"Grey, here's another one." ［Amelia］

  "Oh, there's some here too." ［Julius］

  Voices echoed oer another with the sound of footsteps as people wandered around the dungeon hallways. All three of them were calm as an undisturbed ke as they ted the drops they've gathered in just a short amount of time.

  It has been a few minutes since Yuna dashed her way through the dungeon and now, the three who were left behind were at the end of the 3rd floor, having gathered hundreds upon hundreds of things already as they chatted along the way.

  "I gotta say... Your ste ring really is amazing, Grey... I mean, just how much space does it have? I'm sure we've already used more than what a Superirade item would allow. Is it Legendary-Grade?" ［Julius］

  "Hmm... Let's just say it's something special. Yeah, let's leave it at that..." ［Grey］

  "Oi, what's with that answer?! Just tell us already!" ［Julius］

  Julius whining in the background, the item colle tinued, and so, every single drop there is to be seen was stored in Grey's ring. It was now time to head dowairs and take a look at the 4th floor.

  As they went dowairs, Julius tinued pestering Grey to tell him what grade of ste ring he possessed, but all his efforts were to no avail. Grey just decided to ignore him, chatting with Amelia as if there wasn't another person with them. Such a se tinued as they spiraled down.

  "Haah... Really, what a mess..." ［Grey］

  They haven't even stepped foot on the floor yet and what already greeted them was a massive pain in the ass. Hundreds of items y down on the ground all the while as D-rank monsters roamed about freely at the entrance. If it wasn't a mess, then there's nothing else that describe it.

  "Haah... Just wait a little bit. I'll just up the trash." ［Grey］

  Said Grey as he stepped foot on the floor. The very moment he did, all the monsters' eyes were on him. They all charged without any regard for their lives, soughing only death aru for those who eheir domain.

  Unfortunately for them, Grey wasn't just any normal intruderー no, rather, he couldn't be called normal as a person at all. Even amongst the standards of High-Rankers, both him and Yuna are in the realm urities, achieving such a high rank at such a young age.

  ??Wind Cutter?? ［Grey］

  There wasn't a little bit of excitement to be felt in Grey's voice. As soon as he ted his words, a bde of wind flew out of his palms and towards his enemies. In the very moment, the area totally became silent as the dead. It was a graveyard.

  The bde, without much effort, cut off everything in sight. Be it golems, ogres, and elemental monsters, they were all cut down and bsted without merot even the dungeon walls were spared from the brunt of the attack.

  Soon, everything vanished into thin air, only leaving behind a number of drop items, varying from hides, horns, ores, and even equipment. Just by a rough total, the items could earn them dozens of thousands of kiels, maybe even reag the hundreds.

  "Haah... No matter how many times I see it, it's just pin ridiculous... Just how is someone like him e?" ［Julius］

  "Fufufu, I don't think we'll ever get to find the ao that question, Yhness. They are Grey and Yuna, after all. Fufufu!" ［Amelia］

  "Yeah, you're right... Let's just leave it at that..." ［Julius］

  It wasn't even a real answer. Julius and Amelia just decided to not think too much about it, they won't get an answer out of it anyway. They just decided to leave it to a fact that they are who they are.

  "Oi, Julius, stop whining and help me out already. The drops aren't going to collect themselves, you know? And Amelia, too." ［Grey］

  "Yeah, yeah, be there in a minute." ［Julius］

  "Yes, ing～!" ［Amelia］

  The item colle tinued once more, and they were able to get a lot more items than they did in the previous floors. As they progressed, Grey also shot out a number of spells, defeating a lot of enemies in a sirike and dropping more items for them to collect. It was an endless cycle.

  Ghieekkk Kuruuukkkk Blub Blub Blub

  tless noises echoed as they traversed the dungeon halls with such calm and posed demeanors, unfazed by the enemies' looks and numbers. The monsters charged yet again, raising their ons and preparing their attacks simultaneously.

  "How annoying... ??Windー Huh...?" ［Grey］

  There wasn't a bde of wind to be seen. Grey was about to destroy them mercilessly like usual, suddenly, something strange happeo the monsters charging towards them. Without fail, every single one of them suddenly froze in pce.

  Grey hasn't even casted any curse magic or anything of the sort, yet the monsters all froze oracks, looking like statues in a wax museum. Eveheir positions were unstable, they still stopped. It was quite an iing sight to behold.

  Soon, the monsters in front of them turned into blobs of light before breaking intments and vanishing into thin air. They weren't defeated, they just suddenly vanished as if some sort of meism was in py.

  "Huh? What's happening?" ［Julius］

  "Hm? Did you cast a spell, Grey?" ［Amelia］

  Both Julius and Amelia were fused by such a sight, looki and right as they tried to observe the strange phenomenon. Meanwhile, Grey only smiled gently, fully knowing what just happened. He was the only one who did.

  "Julius, Amelia, let's hurry up and collect the drops and mana crystals. We won't be here for too long." ［Grey］

  "Huh? What do you mean?" ［Julius］

  "Nothing much, it's just that Yuna has cleared the dungeon already." ［Grey］

  A smile appeared on Grey's face as he ended his statement, one full of pride and satisfa. He may not be the oo clear the dungeon, but he was still happy that Yuna got to do it. That was already enough for him.

  Meanwhile, just like the monsters from before, Julius and Amelia were now frozen iheir mouths hanging wide open in agape and their eyes filled with shock as they tried to process what kind of insanity Grey had just dropped on them.

  "Wait, what do you mean by cleared?! It hasn't even been 15 minutes, you know?! Not even a quarter of an hour!" ［Julius］

  "Th-That's right! Maybe you're mistaken, Grey. Maybe the dungeon is only 4 floors! A D-rank dungeon!" ［Amelia］

  "Yeah. No matter how strong Yuna is, it should still be impossible!" ［Julius］

  Both Julius and Amelia were in disbelief. Well, who wouldn't be? It wasn't that they didn't trust Yuna, Grey's words were just too absurd for them to believe in. Every other person would rea such a way.

  After all, there isn't just oh in a dungeon, there are multiple. No matter how quie is, they would still have to search around for the entrance. Su act would warrant more time for people before they could clear the dungeon.

  Unfortunately for Julius and Amelia, Such a logic doesn't apply to Yuna. Whenever she meets a dead end, she simply uses "Phaseless" and passes through walls. It saves her time as she doesn't o travel the same long, winding paths anymore and just head straight back to the fork road.

  Well, there was o reveal Yuna's abilities willy-nilly. Even if they're friends, hiding them would still prove more beneficial. Grey just decided to let them specute as he tinued colleg the monster drops by himself.

  "Oh? Looks like time's up," ［Grey］

  And just as he finished colleg all the drops there was, the dungeon floor, the walls, and even the ceiling, everything started to grow dimly, getting brighter and brighter with the passing of time.

  "Wh-What's happening?!" ［Amelia］

  "Oi, Grey! Why's the ground glowing?!" ［Julius］

  "Didn't I tell you? Yuna already cleared the dungeon. We're just simply being transported back to the entrance." ［Grey］

  Nontly, Grey answered Julius and Amelia's worries. There wasn't even a speck of on his face. There was only a gentle smile as he hummed to himself, thinking of all the things they gained from su ued find.

  The light grew even brighter after several seds had passed. Soon, a feeling of dizziness struck everyone as if their minds were being ed stantly. It wasn't anything harmful, just the side effect of being teleported the first time.

  RUMBBLLLEEEEE

  The ground started to shake and cracks started to appear in the walls. A few more seds ter, there was the gushing of water as the dungeon was flooded, returning to its inal state. Even the dungeon's colpse looked so beautiful. Then, there was darkness.

  Flutter Trickle Chirp Chirp

  Ich bck darkness, such calming sounds echoed in everyone's ears. The st of water, trees, and flowers caressed their noses and the gentle sensation of the dang wind touched their skin.

  As they opeheir eyes, a field of creeted them along with the shining, crystal-clear waters. The light from the sun weled them after a few days of staying ihe dungeon. Not only was it a beautiful sight, it was satisfying to the heart as well. It erfectー or so it should have been.

  But in such beautiful sery, there was a certain silver-haired elf, squatting in the ground, running her finger along the ground as an atmosphere of depression and gloom surrounded her. The plete opposite of the sery around her.

  "Uh... Umm... Yuna...?" ［Grey］

  "Ah... Grey...." ［Yuna］

  When the moping young dy turned around, it was even worse. Her eyes were as lifeless as one be as she looked at Grey. The excited Yuna from before was no more. All that was left was a sad and depressed young dy. Even her pointy elven ears looked down.

  It was a sight one couldn't help but look at worry. Knowing Yuna, there was only one reason Grey could think of why she was ag that way. The three years he lived with her wasn't just for show.

  "Umm... Julius, Amelia, why don't you two look around and rex for a little bit. We'll be joining you afterwards." ［Grey］

  "You sure?" ［Julius］

  "Yeah, I take care of this myself." ［Grey］

  Prompted by Grey, Julius and Amelia left the two alone as they eheir own time together. It has been some time sihey were free and so, they made sure to enjoy everything to the fullest.

  With him aloh Yuna, Grey then calmly sat beside her and poked at her cheeks without any apparent reaso no matter how much he did so there wasn't much of a response from Yuna. She only looked at the waterfall with empty eyes.

  "Yuna, what's wrong?" ［Grey］

  "The treasure chest..." ［Yuna］

  "Yeah, what about it?" ［Grey］

  "There wasn't a siion ingredient in there..." ［Yuna］

  It was just like Grey had suspected. She had the same disappointed look when she also found out the same thing when they opereasure chests in the Labyrinth. It was the look of someone who received the same coffee mug every year in christmas. Oh, the disappoi.

  The only difference from then and now was that she was much more depressed. Sihere were a lot of treasure chests in Labyrinths, she didn't mind it too mud just looked forward to the reasure chest.

  But in a dungeohere was only one, all of her excitement was drained of her heart the moment she opehe chest. Not only was she not able to fight the boss mohe rewards were also disappointing. Who wouldn't be disappointed?

  "Alright, then how about this... All the materials we get in the Labyrinth of Fmes, you choose any and all materials you want. Is that alright with you?" ［Grey］

  "Really?! No takesy-backsies?" ［Yuna］

  The very moment Grey suggested those words, Yuna's eyes lit up with an unknown fme. Her passion was quickly moved as she thought of all the materials she could get her hands on. She was excitedー no, super excited!

  "Yeah. And since I'll be training oh floor, I'll also give you every material I find down there." ［Grey］

  "Waah～! Grey, I love you! I really, really love you!" ［Yuna］

  The usual Yuna was back, and now, her eyes were sparkling very brightly as she gave Grey her tightest and warmest embrace. Thankfully, Julius and Amelia weren't there. Well, it was actually because Grey knew what would happen that he sent them away. It wasn't the first time Yuna had done such things.

  'Haah... Really... What a bothersome girlfriend I have...' ［Grey］

  Grey sighed deep inside his mind, but his faly showed a gentle and warm smile as he patted Yuna's head. No matter how troublesome and gy she may be, she was still the girl he fell in love with and he doesn't regret doing so.

  Julius and Amelia soourned and now, it was the time to fulfill their promise. With the end of the dungeon, it was time to cook up a feast for everyone's efforts. It wasn't easy deg what dishes to cook, but after days of debating, they finally got themselves a perfect course.

  An open kit has once again appeared in the beautiful meadows. Along with it lethora of ingredients sisti, dairy, poultry, seafoods, vegetables, and fruit products. Of course, there were also a multitude of spices and seasonings. Everything was ready.

  "Yuna, I'll leave the main dishes to you. I'll be making the side dishes and the desserts. Good luck." ［Grey］

  "Un! Leave it to me!" ［Yuna］

  Their spirits through the roof, the kit's symphony once again blended with the melody of nature. Like dancers on a stage, Grey and Yuna moved gracefully i as they moved about, preparing dish after dish.

  Even though they still haveen, Julius and Amelia found their hearts full as they looked at the two's performaheir eyes as were both mesmerized by the grace of the two, perf like delicate pieces of art which could soothe the soul.

  Gzed roast turkey, lobster thermidor, braised beef stew, special spicy curry, creamy carbonara, tuna sad, steamed fried rice, cheesy meat tarts, and a lot more dishes appeared oer another, all of which, a special dish which tastes like heaven,

  Even though they have seen simir dishes in their own abodes, Julius and Amelia were still in awe. Not only did they show how they were prepared so beautifully, they also looked even more refihan anything they've ever had. Not even the meals in the royal ba could pare.

  "Oh, Grey, what are you making?" ［Yuna］

  "They're va cakes. You've never had one, right?" ［Grey］

  "Of course I haven't, you haven't made one for me, after all... Grey, as I thought... you don't love me as much as I do, do you?" ［Yuna］

  "Hahaha. Where did that e from?" ［Grey］

  "I mean, you should be letting me have a taste of everything first, right? I'm yirlfriend, after all! It's only natural, right?" ［Yuna］

  Grey could only chuckle pyfully at Yuna's silly specutions and clusions. Well, who wouldn't? Even though she was saying those words, she was stantly moving about, looking at what Grey was doing with curious eyes, not even showing any signs of pouting. She was just trying to poke fun at him.

  Yuna, wearing such excitement in her face, Grey tinued moving his hands as he did the tter steps of the procedure. He was done greasing and preheating the ramekins, making the matter, and preparing the toppings. All that was left was to bake and everything would be done.

  And it wasn't just a single fvor of va cake. Not only was there chocote, there was also cheese, white chocote, raspberry, and salted caramel, a grand total of five delicious cakes were to be introduced to the world of Merusia's cuisine.

  Click

  The moment the cakes were pced ihe oven, all that there was left to do was wait for the cakes to bake at high temperature, making sure the sides are baked while the insides are still molten.

  "ht, Yuna. How did the fight with the dungeon boss go?" ［Grey］

  The very moment Grey said those words, Yuna's body quickly flinched. She thought Grey had pletely fotten about it, but oh h she was. Now, her face was sweating as she tried to find an excuse, something she isn't very good at.

  It was then that Grey realized that something definitely went wrong. Yuna's rea was so obvious, there wasn't a way he wouldn't notice. The only problem was that he doesn't know how she could have messed up. Only then did he realize that he had pletely fotten to teach Yuna one important thing.

  "Yuna... Don't tell me, you... You just straight up bsted the boss room's doors, didn't you?" ［Grey］

  "N-No... I didn't do that..." ［Yuna］

  It was a lie. A total lie. Not only did her eyes immediately start swimming, her body also started to fidget around and her voice getting smaller. There was o ask mrey had already figured out what happened in the dungeon.

  "Haah... ell did you use?" ［Grey］

  "Umm... Winter Gale's Parade...?" ［Yuna］

  She was very ho. Now knowing she was busted, Yuna just simply said the truth with a depressed voice. Meanwhile, Grey could only feel pity for the dungeon boss, dying even before the fight started. A silent atmosphere was about them.

  A sweet st soon filled the air and it was time for the finale. Grey hastily headed to the oven and swift has movements, he quickly ied the ramekins into the serving ptes, putting ice cream and a variety of toppings on top of the kava cakes.

  With a little drizzle of chocote and their respective syrups, five beautiful and mouth-watering masterpieces were given life. A sele of va cakes were served atop the dining table, pleting the whole course. It was a feast.

  "Amazing... It's like we're having our very own ba." ［Amelia］

  "Oi, Grey, Yuna, are we really eating all of these?!" ［Julius］

  "Of coursen Do you think we just made all of these for decorations?" ［Grey］

  "Un! Food is meant to be eaten, after all!" ［Yuna］

  Oer another, everyoook their seat uhe shade of the trees. Surrounded by such beautiful flowers and the sound of the streaming river filling their ears, is there even a more picturesque se? They were basically a painting.

  """"Thank you for the meal!!""""

  As their voices echoed towards the eternal blue sky, everyone dug their spoons and forks on the dishes before them with such joy and vigor painted on their faces, feeling the taste of heaven as soon as they took their first bites,

  Ironically, the most unruly ohin them was the prince himself. Despite being royalty, Julius looked like he was the oh the least table manners. Without any prying eyes around, he could finally let loose and enjoy the meal to the fullest. Well, I say most unruly, but he was still eating properly, just too eically.

  "Dammit! Why is this so good?!" ［Julius］

  "Hey, was that an insult or a pliment?" ［Grey］

  "It's a plement, of course. I'm just envious that you get to eat such delieals! Grey, Yuna, why don't you bee royal chefs?" ［Julius］

  "Nah, no thanks." ［Grey］

  "Un. I'm also good." ［Yuna］

  There wasn't even a speck of hope for Julius. Grey and Yuna straight up rejected his invitation without a sed thought. It wasn't the first time they've received su offer and they don't think they'll be accepting any requests anytime soon.

  Wallowing i and happiness at the same time, Julius tinued enjoying his meal. The others also eheirs, chatting and ughing merrily until it was time for the desserts to be served.

  There udding, parfaits, ilk teas, smoothies, fruit sads, cakes, and a lot more. But the one which caught everyone's attentiohe va cakes Grey had just finished bakily.

  There was no caution in everyone's faces as they took a serving of their liking. Yuna took the white chocote, Amelia the raspberry, Julius the chocote, and Grey had the cheese ohe molten fillings flowed out as soon as they cut their cakes.

  "Waah～! So delicious! As expected of Grey!" ［Yuna］

  "Mmn! How fruity! I still taste the raspberries!" ［Amelia］

  "Haha, I'm gd you liked it." ［Grey］

  The fvors may have been different, but the feedback was one and the same, all positive as they savored their own servings with such happy faces. The only one who didn't say anything was Julous who was looking at his pte so ily.

  Abrupt as one be, Julius then pced his pte ba the dining table, standing up soon after. Not uttering a single word, he approached Grey, grabbed his shoulders tightly, and looked at with a certain color in his eyes.

  "Grey, bee the chef for my wedding!" ［Julius］

  "Eh?! Yhness, what are you saying?!" ［Amelia］

  It was all so sudden. Not one of them expected such words to e out of Julius' mouth. Amelia was the most shocked of all of them. After all, it wouldn't just be Julius' wedding, it was their wedding he was talking about. Her red was now as red as the raspberry cake she was just eating.

  "Please, Grey! I beg of you! I want you to cook for our wedding! That's the only way it will be the best wedding of all time! And Yuna, too!" ［Julius］

  "Oi, you bastard, stop ging on me!" ［Grey］

  "Grey, I'm begging you! I'm willing to pay however much it would cost!" ［Julius］

  "Hey, Amelia, get this crazy fiancé of yours away from me!" ［Grey］

  Rowdy, chaotic, disorderly. There are many words which could be used to describe the se unfolding in such a wonderful meadow. The se which was very warm just retly has now desded to the deepest depths of pandemonium.

  Julius was ging onto Grey's arms, the tter pushing him away, Amelia blushing evers o intensely, and Yuna looking at the se fused as one be. In a way, it was amazing how such a se unfolded. Just a bunch of friends doing their thing.

  CHAPTER 175 END