NOVEL NEXT The following day after our sea event, the academy welcomed the morning with a more upbeat mood than usual.
The summer festival was just around the corner so the production job students had already started their preparation for stalls. A slight hecticness was clearly visible between them.
"Hmm-mm, nope. We're still short-staffed."
Alulu uttered a groan as she discussed their plan with Hannah in our guild room.
"Yeah. Maybe it wouldn't have been much if we had three...no, four more people..."
Hannah seemed to be sharing the same sentiment as her.
Their worry could be traced back to the shop they were going to set up. It turned out the food shop they had in mind wasn't the regular food stall but a B-class gourmet shop. The scale of the shop was now becoming the source of trouble for the three, Hannah, Alulu and Kairi. Their situation seemed dicey... I thought when someone raised their hand in response to their plight.
"In that case, Lulu wants to help out! Lulu also wants to try servicing in a shop, and become Lulu the Shop Assistant!"
"Oh my! I would definitely sweep the shop if Lulu is the salesperson! Unfortunately, that's just a pipe dream. Hold on, Lulu. Your height may put you in trouble."
"Mmm-mm. But Lulu wants to try it out."
"Then let's do that; I will also join to look after you, and support you."
"Uwah, thank you so muchhhh, Celia Onee-chan!"
"Fufufu, of course. It's my duty as your big sister to support Lulu in every endeavour."
"Thank you very much, really." (Alulu)
With the spur of Lulu, Hannah and Co. succeeding in getting two more staff members.
"I was literally sweating thinking about the situation you know~. But we're still a bit short."
"Hmm, who else can help us out?"
Once again, Hannah and Alulu started their brainstorming when someone entered the guild room.
The newcomer was <Hardworker> Satoru, one of our helpers, who took his entry with a beaming expression.
"Good morning everyone! Oh, it's been a while, Hannah-sama, Lulu-san! ......Huh? Is it me or does everyone seem oddly suntanned?"
Satoru cheerfully greeted everyone but after taking a look around, his eyes suddenly blinks repeatedly. I could see question marks, in metaphorical way, floating about his head.
Well, let's not end his greeting on a dry note.
"Good morning, Satoru. I guess the sunscreen didn't completely the sunlight huh~."
"Yes. There was also a hot sandy beach and the reflection, so it's hardly enough to prevent sun tanning."
Hearing mine and Sierra reply, Satoru blinked rapidly as if he just heard something funny and his expression soon changed into one of astonishment. Huh, is something wrong?
"S-Sea? Did you go to sea? ......with everyone?"
"Yes! We played with everyone in the sea! It was so much fun!"
"Hu......h? B-But I...... didn't?"
With the reply from grinning Lulu, Satoru spoke as if it took all his strength to utter those words. His voice was shivering to the core.
Then, as if she had just realised something, Sierra tapped her hand with fist.
"Indeed. Now that I look back, you were not there." frёeωebɳovel.com
"My whole existence was forgotten!?"
With those words, the dam Satoru was holding back burst forth.
Ack, yeah, my fault too. I only realised just now as well.
Besides, he seemed to have been busy with some work for the last few days, maybe that's why he missed all the talks about the sea event. And speaking of, he was yet to be our <Helper> when we were deciding on the details for the event, so we also completely missed him.
I guess it was truly bad timing.
I carefully chose my words and tried to console him.
"Satoru, let's go together next time, alright?"
"Z-Zephyr-san. I knew it, you're really a god!"
No, that's why I am telling you to stop with the believer act.
When I urged him, he recounted this wasn't the first time he had missed an event like this, and has been facing a similar situation for a long time, with a teary look. I nodded in the flow, saying 'Aha, it's indeed one of the rare things, but it does happen. Yeah, totally' and easing his mood.
"What's he doing?"
"Is this some kind of new game?"
In between, the other two <Helper> of <Eden>, Maria and Melina-senpai, arrived.
I explained the situation to them which elicited a surprised "Oh no!" reaction from both of them, seemingly realising something. Afterward, these two averted their gaze from Satoru. Maybe...these two had forgotten about him in the same vein. Well, not that I had any right to say and kept quiet.
"Hello, and good timing, you two. If you're free, can we discuss the rental items for the shop?"
Hannah suddenly jumped in the situation and steered the topic. At Least this saved the situation from taking any more awkward route.
As for me...well I had dungeons to take care of so unfortunately I wasn't free to help them out.
The first task in my agenda was to increase the level of the remaining members, unlock their third order skill tree and at the same time procure sufficient equipment to start our exploration for Intermediate-high dungeons. So I was just as busy. And looking at the timing, It was about time for me to go out.
"Then, I will be going out. Good luck for your shop, everyone."
"Thanks, and you too, Zephyr-kun. Good luck~."
I cheered Hannah and Co. for their effort and left the guild room.
At the end, it seemed like Satoru had also volunteered himself to help out in heavy stuff and support their shop. Good luck, Satoru. I will make sure you're not forgotten next time.
And so, we spend the remainder of our summer vacation on our respective tasks, securing equipment and helping other members in levelling up.
The source of this is frёeweɓηovel.coɱ.
By the 29th of the month, I had fulfilled my one of the tasks---getting every member of <Arc-Arcadia> reach Lv40 and unlock their third order skill tree.
It was quite a speedrun when the one helping them out was members of <Eden>. As a matter of fact, Noel, Lacritta and Aegis-senpai had already reached Lv65, and were now in the middle of clearing out the three Intermediate-mid dungeons.
Rina, Mert and Misato had crossed the threshold of Lv70, almost within the reach to hit level ceiling while also acquiring the <Mark of Conqueror> for clearing three Intermediate-mid dungeons. With this, they also prepared themselves for the Intermediate-high dungeon.
I think the day we tackle C-rank guild battle wasn't far away. It also increased one more task for me, to start searching for the guild that we would be challenging in <Rank Battle>.
Well, well, not a break for the busy bee huh. Oh, and it's about time to start focusing on <Advanced Job Rank Up> as well. Hmm, and I guess new members list for <Eden> and <Arc-Arcadia> too, which means another interview. Or maybe I should go the scouting route this time? Either way, it's another work. Truly not a moment to break.
But on the other hand, one of the academy events, the summer festival, starts tomorrow. I was incredibly excited to participate in the actual summer festival of <Dungeon Activity> as well!