle-Cuddle Osbon
Translator: Tsukii
Editor: Helen
Read at Watashi wa Sugoi Desu!
Chapter 073 – Fufufu, Son. It’s July Field Study
When the fourteen people, which included the Class VII and the upperclassmen, had gathered at Trista Station, Rean and his friends were split into their respective groups and were strengthening their friendships.
Naturally, during the field study this month, Celine had been forced to participate by Rean once again, and she was currently crying out as her fur was being ravaged by Millium.
The reason why Rean was the only one placed in a group with the older students was because he had volunteered in the student council and his connections to Schmidt’s Classroom.
Emma was also a member of Schmidt’s Classroom, so she was acquainted with Crow and George, but if Towa and Angelica were added to the mix, it was inevitable that Rean was more familiar to them than her.
The deciding factor was Angelica’s bad habit —— excessive teasing of fellow girls, so it would be better for a boy to join their group, rather than a girl.
“I never thought I’d do something like this with Rean-kun. I thought it would be just the four of us in this field study session……”
“Exactly. There are ten people in Class VII including Rean-kun…… they should be split into groups of five, why would he be sent to our group?”
“It’s still mainly because it’s Class VII’s field study, so they might just be trying to keep things proper?”
“Fufu, it’s unfortunate that I can’t deepen my relationships with my juniors, but as long as Towa is here, it won’t be a problem for me.”
“An-chan, Rean-kun is also a junior, okay?”
“I know. I was also looking forward to the field study session with this famous figure, after all.”
“Famous figure?”
The rumors that were circulating when students first enrolled had started to die down.
Were there new rumors?
Perhaps Rean’s thoughts were showing on his face, because Angelica told him with a wry smile.
“At first, I was planning to talk to you about the entrance ceremony and the troubles you’ve caused my Towa…… but you are still getting a lot of attention in various ways now.”
Angelica looked at Rean with her lustrous eyes, that would have captivated most girls…… no, most women.
In response to the sidelong glance that would even fascinate people of the same gender, no, it was especially attractive to someone of the same gender, Rean made a tired expression.
[“Fufufu, son. This is the so-called popular season.”]
Uh~n it’s the season I want abolished.
“Hahah, to think you’re making such a face in response to Angelica. I’m glad to have a reliable junior.”
“George-senpai…… come to think of it, I would like to thank both of you and Crow-senpai once again. I heard that it was you who made my Zemurian Ore tachi.”
“It’s all thanks to Mint-chan and Munk-kun who took the initiative. Besides, it was definitely something Rean-kun needed.”
“I didn’t help that much, so there’s no need to thank me. At most, I just helped organize the data. The actual processing was mainly done by George and Instructor Makarov.”
While George smiled shyly, Crow’s response was somewhat curt.
Towa spoke up at Crow.
“I thought Crow-kun was unusually proactive in class, but were you slacking there too? I wanted to take Professor Schmidt’s Classroom too.”
“The president is busy with the student council duty after all, and the academy won’t function if you’re not there.”
“T-That’s not true. Everyone is doing their best.”
“No, when I think about the amount of work President Towa was doing, I’m actually a bit scared about next year, seriously.”
“Oh~ tell her, tell her more. Let Towa know that it’s okay to slack off a little.”
“Both of you~!”
Towa was angry and could only make onomatopoeic pouting sounds, but the moment she spoke, Angelica hugged her, which made Towa no longer look dignified but simply cute as she spoke.
“Excuse me, President. Can I speak to you for a moment?”
“Eh? Emma-chan……?”
“It might only be as useful as wet tissue, but since you are grouped together with Rean-san, I have a little advice to share……”
Saying this, Emma called out to Towa and whispered something in her ear.
Angelica tried to join in as well, but was stopped by Crow.
“Come to think of it, you also made Emma and Rosine’s weapons.”
“Yes, the professor kindly lent us enough Zemurian Ore for three people after all. But we’re having a bit of trouble with Rosine’s Templar sword.”
”She herself felt very reserved since there was not only a Templar sword but also a bowgun made for her.”
“It feels wrong to just make one when it’s a set, after all. You have got a good disciple there.”
“I didn’t teach her thoroughly enough for her to be considered my disciple, though……”
With each group chatting like that, the train eventually arrived and the students boarded and headed toward the Imperial Capital which was about thirty minutes away.
Even on the train seat, Angelica was still embracing Towa and stroking Celine, who lay on her lap, as she reminisced about the three-day, two-night field study.
“But a field study, huh. I wonder if we will be helping out with the summer festival.”
“I wonder. Though I think that will be divided among Groups A and B. Since we, Group C, seem to have been formed in a hurry, we might get a lot of peculiar requests.”
“What do you mean, peculiar?”
“Instructor Makarov told me in advance that there will be requests like, for engineers to do things like replacing the fountain’s orbal power source at Dreichels Square, or repairing the area that was hit by the terrorist incident the other day.”
“…………Heeh, are these kinds of things left for students to do too? Is it okay not to request proper craftsmen to do it instead?”
“Certainly, Dreichels Square is one of the busiest places in the Empire. It’s best to leave it to the professionals.”
“That might be because Schmidt’s Classroom is so well-known, with promising young talents.”
“That sounds perfect for George-kun! You are Professor Schmidt’s disciple, after all.”
“Hahah, it’s true that I was recognized as his third disciple, but in a sense, to be closer with the professor, I think Mint-kun is more likely to fit that description.”
“Ah~ I’m impressed with the power she showed from her heart. I am amazed at how she not only was not the least bit intimidated by that professor, but even made him care for her.”
“Despite his appearance, Professor Schmidt is actually a very caring person, though? I don’t think it’s that surprising……”
“Ah~ so there’s another one right here, a guy with incredible courage.”
For some reason, Crow looked at Rean with a fed-up gaze, so Rean began to think about what he might have done.
George gave a wry smile, while Towa and Angelica looked at Rean with interest.
“Is there something strange?”
“Inviting that professor to chat and getting him to agree is already amazing enough, you people. Naturally, the conversation was on a topic that interested the professor, but if the professor was truly not interested, the conversation wouldn’t continue. I was surprised to have seen the three of you drinking coffee at Kirche.”
“Your combat power might be good, but I think your ability to build personal connections stand out more. When you first enrolled, most of the students kept their distance from you, but now, for better or worse, your name has resonated throughout the academy, regardless of whether it is among the nobles or commoners. It seems even nobles like Marquis Hyarms and Countess Le Guin are acquainted with you.”
“I often hear about Rean-kun in the student council. It seems like you have been working hard on requests and you’re still helping out even after your volunteer period is over.”
“Now that I think of it, where were you during the entrance ceremony? I was looking for you, but before I knew it, you were already found, so I ended up being treated like a slacker too, you know?”
“Ah~ well, there were various circumstances……”
“This is because of Crow-kun’s usual behavior, so please take your classes a little more seriously! I’ll be accompanying you in class this time, okay!”
“Geh, I stirred trouble unnecessarily……”
Time flew by when chatting with the friendly seniors.
When the students of the military academy arrived at the Imperial Capital, they made their way to the ticket gate at Heimdallr Central Station, and someone called out to them.
“You’ve arrived on time.”
“Claire-san!”
The person was a woman in Railway Military Police uniform with light blue hair tied in a side ponytail, Claire Rieveldt.
When Claire spotted Rean among the students, she let out a sigh of relief.
Even though she was involved in that incident, she was worried because they were separated without a proper parting at the end.
[“Fufufu, son. I’m sure you have a lot to talk about with her, but you should return it to her first.”]
Aah, sorry about that, dad.
What Rean took out, through Osbon, the handkerchief he had borrowed the last time.
After the incident with Rosine was concluded, Rean tried to contact the Railway Military Police to return the handkerchief to Claire, but he was unable to get through to them as he was just a student.
If he only wanted to hand over the handkerchief, Rean could just pass it to the receptionist, but Rean wanted to return it in person, so he had keep it until now.
“Claire-san, thank you.”
“No…… I’m sorry that even though I have heard you have contacted me through RMP, I was late in getting in touch with you. I’m glad you’re safe.”
“Hahah, thanks to you. If Claire-san hadn’t stopped me, I wouldn’t have been able to solve that incident.”
“That’s an exaggeration……”
“No, no, not at all……”
Claire took the handkerchief he offered her and sighed in relief as she took out the handkerchief that Rean had given her back then.
It seemed that Osbon had been right about the fact that Claire hadn’t sent him the handkerchief through delivery meant she must have felt the same way.
In fact, Claire had wanted to hear the details of the incident…… or rather, hear directly about Rean’s safety, so the guess wasn’t wrong.
The students watched them from a distance as they exchanged handkerchiefs, smiling at each other.
“She is the person who helped us out in Celdic, right?”
“Yes, I believe she is a female officer from the Railway Military Police.”
“Since when did he get along so well with such a beautiful woman……?”
“I did say that his personal connections are his greatest assets, but I’m jealous……”
“Once one takes their eyes off him, he seems to have gotten to know someone new out there.”
“But there is something suspicious about them exchanging handkerchiefs.”
“There’s also Sharon, perhaps he’s the type liked by older people?”
“Kah~ I want to get close to a beautiful woman like that too.”
It might have been harsh criticism, but Rean was doing things worthy of it.
Claire also felt awkward, being subjected to curious stares from not only the students but also her subordinates behind her as she exchanged handkerchiefs, and she let out a sigh while her face slightly flushed red.
“Ahem…… Once again, everyone of Thors Military Academy, welcome. I will be your guide from here on out.”
“Err…… Are you the request provider for today?”
“No, I am merely providing the venue for it today and the official person who issued the request is…… ah, he’s here.”
Claire gently denied Alisa’s question and casted her gaze beyond the students’ circle.
As if drawn in, Rean and the others also turned around, and they saw a man walking up to them.
He is dressed in a wrinkle-free suit, and his calm face and glasses covering his eyes sparkle in the sunlight.
Machias raised his voice when he saw him.
“Father?!”
“Machias’s father…… that means.”
“A prominent figure of the ‘Reformist Faction’, Governor Regnitz……”
“FUfu, I guess I should say hello.”
And so, the man with glasses, Carl Regnitz, introduced himself.
“I am Machias’s father, Carl Regnitz. I am the head of the Imperial Capital Agency and the governor of Heimdallr. I look forward to working with you, students of the military academy.”
＊
Afterwards, instructions for the requests were distributed to each of the teams in the briefing room at the Railway Military Police’s headquarters.
It was revealed that Governor Regnitz was one of the chairmen of the Thors Military Academy together with Irina Reinford and Rufus Albarea, and had heard a little about the establishment of Class VII.
This was because, in this field study, Groups A and B would be solving the worries and problems of the residents of the Imperial Capital and exterminating wanted monsters.
As for Group C……
“Phew, there’s absolutely no need to call this a field study……”
“Indeed, it’s the exact opposite of what I was expecting……”
Crow said that, wiping sweat off his face.
Angelica, who was bent over next to him and moving briskly, agreed.
“Are the two of you okay? Just let me know if you want me to do it in your place.”
“Really, then——Ogh.”
“No, no, I can’t let Towa do this kind of work.”
Crow had let out a cry of joy at Towa’s concern, but then suddenly let out a groan as Angelica jabbed her elbow into his solar plexus.
“President, I’ll leave the empty bucket here.”
“Thank you, Rean-kun……’s real body-kun? Err, then…… aah, he’s gone. He acted quickly.”
Rean placed the buckets he was holding with both hands near Towa, then picked up another two buckets full of bundles of moss and trash that were near the fountain and ran to the garbage dumb.
Group C was cleaning the fountain in front Dreichels Square. Celine was out for a walk under the excuse of “standing by”.
Originally, the task was simply to replace the orbal power source attached to the fountain, but Towa noticed that it was a little dirty, so she contemplated and decided to do a quick cleaning.
Naturally, Crow complained, but no one, especially Angelica, raised any particular objections, so he was defeated by the majority, and Group C’s first job became cleaning the fountain, which took the entire morning.
“How should I put this… But is he really human?”
“I would want to agree, but this clone technique is a legitimate technique. Well, it’s normally not used in situations as absurd as this, though.”
Angelica smirked at Crow’s complaints and turned her attention to the group of Reans, who were cleaning the other fountains.
What would normally be impossible for just five people to accomplish became possible because of Rean’s corporeal clones that provided simple labor, Towa’s instructions, and George’s precise techniques.
However, when Rean suddenly created clones, Towa raised her voice in a scream, so the clones quickly worked on disguising themselves using simple disguises so that they wouldn’t be recognized as the same person at a glance.
Furthermore, the Rean who reported to Towa was mistaken by her as the main body, it was actually a clone, while the main body was using his power of ogre to clean at speeds several times faster than an ordinary person, drawing a crowd as if it were some kind of performance. He even had the leisure to wave at the excited children.
“Uuh…… I think I understand what Emma-chan meant now.”
“Oh my, what did she say?”
“She said that the most important thing when dealing with Rean-kun is to be strong-willed, and if I react to everything he does, I won’t be able to last……”
“Ah~ that girl is especially close to him, after all.”
The gathering of suicidal people in Schmidt’s Classroom, where they fought a Divine Knight with their bare body…… or rather, a group of girls who had been dragged into it by a boy, which made Crow cast a distant gaze.
Not only had Rean captured the Magic Knight, he had also developed Master Quartz which allowed a person to indirectly control a Divine Knight without piloting it, and he had used the Trial’s gatekeeper to serve him, and above all, the Divine Knight’s personality possesses his body, which showed how incomprehensible Rean was.
Being in that classroom made Crow feel like his common sense had completely collapsed. There were some useful things he learned, but more than anything, he felt like he was fighting against his own sensibilities.
“But he’s certainly strong. As a Taito School martial artist, it would be a shame to admit defeat before even fighting, but I can’t imagine myself winning against him.”
“Heeh, to think Angelica would admit that so openly.”
“Then can Crow imagine being able to defeat Rean-kun? Someone with such pure combat abilities, that could even match Instructor Sara and Instructor Neithardt in actual combat on his own, would come striking with several of them, you know?”
Angelica was also learning Taito School of martial arts, a martial art that originated in the Republic.
After hearing rumors that a new student had applied to train with Sara and Neithardt, Angelica immediately headed over to the training ground.
Although Rean hadn’t transformed into anything resembling the fighting spirit he was currently using, the sight of a boy, younger than she was, fighting against Sara’s lightning speed and Neithardt’s powerful attacks without backing down was enough to bring a sense of frustration to her face.
After the training, the instructors said that he was getting stronger for the sake of his friends…… but Angelica wondered just now how high Rean’s ideals were when it came to the friend they were talking about.
“Well, I’ll admit that it’s a bit tough to fight him without armory. But combat isn’t just about doing it head on.”
“Heeh, may I hear the details for future reference?”
“Sorry, but no can do. It might leak through Towa, after all.”
“Are you looking down on me? I always keep my principles when it comes to martial arts.”
“W-Well, it’s still just my imagination, after all. I’ll let you know then it takes shape.”
Meanwhile, George’s work of replacing the power source was coming to an end.
“Okay, that should do it. But I guess it’s good that emergency maintenance is done. It looked like it would break with a slight impact, so I reinforced it in various ways.”
“Reinforced?”
“Aah. Now, if it detects a foreign object, the alarm will go off right away. For example, if someone pours something strange into the fountain, or places something strange in the building.”
“As expected of George, you’re so reliable!”
“That’s right, as expected of George.”
“Oi-oi, Crow. I know you’re tired, but you should at least give proper encouragement.”
“Not really…… that’s really detestable!” 1
“Crow, I am guessing you want steak for lunch.”
“Oi-oi, what are you talking about, George-kun.”
“Did you think I couldn’t read the hidden meaning behind your words? Come on, let’s have a meat party.”
“You’re going to eat them all!”
“I’ll only do it after Crow gives up. Besides, I never leave leftovers.”
“Of course you have!”
Towa smiled wryly at the exchange between George, who tapped Crow on the shoulder, and Crow, who was looking at George’s stomach, and Towa was about to call out to Angelica to proceed on other location, but then she noticed that her friend, who was in the mountain just a moment ago, was gone.
When Towa turned her head around to search, she saw that Angelica was calling out to a woman working at a nearby ice cream stand.
Taking the ice cream that was offered to her, a single word from Angelica made the female clerk squirm and her face flushed red.
“Geez, An-cha……”
“President, we were running low on buckets so I went and got some.”
“Thank you, Rean–hyuuuu!”
Towa was on the verge of letting out a scream but managed to hold it in with all her might.
The reason was that the ten Reans had all turned their gazes at her at once.
Of course, Rean had explained beforehand they were his clones and the group had seen them working, but seeing ten people with the same face lined up all looking down at her, it wasn’t surprising to feel scared. 2
“Oops, I guess I should have disguised them better, sorry.”
“Y-You’re right, yep, ahaha.”
Rean tried to help others differentiate them by changing their clothes, making them wear sunglasses, masks, and other accessories, but Towa only let out a dry chuckle.
When the regrouped Group A and B saw that scene, their hearts screamed in unison despite not using tactical links and they were glad that they weren’t grouped together with Rean.
Author Note:
At a Hotel – Der Himmel in the Garnier District
Emma
“Ah, nee-sa……”
Vita
“Oh my, E——”
Emma
(Quietly looked away).
Vita
“Eh……?”
Fie
“Emma, is something wrong?”
Emma
I-I cried so hard that time that I’m so embarrassed and can’t look into her face……!
Vita
H-Has she come to hate me……? I should have just pretended that this was our first meeting.
Machias
“Vita Clotilde’s expression of sorrow…… It’s a rare one, and even that expression is beautiful!”
Gaius
“You’re so unwavering, Machias.”
Millium
“I know what this is called. It’s called double-standards!”
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