Vol. 9 - Chapter 442 - Let's start with summer vacation—schedule time!

"It's finally summer vacation, alright. But guys, we have one more thing before we kick off fully—your schedule. We're going to go through everything written in it. Feel free to state your things you want to do, like if you have any particular dungeon in mind, want to gather materials for equipment or anything that comes to your mind."

Once the party—ahem, the closing celebration's buzz died to some extent, I handed all the members of ‹Eden› and ‹Arc-Arcadia› the schedule I had sketched for the summer vacation. No, it wasn't a calendar-like thing, more like a to-do list—in simpler words, just the list of our plans.

Everyone would be grouping again on 25th august, and our plan after then was to dive into ‹Sea-Dun› along with everyone on 27th. Well, this was but a general gist which could be edited further depending on the requirement of members.

The first one to open their mouth while staring at the paper was Rika.

"Wow, it sure is quite a big list."

"Well, yeah. I heard from rumours that there's the custom to list like this in the guild for summer vacation, since members at this season are quite prone to catch the summer-typical laidbackness at the gap."

"Hmm, so it's kind of like a self-discipline tactic, huh?"

Rika nodded with the meaning sinking into her.

I mean, we're talking about summer vacation? For an idle person, it would be like the time had stangate for everyone but them. Since they personally don't have much to do, then might as well call them to partake in guild-decided events. Two birds with one stone, no?

Apparently, it was also a double-edged sword. I heard there are some guilds who take too much on their plate that instead fed up the members that open the gap for them to slip into a more 'fun guild,' resulting in the guild's strength falling to each other. But then again, sometimes, it gets so lukewarm that members instead seek for more spartan guild. Truly a paradox of choice, ain't it?

It's great to pull one up on their rival but a vacation-shattering overdrive move wasn't a better idea, same for reverse.

This was what the summer vacation stands for the students; some who want nothing but to laze around, or some who want to meaningfully utilise the time. And it was a trial for the guild that tested their adaptability.

I couldn't take a wrong step either. So rather than fretting about having too much or too low on plate, let's directly ask them. Doesn't this sound better?

The schedule I had put up was quite tight but I made sure to keep it from blowing up in my style. Also the rest were up to their own in case they wanted to act independently. Incidentally, my plan was to enjoy the dungeon buffet each and every day. I can't wait to swim into loads of rare drops!

"It would be great if members due for home visit can tell me when you will return and all. Hannah and I are staying behind by the way."

"A round trip to the village alone is 20 days after all."

It was just what Hannah said. I mean, just the round trip alone took 20 days, you know? Ah, the curse of the modern era. My body shivers each time recalling the last one-way trip coming here. Like, holy crap, I literally had to grapple with the insanity. I don't think I could pull it off ever again. Or else, the next headline would be, 'Brave was killed by idle time!?'

Well, honestly, there's nothing else that connects me to the village that warrants me to travel there anymore.

Hannah, however, had her parents. I did ask her if she really didn't want to visit them, but her reply was—'It takes a load of money for the trip that ya family don't have, be self-sufficient and no need to make a trip to here for the next three years...was what they said.'

To be blunt, it was indeed a blunt reason, no? All expenses from entrance to graduation were borne by the academy, however students would have to pay from their own wallet for things like home visit.

Hannah currently had quite a lot of leeway in finance, but the price of a taxi for 20 days overall was exorbitant. Like exorbitant enough to make her think twice. In the end, she was going to stay in the academy for the next three years without any home visit.

"I will need to return at least once, to report I have acquired ‹Shield Princess› etc. I think I should be back in two weeks."

"Woah, real? Oh, gosh, that would be truly helpful. Honestly, I don't think we would go anywhere in the dungeon without you."

How could we fight a boss without our trustworthy tank! I really was worried that she would be out for long, but it was great to hear it wouldn't be the case.

Somehow, as I spoke, a red glow appeared on her face though. Hmm, did I hype myself too much?

"Karua and I will be staying behind. Onee-san has her share of the guild's task to do which paused her, and there's particularly nothing noteworthy that requires my presence as well, so it's fine."

"We're staying behind!"

"Summer with Zephyr-kun sounds fun!"

"There's no way we can slack off here."

The harmonic trio—Sachi, Emi, Yuuka—replied.

"Kuh, why do I have to go back~"

"Well, all the best, Kairi-kun. I'm sure something good will happen to you."

"Aye, do not let it affect you, Kairi. I will never about forgot about you."

"Stop! That's the word of someone who will definitely gonna play reverse on it for sure!"

Behind the scene, Kairi, Nico and Alulu were fervently holding a conversation. It seems like the only one returning back from ‹Arc-Arcadia› was Kairi huh. Hmm, I think I even saw a cloud of despair hanging over her. Was she fine?

Just as I was writing on the notepad, Lana, who had been having a discussion, raised her fist. Oh, did they finally reach a conclusion? In fact, there had been quite a fierce debate ongoing between them that I could hear for a while. I wonder what happened.

"Ugh, Zephyr~. I don't want to go back."

"Even the words of Zephyr-dono wouldn't be able to change the situation, Lana-sama. It's time to go back."

"It's a pity that I'm stuck with such an insensitive fool. Uh-huh, I wonder when did you become so strict, Ester. And you used to be so—"

"M-May not, Ahem. It's the foremost duty to not mingle our lives together. And as a Princess's guard, a firm stance is often necessary."

"Boo~"

Oh, now that's a rarer than rare situation. A wild Lana with abysmally low excitement level? I couldn't even feel her usual liveliness. Even Ester. I had seen her spoiling Lana quite a bit, she had completely adopted a firm stance regarding home visit. Something important seemed to be going on I presume.

"Good luck, Lana."

"Haa, not another insensitive fool~."

I had just given me encouraging words to her when Lana limpily prostrated herself on the table. I do think she looked quite sorry, but there wasn't anything I could say beside that. Well, keeping to myself, I almost trailed off my words and was about to called her cute,

Overall, her whole entourage, except Celestine, was taking off for the home visit. And it seemed to be long one as well. It's really going to tough with Ester's ‹Carriage›, Lana's healing, Shizu's reconnaissance or Pamela's evasion tank. Was it the sign to focus on low level?

Speaking of, Celestine was my attendant so his schedule was based on mine. If I'm not, then he will not as well. That's quite a serious commitment, no? Shouldn't he be...actually, I really don't know how the guild management would be handled if he wasn't there so I was seriously happy to have him.

In the end, the to-stay or not-to-stay list was ended up looking like that—

Short Term Home Visit - Sierra, Kairi

Long Term Home Visit - Lana, Ester, Shizu, Pamela and Reglam

That pretty much summed them up—surprisingly just a short list. Well, I do appreciate that though. With that as back, I consolidate our schedule once again.

—With that, we had finally stepped into summer vacation truly!Vissit novelbin(.)c.om for updates