Co-Research with Chief Librarian ~Part Nineteen~/Story

## Introduction

 Chief, we're already leaving. 館長ー、俺たちもう帰るけど

 Ah, yeah... It's this late already, huh. あ、ああ。……もうこんな時間か

 Chief Librarian, lately you seem to have been continuing to stay up all night... Will you be fine? 館長、このところ徹夜が続いているようですが……大丈夫ですか？

 Hum... In addition to the documents that need to be submitted to the government,
Faust brought a letter from the Society that needs an answer too, you see. うむ……政府に提出する書類に加えて、ファウストが持ってきた
結社からの親書への返答もあってな

 Ack, that sucks. That guy is completely trying to increase the amount of bothersome things to do... ゲッ、なんだそれ。あいつとことん面倒事を増やしてくれるな……

 Hahaha, you're so straightforward, Aka. ははは、アカは正直だな

 Wouldn't anyone hate it if they are brought more work at the end the year? 年末に仕事を持ち込まれるのは、誰だって嫌じゃないですか

 Well, it's true that it's tough... But I'm thinking of it as a very appreciated chance. まあ、大変なことは確かだが……これは有難いチャンスだと思っている

 A chance? チャンス？

 Crossing the border between countries and organizations, we alchemists are trying join forces.
If everything goes well, I anticipate we should be able to figure out the origin of the tainting phenomenon. 国境と組織の壁を超えてアルケミストが力を合わせようとしているんだ
これがうまくいけば、今までわからなかった侵蝕の原因も突き止められるはずだと、俺は期待している

 Well... You've got a point there. まあ……それは確かに

 Yeah. So that's why if there's even a single letter, it must be handled with utmost care. ああ。だから、親書一通であっても、大切に扱わねばならない

 I'll go home after considering the answer to this one just a little more. 俺はもう少しこの返事を検討してから帰るよ

 ...Hmmm. Then, we'll go ahead. ……ふーん。じゃあ、俺たちは先に帰るけど

 Yup. Stay warm and don't catch a cold. ああ。風邪引かないよう、暖かくして帰るんだぞ

 Yes. See you. ええ。お疲れ様です

## Cold Wintry Wind and Cheap Dining Place

*Aka and Ao are walking at the town...*

 Whew, it's got cold. All the leaves on trees have also fallen, so it will just keep getting colder after this. ふー、寒くなってきたなあ。落ち葉も全部落ちきって、後は寒くなるだけだな

 Yes... ええ……

 ...That Chief seems to have been super busy lately. ……館長、最近忙しそうだよな

 You're right. We were occupied with our own research too, but he seems to have work beyond ours. そうですね。僕たちの研究も忙しかったですけど、僕たち以上に仕事があるようです

 I haven't seen Cat lately either... ネコも最近見ないしなあ……

 You said it. I know that everyone are busy with their own things, however... 本当に。それぞれ仕事が忙しいのは分かるのですが……

 Oh, what is it Ao? Are you feeling lonely? お、なんだアオ、寂しいのか？

 I don't particularly feel lonesome. 別に寂しくなんかないですよ

 But... Previously, after we finished work we would go dine together and stuff, right? でも……以前は仕事終わりに、一緒にご飯を食べたりしたじゃないですか

 Ah, in that place? Now that you mentioned, Chief used use to frequent there. あ、あの店？　そうだな、館長が行きつけにしてた

 I don't go to restaurants like that all alone, so...
I was just thinking how it would be nice to eat that place's rolled Japanese-style omelette again and such. 僕はああいう店に一人で行くことはないので……
またあの店の出汁巻き玉子が食べたいなとか、そういうことを思っただけです

 ...Hmmh. ……ふーん

 Today it will get quite chilly. Just like Chief told us, let's go back home before we catch a cold. 今日は冷えますね。館長が言っていた通り、風邪を引かないうちに帰りましょう

## The Best Oden on the Earth

 Shinpei, I finished making the dashi for the oden.  心平、おでんの出汁が出来たぞ

 Hm, let me see? どれどれ？

 Mmmh, the dashi smells so good! I can't wait for it to be ready. うーん、お出汁の良い香り！ 出来上がりが楽しみだねえ

\*appears\*

 Ooh, I can smell dashi here in the dining hall. Boy, it makes me crave some oden... おお、食堂中に出汁の香りがしてるな。おでん食いたくなるなあ……

 Right, I get you! Dan-kun's oden is the best on the earth!
Especially the soft daikons, and mochi kinchaku soaked in the dashi are superb.  でしょでしょ！　檀くんのおでんは天下一品だよお！
特に、ほくほくの大根と、出汁がしみ込んだもち巾着が絶品なんだあ

 That sounds so good. I wanna have oden today. 美味そうだなあ。今日は絶対おでんにしよう

 This will be done with simmering tonight. If you will be here in the Library around that time, we'll let you have some. 煮込み終わるのは夜だ。その頃まで図書館にいるなら分けてやるよ

 May I? いいのか？

 We thought about eating it with everyone anyways, so that's why we're making a lot of it! 皆で食べようと思って、たっくさん仕込んだからね！

 Leaving that aside, Aka-kun did you come here for lunch only now? It's already afternoon tea time, you know? それよりアカくん、今頃お昼ご飯を食べに来たの？　もうおやつの時間だよ？

 Ah no, Chief's been busy and said he's unable to get away from work, so I came to pick up some lunch for him. いや、館長が忙しくて手が離せないって言うから、代わりに昼食を取りに来たんだ

 Wow... That sounds tough. へえ……大変そうだな

 Yeah... Not only the alchemist's work being tough,
there's also a lot of things that only Chief can do. うん……アルケミストの仕事だけじゃなくて
館長にしか出来ない仕事もたくさんあるんだって

 Is that so... You're all working so hard. I feel sorry that we can't be of help either. そっかあ……大変だねえ。おいらたちお役に立てなくて悪いねえ

 ...Ah, speak of that! Hey, could you do me a favor? ……あっ、そうだ！　なあ、ちょっと頼まれてくれないか？

 We? That depends on the stuff... But we'll at least listen to what's your request. 俺たちに？　内容によるが……話くらいなら聞いてやろう

## A Warm Evening

 Alright, finally done with the writing. This should be it... よし、書き上がった。これで良いだろう……

 Chief, are you done with work? 館長、終わったか？

 Oh yeah, I just finished. Now I can spend the rest of the year with peace of mind.
Is something the matter for you two to show up together? おお、ちょうど今終わったところだ。これで年内は安心して過ごせるよ
二人揃ってどうかしたのか？

 We want you to come with us. 僕たちと一緒に来てほしいんです

*Aka and Ao take Chief Librarian to a place that looks like an izakaya...*

 Welcome! Come in. いらっしゃーい！　ささ、入って入って

 This is... It looks like there was built a small restaurant into the Library? これは……図書館に小料理屋が出来たみたいだな？

 Librarian built it for us. 司書が作ってくれたんだよ

 To thank the ever so hardworking Chief Librarian, we tried to think what can we do for you. 働き過ぎの館長を労うために、僕らで出来ることを考えました

 You two... お前達……

 Everyone, don't just stand at the entrance, come inside! みんな、入り口に立ち止まってないで、中に入ってよ！

 ...Ah, yeah. Thanks for having me. ……ああ。ありがとう。お邪魔するよ

 Seats in front of the counter where you can see the hot pot will be good, yeah?
Please put your belongings under your chairs. 鍋の中が見えるカウンターの前が良いだろう
荷物はそれぞれ椅子の下へ入れてくれ

 Yes sir. はい

 Recently we haven't had a chance to eat together, right? So that's why we asked these two to cook for us. 最近皆でご飯食べる機会もなかっただろ？　だから二人に頼んでみたんだ

 Is that so... I'm thankful for this warm oden. そうだったのか……温かいおでん、有難いな

 You don't drink alcohol if I recall right? あんた、酒は飲まないんだってな

 Yeah, I'm trying to not drink when wearing this uniform. ああ、この制服を着ている時は飲まないことにしている

 We heard that from the two, so I prepared a non-alcoholic cocktail! Please try it! 二人に聞いて、ノンアルコールのカクテルを作ったんだ。飲んでみて！

 This is popping in my mouth. It's sooo good! これ、口の中でパチパチする。美味ーい！

 Hehe, glad to hear that! In the past, Kenji taught me how to make it. へっへー良かった！　これは昔賢治に作り方を教わったんだあ

 There are a lot of ingredients... What should I choose? たくさん具がありますが……何を選べば良いでしょうか

 Just say whatever you like and you'll get it. なんでも好きなものを言えよ

 Ao isn't used to these kind of establishments.
Some skewered beef, daikon, shirataki noodles with fried tofu... And edible chrysanthemum, how about that? アオはこういう店に慣れていないからな
牛串と大根、白滝に厚揚げ……それに春菊なんてどうだ？

 Yes, I'll have that. ええ、それにします

 Chief's pick is never a miss. 館長が選ぶものは、はずれがないからな

 Hey... Can you make some rolled omelette too? な……出汁巻き玉子も作れる？

 Hm? Okay then, I'll make such right away. ん？　いいぜ、すぐ作ってやるよ

 Please do enjoy this fine evening! 今夜はゆっくり楽しんで行ってね！