It was an unfamiliar pce. The trees, the flowers, the is buzzing about, and even the critters slithering and crawling on the forest ground. While there were many familiar creatures, there were also a great abundance of novel ohey really were in a new pce.

  The group was now past the border of the Kingdom of Alfrione and the Empire of Valliarta, and so far, it has been a very smooth journey. When the su on the horizon, they found a nearby forest aired there for the day, setting down their camps aing themselves.

  "Ugh... My back hurts..." ［Julius］

  Said Julius, greeting the m by stretg his arms towards the sky, the sound of bones crag eg all over the forest as he twisted his body left and right. His whole body was stiff and needed some stretg.

  "Oh, m, Yhness. Seems like you had a rough night" ［Grey］

  "Shut up... I'm just not used to camping outside. You should have told me beforehand. I could have prepared then." ［Julius］

  "How is that my fault? Weren't you the one who said you were also an adventurer? You should know the knowhow of traveling. All faults' on you. Even Amelia prepared a fortable sleeping bag beforehand." ［Grey］

  "That's right... But... Ugh... Dammit..." ［Julius］

  s could e up in his mind. No matter how he looked at it, all of Grey's points were right on the mark. He was just too pt about traveling that he didn't think of the many situations he could enter.

  Being a member of the Royal Family, Julius has never camped outside before. They have always rented out high-css inns or asked the nobles in the area for residence for the night. It has always been like that.

  Well, Amelia was also the same. The only difference was that she was much more responsible aiculous than Julius. The very moment she got Grey and Yuna's invitation, she quickly prepared her things, a plete opposite of her fiancé.

  "By the way, where are the girls? I don't see them anywhere..." ［Julius］

  Asked Julius, turning his head around in search for the two dies, but no matter how hard he looked, he found no ohere was only Grey in front of him, chopping and preparing things for breakfast. He was once again the cook for the journey.

  "Hmm, that... They just went a little distance away. They are currently taking a bath so why don't you help me out with choppiables." ［Grey］

  "Well, that's fine, but... I don't know much about cooking..." ［Julius］

  "I know. That's why I'm going to teach you how. It'll be useful when you go on travels in your adventures." ［Grey］

  Said Grey but there aren't any words of gratitude ing from Julius. He only looked at him with doubtful eyes, eyes which would make one want to punch the one who owns them. Such was the eyes he was wearing.

  "Did you eat something strange? Why are you being so o me?" ［Julius］

  "Oi, are y to pick a fight? Just say it if you want a spar. And just as you know, I won't be holding back just because you're a prince." ［Grey］

  "Grey, you're saying scary things. Don't try to kill me when I haven't even graduated. And thanks for the offer, I'll be taking it." ［Julius］

  "You should have said that sooner." ［Grey］

  It only took a couple exges for Julius to realize that Grey was still his usual self, still as disrespectful and crude when talking towards him. Though it really was w how easily he could spout threats to him, a royal, as if it was just as natural as breathing.

  But well, it was also the Grey he knew well. Not like he treats him aer. They were peas of the same pods who mao get along well even with their rough nature towards one another. Well, it's just men being men.

  "Then, I'll be in your care again, Instructor." ［Julius］

  "Sure. Then how about you start peeling the carrots, my dear student." ［Grey］

  Julius gracefully accepted the knife Grey had given him and started peeling the carrotsー or so it should have been. But rather than doing that, he only stared at the carrot for the seds to e, not doing a sihing.

  His mind was now in the depths of the void. The more he stared at the carrot, the fu looked to him. He was now in an unknown realm, his mind dysfuning at the mere sight of a harmless carrot. Not to mention he was the oh the knife.

  "Hey, why aren't your hands moving?" ［Grey］

  "Umm, Instructor... How do you peel a carrot?" ［Julius］

  Frozen, speechless, and dumbfounded. Grey experienced such wild emotions at the same time as he heard Julius' words. He was even worse than Iris, who just learnt by copying what she saw. Now, Julius looked like a numbnut in front of Grey.

  "Haah... So we're starting from there, huh... Use this then. I'll teach you ter when we have more free time." ［Grey］

  "A peeler? You had a peeler this eime yet you're making me use a knife?! What kind of instructor are you?!" ［Julius］

  "Shut up. It's because adventurers usually only bring ko lessen the luggage. You should know how to make use of the things you have." ［Grey］

  "Well, I guess you're right. But Grey, how do you use a peeler?" ［Julius］

  That was the st straw. Grey finally s Julius as soon as he heard those words. Since he knew what a peeler was, he expected the tter would at least know how to use it, but as expected of a spoiled prince, he doesn't know a sihing about housework. It was amazing in a way.

  His eyes bzing with annoyance, Grey beat his knowledge towards Julius, literally. He didn't stop until the tter uood how to use the simple peeler even kids know how to use. He has entered spartan teacher mode again.

  Carrots, potatoes, onions, garlics, and a sizable number of greens. Grey taught the prince how to feel, chop, and prepare the different ingredients found only in a kit. Julius was able to learn, all the while hearing endless scoldings from him.

  "ht, Grey. I have a question." ［Julius］

  "Hm? What is it?" ［Grey］

  "The girls are bathing right nht?" ［Julius］

  "Yeah, what of it?" ［Grey］

  "I'm just asking out of curiosity, but... You haven't tried to peek at Yuna before, haven't you?" ［Julius］

  Cough Cough Cough

  Grey choked miserably on the soup he was tasting as soon as Julius spoke suonsense. He khat Julius was still in puberty, but he never expected that he would ask such a sensitive and crude question out of the blue.

  Sure, he has experiealking about it ba his teenage years with his friends in his previous life, but he was already ast such talks. Not to mention that Yuna would definitely kill him out of embarrassment. It was a dangerous topiatter where one would look at it.

  "Wh-What are you talking about?!" ［Grey］

  "Well, you and Yuna are living together, right? I figured such thoughts must have crossed your mind at least once, hasn't it?" ［Julius］

  Iy, there was o. Grey has already seen what there is to be seen, but there's o say sueedless information. He just wao punch Julius for how idiotic he is, bringing up such a topic out in the open.

  "You... You're just projeg yourself to me, aren't you? You just wao peek at Amelia. Don't drag me to your nonsense!" ［Grey］

  "Huh?! Don't try ag i! I know you've had such thoughts at least once. You're a man as well!" ［Julius］

  "What does it have to do with my manliness?! I'm not a pervert like you!" ［Grey］

  "Ha?! Who are you calling a pervert?!" ［Julius］

  "Who else do you think?!" ［Grey］

  "Why you...!" ［Julius］

  Just like cats and dogs who don't get along, Grey and Julius were engaged i anument. There isn't a day where they don't and it has bee a part of their daily lives. Most of all, all the reasons are as dumb as one be.

  The two were so engaged in their little quarrel that they didn't realize two figures had already appeared behind them, once again. Two figures who were just fresh out of the bath, hearing everything the two idiots quarreled about. Their faces were red from both embarrassment and anger.

  They only stood still, tinuing to listen to the two men until they noticedー or so was the pn, but the more they stayed, the more vulgar the topics became until it became unbearable. It was then that Amelia decided to tap Julius' left shoulder.

  "Oh, Amelia, you're back. Just wait a moment, I still have something to talk about with Greyー Eh? Amelia...?" ［Julius］

  It was only then that the men finally stopped. Their faces were now pale white, like that of a sheet of paper, as they saw the terrifying smiles on Yuna and Amelia's faces. They felt unimaginable fear they have never felt before.

  Even though Yuna and Amelia were only wearing towels around their bodies, they didn't feel even a little bit happy ed. Rather, they only felt chills running down their spines as they instinctively shrank away from their beloved.

  "Yhness, why have you stopped? It was such a fresh and iing topic. Please tinue." ［Amelia］

  "That's right, Grey. Why don't you share with us what you were talking about? We were the topics, after all." ［Yuna］

  her Grey nor Julius could utter a single word of retort. Sihe girls have heard everything, it was impossible to lie and justify their as. All they could do was listen to a loure, once again. Yuna and Amelia have lost t how many times they've done such things.

  After the loure, they then had breakfast together. It was very silent, or rather, the dies just ighe men who tried to talk to them. It was so depressing, Julius and Grey couldn't taste a little bit of the food. All were as bnd as water.

  The time for flight has once again arrived, but the silent atmosphere remained. It was to the point they were now riding three familiars, rather than two. Sirius carried both Amelia and Yuna while Grey and Julius rode opus aaurus, respectively.

  "Amelia, are you still mad?" ［Julius］

  "I don't know what you're talking about, Yhness. I'm not mad, no, not at all. In fact, I'm feeling great." ［Amelia］

  "Then why won't you look at me?" ［Julius］

  "I'm not sure I uand what you're talking about." ［Amelia］

  Several hours have passed sihey have been scolded, but Amelia's anger has yet to subside. All this time, she has been avoiding Julius' eyes. Though it is now better since she is responding pared to before.

  As frey, he wasn't worried too much about Yuna. Other than the fact that they have been together for three years already, they have also gotten into a number of disagreements. Not to mention how head over heels they are for one another. Such a trivial matter wouldn't strain their retionship.

  Time passed some more and the sun had almost climbed its peak. It was almost time for lunch. Still, Julius kept getting the fold treatment from his fiancée. Amelia only smiled when talking about with Yuna, still nor looking at Julius.

  "Oh?" ［Grey］

  Meanwhile, Grey didn't pay much attention to the three. His eyes were now focused over the horizons, watg a certain area sparse of trees, a winding river streaming by the side. It was still several kilometers away but Grey could already tell it was a wonderful pce.

  "Yuna, would you like to have a piic for lunch?" ［Grey］

  "Hm? Why so sudden?" ［Yuna］

  "Nothing much. I just found a nice pce." ［Grey］

  A smile on his face, Grey asked the familiars to head to the dire he was gng at. It didn't even take more than a couple minutes. With their incredible speeds, they quickly arrived at the pce Grey asked them to.

  Crystal-clear waters from the mountain, creating a cascade of waterfalls, making a deep blue pool, a beautiful river splitting off from it. Uhe noon sky, the pool shimmered like jewels, a ke of diamonds, a natural treasure.

  But that was not all. Apart from such beautiful bodies of water, there was also areasure at the river bays. Large flower fields extended left and right, only a couple rge trees to be seen, providing shade in the open meadows.

  Daisies red as rubies, lilies white as snow, tulips blue as the o, and daffodils as beautiful as the amber sky. Their sweet sts create a harmonious fragran the air. If there was a word perfect to describe the pce, it was the word "paradise".

  "Waah～! So pretty! There's a waterfall, too!" ［Yuna］

  "Hahaha, I'm gd you liked it." ［Grey］

  If there were people on par with the harmony of the paradise, they were her than Grey and Yuna who were now heading towards the waterfall ke first, dazzling smiles blooming on their faces.

  "Here, Amelia, take my hand." ［Julius］

  "I appreciate the offer, Yhness, but I take care of myself." ［Amelia］

  Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said towards Julius and Amelia. Julius tried to offer his help for Amelia to get down, but she immediately rejected it, jumping down by herself without anybody's help. She was still mad at Julius.

  Grey and Yuna could only watch the two with dry expressions. They want to help them make up, but si wasn't their owionship, they could help from the sidelines. Interfering too much was out of the question.

  "Yuna, should we help them out?" ［Grey］

  "I think we should... I'm also worried about them..." ［Yuna］

  "Hahaha, let's cook lunch together, then. The four of us." ［Grey］

  "Un!" ［Yuna］

  Well, there are still many gray spaces about "Interfering too much". As long as they don't force the other party and do things recklessly, everything would be alright. The best they could do rovide a ce for them to get along.

  A simple pn in mind, Grey and Yuna headed back to the open meadow, searched for a nicely-shaded area and took out everything whieeded to be taken out. In just a couple of minutes, a whole open-style kit repared, a perfect pce to bond over cooking.

  "Amelia, let's cook together, okay?" ［Yuna］

  "Y-Yes...?" ［Amelia］

  "Julius, don't you dare fet what I taught you this m." ［Grey］

  "Roger that, Instructor." ［Julius］

  And with a little bit of talking, they ma over the two. An awkward, or rather, a silent atmosphere enveloped the open kit as soon as everyone was gathered. It wasn't as good as Grey and Yuna thought, but it was a good start.

  Chop Chop Chop

  Soon enough, the sound of chopping and boiling echoed throughout the meadows. It was an odd bination with the natural sound of flowing waters, buzzing bees, and rustling leaves, yet it was strangely calming.

  Well, it would have been calming if it wasn't for the strange and temosphere between Julius and Amelia. Even Grey and Yuna found it hard to talk with each other. While Amelia was a kind girl, she was scary when she's mad. Even Yuna, a fellow woman, was ed about her.

  "Ah! Amelia, be careful with that." ［Julius］

  "There's o yourself with such matters, Yhness. I might not look it, but I manage fairly well i." ［Amelia］

  "Th-Then, is there anything you need any help with?" ［Julius］

  "No, I appreciate your help, but I do fine by myself. Why don't you help Grey? I think that would be more productive." ［Amelia］

  Julius tried again and again but he was shot dowime. And with each failed attempt, his heart was crushed more and more until there was nothio crush. Defeated, he headed trey's dire, remaining in silence.

  Cooking lunch tinued in such a way, an unbearable atmosphere frey and Yuna. What they thought was a good idea was the worst they had thought of. The silence tinued until they eheir lunch.

  Sandwiches, fried chi, beef steak, skewers, curry, sagna, pudding, ice cream, and a lot of dishes were dispyed atop the piiket. And apanied by the beauty of the pce, it was the perfect piic, a on-a-lifetime experience.

  "Grey, more sagna please～!" ［Yuna］

  "Huh? Didn't you just ask for some not long ago?" ［Grey］

  "But it's delicious!" ［Yuna］

  "Haah... Alright, alright, just make sure you dooo quickly." ［Grey］

  Light and happy. Such was the atmosphere between Grey and Yuna. If it wasn't for the fact that there were other people present, they would have spoon fed each other already. They were the type of couple singles would really hate looking at.

  "Here, Amelia, have a taste of this." ［Julius］

  "I've already tasted that, Yhness. I'm sorry, but I have to dee." ［Amelia］

  "Th-Then how about this?" ［Julius］

  "I apologize, but I'm already full. Maybe ime." ［Amelia］

  But such light and happiness didn't grace the other side of the piiket. Rather, it was very dark and gloomy, like that of a cave hidden from the sun for millennia. Tears were already starting to form in the er of Julius' eyes.

  Even Grey who doesn't usually sympathize with Julius couldn't help but pity him. He was just happy Yuna wasn't as moody as Amelia and hoped she wouldn't ever be. He could only imagine what kind of hell would await him if Yuo start ign him all of a sudden.

  Lunch had already finished but there was still nress in Amelia and Julius's reciliation. After they fihey quickly ed up after themselves and rexed for a bit, doing their own businesses and enjoying their free time.

  The Labyrinth of Fmes' opening was close, but it was still two weeks away. It was the reason why they could afford to dilly-dally. Still, they wao arrive before the Labyrinth opened so that they could enjoy what the Empire has to offer.

  "Yuna, I found some beautiful shells just by the riverbank. Would you care joining me? I would like to collect them for Princess Natalia." ［Amelia］

  "Ah! The's ihe others too! Grey, Juliusー" ［Yuna］

  "No, I'd like to go with Yuna alone. Let's have some dies' time together." ［Amelia］

  Julius' expressihtened up when Yuna helped him out, but his heart quickly sank back to the deepest depths of despair as soon as Amelia followed up. Tears flowed on his face just like the waterfall before him.

  "That's it! Grey, let's go swimming!" ［Julius］

  "Hey, where are ying me?!" ［Grey］

  "Shut up and follow me! If you're a real man, just strip your coat and shirt, then jump into the water!" ［Julius］

  "Oi! That's unreasonable!" ［Grey］

  Desperate to escape the reality of his broke, Julius also went on his own escapade, dragging Grey along him. Every time a drop of tear fell to the ground, heavy footsteps followed soon after. He was so pitiful, Grey just decided to silently follow him, also ed what he would do if he was alone.

  Yuna, I'm just gonna apany Julius for a little bit. I'm worried what he'll do if he's alone. ［Grey］

  Un. I'll also go with Amelia. Let's do our best! ［Yuna］

  Yeah, see you ter. ［Grey］

  And so, the split operation was started. As Yuna followed Amelia's lead, Grey also headed up the waterfalls with Julius. They then stripped themselves of their top clothes, only leaving behind their trousers and revealing their well-built bodies.

  One cadet in the Royal Academy and also a well-trained prince, while the other was an adventurer prodigy who made a name for himself in just a couple of weeks. Any normal woman would drool over their bodies. Well, it would be like that if one of them wasn't g.

  Atop the waterfall, the beauty of the pce was even more pronounced. Everything looked so small yet it was still so humbling. A wonderful spectrum of colors basked in the sunlight would fill one's eyes a full. It really aradise.

  "Ah, what a beautiful sight..." ［Julius］

  Julius said with an unfouranquility in his eyes. At that moment, he looked so wise, his heart and mind oh nature. It was w how tranquil and peaceful his expression looked. It was very out of character of him.

  "I've always been iowns and cities. If I had known forests would be this beautiful, I would have bee an adventurer long ago. Who knew such treasure-like pces existed in the world..." ［Julius］

  After his one lihe mencholic prihen started monologuing, spouting such wise-sounding words which were actually full of nonsense, just said in a poetic way. Now, Grey was even more worried about him.

  "And on that note... Grey, it was good knowing you." ［Julius］

  "Huh? Bastard, what are you talking aboutー" ［Grey］

  Grey couldn't even finish his words when Julius suddenly did the unthinkable. His arms wide open, his back fag the open air, and a mencholic smile on his face as he looked at Grey, he let himself fall towards the deep pool below.

  SPLAASSSHHHH

  A loud spsh echoed in the air as Julius plunged deep towards, ripples of water spreading far and wide throughout the waterfall ke. Then, there was silence, a silence which sted a long, long time. The waters were at peace.

  CHAPTER 171 END