SPLASH SLOSH SPLASH

A sparkling sea of stars glimmered as sunlight reflected all across the vast oceans. The sky was blue and so was the waters under it, the salty and refreshing breeze blowing towards the lands as the sky climbed the horizons.

The palm trees stood proud by the shores and their leaves swayed by the rhythm of the winds. The grains of sand ran all throughout the beach, passing by the crabs and shells just going about their usual days. The waves splashed again.

Such a white beach was a beauty to behold, a treasure in the sea of blue. But even more so was the silver-haired elf standing on it, her hair sparkling like jewels as it fluttered in the winds, her eyes as blue as the sea before her.

"Can't you stay even a little bit longer?" ［Marika］

"We'd love to, but we have a schedule to catch." ［Yuna］

"Mmn... It can't be helped then..." ［Marika］

"Fufufu! Don't be too sad now, Marika. We'll drop by from time to time, and you can also call us whenever you want." ［Yuna］

The sun had risen and set several times, and the days elapsed in the blink of an eye. It has been quite some time since Grey and Yuna visited the Royal Capital, and after finalizing their plans for their next destination, they quickly set off.

Since Torogi was the furthest place Grey knew, the two of them decided to pay the island a visit and start their journey from there. They spent a couple hours with the villagers and everyone, just spending some happy times together.

"It may be a bit late... But Great Chief, you sure look good in formal attire." ［Grey］

"Hahaha. Thank you so much, Lord Grey. I was just in a meeting a couple hours ago. It feels stifling, but I'm glad you think so." ［Manelo］

"Then does that mean we'll see Marika in a dress soon?" ［Grey］

"Hahaha. She had the pleasure of wearing one just a couple days ago, actually. And I must say, she really did fit them quite nicely." ［Manelo］

"P-Papa! Geez! I told you not to talk about that!" ［Marika］

And speaking of Torogi, they have been slowly but surely integrating themselves in the Kingdom, all the while still retaining their own culture. It was a slow and gradual process which won't be ending anytime soon.

For now, the Chiefdom is a special autonomous territory of Alfrione, and it is still not considered a "True" vassal of the Kingdom. Not until the Chiefdom has fully stabilized and integrated will the whole process be finalized by the High Officials.

The King has been thinking of granting the Great Chief the rank of either "Baron" or "Viscount", but that will take some time and consideration from both sides. After all, Alfrione isn't colonizing nor invading Torogi, but annexing it. A peaceful relationship.

『A title, huh... Somehow, it feels a little strange...』 ［Grey］

『Really? Isn't it normal for territories to be annexed by larger ones?』 ［Yuna］

『I don't know... It just feels strange...』 ［Grey］

Pondered Grey over and over again. After all, the culture in Merusia is largely similar to Western Europe on Earth back in the Medieval Ages. Seeing Austronesian culture go along with western feudalism just felt a little strange.

Well, no matter how strange it will be, only one thing is sure, and that is, Torogi will be the smallest territory in the Kingdom, smaller than the smallest Barony. Ironically, it would be richer than most Viscounties with all its natural resources. Truly absurd.

"Then, just give us a call when you want. We'll be heading out now." ［Grey］

"A-Ah, yes! Goodbye, Big Sister Yuna～! Big Brother Grey～!" ［Marika］

"Fufufu! Goodbye too, Marika, Great Chief. See you next time～!" ［Yuna］

"Have a safe journey, Lord Grey, Lady Yuna. Until next time." ［Manelo］

There was no time to waste. With an exciting journey ahead of them, Grey and Yuna soon called for Sirius and her beautiful platinum figure appeared out of thin air, the winds blowing away the sands as she spread her wings.

Two figures hopped on her back and held on tight. She flapped her wings and she soared towards the endless blue sky, piercing the clouds and leaving rings of vapor and lines of white as she darted throughout the endless blue.

Their next destination was the Western Continent of Vartes, located almost a dozen thousand kilometers from the nearest islands of Oiros. Though, with Sirius flying, it would be a journey which will only take a leisurely two days.

And unlike Oiros which resembles Western Europe, Vartes resembles the traditional Middle Eastern nations back on Earth, from clothing to building. It was an exciting experience, their blood boiling by the second.

"Mmn～! Sirius, speed up faster, please～!" ［Yuna］

"Understood, Mistress." ［Sirius］

Sirius headed Yuna's words and she flapped her wings even harder and faster, the beats resounding like thunder and her figure resembling that of a shooting star from afar, a young lady smiling brightly on her back.

Time passed just like that and the sea remained as blue as the sky. The whole view was blue as can be, lush islands of green and rocky islands of gray dotted here and there. There were also wonderful events to spot to make their journey interesting.

From massive waves splashing all over the place to whales rising from the surface to breathe and make waves as they jumped. There were all sorts of new things both Grey and Yuna could rarely see, unfolding before their eyes.

"Woah～! Grey, those weird fishes below us are called dolphins... Right? There are so many of them～!" ［Yuna］

"I've never seen that many of them as well... I think it was called a 'Megapod' was it? There should be over a thousand dolphins there..." ［Grey］

"Over a thousand... That's amazing..." ［Yuna］

Or so Grey said so like an expert, but actually, he's only seen them in animal and nature documentaries on televisions. He's seen some dolphins in aquariums before, but never a group so large, it covers hectares of surface area.

Of course, it was a first for Yuna as well, her eyes sparkling ever so brightly as she looked down the blue sea, satisfying her curiosity like a little child. Grey asked Sirius to slow down so that the young lady could have a good view.

"And no, I don't know if they're edible or not." ［Grey］

"But I haven't said anything yet... I'm not that gluttonous, you know..." ［Yuna］

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"Sure, sure. Let's just go with that." ［Grey］

"Mou... I don't want to talk to you anymore..." ［Yuna］

Or so she says, pouting and puffing her cheeks, trying not to look Grey in the eyes. Meanwhile, Grey was only smiling ever so softly, chuckling at how cute his fiancée was. It didn't even take a minute before Yuna talked to Grey again.

Flocks of seagulls hovering over the sea, flying fishes jumping in and out of the sea, massive whale-type beasts spanning over a hundred meter long, colorful and radiant coral reefs, and beautiful sandy beaches sprawling over the islands they passed by.

A couple more hours passed and soon, the sun slowly started sinking down the sky. Afternoon has already arrived, and lunch has passed. It was finally time to take a break and enjoy themselves for a little while.

"Oh, that looks like a nice island. What do you think, Yuna?" ［Grey］

"Grey, you do know I can't see as far as you do, right?" ［Yuna］

"Oh, right... Hahaha. Silly me." ［Grey］

After spotting a nice-looking and relatively large island over the distance, Grey then asked Sirius to land over there and rest for a while. She flapped her wings, the sands blown away once again as she landed her platinum figure.

The island was not very big, just spanning about a few hectares. Still it was complete with rocky cliffs, sandy beaches, a small forest, and some beautiful coves spread all over the island. It was a nice place to make a resort.

Most of all, it was located in the middle of the ocean, a few thousand kilometers away from the mainlands. It was a place which they could have for themselves, not a single person to bother them as they enjoyed their leisure. The perfect island getaway.

"Hmm... Should we make a beach house here?" ［Grey］

"A beach house? Why so suddenly?" ［Yuna］

"Nothing much... I just thought it's a nice place to spend some time together. You know, for vacations and stuff. Like a secret hideout." ［Grey］

"Ohh! That's a nice idea, Grey! We should do that!" ［Yuna］

Grey mentioned it to his beloved, and the latter agreed almost immediately. Just the sound of a "secret hideout" got her blood all riled up. Her imagination ran wild, all sorts of scenes and sceneries playing out inside her head.

The young lady's eyes were sparkling brighter than the sun as she thought of all sorts of things to add to their future island getaway house. Grey knows those things would be far from possible, but she looked very adorable thinking so, so he just let her be.

Thankfully, Grey managed to convince his fiancée to calm down. They decided to construct the beach house once they had free time and finished everything. They'll make sure to make the best beach house possible.

"Then, should we start cooking, Milady?" ［Grey］

"Un!" ［Yuna］

Grey and Yuna wasted no time to prepare lunch, and without a hitch, pulled out their portable kitchen and placed it on the beach. They also constructed a quick hut for shade with plant magic, making a nice cozy place for them.

Though, while the two of them were cooking lunch, Grey couldn't help but notice the young lady's eyes glancing towards the nearby forest from time to time. There was curiosity brewing in her eyes, obviously wanting to explore the island.

"Haah... Just come back when lunch is finished. Go and enjoy yourself." ［Grey］

"N-No! It's fine! We still need to cook lunch, after all!" ［Yuna］

"I can cook lunch by myself just fine. Have a lot of fun, alright?" ［Grey］

Of course, the fool that he was, Grey couldn't help but spoil his beloved. He's been teasing her one too many times as of late, after all. He should also spoil her from time to time or else, she'll start sulking. He just loves her too much.

"Grey～! I love you! You're really the bestest in the world!" ［Yuna］

Her once hesitant eyes were quickly wiped away, her eyes now sparkling like the blue sea before her. She gave Grey a warm and tight embrace, a lovely smile blooming on her face as she snuggled her face on her chest.

After a quick demonstration of affection, Yuna soon left all the cooking to Grey and dashed towards the forest at full throttle, her eyes gleaming ever so brightly. Her head immediately started turning left and right, searching for all sorts of things.

Well, I say all sorts of things, but as expected... The things she was searching for were none other than herbs, fungi, and magic plants, and also some edible fruits and spices while she was at it. She was full of excitementー

"Why...? Why...? Why isn't there any...? Why...?!" ［Grey］

Unfortunately for Yuna, there were no such things as medicinal herbs to be found. There were only weeds, grass, vines, and flowers to be seen. And not a single one of such things could be used for alchemy as she hoped.

If there was something to be happy about, it was that there were some edible fruits and berries growing here and there. She's never seen them before, but with a little sniff, she could tell that they weren't poisonous. She's an expert with plant life, after all.

"Mmn～! These are so sweet! Amazing!" ［Yuna］

Surprisingly enough, the berries she picked were extremely sweet and juicy, tasting something like a strawberry, only a bit sweeter and packed with a citrus punch. It was her first time eating them, but she immediately fell in love with them.

The young lady cheered up in an instant as soon as she had a taste of the berries, eating a couple more and stuffing her cheeks full of them. She was happy as can be, her smile extending from one ear to another.

"Right! Let's get some for Grey too!" ［Yuna］

She flicked her fingers and a basket appeared out of thin air. Yuna then ran here and there, picking berries left and right, only leaving much behind for the birds and little critters of the island to eat. She couldn't just eat them all, after all.

Her steps were light as a feather but her strides were as hasty as the wind. A single minute, a single basket of berries. And it wasn't just the berries. The young lady also foraged some fruits for her and Grey to enjoy later.

『Grey, I found some wonderful fruits and berries here. Can we grow some in the Sanctuary later? I promise to look after them.』 ［Yuna］

『Sure, why not. Just don't clean the whole forest out, alright?』 ［Grey］

『Un! I'll keep that in mind!』 ［Yuna］

Berries, fruits, nuts, and even more berries. Yuna continued her foraging, all the while meeting a couple tiny critters and some beautiful birds perching on the branches. She was full of happiness, exploring the small island with her hasty steps.

Well, with how small the island was, it wasn't long before she explored every nook and cranny of it, arriving on the edges of the island and greeted by a blue scenery from all angles. The sound of splashes echoed as the waves hit the cliffs.

There were a couple islands in sight, but most of them were rocky and void of any vegetation, not as beautiful as the island they are in right now. Still, it was beautiful and mystical, Yuna snapping a couple of pictures.

"Oh, you're back already?" ［Grey］

"Well, the island isn't that big, after all. I found some interesting things, but it's mostly normal in all places. Too normal, actually" ［Yuna］

"Hmm... I don't think it will be that boring soon enough." ［Grey］

"Hm? What do youー" ［Yuna］

SPLASH SPLASH SPLASH ROOOAAAAARRRRR

Yuna couldn't even finish her words, when a cacophony of splashes and gushes rang out all throughout the sea. A massive, unnatural wave rose from afar, accompanied by a deafening roar of not just one, but multiple creatures.

A riot of aquatic beasts rushed forth towards them, seemingly stampeding and lashing out violently. Massive waves and streams were made on their wake, chaos and danger rushing about in the deep sea of blue.

Most of the beasts were E-rank and below, but the larger ones were at C-rank, and even at B-rank. There was also a massive whale amongst the beasts, a gargantuan beast spanning over a hundred meters, eyes filled with panic.

"Waah... That's amazing... Does this always happen in the sea...?" ［Yuna］

"I highly doubt it. In the first place, many of those beasts are territorial and would kill one another at sight. Something abnormal is happening." ［Grey］

"Phew... That's a relief. We don't want our beach house to be destroyed every time, after all. That would be troublesome!" ［Yuna］

"Yuna... This isn't the time to be worried about that, you know..." ［Grey］

It was a disastrous sight, able to destroy port and coastal towns in a jiffy, but Grey and Yuna were not scared, or rather, they were unfazed. They simply watched the scenery unfold as if it was some sort of amusing spectacle.

After all, it wasn't the first time Grey and Yuna saw such a sight. When they knew of Torogi, they also encountered a rampage of aquatic beasts, endangering the fishing boats and patrolling ships. It was too similar to be a coincidence.

"Hm? Why are you bringing out the camera, Grey?" ［Yuna］

"Just got a feeling... Is all..." ［Grey］

Grey spared no time and quickly whipped out the camera and a tripod with it as well. He quickly set it up and placed it firmly on the sandy beach, making sure it was stable with the use of magic and turned it on soon after.

BEEP BEEP SHUTTER

A couple beeps echoed in the air, and the camera started recording the scene. Since Grey made it with the use of magic, it should be able to record a clear clarity even if he zoomed a couple dozen times and slowed down scenes several times.

He doesn't know when he'll be able to use such footage, but it was better to be safe than never. He couldn't point his finger around it, but he had an ominous premonition about what was happening before them. It was good that he upgraded the camera.

"Grey... Just asking, but... How many of those beasts are edible?" ［Yuna］

And just when Grey couldn't be any more worried, Yuna suddenly surprised him with a sudden question, a bright smile blooming on her face. It came out of nowhere, all the worries Grey once had quickly dissipated.

"Well... At least none of them are poisonous..." ［Grey］

"Fufufu! Great! Then, I'll go hunting for a while and catch some fresh ingredients for us. Let's add them to our menu!" ［Yuna］

"Haah... Whatever... Go suit yourself." ［Grey］

There was no point thinking too much about it. With such fierce determination burning in her eyes, there was no way Grey could stop Yuna. He simply let her do whatever she wanted, heaving a lengthy sigh as he continued to cook.

Meanwhile, the young lady had already set her eyes towards her targets, locking her sights on the big ones whilst wondering what they'd taste like. Just thinking about it was more than enough to make her blood boil in excitement.

The young lady reached out one of her hands towards one of the B-rank beasts and aimed for its head. It may be underwater, but there's no way she'll miss such a neon red color, practically aiming to be hit. She soon shot her shotー

"Hm? Couldn't I just use that?" ［Yuna］

... Or at least, she was about to do so.

Suddenly, a random thought appeared in her mind. She has mostly been using her daggers or magic to finish off opponents, but recently, she has gained a new ability which she hasn't mastered quite skillfully.

The only time Yuna could use such an ability was in the sanctuary against Grey or the familiars. She could never use them in the real world where forests and plains were as fragile as grass. However, such a condition doesn't apply right now.

Realizing such a situation, a bright and excited smile bloomed on Yuna's face. She lowered down her hands and inhaled a breath of fresh air. She held her breath for a short while, a brilliant and cold gleam shining from her eyes.

"Then, let's find out, shall we?" ［Yuna］

She activated the "Winter Forest" and took her step. The once warm and salty breeze quickly turned cold in a mere instant, snow started falling in the middle of the ocean and a deadly blizzard blew and touched the sea of blue.

Starting from where her foot was, prickly frost and ice spread all throughout the blue sea and froze all water in sight, spreading in an instant and devouring everything in sight as if there was no tomorrow, the sea painted a glacial blue color.

The once violent waves which rushed malevolently were frozen in an instant, thick sheets and chunks of ice layered atop one another and everything reaching the freezing point. Frozen vegetation grew lush and tremendously.

"Hm? That's interesting." ［Grey］

"Oh? Can you see what's happening, Grey?" ［Yuna］

"Yeah. Wait a moment. I'll share my sight with you real quick." ［Grey］

It wasn't just the surface. Underwater was starting to freeze as well, roots of ice and frost branching out ever so quickly and turning several meters into a massive glacier, extending even further as time passed.

After the roots, as if mirroring the surface, an underwater Winter Forest was created, trees and grass extending even further as if trying to prove that the water was their nourishment, growing even more lush than above.

As for the beasts, there was no need to say anything. They were all pinned down by the massive chunks of ice, needles of thin frost piercing their insides and killing them in an instant, as mercilessly and coldly as possible.

Even the hardier and more resistant ones only lasted a few seconds, their flames of life swallowed by Yuna's endless frost. They may be B-rank beasts but compared to Yuna, they were nothing but small fries. Just some strange fishes, as she would say.

"Ehh... Are they all... dead...?" ［Yuna］

"Yeah. Seems like it." ［Grey］

Yuna wanted to fight and hunt, but with her gaining the most advantageous domain, the effectiveness of her ability was multiplied several fold. No, it was too effective, it didn't even last a minute. Looks like fighting will be left for another dayー

CRACK CRACK BOOOM

... Or at least, so it seemed. When suddenly, another gargantuan beast entered the fray and lashed broke through the sheets of ice. It lashed its tentacles around, its eyes glowing a deep and fierce red color.

CHAPTER 403 END