Silence... There was only awkward silence to be observed throughout the whole room. Amongst the figures present, two were bowing their heads respectfully, while the other two seated themselves with wry smiles on their faces.
Compared to their previous reactions before where they would get flustered whenever someone bows their head to them, now, Grey and Yuna only wore tired expressions on their faces. No matter how much they have gotten used to it, it was still troublesome to deal with.
"Guildmaster, please raise your head. There's no need for such formalities. Just be casual with us." ［Grey］
"N-No... I... How could I treat the heroes of Alfrionー" ［Marcel］
"Guildmaster, we aren't here as heroes of Alfrione, but as regular customers. Please respect our wishes." ［Grey］
Stern and full of authority. The tone of Grey's voice was much different than his usual. While he looked like a mere youngster on the outside, he possessed eyes which could make people of the Guildmaster's standing submit without resistance with just a single glance.
Seeing Grey's eyes, the Guildmaster felt suffocated under the imaginary pressure he was subjected to. The atmosphere in the room became tense to the point that no one could dare speak back to the Grey.
"Y-Yes... If that's what you want, Mister Grey, Miss Yuna." ［Marcel］
"Hahaha, I'm glad that we came to an understanding." ［Grey］
A smile bloomed on Grey's face at the end of his statement. While he was usually calm in such situations, there are times that coercion is useful to progress the situation. An example was what just happened.
Fixing his composure, the Guildmaster seated himself in front of Grey and Yuna. Following him, the receptionist from before also sat beside him. She was much stiffer than before and was a lot more nervous.
The Guildmaster then took his time to look at the documents on top of the table, scanning it with insane speed built from experience. Just a little over a minute and he already had a full grasp of things.
"I see... Mila, have you settled the payment yet?" ［Marcel］
"N-No, not yet, Guildmaster. We were still in the process of confirming their identities." ［Mila］
"Well, that won't be needed now... Let's see..." ［Marcel］
Learning how much of the process has already been completed, the Guildmaster once again eyed the papers with one of his hands holding his chin. He was in deep thought about what to do.
"Mister Grey, Miss Yuna, we'll be offering this property to you at 1.6 million kiels. How does that sound to you?" ［Marcel］
"Hm? Wasn't it 1.8 million kiels?" ［Yuna］
"That's quite the discount, Guildmaster. Are you really sure about that?" ［Grey］
"Hahahaha, consider it an investment. It wouldn't hurt the guild to gain the favor of Mister Grey and Miss Yuna. Rather, if you look at it from a merchant's perspective, this is quite cheap considering we are talking about the two of you." ［Marcel］
The once shocked and polite Guildmaster was gone, what was left now was only a merchant weighing the pros and cons of the situation. A merchant whose eyes are shining from seeing a golden opportunity.
Grey and Yuna's values don't only lie in their identities as heroes of the kingdom, but also as amazing adventurers as well. There wasn't a single merchant which wouldn't snag such a tempting opportunity which may never come again.
Because of Grey's "Inventory", not only quality, but also quantity of materials are secured. They have already built a reputation on delivering high-quality materials which are usually hard to acquire. Materials which are only left to rot because of the difficulty in transportation, these are something only Grey and Yuna could provide.
Now that they are acknowledged as heroes who have earned themselves Medals of Honor at such a young age, their values have skyrocketed. Not only merchants, each and every person with power would kill to have even the slightest connection with them. That was how influential Grey and Yuna's names have become.
"It isn't a bad offer isn't it? You can just consider it as a small present from me and the Merchants' Guild." ［Marcel］
Grey and Yuna could only smile wryly at the Guildmater's words. After all, that "small" amount was something normal people would take several years to save up for. An amount which could buy a decent property.
Of course, it went without saying that the Merchants' Guild is losing money because of it. But compared to building a connection to Grey and Yuna, such an amount was a cheap price to pay. The Guildmaster could only see the benefits heading their way.
As for Grey and Yuna, they have nothing to lose at such a deal. They only got a little conflicted about getting such a good deal easily. It was only then that they realized the weight of their identities.
Grey had also used his "Judgement" to determine whether the Guildmaster was lying or not, and unsurprisingly, he wasn't. Everything which came out of his mouth were whole truths. Especially the part where he wanted to create a connection between the two of them, that was the most truthful part of his words.
"Mnm... Haah... Alright, we'll accept it. Don't regret it later, alright?" ［Grey］
"Hahaha, what is there to regret? If anything, I'm happy that you gracefully accept this small gesture of mine." ［Marcel］
With everything settled, the final parts of contract signing were performed. Compared to last time, there were less papers to sign and with the Guildmaster's help, everything went smoothly like a knife sliding on soft butter.
If there was anything that shocked Grey, it was the property tax rate. He already knew it was high, but didn't think it would be as high as 5%. Since the original price was 1.6 million kiels without the guild's tax, they had to pay 80 thousand kiels annually. It was in no way a small amount.
"And... Done!" ［Grey］
With the final stroke of a pen, the contract was sealed. Now, Grey and Yuna are proud owners of a property in Galderia, and quite the good one in that. Somehow, they have a feeling of satisfaction welling up in their hearts.
"Congratulations, Mister Grey, Miss Yuna! The property is now yours. I wish you two a wonderful stay here in Galderia!" ［Marcel］
"C-Congratulations!" ［Mila］
"Fufufu, thank you!" ［Yuna］
Just like how it should be, Grey and Yuna also received a copy of the deed they had just signed. One which Grey immediately stored in his "Inventory", marking it as "Important" so that he could retrieve it whenever needed.
Of course, there are still things to do such as buying furniture and designing the house, but as for the day, everything they wanted to do has been completed. Both Grey and Yuna were excited to move into their new house.
"Then, Guildmaster, Miss Mila, if you excuse us, we still have some things to do. Have a good day." ［Grey］
"Goodbye, everyone～!" ［Yuna］
"Ah, wait! Mister Grey, Miss Yuna, we still have some things to settle. You haven't forgotten, haven't you?" ［Marcel］
"Huh?" ［Grey］ "Eh?" ［Yuna］
Grey and Yuna didn't even have the chance to stand up from their seats. As they said their goodbyes, the Guildmaster immediately stopped them, preventing them from doing so.
At the Guildmaster's words, Grey and Yuna could only tilt their heads in puzzlement. No matter how hard they thought, they couldn't remember any topics which needed to be addressed. After all, they only met the Guildmaster today.
"Umm... Guildmaster, what... umm... Can you remind us again what are the things we have to settle? Sorry, but it doesn't really ring a bell." ［Grey］
"Haah... So you've really forgotten. It's about the patents." ［Marcel］
"Ah!" ［Grey］
Grey placed his closed fist on the top of an open palm as he remembered that there was such a thing. It was not only regarding the potato products and sauces, there was also the tomato sauce, some other recipes, and the blender.
Just as the Guildmaster previously said, he had already forgotten even though he had taken a mental note of it. After all, his focus was fixed on finding a new house for Grey and Yuna, and not the former.
The contract signing has yet to be mentioned yet Grey could already feel an ominous foreboding. He could already feel how troublesome it would be to deal with such annoying subjects.
"Umm... Guildmaster, could we discuss this for another day...?" ［Grey］
"I'm afraid we can't. It's already long overdue and if there is a good time to deal with it, I think that would be today. Don't worry, it won't take too long. Just a couple of hours, no biggie!" ［Marcel］
"Ugh...." ［Grey］
A silent groan left Grey's mouth as his premonition was confirmed. The day he wanted to spend his Yuna was now going to be eaten up by dealing with the patents. He swore deep in his heart to never carelessly give recipes and such.
Hesitantly, Grey, with the help of the Guildmaster, dealt with the patents which were credited to him. Needless to say, it was quite the troublesome task as they had to consider the businesses which will use it and other things.
As for Yuna, she was being entertained by Mila and they had a lovely chat together. As she was inexperienced with dealing with complex paperwork, all she could do was cheer on Grey, which she did so happily.
'Good luck, Grey! Fighting!' ［Yuna］
A bright glint shone on Yuna's eyes as she inwardly cheered for Grey. As for the latter, he could only smile back at her as he started dealing with the paperwork. A tired expression was already looming on his face even though they had just started.
...
An orange tint was painted on the sky like that of topaz as the sun slowly set with the passing of time. The street lights started to light up along with the house lights, filling the city with light even when night was approaching.
On the busy streets, two certain figures walked side by side, heading to a certain place. One was a silver-haired young man while the other was a black-haired young lady. The young man in particular had a peculiar expression on his face. One which was the expression of exhaustion.
Of course, the two figures were none other than Grey and Yuna. Before they excited the room they were previously in, they had gone back to their disguises, preventing the people from recognizing them.
"Haah..." ［Grey］
"Grey, you've been sighing a lot. Are you sure you're okay?" ［Yuna］
"Nah, I'm fine... I just need some rest." ［Grey］
A heavy sigh once again left Grey's mouth. Contrary to what the Guildmaster said, it wasn't just a couple of hours, Grey had spent several hours reading and signing documents. Needless to say, it was quite exhausting.
After dealing with the patents, Grey was registered as a Merchant. While Grey was not selling any products, with his patents, it was necessary to acquire one. In just a single shot, he immediately became a Bronze-rank merchant.
In the Merchant's Guild, the ranks of merchants are decided by the amount of profit they earn monthly. The seven ranks are as follows: Copper, Nickel, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Crystal, modeled after the denominations of Merusia.
After registering, one immediately becomes a Copper-rank merchant. Nickel-rank needs a monthly profit of 3 thousand kiels, Bronze is 10 thousand, Silver is 100 thousand, Gold is 1 million, Platinum is 30 million, and Crystal needs a monthly profit of 1 Billion.
A Nickel-rank merchant is one which has a stable business, in other words, a true merchant. As for Silver-rank and above, they are mostly composed of nobles and large conglomerates. For Crystal-rank, there aren't even a couple dozen throughout the whole world. They are the richest of the rich.
Argas, a merchant whom they met at Moterno was a Silver-rank for example, while Gerd who runs the "Rabbit's Den" is only at Bronze-rank after years of business. It only proves how absurd it was for Grey to immediately jump at Bronze-rank without doing much.
"Looks like we won't be able to visit our new house today, huh..." ［Yuna］
"Hm? We could just go there if you want to, you know? We don't have anything else to do anyway." ［Grey］
"No... I want to spend dinner with Helen and everyone. It would be too late if we were to go there now." ［Yuna］
Yuna shook her head slightly as she responded to Grey's statement. A trace of loneliness could be seen in her eyes as she looked over the distance, a loneliness which Grey also understood.
While the two of them were happy that they had bought their own house and were becoming independent, they also felt lonely parting with Gerd and his family. Even though they aren't moving too far away, it was still inevitable.
"Don't worry too much about... Hey, how about I cook you anything you like for the day? No limits. Just ask what you want to eat." ［Grey］
Said Grey as he gently patted Yuna's head, trying to cheer her up. The latter, feeling Grey's sincere feelings and pure motives, felt much happier as a rosy tint spread on her cheeks.
"Are you sure about that...? I won't be holding back if you say that..." ［Yuna］
"Sure, don't hold back. I'd be happy to cook you anything you want." ［Grey］
"Then... I'd like..." ［Yuna］
One after another, Yuna named dishes she has been craving for. From fried dishes to sweet desserts, there were a large variety of dishes named. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it was enough dishes to be considered a feast.
It was only when they arrived back at the "Rabbit's Den" that Yuna stopped making requests. Of course, it went without saying that tons of dishes were named. There were too much that there were multiple times that Yuna repeated the names of dishes, which Grey didn't mind of course.
Thankfully, there weren't many people left lining up at the inn. And with their disguises on, there weren't any problems. Grey and Yuna just headed straight to the kitchen to do their bidding.
"Oh, welcome back. How did your business go?" ［Gerd］
"It went well, actually, it went too well... Anyway, can we borrow the kitchen again, Mister Gerd?" ［Grey］
"Hahaha, sure, sure. We'll just be cleaning up shortly. You can use it afterwards when we're done." ［Gerd］
"Thanks." ［Grey］
"Thank you, Mister Gerd!" ［Yuna］
With an affirming nod of Gerd's head, Grey and Yuna quickly prepared their cooking sets and of course, a ton of ingredients were also taken out to go with the number of dishes they were going to cook.
Luckily, there is already a lot of pre-made food Grey and Yuna made over their free time. And with the help of magic, a feast which would take hours upon hours to make was finished in just less than an hour.
Although Gerd was impressed by their speed, after seeing them cook for months already, he had already gotten used to it. He simply prepared the tables along with his family.
"We're done!" ［Grey］
"Un! Delicious!" ［Yuna］
Tasting the dishes one final time, a smile bloomed on Yuna's face. The loneliness she once felt was now gone, only joy remained. Joy, along with hunger, wanting to have a meal already.
One by one, the dishes were displayed over the dining table. Each one was aromatic and inviting to the noses of the people present. Just from the smell alone, one could already tell it was going to be a good supper.
And now that the inn had already been closed, there weren't any more customers inside the dining hall. Grey and Yuna had also removed their disguises, feeling more comfortable now that they are back to their usual selves.
"Ohh～! What's the occasion?" ［Helen］
"Nothing, really. We just want to have a feast." ［Grey］
"Now, now, no more questions on the dining table. Just pick a dish and let's have a hearty meal!" ［Yuna］
Yuna on the lead, everyone took their spoons and served themselves a plate of their favorite dishes. Of course, there was rice on everyone's plates. It has already become a staple to them.
"""""Thank you for the meal!!"""""
Singing their prayers to the heavens above, the sound of utensils hitting the plates started echoing throughout the inn. It didn't take too long for smiles to bloom on everyone's faces.
"Mhm! Delicious as always!" ［Helen］
"Hoho, it's been a while since we've had such a feast!" ［Gerd］
"Curry～! Omelette～! Hamburg～!" ［Yuna］
A lively meal took place in the spacious dining hall. Although they were the only people present, there wasn't a trace of loneliness around. The atmosphere was that of a happy family enjoying dinner.
Slowly but surely, the food on the table slowly disappeared into everyone's stomachs. While there were a mountain of dishes made, with Grey and Yuna present, such an amount was nothing.
Well, the atmosphere was lively and all until Helen's spoon and fork stopped from moving. It was not that she was full. It was because of a completely different reason which is easy to see with just a single glance at her facial expression.
"You're moving tomorrow, aren't you...?" ［Helen］
Helen had tried to remain calm and cheerful the whole time, but she couldn't stop her emotions anymore. She knew full well that Grey and Yuna cooking a little feast had something to do with them moving.
She was wearing the same lonely eyes Yuna had just a few moments ago. Deep inside her heart, she didn't want them to go, but with how things are, she had no say in the matter. She was smiling, but at the same time, was not. It was a contradiction.
"Yeah, we'll be buying furniture tomorrow, and if everything goes well, we'll be moving in by before sunset." ［Grey］
"Don't worry, Helen, we'll visit you whenever we can! You can also come to our house anytime you want. Our doors will always be open!" ［Yuna］
"Fufufu... Then, I guess I'll be bothering the both of you." ［Helen］
There was laughter and smiles, but there was no joy present, only gloominess and loneliness they couldn't help but feel. It wasn't only Helen, Gerd and Selia also felt the same about Grey and Yuna moving. It was going to be lonely without them.
Silence continued to envelop the room for minutes to come, everyone's hands barely moving an inch as the food started to become cold. The food didn't taste the same as how it did before.
'Hm... I wonder if that will work...' ［Grey］
Thought Grey as he continued to look at Helen who was still down and dejected. While the idea he had isn't really one to make people's loneliness go away, it would surely cheer them up, something everyone needed right now.
"Everyone, how about we throw a housewarming party for this upcoming Solis. What do you think?" ［Grey］
"Housewarming...?" ［Gerd］
"Yeah, it's to celebrate our move into a new house. There will be food, games, and all sorts of things. Overall, it's just a time where we let loose and enjoy our time together. I'd love it if you could attend." ［Grey］
Housewarming, while its main purpose was to celebrate the moving of residence, it also serves as a way to connect with other people. It shows the guest that no matter where the owners of the house are, they would always be welcome. A party to show hospitality and friendship.
"Un! That's a good idea, Grey!" ［Yuna］
"Hahaha, it seems like we'll have to free our Solis, huh." ［Gerd］
"Oh my, I'm looking forward to it." ［Selia］
Yuna pitching in to Grey's idea, Gerd and Selia also followed suit and also suggested some things to the party. Grey's eyes glanced at Helen from time to time to see how she would react.
"What do you think, Helen?" ［Selia］
"... Yes! I think it's a wonderful idea! We could also explore Grey and Yuna's new house that way!" ［Helen］
It didn't take long for a smile to once again appear at Helen's face. Joining in on the fun, Helen also pitched in some ideas to Grey and Yuna's housewarming party. The lively atmosphere has returned.
Friendly chattering and laughter filling the air, the night grew deeper as the city went to slumber. Under the light of the moonlit sky, two figures rested on their rooms, giving each other their warmth. The day has ended yet again.
CHAPTER 121 END