The day of the test finally arrived.
However, after waking up, I did my usual morning chores before heading to school.
“I’m sorry to make both of you help out at the shop on the day of your test,” Marie said, seeing us off with an apologetic expression. Kent and Rachel headed for school.
“I didn’t study last time, but I studied this time, so do you think my grades will go up?”
“Older brother, you got a perfect score last time. There’s no way to go up any further, is there?”
“Well, yeah. I just need to be careful not to make any simple mistakes.”
“That’s right. I’ll aim for a perfect score this time too.”
For Kent and Rachel, the content was at an elementary school level, so the difficulty was not high. The only possible reason for losing points would be misreading the problems or other basic errors.
“Well then, older brother. See you later.”
“Let’s both do our best.”
Kent and Rachel parted ways and headed to their respective classrooms.
“Good morning, Kent. Thank you for helping me study this time. I feel like I can do my best today.”
“Good morning, Patty. Let’s both do our best.”
When I entered the classroom, Patty, who was in the next seat, spoke to me.
Soon after, the final exam began.
(Let’s see… “Write the reading of [owl]”… The answer is “fukurou.”)
Kent wrote down the answers without any problems.
After the morning classes, it was lunchtime. Josette sat at her seat and studied while nibbling on bread. Just like during the midterm exam, she was trying hard to secure even a little study time. Kent went to the school cafeteria for lunch. Caro and Rachel joined him on the way. As expected during the test period, there were few people using the cafeteria.
“Older brother, how are the tests going?”
“So far, so good. How about you, Akane and Caro?”
“I’m okay so far. I need to avoid making mistakes in the latter half, though…”
“Thanks to you, Kent, I have confidence this time.”
While eating, we shared updates on our recent activities.
“Caro, you got a perfect score on the midterms, right? When the results of the last test were announced, I learned Caro’s name for the first time. I was really surprised then.”
“Actually, I was too…”
Rachel recalled the events of the midterm exam and said.
After that, lunch was over, and Kent and his companions returned to their respective classrooms to take the afternoon tests.
The afternoon test began. The sound of pens scratching across answer sheets echoed through the classrooms. Most students were dipping their quills in ink to write on paper, but Kent was using a ballpoint pen he was used to. Patty next to him was also using the ballpoint pen that Kent had given her. Normally, commoners use stone tablets and chalk for lessons, but only during tests are ink and quills lent to those who wish for them. Of course, you can also bring your own familiar writing tools, like Kent. The answer sheets are also made of paper. It’s probably made from plants, but it’s not white, and it’s a rough paper like straw paper. Considering that this paper is only used during tests, it might be quite expensive.
Kent continued to solve problems while thinking about such things. The test then ended without incident, and Kent and Rachel headed to Marie’s Bakery, their part-time job, along with Patty.
“Welcome home. How were your tests?”
When we arrived at the shop, Marie, wearing a maid uniform, greeted us.
“So-so.”
“So-so.”
Kent and Rachel gave such answers, but Patty’s answer was different.
“I don’t think I’ll fail. Thank you for everything.”
Patty thanked Marie for lending them the shop for their study session.
“It’s fine. We’re not open on Saturdays and Sundays, and if Patty doesn’t have to retake any classes, it’s helpful for the shop too,” Marie said to Patty with a smile.
“Oh, Kent, welcome! Sorry to bother you as soon as you get here, but could you lend me a hand for a bit?”
“Elnet, what’s wrong? I’m coming.”
Kent was called by Elnet and taken to the warehouse behind the shop.
“Actually… I lied about needing help. I have a favor to ask of you.”
“What kind of favor?”
“I heard from Rachel that your house has a bath? I was wondering if I could use it.”
“I don’t think you needed to call me here for that. I don’t have any reason to refuse, so it’s fine.”
“Thank you. I’ll come to your house around closing time then. I’m relieved now, so I’m going to finish work. See you later!”
Saying that, Elnet disappeared. She was probably going to sword training. Kent, since he was already in the warehouse, carried a bag of flour to be used at the shop into the store.
“Marie, I brought the flour. Huh? Emily?”
“Ah, Master, thank you. We were just about to run out of flour, so I was thinking of asking you to restock it.”
Emily, who was baking bread in the bread workshop, easily lifted the bag of flour that Kent brought and placed it in its proper position.
“Why is Emily baking bread here?”
According to the restrictions of a shop-attached fairy, she shouldn’t be able to leave the shop floor. But now she was on the workshop side, which she couldn’t enter.
“It seems the shop’s grade has gone up, and my abilities have increased.”
“I seem to recall your abilities increased last time because you secured a new property for the store. This time… I wonder what it was?”
“I don’t know either. Today, I just felt like I could enter, so I came into the workshop and I could. So, I’m working here today to learn the job.”
It seemed that as the shop grew larger, the shop-attached fairy’s abilities increased. This time, something caused Emily’s range of action to expand. Kent couldn’t think of any reason and found it strange. However, it was still fortunate for the shop that Emily could now handle bread production. Kent left the matter to Emily and moved to the shop floor.
Marie, who had been managing both the kitchen and the floor until just before, was now working on the floor with Patty, as Rachel had joined her. Rachel seemed to have gone into the kitchen. The dining area, though small in seating capacity, remained almost full. Catherine, who started working as the cashier today, along with Rachel and Patty, and Marie, who has been wearing it since recently, are all wearing maid uniform-inspired work clothes. It makes it easy for customers to identify them as staff, and it’s generally well-received. This made Kent wonder if he should also prepare a uniform, as he was only wearing an apron over his clothes. Glancing at the kitchen, Rachel gave him a thumbs-up, as if to say, “Leave it to me.”
