Part 41: Chapter 7-1: The Promise on Hold

Part 7-1: The Promise on Hold


An Unwanted Break



W-Why? What’s the meaning of this? The Atelier Ranking System is being temporarily suspended? … Eeehhh?!

W-What’s going on? What’s with all this noise?

Ah, Mireille! This! What’s the meaning of this?!

Ah. I told you how the ranking system was created to help defeat Falgior, didn’t I? Now that we’ve done that, we’re a little unsure about what we’re going to do with it. So there will be a little break in promotion exams! Hehehe!

Let’s go home…

Yeah…

H-Hold on? I thought they might appreciate a bit of time off…



We’ll figure out what to do once we’re home.

Sounds like a plan, Sue. …We’re home!



Hey, Dad’s not here? He’s not off wasting our money again, is he?

What! Not again! We’ve hardly got any money left this month already!

Then we just need to make some more! Make enough to cover everything he might spend!

Yeah. There wasn’t much on the Notice Board, but maybe we can find something in the city?

Good thought! Right, time to go find some money!


A Sudden, Desperate Job Hunt

Hm? I said there wasn’t much on the Notice Board…

Yeah, sure, but maybe we can find something! Or someone to give us a gig!



Oh, hello dears. Thank you so much for defeating the Thunder God. It isn’t much, but here’s a little something from me. Buy yourselves something nice.

100 Coll received.

What? Really? Thank you so much! Are you sure?

Yes, I’m sure. Get some sugar in you, cutie.

Heheh. Thank you so much!

Wow, are you sure about this?

It would have been ruder to turn her down. Let’s just make sure we put it to good use.

I guess so. We still didn’t get any work though, did we?

Good point.



Anyway, should we head to Soleil Street next?

Good idea! Even at this time of the night, you’ll find people out and about shopping or looking for something. And maybe there…




Hey, me too! Tell us about the fight with Falgior!

A-Autographs? About Falgior? Hey, hold on. Stop pushing!

A-Anyway! About Falgior… well, you wouldn’t believe this, but we warped him into a painting and beat him up there!

Alright, sign here… Yeah! We just blew him up with everything we had until he finally went down!

It took a long time and we had some close calls, but… here we are, back in one piece!

That was quite a fight with Falgior, wasn’t it! Thanks for telling me all about it!

I’ll treasure this autograph forever! Keep it up, hero twins!

…Wow, that was quite the surprise!

They both seemed very happy, though. It’s nice to have everyone supporting us, isn’t it?



It is, but…

Yeah… doing autographs and basking in praise won’t actually make us money. Where else should we go, then…

The city gates? Maybe something’ll pop up there!



Look, you’re right! I just want to pet them on the head!

C-Cute? Heheh!

That makes me so happy! Actually, we’re looking for some work… Is there anything we can help you with? We’ll do whatever you need!

Let me see. Anything you can think of?

Hmm, the storms have stopped, and there are less monsters now too. Sorry, I don’t think I really need anything…

No problem. Thanks for your time, anyway!

And off they go… Those two are really lovely, aren’t they?

I was thinking the same thing! Hehe, I’m becoming quite a fan!

…Huh. We didn’t find any work, in the end.

I know. Dad is probably home by now. Let’s just go back to the atelier.

You’re right. Dad, please! Just don’t buy anything too crazy!


Sophie’s Request

Looks like it. This is odd… He always comes back home when he’s hungry…

Okay! Don’t mind if I d-

Ah, finally! Hey! Where have you been?



Sophie! Ah, sorry, that wasn’t directed at you! We’re waiting for our dad to come back, actually.

Sorry about that. We weren’t expecting you, Sophie.

Hahaha, don’t mind me. I should apologize for just turning up like this. I heard you were looking for work, so there’s something I wanted to ask you.

A job from you, S-Sophie? This is going to be depressingly difficult, isn’t it!

I wouldn’t say depressing! I’m going to be here for a while, so I’m settling in. I’d like you to make some useful items for me.



Hahaha, great. Will you bring them to me once you’re done? If you need to go and collect materials, I’ll help. Thanks for this!

No problem! Catch you later, Sophie!

Hmm… this note… wait, that’s it? Sophie could easily make this herself. She wanted to give us some work.

Looks like it. She’s really done so much for us, hasn’t she?

She has! So for the job she gave us…

Right then! We can’t let her down. Let’s synth up some items that’ll knock Sophie’s socks off!



All Sophie wants from us is an Ori Bomb… and luckily for us, we already have all the ingredients on hand!



Right! Now off to the tent!

Let’s go! I get the feeling we’ll be spending a loooooot of time in there from now on…

The twins head over to Firis’ tent.

Ah, girls! Have you made the item I wanted?


Teachers and Clients

Thank you! This is perfect!



Basic Guidebook received.



Kind of. I asked them to do some work for me. They really helped me out.

Indeed. The two of them are quite skilled. Definitely students worthy of Ilmeria.

Wow. A compliment from Plachta! That should be a real confidence booster! After all, Plachta is Miss Sophie’s teacher!

What? She is? I thought she was Sophie’s student!

People often make that mistake, but I’m the mentor here. Sophie hasn’t overtaken me yet.

Really? I think I’ve got some moves of my own by now!



Me too! We’ll be just like that with Ilmeria one day, I bet!

Hehe! I’d say the two of you are well on your way there!

Firis! That’s quite the vote of confidence.

Hey, we’d better get back to the atelier. I think we’ve overstayed our welcome already!

Good point. We’ll see you later!

Very well. Take care on your way home. We don’t want you falling and getting hurt.

Hehe. See you again, girls!

It may not be cold hard cash, but I can’t wait to see what’s in the book Sophie gave us!



Nyeh… me, not so much.



It’s… gonna be a while before we can make this, huh?

Right? And Crimson Stones? How do we even make THOSE?

“Basic Guidebook”? There’s nothing basic about this recipe or this item…

You’re right… I guess we still have a long way to go.

Speaking of which… think we should visit our teacher?

Ooh, sure thing!


The Cute Mentor’s Cute Plushies

W-What’s wrong?! Why are you suddenly shouting like that?



You’re right! Is this yours, Ilmeria?

Yes. Do you have a problem with that?

No, no problem. I’m just surprised you like cute things.

W-What?! I’m not that fond of them, not really!

Really? If I take a better look around this atelier, there’s actually lots of cute stuff in here…



Hmm? Hehehe… let’s see. Hey, Ilmeria… I really like this doll, do you think I could have it?

Ugh?!

If you don’t actually like cute things, you won’t mind if I take it, right?

Ugh…

It’s not a problem, right? Ilmeria! Pleeeease!



C-Chirpy! Hahaha! Ilmeria, did you just say Chirpy?

D-Don’t laugh! So what if I like cute things?!

You’re the one who denied it! You could have just said so from the beginning…

No, I mean… Having a teacher who likes cute things… That’s not very cool, is it?

Ah! So cute! Sue, I think Ilmeria is the cutest thing in here!

Yeah! I agree. My heart just skipped a beat! Ilmeria, you’re so cute!

S-Stop that! Don’t mock me! Gah, I didn’t want you finding out about this!

Please, will you forgive us? We’ll tell you about a place that sells all sorts of cute things…

Really?! Oh, darn it!

Oh! So cute… Ilmeria is so cute!




Gah! I can’t believe this! Mocked by my own students like that…

Oh! Ilmeria?

Liane?! Ah…


Another Little Sister

Oh, my! Hehe, you just want it all, don’t you Ilmeria! Is that the same, now that you’re grown up? Go ahead! Take as much as you want!

Mmm… Mmmm…! Munch munch…



Ah, I’m so happy to hear that. You always used to eat so many, didn’t you! I’ve got some new ones for you too, made using the sweetest fruit!

Uwah! These look delicious! I can’t wait to try one!

Go right ahead. Ah, you’re so cute too! It’s like having another sister!

Right! We oughta pay another visit to the tent!


Family, Friends and Learners
Music: Dreams of a Book (Lydie & Suelle Ver.)

Yes, that looks good. Next…

Soph… oh? What’s this? Firis is learning alchemy from Plachta?

Wow, yeah! But isn’t Firis Sophie’s student?

Hey, you two. That’s right, I’m Miss Sophie’s student.

But since that also makes her the student of my student, I sometimes also teach Firis myself.

Plachta can teach really well. It goes without saying that she’s a great alchemist, too.

Wow! She does look like she’d be good at taking care of people.

Hehe, thank you. But please don’t tell Sophie about this.

What? Why not? It’s not like you’re doing anything wrong…

Haha, well, it makes her jealous.

If I teach Firis, Sophie gets mad and starts going on about how she’s Firis’ teacher. …Honestly. She’s a grown woman now, but inside she’s still just a kid.

Hahaha, she still relies on you a lot, Plachta!

Oh, you bet she does. Sometimes I think she’d do better without…



Yes, I’m coming! Sorry, girls, but it’s time for tea. Sophie, what’s on the menu for today?

Some of my special cakes, and some lemon tea too!

She just stopped mid-sentence and went off to eat, didn’t she?

Hahaha, this might sound odd coming from me, but Plachta’s first loyalty is to her stomach!

Hah, that’s unexpected! I guess Plachta might also be more of a little kid than I thought!