Volume 6 Chapter 37 C-Card
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Heh-heh-heh. I finally did it, Saran-kun!” Syu chirped, her tone brimming with flashy enthusiasm.
”What’s with the ‘Heh-heh-heh’?” I countered, keeping my voice neutral and measured. “You’ve been watching way too much anime, Syu-sama.”
”Ehh~, isn’t a little fun okay? But I’m so happy! I finally got my C-license!1 Now, finally, I can team up with Halt and go see the whale sharks!”
”I suppose so… but it’s already the middle of summer,” I noted, my voice steady. “Are you really going to go?”
”Of course I am,” she insisted, her energy spiking. “Who knows when they’ll tell us we have to go back once autumn hits? Besides, it’s all because we spent way too many days on basic swimming training. You kept saying basic physical strength is important.”
”No, Syu-sama,” I replied with disciplined focus. “Foundations are important in everything. If your equipment breaks in the middle of the ocean, you need to be able to swim back on your own!”
”Yes, yes… Alright, Halt. Please book the whale shark tour for us.”
And so, for our long-awaited face-to-face meeting with the whale sharks, we arrived in Yomitan Village in my mother’s car, along with Syu and the others. While there weren’t any heavy swells, this time of year in Okinawa is prone to typhoons, making scheduling difficult. Thankfully, today was dead calm and clear — the gods must be on my side.
The whale shark tour here uses a method where we scuba dive near the creatures in a large, offshore fish preserve — there’s no danger. However, you must have a C-license to enter the cage. Since Mom didn’t get her license this time, she’s dead set on watching them from the surface via snorkeling. I (Boku) am buddying up with Syu, and Saran-san is paired with a shop instructor. Scuba diving, in principle, requires pairs.
”We finally get to dive as buddies, just the two of us, Halt,” Syu said, her voice radiating pure delight. We were on the boat deck heading to the site, while Saran-san stayed inside the cabin with my mother to avoid the sun. We arrived at the preserve in about thirty minutes. We had about twenty minutes for our face-to-face meeting, carrying one air tank each.
”The biggest one today is about twelve meters. There are a few others in there as well,” the instructor stated with professional precision. “Feel free to get close, but please, whatever you do, don’t touch them directly.”
Syu immediately challenged him, asking why there wasn’t a twenty-meter-class one. I just shook my head; twelve meters was plenty.
First, the instructor and Saran-san entered the water with a back-roll entry, followed by me and Syu.
”Halt,” Syu said, grinning. “We’re going to have the instructor take a picture of the two of us holding hands in front of the whale sharks!”
”Understood,” I replied.
I was fully prepared with my smartphone for underwater photography, just like Syu, but the instructor would be taking pictures with a proper underwater camera, too.
There was a massive cage in the water…
Oh! They were there — several huge ones swimming around. People here for a trial dive couldn’t enter the cage, but since we had our C-licenses, we were allowed inside. That was why Syu had been so insistent on getting her license.
Syu and I slowly moved toward the largest one. Wow. Up close, the sheer scale was on another level. I don’t think this guy even notices the humans in front of him. He swims leisurely, mouth wide open. I am… and I suspect Syu is too… just gaping, eyes wide, swimming alongside a creature bigger than a car.
Before long, Saran-san approaches, and the instructor holds up a board: I’ll take the photo. The three of us line up beside the whale sharks and have our picture taken.
The twenty minutes passed in the blink of an eye.
When we returned to the boat, we weren’t so much excited as we were dazed — as if struck by something divine. Even Syu, who is usually talkative, was silent. I don’t think I’ve seen her this quiet since the time at the Atomic Bomb Dome.
”Syu. How was your meeting with the whale sharks?”
When Mom calls out to her, Syu opens her mouth.
”It was fun, but how should I put it… I was made to realize how small I am… that there are beings in this world that exist far beyond my own understanding…”
”Well. You don’t need to take it so seriously. If it was fun, that’s all that matters! I was watching from the surface, but it was fascinating to see.”
”…That’s true. It certainly was fun! Phew. But maybe because we achieved our goal, I’m suddenly feeling a massive wave of fatigue. How about you, Saran?”
”Syu-sama. I am less ‘tired’ and more worried about the sunburn… I need to get back to land quickly and apply cream…”
”Honestly, you two…”
Around the same time Halt was meeting the whale sharks with Syu and the others, in Washington D.C., President Anderson and his son George were having a conversation.
”So, Father. You intend to have Syu-ria return in one year, as planned?”
”Yes. The report came up from the AWCC last week. According to Lieutenant Sheena, the risk of traveling from here to there is almost non-existent now.”
”I see. Understood. I will proceed with the preparations accordingly. However… is it still impossible for people to come from the other side? If possible, I would like Ms. Akari to return — even if just under the guise of welcoming the Princess — so that she could see Tomori and Halt…”
”Regarding people coming here, Lieutenant Sheena is handling that as well. While the cause of Ms. Akari’s accident remains unknown, the analysis of the phenomenon itself is almost complete, and a countermeasure — albeit a palliative one — will be finished soon. But… it seems Ms. Akari’s health condition has not been very good since the accident. I received an unofficial message from Queen Asuka via the last regular transport. She insisted that I not tell the Princess.”
”What’s that? I see. I had no idea things had reached that point. What am I supposed to tell Tomori…”
”I’ve requested more detailed information, so it’s best to wait until then before speaking to Tomori. There is no point in causing unnecessary worry. Now, George. The main topic of today… regarding that matter of the student exchange invitation from Emperor Balmstra… what do you think about sending Halt?”
”Eh!? Halt… to them?”
”Yes. Actually, we have the recommendation of Senator King. He met with Halt and Princess Syu the other day and felt that these two could be trusted with the future between our countries. Halt is well-versed in the circumstances and has a deep connection with the Princess. I think it would be convenient in many ways.”
”That may be, but… once he goes, won’t he be unable to return for quite some time?”
”Well. His return may depend on that countermeasure Lieutenant Sheena is working on, but he would be able to meet Ms. Akari over there, so we would know the detailed situation. And for the Queen, seeing her grandson’s face might be an encouragement. Regardless, deepening our friendship with the Elf Kingdom is in our national interest, and the Senator has said he will support us into the future.”
”…Can we trust him? Still, well, it may not be such a bad story. I suppose it depends on the person’s own feelings and resolve from here.”
”That’s right. Try speaking with Halt once.”
”Understood. But man… if Halt goes to the Elf Kingdom, that guy might just end up getting together with Princess Syu, just like that…”
”Hahaha. Well, that’s a matter for those two, I suppose.”
—
Summary:
Halt and Syu successfully obtain their C-licenses, enabling them to join a whale shark diving tour in Okinawa. After a profound, humbling experience under the water, the group returns to the surface feeling dazed. Simultaneously, President Anderson and his son George discuss high-level diplomatic affairs and potential plans to send Halt as a student exchange representative to the Elf Kingdom.
—
Trivia:
The tour requires a C-license for cage entry.
Okinawa’s weather is notoriously difficult due to typhoon risks at this time of year.
Ms. Akari’s health has reportedly declined following an unexplained accident.
Lieutenant Sheena is developing a palliative countermeasure for trans-dimensional transit.
Senator King is a key political backer for the student exchange program.
—
Translation Notes:
Notes:
• Saran – A small, cute elf from the Zerlant Royal Family, this serious Palace Guard Officer serves as a group companion, diver, and bodyguard. Disguised as a high school girl in a blazer and pleated miniskirt, her age is a mystery. Despite her petite, white-skinned appearance—which she carefully protects from sun exposure—she is an exceptionally strong martial arts master.
• Syu – An eleven-year-old, long-haired Dwarf Engineer and princess with a large, sturdy, yet softly curved physique. Boisterous, energetic, and highly charismatic, she blends royal identity with mechanical expertise while studying abroad. A companion to Halt, with whom she shares a close bond, she eagerly explores her surroundings and is enthusiastically pursuing her diving C-license to swim with whale sharks.
• Halt – This sixteen-year-old high school sophomore, otaku, and C-licensed diver is the US President’s grandson disguised as a transfer student at an Okinawan school. Serving as the narrator, he joins a local whale shark diving tour. Though knowledgeable about regional customs, he is highly anxious about social interactions, especially concerning his relationship with Saran-san.
• Saran-san – A young woman who is a student and acts as a diplomat from Zerlant. She is deeply devoted to Syu and harbors hidden romantic feelings for Halt that she struggles to conceal.
• Anderson – The President of the United States and Halt’s grandfather, dubbed the ‘Occult President’ by the media due to rumors of using military funds for other-world investigations. He actively discusses international relations and the student exchange program.
• George – A U.S. military Major General who participates in diplomatic strategy discussions. He is the son of President Michael Anderson, brother to Gregory, husband of Tomori, and father of Halt.
• Syu-ria – An eleven-year-old girl from another world holding the title of Dwarf Engineer. Has a big presence despite her age.
• Sheena – A grey-long-haired Lizardman, junior researcher, and lieutenant from the Apocalypse Empire’s teleportation army team. Known as No. 47 after a failed gate experiment stranded her in a secret Nevada facility, she analyzes other-world phenomena and risk. Now an AWCC official and Yuuta’s saffle, she made an exception allowing Zau to return to his home country.
• Tomori – Halt’s mother, who is also related to Ms. Akari, is a caring person deeply concerned for the well-being of those around her. She actively provides guidance and warnings to the group, particularly regarding the harshness of the Okinawan sun.
• Akari – Currently bedridden and staring blankly, this individual suffered a past Gate accident that shattered her life force mechanism, though the exact underlying cause of the incident remains unknown to others.
• Asuka – A Queen who sends unofficial messages regarding the health of Ms. Akari.
• Balmstra – Emperor of the Apocalypse Empire residing in the Imperial Palace. Wary of the ‘Gate’ due to a traumatic incident ten years prior, he recently initiated a student exchange program with the Elf Kingdom.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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