Chapter 22: The Finale
“Cheers!”
In the barbecue restaurant, the voices of girls toasting each other could be heard.
This Autumn Arts Festival event was a great success!
Not only did everyone complete their planned objectives and receive praise, but Lonis and Elus also each received over 6,000 campus points (due to the smaller number of students at the Ancient Academy, the per capita amount was higher), almost fully repaying their debts.
Therefore, today’s dinner banquet was lavish and wonderful… Everyone sat around the table in harmony, seemingly immersed in this peaceful atmosphere.
“I didn’t expect junior Elus to be quite capable. I admit, I underestimated you.”
Mi Xue Zhou extended her hand, downed a cup of beer in one gulp, and a blush involuntarily appeared on her previously fair cheeks.
“Senior, it’s not me who’s capable, but Lonis?”
“Huh?”
“If Lonis wasn’t so capable, we wouldn’t have had such a smooth run, right?”
Although Elus was praising her to her face, Lonis felt that this black-hearted girl’s words had a hidden meaning.
Mi Xue Zhou smiled slightly and said, “The juniors are all very capable; I am very gratified… However, Elus, have you confirmed the school’s S-rank mission?”
“More or less.”
“Oh…?”
“I heard from a teacher that there’s a good cargo transport mission? And with that, plus helping the research station with some relic identification tasks, it should be completed, right?”
“Ah, the Boundless Research Station’s work, right? I’ve heard about that too… If it’s just transporting goods, it is indeed relatively easy to complete?”
…
…
Listening to what Mi Xue Zhou and Elus were discussing, Lonis was completely bewildered.
She subconsciously tugged at Elus’s skirt and whispered, “Um, Young Lady, what does Boundless Research Station mean?”
“Hah, I forgot that you, a maid, are a little idiot.”
Elus sighed. Although she seemed helpless towards Lonis, she continued to explain, “C. Academy is a top-tier comprehensive school in this world, but its scope is not limited to the floating islands. It also cooperates and invests with many research stations around the world.”
“I see.”
“The school regularly needs to communicate with various stations, mainly for things like experimental reports and the turnover of scientific research materials. And since we happen to have a Magic Ship, we can assist in completing this mission.”
“!”
“The Boundless Research Station also has a joint project with the Ancient Academy. The Vice Dean and other students are currently working there. Senior Yan, could you please introduce it to us?”
“Of course.”
Senior Yan pushed her glasses up her nose and said very seriously, “The Boundless Research Station is a 3A-level research station that C. Academy cooperates with. It has a history of 132 years since its establishment. The research station is led by Dr. O’Kali, with Dr. Marin assisting. Their main work includes excavating and exploring the Boundless Soil, analyzing and containing secondary ancient ruins, dissecting the ecosystem of the Boundless Land, and…”
…
Senior Yan is a very serious person.
The advantage of this is that the Senior leaves no room for error, all reports are rigorous and reliable, and the academic atmosphere is very strong.
But the disadvantage is…
Senior Yan lectured for a full 20 minutes.
“…Currently, it is also the season for the Boundless Research Station to exchange goods, so I will depart with the main group and bring the aforementioned required relics and materials with me.”
…
“Ah…”
Lonis understood the beginning and the end, but was completely confused the rest of the time… And because Senior Yan was explaining so solemnly, she didn’t feel comfortable continuing to eat barbecue.
“Huh? What’s wrong? Why is everyone looking at me…”
“Ah, Senior explained it well. Let me applaud Senior for the explanation.”
“Applause.”
“Thank you, everyone…”
“Mhm, so that’s how it is?”
Elus wiped the sweat from her forehead, clearly not expecting Senior Yan to be so detailed. “So, Lonis and I will also be leaving school next week.”
“Is that so… Ah, I got it. I’ll tell Manager Luo Fu about the coffee shop matters.”
As if remembering something, Su Ling Zhou clapped her hands. “Manager Luo Fu is a very reasonable person. I believe she will surely understand for the sake of school matters.”
“Mhm, then thank you, Su Ling~”
Although she heard Su Ling say that, Lonis felt a bit “sad” in her heart.
In fact, since enrolling, Lonis no longer needed to work at the Maid Cafe; and since falling ill, she had started to take frequent absences from work.
However, Lonis seemed reluctant to give up the experience at the coffee shop, wanting to continue working.
It was the same with school. During her time at C. Academy, Lonis not only learned a lot but also met many classmates.
But now, she had to bid farewell to everyone.
Although this was a temporary mission… Lonis knew that her and Elus’s goal was to visit various Rainbow Abyss Temples, so this departure might mean they wouldn’t be coming back.
If they parted ways, she didn’t know when she would be able to see Su Ling Zhou and Senior Mi Xue again.
Therefore…
“Lonis-chan, why are you crying?”
Su Ling Zhou’s eyes widened in surprise, as if she wanted to step forward and wipe away the silver-haired girl’s tears.
Lonis, however, shook her head and pretended to be strong, saying, “No… I’m not crying. I just ate a very spicy lamb skewer and suddenly became emotional?”
“Ah… Then would you like to eat the skewers on this side?”
“Eh?”
“These don’t have chili added. Have them, Lonis-chan.”
The pink-haired girl was very considerate and offered some lamb skewers to Lonis. However, unexpectedly, the silver-haired girl cried even more.
And Lonis’s “mediocre” disguise?
It might fool Su Ling Zhou and Senior Yan, but it was impossible to fool Elus.
The black-haired girl patted her shoulder and said gently, “Alright, alright, drink some water first.”
“Uh…”
“If you can’t eat spicy food, don’t force yourself. If you have a chance to eat here again in the future, don’t order such spicy lamb skewers, okay?”
“Eh?!”
Lonis’s body trembled. Did Elus mean…
“If everything goes smoothly, this transport mission should be completed within half a month. Of course, it’s not impossible for other situations to arise, but that’s a story for another day… The most important thing now is to enjoy this celebration banquet.”
“Elus…”
Lonis’s eyes widened in astonishment.
If she understood correctly, Elus was comforting her. She meant to tell her that there would be a day when she would return to school, a day when she would attend classes with everyone again.
“Hmph hmph, so, quickly eat those meat skewers that Su Ling is offering.”
“Ah… Ahh! No, actually, I can eat a little of the spicy skewers too…”
“Eh?”
“It’s not… it’s not forcing myself, you know? Anyway, let’s all eat together, thank you everyone!!!”
…
The moon hung high in the night sky, and the Autumn Arts Festival of C. Academy had successfully concluded.
