Vol. 8 - Chapter 417 - New Guild Room and Promotion Party!
“Kudos to everyone, and Cheers!”
“ “ “ “Kudos!!” “ “ “
“ “ “ “ Cheers!!” “ “ “
The clock was ticking 7:00 PM, after the guild battle.
We all—the members of ‹Eden› and ‹Arc-Arcadia›—gathered in our new D-rank guild room and held the usual celebration party.
Our new D-rank guild room was located nearby the ‹Dungeon Gate: Intermediate Passage›, an intermediate-middle dungeon building—or nicknamed ‹Int-Gate›. The academy and dorms were much closer to reach from there, quite a convenient location to say the least.
It was a stone-built, four-storey building, fashioned after—kinda— middle-aged style. Honestly, it looks even more impressive when you think of it as a school building. The new room given to ‹Eden› was on the topmost floor of it.
We had already started shifting from the old guild room the instant we received the key and the notification of our passing the promotion at ‹Guild Application Reception›, that we stopped by right after our guild battle.
Well, we were told we can keep the key to the E-rank guild room for one week and could take our time. Albeit it was a hectic time for us. We didn't have the luxury to take our sweet time with the term-end exam almost around the corner. Thus, we shifted our guild residence at the first opportunity.
But I have to say, the MVP in our move was the ‹Item Bag›. We didn't have to sweat over transporting items. If anything, the majority of the time was wasted in the decoration of our new guild room (actually 99% of it was all about the plushies, not that I can say it out loud). And, of course, I have made sure s1 gets the best place—the home shrine has been placed even above the chief seat. May your blessings shine upon us, S1!
As the guild room was basking in the glow of divine light overflowing from s1—to renew the blessing on us and guild once again—I savored the expensive juice, ‹100% Mellow Apple Juice›, along with everyone. It was the same item we successfully bid on,
We haven't told anyone, neither sub-member nor ‹Eden› itself, that this juice alone cost 6.1 million Mir. Only the few of us who had participated in that auction knew its actual price. I feel like someone like Hannah would just confuse the taste even if she knows.
“Kih, damn tasty!”
Each received just three sips worth of juice after being divided into 25 members but its deliciousness never fails to amaze me.
There's no words to describe how amazing it. The effortlessly uplifting and soothing aroma is truly indescribable.
“Ta-dah. Today's feast is all cooked from the high-quality cooking ingredients from the 19th floor of ‹Food & Livestock Dungeon›! Eat plenty, everyone!”
Hannah merrily said as she brought out dishes—all made from extra dungeon ingredients—one after another while Celestine served them.
As usual, I had already placed an order to the cooking specialist guild ‹In search for the balance between food and buff›. Sierra's saying was that we would only be waiting with an empty table if we waited till the end of guild battle, which I also agreed with.
We also had many of Hannah's handmade cooking. Although I have been having her cooking pretty much everyday—oh wait, it's literally everyday—her special deluxe menu was still something whose thought alone made me salivating. I'm definitely going to bloat my stomach with her cooking!
Once Hannah set-up the giant plates of her cooked dish in a buffer-style approach, I immediately moved my cutlery in a blurring motion, reaching out before anyone else could. I would never let anyone best me for Hannah's cooking!
"Hmm-mm, the path to conquest starts with the stomach after all it seems....."
"Cooking...yeah, not happening. I can dish out something but."
"Goodness, this taste is on par with ‹Cooking› job holders."
Lana, Sierra and Rina muttered something but I was much focused to secure my supply to pay any heed.
"A-Amazing! It's all-you-can-eat curry!"
"Take it a bit slow, Karua. Your curry isn't going anywhere."
On the other hand, there was Karua with her glittering eyes as she stared at the curry mountain, automatically prepared by the ‹Curry Pot›.
She had been one to contribute grandly in this guild battle, so I specifically instructed to prepare ‹High-grade Beef Curry› using ‹High-grade Beef›—droppable from rare boss ‹Boss Minotaur› of ‹Food-Dun›—for this occasion. The amount was enough to last for three days when eaten in moderation. Dine and munch!
However the charm of extravaganza curry was such, Karua swiped plate after plate like a storm razing everything in its path. Rika rebuked, only for it goes unheard as not even for a moment did Karua stopped her hand. Even sub-members were taken aback.
Girls' gaze were focusing on her cropped fashion equipment, which left her belly exposed, with the color of horror dying their gazes as they stared at her gradually bulging stomach.
"Zephyr-san. Can I take the seat beside you?"
"P-Please don't mind if it sounds intruding."
"Hey there, Noel, Lacritta. Be my guest. Let me tell you, these dishes are a masterpiece. Come on, don't miss out."
I pointed at Hannah's special deluxe dish on my plate, recommending it.
"Ooh......Sharing with Zephyr-san! Thanks you~"
"F-From Zephyr-san himself!?"
"Hold on your horses!"
"You know better that was not the meaning here, right? Get a platter yourself."
"S-Saw it coming~."
"Y-Yes mam! Of course so!"
Noel and Lacritta stiffened, like someone has doused with water magic in a surprised attack, the instant Lana and Sierra appeared and trotted to pick toward the big plate to get the serving I recommend.
"Seriously, you can never be enough cautious."
"It's because Zephyr, you, is a bit too-easy-too-misleading. Reflect on your personal space a bit more varily, understood? You really have a knack to spring up the misunderstanding in an unexpected way."
"What......fine, my bad?"
And the two let out their steam on me for god know the reason. Can you at least make some sense, ladies?
I was even finding myself at the receiving end of other girl's glare. I took my cue and immediately scurried myself to where Mert, Misato and—sole male in our sub-guild—Reglam.
"You have come, Zephyr-dono. A toast on your performance. Let me pour you a drink."
"Oh, hey. Reglam. I kind of caught up here. Anyway, what's this drink?"
"It's a blend juice I had asked an acquaintance of mine from ‹Cooking Department› class to make for me. It's a bit sour for the taste but take a sip of it in the midst of a meal and it will make eating further enjoyable. Its taste and flavor is also first-class."
With his beautiful sales-pitch like line, I tried it. It tasted like mixed fruit juice. Slightly tangy—more on lemon taste if you aso so—with a twist of sweetness. Apparently, it was quite a well-served drink at parties or similar stuff, the sip of it could keep you eating more without feeling bloated. Plus, it also resets the taste of the mouth so the next dish feels even more tasty—such were the words of Reglam.
Hmm, I see. So that's how the effect of juices ‹Cooking› job holders panned out in reality.
"I guess you two are having the same juice?"
"Yes. It's not easy to taste many dishes with my body. This juice is just perfect for me."
"Geez, and I'm saying you're plenty awe-inspiring enough, Mert-sama. Eating beyond your capacity wouldn't help in growth, you know?"
"No one will treat you like mute if you don't speak!"
Sounds like this juice has been Mert's favorite—or perhaps his bread and butter? And my dear Misato, let the crowning freeze man tackle the mounting problem.
"But I didn't know you two were acquaintances, much less such good buddies."
"We're in the same class after all."
"Yup. However, Mert has been a big help honestly."
"No, that was all your effort through which you made yourself into ‹Arc-Arcadia›. All I did was inform you about recruiting."
Right. I didn't put two and two together. Both are from the same ‹Combat Department Class 1-8› after all. Presumably, as far I could see from their conversation, their friendship goes a long way.
When I asked further, Reglam mentioned it was through Mert he came to know there was even a recruitment for ‹Arc-Arcadia›. He was almost oblivious to it, and would have remained so until the end, hence why he was indebted to him.
"That's great. Now excuse me, time to check out on other members as well. Enjoy the party, and eat plenty!"
After a bit of chattering, and receiving the mixed juice as a gift, I headed for another seat.