"No... I don't wanna... Just five more minutes..." ［Yuna］
"Sure, sure, you can sleep all you want, Milady." ［Grey］
The day was young and the sky had just risen over the horizon. Dawn and daylight had just arrived and the sky was skill black, hints of red and orange shining dimly as the sun's rays touched the sky chasing the darkness away.
It was a peaceful day. The sound of the waves echoing from the sea, the sound of leaves rustling as the salty breeze blew ashore, and the sound of shifting grains of sands running all around the beaches. Such a sweet and calming symphony.
And as the sun slowly crept up the sky, a shiny glimmer filled the islands. A platinum figure stood proud along the cliffs. She folded her wings and waited for another pair to approach her, the sunset reflecting in her silver eyes.
"Master, is it really fine to go like this? The Mistress still seems sleepy." ［Sirius］
"It's fine. Yuna may look silly right now, but she isn't so fragile, you know? And... Whose fault is it to fall asleep late because she was so excited yesterday?" ［Grey］
"Well... Isn't the Mistress always like that, Master?" ［Sirius］
"Hahaha. I guess you're rightー" ［Grey］
"Gwey... I love you... Make me burgers, please..." ［Yuna］
The young lady mumbled as she hugged Grey even tighter. She is still sleepy as can be and her eyes are barely open. There was no focus to be seen, obviously still half-asleep as Grey piggybacked her towards Sirius.
She was so excited after eating the Kraken meat yesterday, she went on a hunt throughout the entire afternoon whenever she saw some high ranking beasts. And like all things bearing consequences, she is now dead tired, mind very groggy.
"Hamburger...? No, no, I want steak... Steak with apple juice..." ［Yuna］
In fact, she's so tired, she's been mumbling nonsense since Grey "woke" her up and carried her on his back. If there was one thing consistent, it was that all the nonsense she's been mumbling about was about food and sweets.
There are even times when she looks at Grey as if she was looking at something sweet she just baked. Her sleepy and silly mind was still debating whether the one carrying her was in fact her fiancé or just a massive jam bread.
"... Bread... Strange bread... Sounds like Grey..." ［Yuna］
"That's because I am Grey, sleepyhead. Don't try to bite me, alright?" ［Grey］
"Bite... Bite... I want to bite bread..." ［Yuna］
"I just said don't... Haah... Let's just get you on board before you do something we'll both regret. Sirius, if you would please." ［Grey］
"Understood, Master." ［Sirius］
There was no use trying to converse with Yuna as her mind was clearly still lagging and not functioning properly. Grey quickly asked Sirius to be ready for flight, then jumping on her back with the young lady in tow as Sirius spread her wings.
She flapped a couple of times and the islands shrank in all but a fraction of a second. They pierced through the clouds soon after, the warm glimmer of the sun gracing their faces as they watched the sun rise from high up in the sky.
A couple more flaps later and Sirius started darting throughout the sky once again. Rings and lines were made as she flew, the birds and clouds parting ways as they greeted her, yet another mystical sight in the sky of dawn.
And whilst they flew several kilometers from the sea, Grey's eyes scanned the deep waters once more and watched all sorts of scenes unfold. He's already seen them a handful of times since yesterday, but he'll never get used to them.
One particular sight he fell in love with was the parade of glowing sea creatures during the night. It was a sight to behold, seeming like a river of stars from below. He's never seen such a beautiful sight even on television back on earth.
'Not here, huh...' ［Grey］
But what he was looking for was none other than demonic beasts he saw yesterday. After the Kraken, there have been a couple more demonic beasts they saw as they continued to fly towards Vartes, all of them hunted by Yuna.
Though compared to the Kraken, such beasts were much weaker, only at B-rank and rarely, at A-rank. Still such a number of beasts were still far too many and abnormal, no matter how deep and expansive the ocean is, especially since they're high rank.
Grey got them all on camera, but he doesn't know when he'll be able to use them. It could all just be a great coincidence, but in the off chance that it isn't, it will be hell not just for them, but for all others as well. It would be a disaster.
"Fishies... I'm going to hunt youー" ［Yuna］
"Woah! Yuna, you ought to be more careful! You almost fell just now!" ［Grey］
"Unm... Care... Ca... Zzzzzz...." ［Yuna］
Grey was worried, but after a quick shock by his fiancée almost falling, such worries were easily blown away. But the person herself was oblivious to such dangers. Now, she has gone back to sleep again, her eyes now tight shut.
"Haah... This girl... Stop giving me heart attacks..." ［Grey］
Well, there was no use thinking about it, especially when all he could do was grasp blindly in the dark. While it is sure to be trouble, he shouldn't worry too much about it. After all, they didn't just get stronger for nothing. They'll deal with it when time comes.
Just like that a couple moments passed, and after the sun was fully unveiled over the horizon, Grey immediately started preparing breakfast. With the amount of excess dishes they cooked yesterday, there was no need to cook for the day.
Grey took out a couple dishes one by one, still hot and steamy and made sure to hold them tight. It wasn't the first time they'll be having meals on Sirius' back whilst flying, but it was still a fun experience to have, the winds brushing past them.
"Mmn～! These are so good! Are these from the Kraken yesterday?" ［Yuna］
"Yeah. I also made some sandwiches with it, so make sure to enjoy themー Oh! Hold still for a while, Yuna. There's something on your cheeks." ［Grey］
"Fufufu! Thank you～!" ［Yuna］
Speaking of breakfast, Yuna was quickly revived as soon as she smelled something delicious wafting through the air. Her eyes sparkled brighter than the sun which had just risen and a bright smile appeared, extending from ear to ear.
After all, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and with Grey being the one who prepared it, it was something to look forward to and something to enjoy. It was a great experience, experiencing a blue view below them.
"Sirius, would you like to have some too?" ［Yuna］
"I'm fine, Mistress. I'll just eat once we're done flying." ［Sirius］
"Okay～! I'll leave some for you and the others later, then." ［Yuna］
The journey continued and Sirius continued to flap her wings. She covered kilometers of distance in a single minute, soaring through the sky faster than any jets and planes Grey had seen back on Earth, sonic booms serving as music to the ears.
Soon enough, massive groups of islands and shallow reefs started appearing one after another, and a couple more moments later, large islands came to view, along with the mainland, spanning several hundred kilometers from the shores alone.
It was a shore covered with sandy beaches and rocky cliffs, a couple of coves and caves here and there. There was lush vegetation and also port towns dotted along the shoreline, some boats and ships popping up left and right.
It may be because the port towns are more focused on naval and maritime operations, but there were quite a lot more ships in the seas of Vartes than there are in the seas of Oirois. Many were much bigger as well, sails painted all sorts of colors.
"So this is Vartes, huhー" ［Grey］
"Waah～! There's so many ships～! And port towns too! It feels a little bit different than when we're in Alfrione, doesn't it?" ［Yuna］
"Well, it's a new continent, after all... Their culture and architecture should also be a little different as well. I'm sure you'll love it." ［Grey］
"Un! I'm looking forward to it!" ［Yuna］
Vartes, the Western Continent, possessed similar cultures and architectures from people in the Medieval Ages of Middle Eastern countries. Be that as it may, there is still a large portion of Western European culture into the mix.
Such a dynamic between two different culture groups makes Vartes a little bit strange to Grey and Yuna who were only familiar with Western Culture. The more they see below them, the more interested they become.
The name of the Kingdom before them is "Talspara", a kingdom just about the size of Alfrione whose specialty is fishing, infrastructure, cooking, and arts. It is a place one could say is less technologically advanced than Alfrione, but just as beautiful.
"Grey, do you think they also deal with high-ranking aquatic beasts here? Do you think we can sell the inedible ones we caught?" ［Yuna］
"That's a nice idea, but let's put that on hold for now. We still have other places to visit. Let's do those ones first." ［Grey］
"Fine, but that's a promise, okay? Let's go here once everything is settled." ［Yuna］
"Sure. Let's enjoy it to our hearts' content when the time comes." ［Grey］
Unfortunately, their first destination in Vartes aren't the port towns located by the long shores of Talspara, but rather, a much further inland city located by the plains where two large rivers converge, one of the most famous cities of the Kingdom.
It was the city of "Arihal", known for various famous artists and also its great cuisine. It is one of the places the Royal Family recommended to them, and one which they especially enjoyed because of how wonderful the experience was.
The city's specialty dishes involve freshwater fishes and seafood which they harvested from the nearby rivers. It is said that when it comes to seafood, not even port towns could compare to the greatness of Arihal.
"I heard there are also some fairly powerful beasts in the rivers by the city. About D-rank and C-rank, they said." ［Grey］
"Hm? Isn't that a bit dangerous then?" ［Yuna］
"Usually, yes, but fortunately, there is an A-rank familiar living in those rivers owned by the Lords for several generations. It's a 'Tarllagan', or so I've heard." ［Grey］
"Ohh～! A familiar, that's amazing! I want to see it!" ［Yuna］
And perhaps another thing it was famous for was the presence of a High-Ranking familiar living along the banks of the two rivers. Not only does it protect the citizens from danger, it also helps them hint from time to time.
Usually, it is only the Royal Families and High-Ranking aristocrats who possess such powerful familiars, the Comital House which reigns over the city managed to summon one several generations ago, and is now serving as the guardian of the city.
Of course, with it being so helpful, it is one of the major contributing individuals to the territory's economy. All the city's people love the said beasts and they even have a whole festival dedicated to it as a tribute. It's like a guardian god,
It was also the reason why the Royal Family of Alfrione could never forget such an experience which was as unique as they come. They've also met such a beast. Only Iris and Natalia who were too young didn't know of it.
"Lucky for you, we can go and see it in its habitat. From what His Majesty said, it's one of the main tourist attractions of Arihal." ［Grey］
"Ohh～! That's great! I wonder if I can fight it!" ［Yuna］
"We'll... We'll probably get in trouble, so please don't." ［Grey］
"Hehehe! Looks like I'll have to give it up then... For now, that is..." ［Yuna］
For now, she says... It wasn't really convincing when one puts it that way, and there was no way to know just what kinds of things were going on inside her mind. Grey could only hope she doesn't do something reckless and cause trouble.
Just like that, Grey and Yuna continued to fly for about an hour, passing through various regions and seeing all sorts of natural wonders. No matter where they were, nature was always beautiful, all worthy to be taken photographs of.
"Ohh... Amazing... So that's Alconia, huh..." ［Grey］
Soon enough, a city appeared over the horizon, and with it were two massive rivers with widths reaching almost a hundred meters each. Both rivers converged southeast of the city, creating an area with an overall width of over 200 meters.
And located before where the rivers converge was a massive city, even larger than Galderia, built with its own ports, bridges, watermills, and barricades spanning over the rivers' shores. It stood out like a sore thumb in such flat and grassy terrain.
With such rivers present, one could only imagine how fertile the land is. A vast portion of the plains has been turned into farmland, all sorts of crops grown from grains to root crops, and various greens. It was a sight to behold.
"Grey! That's unfair! Let me see too!" ［Yuna］
"Oh, right. Sorry, sorry. I'll share my vision now." ［Grey］
"Un! Hurry! Hurry! I can't wait!" ［Yuna］
Grey spared no time to relay his vision with illusion magic, and Yuna's reactions were just as amazed as her, her mouth opening in agape and her eyes sparkling with great curiosity as her eyes swam left and right, trying to process the view.
"Ohh... Ohhh!～ Grey, look! The bridges are so big! Th-They're like really massive! There's a lot of them too!" ［Yuna］
"Yuna, calm down... We're gonna fall off at this rate." ［Grey］
"How can I calm down?! This is just so exciting!" ［Yuna］
Exclaimed Yuna, all the while shaking Grey's shoulders then leaning on his back, pointing her fingers excitedly to the sights she's witnessing for the first time. There was a clear tinge of excitement present in her voice.
The Talspara Kingdom may be behind compared to Alfrione when it comes to magic tools and magical technology, but when it comes to building techniques and the like, there is a clear winner, massive and impressive structures located all over the city.
Though the building style is rustic and medieval, the bridges made were really sturdy and even better than that of masterpieces like the golden gate bridge and the tower bridge back on Earth. It was reinforced with magic and could even survive powerful attacks from B-rank beings.
"It's so big～! We're these bridges back on Earth like this too, Grey?" ［Yuna］
"Yeah, but I don't think there's anything as beautiful." ［Grey］
Most of all, it doesn't look bare and bland, like the huge cable bridges back on Earth. Rather, it was actually filled with life and colors, with lots of arches, domes, towers, spires, and murals. Lots and lots of murals.
It was a perfect combination of Middle Eastern architecture along with bits and bobs of other cultures, mostly western. It was no wonder Talspara was known for famous arts and artists. They weren't just engineering masterpieces, but works of art.
With the plains drawing closer to them, they soon decided to land by the nearby forest and took a short break. As promised, they had everyone eat some of the dishes Grey cooked, soon departing towards Arihal by foot.
"Ohh～! It's even more amazing when you see it up close..." ［Yuna］
"I agree... And it isn't just the bridges, but the highways as well. They're all paved well and there are also stations located all throughout." ［Grey］
"Right... Alfrione doesn't have these, huh..." ［Yuna］
"The streets and cities are all well-made, but the highways outside are another issue. It costs quite a lot, after all. Several hundred million, I'd say." ［Grey］
With how fast they were, it didn't take long before Grey and Yuna reached the bridges and it was even more breathtaking up close. Not only was it pretty, it was functionally sound as well, lanes divided into that for carriages and pedestrians.
And under the bridge was a large river with multiple ships and boats passing at the same time, and also many ports where they docked, unloading numerous cargos one after another, fishermen also unloading their catch.
"Hohoho. Is it your first time here, young ones?"
"Ah, yeah... We came from a distant place, you see." ［Grey］
"Hohoho! No wonder! I've never seen youths with such interesting clothing before. You really do stand out in this crowd."
As for the people, the one thing which immediately stood out was the difference in clothing. Everyone was wearing traditional Middle Eastern Clothing, styles popping out with color and embroidery. It was a very busy and lively city.
Of course, though they were adventurer clothes, as Grey and Yuna's clothing were still wearing Western European styles and designs. As soon as they stepped foot on the bridge, all eyes were on them, gazes curious as can be.
They've been under such stares because of their identities, but it was the first time people stared at them for their "strange" clothing. Both of them were taken aback by such a reaction, both not used to such curious stares.
"So, which country are you two from...?"
"Well, it's a long story..." ［Grey］
"Hohoho. With a line this long, we have all the time in the world. What do you think we have a nice long chat? I have some snacks over here."
"Ohh! Talsparan snacks! I want some!" ［Yuna］
"Hohoho! What an enthusiastic young lady. Here, please have some,"
Thankfully, it's not like people have mean intentions for them. In fact, one of the old men they lined up with coincidentally was very friendly, offering the two of them a couple of snacks over a nice long chat as they waited for their turns.
Thanks to the old man, they were able to learn a lot of things about Arihal from him, from the famous tourist spots, the notable traditions, the delicious cuisines, and most importantly, about the prices of the goods in the area.
Surprisingly, despite the fact that it was an ocean away from Oiros, the prices in the Kingdom were just about the same. Save for the fact that spices were cheaper and some goods were more expensive, it was relatively the same.
"Oh, you'll be staying here for some days, right?"
"Yeah. That's the plan. Do you have any inns in mind, Mister?" ［Grey］
"Preferably one with a bath, please～!" ［Yuna］
"Inns and baths, huh... Hmm... There's a few I have in mind..."
Eating some snacks on the way, the old man then listed the inns he recommended to Grey and Yuna, telling them about the perks and drawbacks of such inns and what kind of dishes they could enjoy in the inns and what tourist spots were near it.
It wasn't long before Grey and Yuna finally reached the gates and they handed over their ID cards for the guards to check. They were given some suspicious stares for what they were wearing, but they were able to pass without any problems,
As soon as they stepped foot inside the city, they were greeted by a similar style of architecture from before, lots of domes, spires, and arches everywhere. It was similar to Erdea, but also different at the same time.
There were also a ton of stalls present by the gates, even more than what they are usually met with, selling all sorts of goods from crafts all the way to metal artifacts, the soft sound of metallic chimes ringing in the air.
"Waah～! Waah～! Waah～～!" ［Yuna］
Yuna was so speechless by the sight, all she could do was gasp in excitement and open her mouth in every direction her eyes swim to. She was excited as a child and happy as one, obviously eager to explore if she could.
Well, Grey was also in the same shoes, wanting to go around and have another date with his beloved. But even more so, he was amazed by the scenery laid out before him, snapping out a couple photos silently as can be.
There were a number of differences but Grey was reminded of the setting of the movie, "Aladd*n", the moment he stepped foot inside Arihal. It was as if he was inside the movie itself, his heart pounding in excitement.
"Ohh～. That's a nice toy you got there, Young Man."
"Ah, yeah. That's right. It's still a little lacking, but it does the job," ［Grey］
"Hohoho. I see... Then, I'll be taking my leave now. Until next time, young ones."
Before long, the old man finally left our main characters to themselves, both of them still excited as can be. They were still standing by the gates, barley moving an inch as they scoured the whole place with their eyes.
They soon started to move, exploring the city bit by bit as they headed towards one of the inns recommended to them by the old man. Grey was snapping photos and Yuna was still mesmerized, her eyes shifting even quicker than the winds.
"Grey, look! They also have candies!" ［Yuna］
"Hm? Candies? What are youー" ［Grey］
"Let's buy some!" ［Yuna］
Of course, what interested the young lady the most were none other than the sweets. The people may be looking at them weirdly, but what matters the most is that she's having fun. Everything else doesn't matter.
"Grey, hurry up! Hurry!" ［Yuna］
CHAPTER 405 END