Vol. 13 - Ch. 736 - Welcome to Eden’s Store: Charm of Hannah’s Potion

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After requesting Marie to craft equipment for Kalua, we also took the opportunity to get her measurements and other details sorted.

It was a sight to watch Karua giddying when she heard of new equipment, her cat ears and tail twitching and wiggling with excitement.

Marie-senpai appeared no different. Though she had crafted prototypes for advanced equipment, this would be the first custom set she was going to craft.

Well, it was a long game though. We'd yet to gather enough advanced-grade material, so everything hinges on when we would have enough. She'll have to keep honing her

skills until then!

After that, we also deciphered the remaining recipes. Couldn't forget one, eh? These ones, dropped from «Silver Chest» or «Intermediate Spirit of Light», were unfortunately a grade below the full set recipe. That said, the recipe from «Intermediate Spirit of Light» was a cooking recipe, and quite a rarer one at that. Sure, it was intermediate-grade, but as a drop from «Gold Chest», it wasn't one to be scoffed at.

Alas, we didn't have any «Cook», neither as members nor as contract, so this would be going underground, eating dust. Well, or that's what I'd thought but much to my surprise, it wasn't long before it served its value.

The day after I'd made a request to Marie-senpai, which was Sunday, we had an unexpected visitor.

"Hi, I came to say hi to our new neighbour, and Hannah-chan."

"Mhm? If it's not Mirius-senpai."

"Oh, Zephyr-kun. Long time no see~. Oh, and congrats on your C-rank promotion~. I believe your shop going to open its door starting today, right? Here, I brought a celebratory gift. Share it with everyone~."

Basking in the light of cheeriness, the girl, a senior from «Cooking Department» Year 2, handed me a basket.

Coincidence was quite a thing. It turned out our guild house was just next to the very guild house of guild we avail the service when celebrating dungeon success—«In seek of perfect harmony between taste and buff».

Milia-senpai was our usual contact, always taking our requests and whipping up amazing dishes. It appeared she would even assist out Hannah if she was having any trouble in the «Dungeon Production Major». Though, since Hannah was the one usually handing over the order, we hadn't met much.

I remembered visiting the neighboring guild houses when we moved in, but she wasn't around then.

As I was lost in thought, a flurry of footsteps approached from behind, and Hannah burst out.

"Welcome to our guild house, Mira-senpai!"

"Hahaha! This is the line you say to customers, Hannah-chan~. There's no need for formality between us."

"Ah, I guess it is. Then, thank you for coming today? We will be under your care starting today...?"

"Sheesh, learn to decompress, my dear Hannah. Take a deep breath, and relax~."

She joined the fray almost as if running around, appearing flustered.

Unsurprising, she'd been nervous for a while. After all, Eden's shop was going to open its door starting today, so she'd been like that since morning.

"So, re-introducing myself, I am Mirius, your guild shop's assistant starting today. It's my pleasure to work with you, Zpehyr-kun."

Indeed, as a fact, she was one of the production party members Hannah was working with. And as that production party would be taking over the shop's management, she was one of them. Oh, and we also had another «Helper» helping around.

I returned the courteous greeting with a similar courtesy from my end.

"The pleasure is ours, Mirius-senpai. At the end, we're still an up-and-coming freshman guild, so it's our fortune we have a senior like you guiding us."

"Hehehe, that you can be rest assured of. Look forward to the day Hannah-chan became a full-fledged merchant!"

"Hearing that is reassuring!"

"I can hear your whispering! Geez, don't jest around like that!"

...It was anything but a joke, though. It's Mirius-senpai, and if she's saying that, it's absolutely possible.

She might appear just a cheerful person, but in fact, she's someone distinguished enough to have a seat in one of the Big Three Guilds that managed this academy—«Student Council».

Anyone who knows that would never doubt her words.

As our chatter blossomed, I imagined how true to the word senpai was, two more girls took their entry into the guild. One of them was undoubtedly a young lady of noble house, her hair done in ringlet-style, though not quite exactly like Rina, and the other was a petite girl who looked even more nervous than Hanna, with x-shaped eyes.

They were the other two members of Hannah's production party. I did remember their names, Arstoria-san, and Shreya-san, I think. Since I'd met them before, I raised a hand in greeting.

"Hello, long time no see, Arstoria-san, Shreya-san!"

"Ah, it's been a while, Zephyr-sama. Please excuse our intrusion."

"T-t-guh!?"

They both replied—or rather, Shreya-san thoroughly fumbled her reply. It didn't

come out right at all.

"Zephyr-sama, please allow me to formally introduce myself again. I am Arstoria, from the «Alchemy Department» of the «Dungeon Production Major,» and I am a member of Hannah-san's party. We will be under your care starting today."

"S-same! «Alchemy Department»! I-I-I've the fortune to be in Lady Hannah's p-p-party! Um, I'm Shreya!"

Arstoria-san curtsied elegantly, holding up her skirt with one hand, while Shreya-san clenched her fists to her chest, her eyes drawing "><" in pure panic. Amazingly, she was like "fluster" personified. I barely understood the latter half of what she said.

I returned their polite greetings.

"Thank you for the warm introductions. I am Zephyr, Guild Master of «Eden,» the guild that owns this guild house. The pleasure is all mine."

Since they were Hannah's friends and party members, I made sure to be courteous. It's all part of a Guild Master's duties.

Then Hannah stepped forward and exchanged friendly greetings with the two.

"Welcome, Arstoria-san, Shreyaa-san. I look forward to working with you both starting today."

"We will be in your care then, Hannah-san. Truly, it's such an incredible feat to have your store as a freshman."

"Hehe, it's all thanks to everyone in the guild."

"Lady Hannah, I look forward to working with you starting today! I'll do my very best!"

"Yes, let's do our best together!"

Wow, even the flustered loli-girl calmed down in front of Hanna. That's a testament to how close they are. I had been worried about Hannah going to the «Production Department» alone, but It appeared that was unfounded concern.

A moment later, Mirius-senpai joined the group, their cackling echoing as they excitedly chatted about the opening of the store. Mhm-mm, they sure were a group of close friends. Though, seeing Hannah's growth outside of my eyes kind of made me melancholic.

It would only be a nuisance to join them. I thought, and decided to watch over them from a distance.

"Speaking of, are those people over there guild members? Should we greet them, Hannah-san?"

"Ah, yes. The other seems curious too. I'll introduce you to them!"

On the other side of Arstoria-san's eyes were the members of our guild, the latter looking at them with curious looks. I bet they're just as curious about Hannah's friend.

And so, Hanna began introducing her party members and our guild members to everyone. It looked like quite a task, given the number of people.

After a somewhat chaotic but ultimately successful series of greetings, and enlisting Maria and Merina-senpai to help with the final preparations, the shop finally managed to open its doors.

"Welcome to the opening of «Eden Store»! The shop is opening its door starting today!"

"Only for today, get Miss Hannah's potion at 20% discount!"

"A value for offer~. Don't miss your chance~."

"W-we also have a selection of weapons and armor!"

As Hannah, Arstoria-san, Mirius-senpai, and Shreya-san announced the shop's opening, the students who had been observing from a distance surged into the store.

"W-Wooow! So this is the new shop of Hannah-sama!"

"T-the sales uniform is so cute!!"

"Holy cow. I am going to tell others!"

Hannah and the shop assistant team were sporting a new «Eden’s Store» uniform—informal attire with colorful aprons. Hannah wore a pink apron, Arstoria-san a yellow one, Shreya-san a green one, and Mirius-senpai a blue one, making for a vibrant display.

Some customers admired the shop's interior, while others focused on Hannah and her friends' outfits. It seemed the initial wave of customers was more interested in research than shopping. Perhaps it was because it was opening day, and they prioritized gathering information?

Just as I was thinking this, one customer zipped straight to the register and

placed an order, and the atmosphere instantly shifted.

"Yeeessss! Give me 20 «High Potions» and 30 «MP High Potions»!"

"Wha!?! I'm out of «Speed Potions»! Can I buy about 50 of them?!"

"H-hey, let's savor the moment a little longer. Ugh, give me 40 «Antidote Potions»! I'm heading to the «Poison Mushroom Dungeon»!"

Ah, so the crowd here wasn't just to sightsee. They're here for Hannah's potion. With one customer leading the charge, everyone rushed to the register.

All the calm had been lost! Maria and Satoru immediately dashed over to organize the queue.

"C-calm down, please form a line!"

"Please line up like this! While you wait, please write down your desired items

on this order form!"

Maybe a bit of it had to do with the fact that today was Sunday, but it was astonishing how the shop was instantly crowding with customers so much there wasn't a place to put a foot. It appeared I had underestimated the fame of Hannah's shop.

But, and most astonishing, Hannah and her party members efficiently dealt with the orders despite the huge rush. On the side note, the rest of «Eden» members had retreated to their rooms, not wanting to get caught in fray.

"I-I did expect Hannah to be famous, but this is beyond my imagination!"

"Indeed, surprised me similar. It's quite something to have a crowded shop right at the opening day."

"And it's the outskirts of C-rank street, not even a prime location."

Lana, Sierra, and Ester expressed their admiration and surprise at the scene.

"Lulu, you mustn't go out there. You'll get jostled around, and at worst, you might be mistaken for merchandise and bought."

"Celia-oneechan!? I think saying I'd actually be bought is a bit stretching it?!"

Woah, a jab from Lulu?! Now that was a rare sight.

"For now, let's leave the shop to Hannah and her team. It's too much for us to handle."

"I agree with Rika-dono. Let's focus on our own work."

Rika and Shizu seemed to think it best to leave it to the experts. I couldn't agree more.

"But it really showed how much «Eden» relies on Hannah, didn't it?"

"Y-yes. We're always saved by the potions Hannah-san makes for us."

Noel and Lacritta viewed it from the customers' perspective. Indeed, we would normally have to procure potions from somewhere, just like the customers in the shop now. But thanks to Hanna's production capabilities, we don't have to. We owe Hanna a debt of gratitude. Eden truly thrives because of Hanna.

Regardless, the «Eden’s Store» had a solid start. We'd set up Aruru's forged equipment as well, though Hannah's products were the star of the moment. I think it's just a matter of time.

Once the shop settles down a bit, they'll naturally start selling. Though, I'm not sure how long that will take.

Well then, leaving the shop to Hannah and her team, as Shizu suggested, we set our focus on stuff we do the best—Dungeon exploration.

Oh, wait, I need to make an announcement first.

"One more announcement. Tonight, we'll be celebrating the completion of the renovated guild house and the opening of the «Eden Store.» Those who can make it, please come!"

"Okay!" echoed a chorus of reply.

"Alright, then. Let's get started with today's activities."