Chapter 313 Class Observation ①
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Ho, ho, ho! Well now, Cecile-sama, it has been quite some time… and Harvest-dono¹, I believe this is our first meeting?” Haruma-sensei said.
”Umu, I’m counting on you today,” Cecile-sama replied.
”The honor is mine, Haruma-sensei,” I said, bowing. “I look forward to working with you.”
”Ho, ho! As do I, as do I!”
Haruma-sensei, the tutor to Roland-denka, was the quintessential kindly old man – sporting a magnificent beard and a polished, sun-reflecting bald head. He reminded me of the elderly retainers back at the Badcage estate, though he lacked their martial edge. He felt more like a man of letters, refined and soft-spoken.
”Haruma-sensei, I’m ready for today! I mean… I look forward to your instruction!” Roland-denka chirped, catching himself as he tried to sound more regal.
”Ho! It seems you’re in high spirits. Now then, what shall we discuss? Ah, I have it. Since King William is expected to grace our shores quite soon, perhaps we should speak of the Ferguson Kingdom?”
As Roland-denka took his seat and Cecile-sama and I settled into the chairs beside him, Haruma-sensei sank into his favorite plush armchair and closed his eyes. By my old world’s standards, it was an odd way to conduct a class, but apparently, this was his style. One thing bothered me, though. I leaned in and whispered to the Queen.
”Did you tell him about King William’s visit?” I asked quietly.
”No,” she whispered back, her brow furrowing. “There’s no way he could know. He must have deduced it from the current international situation. The old man is… perceptive, to say the least.”
The news of King William’s visit had only arrived in a letter yesterday. It was classified information, yet Haruma-sensei had called it perfectly. I realized then that being tasked with the education of the next two generations of the Canaria Royal Family was not just a job – the man was a genius. Comparing myself to him felt like a heavy lift. I wondered about his background, but I decided not to ask Cecile-sama just yet; I didn’t want my opinion of him clouded by her bias. Besides, I had a role to play here.
”Roland-denka,” I whispered. “That was cover fire from Haruma-sensei.”
”Eh? What do you mean… what do you mean by that?” Roland-denka asked.
”Cecile-sama is watching. He’s giving you the perfect opening to ask a brilliant question and show her how much you’ve grown.”
”Oh…”
”Take your time. Just think back on what he just said,” I suggested.
I caught Haruma-sensei peeking at me with one eye, a mischievous glint in his gaze. He was definitely testing me. He reminded me of my old alchemy mentor, Miranda-baasan – a real character with a sharp wit.
”The sensei’s statement…” Roland-denka mused. “I think he said he wanted to talk about Ferguson.”
”Right. But why Ferguson?” I prodded.
”Well, he usually talks about things that are happening right now. Seasonal changes, or stories from his own life, but…”
”Exactly. You will gain wisdom by keeping an eye on the world around you – noticing what is happening, why it’s happening, and where it leads. If you don’t know, you research. If you still don’t know, you make it a habit to ask,” I explained.
”I… I see. Forgive me, Harvest-dono. I was distracted at the start of the lesson. Haruma-sensei, why Ferguson?” Roland-denka asked.
Roland-denka had been so excited to have his sister there that he’d missed the lead. He looked a bit dejected, but Haruma-sensei had dropped the hook so casually that I almost missed it myself. Time for a little encouragement.
”Wonderful, being able to put teachings into practice immediately is Roland-denka’s virtue. The sensei said: ‘King William will visit our country soon’.”
Roland-denka’s eyes went wide. “What?! King William is coming to visit?”
”Well, who knows? I certainly don’t,” I said. “But even if it were true, the sensei shouldn’t know. A royal visit is a state secret for security reasons.”
”T-that’s true! Haruma-sensei, how did you know about King William’s visit?” Roland-denka asked.
Roland-denka completely forgot his arrogant persona and leaned forward. Haruma-sensei just beamed at us. It felt like we’d both passed the first round of his exam.
”Ho, ho, ho! I didn’t ‘know,’ strictly speaking. It was half a bluff. But tell me, Roland-denka, surely you are familiar with the recent ‘Stampede’”?
”Eh? Y-yes. You told me yourself, didn’t you? You spoke about the Stampedes of the past and how terrifying this one was in comparison,” Roland-denka replied.
”Indeed. And the man who settled that Stampede is none other than Harvest-dono here. I had actually planned to discuss that today, but…”
”Harvest-dono stopped the Stampede?” Roland-denka looked at me, confused. “But everyone says it was the court mages and the monks from the Church of Demon-Subjugation². I mean, Harvest-dono is right here in the capital.”
”Ho, ho! They aren’t wrong. The mages and monks did finish off the two Great Dragons. But… Roland-denka, do you remember that white light that rose from the palace every day a few months ago?” Haruma-sensei asked.
”Yes! But no one would tell me what it was…”
”Even I don’t know the full story,” Haruma-sensei said, his eyes twinkling. “But I suspect that was the new magic weapon that brought the dragons down. What do you say, Cecile-sama, Harvest-dono?”
”I-is that true?” Roland-denka asked, turning to his sister.
It seemed Cecile-sama had kept the “Ddo-Buddy Cannon” a secret from her brother. Probably for the best – it’s a hard thing to explain without ruining the royal dignity.
Cecile-sama sighed, rubbing her temples. “…Haa, as usual, sensei… your intuition is as sharp as ever.”
”Fumu. Then I assume the reason you appointed Harvest-dono as his tutor was…”
”Yes. This man developed that weapon. I wanted Roland to form a bond with him for the sake of the future. But remember, Roland – this is strictly between us,” Cecile-sama warned.
Roland-denka stared at me, his jaw practically on the floor. He kept looking between me and Cecile-sama, his eyes screaming What is going on?!
”Actually, I wanted your friendship to happen more naturally… But yes, Roland. Harvest-dono has already saved our country from crisis many times, and will continue to cooperate in the future. Even after you take the throne, think of him as one of the most reliable people,” Cecile-sama admitted.
”Yes, Sister!” Roland-denka stood up straight, his eyes sparkling. I had gone from “Big Sis’s Friend” to “Legendary Hero” in his mind in approximately five seconds.
”Now then,” Haruma-sensei continued. “I figured if someone as important as Harvest-dono suddenly became a tutor, there had to be a reason. Perhaps a visit from a foreign king where we need to show off our ties to such a man?”
”Is that true, Sister?” Roland-denka asked.
”…Umu, to put it plainly, it is as you say. Of course, the expectation that Harvest-dono’s existence will make you grow is not a lie either.”
Roland-denka looked a bit overwhelmed by the flood of information. I reached out and gave his head a reassuring pat. “Well, there is no need to think about it in a difficult way. I want to continue working for this country, for Cecile-sama and Roland-denka. Your job is to keep learning.”
”Yes! Please, I look forward to your guidance!” he shouted happily.
I was busy trying to figure out how to live up to Haruma-sensei’s teaching standards when the old man muttered something that nearly stopped my heart.
”You’ve found yourself a fine partner, Princess-sama…”
His voice was thick with nostalgia and genuine joy. He looked at her like a proud grandfather.
”Pfft!?” Cecile-sama nearly choked. “H-he’s not a partner! He’s a… a vassal? A collaborator? Regardless, he is nothing more and nothing less than that!”
”Oh? Is that so? Since you were whispering so intimately, I thought for sure”
”Is it true!? Sister and Harvest-dono!?” Roland-denka piped up.
”I TOLD YOU, IT’S NOT LIKE THAT!!!” Cecile-sama screamed.
The lesson didn’t actually resume for quite some time after that.
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Summary:
Harvest and Queen Cecile attend a class observation for Prince Roland. The tutor, Haruma, reveals his incredible intuition by predicting a secret royal visit and deducing Harvest’s role in ending the Stampede. The chapter ends with Haruma teasing Cecile about her relationship with Harvest, leading to royal embarrassment.
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Trivia:
- Haruma guessed the King of Ferguson’s visit without being told.
- Harvest’s secret identity as the creator of the ‘Ddo-Buddy Cannon’ was revealed to Roland.
- The white light seen from the palace months ago was the experimental weapon.
- Haruma refers to Cecile as ‘Princess-sama’ despite her being Queen
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Character Insight:
Harvest shows a paternal side by mentoring Roland through the old tutor’s social traps, while Cecile’s flustered reaction to romance rumors suggests growing feelings.
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Behind the Scenes:
The ‘Ddo-Buddy Cannon’ name is a pun/meme name in the series that the characters find embarrassing to mention in formal settings.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Cecile – A queen in the capital who possesses the authority to regulate business and commerce, particularly concerning moral or public order issues. She is currently investigating Kento’s shop, ‘Harvest.’ Have long golden hair, elegant, and wearing expensive white dress with gold accesories.
• Haruma – A kindly old man with a full beard and a bald head.
• Roland – he younger brother of Queen Cecile and the heir apparent to the Canaria throne. Clean, golden-blonde hair, same color as the Queen, innocent, beautiful face that could be mistaken for a girl but dressed in a boy’s formal wear.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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