Streams of cold, crystal-clear water casg down the forest, shining like silver as the gentle sunlight strikes its surface. The stream of silver flowed freely, undisturbed by rocks and logs which had fallen whilst the sound of gushes and spshes echoed about in the air.

  Along the riverbank, two beautiful figures walked silently, only their footsteps to be heard. They were Yuna and Amelia, two peerless beauties who looked like fairies of the forest with the flower-filled background behind them.

  They have walked for a couple minutes already yet they have not arrived at the part of the riverbank Amelia had previously mentioned. Yuna already had her suspis from the beginning, but now, she was certain.

  "Amelia, we aren't going to pick shells, are we?" ［Yuna］

  At Yuna's words, Amelia's footsteps stopped, and so did Yuna's. The red-haired dy then turned around, a worried smile on her face as she looked at Yuna. There was a certain reason why she walked in front. She did not want her friend to see her with su expression on her face.

  "I really 't hide it from you, huh, Yuna..." ［Amelia］

  "Well, it was just strahat there's only shells in one part of the riverbank, plus you also refused inviting the boys. It's quite obvious, you know!" ［Yuna］

  "Fufufu, I see... I'm obvious, huh..." ［Amelia］

  The young dy ughed but there was still the same worried expression on her face. Yuna didn't press her further and asked her to sit uhe shade of a tree nearby instead. It still hasn't started but it already felt like it's going to be a long talk.

  "Yuna, please answer me holy... Do you think I was being too harsh on His Highness?" ［Amelia］

  Such a simple questiohe answer was very hard to find. Ever sihis m, Amelia has been brooding over such a questio she still has no answers. It was also the reason she has been avoiding Julius' eyes as much as possible, not wanting him to see her face.

  The same also went for Yuna. After all, how "harsh" is defined is pletely different from person to person. To some, it might have been a harsh punishment, but it might also be too leo others. It's just how the world works.

  "Hmm... I don't think so. I'm sure you have your own reasons... Well, even if you didn't, I think it's normal for couples to ignore each other if they're mad at their partner or they're in a fight." ［Yuna］

  "I see... It's normal, huh... But Yuna, what if the couple themselves aren't normal? Would it still not be harsh?" ［Amelia］

  It was yet another deep question. After all, Julius and Amelia aren't just people of on standing. They are a prind a duke's daughter, respectively. People whose worlds are pletely different from the on folk.

  They also weren't a couple who got together due to love. Before they were lovers, they were just children who were arranged in a political marriage. While it worked out fine for them, the same couldn't be said for others. One could say that they only became a couple by ce.

  "You weren't truly mad with Julius, were you?" ［Yuna］

  "No, not at all... I just figured it was a good ake him refle his as. After all, he'll be the head of the Redlocke household. I'm afraid he won't be able to take the responsibility with his current character." ［Amelia］

  "Hm? But won't it be fine? After all, His Majesty is also more or less the same, but he's still able to manage his work... Umm... Someroperly... I'm sure it will be okay in the end, right...?" ［Yuna］

  "That... I don't know..." ［Amelia］

  Even with Yuna's reassurance, Amelia's expressions didn't bloom any brighter. There were traces of indescribable ay and fear in her heart. One which bloomed from the uainties of the future, one many people fear.

  Her mother having a weak stitution, Amelia is the only child of the Redlocke Ducal Household. Fortunately enough, the Sed Prince was also born in the same year as her. It was one of the main reasons they were engaged.

  While it wasn't unon for a woman of the house to i the title, since Amelia was eo a prince, Julius would be the oo i it instead. It means that the responsibility of serving the kingdom and managing the Redlocke territory would befall on his shoulders.

  Of course, Amelia would be doing her best to help him out, but in the end, he will bear the heaviest responsibility. With Julius' current personality, the young dy just couldn't help but worry whether her beloved would be able to ha all.

  It might be a farfetched logic, but using the current opportunity, Amelia was hoping to ge Julius' mi into a more thoughtful one. She doesn't want to ge his personality pletely, just improve his good points. Even then, she was worried if she had taken it too far.

  "Yuna, do you think I'm a horrible person?" ［Amelia］

  "Hmm, not at all. You're only doing it for Julius, after all. You wouldn't have do if you didn't care about him. Also... You're w too much!" ［Yuna］

  "Eh?" ［Amelia］

  The worried expression was now gone. All that was left was a dumbfounded one as Amelia tried to process Yuna's sudden outburst. The tter raising her hand and voice suddenly really surprised her.

  "I may not know much about politics, but I know that Lord Alfred could still go on for a decade or two with being Duke! Your father is still strong, so why are you w over such a thing?!" ［Yuna］

  "I know that too, butー" ［Amelia］

  "No buts! You're just w too much about the future! While it isn't necessarily a bad thing, don't focus on it too much! Or you'll lose sight of the present! We should enjoy things while they st!" ［Yuna］

  Yuna's words became an eye-opeo Amelia. She was totally right. Amelia has been thinking too much about their future that she couldn't evehe present with him. She lost sight of what was most important.

  Every single word was on point. After all, Yuna was also speaking from experience. Si's impossible to pletely relive the past, one must enjoy the present and just live in the moment while it still sts, something Yu the hard way three years ago.

  "Also... You should trust Julius a bit more. He may be like that, but I'm sure he also has a lot on his pte. Just like they say, patience is a virtue." ［Yuna］

  "Yuna..." ［Amelia］

  "Well, if waiting doesn't work, you always t on my special teique! Just hug him tightly and ask for a request holy! It always works on Grey!" ［Yuna］

  "Yuna..." ［Amelia］

  Amelia's replies were just the same words, but the tone couldn't be any different. The first one was full of gratitude and admiration, while the sed one was just piy. Amelia couldn't even ugh about it.

  Yuna tinued her tips and tricks all by herself, Amelia's find was finally cleared. She now knows what to do, a certain person appearing on her mind. Her heart now feels lighter than it has ever been.

  "And then, youー" ［Yuna］

  "Fufufufu! Thank you very much, Yuna. I feel much better now. I'm really gd I have a friend like you to rely on." ［Amelia］

  "Un! No problem!" ［Yuna］

  What started with empty, worried faces, ended with bright smiles as beautiful as the flowers blooming in the meadow. The two dies tiheir talk as they headed back to the waterfall ke, a clear objective in their hearts.

  ...

  There was silehe pool was still, calm as the vast blue sky which reigop everything. The only sounds to be heard were the spshing of the waterfall and the rustling on the leaves as they danced along the wind. Such a tranquil sery.

  But even with such tranquil sery, there were evident traces of shock present on Grey's face. Well, who wouldn't be? After all, his friend just said something w before plunging himself towards the water.

  "Haah... That bastard, really..." ［Grey］

  After the shock, Grey's head started ag. If he were to see Julius again, he would surely hit him. No matter how much of a prank it was, joking about such a scary matter is not funny. He will surely have a talk with him. A talk with fist, that is!

  But Grey's emotions started to stir after some time passed. It has been more than two minutes since Julius dove deep to the deep waterfall pool yet he hasn't gotten out yet. He was starting to worry whether Julius really meant what he said.

  "Oi, Julius, this isn't funny anymore." ［Grey］

  Said Grey, but there wasn't a single response. Now, his worries started to grow, but a part of him was still hesitant if ever it was just a prank. It was Julius, after all. No one knows what kinds of thoughts are running in his mind.

  Even if Julius was an E-ranker, a being far more powerful than normal people, he could only surpass his human limits so much. At most, he could only hold his breath for a few minutes, and those few minutes have already passed.

  Wrowing more and more in his heart, Grey utilized his eyes to see what's happening ierfall ke, his heart shakiically as soon as he did. He saw Julius not moving an inch, his body seemingly sinking deeper and deeper with the passing of time.

  "Grey, Julius, we're back～!" ［Yuna］

  And just as his worries were peaking, Yuna and Amelia have also returned from their little walk. Both have brighter expressions, seemingly to have resolved their troubles, the plete opposite of Grey's expression.

  "Yuna, you stand guard for a moment?!" ［Grey］

  "S-Sure...? But... Where's Julius?" ［Yuna］

  "That crazy bastard jumped into the pool a few minutes ago and still hasn't e back up! I'll just go save him for a bit! And take care of Amelia!" ［Grey］

  A certaiion quaked inside of Amelia's heart as Grey's shout echoed in the air. She had returhinking of resolving things with Julius, but the first thing she heard was that Julius is drowning himself. That emotion was fear.

  What followed after the shout sh, but nrey diving into the water. Rather, a certain figure has emerged from the water, grasping his breath. That figure was her than Julius whom everyone was so worried about.

  "Grey, listen! I found somethingー Urkk!!" ［Julius］

  A loud bang echoed as two heads hit one another. A cacophony of spshes then followed soon after as their bodies fell to the water. Grey was just too focused at the moment, he didn't notice Julius ing back up.

  "Agh! That hurts! What was that for?!" ［Julius］

  "I should be asking that! I thought you were going to drown yourself!" ［Grey］

  "Ha?! When did I say I was going to kill myself?!" ［Julius］

  Suspi turo worry, worry turency, and urgency turo anger as soon as Grey saw the bastard prince's face. Just like he promised himself, he hit the tter on the head as punishment for w them.

  "Then why weren't you moving?! I thought you've actually drowned!" ［Grey］

  "I just wao scareー I mean it's because I got a cramp!" ［Julius］

  "Huh?! You just said you wao scare me, didn't you?!" ［Grey］

  "N-No... It's just your imagination..." ［Julius］

  "You motherf*cker...!" ［Grey］

  Trembling in anger, Grey's fist rose out of water, his eyes burning a fierce red color as he clobbered the bastard before him, making spshes echo tinuously. Even for a joke, it was going too far. He o serve a just and fair punishment.

  But their fight wasn't the only one which caused such a spsh. Although, much smaller, small drops hitting the ground by the riverside also did. They were teardrops trig down from Amelia's g face.

  She was very afraid of the thought of losing Julius, and not to mention it was because of her own stubbornness. She was so relieved that tears just came out of her eyes untrolbly like a broken dam, flowing endlessly without any signs of stopping.

  "Aren't you ashamed of yourself?! I wonder what Yuna would say after seeing su unruly side of you!" ［Julius］

  "Ha! I could say the same for you, you bastard! And just so you know, Amelia's already here!!" ［Grey］

  "So what if Ameliaー Eh? Amelia?" ［Julius］

  At the mention of Amelia's name, Julius' head quickly turowards the riverside, seeing two dies standing there silently. One had an exhausted expression on her face, Yuna, while the other was g in silence, Amelia.

  Julius' face turned pale as a sheet of paper as soon as he saw Amelia's faot only his, Grey's also did. They both just realized how childish they were being when the dies were watg them. And on top of that, one of them was g.

  "A-A-Amelia, a-are you alright?! Wh-Why are you cryー" ［Julius］

  "You idiot...!" ［Amelia］

  An ued and undylike response. Everyone was extremely shocked when such a of words came out of Amelia's mouth. The very prim and proper Amelia saying such a crude statement, of course anyone would be shocked. It was just too out of character.

  "I was... Hic... so worried...! You... Hic... You idiot! Dummy! Hic... Stupid!" ［Amelia］

  A stream of insults came from Amelia's mouth flowing as vividly as the streak of tears flowing down her face. She beat Julius' chest with her delicate fists again and again but the prince did not fight back. He received all of Amelia's pent up emotions.

  Such a se tinued and the tranquility of the pce has returo its flrey and Yuna only stayed on the sidelines, watg over the two and having their own time for themselves, Yuna leaning on Grey's shoulder.

  "I... I'm sorry for showing you su unsightly appearance, Y-Yhness! I-I promise it won't happen again!" ［Amelia］

  Now that her g is over, Amelia's face has turned red from both embarrassment and g too much. Just like before, she couldn't face Julius straight in the eyes, only that the reason was pletely different.

  Julius, oher hand, he didn't really mind Amelia g on his chest. Rather, she was quite happy since he felt much closer to her now. He never khe feeling of being relied on by someone he loves would be so deep and joyful.

  "No, it's alright... Amelia's still cute even when she's g, so it's alright." ［Julius］

  "C-Cute?!" ［Amelia］

  And now, they were flirting. Amelia's face was getting red for a whole nother reason, her face feeling hot and feverish and her heart beating wildly. Even Grey and Yu sed-hand embarrassment with them flirting out in the open.

  "Ahem! Julius, weren't you saying you found something earlier?" ［Grey］

  "A-Ah, yeah!" ［Julius］

  It was only when Grey faked a cough that the sweet atmosphere betweewo was brokees breaking the mood between them, but he has no choice. The situation wouldn't progress otherwise.

  "So, what was it?" ［Grey］

  "Actually, I don't know what exactly it is either... I just saw something dimly glowing in an uer cave..." ［Julius］

  "A dim glow...?" ［Grey］

  "Agh! I think it's better to just show you!" ［Julius］

  Question marks filling Grey's head, Julius suddenly grabbed his hand and dragged him towards the waters. They both dove deep below the blue pool, leaving the girls behind to manage for themselves.

  Just like Julius had mentiohere really was a dim glow near a small uer cave. It was a glow so dim, it would be impossible to detect from the surface, one which could only be seen by observant eyes. Even Grey didn't see it since he was too focused on Julius before.

  Thankfully, even though the cave was small, it was still spacious enough frey and Julius to pass through without much trouble. And as luck would have it, there was also an air pocket on the cave, allowing them to breathe fortably.

  "Hooh,.. That was quite the swim... wasn't... it..." ［Julius］

  His voice decreasing in volume with each passing sed, Julius became pletely speechless as he took in the beauty. Not only Julius, Grey was also in a simir state, no, he was even more astouhan the former.

  Beautiful blue crystals embedded on the cave walls, glowing ever shtly as soon as Grey and Yuna rose from the water. They were crystals so pretty one would never fet their shi was a very mystical se.

  "Grey, isn't this..." ［Julius］

  "Yeah, that's right... We hit a jackpot...!" ［Grey］

  There weren't any words o be said. With his eyes, Grey knew full well what the pce was. No, even without it, the crystals alone were already enough proof. They have e across a wonderful treasure which would be beneficial for everyone.

  firming Julius' finds, the two of them then headed back to the surface where the girls were waiting. It only took less than a minute and they have once again tasted the fresh air from the surface, refreshing as one be.

  "Oh, Grey, you.. re... back.." ［Yuna］

  "Ah! Yh... ness..." ［Amelia］

  Both frozen and speechless, Yuna and Amelia were. They were too caught up with their emotions before that they hadn't really paid much attention to it, but their men were still half-heir top bodies exposed. Now that they were scious of it, they couldn't help but turn red.

  Their well-built and chiseled figures, extremely attractive faces, sharp-glowing eyes, and fair plexion, there wasn't much to nitpick. And topping it off with their wet look as they rose from the water, it was a deadly bination. Their hearts fluttered like crazy as they looked at their men.

  Yuna has seen Grey fresh out of the bath many times, but for some reason, now, he looked more seductive in her eyes. It was even worse for Amelia who've only seen that side of Julius for the first time. She was barely holding on from fainting.

  "Is something wrong, Amelia?" ［Julius］

  "Yuna, too. You look feverish." ［Grey］

  "A-Ah, n-no, nothing at all! Right, Amelia?" ［Yuna］

  "Y-Yes! We're both fit as fiddles!" ［Amelia］

  The men couldn't be any more puzzled with the girl's reas who wouldn't look straight at them. They tried to think for a short while, deg to give up soon as nothing really came to their minds.

  "Right, Grey, Julius, how was it? Did you find anything?" ［Yuna］

  "Hahaha! Not only did we find something, it was something great as well! I'm sure you'll both be surprised!" ［Julius］

  "Something great...?" ［Amelia］

  "Haha, I think it's better if you just see it for yourselves." ［Grey］

  Borrowing Julius' words, Grey ended his statement with a bright, mysterious smile on his face. Julius also didn't expin any further, just wearing the same bright smile as he folded his shoulders. Now, it was the girls who were puzzled.

  Enting their gears and equipment with water-repelling properties, the group then jumped towards the water, heading the same path Grey and Julius did previously and seeing a cave opening not too long after.

  Oer another, everyone rose from the water, Yuna and Amelia being the st ones. Not a si of their clothing nor their hair was yet. It was only to be expected from Grey's skills as a Tier-7 enter.

  "Amazing... I really am pletely dry..." ［Amelia］

  "Fufufu, it's Grey after all!" ［Yuna］

  Even when she was not the one praised, Yuna was the one who was the happiest. Having Grey praised made her proud as his girlfriend, even posing triumphantly, puffing her chest proudly as she decred such words.

  "Amelia, Yuna, what do you think?" ［Julius］

  "Hm? What do we think of whaー" ［Yuna］

  Her words left unfinished, Yuna's eyes were filled with surprise as she followed Julius' voice. A familiar sight greeted her, one which she had seen tless times over back wheill lived in the forest and when she challehe Labyrinth of Death with Grey.

  Amelia was also the same. She might not have experiehe same experiences as Yuna did, there was no way she would mistake such beautiful crystals which she had seen tless times in books and paintings.

  "Grey, this is...!" ［Yuna］

  "Hahaha, that's right... It's a dungeon!" ［Grey］

  A loud decration echoed in the sealed caves, the waves of lights glowing ever shtly. A rush of excitement and amazement surging in the deepest depths of their hearts, their adventurer blood boiling inside of them! It was exhirating!

  CHAPTER 172 END