SPLASH SPLASH SPLASH

  The waters spsh and rippled, the river flowing smooth and blue, tained in walls of stone and streaking across the whole city. Bridges and gates were pced atop them, stretg all over the wide and long blue.

  Small boats cruised along the rivers, only a couple figures riding them. Their eyes swam like the fishes below them, hearts filled with glee and joy as they ehe whistling winds and spshing waters, musiging in their ears.

  "Mmn～! Hmmn～! Nnn～! Nnn～! Hmn～! Mmn～!" ［Yuna］

  The hums of a certain elf als along the air, apanying the bustling noise of the city, the clopping of carriages, and the giggles and ughter of the passersby, the symphony of Xeros, pying all throughout the afternoon.

  "You sure are excited, aren't you, Yuna?" ［Grey］

  "Fufufu! How could I not be? The air is just so fresh and peaceful. It just makes me want to stretch my arms and rex～." ［Yuna］

  "Well, I guess I do uand that..." ［Grey］

  Said Grey, his eyes swimming about the pce, watg the children run and py by the riverside, the fishes sop below them, the birds perg by the bridges, cawking and hopping without a care in the world. It was truly a lovely day.

  The two were still oour date in Xeros, now enjoying their time together after window shopping from a myriad of shops and stalls. Needless to say, they spent a whole lot of money from all the magic tools they bought.

  And now, the two are riding a boat down by the river. It was a river which stretched all over the city, parting it in half as it flowed. It wasn't too wide nor was it too narrow, just enough for small boats to fare freely uhe beautiful blue sky.

  It wasn't the first time Grey and Yuna had ridden a boat like that before, sihey have experiehem back at Erdea's ponds, but it was the first time they went on an actual route, a lot of sights to be see and right.

  "Grey, look! Look! There's a huge pharmacy! They must sell really good medie! Do you think they sell herbs there too?" ［Yuna］

  "Hmm... That's unlikely. Though, I'm sure their medie is effective." ［Grey］

  "Ehh～? I'm getting even more curious... Should we drop by for a bit?" ［Yuna］

  "hat's not w on me anymore. We're now buying a ton of medie again. You're not foolihis time round." ［Grey］

  And as one would expect of Xeros, there were tons upon tons of pharmacies and boratories all over the pce. There is even a designated distri the city for alchemists and the likes. It truly lives up to its name as the "City of Alchemy".

  Well, it wasn't just alchemy-reted buildings and infrastructures, but also a whole ton of handicraft and artisan shops here and there. With resources so abundant in the forests and mountains, there was no way they could pass up in the opportunity.

  It was just like the city of Avalon, but rather than smithies and equipment shops, there were alchemy and crafts reted structures. To add more to that, their architecture is also quite a style to behold, all buildings looking u coheree them serving different purposes from one another.

  "Grey, I want to buy some handicrafts. You know, as souvenirs!" ［Yuna］

  "Hmm... I guess we could do that..." ［Grey］

  "Un! Great! I'm sure everyone would be happy! And... I row the boat now? I promise I won't be reckless this time." ［Yuna］

  Or so she says, but her eyes were practically begging to differ. They were the type of sparkly eyes whie couldn't help but worry, eyes that looked nothing but trouble. After all, it wasn't just once or twice that Yu ham.

  No, actually, it was Yuna who was the one who rowed the boat first, but she was so excited, she immediately caused trouble. She didn't crash the boat towards the sides, instead, she spshed water everywhere and almost drenched everyone.

  It retty severe, they almost got reprimanded by the boat rehankfully, they mao squeeze their way out of trouble with a couple apologies. Grey could still clearly remember what just happened a few minutes ago, clearly hesitating.

  "Pretty please～! I promise I'll be careful～!" ［Yuna］

  Grey was firmー No, he was trying to be firm, but when faced with such a pure and adorable pleading expression. She sparkled even brighter than usual, pushing Grey around with her ess alohe winner has already been decided.

  "Haah... Alright... Just make sure to row slowly this time." ［Grey］

  "Yaay～! Grey, you're the best! I love you! I love you! I love you!" ［Yuna］

  He was a fool, the atmosphere around them turning pink and sweet in an instant. It was so sweet, the singles around the area couldn't help but curse them iheir minds. "Die, normies!" is what they were all thinking. Oh, such harmony.

  All jokes aside, Grey and Yuna tio row down the river, Yuna now holding the oars and taking the lead. She was now gehan before, rowing slowly but surely with a smile blooming on her face.

  Time passed some more, and the two finally fiheir trip down the river. They exited the boats and their feet reunited with the ground once more. They ehe ride to the fullest, then proceeding their date as the sun tio sink.

  "Grey, where are we goi?!" ［Yuna］

  "Hahaha. I wonder... You'll just have to wait and see." ［Grey］

  "Ehh～? How bothersome... Being mysterious doesn't suit you, you know? Just tell me already, Geez～! We're going there anyway." ［Yuna］

  "No... That wouldn't be a surprise anymore then, would it?" ［Grey］

  The tread along the wide and stony streets, the street lights greeting them as they tiheir pace. They turned right, the, yet another left, and straight for a couple hundred meters, walking in the open maze known as Xeros.

  They soon arrived at their destination, three whole statues greeting them upfront at the gates, one in the shape of a Cerberus, one looking like a Fenrir, and the st of them taking the form of a majestid grand dragon.

  They weren't just simple statues, but the greatest masterpieces of art which were intricate down to the fi details. The sharp scales, the myriad of fur, the massive fangs, the intimidating eyes, and everything else. The sculpting of the pieces recise aiful. True national treasures.

  "Amazing! There's so many wonderful crafts! Is this a museumー No, sihere aren't any walls, it must be an open museum!" ［Yuna］

  "Hahaha. Close, but not really... This pce is called the 'Artisan's Pza'. It's one of the greatest attras in Xeros... Or at least, that's what I heard." ［Grey］

  "No! I'm sure it is! It's just so beautiful!" ［Yuna］

  Of course, there weren't just statues and sculptures, but framed handicrafts, weaved and carved antiques, traditional game pieces, olden furniture, and many more, all in their own podiums and dispy cases, scattered all throughout the pza.

  Heck, even the pce itself iece of art. Uher museums, it was without any walls, the pilrs woven like fibers twisted into a rope, and the roof designed like the opy of the forest, the gentle sunlight seeping through the pce.

  "Hmm.. Is this okay...? Wouldn't this pce get wet when it rainsー Ah! Did they set up an array here, Grey?" ［Yuna］

  "Yeah, and some pretty high-level o that." ［Grey］

  "Really? It must have cost quite a lot then." ［Yuna］

  "Hahaha. Not just a lot, but a whole lot. I'm sure it cost them several millions if not even more. That's just how precious this pce is." ［Grey］

  There weren't just owo, or three, but more than a dozen arrays set up all over the pza, eae serving a different purpose. It may look open and vulnerable, but it was one of the toughest and most resistant pces in Xeros.

  To top it all off, there were even a few kers and dozens upon dozens of other Mid-Rankers. Even a B-ranker would find it hard to break through the security of the pce, much less steal anything precious inside.

  "Well, I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem for us though. A light punch should be enough to shatter the defenses here. Don't you think so too, Yuna?" ［Grey］

  "Mmn... That's true, but... Grey, please don't say something that will get us arrested. We're still in public, you know?" ［Yuna］

  "Hahaha. I'm kidding, I'm kidding." ［Grey］

  "Mou... You didn't look like you were, though..." ［Yuna］

  Yuna was right o, but Grey didn't even flinch as she was looking him straight in the eyes. His poker-face has been tempered by the stant deals and tracts in the Merts' Guild. Even masters would find him hard to read.

  As for the reason why Grey wao try things out, other than curiosity, there was also something he wao experien life. He had seen it in a lot of animated films and in edy films. A thief veiled in mystery... A phantom thief!

  To give prior notid strike when the clock turns 12, to dander the moonlight whilst being chased by the authorities, to crack dowoughest security and cim their prize. Just thinking about it was enough to make his blood boil iement.

  'A phantom thief, huh... I wonder how it feels like...' ［Grey］

  Fortunately enough, Grey was quite the responsible ohough he really wao role py as one, he wouldn't just cause iional troubles just to have fun. He was more responsible than that. It was a shame indeed.

  "Grey, you just thought of something fun, didn't you?" ［Yuna］

  "My, I don't know what you mean. I was just thinking of something else." ［Grey］

  "Ehh～? No fair... I'm sure you were just thinking of something fun! I'm sure of it! I se! My fun senses are tingling!" ［Yuna］

  "Eh? What even is that?" ［Grey］

  With shenanigans aement afoot, Grey and Yuna ti the pza, admiring all sorts of fun and creative crafts littered all over the pce. Some were so beautiful, they couldn't help but simply look at it and gawk.

  SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP

  Of course, Grey and Yuna didn't fet to take some photos for remembrahe two of them snapping their cameras as they explored the pce. They have gone full tourist mode, ignorantly treading about the unknown world before them.

  But perhaps the most wonderful piece was the oled "The Heart of Lorinia". It ieposed of numerous different flowers which could be found in the Lorinia forest surrounding the capital, ced with the entment of preservation.

  The flowers were arranged in such a way that it makes a beautiful and colorful image. Not just any image, but one which would look different depending on whigle it was viewed from, telling a whole story when you looked throughout its ey.

  "Haah..." ［Grey］

  The only problem with the piece was that Grey couldn't preserve it in a physical form, oched into their memories. The teology of Merusia was still far too g. The young man could only heave a sigh of disappoi.

  "Is something wrong, Grey? Do you not like it?" ［Yuna］

  "No, it's not that... It's just a shame that I couldn't take a video of this. It would have been o look back at this when we're ba Galderia." ［Grey］

  "Videos... Was it the moving pictures you were talking about before?" ［Yuna］

  "Yeah... That's the o's just a shame I couldn't figure it out yet. Making the film is ohing, but the problem is how to py it. It might take a lot of time." ［Grey］

  From arts and crafts into videography, the topic of their versation shifted as they walked down the halls of the Artisan's Pza. It was a big step into the field of artistry, and it was yet an project frey's hands and mind.

  The clock tio tid the sun sunk down some more over the horizon. After visiting the Artisan's Pza, Grey and Yuna then headed towards another pce, yet another popur attra iy of Xeros.

  The birds flew with pride, hopping towards hoops, shooting marbles towards rings, and dang to the tune of the jukebox. They were perf all sorts of tricks in front of the people, showing off their amazing and creative talents.

  "Waah～! It really shot a marble towards the ring! I didn't think parrots could do that! I thought they were just chatty birds!" ［Yuna］

  "Chatty birds... Pft... Hahaha! That's a unique way to call them," ［Grey］

  "Well, they mimic the eople talk and are also very loud. I even mao talk with one when I was younger. It was so talkative!" ［Yuna］

  "Hahaha. It must have quite the intelligent bird then." ［Grey］

  Normally, one would think the other was just imagining things when they say the parrots could talk to them like a person, but si was Merusia, Grey didn't find such a thing stra all. Rather, it was the opposite.

  Though, now that Yuna has mentio, yet ahing was added to Grey's little bucket list. He now wants to meet a normal parrot and hold an actual versation with it. It might look strange, bur it would be iing, that's for sure,

  "Ah! Grey! Look! Look! They're doing crows !" ［Yuna］

  "Oh, crows! They're really smart birds! This should be iing," ［Grey］

  "Un! I'm gettied!" ［Yuna］

  The ade their entrand started doing different kinds of shows in front of everyone. Not only did they follow instrus, they also solved puzzles, and made retively plex decisions other birds wouldn't be able to.

  Moreover, they were quite the social creatures, w together as they solved the pieces of the puzzles given by their traihey were even more skilled than most childreing them not only in intellige teamwork as well.

  There were only cheers and appuse as the crows pleted their tasks, the whole audience having a lot of fun as they watched them move. They may be sidered by many as birds of death, but right now, they were the stars of the show.

  "And now, for the main attra of our colorful avian circus, please wely wonderful partner! Ad～lea～!!"

  CHIRP CHIRP CHIRP CHIRP

  The trainer reached out his hands out and the cries of a bird echoed all throughout the pce. Snowfkes then started to form in the air, falling ever so slowly like the lightest feathers of the birds, white like the fluffy-looking clouds in the sky.

  What followed after the gentle snowfall was the sound of fpping wings, a bird of blue and white appearing soon after. It circled around the pce a couple times, then perg on its trainer's hand soon enough.

  "Grey, isn't that bird..." ［Yuna］

  "Yeah, it's a familiar, alright... It's called Winter Foul." ［Grey］

  Grey didn't eveo use "Appraisal". Just a single gnce alone, and he could tell that it was a familiar with how subservient it looked to its trainer. After all, the Winter Fowls were quite the shy animals. They wouldn't approach just anyone.

  However, that was all there was to it. Though the Winter Fowl looked beautiful like some sort of bird of paradise, it was actually quite weak, sitting in the middle of H-rank. It wouldn't even be able to harm people even if it wished to.

  "Everyone, I hope you enjoy the show!"

  Without further ado, the trainer finally pyed the final act. With a snap of his ringers, he made the Winter Fowl take off agaihen cleared his throat and grabbed a flute from God-knows-where, pg his lips he mouthpiece.

  The trainer pyed the flute and a harmonious melody pyed in the air. The Winter Fowl dao his tunes, spreading snow as it fpped its wings. It was the perfect show, the two perfectly synized with one another.

  Soon, the other birds also took off and danced along them, cirg the whole pce as they fpped their wings and eveing various formations as they zoomed here and there. Just like dancers in the festival, they dao their hearts' tent.

  The tempo sped up and the birds started swirling closer towards the Winter Fowl as they flew. The show soon reached its finale, orbs of snow exploding like fireworks and painting the pce with a bluish hue.

  "Whoohoo!! That was awesome! You rock, Mister!"

  "We love you, Adlea～! And everyooo! That was a good show!"

  "No wonder my friend reehis! This is a masterpiece!"

  There were only praises and appuse as the show reached its clusion, everyone in the audienly wearing smiles on their faces. The trainer of the birds couldn't be any happier, bowing with pride welling up in his heart.

  With the show now having ended, everyohen slowly poured out of the venue and headed away to wherever they were going. And as soon as they left, a few people took their pce, wanting to see for the show as well, excited as be,

  "Mmn～! That was a wonderful show! Should we watch it again, Grey?" ［Yuna］

  "Yeah, I'd love to, but we still have a lot of pces to go, you know? If we watch it again, we might not be able to experiehem." ［Grey］

  "Uuu... That's true... But the bird show is good too.. Uuu... What to do... Should we stay or should we go to another pce... Uuu...." ［Yuna］

  It was only a simple question, but the young dy pondered as hard as she could, trying to weigh down which decision would be more fruitful. Seeihink ever so seriously about such a silly topic was truly adorable. Grey could only chuckle.

  "Ah! Fet it! Let's just go to another pce today! I'm sure we'll still have a ce to visit agaiime! Right, Grey?!" ［Yuna］

  "Hahaha, that's right. We'll watch it again as many times as you want." ［Grey］

  "Yaay～! I k! You're really the bestest in the world, Grey!" ［Yuna］

  The clock struother hour, and the sun tio sink down the horizon of blue and white. Grey and Yuna paced their steps, their strides taking them all over the pce, wandering freely like the birds in the eversting sky.

  They headed east, west, and all dires, finding all sorts of iing things from a small test between alchemists, to the parade of dancers and performers, some kind of grand opera house aers, and even...

  "Go! Go! You do it Master Ham! I believe in you!"

  "King Pork! I bet all my money on you! Make sure to take the !"

  "Boss Boar! Just plow those logs! Show them who's the true boss!"

  "Ooh!! He's taking the lead! That's it! Just keep on going, Jonathan!"

  ... Some sort of extreme(?) sport where, rather than horses, they made the pigs race all throughout the tracks, the loud cheering and booing of the cring in the air as the little pigs ran throughout the muddy tracks filled with not-so-difficult obstacles,

  Grey and Yuna couldn't even make a ent about what was unfolding before their eyes, not knowing whether they should ugh, cry, or smile. At the very least, it was an iing experiehat's for sure.

  And so, time flew along the whispering winds, and the sky finally ged colors. The amber hue soon faded away, darkness encroag on the world, the stars showing themselves with ead every step they took. Night has e.

  "Fuwaah～! That was a wonderful day! I had lots of fun!" ［Yuna］

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

  "Though... It's a shame we couldn't visit the herb market today... I really wao take a look, but you wouldn't let me... You meanie..." ［Yuna］

  "That's because I know you wouldn't leave there as soon as we step foot inside. Our date would have turned into a bargaining spree then." ［Grey］

  "Uuu... I 't argue with that..." ［Yuna］

  Grumbled Yuna as she accepted Grey's words. She also knew full well how impulsive she bees whe involves alchemy, and knows she wouldn't leave the herb market until all the shops have closed, expl to her heart's tent.

  There was also the ret i where she decred to buy everything in a shop, one which most likely ain if she gets too overexcited. There was no telling what an alchemy-crazed elf would do. It was only trouble.

  Though, there's o be so sad. While they may not be able to take a look for the day, it was decided that Grey and Yuna would be taking a look around the Herb Market first thing in the m and spend the day buying everything they need.

  "Right... We also o buy the Guildmaster asked for, huh... I wonder how much it'll cost us this time..." ［Grey］

  "Couldn't we just give them as souvenirs?" ［Yuna］

  "That's no good. Mister Aldean will surely scold us if we do. The Guildmaster o be more responsible, is what he would say." ［Grey］

  "Mmn... I guess you're riー" ［Yuna］

  GRROOOLLLLLLLL～～

  A sudden grumble came out of the blue and their steps suddenly stopped iracks. A young elf was now red all the way to the tip of her pointy ears, dwelling in embarrassment as she realized where the sound came from.

  The young dy was so excited about their tour date, they barely stopped to eat some snacks. And with all that running around, it was only natural that one couldn't really bme her. She was just too adorable.

  "Hahaha. I guess we'll worry about those things tomorrow. How about we get something to eat first?" ［Grey］

  "Uuu... So embarrassing..." ［Yuna］

  "Hahaha. Don't worry. Yuna's stomach growling is cute too." ［Grey］

  "Grey, stop it... You dummy...!" ［Yuna］

  And the idiot couple tio flirt...

  CHAPTER 357 END