CLACK CLOP CLOP TAP CLACK

  Subtle thwacks and cracks echoed in the air, the occasional rustling of the leaves and whistling of the winds joining along them for a harmonious da was a show deep within the forest, streaks of bd silver darting from branch to branch.

  Lines of blue and violet cruised in the sea of green, two figures nimbly runningー or should I say, bolting throughout the ever so vast Lorinia Forest, their footsteps barely making any sound, the fresh ale breeze caressing their skin.

  The deeper they ventured into the forest, the once rexed expressions on their faces were now gone, repced with indifferent and vigint expressions as they tio run around, finally halting to a stop at the top of the opy of the forest.

  "Waah... It really is a ... Just how many are there..." ［Yuna］

  "Hmm... More than a thousand, that's for sure." ［Grey］

  It was already the middle of the afternoon, and Grey and Yuna are now done in their fingー or at least, they were forced to do so. With the appearance or a suspicious amount of Kobolds in Grey's eyes, they had to stop and take a look at the situation.

  Surely enough, it was oo be worried of. There was a rge of Kobolds in front of them, l around the forest and g a rge portion of it as their own. It is now a nd of death to those who happen to wander near.

  "Though... It seems like it isn't a Kobold King that's leading them..." ［Grey］

  "Is it a Kobold Lord then?" ［Yuna］

  "Yeah, and there's also a handful of Chiefs present here and there... There's 6... No, 7 of them to be exact, all scattered around the forest." ［Grey］

  Fortunately, it wasn't the worst case sario, however, a Kobold Lord is still a B-rank monster. With numerous D-rank Kobold Chiefs and E-rank Kobold Elites us and, it was even more dangerous than any monsters within its rank.

  It is good that monsters don't really leave the viity of its , however, if left alohe itself will tio grow and the monsters within would also bee stronger as well. If they it too much, it would bee a huge problem ter on.

  The B-rank Kobold Lord could evolve into an A-rank Kobold King with enough time and mana.Though, sihe was still retively ret, there was really o worry too mu that regard. They still have a lot of time.

  "Still, s sure are amazing, huh... To think such structures would suddenly pop out of existeh the use of mana... It's iing to think about it." ［Yuna］

  "Well, it's been quite some time since we've entered a again, after all. Has it been more than a year already?" ［Grey］

  "Un. That's right, but pared to the Gobli before, this is much, much more amazing! They look totally different!" ［Yuna］

  "That's only natural... It's a B-ra, after all..." ［Grey］

  Said Grey, his eyes swimming through the sery before him, sing every nook and y of the . There weren't only trees and boulders, but walls, pitfall traps, barracks, towers, and a couple more structures present before him.

  They have seen a couple huts and fences back at the Goblins' before, but the oanding before them were on airely different level. All the structures are made of stone, solid wood framing them, aal bits here and there.

  While it's true that the leaders of the s are a bit more "intelligent" than their wild terparts, they aren't really oo use such structures. Rather, they were there simply for aesthetic purposes and to diversify the field as well. Even God has a taste.

  Not that the has a she of strength anyway. Even with the Kobold Lord and the higher-ranked variants, there were still a couple hundred Kobold Warriors and just around 2 thousand Kobolds present. It was enough t a town to ruin.

  "Well, even if it's a B-ra with a B-rank Boss, it's still no match for us. Should we quickly this mess up, Yuna?" ［Grey］

  "U's bet this over quickly and tinue colleg herbs!" ［Yuna］

  "Hahaha. All you really think about is herbs, isn't it?" ［Grey］

  Asked Grey and the young dy answered with but a sweet and adorable smile. She already had her fun with the Kobolds from before, and she could py a little with the ones before her. There was no way she wouldn't be excited.

  Nor minding other things any mrey then heaved a quiet sigh and looked in front of him. He extended his arms and the winds started to blow once more. He poured a bit more mana and bsted the fools several dozeers away, not.

  "Ah! Grey! Wait a minute!" ［Yuna］

  He couldn't even start his t, and Yuna already stopped him. There was a vivid trace en her eyes, urging Grey to stop immediately. It was a pletely different expression from the one she wore just a couple seds ago.

  If it weren't for the sound-insuting barrier Grey previously made, the enemies would have beeed by such a loud noise by now. They would have probably engaged in a more troublesome and more tiring battle.

  "G-Grey! Let's not use magic here for now, okay?" ［Yuna］

  "Hm? Is there something wrong with it?" ［Grey］

  "That's not it! If you use magic right now, yoing to blow away the magits I just found! We 't have you do that!" ［Yuna］

  And of course, the reason was her than the magits blooming ever so beautifully by the er of her eyes. They have a white and pinkish tone spreading on their petals. They were beautiful and rare flowers named "Urduja Menfellis".

  Yuna had already searched the whole forest for rare and useful alchemy materials, and she has found quite a lot of iing ohe magits before them are such rare flowers. There was no way she was willing to have them damaged.

  "Haah... You really surprise me to no end, My Dear." ［Grey］

  "So, let's not use magic, okay? A's have a petition too, while we're at it. That sounds like a lot of fun, doesn't it?" ［Yuna］

  "Alright.... As long as you're happy..." ［Grey］

  There was o think too much about it. Grey simply accepted Yuna's terms and ceased to use wind magiy further. He just equipped his trusty gaus and cracked his fist a little bit, readying himself for the battle ahead of them.

  Well, with or without magic, it's not like it makes a differenyway. Grey could still beat up the Kobold Lord with but a single finger, and Yuna could also do the same. Rather than feel burdened by the handicap, it was actually rather exg,

  Of course, that also meant that the familiars and spirits would be pying around as well. They had already ged their forms into that of a panther's, one more suitable in the forest with its agile movements and sharp cws.

  "Are you ready everyone～?" ［Yuna］

  """Yes!""" """Yeah!""" "At your and, Mistress."

  Yuna made a graion and everyone else sang with her, the soft chimes of the spirits pying along their cries. They soon vanished into thin air, the forest now once again peaceful as the pnts tio reach for the sun.

  Or at least... It was quiet and peaceful for a short while...

  KHIIEEEKKKK ROAAARRRR GAAAAKKKK

  Unknown figures suddenly appeared out of nowhere and struck the Kobolds patrolling the east. Blood was drawn as the figures were graced with light, blood trig down the leaves and ass, dyeing the sery red.

  The Kobolds couldn't even grasp what was happening, more of their kin dying off before their very eyes. With each passing sed, numerous thuds resounded all over the air, a storm of mana brewing as they vanished oer another.

  Some Kobolds mao react, quickly raising their cws. However, they were nowhere near quiough. Before they could even ssh their cws, several deadly wounds already appeared all over their bodies, extinguishing their fmes of life.

  "You're not going anywhere." ［Grey］

  "Not so fast! Haap!" ［Yuna］

  Even those which were far away weren't safe, bdes of silver and red, and boulder-shattering fists rushing off towards their dire, b holes through their bodies and cutting them down without mercy.

  Some tried to terattack, but before their strikes could even reach a hair of them, Grey and Yuna had already reacted, nding a ter of their own. The enemies couldn't even scratch them, their lives taken away in the blink of an eye.

  SLASH SLASH KHIEEEKKKK UUGAAARRR

  The familiars and spirits were just as formidable, taking down enemies without any hitches nor problems. A single ssh and dozens of enemies were fell. They may not be able to use any magic, but their physical strength was not any weaker.

  Even the spirits which are the weakest of them were making siderable progress, taking down the lower ranked Kobolds and Kobold Warriors. They didn't use mana, only using the physical advahey held.

  Time and time again, the Kobolds fell helplessly, a tsunami of death engulfing them like there was no tomorrow. In but a single minute, over a hundred of them already passed to the other side, leaving only a couple items behind.

  GUUUURAAAAARRRRRRRKKKKK

  Finally, the Lord has graced everyoh its presence, appearing with a booming roar directed towards everyo brought with it its Chiefs, all equipped with their ever so reliable gaus, their sharp and cws poking out them.

  G G G G FWICK THWACK

  And just as it made its appearahe ever so pyful spirits did something quite ued. Alpheratz suddenly created a sharp thorn ced with a searing poison and shot it towards the Kobold Lord at great speeds.

  Of course, with the strength difference of an F-rank Lesser Spirit and a B-rank Kobold Lord, there was no way the attack did anything. It was able to hit it, but it didn't even graze its tough skin. Even the poison didn't take effect, barely stinging a little.

  "Alpheratz... You..." ［Grey］

  However, despite how much of a failure of an attack it was, the little pnt spirit was still happy that it he attack. The sound of ge cheerful chimes danced in the air whilst the spirit celebrated... It was able to provoke the Kobold Lord.

  GUUUURRRAAAKKKKK SMASH SMASH BOOM BOOM

  Filled with a burning rage areme hostility, the Kobold Lord shed out towards the little spirit, its sharp cws glimmering along its gau as it killed its way through the forest, decimating everything in its path, may it be friend and foe.

  The Kobold Lord filled both its fists with all its strength and leaped towards the party at breakneck speed, riding the rushing winds. It then brandished it towards them, the winds howling from the shockwave and the whole surroundings shredded by the gale.

  However, it was still far from enough. Everyone dodged the attack quickly, Grey and Yuna pulling away the spirits from the trajectory of the strike. All it did was crater the ground and squashing every pnt in the area to green paste.

  That's right... It squashed the pnts Yuna tried so hard to protect, some unon herbs turned into useless rubbish, and the "Urduja Menfellis" just a few meters away from utter destru. Yuna was frozen at the sight, a dark expression looming over her beautiful face, uo utter a single word.

  ROOOOAAAAARRRRRRRR

  The Kobold Lord didn't waste the ce that Yuna was still petrified and pou her quickly. Its massive cws aimed for her delicate figure, the winds howling once again as it rushed towards the young dyー or at least it was about to.

  It was all too sudden, the said young dy vanishing into thin air without any warning. All the Kobold Lord could ssh was the air and some wild pnts, its eyes then hastily shifting towards its right, a familiar figure appearing out of the blue.

  That figure was her than Yuna whose eyes were now burning with rage. It may be void of true emotions, but at that moment, the Kobold Lord felt fear surging in its heart. The stares of the young dy were oo swallow it whole.

  "You almost destroyed my magit! Bad dog!" ［Yuna］

  Procimed the young dy, all the while raising her hand to the air. She opened her palm wide and brought it rushing down towards the Kobold Lord. It struck like a wild meteor, eg at lightning speed towards the Kobold Lord's face.

  BOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM

  An ear-pierg thundering shockwave rocked the whole forest, and the Kobold Lord was sent flying a few hundred meters away. It collided with numerous massive trees and boulders just as massive, a series of thuds and crashes orchestrated in a moment.

  The crashing soon stopped and the Kobold Lord y unscious on the ground. However, its head was already oher way around and its eyes were white as the clouds drifted above them. It had already lost its life.

  CRACK CRACK CRACK CRASSSHHHHH THUD BOOM BOOM

  And amongst the trees the Kobold Lord collided with, one particurly rge oowards the young dy's rea. Yuna was able to dodge it with ease, however, the same couldn't be said for the "Urduja Menfellis".

  "Nooo!! My magic paaaaannt!!" ［Yuna］

  Yuna soon realized her mistake, but before she could even grab the poor pnts, it was already smashed by the massive log, resonant thuds eg throughout the forest as the ground trembled a couple times.

  The young dy was frozen once again, her eyes wide in shock as she kowards the ground. She tried to roll the log over, but there was no saving it, the magits were already crushed beynition. She could still use them for alchemy, but she couldn't grow and cultivate them anymore.

  "Noo... My magits...." ［Yuna］

  They were the same words, but the tone couldn't be any more different. Tears formed in the er of the young dy's eyes, streaking down her beautiful face. There was only gloom in the dark expression of hers.

  The Kobold Lord was already subjugated, but the feeling of rese still remained. Yuna turned her head towards the remaining Kobolds, eyes still trig with tears. She didn't about what she said before, a blizzard of blue brewing in the forest,

  "You mean dogs! I will make sure to discipline you!" ［Yuna］

  Decred the young dy as the winds brew colder and harsher. Icicles of ied by the dozens, shooting out towards all dires, pierg the Kobolds and b rge, gaping holes through their bodies without much resistance.

  "Master... What should we do about the Mistress?" ［Rigel］

  "Haah... Let's just leave her be. I'm sure she'll snap back to her usual once she's doing out her anger." ［Grey］

  It was her own fault for being haughty... Is what Grey wao say. However, with the way his beloved is right now, there was no way he could stop her. It was better to just leave her be, even if it meant that the whole area had to be destroyed.

  "Vega, Capel, help me out repair the forest ter, alright?" ［Grey］

  "Okay～!" ［Vega］  "U-Uood!" ［Capel］

  "Then, everyone, let's go around the forest once again. Maybe we'll find some new and rare magic herbs to sole Yuna with. Let's do our best!" ［Grey］

  """Yes!!""" """Uood!""" """Yeah～!!"""

  And look around they did. Whilst Yuna was venting out her anger on the Kobolds, everyone else searched for any and every useful herb they could. They filled the "Iory" with all colors from the rainbows, brimming with life and vitality.

  "Ooh! Master, I found some strange flowers over here!" ［Vega］

  "I as well, Master. They have a bit of mana flowing within them." ［Sirius］

  "Hahaha! Don't fet about me! I think I got the best one over here! Just look at how big it is! Aren't I amazing, Master?!" ［opus］

  It was as easy as 1, 2, 3, the familiars finding a mountain of herbs as they zoomed all throughout the forest. With eyes sharp as theirs and maivity parable to Grey's, it was no problem sniffing out rare magits.

  G G G G G

  The spirits who were very close to nature were extremely useful as well. They could easily identify the area where mana is gathered, especially in the form of aether. They were areas where magits tend to flourish like fertile gardens.

  From iridest orchids ging on tree brao weeds which pull on unsuspeg victims. There were all sorts of magits all over the Lorinia Forest. Some may not be as rare as the others, but they were still very useful.

  "Where do you think yoing?!" ［Yuna］

  BUHHHIIIIIIKKKK HIIIKKKKKKK KHIEEKKKKK

  And the young dy's venting was still far from over. After the plete decimation of the Kobolds, she is now hunting down aerminating all sorts of mohat mao catch her eyes, chasing them fervently.

  "You're all finished! ??Icicle Shotgun??!" ［Yuna］

  Yuna leaped into the air and bone-chilling frost gathered in her palms. Magic ks of ied simultaneously, spinning faster and faster as they took the forms of icy spears, then shooting out like bolts of blue lightning, streaking ever so freely.

  The enemies held not a single ce against the still enraged young dy, nces of blue and white pierg their bodies whole, sending deadly chills down their spines. It was a quid easy death, their fmes of life engulfed by the power of frost.

  "Yuna, there's some Kobolds about 600 meters away, 8 o'clock." ［Grey］

  "Ah, un! Thank you so much, Grey!" ［Yuna］

  "No worries. Just make sure to get back before su. It would be a pain to get in ter with all the people." ［Grey］

  "Un! I'll make sure to keep that in mind!" ［Yuna］

  And rather than scold her, Grey was instead encing. Not only is it a good way for Yuna to relieve her frustrations and have fun as well, but also a way to clear out the unnecessary dangers for their uping csses involving explorations. It was killing two birds with oone.

  KHIIEEEEKKKK GUUURRRRKKKKK UUWAAAKKKKK

  The cries and bellows of the monsters rang like a pitiful and gloomy symphony in the forest. The once lush and verdant forest was now dyed a deep red color, thousands of lives lost in a matter of moments, a massacre unfolding uhe skies.

  Time passed by quickly. In the blink of ahe sky had already ged colors and the sun had already set over the faraway horizon. Grey, Yuna, and everyone else had gone back to Xeros, happy after a satisfying day.

  Though, they didn't just head straight towards the Camellia Valley. First, they headed towards the Academy and then to the Headmaster's office. They still had quite the important io report, after all.

  "Haah... Just wait a minute..." ［Fran］

  Of course, that matter was about the Kobold Grey and Yuna just spotted and also their quick subjugation about it. They told the whole report to the Headmaster, only cutting out the unnecessary part.

  "So let me get this straight... Umm... You took a quest to the forest... Collected some herbs... Found the Kobolds' by ce... And subjugated the whole ...? Did I miss something?" ［Fran］

  "Un! That's right, Headmaster!" ［Yuna］

  "I see... As expected of Transdents..." ［Fran］

  Or so he says, but deep down in his heart, he knew full well how puzzled he was. The fing of herbs just couldn't be any further by the sudden and swift subjugation of the Kobolds' . It was in no way a normal flow of events.

  In the first pce, while the academy is aware of the presence of Kobolds, they have yet to firm whether it truly was a or not. They had already sent a scout team before, but they have yet to bear fruit in their progress.

  Though, knowing how powerful Grey and Yuna were, it didn't really e as much of a surprise. If it was anyone else, he might have suspected them of going crazy from what nonsehey just spouted. The two were in a pletely different league.

  "Haah... I don't know whether I should be ughing ..." ［Fran］

  "Hahaha. We'll take that a pliment then, Headmaster." ［Grey］

  "Haah... You two really are something else..." ［Fean］

  The only problem now is how to rey such a sudden message to the others. They had already spent quite a lot of effort, but to think it was solved ever so suddenly. It was a wele surprise, but not ohout drawbacks.

  Of course, there was also a matter of rewarding the ones who saved them such a lot of trouble. They could offer to buy the materials they brought for a profit or have the two of them be rewarded with items and properties.

  Regardless, it was more work for the already busy him....

  "ht... Headmaster, you keep it a secret that we were the ones who defeated the Kobolds' ?' ［Grey］

  "A secret, huh... Why would you do that when you receive a lot of bes after being those hailed as heroes? Shouldn't you think about it more thhly?" ［Fran］

  "Ehh... No... I don't want to... It's so troublesome..." ［Yuna］

  "Yeah. We just want to lead a normal life... Or at least a more normal one." ［Grey］

  Preached Grey and the young dy nodded fervently after him. They already had enough titles to get busy. There was no way they're up for having more. They refused with all their might.

  "Haah... Alright, I'll try to see what I do. Don't get your hope too high, though. I'm just an old man, after all." ［Fran］

  More work awaits the Headmaster....

  CHAPTER 370 END