Click Cck Creak

  A series of sounds echoed oer another, apanied by the opening of the doors. A beautiful sery oher side if the window was revealed soon after, the m sunlight seeping through and illuminating the rge corridors.

  Two figures came out of the door, light and fortable garments c their bodies. They were, of course, Grey and Yuna who just got ged after having a fantastic breakfast along with the Marquess and Maress.

  With the arrival of a new m, it was finally time to fulfill yesterday's promise. It was time to head out and explore the town. And as Lista ort town until the ohey've been to before, the couldn't couldn't help but get excited about what kind of things they'll get to see.

  "Hmm... I wonder if they have sea cucumbers at the market..." ［Yuna］

  "They probably do, it's a port town, after all. But didn't you say you wanted us to catch them ourselves?" ［Grey］

  "I did... But just in case we don't get any, I was thinking we should just buy them at the market. It'll be easier that way." ［Yuna］

  "I suppose you're right..." ［Grey］

  And tinuing their versatioerday, the two were once again talking about the sea cucumbers from before. It was a new ingredient, after all. Both as cooks and gourmets, it was only natural that they think about such things. It wasn't because they were gluttons, not at all.

  They were hoping to eat some at the diable yesterday, but unfortunately, they didn't get the ce to. It was either the people didn't know how to cook them or that nobles just didhem. They'll never know the answer.

  "Well, enough about that. Let's just enjoy ourselves for the day, shall we?" ［Grey］

  "Fufufu! You're right. I guess I was thinking too hard about it." ［Yuna］

  "Then, shall we, Midy?" ［Grey］

  "Yes. I'll be in your care once again, Sir Grey." ［Yuna］

  Pyful ale smiles on their faces, Grey and Yuna soon headed out of the mansion and into the bustling town. They had just stepped outside and they could already feel the liveliness of the town, feeling the gentle breeze from the sea.

  "Please enjoy your day out, Yhnesses."

  "We will, thank you." ［Grey］

  Like birds in the sky, with wings born to fly freely, as soon as Grey and Yuna were out if the mansion, their feet didn't sit still for a single moment, heading towards where their feet led them to, smiling happily as they satisfied their curiosity,

  And like they had expected, Lista really was different from other towns and cities they had been to. No matter where one would look, they would see a couple fishing rods as hanging out of the resident's homes, oars and barrels dispyed with them.

  Not just the houses, but the streets themselves were quite different. It was much wider to aodate the rge number of wagons carrying seafood and merdise from the port and there was a lot more variety iores by the main streets, showing off the different products from the sea routes.

  Of course, the number of seafood stores and such were astounding. Be it left ht, their eyes could spot a seafood store in every blod every few dozen steps, filled with hungry fishermen and citizens going about their daily lives.

  "Waah～! It's so different～! It's like we're in another world!" ［Yuna］

  "I knht? This is also my first time expl a port town. I didn't know it would be this lively..." ［Grey］

  "Right～?! It really is different than when we were riding a carriage yesterday. I like it more this way." ［Yuna］

  Exging ents, Grey and Yuna tinued walking aimlessly, heads turni a and pointing here and there. They were just like excited children on a long-awaited school trip, curious as one be.

  It has been some time since people greeted them here and there as they walked dowreets and it really was refreshing. Not having people reize them made them feel a lot more free, skipping around town as they explored even the most hidden of nooks and ies.

  "Grey! Here! Look! There's so many octopuses!" ［Yuna］

  "Grey! There's a rge ship at the port!" ［Yuna］

  "Grey! What is that thing?!" ［Yuna］

  Like a parrot repeating her words again and again, Yuna called out Grey's name again and again, pointing at a lot of things and making various expressions as they tiheir little stroll around town.

  Snap Snap Snap

  Of course, Grey didn't miss the d snapped as many photos as he could, hundreds upon hundreds of photos taken, all taining a preemory of the both of them. Times filled with smiles and happiness.

  More than an hour had passed and after several twists and turns, Grey and Yuna have explored many parts of town. Even then, surprisingly, they haven't stepped foot into the town's market yet. They were a little surprised by it, actually.

  Of course, they could just ask around or follow the wagons from the port, but the two were already set out in just heading where their feet take them. They weren't in a hurry anyway. It was still best to explore town with a fresh mind, like adventurers heading out into the unknown.

  "Hmn?" ［Yuna］

  "Is there somethingー Oh..." ［Grey］

  But of course, it didn't matter which town it was, there would always be a single building present everywhere. Standing in front of them was a rge establishment they knew all too well. It was the Adventurers' Guild!

  "Grey! Let's head inside!" ［Yuna］

  "Huh? But we're expl tht now. Taking quests isー" ［Grey］

  "No! Not like that! I'm just curious what kind of quests are avaible here in Lista. I'm sure they're different from Galderia!" ［Yuna］

  What's more eic than a hyperactive person, one might ask? It is aid curious person, and that's exactly what Yuna is right now. Just a single g her sparkling eyes and Grey could tell she isn't taking "no" for an answer.

  Well, it's not like Grey doesn't uand Yuna's curiosity. As an adventurer, and of high rank at that, he was also quite curious what kinds of quests are avaible on Lista and how different they are from the ones in ndlocked territories.

  'Hmm... I wonder if there are alsoー Wait!' ［Grey］

  It was like lightning struck his mind, hoping for novel quests along the lines of Kraken subjugation, fighting pirates, or catg rare sea ingredients which would be plenty iing. He was even more hopeless than Yuna. Like boyfriend, like girlfriend.

  "You're right. I'm also curious." ［Grey］

  "Yaay～! Let's go!" ［Yuna］

  Excited and curious, the two ehe guild oer another. And just like the previous ohey've been in, there was quite a number of people inside, each looking a little different from the other and equipped with all sorts of equipment,

  Even then, no matter how different they were, they all did something in on. They were all looking at Grey and Yuna with puzzled eyes, question marks floating above their minds, some even tilting their heads.

  "Grey... They're all looking at us... Did they find out who we are?" ［Yuna］

  "That shouldn't be possible. After all, I don't reize any of them, and we're also wearing different clothes than usualー Ah..." ［Grey］

  Well, it wasn't long befrey and Yuna realized the reason. It wasn't because they were reized nor because of their outstandiy or anything of the sort. It was for a very silly reason... Their clothes...

  Their light vacation attires were simply just too out of pce. Heck, Yuna was even wearing sandals and a sunhat, whilst Grey was wearing one of his typical date attires. People just couldn't help but stare with fusion in their eyes.

  After all, the guild is a pce where people make and take quests from, quests which could range from light to life-threatening. Wearing such garments in such a pce was only bound to make them stand out like a sore thumb. It was a first in Lista's guild, and quite possibly the st.

  "Hmm... Should we ge clothes and e back ter?" ［Yuna］

  "Nah... That's too troublesome. Let's just not mind them and look at the quest boards for now. I'm sure it'll return to normal sooner or ter." ［Grey］

  "I suppose you're right..." ［Yuna］

  Oh well, Grey and Yuna are already used to situations where all eyes were ohey simply ignored all the stares and headed straight towards the quest boards, and the puzzled eyes also followed them. It really was strange, after all.

  Fishing, repelling annoying aquatic beasts, escort quests, herd colle, and a lot mrey and Yuna looked left and right throughout all the quest boards and they were able to get a grasp of what kind of quests were avaible in Lista.

  "Mmn... Grey, this is..." ［Yuna］

  "Yeah... It's a little... It's far from what I expected..." ［Grey］

  Unfortunately, no matter how much Grey and Yuna searched, all the quests were the same in esseheir excitement was quickly dampened, disappoi soon took its p their hearts as their faces frowned a little.

  "It's just about the same, isn't it? It's a little disappointing..." ［Yuna］

  "You're right. But on the bright side, we experiehe sea in more ways with this. Isn't that something?" ［Grey］

  "I guess you're right..." ［Yuna］

  Well, it's not like it was entirely hopeless. Even if the essence is the same, it's still going to be a new experience for the two. They were somewhat looking forward to taking and pleting them during their stay.

  "Then, shall we head baow?" ［Grey］

  "U's tinue exploー" ［Yuna］

  "Heeelp! Anyone, Heeelp!"

  A very familiar situation. Befrey and Yuna could even turn around and leave, a loud and panic-stri scream echoed throughout the whole guild, shog every adventurer and staff iheir minds filled with fusion.

  The screaming man's face ale, out of breath, and drenched in his ow. All it takes is a single go tell that the man used his all just to reach the guild. With his outfit, he seemed to be a fisherman, and with such people yelling out the words "help", it could only mean trouble at the sea.

  The guild staff quickly brought water to the man and quickly aided him, letting him catch his breath. It reminded Grey and Yuna of the Orc Horde Subjugation. Their wishes for excitement were answered in a way they didn't expect.

  "Have you calmed down now, Mister." ［Staff］

  "A-Ah, yesー No, wait! I-Is the Vice Guildmaster around?! We he Vice Guildmaster! He's the only one who help us!" ［Fisherman］

  "M-Mister, please calm down! We 't just send out anyone from the guild without knowing the situation." ［Staff］

  "The port! Sea Serpents are rampagihe ports!" ［Fisherman］

  At the Fisherman's words, the guild was quickly plunged into chaos, panic striking the hearts of every staff and advehe once peaceful guild which was just puzzled at Grey and Yuna's strafits was now a turbulent pce, loud and indiscriminate noises brewing everywhere.

  After all, Sea Serpents aren't just normal animals. They are water-attribute beasts and D-rank at that. They are creatures which usually dwell deep uhe seas and are one of the fears of the fishermen as they go about their daily lives in the sea.

  pared to the Lista's guild whily had a couple D-rankers and a couple dozen E-rankers, a bunch of Sea Serpents is very powerful, especially when they dwell in the sea, their domain. They are huge threats.

  "The Vice Guildmaster! Please call the Vice Guildmater!" ［Fisherman］

  "Sorry... He's currently not around... A-Ah! But he should be bay minute now! Please rest assuredー" ［Staff］

  "Screw that! My colleagues could lose their lives any moment!" ［Fisherman］

  With more seds passing, the guild only became more chaotic. But that chaos was just what Grey and Yuna needed. Before anyone could even notice, they quickly slipped away and headed out of the guild.

  "Sorry, Yuna, but it seems like our little date will have to wait." ［Grey］

  "Fufufu! It's okay. I could also use a little stretg... Ah! But we'll have to explore lots of pces after this, okay?" ［Yuna］

  "Sure. Anything for Midy." ［Grey］

  Of course, their destination was her than the port they just walked by a few minutes ago. Thanks to Yuna's "Nihility", they were able to bolt through the whole distahout aig, just like phantoms streaking through the night.

  In just a couple seds, the few hundred meters of distance was quickly closed by Grey and Yuna, the open and peaceful sea weling themー Well, it would have been peaceful if it weren't for the bunch of swimming strings wiggling and causing chaos all over the pce.

  Fortunately, the Sea Serpents haven't reached the ports yet and no ship nor civilian has been harmed. Evehe tension was high in the air as the fishermen and the soldiers waited for them with their bdes and shields.

  "Looks like there's only about a dozen of them... It should be easy to take care of them in a fsh." ［Grey］

  "Hmm... Grey... I have a question." ［Yuna］

  "What is it? Is something the matter?" ［Grey］

  "These Sea Serpents... Do you know what they taste like? I've never had them before so I'm just a little curious." ［Yuna］

  Well, what was more amazing than the se before them was Yuna's boundless appetite. Even with such a dire situation at hand, all she could think of was food, eyeing the Sea Serpents with great curiosity. She really hasn't ged a little bit.

  "Then, how about we find out ter. I also haven't cooked using them as ingredients so I'm also curious." ［Grey］

  "U's do that!" ［Yuna］

  Well, it's not like Grey was aer than her. As the one who made Yuna the way she is right now, his appetite and curiosity was also unmatched. In fact, recipes are already spinning around his mind, anticipating what Sea Serpe would taste like with redients.

  The chaos tinued and the Sea Serpents drew closer and closer. A couple more seds ter and the hungry couple was finally at the edge of the ports. And as one would expect, vacation clothes really didn't suit the situation. Truly strange.

  "Let's get started, shall weー" ［Grey］

  Crackle Crackle BOOOOOMMMM

  Grey couldn't even finish his words. Before they even noticed, the surrounding mana was sent into turmoil and the very moment, a rge bolt of lightning came down from the clear, blue sky, sending shockwaves as the waves roared violently.

  The blue light faded and as soon as it did, a swift blur passed through the crowd of soldiers and fishermen. Only two pairs of eyes could follow the blur and what they saw was a familiar figure bolting atop the waters.

  "Wait, Grey, isn't that..." ［Yuna］

  "Yeah, it's him, alright. I never knew we'd meet again like this..." ［Grey］

  Though they only met him once back when they were participating in the Labyrinth of Death, he was an especially hard tet character with his outgoing character and eyes which seemed to always be close. It was...

  "I-It's Lord Jiro! Lord Jiro has arrived!"

  "Hooray! We're saved!"

  "Thank goodness! Looks like we get to live another day!"

  ... The Silent Thunder's party leader and the man who is always the source of envy for many male adventurers. It was Jiro, one of the few High-Rankers who participated in the Labyrinth of Death several months back.

  As soon as he arrived, the atmosphere over the pce quickly ged. The once depressed and gloomy people were now celebrating merrily at the sight of Jiro. It was as if everything assing lie. The tension was no more.

  "To think that I'll receive such a warm wele... I'm touched..." ［Jiro］

  Uttering suonsense, Jiro tireaking down the blue sea, usiricity as footing and dashing straight towards the Sea Serpents. A pair of daggers were equipped in his hands, ready to spill blood at any given moment,

  ??Swift Guillotine!?? ［Jiro］

  And spill blood it did. As soon as he came in rao one of the Sea Serpents, he quickly brandished his daggers and the very moment, the poor beast's head was lopped off from its body, sent flying and dying the waters red.

  It didn't just end there. As soon as he decapitated one of the Sea Serpents, he then quickly dashed towards the one a it to where its friend was and turned another patch of water red as the Sea Serpent's blood illed.

  Spsh Spsh Spsh

  The Sea Serpents didn't just simply sit still either. As soon as they noticed a couple of their ki mercilessly sughtered by the man before them, they quickly dove down the sea, attempting to un attack from below.

  "Now, now, we 't have you do that, we?" ［Jiro］

  In spite of such threats, Jiro remained calm and observed the situation. Only God knows how he was with his eyes always closed, but he was , alright. Yep, he could see through his eyelids. Yep. Yep.

  The Sea Serpents lunged quickly towards him aook note of ead every movement in the sea, eyeing all dires as he turned his head left and right. And when the Sea Serpents finally resurfaced to attack him, he simply raised his hand.

  ??Lightning Vortex!?? ［Jiro］

  His indifferent voice drifting in the salty breeze, blue light crackled from his palms once more and just a couple moments ter, a rge sphere of blue lightning struck down the sea with violent forough to decimate boulders in a single sed.

  The lightning bolts whipped and shed around the sea and those unfortunate Sea Serpents who resurfaced were quickly buro char from i, loud spshes eg as they helplessly fell back to the sea without much resistance.

  The ones uer weren't safe either. It was saltwater after all, a substance much more ductive than regur water. Lightning simply coursed through the waters arocuted everything indiscriminately. Be it fishes, crabs, or the Sea Serpents, all were shocked thhly.

  "Hahaha. Looks like we have some tough ones over here." ［Jiro］

  And even though a couple of the stronger Sea Serpents survived, they all received rge injuries, pain and agony c through their whole bodies, sciousness almost fading away towards the darkness.

  They tried to run away, but with their current stitution, they could barely swim. They were running away at a snail's pace, obviously bearing a lot of injuries and trying their best to flee before Jiro notices them.

  "Sorry, but I 't be having you do that." ［Jiro］

  Unfortunately for them, the eyes of a High-Ranker is nothing to scoff at. As soon as he saw the Sea Serpents start running away, he simply sent another bolt of lightning after them, another crash and boom eg in the air,

  As quickly as it started, the battle was finished before anyone k. The only one which remained was a smiling figure, blue lightning crag atop the surface of the water as he watched the far horizons.

  "Woohoo! Lord Jiro did it again! We're saved!"

  "Amazing! He defeated all those serpents by himself!"

  "Lord Jiro! Lista's pride and glory!"

  Full of excitement and happiness, the crowd ted Jiro's name over and ain as they cheered loudly and appuded merrily. From gloom, fusion, relief, aement. Everyone experienced a roller coaster of emotions ihan a minute. Quite an experience if oo say so.

  If there was anything hy, it was that two people had pletely different expressions thahers. Rather thaement, there was only disappoi painted on their faces. And the reason retty simple...

  "Yuna, looks like we won't be having Sea Serpents tonight." ［Grey］

  "Uuu... I was looking forward to it too..." ［Yuna］

  CHAPTER 218 END