"Just one more... Please～?" ［Yuna］
"No! And that's final!" ［Grey］
Strong and resolute, such was the expression painted on Grey's face as he replied to Yuna's pleas. The latter tried to appeal with puppy eyes, but it was all for naught for Grey wouldn't budge on the matter.
What might the matter one might ask? Well, it's about the magic plant cavern and Yuna's extreme tendency to collect anything and everything she fancies until all that's left there is barely able to sustain the area. Such was the matter.
'Haah... Just how did it come to this...' ［Grey］
Grey couldn't even begin to explain what he was feeling. He just took his eyes off Yuna for a quick moment to talk with Marika, but the moment he turned around, Yuna had already gathered hundreds upon hundreds of magic plants with very excited and sparkling eyes.
Thankfully, he managed to stop the over excited Yuna. Still, even when the number of magic plants were still in the couple thousands, more than half of the whole trove was cleared. Yuna was nothing less than a menace, still wearing an innocent expression on her face, slightly crestfallen.
"Yuna, didn't you just promise that you'll practice moderation? What's this then? This is the opposite of moderation." ［Grey］
"But... They're just too beautiful. I couldn't help it. And... Couldn't we just use plant magic to stimulate their growth?" ［Yuna］
"Well, we could... But it's not that simple. It's much more difficult than with normal plants. Growing them would take months, even years." ［Grey］
There was no flaw in Grey's words. Though they could still speed up the growth and fertilization process of magic plants, them possessing attributes and mana makes things rather tricky. Even Grey and Yuna would find it a little troublesome.
Well, it wouldn't really matter if it's just a single plant. The problem was that Yuna pocked thousands. Replenishing such an amount would be an exhausting process. It was fortunate that the Chiefdom had no use of them, otherwise, they would have been in so much trouble.
Thankfully, Grey managed to stop Yuna before it was too late. A little stimulation with magic and they would be ready to harvest again after a few months. It truly was lucky that he had a massive mana pool.
"Uuu... Sorry..." ［Yuna］
"It's alright. As long as you understand." ［Grey］
Said Grey, patting Yuna's head. One moment Yuna promises her something, the next moment she breaks it subconsciously, then Grey scolds her, and lastly, he forgives her. It was a never-ending process which only shows how much he spoiled her rotten.
Well, thankfully, though she acts childish when excited, Yuna only breaks promises when she knows it won't really bring harm to anyone. A surprisingly mature thought from the ever so excited Yuna. She may act spoiled from time to time, but she was still considerate of others.
"Hmm... Should we plant some magic plants in the 'Sanctuary'?" ［Grey］
"Ah! That's a good idea! Let's do that!" ［Yuna］
"Then, let's plant them on the empty space near our house there. There's still a lot of space so everything should be alright." ［Grey］
"Great! Then let's make a pond too while we're at it! Some of these magic plants only grow underwater, after all." ［Yuna］
"Good call, but how big should we make it...." ［Grey］
And there he goes again, finding compromises for Yuna when he just scolded her. Seriously, there is just so much a person could do when they're in love. He really was a fool for her, spoiling her subconsciously.
Everything done and settled, Grey and Yuna slowly headed out the cavern, only to be greeted by the beautiful sky of amber as the sun slowly set over the horizon, a lone, young lady gazing off to the distance, her eyes bright as the sunー or maybe not.
Rather than a mesmerized face, there was only a pale expression on Marika's face as she watched the sunset. She was so pale, it was as if she had seen a ghost, not able to utter a single word.
"Is something wrong, Marika?" ［Grey］
"B-Big Brother Grey! Big Sister Yuna! Th-The sun it's setting!" ［Marika］
"Yes, we can see that, but that's just natural, isn't it?" ［Grey］
"N-No! Not that! The feast! We're going to be late for the feast!" ［Marika］
Like lightning striking the ground, a realization suddenly hit Grey and Yuna. They were so excited about exploring the island and poking around things that they had completely forgotten about the feast the whole village had been working on.
Not only did they say that they'll be looking forward to it, everyone put a lot of effort into it as well. Only guilt remained inside their hearts as they realized how thoughtless they were being. They were a little speechless about themselves.
"Big Brother Grey... Big Sister Yuna... What should we do...?" ［Marika］
Even then, compared to the worried Marika who is now mumbling incomprehensible words, the two still remained calm. They only watched the sunset for a couple moments before sighing a short sigh.
"Hahaha. Don't worry too much. We have our ways." ［Grey］
"Un! Just trust in us, okay?" ［Yuna］
Grey and Yuna simply comforted Marika by patting her on the head. And without a single trace of urgency, Grey simply walked a couple steps, stretching his arms out soon after. And voila! A blue gate has appeared!
Though Grey was planning to not reveal his cards to just anyone, Marika wasn't just anyone. They might have met, but they already knew she was a trustworthy person. Letting her keep a secret or two was no big deal.
"B-Big Brother Grey, w-what is this?!" ［Marika］
"Nothing much. Just a little bit of magic... Well, don't worry, it won't harm you. Just follow my lead, alright?" ［Grey］
Not wasting any more time, Grey simply stuck one of his feet in and soon, his whole body followed, swallowed by the gentle light. Marika was a little afraid at first, but seeing Yuna smile reassuringly beside her, she gathered her courage and followed suit. Yuna soon followed after.
To the light, Marika closed her eyes, gentle warmth embracing her. The moment she opened them again, she was greeted by a familiar sight. Having seen it since she was a child, there was no way she could be mistaken.
"Is... Isn't this... Wait! Isn't this the village entrance?!" ［Marika］
A surprised shout echoed in the air, Marika puzzled as one can be. She tried looking left and right, but no matter how she looked, all she could see were familiar sights. She really was at the village entrance, no doubt.
"Am... Am I dreaming...?" ［Marika］
"Fufufu! You're not, silly!" ［Yuna］
Though it was a little hard to wrap her head around it, Marika had no choice but to accept the truth. She simply attached it to the fact that Grey and Yuna were the "Emissaries of God". They were simply amazing to her eyes.
Well, Marika's puzzled and flustered expression was not the only interesting sight to see. Just on the corner of Grey's eyes, he could already see a large crowd of people gathering by the village center, with tables, chairs, fires, and food everywhere. It was an exciting sight to see.
"Now, now, you two, save the chatter for later... We shouldn't dilly-dally any longer. The feast is about to start, you know?" ［Grey］
There was no time to waste. With Grey on the lead, everyone headed towards the village center as well. The closer they went, the louder the noises became. Not only that. A variety of appetizing smells were adrift in the air as well.
Of course, at the center of the village were the elders and the Great Chief. The latter's ears perked as soon as he saw the key figures of the event enter, a smile forming on his face.
"Lord Grey! Lady Yuna! You've arrived!" ［Manelo］
There wasn't even a need to make orders. Like the clouds parting as dragons soar in the sky, the crowd made way for Grey and Yuna as soon as they saw them, slightly nodding their heads to pay their respects then smiling soon after.
Though people would normally be awkward in such a situation, thanks to Marika touring them in the morning, they managed to interact with a lot of the villagers. Now, everyone views them in a good light, respecting them greatly.
"We have been waiting, Please take a seat." ［Manelo］
And as one would expect, Grey and Yuna were given the best seats in the feast. It was a little troublesome, but with everyone looking at them expectantly, they could only accept in silence.
Soon, the chief got a cup for himself and stood in front of the people. Torogi's culture may be a little different from the mainland's, but there were still quite a number of similarities. One of which was the Chief's speech before the feast.
"I know there has been a lot happening these past few weeks, and I know how hard it has been for many of us. We have lost not only houses, livestock, and our way of living, but important people as well..." ［Manelo］
An eerie silence swallowed the fields at the Great Chief's words. A swirl of gloom and sadness sweeping through their hearts. Only the sound of the flames crackling and the insects chirping could be heard.
The Great Chief continued his words, recounting their difficulties in the past few days. But it wasn't only misfortune and sadness he talked about. Soon, he talked about hope and recovery, his eyes shifting towards Grey and Yuna. Hope bloomed in the hearts of many.
"And so tonight, we gather here, not only to welcome Lord Grey and Lady Yuna. But also to wash our worries away! We shall celebrate in memories of the ones we lost! Let them be happy in the afterlife! For everlasting happiness!" ［Manelo］
"""For everlasting happiness!!"""
The sadness was no more. All there were were eyes looking forward to the future as loud voices rang throughout the night sky. The Great Chief raised his cup and drank from it, the others following soon after.
They may have lost many precious things, but they decided to not dwell in the past, and continue living for their precious ones, remembering them in their memories. To look forward and move forward. Such an admirable thing to do.
The festivities soon followed, music filling the air as the people beat the drums and blew the flute. Food was soon served and everyone dug in until their stomachs were full. There were only smiles on their faces.
"Mmn～! This is amazing! So tasty!" ［Yuna］
"Oh... It's quite sour, but not too overwhelming." ［Grey］
"Right～? The meat's really tender too!" ［Yuna］
Of course, Grey and Yuna didn't get behind for the celebrations as well. They also got some plates for themselves and dug in on the feast, eating the food with large smiles on their faces as they also reviewed the dishes like cooks do.
"Hahaha. I'm happy to hear that you're enjoying yourselves, Lord Grey, Lady Yuna. Seeing you eat like this makes the food look tastier." ［Manelo］
"That's because they really are tasty! We could eat these all day!" ［Yuna］
"Hahaha. I'm sure our cooks would be happy to hear that." ［Manelo］
There were no lies in their words. Unlike many of the milder and lightly seasoned dishes in the mainland, many of the dishes prepared in Torogi had quite strong flavors. Even then, when paired with bread or meat, they mellow down quite well, making an appetizing combination.
Another thing to note was that a lot of the dishes were either sour, spicy, or creamy. Coconut milk, coconut cream, tamarinds, root crops, and a lot of leafy vegetables. It reminded Grey of many Filipino dishes back when he was still on Earth.
"On another note... Lord Grey, Lady Yuna, how was your tour around Torogi today? I hope Marika didn't cause you any troubles." ［Manelo］
"No, no, not at all. Thanks to Marika, we enjoyed our day quite thoroughly. If anything, we're thankful for her." ［Grey］
"Un! Marika's really knowledgeable. Not only farming, she knows how to bargain, farm, weave, and a lot of things. It was very fun because of her!" ［Yuna］
There were only praises coming from Grey and Yuna for Marika. Not only did they guide them, but she was also the reason why they had the most memorable tour around the Chiefdom.
At first, people were looking at them for being different and also being the Emissaries, but thanks to Marika mediating for them, the eyes of suspicion and wariness from the people were quickly dispersed, enabling them to interact with them.
It was safe to say that if it weren't for Marika being there, they wouldn't be able to enjoy the tour as much as they did. The people, the products, the places, the food, and everything else. They wouldn't be the same without Marika.
"I see... To be praised by Lord Grey and Lady Yuna like this... It seems like my youngest has grown well. As a father, I couldn't be any happier." ［Manelo］
A proud smile blossomed on the Great Chief's face as he looked over the horizon, looking over where his daughter was. He looked like a parent reminiscing of the past when she was but still a baby. He was happy.
But such happiness didn't really last long. Seeing his daughter, he also remembered the children of someone he knew quite well. The smile which was once planted on his face has now turned into a frown as he clenched his fist.
"Lord Grey, Lady Yuna...." ［Manelo］
"Ah, yesー" ［Grey］
Grey couldn't even finish his words, when suddenly, the Great Chief bowed his head towards them. It was not a bow of politeness nor respect, but one which is made when asking for forgiveness, his hands trembling a little.
"Please forgive the Head Elder's actions yesterday. I know this is unreasonable of me, given how he acted impudently yesterday, but I hope you find it in your hearts to forgive him," ［Manelo］
He was swift in his actions and voice quiet as one can be, whispering his thoughts and making sure only as few people as possible could see as to not ruin the festive mood dancing in the air and break their beautiful smiles.
Still, even with him bowing, Grey and Yuna could only remain puzzled. After all, they didn't really mind the incident yesterday, to the point that they had already forgotten about it had the Great Chief not brought it up.
"Umm... Great Chief, I think you're misunderstanding something here... We don't really hate the Head Elder." ［Grey］
"But, Lord Grey, not only did he act rudely, he also accused you of being evil spirits. Do you not really bear any grudges against him?" ［Manelo］
"That's true... But even when his words were a bit harsh, we could understand that he was just wary of us. Everyone was wary as well, weren't they?" ［Grey］
"Un. We just suddenly appeared out of nowhere, after all. It was normal that he thinks we're suspicious. If anything, we could relate to his concerns. Though... I do think he was a little too aggressive." ［Yuna］
There were no rebuttals. Listening to Grey and Yuna's words, the Great Chief could only remain speechless. The thing he has been worrying about since yesterday, to think it didn't even matter to them. He felt silly and relieved.
"Really, there's no need to worry about that. " ［Grey］
"I see... I can rest easy, then..." ［Manelo］
Relief in his heart, the GreatChief once again looked at the people enjoying the feast, happiness blooming in his heart as he watched them enjoy the moment after a long while. Yet, even with the happiness he felt, no smile formed on his face.
"Kalun... The Head Elder wasn't always like that. He was a very trusting, wise, and fair person. Someone I looked up to." ［Manelo］
As he watched the people have fun and party, he suddenly opened his mouth, a dark and gloomy voice resounding in the air, one full of longing and sadness, reminiscing about the past that cannot be returned.
"Just a couple weeks ago, he was very happy, bragging about his two sons who caught a large boar by themselves. They were good warriors... But... No matter how good of warriors they were, they were powerless against the evil beast." ［Manelo］
The mood finally dropped rock bottom. The Great Chief need not to say any more. With a confrontation against a Leviathan, both warriors lost their lives protecting the others whilst they escaped, their blood staining the sandy beaches.
Hearing the news of his sons' death, the Head Elder fell down on his knees, his face pale as one can be. His wife, his other children, and his grandchildren, all grieved at the news, tears trickling down their faces.
But the Head Elder, the one loving them the most, didn't simply grieve. He grabbed a spear from their house and headed straight to the sea to avenge his sonsー or so he should have. Thankfully, the Great Chief and the other Elders managed to stop him from heading towards his death.
"The death of his sons broke him. Starting from then, he was bent on revenge, not trusting anyone who goes his ways. He is not the man I knew him to be." ［Manelo］
Everything was finally clear. Grey already knew after seeing him with his eyes, the Head Elder was not a bad person. But to think he had gone through so much, they could only sympathize with him, knowing full well how painful it was to lose someone so precious.
"I invited him to the feast, but as you can see, he hasn't shown up... I... I just want him to laugh and smile like he used to..." ［Manelo］
A tinge of sadness rang in the air, the Great Chief's eyes looking towards a certain house over the distance. It was the Head Elder's house. Only worry and sympathy swirled inside his heart as he averted his gaze.
Now, Grey and Yuna are even more determined to defeat the Evil Beast. They had experienced losing someone important, and they don't want others to experience the same pain they did. They could only look at the night sky, wishing for the peace of those who were lost.
"Don't worry, Great Chief, we might be able to promise to return his smile, but we can promise that you won't lose anyone anymore. You can rest at ease." ［Grey］
"Un! We'll make sure to defeat that Evil Beast in no time! That's why... Can I have another serving of stew, please? We need to be full to defeat it, after all, and it was really delicious!" ［Yuna］
It was a sudden statement, but it wasn't like Yuna was being insensitive or simply being a glutton. She simply wanted to lighten the mood in her own way, wanting to wash away the gloominess in the air.
"Hahaha. Of course, have as much as you want, Lady Yuna!" ［Manelo］
"Yaay～! Thank you!" ［Yuna］
There were no more words needed to be said. He might not have told them openly, but the Great Chief's eyes conveyed the sincerest of gratitude and happiness once could ever get.
Well, it was gratitude and happiness for a moment, until it was quickly replaced with shock. The moment he saw Grey and Yuna's plates were filled with a mountain of food, he could only open his mouth in agape. He was flabbergasted.
The feast continued and everybody celebrated happily. There was dancing around the fire, singing, playing of instruments, and of course, laughter as the people told jokes and stories. The moos was festive as one can be.
Time passed some more and the night only got deeper. As the stars shone brightly on the sky, the celebrations were soon quelled as the people went to their homes and retired for the day, only the warriors keeping watch.
Grey and Yuna had also gone away from the village center, but they didn't go to any houses nor halls. They both went to a nearby mountain, the fresh, cool air caressing their skins as the symphony of the night filled their ears.
"Is it finished?" ［Yuna］
"Yeah. It should activate when it detects a strong presence." ［Grey］
Of course, they weren't just there to take a breather. Grey erected a thin barrier all over Torogi. Though it might not be able to defend against attacks, given how thin it was, it was enough to alert them when an enemy arrived.
"Still... The villages look beautiful up here, doesn't it?" ［Grey］
"Fufufu! You can say that again." ［Yuna］
The stars and moon above, the sea over the distance, and the forest and homes illuminated by warm light below. No matter where one looked, they could see beauty and wonders. It was a sight to behold.
Watching such a sight, Yuna suddenly sat on the soft grass and stretched her hands out in the air. Soon, she watched Grey with expectant eyes, tugging on his jacket like a little child.
"Grey, come here." ［Yuna］
"A lap pillow? Why all of the sudden?" ［Grey］
"Nothing much... It's just you've been spoiling me all day, so I thought I'd return the favor... You don't want to?" ［Yuna］
"Haah? Who said I didn't want to?" ［Grey］
"Fufufu!" ［Yuna］
Yuna's soft giggles resounding in the air, Grey joined her and sat down on the grass, soon laying down his head on her even softer laps. As soon as he did, it was as if all the tiredness he felt seeped away in an instant.
Well, Yuna didn't just simply have Grey lay down her lap, she also stroked his hair, patting him the way he does to her. Though she wants to be spoiled, she also isn't against spoiling the latter. She was satisfied.
"Grey..." ［Yuna］
"Hm?" ［Grey］
"I love you." ［Yuna］
"Hahaha. I love you more, silly." ［Grey］
The words of two idiots in love drifting in the air, the cold breeze dancing and rustling the leaves as the moon and stars graced the forest with its cold and gentle light. The night continued to unfold.
"Eh?! That's not true! I'm sure I love you more!" ［Yuna］
"Yeah, yeah, sure you do." ［Grey］
"Uuu... I'm telling the truth! I love you the most in the whole world!" ［Yuna］
Yup... They're idiots alright...
CHAPTER 232 END