The st of leaves and flowers filled the air, colors dull and vibrant could be found everywhere, and the chirping of the birds echoed across the forest as they flew and danced freely in the vast sky, nding from branch to branch to rest and pick fruits with their little beaks.

  The m was still young and as the sun climbed the sky, its gentle and warm light showered the forests, mountains, and rivers in its grasp, prompting them to wake and greet a new day, a peaceful day.

  Surrounded by the lush and dense forest, a figure stood still as he moved his hands bad forth, chopping dowables a with every stroke of his k was her than Grey who reparing breakfast.

  It was a strange sight. Despite being in the middle of nowhere, there was a stove, a rge table, and even ao be seen. It was as if there was just a magical kit which popped out in the middle of nowhere. Truly a sight to behold.

  "Hmm... Needs little more salt..." ［Grey］

  Mumbled Grey as he had a taste of the stew he was cooking. It was a fairly simple one, only made of a couple vegetables and some small pieeat, diced up into biteable pieces. Even then, it was a delicious one on top of being filling.

  It was not the only thing Grey cooked. He had already prepared a couple more dishes for a varied and banced meal. There were pork chops, omelettes, vegetable sad. grilled fish, and some vegetable soup. Of course, Grey didn't fet to prepare rice, several rge bowls at that.

  It has been a few days since Grey and Yued from Torvis, and after hours upon hours of flight, they have finally arrived at the forest where Aria's home vilge was located.

  Since Aria's dires entailed ndmarks which are covered by the forest's opy and could only seen on the ground, the two had no choice but to keep walking from the forest's entran out,

  "Mnm. That's good." ［Grey］

  Letting the stew simmer and cook, Grey headed back to the tent to wake up a sleeping angel. It was her than Yuna who was still sound asleep, her hair messy as one be yet managing to still look adorable in Grey's eyes.

  Despite being boyfriend and girlfriend, Grey couldn't help but feel from time to time that he and Yuna are more like parent and child. Just him waking her up in the m made him remember his school days when his own mother would always wake him up.

  "Rise and shine, sleepyhead." ［Grey］

  Gently, Grey patred Yuna's shoulders to wake the tter up, but her only response was to grumble a little before wearing again a peaceful look on her face. It was then that Grey once again firmed they really looked like parent and child.

  Grey tried to wake Yuna again and again but each time was a failure. Yuna was just too deep in her sleep and the reason was her than Grey himself. And it's not because of their nightly activities, not at all. It was because of somethiirely else.

  Using her favor, Yuna asked Grey to teach her more about enting. And being the spartan teacher that he was, Grey worked Yuna to the boil she got everything correct. Yuna, who was just a Tier-3 enter a few days ago, is now at Tier-4. heless, it was very tiring.

  Thinking bace again about what happened during the past few days, Grey felt a little guilty about overw his girlfriend. He swore to make it up to her by cooking her delieals and spoiling her rotten. Now, he really felt like a doting father rather than a devoted boyfriend.

  "Haah... It's hopeless. She just won't wakeー" ［Grey］

  Just when Grey was about to give up, a devious idea entered his mind. It was a on se which he saw many times over the fairy tale movies he watched when he was just a child. After all, there was only one way to wake up a sleeping princess.

  "Here goes nothing." ［Grey］

  Preparing himself for what reckless and silly idea he was about to do, Grey positioned himself beside Yuna. He thely caressed Yuna's cheeks as with his eyes closed, he linked his lips to hers.

  vely, at the very moment Grey sealed Yuna's lips with his, gentle skylight seeped ihe tent, illuminating the two of them. It was just like a se out of a fairytale. A true love's kiss to wake up the sleeping princess.

  "Mnmhh..." ［Yuna］

  Uedly, Grey's silly idea actually had an effect. For the first time after several tries, Yuna's face twitched a little. A few moments ter, she opened her eyes slowly, blinking a couple of times while staring off into nothingness.

  "I guess a true love's kiss really does work, huh..." ［Grey］

  "Mm? Grey...? A true love's huh...? Whaa...?" ［Yuna］

  "It's nothing. Good m, princess." ［Grey］

  "Mnm... M..." ［Yuna］

  Like a little kitten, Yuna rubbed her eyes with a closed fist. She was still groggy and her eyes were barely open. Of course, it went without saying that her bed head was all over the pce. It was just as messy as a bird's .

  "Breakfast's almost ready, e out when you're readyー" ［Grey］

  Grey was about head out of the tent but out of nowhere, Yuna's hands tugged on his coat. She was still sleepy yet she stared at Grey with eyes full of expectations, tugging his coat again and agaihough she already had the former's attention.

  "Hm? What is it?" ［Grey］

  "One more..." ［Yuna］

  "One more...?" ［Grey］

  "A kiss... I want another one..." ［Yuna］

  Yuna's mumbling was silent and bare audible but Grey could still make out her words from it. Especially when it was coupled with her face with was starting to color with a rosy tint. She may be sleepy, but she still knows when to be flustered.

  As frey, he was just a little baffled. Not because he got found out, but because he didn't know Yuna could be so cute. As one could tell, he was a plete sucker when it came to the young dy in front of him, just another fool in love.

  "Haha, I got found out, huh..." ［Grey］

  Or so Grey said, but he wasn't in any way in opposition to Yuna's request. Rather, he was happy to grant it. His day had just started yet the st in the air was already filled with sweetness and sappiness.

  After giving Yuna another kiss, Grey finally exited the tent and headed back to what he was cooking. Just in time, the stew had just cooked, an aromatid appetizing st wafting through the air. With it, their steamy and delieal was now ready.

  With Yuna washing her fad preparing herself for the day, Grey prepared the table and the ptes for breakfast's use. In just a jiffy, a dining table decorated with a variety of dishes was pleted. All that was left to do was dig in and enjoy a happy meal together.

  "Yuna, breakfast's ready." ［Grey］

  "Un! In a sed!" ［Yuna］

  A few moments ter, Yuna, fresh out of the bath and hair just barely dry, approached the dining table. She was now in her adventurer clothes, ready to head out into the wilderness once breakfast was over.

  Not waiting for any invitatirey, she took her seat and eyed the meal served before her. Her eyes were sparkliedly, apanied by a bright smile. She has yet to take a bite but her eyes were already full.

  ""Thank you for the meal!"" ［Grey and Yuna］

  Their prayers echoed across the peaceful forest as Grey and Yuna took a bite of their breakfast. It didn't take long for smiles to bloom like the flowers in spring, enjoying what time they have together and sharing ughter with one another.

  But such happiness didn't st long. For one reason or another, Yuna's hands suddenly stopped moving and a frowning expression formed on her face. Grey couldn't help but worry, seeing as to how she was frowning in front of food. It was just too out of character.

  "Hm? What's wrong, Yuna? Is the food not to your liking?" ［Grey］

  "Ah, no! Not at all! It's just... How do I put this...? I just realized, but this whole time... You've been babying me a lot, aren't you?" ［Yuna］

  Silehere was only sileer Yuna said her piece. Grey was more than shocked to learn that she had just realized he oiling her rotten. He just couldn't prehend what was going on inside his beloved's mind.

  Judging from Yuna's responses whenever she says she didn't want to be treated like a child, Grey had selfishly assumed she was fully aware of what was going on. Never in his wildest imagination did he ever think she was pletely oblivious to his extreme doting. It was somewhat uling.

  In Yuna's defense, she just thought it was a normal thing for couples to do. Even when Grey was doting ooo much, she wasn't too bothered by it and rather liked it. It never came off to her that she was being too gy and needy.

  "I mean... Waking me up, cooking breakfast, snack times, and baking me sweets every time I asked of you... I feel like I'm being more and more depe on you as time passes..." ［Yuna］

  "Hm? Isn't that alright? I quite like doting on you anyways, I see no problem with it. We don't have to force ourselves to ge, you know?" ［Grey］

  "That's... Mmngh... That's right. I know that, but still... I also want to do something for you. I also want to spoil you..." ［Yuna］

  While Grey was immehankful about Yuna's thoughts, something about the way Yuna put it felt wrong to him. Rather than the one being doted on, he would like to be the one who is doing the doting.

  "And that's why! Tomorrow, I'll be the one cooking breakfast!" ［Yuna］

  A proud decrati throughout the forest as Yuna puffed her chest, apanied with a ched fist. Her eyes were full of determination and resolve that Grey already knew she wouldn't back down even if he tries to vince her.

  Well, Grey could only heave a brief sigh as a gentle smile appeared on his fao matter what side of Yuna it was, he always finds beauty in them. He knew full well he was in love with every part of her.

  "Alright, alright, I'll leave tomorrow's breakfast in your hands, but before that, why don't we finish our meal first. It's going to get cold if you don't finish it." ［Grey］

  "A-Ah! Un!" ［Yuna］

  Realizing Grey's point, Yuna then quickly sat back down on her seat. Their breakfast tinued and smiles were afloat on their faces once again. The sound of ughter has never been so clear and calming.

  Having fiheir breakfast, it was Grey's turn to prepare himself. After taking a quick dip ih, he wore his signature advetire, equipped his armament ring, and ed up after their campsite.

  "Alright, let's go!" ［Grey］

  "Un!" ［Yuna］

  Aria's dires at hand, Grey and Yu forth o another adventure. Qui their feet, they treaded the dense forest whilst looki and right for the ndmarks which were listed on the map and notes.

  The first ndmark was a massive set boulder standing out like a sore thumb in the green forest. was a waterfall whose waters were and blue. Then there was a rge patch of daisies spreading far and wide.

  Landmark after ndmark, Grey and Yuna's journey tinued smoothly. There were a group of monsters from time to time but they weren't strong enough to serve as an obstacle to them. If anything, they only served as exercise for the both of them. A way to stretch their bodies a little bit.

  Their journey only stopped when noon came. Of course, it was time for their lunmence, and with Yuna's insistence, she prepared it herself, only asking frey's help for taste testing aing the table.

  Needless to say, it was a wonderful meal yet again. Grey was especially full of appetite si was Yuna who cooked the whole meal. There was not even a single speck of food leftover to be seen. The ptes were ed empty.

  After lunch, their journey tinued once again. They were already hallway towards the vilge and with a couple more hours of traveling, they would be able to reach civilization. They won't o camp for the night anymore.

  "Puwah～! That was delicious!" ［Yuna］

  Currently, Grey and Yuna were by a river, one of the ndmarks mentioned on Aria's hey were taking a break by the riverside while drinking some water to refresh themselves aing a couple sweets while they were at it.

  "By the way, Grey, how far are we from Miss Aria's home vilge?" ［Yuna］

  "Hmm... If I'm n, we should only be a little over a dozen kilometers away from Malus vilge. As long as nothing major happens, we should be able to reach there in about an hour." ［Grey］

  "An hour, huh... I wonder how their vilge looks like..." ［Yuna］

  Yuna mumbled lowly as she passed back the water jug to Grey. Thinking of a vilge, she couldn't help herself but be reminded of her own. But there was no loneliness in her eyes, oement as she looked forward to the new experiences.

  Rustle Rustle Rustle

  The sound of leaves rustling and thrashing echoed in the air. It was not one because of the wind, but rather, because of a creature roaming about, fing around the bushes in search of food to eat.

  As it was near where Grey and Yuna were, it was only natural that they heard of such a noise as well. But pared to normal people who would usually be alert at such situations, the two were as calm as one be.

  "Grey, is it a monster?" ［Yuna］

  "No, just some wild boar... Oh, it's a bristleback pygmy boar as well. I hear it's quite rare to find," ［Grey］

  "Really?! Are they delicious?!" ［Yuna］

  A peculiar question popped up in Yuna's mind as soon as she heard the word "rare". She was so excited that she mao voice out her question at the very same time she thought of it, leaving Grey a little baffled.

  At the same time, the boar also mao get out of the bushes. It looked left and right cautiously, spotting Grey and Yuna just a few meters from it. It still has yet to know, but now, its fate was going to be determined by Grey's answer.

  "Well... I heard they are quite the delicacy. If cooked properly, their meat bees super tender and juiot to mention the innate sweetness of its meat because of its diet. People would kill to have their hands on them." ［Grey］

  Doom. Its fate has been decided. As soon as the boar saw Yuna slowly turn her head towards it with her eyes sparkling brightly, even brighter than the sun, and a smile appearing on her fa top of that, it felt shivers run down its spine.

  While men and other people might find Yuna's smiling fa angelie, in the eyes of the little boar, it was anything but that. All it could see was a starving and drooling predator, ready to pou any given moment.

  As fast as it could, the small boar ran away from Grey and Yuna, fear engraved deeply is heart. It ran as if its life depended on it, that's because it really does. As soon as it gets caught, it would be nothing more than a fresh lump of delicious and juicy meat.

  "Grey, I'm going hunting for a little bit, okay? I'll be back shortly!" ［Yuna］

  "Y-Yeah..." ［Grey］

  Unfortunately for it, Yuna didn't just let it do as it pleased. She might look carefree and cheerful as she chased after it, but she has already locked her focus on it. It was only a matter of time before the bot captured. There was no esg.

  'Sorry, little piggy. Looks like you'll be for dionight.' ［Grey］

  Apologized Grey deep in his heart. While it was not in his slightest iion t harm towards it, unfortunately, it turned out the way it did. On the bright side, they'll be having a delicious dihere was still something to look forward to.

  Buhiikkkkk

  It didn't take long before the boar's scream echoed all over the vast forest. Despite its small size, it made quite the loud scream. One could only imagihe fear it felt as it saw its life fsh before it.

  Kururuuukkkkkk

  Strangely enough, after the boar's demise, another scream echoed throughout the forest. It was much more high-pitched and also sounded like a bird being strangled. Grey's fusion was only answered

  When Yuurned, one could notice her holding some peculiar things on both of her hands. On the left, there was the boar she just chased, and on the right air of turkeys, toig out, obviously dead already.

  Despite Yuna having an angelic face, holding three dead animals with her hands only made her look a terrifying, cold-blooded hunter. It was even more terrifying when Yuna was wearing a bright smile on her face.

  "Umm... Turkeys...?" ［Grey］

  Grey was so surprised he could only utter such simple words. While he really does love Yuna and thinks of her as the most beautiful and adorable dy there is, no matter whigle he looked at it, he couldn't think the same at the current situation. It was a first.

  "I caught them while chasing the boar! I'm pretty good, aren't I?" ［Yuna］

  "Yeah... It's quite impressive..." ［Grey］

  "Grey, I'm pretty good, aren't I?!" ［Yuna］

  Yued her questions, now with even more expet eyes. It took Grey a hot moment to realize her i, but when he did, he extended his arms towards her and patted her head gently, making the former's smile bloom even brighter.

  "Yeah, you're amazing." ［Grey］

  "Ehehe!" ［Yuna］

  Yuna's demands were simple. She only wao be praised by the man she loved. Now, Grey's perception of Yuna's ess has returned, even strohan before. He really was a fool for his beloved.

  Sihe animals were just killed, Grey and Yuna took their sweet time to carefully dismahem. They got quite the generous amount of meat which was usually hard to get. It was a good haul.

  "Phew... We're finishedー" ［Grey］

  Rustle Rustle Rustle

  Oh, how pyful fate was. Just whehought everything was done and finished, yet another bristleback pygmy boar decided to appear in front of them, in the same bush and the same manner no less.

  The little boar, with eyes i as those of young children, looked at Grey and Yuna peacefully and curiously. There was no caution in its eyes. A massive failure for surviving in the harsh and unfair reality.

  "Yuna, waitー" ［Grey］

  It was already too te. Grey's words didn't even reach Yuna. The very moment, she was already out of his sight and was in front of the i little boar. Yet another life was finished by the hands of the simirly i Yuna. What a great tragedy it was.

  "Grey, I caught another one!" ［Yuna］

  With much glee on her face, Yuuro Grey whilst dragging along the little boar she just finished off. While Grey felt pity for the boar, he couldn't really find fault in Yuher. At the very least, their stoeat has increased yet again.

  'Haah... What am I gonna do with this girl...' ［Grey］

  Grey sighed inwardly as he once again patted Yuna's head, praising her while his mind was in another ptirely. He started to sider whether he was being too soft to her, only to deny it not long after.

  The journey tinuedー or so it should have, but from time to time, they have been stopping and turning around in different dires. The reason was her than Yuna, with encement from Grey.

  For reasons unknown, every time she finds something iing, she always goes out of her way to get them. When she found fruits, she fed them, when there were tasty animals, she huhem, and when there were herbs, she collected them. She was like aed child colleg everything she finds iing.

  Of course, it went without saying that their jourook a long turn. A couple of hours have already passed yet they still have to arrive at their destination. The two of them were a lost cause.

  If it weren't frey reminding Yuna about camping the night out once again, they would have tie until night. While Yuna loves fing and the likes, her dislike for camping is eveer. Grey was successful in luring her.

  Following Aria's dire once again, Grey and Yuna tiraveli, passing rivers and boulders along the way. Their steps only slowed down when Grey detected something with his "Heaven's Eye".

  "Looks like we're here..." ［Grey］

  Putting away the leaves blog their sight, a marvelous sery weled them. While it was already evening, they could still see fine and clearly as the dark forest was illuminated by nterns.

  Just across the little water stream before them was a number of houses, all made of wood and stoanding out like a sore thumb in the middle of the forest, and filled with elves roaming about and living their daily lives,

  "Amazing..." ［Yuna］

  It was just like a se out of the fairy tales Grey had read about. Out of everything he saw, the one before him screamed fantasy the most. An elven vilge hidden deep within the opies and lushness of the forest. They have arrived.

  CHAPTER 137 END