The wind was fresh and , the sky was a blue vas painted with patches of white and gray, and the pins were as green as one could be, littered with trees and grass all over the pce. Such beautiful sery was served on a lovely afternoon.

  Clip Clop Clip Clop

  In such breathtaking sery, a peculiar sound danced along the wind as the hooves of horses hit the hard ground. It was one apanied by neighing of horses and the merry chattering of people.

  Within the green pins which stretched as far as the eye see, one could see a road, small yet pinly visible. It was the highway which many carriages take in order to get to vilges, towns, and cities alike.

  "By the way, Chief, how long would this journey be?" ［Grey］

  "Hm... Not long at all. Three... maybe four hours...? Don't worry about it, we'll arrive there before you notice it." ［Chief］

  The Chief ended his statement with a bright smile as he once again looked back at the sery unfolding before him. He was humming to himself as looked left and right, watg the small critters across the road.

  After Grey and Yuna bought the potatoes from the vilgers, the both of them had been invited over for lund the whole vilge ate happily like one big family. It was a fun time where people just eheir lives, living at the moment.

  It was only after lunch that the escort quest had officially started. Grey and Yuna's task was to guard the carriage along the jouro another vilge. Of course, what they were guarding were her than potatoes, two whole carriages worth of potatoes to be exact.

  Sihe vilge has grown, it has been selling bulk amounts of potatoes in the nearby vilges, and to eheir safety, they had been hiring adveo escort them along the way. It was a on practi Merusia.

  "Right, right, I should probably tell you young'uns about this beforehand... Mmm... Don't be too surprised when we arrive there, got it?" ［Chief］

  The Chief issued a warning to Grey and Yuna, making the tter tilt their heads in fusion. They didn't know what the Chief was talking about nor did they know where they were heading to.

  As the sun slowly desded from the sky, the journey tinued on smoothly. There weren't any bandits nor moo be seen on the road, only the occasional small critters at the sides of the road.

  It was already te afternoon, the sky was still blue and in the horizon, a vilge slowly came into view. pared to the Balta vilge just a while ago, the vilge in front of them looked retively new, or rather, made with retively new materials.

  Just a few distance away from the vilge, a rge broken up wastend could be seen spanning a couple hundred meters across. It was a familiar peither Grey nor Yuna could fet even if they wao.

  "Hm...? Grey, isn't this..." ［Yuna］

  "Hahahaha, that's right, young miss. It's the Feros vilge!" ［Chief］

  The Chief announced boisterously as the carriages stopped at the entrance. Although the name was unfamiliar, the location, the ruins, and everything else erfect match. It was the same vilge they saved from the Orc Horde.

  Although it hasn't even been half a year since Grey and Yuna saved the vilge, the vilge had already recovered to the point where it would seem they haven't even received a disaster in the first pce.

  "Your IDs, please."

  "Ohoho, here you go." ［Chief］

  The guard looked at the Chief's ID for a hot moment befiving it ba. After the Chief, everyone else also gave their IDs to be ied.... Well, almost everyone was able to hand out their IDs.

  "Here you gー"

  As the guard returned one of the vilgers' ID, his eyes mao catch Grey and Yuna. The very moment he saw the two of them, he immediately froze in pce as if he just saw a couple of ghosts.

  The uards, seeing him tense up, also looked at the dire the guard's eyes were fixated on. They had the very same rea as soon as Grey and Yuered their view.

  "I-It's Lrey and Lady Yuna!"

  "Hurry, call the Chief over! Tell him Lrey and Lady Yuna are here!"

  They didn't eveheir IDs, just their faces were enough for them tnize who they were. The guards were quickly dropped into a state of panic as they tried tahemselves.

  Hurriedly, one of the guards headed ihe vilge, running towards the Chief's house's dire. The others who remained fixed themselves for a short while before paying respects to the two youths before them.

  "Your Excellencies, we wele you to the Feros vilge!"

  Leading the uards, the head guard greeted Grey and Yuna politely, bowing his head as respectfully as he could. The ones beside and behind them followed suit and also bowed their heads afterwards.

  Grey and Yuna, who were on the receiving end of such a stiff greeting, couldn't do anything but smile awkwardly. Meanwhile, the Chief's face stered with a big grin, clearly enjoying the situation.

  "Uh... Umm... Please raise your heads." ［Grey］

  "A-As you wish!"

  It only took a siatement from Grey for the guards to raise their heads. As soon as they stood upright, one could clearly see the shining expressions on their faces as if they were looking like some sort of God or something.

  Only after the eye-catg demonstration of the guards did Grey and Yuna uand what the Chief meant when he said not to be too surprised. Well, rather than surprised, it would be more appropriate to say they were baffled.

  While Grey and Yuna had experienced a with many formalities, it was the first time it has been so intense. Rather than simple respect the others had shown, it was more like the guards are revering them,

  "Now, now, why don't we head inside first. I'm sure Chief Regas is waiting for us. Why don't you king guards lead the way?" ［Chief］

  "Ah, how rude of me! Let me escort all of you inside."

  Politely as one be, the head guard led everyone ihe vilge. The carriages were also let in and were parked in the vilge ter, successfully garnering the attention of the vilgers.

  "Lrey, Lady Yuna! And Chief Kus too! It's good to see you again. How have you all been?" ［Regas］

  Shortly after the carriages were parked, an elderly man, about the same age as the Barta vilge Chief, Kus, came out and greeted all of them. An even more delighted expression stered on his face.

  "Hahaha, I'm still in good health. These old bones are still fine and dandy!" ［Kus］

  "We're also fihank you for asking." ［Yuna］

  "We're gd to see you again too, Chief Regas. It seems like the vilge restoration has e along well," ［Grey］

  "Hohoho, you say that again. It was all thanks trey and Lady Yuna's help that we could return to our daily lives." ［Regas］

  Regas said as he silently looked at the vilge he so dearly loves. The happy faces of the vilgers and the beauty of the vilge itself, all of which were engraved into his aged mind.

  The money which Grey and Yuna doo the vilge restoration has been in good hands. With it, not only was the vilge restored, there have also been many improvements made all across the vilge.

  Just like Barta vilge, Feros vilge's living ditions have also improved after Grey and Yuna's help. It was because they were both helped by Grey and Yuna that they were able to ect with one another and form a partnership.

  If Barta vilge grows tons and tons of potatoes to be made into chips and fries, then Feros vilge was to grow tomatoes for the ketchup. Not only tomatoes, they also grow various crops for the sauces Grey provided the recipes for.

  "Oh, Lrey, Lady Yuna. If you would like, do you want to have a tour around the vilge?" ［Regas］

  Regas offered as he looked back at Grey and Yuna. He wao show their saviors around to see what kind of improvements they have made and also have the vilgers thank him as they go around.

  "Umm... We'd love to, but we're on a quest right nowー" ［Grey］

  "Hahaha, don't worry about it, young man. Your quest was only to escort us from and to our vilge. Now that we're here, you take your time and have your lovely stroll around." ［Kus］

  "Hohoho, then shall we?" ［Regas］

  With no other choices left, Grey and Yuna were led around by Regas to explore the vilge. pared to the ruined vilge they remembered, it was a much better pce where the people's smiles were all over the pce,

  Every time the vilgers met Grey and Yuna, they always bowed their heads slightly to greet them. Some vilgers talked to them and offered them some gifts, which they accepted politely iurn.

  "Big Bro! Big Sis! Do you want to py?"

  Ily, a child approached Grey and Yuna and asked such a question. Behind the child were other children in the vilge who were pying tag before they spotted the two walking by.

  "Now, now, children, don't disturb Their Excellenciesー" ［Regas］

  "No, it's alright, Chief. We'll py with them." ［Yuna］

  Regas tried calmly to stop the children from b Grey and Yuna, but trary to his expectations, the two were actually quite fond of pying with children. After all, they have handled Eliza, Elnart, and Galvin in the past.

  Yuna was especially excited to py with the children. It has been a while since she pyed with children and was looking forward to it.

  "Noould like to py with Big Sis and Big Bro here?" ［Yuna］

  "Me! Me!"

  "Me too!"

  The children quickly raised their hands as they respoo Yuna's question with faces filled with excitement and happiness. Grey also joined in on the fun and pyed tag with the vilge children.

  For mio pass, Grey and Yuna ran around the vilge with the children along them. Sometimes they were "it" and sometimes they would be the ones chased. Of course, they made it so that their speeds match the children.

  As they pyed, Regas and the vilgers couldn't help but look at them with warm eyes. The hearts of the vilgers have grown closer to them. They looked up to them not only as heroes, but as good people as well.

  Time passed and the sky started to ge colors. It was only then that Grey and Yuna stopped pying with the children as they were called by their parents to rest and have their seats wiped.

  "Aren't you tired, Your Excellencies?" ［Regas］

  "No, not at all. Right, Yuna?" ［Grey］

  "Un! We had a lot of fun!" ［Yuna］

  "Hohoho, I'm very gd to hear that. It has been a while sihe vilge has been this lively. It was quite a lovely sight." ［Regas］

  Regas' eyes once again shifted away from Grey and Yuna to the children who were now with their parents, drenched i after pying so mud wearing bright smiles on their faces.

  "Then, shall we tinue our stroll?" ［Regas］

  "Yes." ［Grey］

  "Un!" ［Yuna］

  As the sky tio ge colors, Regas ti Grey and Yuna around the vilge as they chatted about many iing topics. Just like before, they received tless gifts from the vilgers as they passed by them.

  With the sun nearing its sleep, the sky had started to turn amber and the smell of supper wafted throughout the whole vilge as eae started to cook their own dinner for their families.

  g g g

  But amongst the aromatic smells spreading around, one smell in particur stood out the most. It was the smell of sweat, metals, and fire, apanied with loud g echoes a of fmes emanating all throughout.

  They were sensations Grey was too familiar with. The heat, the sounds, the smell, the sight, they were all familiar to him as if they were ingrained into his mind and body. A certain part of him was gettied just by hearing the sound of hammers striking the metals.

  "A smithy?" ［Grey］

  It was a smithy, a pce where bcksmiths pour their all into making the best works they . From simple iron nails to magnifit ons, they deal with all kinds of metal works, and even master leatherw and tail if o. It was also the reason why high ranking bcksmiths are also called master craftsmen.

  "Lrey, are you perhaps ied?" ［Regas］

  "Oh, I take a look inside?" ［Grey］

  "Hohoho, sure, sure. Look as much as you ." ［Regas］

  With Regas' permission, Grey ehe smithy with his eyes full of curiosity. The very momeepped ihe magnitude of heat from the furnaces caressed his face as if weling him.

  There were four people ihe smithy, all of which were men whose muscles were toned by the amount of heavy work they gh every day. The moment Grey, Yuna, and Regas ehe smithy, all four pairs of eyes quickly nded upon them.

  "Chief! What brings you here?" ［Head Bcksmith］

  One man in particur stopped his work and greeted Regas. He was in his te forties and was very muscur that one would mistake him for a knight if it wasn't for his outfit and the thick goggles he was wearing.

  "Nothing much. Just t Lrey and Lady Yuna around the vilge. Lrey said he wao take a look around the smithy." ［Regas］

  "Wait! Lrey and Lady Yuna visited?! Where are they?!" ［Head Bcksmith］

  "They just entered. Have your eyes gone blind already?" ［Regas］

  Hearing Regas' words, the head bcksmith's head turned left and right in search of Grey and Yuna. He removed his thick goggles, rubbed his eyes over and ain and then searched around until he saw them.

  "Ah! Your excellehere you are! It's been a long time!" ［Head Bcksmith］

  A loud voied all over the smithy the moment the head bcksmith found Grey and Yuna. He eically gave the two of them a tight hug. It was fortuhat the two were high-rankers, otherwise, they would have been really hurt.

  It wasn't the first time Grey and Yuhe man. When the vilgers were still seeking refuge in Galderia, they often visited the vilgers to see how they were doing, providing as much aid as they could.

  The st time they saw the head bcksmith, he was very downcast, barely showing aions on his face other than sadness. pared to before, he was much happier and looked much healthier.

  "Ram! Let go of Their Excellencies! Have you fotten how sweaty and greasy you are right now?!" ［Regas］

  "Ah! I apologize, Your Excellencies. I didn't realize!" ［Ram］

  Hearing Regas' words, Ram, the head bcksmith, quickly let go of Grey and Yuna. The other bcksmiths behind him could only ugh wryly at his thoughtlessness.

  "No, no, it's alright. This much is nothing." ［Grey］

  "Un... Look... "Wash" "Dry"." ［Yuna］

  With a quick demonstration from Yuna, her and Grey's clothes were quickly ed at a moment's notice. The eyes of the others present opened wide in amazement. They have never seen such useful magic before.

  "A-Amazing! All the grime quickly disappeared!" ［Ram］

  "Hehe, this much is nothing. There have been times when Grey was even dirtier after f some things." ［Yuna］

  "Oh?! Lrey knows smithing as well?!" ［Ram］

  A surprised voice rang out of Ram's mouth as soon as he learnt such a faot only his, the others' heads also looked at Grey as well as they scrutihe tter's body. No matter how much they looked at him, Grey didn't look like o all.

  pared to the muscur bcksmiths in the smithy, although well-built, Grey's body was on the leaner side. It wasn't that he couldn't grow any muscles, he just didn't choose to. His current figure was what he was most fortable with, be it while fighting or just living his daily life.

  "Is that the reason why you wao see the smithy, Lrey?" ［Regas］

  "Well, yeah... It has been some time since I've fed something. I was just w whether I could try f a little bit." ［Grey］

  "Oh! Lrey is going to try f?! Please show us your work!" ［Ram］

  Ram was very enthusiastic upon hearing Grey's words. His eyes were brimming with curiosity as he looked at Grey like a toddler who just found a picture book full of dinosaurs.

  "Then, I borrow the furnace a little bit?" ［Grey］

  "Sure! Sure! I also want to see Lrey in a!" ［Ram］

  Everyone's eyes on him, Grey picked up a hammer from the smithy and grabbed a single iron ingot. He then headed to the smithy, grabbed a couple more tools, and then started te.

  The light in Grey's eyes quickly ged as soon as he heated the iron in the furnace. With fire magic, he easily trolled the fmes, heating the iron to the perfect temperature before taking it out.

  As Grey pced the iron on the anvil, his right hand, bearing the hammer, quickly struck the iron with the perfect amount of ford speed unattainable by normal humans. He had entered bcksmith mode.

  Each time Grey's hammer struck the hot iron, a clear resounding sound echoed throughout the smithy as the iron was bent into the shape Grey wanted. It didn't take too long for the simple piece of iron to start looking like a real sword.

  Ram's eyes as he saw Grey striking the iron again and again were filled with fmes of amazement as he tio listen to the clear sounds the strikes made and watched the sparks fly out of it.

  "No way... An expert...?" ［Ram］

  Ram was in shock as soon as his realization hit him. The others who heard his words were shocked as well, but after seeing Grey's performahere was no room for doubt iheir minds.

  While Bcksmiths, Alchemists, and Enters alike are ranked from Tier 1 to Diviier, there are also other terms which are used as prefixes to determiheir skills and tiers.

  Tiers 1 and 2 are called "Novices". The iers, 3 and 4, are "Adepts" which are sidered true practitioners of their professions. Then there's tiers 5 and 6 called "Experts". Following them are the tiers 7, 8, 9, 10, and Divine, which are hailed as "Masters", "Grandmasters", "Legendary", "Mythical", and "Divine", respectively.

  Ram was a Tier 4 bcksmith, in other words, a, falling behind to Grey who was an expert at Tier 6. While Ram's skill was already amongst the best within those at Tier 4, it was nothing in parison to Grey.

  "Amazing..." ［Ram］

  There was no frustration in Ram's voice as he saw Grey's beautiful form. He felt humbled seeing such a young mahe hammer and striking the hot iron. All he had was awe.

  Several mier, Grey had stopped hammering and tempering, proceeding to polishing and sharpening the sword. A couple more mier, a perfectly made iron sword was made.

  While it takes days on medieval Earth te a sword, the process is sped up in Merusia where mana and magic resent. Even then, it takes a bcksmith of Ram's caliber a few hours to make o was much slower than Grey who didn't even take half an hour.

  "Lrey! Please take me as your disciple!" ［Ram］

  As soon as Grey finished, not only Ram, the other bcksmiths also kneeled before him asking him to take them as disciples. Of course, Grey refused as much as he could. It took him several mio vihem, even with the help as.

  After heading out of the smithy, Grey and Yuna, led by Regas, headed towards the vilge ter where a lot of people were gathered, enjoying diogether as if they were having a feast.

  "Oh, young'uns! You're finally here! e o's celebrate!" ［Kus］

  "Lrey, Lady Yuna, e join us!"

  "Would you like some roast pork?"

  "Big Sis, Big Bro, let's eat together!"

  Prompted by Kus' words, all heads turrey and Yuna's dire. One by ohe vilgers offered them drinks and food to eat as if there was no tomorrow. It was a very happy celebration.

  The feast iion was one made in a jiffy so that they could show Grey and Yuna their gratitude. While the two were surprised by the sudde, it leasant one. Both of them were gd that the vilgers were now wearing such happy faces.

  The night grew deeper and deeper and with it, the celebration only grew louder as they dahe night away. It was the first time Grey and Yuna had experienced such a feast. It was a night where another unfettable memory was born.

  CHAPTER 116 END