The night was already deep and the moon roag its zenith with the clouds paving its path. The critters of the night have awoken as the world thrusts deeper into the darkness, their eyes glowing with an enting dazzle as the moonlight refracted in them.

  A forest which was once a verdant paradise was now a dark domain, only illuminated by the fragments of light brought upon by the stars and the moon above. It had bee the domain of is chirping along the symphony of the cold breeze.

  But eve had been swallowed up by the seemingly endless darkness, the forest still remained beautiful. It was a face whiany knew, but appreciated the same heless.

  Along the viity of the forest, two figures be observed, moving slowly so as to not disturb the surrounding peace. Of course, those two figures were her than Grey and Yuna as they ed up their things, preparing to go home after witnessing a breathtaking orchestra of lights.

  By the time the two came back to the city, the st bell had already rung. The city was as quiet as the dead, with the streets only occupied by the patrolling guards from time to time.

  The two split ways after arriving at the "Rabbit's Den", Grey headed to his room while Yuna was being held up by Helen like a hawk log on to her prey, asking for every juicy detail about what happened.

  Grey wao help Yuna out, but the moment Heleiohe words "Girl Talk", he became as powerless as an infant. All he could do was head back to his room and go to dreamnd, leaving Yuna in Helen's capable hands.

  "Aghhhh...." ［Grey］

  His hair as messy as a made of twigs and his eyes still half open, Grey stretched his arms upwards towards the ceiling as he greeted the arrival of a new day. Or rather, only one of his arms sihe other one...

  'Hm?' ［Grey］

  ... was in a rather absurd pce, being sandwiched in Yuna's bosom.

  Seeing the current situation, Grey became puzzled, flustered, anxious, and afraid at the same time. He experienced a mixture of various emotions as he became stu a rod a hard pce.

  Grey wao pull out his arm, but any wrong move and Yuna might wake up. Furthermore, it would look like Grey was being i no matter whigle one would look at it.

  It was a situation which could be described as being in heaven and hell at the same time. But pared to the bes of "Heaven", the sequences of "Hell" were much more severe.

  Grey tried to recall all the events which happehe night before but no matter how hard he thought nor how much he searched the "Memory Bank", he wasn't able to recall anything which would lead to the current situation.

  He clearly remembered that he locked his room befoing to bed. There was also no possible way that someone could have unlocked it wrongly. After all , only him and the innkeepers hold the keys.

  "Ah..." ［Grey］

  It was then that Grey figured out who the culprit was. It was her than the receptionist of the "Rabbit's Den" and the only daughter of the innkeepers. It was Helen.

  Grey immediately uood that it was one of her "surprises". The angel which helped him out yesterday was now a vile demon in Grey's eyes. A demon which will cause him great peril.

  "Mmmm..." ［Yuna］

  The gentle voice of Yuna mumbling in her sleep became an arm which screamed danger as it reverberated inside Grey's ears.

  Grey tried to get out of bed as silently as he could but there was one obstacle which prevented him from doing so. Yuna was still ging tightly unto his arm, with it still being stuck between two soft lumps of fat we shall call "Yuna's bosom".

  "Mmm... Grey...?" ［Yuna］

  It was at that moment that Grey knew he was doomed. His face was white as a sheet of paper as his soul seemed to look like it was leaving his body.

  It took a few seds before Yuna realized what kind of situation they were currently in, but when she did, she quickly turned red and...

  "Kyaaaaaaa!" ［Yuna］

  ... a loud high-pitched scream echoed throughout the whole inn. It was so loud that Grey felt his own eardrums screaming in pain. It was a scream which could be heard hundreds of meters away.

  "G-G-Grey!? hy are you here!?" ［Yuna］

  Asked Yuna with mana gathering on the palm of her hands. She was ready to shoot an advanced-level spell trey at a moment's notice.

  Of course, Yuna never interey. It was just that her mind was overflowing with fusion and information that she immediately switched to a defeate. A state where she could blow away a vilge at one wrong move.

  "Hey, hey, hey, Yuna calm down! If you fire that, not only this inn but alse part of the city will get destroyed! In the first pce, this is my room so I should be the one asking that!!" ［Grey］

  "Eeehhh!?" ［Yuna］

  Hearing Grey's words, Yuna looked around the room as if she was searg for something and soon enough, she realized that it was indeed not hers.

  Thankfully, Grey was able to calm her down before she started to panic even more. Otherwise, it would have been a disaster where he wouldn't be able to do anything.

  "Have you calmed down now?" ［Grey］

  "Un... I'm sorry I overreacted a little bit." ［Yuna］

  "A little bit"... Those three words raedly over and ain inside Grey's mind. Because to him, that overrea was enough to wipe out a whole district. It was not a rea one would normally describe as "a little bit".

  Although he had just woken up, Grey was already tired to the point he just wao get back to bed and just ze around all day.

  "It's alright, but still, how did you end up sleeping in my room?" ［Grey］

  "Mmm... when we arrived, Helen and I had a little chat about what happened over the piic... And... Ah, right! After that, I started to feel sleepy and then Helen offered to help me get to my room... The hing I knew... I was sleeping on your bed..." ［Yuna］

  Yuna expined as she recalled the previous events, turning redder and redder every passing moment.

  Although Yuna liked Grey, it was still too much for her to wake up right o him. Evehey had lived together for almost 3 years, they had never shared a bed before. Today was the first time it happened.

  Even when Grey knew Helen was involved in the i one way or another, it was still a shock hearing it from Yuna herself.

  "Yuna, I already know what's going on. Why don't you go back to your room and ge. Then we'll have breakfast afterwards," ［Grey］

  "You're... not going to pursue this issue any further?" ［Yuna］

  "Well, it's not like fussing over it will undo what has happened. We'll just have to be more careful ime." ［Grey］

  "I guess you're right... T-Then, I'll see you ter!" ［Yuna］

  "Yeah." ［Grey］

  After bowing her head and waving her hands goodbye, Yuna quickly dashed out of the room in a hurry, not wanting Grey to see her embarrassed fay longer.

  With everything sorted out, Grey underwent his daily m routine, ag as if nothing happened. But iy, he was still shaken by the i, trying his best tet the warm and soft sensation which g into his arm.

  And as he asded dowairs into the ground floor...

  "Good m, Grey～!" ［Helen］

  .... he met the perpetrator of the previous i, smiling eically and friendly, ag as if she knew nothing about the i which just occurred. If Grey didn't know what she did, he would have been fooled by her i-looking smile.

  All Grey could do was heave a lengthy sight. After all, he had no definite proof that it was Helen who really did cause the precious i. Well, that was until...

  "Hehehe! So, did you like my sed 'surprise'? Yuna's sleeping face was cute, wasn't it?" ［Helen］

  ... the perpetrator herself revealed that she was guilty, with a mischievous smile.

  There wasn't even a shred ret in her eyes. Rather, she had eyes full of curiosity. She was barely holding herself back from asking Grey about ead every siail.

  "Haah... Please stop pulling pranks like these... Yuna almost bsted my room, you know." ［Grey］

  "Oh...? Then I guess I'll have to be careful ime then." ［Helen］

  "ime...?" ［Grey］

  "Ah, right! Breakfast is ready so you e a anytime." ［Helen］

  Grey tried to ask what Hele by her words, but before he could, Helen had already evaded the topic with grace, esg to the kit, leaving a baffled Grey behind.

  Shortly after Grey ehe dining hall and ordered a breakfast for two, Yuna came down dressed in her usual attire. She was also carrying the dress Hele her borrow the day before.

  "Ah, Helen. Here's your dress. Thank you very much for letting me borrow it!" ［Yuna］

  "Oh, that? You keep that, Yuna." ［Helen］

  "N-No, I 't accept something so beautifuー" ［Yuna］

  "No, I insist. I already have a lot of dresses, so giving away one wouldn't matter much. Also, that one doesn't really fit me. It would be better to have a cute girl like Yuna to wear it!" ［Helen］

  "T-Then, thank you!" ［Yuna］

  "No problem." ［Helen］

  Yuna tried to return the dress but she ended up keeping it instead. And while she was basically being given a hand-me-down, she was still happy receiving a gift from someoher than Grey.

  Seeing the se, Grey looked at Helen and Yuna with warm eyes. He was happy that Yuna finally had someone else she could sider as a friend. Because of it, he decided tive Helen for the mischief she caused just a few moments ago.

  After having their breakfast at the inn, the two then headed to the Adventurer's Guild.

  Their purpose was to collect the rewards for their efforts ierminating the Orc Horde two days ago.

  As there were too many variables involved within the Orc Horde Extermination Special Quest, it took the guild quite some time to sort things out and decide hooints should be allocated for the quests.

  Of course, the money earned from all the drops Grey and Yuna brought, as decided before, were to be doo the ravaged vilge. A decision which brought smiles to the faces of not only the vilgers, but to the Guildmaster as well.

  "Oh, Miss Yuna, Mister Grey, you've arrived! We've been waiting for you!" ［Tilda］

  As soon as Grey and Yuered the guild, Tilda immediately spotted and greeted them. And along her lively greeting, the eyes of the adventurers also became affixed to the entrance.

  After the iwo days ago, the adventurers quickly ge their attitude trey and Yuna. If they just looked at them before like pin rookies, now, they were looking at them with both fear and awe.

  Though they looked at the two for a moment, they quickly diverged their eyes away from them ihan a fra of a sed. They could still remember the terrrey brought upowo days ago. Some even had nightmares the night after the i occured.

  "Have you perhaps finished with your assessment?" ［Grey］

  "Yes, and you arrived just in time. After careful sideration, the guild decided to allot 13,730 points to each of your cards. As for the rewards, you will be granted 251,920 kiels." ［Tilda］

  "A-Amazing..." ［Grey］

  "So much money..." ［Yuna］

  To the amount Tilda mentioned, both Yuna and Grey were surprised by how extravagant the rewards were. While it was far away from the value of the drops, it was still an enormous amount for two people.

  "Hahaha, actually, it's quite the opposite. Normally, an A-rank quest would reward an amount of at least a million kiels, but seeing as to how sudden the quest came, it was all the money we could gather. We're really sorry." ［Tilda］

  "Ah, no, no. It's plenty enough already. Isn't that right, Yuna?" ［Grey］

  "U-Un! You could already buy a lot of meat with it!" ［Yuna］

  Although Yuna's answer was a little off, it still served its purpose and viilda that that amount was alright to them. It also made Tilda giggle a little seeing how flustered and cute Yuna's answer was.

  Not to mention, the amount of points was very rge. After all, for oo get promoted to D-rank, they would o gather 2,500 points and then pass the rank-up exam. The points they gathered were more than 5 times that value.

  "Well, now that that's all over, Mister Grey, Miss Yuna, let me be the first to gratute you on your promotion!" ［Tilda］

  With a cheerful smile, Tilda gratuted Grey and Yuna with their sudden promotion, and not only that, she also dropped another bomb.

  "Based on the calcuted amount of points earned. You two have been promoted to k! gratutions!" ［Tilda］

  It wasn't just one rank, they were immediately promoted two ranks higher. An occurrence which rarely happened in the guild.

  But rather than happy, Grey and Yuna became fused at the sudden development. After all, it wasn't only the simultaneous promotion that was off, there were also other factors which did not make sense.

  "Eh!? k!? But shouldn't it supposed to be D-rank first? And what about the rank-up exam?" ［Grey］

  "Well, the Guildmaster said there's no point iing people who defeat an Org easily. And sihe amount of points you've earned reached the threshold for the k examination, the guild thought it would be more effit to promote you two by two ranks at oilda］

  Hearing Tilda's words, Grey was temporarily worried about the Guildmaster's sudden decision, but decided to just let it be. After all, there is probably no one in Galderia who would argue someo the peak of k, especially when that ker was the Guildmaster himself.

  Grey and Yuna then haheir guild cards to Tilda to plete the process of promotion. Shortly after, their cards were given back to them, though it was a little different than before. Their pin white cards were now silver-colored. It was a huge improvement!

  The moment Grey and Yuna saw their cards, excitement couldn't be hidden on their faces. They wereed because it was silver, but rather, because they finally accept quests which are more exg than their usual ones.

  Shortly after receiving their cards back, Grey and Yued the guild, without taking any quests. There was only ohing on their mind. A thing that has been prolonged by 2 days due to the Orc Horde i.

  "Looks like we'll be having our promotion celebration, now." ［Grey］

  "Un! I 't wait to eat the dishes Grey cooks!" ［Yuna］

  "Hahahaha. Then, what manner of dishes would Midy prefer to be served on this joyous occasion?" ［Grey］

  Ag formally once again, Yuna had a giggle from Grey's as. It was an a Grey often performed jokingly to make Yuna smile.

  "Then I'll be having curry and pudding, Sir Grey!" ［Yuna］

  "As you wish, Midy." ［Grey］

  Smiles blooming on their faces, Grey and Yu back to the "Rabbit's Den". Their early return surprised Helen who was doiion work early like a formal dy.

  "Oh?! You two sure are back early. Did something happen?" ［Helen］

  "Well, yeah. By the way, is the kit free right now?" ［Grey］

  Hearing Grey's words, Helen's eyes beamed brightly as she sensed a great opportunity. It was not an opportunity reted to romance, but an opportunity to eat yet another delieal.

  With Grey using the kit from time to time, Helen has of course tasted his cooking. It was a taste which was quite different to his father's cooking, which she quickly fell in love with.

  "Are you perhaps celebrating something?!" ［Helen］

  "Ah, yes..." ［Grey］

  "Un. We just got promoted." ［Yuna］

  "Really?! Then we should really celebrate! Just wait a minute, I'll call my mom and dad!" ［Helen］

  With speeds ued from a normal person, Helen quickly disappeared from Grey and Yuna's sight as she ran away from the receptioowards the kit.

  It made Grey wonder if she was even doing her job properly. After all, there was no o at the reception desk. Even with their capabilities, her Grey and Yuna could do anything if a er were to e in.

  "I heard from Helen that you two got promoted, grats!" ［Gerd］

  "gratutions, Grey, Yuna." ［Selia］

  "Thank you." ［Grey］   "Thanks." ［Yuna］

  As Selia and Gerd exteheir gratutions to Grey and Yuna, Helen was smiling happily at the side. After all, it was basically firmed that she'll be able to eat something delicious.

  "Then, then, Grey! you cook that 'curry' you made for Yuerday? I heard from Yuna that it was delicious!" ［Helen］

  "Hoy, Helen!" ［Gerd］

  "Helen, mind your manners!" ［Selia］

  Quicker than lightning, Gerd and Selia scolded Helen immediately after hearing her boisterous statement, making the tter pout as she mumbles quietly.

  At that moment, Helen looked like a child who just got her toys fiscated because of her misbehavior. It was the first time frey and Yuna seeing Helen wear such a childish expression, and found it quite amusing.

  "Hahaha, It's alright. I nning on cooking it anyways. So, umm... Mister Gerd, could I borrow your kit once again?" ［Grey］

  "Oh, so you're pnning to cook that dish, huh..." ［Gerd］

  Rather than answering Grey, Gerd fell silent for a quient. He was thinking so seriously, it became a little bit w to the others.

  "Alright! Since yoing to cook an amazing dish, how about I'll cook with you. You cook the curry and I'll cook our specialty, the 'Gold-spotted Boar Stew'! What do you think, Grey?" ［Gerd］

  At Gerd's sudden proposal, Grey was quite taken aback for a moment. He hought Gerd would propose su event.

  At the same time, the passion of cooking boiled inside of him with the opportunity to learn a brand new dish. And it wasn't just any dish, it was a dish he could only find in Merusia!

  "Sure!" ［Grey］

  "Hahaha, that's the spirit!" ［Gerd］

  Just like that, a versation about promotion quickly turned into ohat is about cooking. It was a moment where Grey and Gerd's passion as cooks was lit abze as if they were going into battle.

  As for the three dies with them, they just heaved a sigh of relief looking at the two grown adults excited at the thought of cooking. They looked at them as if they were hopeless, but at the same time, warm smiles were blooming in their faces as they shook their heads.

  ime, a cook off between Grey and Gerd!

  CHAPTER 19 END