The m sun has climbed the sky once again and the darkness of the night has perished. It was a new day and with it, the familiar hustling and bustling melody of the city had started to py once again, orchestrated by the first bell.

  If oo rank the busiest parts of the city, it would be the market, the pza, the main streets, and the areas around the five guilds. Of course, with the mention of guilds, the Adventurers' Guild would surely e to mind as adventurers fight over the quests they wao take.

  With the guild's first e, first serve basis, the early m is one of their busiest times. Even a single minute is precious so that one could take their quests. Being te meant they could lose their getting a good quest. Diligence was a matter of success, failure, and profits.

  "Larren, Nonna, good to see you hear." ［Grey］

  "Ah, Yuna, Grey... Good m..." ［Nonna］

  "Yo, m!" ［Larren］

  Of course, Larren and Nonna aren't an exception to such a situation. Especially sihey have only been adventurers for less than a year. Especially after climbing up to G-rank, the petition over quests only became fiercer.

  It has been a few days since Grey and Yuuro Galderia, and with their insane clearing speed, all the high-ranking quests of D-rank and above have been taken care of. Now, their spare time could be enjoyed more leisurely.

  It was also the reason why they could e in te and take any quests they wanted. It didn't matter to them what kind of quest it was or how much the rewards are. As long as they're enjoyable, they'll take it.

  "Looking for a quest?" ［Grey］

  "Ah, yes, but you see... Only a handful is remaining." ［Nonna］

  Unfortunately for Larren and Nonna, the petition today was much fiercer than usual. Evehe two of them arrived early, the other adventurers still mao take the good ones with high rewards, only leaving behind the troublesome ones.

  The only ones which remained on the quest boards are escort quests whieeded many adventurers, herb gathering quests which required knowledge on herbs, and subjugatios which tairoublesome ehere wasn't much of a choice left for them.

  Amongst the quests, there was one Larren and Nonna were particurly ied in. Unfortunately, they don't meet the requirements required to take the said quest. It has quite the hefty reward, too. It was truly unfortunate.

  "Hmm... Larren, Nonna, do you want to take this quest?" ［Yuna］

  "Yes, but sadly, it needs four people to participate..." ［Nonna］

  "Then, should we help you?" ［Yuna］

  "Eh?" ［Nonna］

  It wasn't just Nonna, Larren was also bewildered by Yuna's suggestion. The quest was only a G-rank one and figures who are sidered heroes are their help in such a trivial matter. It was an overkill. Everyone would be puzzled.

  "Wait, wait, wait! Yuna, is it really alright with you? The rewards aren't that high, you know? Only a couple bronze s!" ［Larren］

  "Th-That's right. Plus, is it really alright for heroes such as yourselves to take this quest? I-It's only G-rank." ［Nonna］

  "Fufufu, what does this have to do with our status? It seems enjoyable, so we want to take it. Right, Grey?" ［Yuna］

  "Yeah, it's fih me too. We're doh our quests anyways." ［Grey］

  There wasn't much of an obje when it came to Grey's part sihey have only been taking mostly subjugatios. While they have taken escort quests before, it was only a handful. It would be a nice ge of pace

  "See? Grey also agrees. Also, isn't it natural for friends to help out one another? Just think of it that way." ［Yuna］

  Ending her words with a sweet smile, Yuna quickly captured Nonna and Larren's hearts. Whe it that way, they couldn't argue much with her. A warm feeling of gratitude was blooming in their hearts. A feeling of happiness.

  "So, what do you think, Larren, Nonna?" ［Yuna］

  "Fufufu, could we even dee when you say it like that? We'll be in your care once again, Grey, Yuna." ［Nonna］

  "We owe you another one." ［Larren］

  "Great! It's settled then!" ［Yuna］

  Things were quickly settled. The four of them then took the request paper from the request boards and headed towards the reception desks where they lined up to process the four-man escort quest.

  It was worth mentioning that Grey and Yuna used their alternate guild cards to take the current quest. While there would be no problems using their main guild cards, it would be troublesome to deal with the ts if they kheir identities. It would take out the fun of adventuring.

  "Waah～! Yuna with bck hair and violet eyes!" ［Nonna］

  "Does it look weird?" ［Yuna］

  "No, never! In fact, you look very pretty! It suits you!" ［Nonna］

  "Fufufu, thank you." ［Yuna］

  Grey also casted his illusion magic to wear their disguises, and when he did, Yuna and Nonna were fretting over Yuna's new look where her eye and hair colors were switched with Grey. No matter which world one is in, girls would always go crazy over beauty and fashion.

  "Grey, it looks good on you. Especially with silverー" ［Larren］

  "Thanks for the pliment, but please stop. It feels creepy." ［Grey］

  "Yeah, I thought so, too... Sorry..." ［Larren］

  "No worries..." ［Grey］

  Meanwhile, the boys were just shrouded in an awkward atmosphere. While it would make one happy being plimented, if it was done as sophisticatedly as girls do, it was to be expected that men would feel strange.

  After wearing their disguises, the four of them the ahead and headed to where the t was. It was just he gates where dozens of carriages and hundreds of people were lining up. It was a long and busy liretg dozens of meters.

  Heading out of the gates, there were a number of carriages lining up by the sides, waiting for their escorts and preparing their products and wares. It was like a caravan of merts heading out to the world to sell what they provide.

  What Grey and others were looking for was a small carriage which carries vegetables and spices. The t was a stubby, bearded middle-aged man named Jeroz, a nickel rank mert heading to the Gallen Vilge.

  "Excuse me, are you perhaps Mister Jeroz?" ［Grey］

  Fortunately, despite the number of small wooden carriages being siderable, there were only a few carryiables and spices. And taking the t's description into at, their target was narrowed down to ohe man was currently taking iory of the goods in his carriage

  "Ohohoho, yes, yes, that's me, alright. I'm assuming you!42 the escorts from the Adventurers' Guild, am I right?" ［Jeroz］

  "Yes, that's right. We're your escorts to the Gallen Vilge." ［Grey］

  "Ohoho, just in time! you help me load these boxes here? This old man's back is starting to ache, you see." ［Jeroz］

  "Sure, no problem." ［Grey］

  Without further ado, Grey and the others helped out Jeroz in loading the said boxes and crates to the carriage. They were tainers which were full of vegetables and spices like the others, some even taining fruits like apples and es.

  There wasn't much effort needed. With Grey and Yuna's strength whieeded a man or two to carry was just doh a single hand. It was as if they were just carryiy boxes and crates.

  "Ohoho, thank you very much! Are you ready to depart? Ohoho!" ［Jeroz］

  His face full of glee, the carriage wheels started to move and the jourarted. With a single whip from Jeroz, the horses neighed as they pulled the carriages towards the highway, accelerating faster and faster until it reached a stable speed.

  pared to the carriages of nobles and royalties, the simple carriage was much shakier and unfortable to one's bottoms. It was also the reason why Grey and Yuna avoided such quests. Still, they couldn't help but look forward to the quest ahead of them.

  The journey tinued smoothly without much trouble. And it was thanks to Larren, Nonna, and the very friendly Jeroz that the journey was enjoyable despite the shaky and unfortable nature of the ride.

  "Ohohoho, and then what happened isー Hiyaa!" ［Jeroz］

  Well, everything was smooth until they were hallway towards the vilge. Seeing danger, Jeroz immediately stopped the carriage and the others raised their guards. Thankfully, the ones eared before them weren't bandits.

  Grrrrrrr

  A pack of starving wolves appeared on the highway. Eyes were bloodshot and pierg, their bodies thihan one would expect, drooling aggressively as they watched the carriage like predators eyeing their prey.

  It was an unpreted situation sihe highway was mostly safe, but there was no need for panic. The wolves weren't beasts nor monsters, but just simple animals who couldn't even go against G-rankers. They were simple enemies.

  While it leaves a bad taste in their mouths to kill animals which are just hunting for food, there was nothing they could do. If they just fehem off ahem there, others could fall victim to their hunts. There was no choice but to take them down.

  "Mister Jeroz, leave this to us." ［Grey］

  "Nonna, don't leave the carriage, okay? Just shoot from afar." ［Larren］

  "Yes! I'll guard Mister Jeroz." ［Nonna］

  It was an easy to make lineup. Grey and Larren were up front, Yuna guarded the rear, and Nonna stayed behind with Jeroz. Since she was a mage, she was much weaker thahers physically. It was better for her to stay behind and cast spells from a safe distance.

  Grarrrr

  Just as the three went down the carriage, the wolves quickly pouowards them, opening their mouths and baring their fangs towards them. There was no ounce of hesitation as starvation took trol of their as.

  Whimper

  But there was o fear them. Oer anrey released a punch towards the poung wolves, ending their lives in a sirike. He limited his bat power to match his guild card but it was still enough to kill them.

  Yuna, despite being alone in the rear, didn't have much of a difficulty. Just like Grey, it only takes her a sirike to finish off the wolves, making their head fly off in the air as she brandishes her daggers, dang as if she was in the middle of a ball.

  "Haap!" ［Larren］

  Larren didn't fall behind the two either. Despite being much weaker, he wielded his swracefully, striking the wolves' heads, necks, and joints, aiming for their vital spots and their weaknesses. He may be slower thawo, but he also took down wolves oer another.

  Grrrarrrrr

  Slipping from the forest nearby, another pack of hungry wolves attacked, attracted by the sounds and smell of blood. They were just as reckless as the previous pack, poung towards them without any pns.

  ??Fireball!?? ［Nonna］

  A wolf tried to poun Larren from behind, but before it could, a ball of fmes came striking its torso, bsting it a distance away and charring its whole body bck. The wolf's life escaped its eyes as the fmes devoured it whole.

  It wasn't the st oher. After that fireball, a couple more balls of crimson fme came flying towards the pack of wolves, burning them down without mercy. It was a rain of fire which spelt doom towards those which received its wrath.

  "Haah... Looks like I'll have to get a little serious." ［Grey］

  ented Grey as he looked at the number of enemies increasing. He didn't know what was happening in the forest, but there were a lot of starving wolves in the forest. It was a little w but there wasn't much he could do with it.

  "May you rest in peace. ??Wind Cutter??!" ［Grey］

  A burst of wind gathered on Grey's palm and as he brandished his hand, a bde of wind came flying towards the wolves, sharp as one be as it lopped off several heads in an instant. The sound of dying whelps and cries resounding in the air.

  ??Mantis Cross!?? ［Yuna］

  The same went for Yuna as an X-shaped bde of mana came rushing through the enemies' ranks. The bdes passed through them like that of a hot kting easily through butter, not slowing down as it ended lives oer another, spttering blood all over the pce.

  A rain of fire, bdes of mana, and dauntingly heavy strikes. Such attacks relentlessly rained down on the enemies, whittling down their numbers over time. Jeroz could only wat amazement as he observed an amazi by such youths.

  ??Heavy Ssh!?? ［Larren］

  A heavy strike came from above and strue of the wolves' heads, splitting it open without merd grag the nd with fresh blood. With it, the battle has ended with Grey and the others rising victorious.

  "Is everyone alright? Any injuries." ［Grey］

  "I'm fine!" ［Yuna］

  "Other than a light scratch, I'm good too!" ［Larren］

  No sustained any injuries or the likes. If there was a single problem, it would be that blood is scattered all over the pce. Of course, in such a fierd bloody battle, Grey, Larren, and Nonna were also stained with blood.

  But there wasn't ao worry over such a trivial matter. With just a little bit of fire, water, and wind magic, the stains were easily removed as if they weren't eveo begin with. Grey and Yuna were already masters in such crafts.

  "How about you, Mister Jeroz, Nonna. Are you both alright?" ［Grey］

  "Ohohoho, what's there to worry about when I have such capable escorts. I feel at ease traveling with you. Ohohoho!" ［Jeroz］

  "I'm also fine, just... Haah... a little exhausted." ［Nonna］

  Of course, if everyone in the frontline was fine, Nonna and Jeroz who were in the carriage were even more fine. Aside from Nonna suffering a little bit of rapid mana exhaustion, everything was fine and dandy.

  As for the corpses of the wolves, it was decided to just burn them. While they could be a valuable soureat, sihe wolves were starving, there was o risk it a ill due to unwanted pathogens. It was best to buro not attray more starving animals.

  The only materials which were salvaged were the wolf pelts, fangs, and cws which could be sold for a little bit of sum. It may not be much, but with the hey defeated, they could earn a couple hundred kiels to add to their earnings.

  Only resting for a little bit, the ride then tinued on and the sun tinued climbing higher in the sky. They only stopped oo have lunch where Grey and Yuna once again showcased their cooking skills. Everyone loved the food they cooked, eating them with bliss traced on their faces.

  After eight long hours of journeying and chatting, their destination was finally in sight. Over the horizon, a vilge could be seen, appearing bigger and bigger as they drew closer. A few more mier, they finally arrived and the vilge gates opeo wele them.

  "Mister Jeroz, you're here! I see you've brought some wonderful products againー Oh, are those mangoes I see?" ［Chief］

  "Ohohoho, that's right. They're mangoes, alright! The sweetest and tastiest of their kind, your favorite, Chief." ［Jeroz］

  "Hahaha, you really do know me well, Jeroz!" ［Chief］

  The vilge Chief was the one who weled them warmly. Just like Jeroz, he was a friendly man who ughed a lot. Judging from how he is with the former, it was easy to see that they've known each other for quite a long time.

  In just a quient, they totally fot there were still others hem. It was as if they were there in their own world as they discussed the deals and bargained with one another, mostly focussing on the mahe Chief loved so much.

  "Oh, dear me! How could I fet!" ［Jeroz］

  It was only when Jeroz saw the four in the er of his eyes that he realized the escort quest was still not finished. It had totally slipped his mind that he still o sign the quest papers for the tract to be fulfilled between t and adventurers.

  "Here you go... Your rewards are already in the guild. It was a good experience meeting you all. Ohohoho!" ［Jeroz］

  "Thank you, Mister Jeroz." ［Grey］

  "Ohohoho, I should be the ohanking you youngsters. Because of you, I've had an amazing journey. I hope we meet again someday." ［Jeroz］

  Jeroz's signature marked and ready on the quest papers, the quest was finally finished. All that was left to do was head back to the city, process the quest, and receive the rewards for their efforts.

  Sihe escort quest was only a one-way one, Grey and the others didn't o wait for Jeroz to finish his business in the Gallen Vilge. They just head ba their orocess the quest as they like.

  "Then, Grey, Yuna, sihe reward is 600 kiels, we'll be splitting it even, 150 kiels each. As for the wolf materials, we'll have to waitー" ［Larren］

  "Ah, about that, there's o split the rewards. You also keep the money from the wolves we defeated." ［Grey］

  "N-No, we 't do that! We 't just accept it!" ［Nonna］

  "Th-That's right, this amount of money is too much! We 't just shamelessly take money from other people! Especially our friends!" ［Larren］

  Grey tried to hand over the whole reward to the two. He already expected they'll disagree to some extent, but he never imagihey would do so sly. Just like how Grey's "eyes" judged them, they really were good people.

  "Haah... Really, you should just accept it when we're giving it to you. It's exactly because we're friends that we're giving them to you." ［Grey］

  "Un, that's right. There's o feel so ied. If you want to repay us, a pork skewer or two would be nice." ［Yuna］

  "Oi, Yuna. Yluttonous side is showing again..." ［Grey］

  "Who's a glutton?! I'm just saying it to fort them!" ［Yuna］

  The warm atmosphere quickly turned into a edie as Grey and Yuna bantered over a trivial matter. Well, rather than bantering, it was more like Grey oking fun at Yuna once again, enjoying her cute reas.

  It hasn't been long sihe two of them knew Grey and Yuna but they couldn't t how many times they've been ied to them already. They couldn't be any mrateful to be friends with them.

  "Grey, Yuna, thank you..." ［Nonna］

  It was only a silent mumble, but it resounded loud and clear inside Grey and Yuna's ears, a smile f on their lips as they loomed at the two. It was then that they realized how good it was to have friends once again.

  "By the way... Larren, Nonna, are you going back to Galderia today?" ［Yuna］

  "Hmm... That would be hard. Even if we depart right now, by the time we arrive, it will already be te at night..." ［Nonna］

  "Yeah, it's a bother, but we'll have to spend the night here in the vilge. It would be dangerous if we get attacked by hungry wolves at night, after all." ［Larren］

  "I see... That does make sense..." ［Yuna］

  It roblem her Grey and Yuna could rete to. Sihey were High-rankers, they could just cruise through their quest areas and back to the city in just a matter of minutes. It was also the reason why they could take so many quests and plete them in a short amount of time.

  After which, the four of them then walked around the vilge to find an inn to stay at. They explored quite a bit and saw a lot of beautiful series as they did so, also seeing the children py around with smiles on their faces.

  "Yeah, and thenー" ［Grey］

  In the middle of their versation, Grey suddenly cut off his words and halted his steps. He looked at the sight in front of him, speechless and frozen, traces of shod surprise on his face with a hint of happiness aement surging in his heart.

  "Grey, is something wrong?" ［Yuna］

  Asked Yuna, but no answer came from Grey. He just tiaring at the ndscape with his eyes unwavering. The more he looked at it, the more excited his heart became to the point a smile started showing on his face.

  A rge river cruising along the fertile wetnds, the water overflowing and creating rge, shallow marshes with tall grasses growihily everywhere. It wasn't just a beautiful ndscape. It was one which could make dreams e true.

  CHAPTER 158