"We wish you luck on your ventures, Your Highnesses." ［Gerald］
"Please have a safe trip～." ［Cynthia］
The sun was still low on the sky yet goodbyes were already waved in the air. Three figures walked proudly towards the gates, skipping their steps and chatting merrily as they looked forwards to what lies before them.
It has been a few days since they arrived in Erdea, and having stayed there for some time, they have gotten used to the life there. Even then, the liveliness of the town was still quite a sight to behold. Everyday is an experience full of wonders.
"Mmn... I knew that Iris in a dress looks pretty, but to think even more bold and adventurous styles would also suit you well. You look amazing, Iris!" ［Yuna］
"Yuna's right. It really does suit you." ［Grey］
"T-Thank you. A-And, I'll do my best today so as to not inconvenience you!" ［Iris］
"Fufufu! It's okay as long as Iris has a lot of fun!" ［Yuna］
And today, they are now heading to the Adventurers' Guild. After all, one wouldn't be able to experience the whole package if they also don't take a little bit of adventuring, seeing what lies beyond the walls and how different things are between lands.
Of course, one wouldn't be able to go adventuring on a dress. Right now, unlike her usual style, Iris is wearing a long-sleeved blouse, jeans, and high boots, an attire that is easy to move in yet still comfortable, feeling the fresh wind caress her skin.
"Hurry up! Hurry up! We're going to be late for practice!"
"Move it a little to the right, and... Stop! Stop! That's perfect!"
"Do you think this would be enough? It seems a little lacking."
Also, with the Festival of hearts drawing near, the city only got busier with each and every day. Now, people are starting to decorate the streets and shops, people now practicing for their performance during the festival.
Even then, no matter how busy they were, the children still went on and snout all over the streets, playing happily and asking curiously about every little thing they saw. It was quite the wondrous and heartwarming sight to see.
"Waah... It's a harpy... This is the first time I've ever seen one..." ［Iris］
"Fufufu! Me too! They look beautiful, don't they?" ［Yuna］
"Yes! Their feathers look so glossy and amazing!" ［Iris］
Of course, as the Festival of Hearts is a once-in-nine-years continental event, all sorts of races from all sorts of places have started to arrive in Erdea. There weren't just harpies, there were undines, saureids, dwarves, and many more. All the seven races were present in the city.
The city which was already lively had gotten even livelier. Even now, as they walk through the crowd, more and more people are arriving by the gates. Each day, a couple thousand enter the city, the population getting higher and higher everyday.
Well, population is not the only thing which is changing. With each and every day, Grey's skills have also improved. For the sake of forging the best engagement ring there is, he has been smithing day in and day out, only taking a break in order to spend time with Yuna.
And as he forged countless rings, he also forged some equipment to spark some inspiration. And after endless forging, he finally reached Tier-8 in blacksmithing! It was a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one at that.
'Haah... I've been forging day and night, but I wonder if there's something wrong with me... It still hasn't disappeared...' ［Grey］
Well, Grey's skills weren't the only one increasing... So are his desires. He's been trying to smith to clear away all the impure thoughts he had, but rather than that, it seems to have only made things worse.
Now, not only is his desires unmatched, he also feels more possessive and fierce when it comes to Yuna. He's a little afraid that one day, he'll lose his reason and rationality and turn into a complete beast. A crazy beast at that.
It has almost been a year since they started dating yet only now is he experiencing such worrying things. It's been so long yet only now is he afraid to show Yuna his ugly sides, afraid that she'll hate him. He could only shudder at the thought.
"Grey, is something wrong?" ［Yuna］
"Nah... I'm just thinking about something...?" ［Grey］
"Hm? Is it about your smithing? Do you need any help?" ［Yuna］
"No, not yet. But you'll be the first one to learn later if I ever do." ［Grey］
"Un! Good! Just remember that I'll always, always be by your side! Just call and I'll be there for you, okay?" ［Yuna］
Grey is really happy, he really is. But it is this very kind and considerate side of Yuna that makes him fall even harder for her. Each drop was like falling off a trench he can never climb up again. A wonderful yet dangerous abyss called love.
'Really, Yuna... You're just far too niceー' ［Grey］
Grey was just about to pat the young girl's head when he suddenly stopped. He had almost done it subconsciously again, but he already decided to control his desires even a little bit more for her sake. It was a close one.
"Yuna, Iris, what do you think of that cafe?" ［Grey］
There was no point in needlessly withdrawing his hands. Instead, Grey just pointed towards a cafe by the right, trying not to look obvious. It was a little bit cowardly, but there was nothing he could do about it. Oh how he envies his past, bold self.
"Hm? Which one?" ［Yuna］
"The one on the left with pink signs. It looks pretty nice and it seems popular. Should we visit it sometime?" ［Grey］
"Waah～! Can we?! I-I would love it if we could!" ［Iris］
"Hahaha. It's decided then. Let's go there tomorrow." ［Grey］
Smiles were in the air and the sudden crisis was averted. Excitement loomed over them as they continued to walk towards the Guild, yet despite such enthusiasm, two certain figures wore strange expressions, hearts filled with mixed emotions.
'Haah... That was a close one...' ［Grey］
'Mou... I thought he was gonna pat me...' ［Yuna］
Grey may be quick, but so was Yuna. It was only for a short while, but Yuna really thought Grey would pat her head like he usually does. Now that he didn't, she was both a little embarrassed and disappointed, only able to heave a short sigh.
All the sighing aside, the journey towards the guild continued and everyone chatted about various trivial topics. Of course, they also talked about the guild. After all, after the tour a few days ago, they also saw it albeit not too greatly.
They have seen how beautiful it was from the outside alone and could only imagine how things were on the inside. Just thinking how different things would be compared to the other guilds in other towns and cities was enough to make their heats pump a great deal of excitement.
"Waah～! So big! And beautiful too! It's like a noble's mansion!" ［Yuna］
"So this is the Adventurers' Guild... I wonder if Elder Brother Julius also felt overwhelmed the first time as well." ［Iris］
"Hahaha. He probably was." ［Grey］
It was even more beautiful than they imagined. Though they had seen it a few days ago, now that they took a good look at it, it was even more grand and luxurious than most of mansions, even comparable to the mansions in the manor.
And the interior was no different either. Just as grand as the exterior was, there were a variety of furniture and appliances scattered neatly all over the guild, adventurers neatly lining up on the reception desks, acting more formal and proper than the rough bunch they usually are.
But perhaps the most eye-catching and overwhelming difference was the abundance of flowers decorated throughout the place. From the pillars, to the desks, and even the design on the tiles, they were all flowers or anything similar.
Heck, even the adventurers coming back from their collection quests brought flowers or something of the like. They had jokingly thought such was the case, but to think it really was the case... Erdea really is something in ways more than one.
"Amazing... They even have a cafe and a flower shop inside the Guild... Are all guild buildings like this, Elder Brother Grey, Elder Sister Yuna?" ［Iris］
"No, not at all... This one is a special case. Yeah, a special case..." ［Grey］
It was so important that Grey needed to say it twiceー no, even amongst special cases, the one in Erdea truly stands out. The place which was supposed to be filled with tough guys and such, to think it's filled with flowers instead. It was too absurd.
"What are we waiting for? Let's try out the cafe!" ［Yuna］
"Yuna... We just had breakfast, you know?" ［Grey］
"I know, but aren't you even just a little bit curious? A cafe in a guild isn't something you'll see every day. Right, Iris?" ［Yuna］
"Y-Yes! I-I also think we should try, Elder Brother Grey!" ［Iris］
And now, even Iris is on board with Yuna's suggestion. Grey doesn't know if it's due to them spending more time with each other, but lately Iris had gotten influenced by Yuna more and more. A second Eliza in the making.
It isn't an issue, no, not at all. But if Iris were to somehow get influenced by their appetite, it would be quite a problem. After all, Iris was still a princess, dignity and propriety is a must. They can't lose her when her brothers are already lost causes.
"Elder Brother Grey, we can't...?" ［Iris］
"Ugh..." ［Grey］
Though, as it seems, his resolve is much weaker compared to Iris' innocent pleas. With her puppy eyes and drooping voice, it hit Grey where it hurts. Especially when Iris rarely requests something. He didn't have the heart to say no to her.
"Haah... Alright, alright, but just this once, got it? We'll go adventuring immediately once we're done eating." ［Grey］
"Yaay～! You're really the bestest of the best, Grey!" ［Yuna］
"Thank you so much, Elder Brother Grey." ［Iris］
They haven't even started their quests and they were already on a break. The guild may be at fault for putting a cafe inside their building, but Grey could only blame his weakness for the situation. He's still far too soft on them.
And so, with happy smiles on their faces, everyone headed to the cafe by the side and ordered a "few" sweets that caught their eye and a few drinks to match. It was just like any other cafe that they totally forgot they were inside the guild.
Before long, a mountain of treats were lined up atop the table and a sweet fragrance drifted in the air. Just the aesthetics alone was enough to fill up both their hearts and stomachs. Sparkling ever so brightly.
"Mmn～! Iris, try this one! It's super good? You too, Grey!" ［Yuna］
"Waah～! It's so sweet! Is this lemon... No, orange?" ［Iris］
"Yeah, Liliosa sweet orange to be precise. I heard they're quite popular here in Erdea. They're in season as well." ［Grey］
"Amazing! You know so much, Elder Brother Grey!" ［Iris］
"Hahaha, it's nothing special. I just did a little bit of research, is all." ［Grey］
Sweet and acidic, with a hint of mint. The treats in the cafe were even more delicious than the ones in the famous cafes by the street side. It makes one wonder why it was located inside the guild. The contrast was just too much.
But oh well, after a hard day's adventuring work, a sweet treat would be great to melt one's fatigue. A fact only reinforced by the number of adventurers enjoying their break time, eating sweets with a smile. It was an interesting experience for sure.
"Iris, have some of this cheese tart. Say ahh～!" ［Yuna］
"Elder Sister Yuna, I'm not a child anymore. I can eat on my own." ［Iris］
"I know, I know, but just this once, okay? Can't you agree with my request? My hand will really fall off if you don't open your mouth any sooner." ［Yuna］
"Uuu... Okay..." ［Iris］
Light, warm, and peaceful, such was the atmosphere looming over the guild. As they enjoyed their unplanned and early break together, smiles and laughter was adrift in the air. A time one could only wish would never end.
'Hm? Aren't we forgetting something?' ［Grey］
Silently thought Grey as he ate a slice of lemon cake. And yes, he was correct. They have wholly forgotten the reason why they entered the guild in the first place. The power of sweets was just simply too much.
Time continued to tick and the people came and went. As their fun little break ended, it was finally time to get to real business. Everyone immediately headed to the quest boards, eyeing out what quests remained before them.
And as one would expect, the quest boards themselves were designed meticulously, flowers serving as borders, truly lavish until the end. Even the papers were colored for some reason, truly deserving to be in the city of colors. It was overkill.
"Hmm... To think even their quests are like this... I can't say I'm surprised..." ［Grey］
"Fufufu! It is quite overwhelming." ［Yuna］
As for their quests... Is there even a need to say more? Though there were normal quests you'd find in any other Adventurer Guild, there were also a lot of collection quests which are related to flowers and the like, and by a lot, it means a lot "lot".
To be more precise, they were collection quests which tasks the adventurers to collect rare flowers and medicinal herbs which are often used in alchemy. And with Erdea the way it is, the number of them around are by no means small. Even in the forests outside, various plants grow plentifully.
And they may be collection quests, but they are by no means easy. Though some are just straight up rare, some only grow in dangerous territories where beasts reside, hence the difficulty. Not to mention some magic plants are dangerous as well.
The color of the paper, as it seems, was very useful. They represent which part of the territory Erdea is managing they could be found and what kind of dangers one could expect in there, as shown by the map just a few steps away.
"They're quite detailed here, huh... This is the first time I'm seeing these..." ［Yuna］
"Is this strange, Elder Sister Yuna, Elder Brother Grey?" ［Iris］
"Well, yeah, you could say that. But it's only because Erdea has a small territory that they can do this. Usually, these contents are written in the request paper." ［Grey］
"Un. Some even only tell the location of the village, and the chief will tell the rest. The ones here in Erdea are quite special." ［Yuna］
"I see... So that's how it is..." ［Iris］
Well, such wasn't the only reason for such a thing. In actuality, Erdea is quite the peaceful place compared to any other in the continent. Not only do monsters spawn less frequently, beasts are also hidden away in the faraway mountains and forests.
Considering such circumstances, it only makes sense why Erdea's quests are much different than the other branches. Now, both Grey and Yuna are curious about how different the other guilds are compared to their usual counterparts.
"Hmm... Iris, which quest would you like to take?" ［Yuna］
"E-Eh? I'm the one who will be picking?!" ［Iris］
"Of course. Iris is with us, after all." ［Yuna］
Safety is always first, after all. They can't just waltz into a dangerous situation with Iris with them. They may be the same age, but she is far too different from Eliza. They couldn't take anything too dangerous and scare her off.
"S-Sorry, because of me, Elder Brother Grey and Elder Sister can't take the quests they want. I'm really sorry!" ［Iris］
Though, as it seems, Iris misunderstood Yuna's intention. She is now bowing her head, quite the panicked expression painted on her face, as she apologized to Yuna. It seems like she thinks she's the reason why Grey and Yuna can't go all out.
"A-Ah, no! That's not it! We just want Iris to choose what you think the most fun one is. We're not blaming you or anything." ［Yuna］
"R-Really? You're not mad?" ［Iris］
"Of course not! We would never be mad at Iris! You're such a good girl!" ［Yuna］
"That's right. You don't need to worry about us and hold yourself back. Just choose whichever one you want, and we'll take it," ［Grey］
Thankfully, the misunderstanding was resolved before it got any deeper. The last thing they'd want in taking quests, after all. But most importantly, they didn't want their princess to make such a dejected face. It was pretty heartrending.
And so, with the issue out of hand, Iris then started eyeing the quests before her. She doesn't have any experience with them, but she could tell at a quick glance what they meant. It was fortunate that it was already late in the morning. There's no need to rush in picking.
"Hmm... How about this one, is it dangerous?" ［Iris］
"Let's see.. Hmm... I don't think it's that dangerous, but we might have to climb a mountain for this. This might be a little exhausting for you." ［Grey］
"Right, and Iris, remember that you can also pick from lower ranked quests. There's no need to stick with F-rank ones." ［Yuna］
"Okay. I'll keep that in mind." ［Iris］
Of course, she wasn't just blindly looking and estimating the difficulty of the quests. She had Grey and Yuna's help in thinking things through, giving her a quick and concise rundown about what it was about, and how difficult it would be for her.
There were also quests that were straight up rejected. Iris' safety is the number one priority, after all. Even with all the power they got, there's no need to be reckless and risk hurting Iris be it physically, mentally, or emotionally. Safety first.
"How about this?" ［Iris］
"Oh! Ruruna herb! That's a good one! It's pretty near as well." ［Yuna］
"Really?! Then we'll take this one!" ［Iris］
"Fufufu! Good choice! And since we're already on the topic of herbs, Iris, wouldn't you like to try alchemy too? I'm sure you'll like it." ［Yuna］
But perhaps the most excited one of them all would be Yuna. Her eyes sparkled like stars in a clear, midnight sky, trying to convince Iris to try alchemy from time to time. She was so persistent, she always says it every time herbs come up.
Thankfully, Grey was there to stop her on her tracks, otherwise, the young princess would surely be swept up in her tune. And he knew full well how excited Yuna gets when it's about alchemy. He can't let the vulnerable Iris experience her menace.
Time passed some more and they read out more request papers, striding left and right across the quest boards. Before long, they completed the five quests they'll be taking for the day, satisfied smiles on their faces.
"Are you sure about this, Iris? We can't change it once we've taken it, you know? Just keep that in mind." ［Grey］
"Yes! I'm sure of it!" ［Iris］
"Alright, I'll process it at the counter for a while. You wait here and make sure to stick with Yuna, alright? Be a good girl and behave." ［Grey］
"Yes! Take care, Elder Brother Grey." ［Iris］
Request papers at hand, Grey then headed towards the reception counters and lined up after the other adventurers. Before long, it was already Grey's turn and he started processing them as swiftly as he could, not wasting even a little bit of time.
Meanwhile, the ladies were left alone near the quest boards. They both chatted happily, smiles on their faces as they looked at the quest boards once again, Yuna's eyes drifting towards where Grey is from time to time.
"Elder Bother Grey sure is reliable..." ［Iris］
"Hm? What's with that all of the sudden?" ［Yuna］
"Nothing. It's just... He's really kind and gentle. He also cares a lot as well. He's like the knight in shining armor you see in fairy tales!" ［Iris］
"A knight in shining armor, huh... Fufu! He really is!" ［Yuna］
Yuna's expressions were already soft and gentle, but the very moment they talked about Grey, it became even softer, a rosy tint dyeing her cheeks. Her eyes are now fully fixated on Grey, a loving gaze traced within.
"Elder Sister Yuna must really love Elder Brother Grey, huh..." ［Iris］
"Un, I doー No, that's not it! I mean, I do! I really do! But no! That's not it! Iris, what are you making me say?!" ［Yuna］
"Hehehe! Elder Sister Yuna, you're blushing～!" ［Iris］
"Iris! Where did you learn that?! Teasing is not good, you know?!" ［Yuna］
And in a strange turn of events, Yuna's cheeks started to burn fiercely. She was now in a state of panic, red 'til the tip of her pointy ears and swirls swirling in her eyes. A complete contrast to Iris who is simply giggling to herself.
Coincidentally, just in time, Grey also finished processing the quests. But rather than a warm welcome, what greeted him was the sight of a profusely blushing Yuna and a softly giggling Iris. A strange sight to behold.
"Hm? Did I miss something?" ［Grey］
"Ah! N-No! Nothing at all!" ［Yuna］
"Fufufu! That's right. Nothing at all～!" ［Iris］
Three different people, three different faces. One was beet red, flustered as once can be, the other was smiling brightly, her giggles resounding in the air, and the last was tilting his head slightly, question marks filling his head.Their day had just begun, but chaos was already spinning around.
Oh, what a lovely day it is.
CHAPTER 269 END