Vines of blue and green, flower buds yet to bloom the first petals, roots dug up from cy, the blood of mountain wolves, powder made from dried eel livers, and so much more. The stalls were filled with all sorts of ingredients, lini and right.

  And the pce was filled with people, both alchemists and merts alike, going all around the pd buying everything which caught their eyes. The haggling and bargaining didn't cease to stop, liveliness floating in the air.

  There were also trains of carriages passing from time to time, carrying tons of crates and boxes which were full of every material one could think of. Some things were even rare enough, there were knights esc them.

  "Oh! Ohhh! Ohhhh～! Ohhhhhhh～～!!" ［Yuna］

  In that very lovely market, there was also a young, silver-haired elf, zooming all over the pce as she examined every sihing he could find, her eyes sparkling like the sun above them, ears fpping up and down with excitement.

  After all, where there are herbs, there is hope. Her heart was rag like the stooping fals ruling over the sky, not knowing what to do with so many herbs around her. It was a herb havenー No, it aradise!

  "Zuzuya roots! Mikumiku! Luferia leaves! Blood Hound's Orchid! Blue Petunia! Ah! There's even some Lamon Beeflowers!" ［Yuna］

  "Yuna, be careful. You might bump into someone." ［Grey］

  "Grey, look! They have Purple Haze Springtips too!" ［Yuna］

  Grey tried to warn her, but his words came inside one ear and out to the other. She was now in her own little world, not g about everything else as she admired the wondrous and mystical ingredients and materials before them.

  With her in such a state, there was only so much Grey could do. He just followed the young dy around, making sure she didn't do anything reckless like st time. She might go ham and decre buying everything again, after all.

  To make things worse, they really do have the capacity to buy everything. Grey has tthen his heart and make sure he won't be swayed by the young dy's pleas. He o be stern and strict for once. Just like a responsible parent!

  "Haah... I wonder if this is what raising aic child feels like..." ［Grey］

  "Hm? Did you say something just now, Grey?" ［Yuna］

  "Nothing... I was just reminding you to be careful. Don't be too reckless." ［Grey］

  "Un! I'll make sure to do so! You rest assured!" ［Yuna］

  Procimed the young dy, her chest puffed proudly, looking fident as be. But it was that very fidehat Grey doesn't trust about her. He could already feel an ominous premonition looming in his heart. She didn't sound trustworthy at all.

  It was now Grey and Yuna's sed day in Xeros, and as promised the day before, they are now out expl the Herb Market to buy everything Yuna needs, a some herbs for the Guildmaster as well while they're at it.

  Well, it wasn't just the Herb Market they were expl, but the whole district which is filled with all sorts of things from pharmacies, alchemy tool shops, boratories, many libraries, museums, the Alchemists' Guild, and many more. Thus, it was often dubbed as the "Alchemists' Square" by the people.

  It ce where one could find everything one seeks for their alchemy needs from bottles and vials all the way to rare extracts which are difficult to harvest. It is amongst the busiest pces in Xeros, filled with life and colors.

  "Still... It's really big, huh..." ［Grey］

  To top it all off, it was also amongst the rgest and most poputed districts in Xeros, stretg out to an area of over a square kilometer. It was like a vilge on its own, a different atmosphere looming about it pared to the other parts of the city.

  And in the ter of such a square was a massive academy which is the dream pce of learning of every alchemist in the ti, plete with the best equipment, teag facilities, and instructors there are.

  It was also the pce which many successful alchemists have been in. It is said that every graduate of the alchemy will reach at least Tier-4, produg Tier-6 and Tier-7 alchemists from time to time. The gem of Xeros, as one might say.

  "Good m, Mister! How much are these Zuzuya roots over here?" ［Yuna］

  "Oh! You have a good eye, Miss! Those go just for 42 kiels per kilo!"

  "That cheap?! They don't look half bad tooー No, they're actually all high quality! Are there many more of these, Mister?!" ［Yuna］

  "Of course! How much do you need, Miss? We also offer a dist price of 500 kiels if you buy a dozen of them!"

  And whilst Grey about the Alchemists' Square, his bouncy fiancée had started dealing with merts, looking out for the best prices around the pd cheg the quality of the goods with a single gnce.

  Thankfully, there weren't any thieving merts like st time, otherwise, the market would have gotten rowdy again. Rather, there were many vendors which sold items even cheaper than the market pri the name of making a profit.

  "Then, Mister, I'll buy 6 dozen of these please." ［Yuna］

  "S-Six dozens?! That many?!"

  "Un! Is there a problem with that?" ［Yuna］

  "No, no! Not at all, Miss! If it's 6 dozens you want, then 6 dozens we shall give! I'll make sure to pick you the best Zuzuya roots there are!"

  He was taken aback at first, but it didn't take him long before posing himself aing ahold of reality. He might have decreased the price a little, but with 6 dozen of them, he made more profit than he ever could in aire week. He umped!

  Vigor burning brightly in his eyes, the man then searched through the Zuzuya roots with much determination, pig out the best his eyes could see and pag them into bags, a dozen roots each. His hands moved like lightning, finishing in an instant.

  Yuna then hahe man 3 whole silver s, glimmering with sheen and royalty, shining even brighter than his bald head uhe delightful m sky. It was a rare sight for him, a smile of great satisfa blooming on his face.

  "Ah, right... Do you sell other unon ingredients here too?" ［Yuna］

  "Of course! Just name what ingredients you are looking for, My Lady, and I shall assist you to the best of my humble abilities!"

  "Then I would like some Bloodfall Lily, Tilikara Mountain Roses, Grell Berries, Wolfen Viper scales, Elmoria blood, and...." ［Yuna］

  One... Two... Three... Four... Yuna named a lot of rare ingredients and materials, and the eager shopkeeper nodded his head attentively, making sure not to miss even a sihing from Yuna's long, long, long～ list.

  Of course, not everything resent in his stall, but he still tried his best to get what Yuna wanted, his hands pag the things oer another. Before one would even notice, there was already a pile of things by the ter.

  "That would be 33,160 kiels all in all, Midy."

  "33,160 kiels... Could I have it for 33 thousand instead. I boー" ［Yuna］

  "Of course! 33 thousand it is! Losing a couple kiels is nothing!"

  The man didn't eve Yuna finish, quickly accepting her deal without asking any question. He may have lost out on more than a hundred kiels, but thinking about it with a bigger picture, his profits were already ihousands.

  Once again, Yuna handed some s to the bald man, three gold and 3 silver oo be exact. The vendor then hahe bags and boxes over the other side, and the young dy received them. Both were smiling with satisfa after their quick deal.

  The man offered to help her with carrying them, but Yuna deed. With just a swipe of her hands, she quickly stored them away ie ring. The vendor was a little shocked, but seeing her buy so many goods, it only made sense.

  "Here you go, Yuna." ［Grey］

  And just as Yuna finished buying from the first stall, Grey came back to her with a red and golden mandragora by his hands. It was encased in gss, with a couple spells to protect it from danger. A very expeem, so to say.

  No, calling it expensive was nothing short of areme uatement. It actually cost Grey about 260 thousand kiels just to buy it. It was the price of a couple good houses put together. He hought he'd spend so mu a single herb after the Geldhart Au ba Erdea.

  "I-Isn't this a Kargan Elder Mandragora?! And it seems that it's at least a hundred-year old o that!" ［Yuna］

  Yuna's eyes lit up at the sight, obviously excited to see such a spe before her. She had seen them in books before, but never one in real life. It looked even more fantastic up-close, her heart bubbling with happiness as she hugged Grey.

  "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" ［Yuna］

  "Woah, woah, easy there. You'll break the gss if you're rowdy." ［Grey］

  "Ah, right! Sorry, sorry, I just got too excited. I'll store it ie ring first, and I'll make sure to make full use of it ter on!" ［Yuna］

  There was no stopping her. Just seeing the Kargan Elder Mandragora fall to her hands, Yuna could already think of a lot of things she could experiment with, making sure to utilize its unique quirks and properties.

  Of course, it wasn't just the Mandragora, but the redients and materials she just got her hand to as well. Her imagination was bursting with creativity, now itg to try them out and make the best potions she could make. In the name of Alchemy!

  "Right, Grey, where did you buy this again?" ［Yuna］

  "Oh, I bought it from a shop quite some distance away. There were also some other herbs there as well, but I don't think they're as valuable as this one." ［Grey］

  "No, it's okay! I'm sure they have a lot of iing things there! Do they also sell magits over there?" ［Yuna］

  "Magits... I think I saw some..." ［Grey］

  "Great! Let's get going the's buy all the magits they have!" ［Yuna］

  She was enthusiastic as ever, happily grabbing Grey's hands and rushi with a smile on her face. Grey could only smile at the sight of his overzealous fiancée, but there was just one problem. Just an itsy-bitsy little problem.

  "Yuna... Do you know where the shop is?" ［Grey］

  The young dy quickly stopped at Grey's words, a little "Ah..." esg her mouth as she stopped. She was so excited, she didn't even ask him, rushing straight towards a random dire. She was overzealous, alright... Emphasis on "Over"...

  And now, the young dy was greatly embarrassed, red all the way to the tip of her ears as she turned her head left and right, w where Grey came from. All to no avail. She just couldn't figure out where it was.

  "P... Please show me the way..." ［Yuna］

  "Hahaha. You silly girl, that's why I told you to not be too reckless. You just get too excited and rowdy ooo many times." ［Grey］

  "Uuu... I get it already... How embarrassing..." ［Yuna］

  As one would expect, Grey didn't waste the d grabbed Yuna's hand tightly, interlog his fingers with hers and feeling the warmth of her hands. He would be in quite a pinch if Yus lost, after all... That's right, that's the real reason,..

  Flirting and expl, Grey and Yuna then headed towards the shop the former was talking about, a paradise greeting them ihere were all sorts of unon and rare herbs, getting much more valuable the higher up they go.

  Of course, the most valuable ones were at the top flrey and Yuna immediately heading there after buying everything they needed from the previous floor. It was a floor of expense and luxury, extremely valuable herbs lined up oer another.

  "I want to buy everything here! Please, and thank you!" ［Yuna］

  Once again, Yuna decred such a statement with vigor, everyoaken aback by her words. The only differehis time is that Grey allowed her to. They were ohey would be able to use in the long run, after all.

  Some were cheaper than the Mandragora, and some were just as pricey, and there were also some which were even more expensive. Needless to say, they spent a couple milliohat day, the floor wiped of every item there is.

  After that, Grey and Yuna headed out of the shop, and spent a little bit more time expl the Alchemists' Square and buying everything they needed, raking up a couple million more in their expenses as if they were buying some cheap snacks.

  "Mmn～! So delicious! Nothing really beats a good meal after shopping!" ［Yuna］

  "Yuna, slow down. Yetting too excited again." ［Grey］

  "Ah! Should we head to another shop ter? Like a pharmacy, maybe?' ［Yuna］

  "Yuna, are you even listening?" ［Grey］

  The shopping spree tinued, and the sun soon reached its Zenith, and with it came lunch. The couple made the best out of their time, pig out the tastiest dishes they saw, enjoying another bountiful and delicious round of eating.

  They tiheir walk soon after, and if there was ohing Grey and Yuna found more exg than the herbs, it's the fact that there were also spirits to be found in the herb market, l around the herbs, drifting in the winds.

  Are the picked herbs also sidered a part of nature, Grey? ［Yuna］

  I don't know, but seeing that they stay hem, then maybe so, ［Grey］

  I think so too, though... ［Yuna］

  There's only Floating Spirits amongst them, right? ［Grey］

  Grey was n. Though Grey and Yuna did see a couple more Lesser Spirits other than the oracted to Antoie and their tracted spirits, there were only a handful of them, greatly outnumbered by the floating spirits.

  Though, it was because of that rarity that people stopped talking about ghosts and haunted forests. It would have been troublesome if it happened all the time, all over the world, after all. Very troublesome, actually.

  Moreover, it seems like the spirits are also attracted to magits of the same attribute, many floating spirits gathering around them. The rare and more mana the pnts possessed, the more attracted they seemed to the spirits.

  "Spirits, you e out now." ［Yuna］

  Yuna anded, and their tracted spirits followed. They popped out oer another after Yuna's call, h over the air and looking arouedly in the market, also clearly excited to py around and danced around the magits.

  "Fufufu! It's okay, you don't have to hold yourselves back. You py all you want. Just remember not to pull any pranks, okay?" ［Yuna］

  "Now, now, are you really in a position to say that?" ［Grey］

  "Hey! What does that mean?" ［Yuna］

  Having gotten Yuna's permission, the spirits then wandered around the pd pyed with the other spirits there. As the Floating Spirits were still pure and barely se, it looked like some toddlers pying with the babies.

  And whilst the others were pying, one of the spirits' focuses were affixed towards a certain dire. Ir was as if there was something attrag it in that dire, the spirit letting out snow as it sang chimes and hums all over the pce,

  "Is there something over there, Algenib?" ［Grey］

  Asked Grey, and the little ice spirit answered with a symphony of bells. It was subtle, but there was a clear sense of excitement in its ahe other spirits also joining it, all looking in the same dire as Algenib.

  Grey used his eyes and scouted far ahead, searg for something which the spirits may be attracted to, and to his surprise, it wasn't just a simple thing, but rather a big institution which everyone iy knew of. The heart of the Alchemists' Square

  "Hm? The Academy...?" ［Grey］

  Darius Academy, to be exact. It is the biggest academy in the Royal Capital, Xeros, which is even bigger than the Royal Academy whiurtures knights. One of the biggest institutions iy which could pete on an iional level.

  Though they still couldn't pare to the Divine Alchemist's Toolset God gave Grey, their equipment and maery were world css, able to create cos which could cost hundreds of thousand, maybe even millions in the market.

  But perhaps the most amazing thing about it was that the Academy's principal is a Tier-9, Legendary Alchemists. It was one of the main reasons why many alchemists sought to enter Darius Academy, and advaheir passion further.

  The mrey took a look at the prestigious Darius Academy, the more he realized how amazing it truly was, a ton of students enrolled and strolling around the campus. It didn't take him too long to realize what the spirits were after.

  "The Academy? Is there something going on in there?" ［Yuna］

  "No, rather than a... It seems like the spirits are attracted to the items present there... They're quite valuable too." ［Grey］

  "Ehh～.... Valuable items, huh... And those are?" ［Yuna］

  "Well, for starters, there are greenhouses full of magits, a freezing ste for monster materials, some high-level potions... It seems like they also have a rge pond for marine ingredients... And then..." ［Grey］

  Everything Grey said could be reted to nature, one way or another, ranking higher up in the list of valuable items and are treasures of the Kingdom, it was no wohe spirits were attracted to it. It was a fantastic pce.

  However, it wasn't just the spirits which were attracted to it...

  "Magits...? Did you just mention magits, Grey? You said there were high-level potions too, and a pond, right?" ［Yuna］

  "Y-Yeah... Is... Is there something wrong?" ［Grey］

  "Fufufu! No, no, not at all～! There's nothing wrong at all～!" ［Yuna］

  Or so she says, but her voice was ced with suspiciousness, a dubious smile painted on her face as she answered Grey. It was clear that she was hiding something. One which reeked of nothing but trouble.

  Yuna wasn't as ied at first, but after hearing Grey's words, as an alchemist, how could she back out when such a treasure trove was near her. She o go to Darius Academy, no matter what the cost. She was determio.

  "Yuna, whatever you're pnning, stop it already. You'll only get in trouble." ［Grey］

  "Eh? But I haven't said anythi." ［Yuna］

  "That's true, but... I see it all in your eyes, you know?" ［Grey］

  Grey procimed and the young dy's eyes quickly went swimming, evidently busted of whatever she was thinking about. It seems like Grey has spoiled her a little too much these days, the young dy ag more childish, drunk of excitement.

  "So, what were you pnning?" ［Grey］

  "Umm... Well... I just thought of using 'Nihility' and taking a peek ihout being seen... Just for a little bit, okay? Nothing too biggie." ［Yuna］

  Or so she says, but that was straight up trespassing. Once she's inside, not even God would know what shenanigans she will be up to, and what kind of trouble she might createー No, troubles, plural.

  It wasn't like Grey doesn't trust Yuna. She knows she won't do anything ill-willed harm to someone. However, poking and breaking things out of sheer curiosity aement was another matter. It was likely to happen.

  Moreover, they weren't just normal people. Besides the fact that they are celebrated as heroes, they were also High-Rankers in the eyes of the public. It would turn out to bee a rge political issue in the worst case sario. A rge pain in the ass.

  "Yuna... You do know that's a criminal act, right?" ［Grey］

  "It's okay! I'll make sure to not be caught!" ［Yuna］

  "That's not the problem here!" ［Grey］

  She was determined, alright. Too determined, actually, that it has bee w. Now that she has set her mind oing inside Darius Academy, there was no more stopping her. Grey could only heave a sigh in resignation...

  "Haah... Fine... I'll find a way to get ihe academy, legitimately." ［Grey］

  "Really?! You'll really make it, Grey?! Promise?! Do you promise?!" ［Yuna］

  "Yeah, yeah, I promise. It would be troublesome otherwise," ［Grey］

  "Yaay～! You're the best, Grey! I knew I could t on you!" ［Yuna］

  "Wait, you don't mean..." ［Grey］

  It was a trap. It was all a trap set by the mischievous young dy. In the first pce, Yuna wasn't even pnning to trespass ihe Academy's campus. She was just saying all those words trey to act, and she succeeded. It erfect.

  "You... When did you learn to be so sly..." ［Grey］

  "Teehee! I learnt from you, of course! Aren't I amazing?" ［Yuna］

  "Yeah... You're amazing, alright... I 't believe I fell for it..." ［Grey］

  Grey had noticed, but it was already too te now that he already gave his word. All he could do was own up to his promise, and fulfill his beloved's wishes. His mind is already ag just thinking how he would go about it.

  'I guess that's the only way, huh...' ［Grey］

  He had thought up a solution, but it was one which was even more troublesome. He was on a whole roller coaster of emotions whilst his fiancée was happily smiling beside him, the two in pletely different worlds....

  "Yuna, no desserts for you for a whole week." ［Grey］

  "Ehh?! Why?! Why all of a sudden?! What did I do?!" ［Yuna］

  "Well... Just because." ［Grey］

  "Th-That's unfair! Take that back! Take that back! This is abuse of authority! This is coer! Stop beiy and take that back, you big bully!" ［Yuna］

  "Yeah, yeah, sure, I'm a big bad vilin～." ［Grey］

  "Uuu... You meanie... I hate you..." ［Yuna］

  CHAPTER 359 END