pudd

Oh, you didn't know?

She left the landship for a mission two months ago, after she passed her field operations assessment.

Her skills have improved so much... I guess it's good that she's taking on new challenges.

I heard she was so excited, she had trouble sleeping the night before she left. She had really been looking forward to that mission.

No surprise there though. I'd also love to be able to visit Sami alongside the Columbian engineering team.

Eh? So she really did go to Sami...

You've been there before too, right? Ah, I'm so jealous, getting to see all that beautiful scenery you only ever hear about in stories.

Let me tell you a secret. Whenever we chatted, Celica would treat you like some sort of idol. So maybe she went to Sami to follow in your footsteps.

I doubt it... Who would idolize <i>me</i>?

Do you know, Pillow? Celica's gone to Sami.

I'm sure she's excited to see all those sights with her own eyes. I'm really happy for her.

Huh, at this hour?

Good evening, Pudding. I've got a letter for you, from Sami. The sender is... Celica.

Ah.

Well then, have a good night.

I guess I should read it.

...She says she's entered Sami territory.

'I had imagined many magnificent sights on my way here, but when I finally set foot on Sami soil, I realized the vastness of this great land exceeded the limits of my imagination.'

'Fowlbeasts with gray tail feathers soar into the skies, as powder snow falls onto the branches like petals. A mushroom opens up into a crystal-clear umbrella, like a glass bowl filled with sunlight.'

'These fantastical sights have had me enraptured since I got here.'

And then there's just some standard greetings. I'm glad she didn't...

Don't blame me, Pillow.

I'll come clean. It's kind of rude, but I originally wanted to pretend it didn't exist at all...

You know, my parents always mention this and that about Sami whenever they send a letter. So I was worried she'd say something similar, asking me to go too or something.

But I'm too scared to...

Sorry, Celica! I'll write you a reply tomorrow!

Oh, seems like there's another paragraph at the bottom.

'Oh right, my engineer colleagues told me spring in Sami was approaching. Guess what I found in the snow?'

'The answer is in the enclosed photo. Remember to make a guess before you look, though.'

The photo...

No, Pillow. We have to make a guess before we look.

You're guessing mushrooms? Then I... I'm guessing it's a pretty ice cube.

Now, it's time to find out!

Ah, the snow... it's melting.

The snow on the grass has dwindled, revealing sporadic patches of green.

A pink flower bud has shed off its white clothing, swaying leisurely in the breeze.

The moment is perfectly framed in the photo.

It's a beautiful scene.

Pillow, have we... ever seen spring in Sami before?

You're thinking the same too, right? But it's impossible...

It's going to take some time to finish my current work, and then I'd have to submit a trip application, so wouldn't spring be over by the time we arrive in Sami? Besides...

We've already tried so many times... I can't go somewhere that far.

Oh, I know, why not just ask Celica to take some more photos for us?

I'll write her a letter now!

'Dear Celica...'

Pudding, has Celica's letter arrived yet?

Nope.

I just did some napkin math, and it's been almost two months! It should have arrived by now!

Ah, I'm so excited I don't feel like working...

Working hours are almost over anyway.

Are you not working overtime today, Pudding? You've been sitting there for the past half hour.

Why don't we go grab a bite together? We can talk about Celica's travel diary. Are you good with spicy food? What about barbecue?

Um, me? I'm fine with anything...

My favorite story has got to be the time Celica ate the fodder the Sami people feed their burdenbeasts as if they were biscuits, hahaha. That's just too funny.

What about the time the engineering team was setting up equipment against the Sami people's wishes, and she stepped in and cleverly resolved the conflict. Now that was a wonderful moment!

What about you, Pudding? Which one is your favorite?

I...

Hey, everyone! The thing you've all been waiting for is here—Celica's letter!

Quick, let me see!

S-Slow down...

Hey, look at this part, haha! I'm laughing so hard my stomach hurts!

Celica says the engineering team is about to leave the Myrkwood, and is heading towards the wetlands in the northeast...

'Our captain told me our first stop in the wetlands was near a Sami settlement, where the engineering team had previously installed some basic power facilities.'

'I'm guessing there's a high chance this is the same settlement you visited.'

'I think you must be as excited as I am to find out how life has changed here after getting electricity.'

'Although I ran into some unpleasantness along the way, I still couldn't help but burst into laughter from realizing I could fulfill my wish then and there.'

'Do you still remember what we talked about that day? Going forward, I decided to use my skills to transform people's lives.'

'So, my goal is to do everything I can to optimize the settlement's electrical system.'

'Think you could give me some tips, Pudding?'

Um...

Pudding? Are you leaving?

Sorry, I can't hang out with you guys tonight.

I need to... make some preparations.

Good morning, Ball... *huff* The corridor is so cold.

I was shivering all over when I came here this morning, but I checked the temperature control terminal and the air-conditioning in this corridor isn't even on.

The cold air doesn't seem to be coming from the vents... but from that direction.

Over there... That's the electrical engineering lab!

C-Cold... Ah, the floor is all wet!

Is there flooding in the laboratory...? Is there anyone inside?

Sorry, I'm doing some waterproofing, there are shoe covers are by the door.

So it's you, Pudding... Are you simulating an engineering environment? Are you simulating... Sami?

Yeah... To be more precise, it's a wetlands environment. This is the first time I've simulated this kind of natural environment in the lab...

So many coffee bags... Were you here all night?

I'm fine... Um, sorry, could you help me? I'm in a bit of a pickle.

Let me see... Gah! What's this stuck on my shoe?

That would be the aquatic plants I'm repurposing as cables for the simulation, please be careful.

This is... Are you trying to test out the latest power transmission tech in a Sami wetland environment?

Yup.

I'm sure it could greatly improve the stability and control of long-distance power transmission, but are you sure it'll work?

In theory. According to the previously established parameters for the Originium substation and power equipment, at any rate.

Celica also helped research and develop the tech, so modifying the equipment and laying out the cables shouldn't be too difficult for her.

The key issue is controlling the power load. If you look at the power flow calculations here, this part should be able to function normally after modification...

But given the potential spikes in power consumption after future developments, I realized it would critically overload.

I've been thinking about this for a while, but still haven't figured it out.

Pudding... I think I came across a similar problem before. Could you wait for a moment while I go look up the solution I found last time?

Greyy grabs a stack of papers and wades back through the water.

Afterward, they discuss the engineering issue in earnest, ignoring the 'swamp' reaching up to their ankles.

Sent the letter.

Alright, we're done here. Let's leave the rest to Celica.

Thank you both... for taking time out of your schedules to help me out.