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 075 – Fufufu, Son. It’s the July Field Study③
“Emil…… sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry……! I, I……!”
Rean was completely confused by Claire’s sudden embrace and her tears.
Claire couldn’t stop crying, calling Rean “Emil”, as she repeatedly apologized and expressed her regrets.
It seemed like she had mistaken Rean for someone else, and even when Rean tried to push her away, both of her arms just forcefully wrapped tighter around his back, restricting him from doing so.
The soft sensation pressing against him reminded Rean of a certain maid who pulled a fast one on him, but seeing Claire crying, he was at a loss to do anything, so he asked Celine for help.
[“C-Celine. What should I do?”]
[“I don’t know how to calm humans down too…… Ah~ but, if you don’t mind the comforting method I saw recently, I can teach you how.”]
[“Please! I don’t know what to do when Claire, an older woman, is crying!”]
[“In that case——”]
Following her advice sent to him telepathically, Rean said nothing and wrapped his arms around Claire’s back, stroking her head to calm her down.
Although her hairstyle hadn’t changed, she wasn’t in her military uniform. Instead, wearing casual clothing consisting of a thin vest worn over a knit sweater and a skirt, Claire gave off a different charm. And she already had a beautiful appearance to begin with.
It was embarrassing to stroke her head, but his effort was futile as she just cried even louder.
[“This isn’t working!”]
[“That’s weird, I saw Vita comforting Emma that way, though. But Emma did continue crying for a while, so I think you have to bear it for some time.”]
[“Uguguguh…… A-At least I should move elsewhere!”]
Realizing it would be bad if they were seen by a patrolling officer or citizen, Rean picked up Claire and moved to a secluded spot.
Perhaps thinking the person she believed to be Emil was trying to separate himself from him. Claire violently resisted, but Rean, who was superior in sheer strength, managed to pull her away and jumped with her in tow.
After a long time, Claire’s sobbing finally calmed down.
Seizing the opportunity, Rean called out.
“Claire-san, have you calmed down?”
“…………Emil?”
“I am Rean Schwarzer. Unfortunately, I’m not the person you call Emil.”
Claire had a blank look on her face and spoke in a childlike tone. Rean took off the wig he used to disguise himself and went back to his original black hair.
After stripping away all of the disguises Towa had put on him, Rean soon appeared wearing the summer uniform of the military academy.
At that moment, Rean and Claire’s eyes met.
“…………………………………………”
“…………………………………………”
“…………………………………Hafu.”
“Claire-san?!”
Claire suddenly lost all her strength and collapsed in his arms.
Rean quickly supported her body, but then she began to cry loudly.
“I’m sorry…… I’m sorry…… I’m sorry……”
“Ah, no, well, how to say this.”
“I’m sorry…… I’m sorry…… I’m sorry……”
I guess she’s more sensitive than I thought.
Although Claire gave off the impression of being a reliable woman during the theft incident, Rean felt that she might just be desperately trying to conceal her timid side.
He looked around and found a suitable bench so he had Claire sit there.
Under the light of the orbal lamp illuminating the darkness of the night, Claire’s eyes were clouded over.
Claire felt that the fact that not only had she misunderstood the situation one-sidedly, she had even cried in front of a child younger than she was, and they caused her such embarrassment that it robbed her of her emotion and expression.
“Ahahah…… Ahahah……”
“This is no good. She’s like how Emma has been acting recently.” 1
It seemed like Emma was quite tired lately.
I guess I should remind her when I bring her Celine later, thought Rean as he waited for Claire to recover.
After waiting for several minutes, Claire finally recovered enough to speak and began little by little.
“I’m sorry, Rean-kun……”
“I don’t mind. Ah~ look, let’s get to the business for now. I only came here to ask about that, so I won’t ask about anything else.”
Rean tried to pretend that he hadn’t seen Claire’s disgraceful behavior.
Even now as she spoke, she wasn’t looking Rean in the eye, or rather, she was covering her face with her hands, which was a good reflection of Claire’s mental state.
“You’re right. The reason I called Rean-kun here is to confirm something. Have you requested Lord Rufus Albarea to take measures against the terrorists?”
And just like that, she started talking.
Although annoyed, Rean replied, thinking it would only make things complicated if he retorted.
“Ah, yes. I contacted him through Jusis and requested him last week with the consent of Prince Olivert and Prince Cedric.”
Rean was about to say that he had requested counter-terrorism measures in exchange for the Auric Divine Knight, but then he remembered the thing Claire had told him before and refrained from telling the whole story.
Claire also didn’t pursue the details.
It was more like an unspoken understanding, or an attempt to avoid poking around unnecessary troubles.
“I never thought you’d do something ridiculous as providing the Auric Divine Knight as a reward for the request. What on earth do you think a Divine Knight is? So, what about it?”
“……………Err~ are you the cat from that time?”
“That’s right, what about it?”
“No, it’s nothing……”
But then there was something (Celine) who did just that from behind. 2
Although she claimed that she didn’t really understand humans, she had already been influenced by Rean to some extent…… or rather, about second only to Emma.
Thus, when Claire heard the details of the reward that Rean had kept quiet about, she was forced to understand the answer to her doubts.
Claire continued, arching her back.
“……We have belatedly discovered that the ‘Noble Faction’ is aiding the terrorists. We are considering conducting a forced investigation on Reinford’s First Factory, which is responsible for all steel and large machinery.”
“Investigating Reinford?”
“Yes. That company was like a miniature version of the modern empire, with multiple Factories each supporting their own factions.
I won’t go into details, but our investigation has led us to believe that the terrorists might have strong connections to Duke Cayenne…… But then, we received a letter from Lord Rufus.”
“Letter?”
“Yes ——it’s information about those believed to be the terrorists hiding out in the imperial capital.”
“That gentleman sure is quick to move.”
Celine exclaimed nonchalantly, but Rean felt a sense of respect for Rufus for his quick work.
It’s only been a week since the request was made, and he had already produced some results.
I guess this is why dad recommended him……
[“Fufufu, his true worth isn’t limited to this. Anyway, let’s ask Miss Claire about her true intentions now.”]
“I see, so Claire-san called me to inquire about the authenticity of the letter. But why did you ask me for confirmation, not Rufus-san?”
“It was written in the letter he sent to us. Although he didn’t mention the name directly, it was clear he was referring to Rean-kun.”
Rean took Celine off his head and placed her on his lap, holding her front leg as if to control it.
While shaking her legs up and down carelessly, as if performing a simple puppet show but with a cat, he pondered why Rufus had decided to send a letter to Claire.
Celine seemed resigned and just let Rean do as he pleased.
“It is likely that he thought I would not have believed it if the names of Their Royal Highnesses had been written there. But it was none other than Class VII who brought about the existence of the Panzer Soldat…… no, it was because of Rean-kun, that I wanted to confirm, and it turned out to be the truth.”
“I wouldn’t say they were enemies, but I couldn’t help but be suspicious if it was said that the central figure of the ‘Noble Faction’ that plotted the civil war requested help from Prince Olivert and Prince Cedric.”
Rean couldn’t gauge the extent to which the Albarea family was actually connected to Duke Cayenne, but it was certain that they weren’t unrelated.
If it was Marquis Hyarms who was requested, considering his personality, he would likely come up with some reason to ensure that his family would stay effectively neutral.
“Didn’t you ever considered the possibility that he was a spy?”
“That would mean someone who can get detailed information about terrorists within a week has been watching the situation silently up until now, you know? If someone like him intended to sell this information, he would have done so much earlier.”
“I guess you’re right. Ah, regarding the data, is there any information on someone named Scarlet?”
“There’s no such name on the list I received. They are all citizens living in the Imperial City, mingling among workers, or security forces.”
“I see. Also the Scarlet I talked about is——”
Rean once again explained that Scarlet was like an older sister of his friend, and that his friend wanted to persuade her if possible.
Although the codename “V” hadn’t been conveyed, Claire had received information from Olivert that the Panzer Soldat he possessed was far larger than ordinary ones.
“It might be difficult, but if we manage to secure her, we’ll let you know.”
“Thank you very much. Ah, is there anything I can help you with? If you have any requests, I will help out together with the seniors who are with me. I’m sure the other groups also feel the same way.”
“This is the adults’ responsibility, or so I’d like to say, but since it’s Rean-kun, you’ll likely stick your nose into things if I leave you alone. I understand, I’ll contact Sara-san if there’s anything you can help with.”
“Are you acquainted with the Instructor?”
“……Yes, things happened a while ago.”
Claire was vague.
Osbon told Rean that it was probably something to do with the guild issues in the Empire.
So that was what Toval-san was talking about. The issues between Bracers and Empire seem deep-rooted, so maybe I shouldn’t ask about this.
As Rean thought it through, Claire stood up next to him.
“Are you leaving already?”
“Yes, I only called you to confirm things, after all. The reason I didn’t do it through ARCUS was to make sure no unrelated people hear of it, but I guess it’s pointless. Either way, thank you for the information. Good luck with your field study.”
“Yes, Claire-san, all the best.”
Claire bowed her head and left.
Celine, watching her back, muttered.
“This Claire girl, she ended up hiding her face the entire time.”
Celine thought that Claire, who engaged in such a serious conversation while covering her face the whole time, could only be described as crazy from her perspective as an outsider.
“Hey, do you think I should have asked about this Emil guy?”
“I don’t know about that. If she won’t tell us about it herself, then isn’t it okay for now?”
“You’re cold, unlike your fur.”
“Unlike Emma, I’m not good at being considerate of others.”
Pets are supposed to resemble their owner, though, was what Rean, Osbon, and Valimar thought, but didn’t say out loud.
It hurt a lot being scratched on the face, after all.
＊
The next day, Group C was checking a request that had been delivered to the mailbox of Herschel’s General Store.
After what happened with Claire, and massaging the exhausted Emma using a technique he learned from Old Master Yun (Rean also massaged the rest of Emma’s group, and it was well received), Rean returned late and had been thinking of an excuse to make to Towa, but apparently, there was no longer any need for it.
It was because Crow seemed to be in a bad mood and the aura he exuded was so tense that other members of the group had no leisure to care about Rean’s reason for his late return.
“Did something happen, Crow-senpai?”
“Nothing in particular.”
“Lying is not good, Crow. It’s like how I’m looking at you a year ago.”
The silver lining to this was that everyone was currently all present in Towa’s room.
The Herschel couple might be able to read the mood, but if Kai saw the current Crow, he might have tried to tease him, only to bring out his anger and scare the boy.
(“President, what happened?”)
(“I don’t know. He got a phone call in the middle of the night yesterday, so he left the room for a bit, and he returned like that.”)
At first glance, Crow looked the same as always.
From Rean’s perspective, it just seemed like he had low blood pressure, but Crow’s best friends, Towa and others, said that he was in a pretty bad mood.
It seemed as though there was a sense of urgency, but since they didn’t know the details, all they could do was wait and see how things would develop.
“At times like this, it’s better to move our body. Look, here’s today’s request.”
George tried to lighten the mood by taking out the requests from the envelope.
Seeing this, Crow seemed to realize that he had failed to conceal his bad mood, and started to joke around to clear the unpleasant atmosphere.
“An-chan, Crow-kun is……”
“He seems calm now. But he might snap if something triggers him. Geez, this is supposed to be the supplementary classes to make up for days he missed, but at this rate, I’m worried he might cause trouble and have to repeat the year.”
“No, we’re all going to graduate together! So George-kun, what’s the content of the request?”
“There’s only one essential request this morning. A search for a lost item in the Imperial City Underground Passage…… oh, there’s a photo enclosed.”
“That’s unusual. Usually, the client would directly inform us the details about this…… and the delivery address is also the Railway Military Police.”
Rean, who had completed a similar request during past field study, thought that this was an unusual case and took a look at the enclosed photo given to him by George.
It was a photo of a single book.
“Rean-kun, what book is it?”
Towa asked him a question casually, to which Rean replied just as casually.
“I can’t see the author’s name, but the book’s title seems to be ‘Marching Towards Dystopia’.”
“Fuhn. I never heard of such a book. Judging from the title, I assume it’s something to do with politics?”
“…………………………”
“…………………………”
“Crow, why are you frowning aga…… Towa?”
“Ah, um…… I feel like I’ve heard of that book somewhere before……”
“Have you read it before?”
“I haven’t seen the book, but I think I’ve heard about it from Professor Carton, who was an acquaintance of my father……”
“U~hn,” grumbled Towa as she lowered her eyes in thought.
“Does the title ring a bell to you, Crow-senpai?”
“Aah, no, I just thought it was strange to call this Empire a dystopia.”
As Crow muttered this, it looked to Rean like he was trying hard to suppress his emotions.
Author Note:
Claire’s casual clothes seem to have changed from the jacket she wore in Cold Steel II to a short-sleeved sweater.
Given her status, that would have put her in a pinch if someone saw her like that…
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