Vol. 9 - Ch. 461 - Lana's back! And attack on ‹Sachineko-sama›?

"How have you been without me, everyone?! I am back!""Oh, welcome back, Lana. You're not down as I thought huh."

The day before our full-blown summer event, our Princess came back from her home visit.

We were in our guild room when she entered with a lively voice. Strange, I thought she would have dark clouds over her face with how disheartened she looked to leave.

Her entourage also followed after her.

"Haa, I'm back, Zephyr. I was really really lonely."

"Huh......I see?" Sᴇaʀᴄh the N0vᴇlFire(.)nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

However the reply that I heard was quite filled with liveliness that caught me off guard.------Woah, I am not hallucinating, right? Did I just hear her true feelings without the usual tsun-tsun? Don't tell me she woke up from the wrong side of bed today?

No, wait. A fake---

"I was soooo sad that I couldn't hug ‹Sachineko-sama› and ‹Koneko-sama›!"

Just as my brain completely frizzled with the strange happening, Lana slipped past me and scooped ‹Sachineko-sama› and ‹Koneko-sama› in her arms before abducting them.

She was really swift and clean in her execution.

Damn it, so that's what she means by lonely! I was a fool to think she was fake!

'Hold on for a second. How many have I told you ‹Sachineko-sama› isn't to be toyed for! Hurry up and put them back to their place!"

"Aw, what's the big idea, Zephyr! You know how I had to spend the last month away from them? Either way, I am seriously in need of ‹Sachineko-sama› hug!"

Haa, it's not even a moment since she came back and we were back to our usual tug-of-war.

However, it was the battle with ‹Sachineko-sama› at stake. This wasn't the fight I could back down, I must win to protect them! (Though each time ended with defeat)

"We're back, Zephyr-dono."

"There's not much of a change huh."

"Hmm? Oh, Ester and Shizu. Welcome back. Sorry but can you wait a minute, I need to tackle something first."

"Err, I do apologize for the inconvenience, but would you please let Lana-sama have ‹Sachineko-sama› and ‹Koneko-sama›, Zephyr-dono?"

"......Huh...?"

"Lana had been impatiently waiting for this day. We did bring all possible plushies and even after there was a mountain of them, all that was in Lana-sama's mind was ‹Sachineko-sama›."

"Maybe nothing beside ‹Sachineko-sama› can clear that melancholy now..."

What in tarnation? Unexpectedly, Shizu and Ester stepped forward as Lana's allies.

Kuh, how could I say no in this situation... Perhaps this is the end of my struggle, ‹Sachineko-sama›...!

In the end, I decided to turn a blind eye to the situation for that day. It was a pity though (Hmm, but isn't this how things always end? Somehow my mind whispered but that must be my imagination).

"Karua! I have bought a souvenir for you, Karua! This curry is from the royal capital's famous curry shop-desu!"

"Curry!"

"It's called Curry Baron!"

On the sideline, Pamela passed the souvenirs to Karua, who had somehow become her close friend. It was really godsend that even the freshly made dishes could be stored within ‹Item Box› as it is!

Hmm, but what in the world is that Curry Baron name? Maybe it's related to Irish Cobbler Potato?

"Amazing! it's delicious! Curry Baron is amazing!"

Karua, who had immediately started eating, broke out into adulation. To be honest, it does sound tasty just from the aroma!

"How about everyone try as well? I have packed plenty of it for allt-desu!"

"Nice, but I will have it later. In fact, we also have gotten a new variety of curry ourselves."

Well, that was quite a coincidence to choose curry out of everything as a souvenir, wasn't it? We also got ‹Complete Curry Recipe› the other day as a drop.

The conversation afterward suddenly turned to all about curry. Strange.

"Alright, I should now update you about our activities huh. And then there's the introduction to ‹Helper›."

With Lana and her entourage coming back, it just left Reglam only. At this point, and considering his words too, he might not be back by the day of ‹Sea-Dun›.

I explained about our plan, and introduced them to the new addition of our guild; Maria and Melina-senpai. Satoru was taken by Celestine for some task so he was left out. Well, that can happen later too I guess?

On the other hand, Lana immediately jumped up with 'objection!!' when I mentioned our summer camp event. I ignored her. I mean, we can always have another event...so let me get away with this.

"I will not allow you to ignore me! How, how can you have such a fun event without me......explain yourself, Zephyr!"

Uh-huh. Operation turn a blind eye failed.

She truly thundered with her royal wrath. The more we spoke of details, the more she harrumphed and exploded like a bomb at the end.

"Geez! I can't believe you did that Zephyr! Unbelievaaaaaaable!!"

"We also didn't have unlimited time after all. A lot of summer vacation has already gone so it would be impossible to delay our plans any further."

I tried to placate her somehow but once in her royal wrath, it seemed impossible to calm down our Royal Highness. Hmm, what else to use to diffuse that bomb?

"Right. Next is ‹Sea-Dun›, I will make sure it's absolutely fun so let me go with that?"

"I am looking forward to it too......but that alone isn't enough!"

"Zephyr-dono, Lana-sama has splendidly pulled off her official work of home visit which she felt so reluctant to for a full one month. Don't you think Her Highness deserves a reward? Of course, we will be cooperating as well."

Just as I was somehow trying to appease Lana, Ester closed up and murmured quietly in my ears.

Hmm......her words had weight. It is awful to think she had to stay away from the academy for a whole month. I mean, if I was made to abandon ‹Dungeon Activity› for one month......I am sure I would go insane.

"......Fine. Then let's look for what to reward her with."

"Really? It's a promise!"

"Of course, it's a promise."

"Thank you very much, Zephyr-dono!"

Alright, I guess it should be fine with this.

"Ahem, let's talk about ‹Sea-Dun›. The main problem at hand is the swimsuit. Sierra, please fill them in with details."

"Indeed, given that we're to depart tomorrow morning, there's not much time to take it easy. Let's head to Marie-senpai's guild. I believe everything else is ready, we just need to select the final design and that's all."

"Swimsuits? It will be my first time so I wonder how it will be..."

"I am sure Lana-sama in a swimsuit would be the finest scenery!"

"Likewise. I will make sure to etch that scene in my memories firmly."

Sierra was left in charge of girl's swimsuit. It would be nothing but trouble if I took over it. I saw them off for ‹Emblem Seal Sticker›. Though I feel like Ester and Shizu just said something strange, but I was so engrossed in my plan that I didn't hear them properly.

"Which swimsuit you're going to choose-desu, Karua?"

"Hn. Look forward to tomorrow. But it's something Zephyr likes."

"Zephyr-san-desu!? Woaah~."

No wait, when did I tell Karua about my swimsuit preference that even i don't remember? Ah, I guess I might have slipped out how bikinis are the strongest swimsuit in ‹Dungeon Activity›. ......Whatever, it's not a big deal.

They can decide for their own. Men are always on rewarded side, being assertive would just creep them out..

But anyway, I can't wait for tomorrow!

After that, I passed further details to Lana and the girls after they were back. In lieu of tomorrow's event as well, we disbanded earlier today.