Bang Bang Bang

「Grey～, wake uppppp!」Yuna

Loud knocking on the doors accompanied with a loud voice, that was what greeted me first thing in the morning.

Ugh... I still want to sleep...

Because of what I did yesterday, I didn't get much sleep. I tried to sleep again but the noise just won't die down, preventing me from doing so.

Groggily, I rose from the bed and headed to the door to stop Yuna from making more noise. Although I appreciate her trying to wake me up, the method she is using is making my head hurt. I needed to punish her for that.

「Geez, what took you so lonー」Yuna

Before Yuna could finish her sentence, I grasped her into my embrace and held her tightly, making her both flustered and confused.

「G-Grey...?」Yuna

「This is punishment for waking me up.」Grey

「I... I see...... What a cruel punishment...」Yuna

I embraced Yuna for about a minute, and during that time, I can't help looking at Yuna's flustered face as she embraced me back.

「You seem tired.」Yuna

「I tried organizing the items we got from the Labyrinth of Gale, so I didn't get much sleep.」Grey

「Sorry, I wasn't able to help.」Yuna

「Don't worry about it.」Grey

If you were there, I wouldn't have been able to make that gift for you. I'm really thankful that you accepted Liz's request.

「Ah, right. Grey, breakfast is almost ready. I came to tell you that.」Yuna

Eh? So all that noise was so that she could invite me for breakfast...?

「Pfft.」Grey

「What's so funny?」Yuna

「Nothing. I'm just thinking how cute my girlfriend is.」Grey

Hearing my sudden statement, Yuna became beet red once again as she was embarrassed from being called cute.

「W-What are you saying all of a sudden?! Surprise attacks like that are unfair!」Yuna

You say that, but you often perform surprise attacks against me. I'm just returning the favor.

「Well then, let's head to the dining room.」Grey

「H-Hey Grey! Don't ignore me!」Yuna

With Yuna complaining cutely and me teasingly ignoring her, the two of us headed to the dining room to have breakfast. There, everyone was already seated in their seats only waiting for the two of us.

「Sorry, did we make you wait?」Grey

「No, we just arrived. Anyway, why didn't you tell me yesterday that Yuna and you had become lovers?」Fritz

Eh? How did heー

「Liz told me.」Fritz

Before I could even voice out my question, Fritz already answered it. It seems like Yuna mentioned the progress in our relationship to Liz during their sleep together.

「I wasn't really trying to hide it. I just didn't have the right opportunity to tell you yesterday.」Grey

「Well, I had expected the two of you to become lovers sooner or later anyway, so even if you didn't tell me, it would only be a matter of time before I figure it out.」Fritz

You expected it, huh... Were we really that obvious?

「Still, I want to congratulate the two of you for becoming lovers.」Fritz

「Congratulations, Grey-oniisama, Yuna-oneesama!」Eliza

「Congratulations, Yuna-sama, Grey-sama. I hope the two of you will have a healthy relationship together.」Sebastian

「Please allow me to cook for your marriage.」Rhodes

Following Fritz's lead, everyone congratulated us for hooking up with each other. Though one of them is a little off into the future.

「Leaving the love talk aside, when do you two plan on going back to Galderia? I assume that you will be returning there soon now that the Labyrinth of Gale has gone inactive.」Fritz

Right... There's still that.

Although Yuna and I aren't really from Galderia, that city has become our second home. It's had just become natural to want to return there, and there's also that promise we made with Helen-san.

「Hmm... If nothing goes wrong, we might depart tomorrow morning.」Grey

「Tomorrow, huー」Fritz

Clang Clang Langggg

Before Fritz could finish his words, Liz's hands stopped from moving and her utensils fell from her hand, causing a clanging sound.

「Eh? Tomorrow?」Eliza

Ah, crap... I forgot that Liz cried heavily when we suggested moving back at an inn. I forgot how attached she became to us.

「Umm... Liz, you sー」Grey

「T-Then I have a final request!」Liz

Huh? A request?

Contrary to my expectations, Liz didn't cry over us leaving, rather, she boldly asked us to fulfill a request of hers.

After having our breakfast, Yuna, me, and Liz headed out of the mansion and then went straight out of Moterno to head to who knows where.

We were heading there to fulfill a request for us. When I asked Liz what her request was, she didn't say it, rather, she just asked us to follow her.

I'm really worried about what she's going to ask for, especially that she's bringing her weapon with her. I want to ask Liz where we were heading or what her request is, but I don't think she'll give an answer that easily.

「We're here.」Eliza

Hm? Isn't this...

When we arrived at the location, we were greeted by a familiar scenery. It was the place we once used to practice Liz's magic against goblins and trentlings.

Looking around the place, one can notice the cracks and slashes created from Liz's magic. It was as Liz's training was just yesterday, although in reality it has been more than a month already.

「So, what is your request?」Grey

Upon asking that question, Liz became quiet. She then took a deep breath and when she voiced her request, Yuna and I heard something we didn't expect.

「Please let me have a match with you!」Eliza

It was completely out of the blue, neither Yuna nor me thought that that would be Liz's request.

「Hey, Liz-chan, what are you talking about? You shouldn't joke likー」Yuna

「Yuna-oneesama, I'm serious! I want to know how strong I have become, and so, I want to have a match before the two of you leaves. I know outo-sama wouldn't permit it if I asked this during breakfast, that's why I wanted to get here before telling you. Please, this is my final request!」Eliza

Hey, Hey, you've gotta be kidding, right? That's not something a ten-year-old girl should be saying.

I wanted to tell that, but seeing the determination in her eyes, I just can't bring myself to do so. Her eyes were just burning with it.

Seriously... Ten-year-olds shouldn't have that kind of eyes.

「Hey, Liz-chan, please think of this proー」Yuna

「Liz, who do you want to fight against?」Grey

「Grey, what are you talking about!?」Yuna

「If that's her final request, then we should grant it. It would just be rude to decline her request after she mustered all that courage to ask us.」Grey

「I know that, butー」Yuna

「Don't worry, it will be fine. Trust me.」Grey

After telling those words to her, Yuna stopped going against Liz's request and also agreed to it.

「So, Liz, you will you be fighting?」Grey

「The one I want to fight is Grey-oniisama. Even though I know I'm going to lose, I want to see how well I can fare against the strongest person I know.」Eliza

The strongest person she knows, huh...

Although this is a reckless request, this is a good opportunity to teach Liz how to be humble. It will not bring her any good if she doesn't realize that there are others who are above her.

After deciding the match up, Liz and I went to our positions while Yuna stayed away and just watched us from a distance away as a spectator.

「Grey! If something bad happens to Liz-chan, I'm never going to forgive you!」Yuna

Yuna warned me as she sat on top of a boulder.

Really, she's such a worrywart. Who in their right mind would hurt a ten-year-old girl just because of a sparring match. Only crazy idiots would do that.

But, well... that side of hers is cute too.

「Grey-oniisama, are you ready?」Eliza

Ah... I should probably focus on the match...

In response to Liz's question, I nodded my head quietly, thus signaling the start of the match.

Without wasting any time, Liz unsheathed her sword and lunged herself towards me. It was a good strategy to have initiated the first move, too bad for her, my reflexes are even faster.

One after another, Liz launched an attack straight towards me, aiming for my chest, head, flanks, and legs. But every time she attacks, I would block it perfectly with my gauntlets, preventing her from landing a hit.

Seeing that her normal attacks didn't have any effect on me, Liz backed off a few steps back and then pounced towards me. She then raised her sword and...

「《Heavy Slaー」Eliza

Thinking that Liz was about to land an art from above, I raised my arms to block it, but contrary to my expectations, it was just a feint.

Seeing me fall for her feint, Liz then docked and shifted the trajectory of her sword to hitting me from below.

So this is what she was aiming for...

「《Soaring Edge》!」Eliza

A blade made out of mana materialized in front of Liz and flew straight towards my face. Luckily, because of my quick reflexes, I was able to dodge it with a frontal flip. The attack on the other hand continued flying in the direction Liz fired it and cut off a tree's branch, just some distance away.

Phew... That was close.

Even if it wouldn't have hurt me, that attack was something that could easily hurt any adventurer below G-rank. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call Liz one of the best amongst the G-rankers.

When I landed from the frontal flip, Liz didn't let me off the hook and once again started a barrage of attacks towards me.

「《Heavy Slasー」Eliza

Liz tried to fire an art, but before she could complete it, I stopped her sword with my hands, thus preventing her from doing so.

But Liz didn't stop attacking just because her weapon was caught. She quickly let go of her weapon and backed away from me, and then fired a spell.

「《Geyser》!」Eliza

As a high-pressure stream of water raced towards me, I let go of Liz's sword and evaded the attack. Seeing that, Liz quickly grabbed her sword from the ground and chased after me.

She slashed, and slashed, and slashed some more. It was a relentless barrage of attacks performed by Liz. Something no one from the same rank would be able to survive unscathed.

「Grey-oniisama! Please take me seriously!」Eliza

Unsatisfied about my performance, Liz voiced out her opinion with a serious tone.

Take you seriously, huh... I'm already fighting you with the same strength of an F-ranker, yet you are able to catch up without breaking a sweat. Just how much did you train to become this strong...

I wanted to say those words to Liz, but seeing her eyes burn fervently with passion, I just can't bring myself to say it.

Well, If that's what you want... then I'll take you with everything I've got!

I quickly broke all the limits I placed upon myself, and when I did, I went so fast that I had disappeared from Liz's point of view. She kept looking for me, but it was futile. Nevertheless, Liz didn't drop her guard down.

「There!」Eliza

When Liz detected something, she quickly lunged her sword towards there. But too bad for her, it was just a leaf decoy I created with plant magic.

Taking that chance, I quickly thrusted my fist towards Liz's body. Liz tried to block it but she was a moment too late. Just a few milliseconds before my fist could hit Liz, I quickly halted it, and then casted my attack.

「《Sleep》.」Grey

Not being able to defend from it, Liz fell for my curse magic and became unconscious, but before she fell to the ground, I skillfully caught her.

That was a good fight. You did well, Liz.

After the fight finished, Yuna came rushing towards us and checked up on Liz's condition, but since I didn't even attack her, she was perfectly fine, just exhausted.

And since we had fulfilled Liz's request, we then headed back to the mansion to let Liz rest. I also casted 《Heal》on her so that her body wouldn't hurt from rapid mana exhaustion when she wakes up.

It was already evening when Liz woke up, but during the time she was asleep, Yuna and I stayed by her side because we were worried about her.

「Huh? Where am I...」Eliza

「You're in your room, Liz-chan. We brought you here after you fell unconscious from the match.」Yuna

「Unconscious...? Oh, so it's over already...」Eliza

Hearing that the match had concluded, Liz became dejected.

「Liz-chan...」Yuna

「Ah! Don't worry about me. I knew full well how strong Grey-oniisama was even before I challenged him, so I knew that I would lose no matter what I do. Still, I'm very happy that Grey-oniisama has granted my request. I'm really thankful.」Eliza

To show her gratitude, Liz bowed her head towards me, and seeing Liz was alright, Yuna and I heaved a sigh of relief.

Hmm... If Liz is going to train even harder from now on, then I should probably give her something that will ensure her safety, but what....... Ah!

Hastily, I grabbed the last 【Divine Armor】from my『Storage』and handed it to Liz. Though it's still on its necklace form so Liz might not realize that it's an armor.

「What is this?」Eliza

「Think of it as a charm that will keep you safe. Yuna and I also have one as well.」Grey

Yuna and I then showed our 【Divine Armor】to Liz so that she can see that we were wearing one as well, and seeing it on us, Liz quickly put hers as well.

「Whaa～... I can feel something warm covering me...」Eliza

That's the armor melding inside your body. With that, you should be safe from fatal attacks.

「Grey-oniisama, Yuna-oneesama, I'll treasure it!」Eliza

「I'm happy to hear that... Well then, we'll be leaving now. Rest well, alright?」Grey

「Y-Yes. Thank you!」Eliza

Having waved our goodbyes, Yuna and I then left Liz's room so Liz could rest well. As for the two of us, we headed back to our room. But on the way there...

「That was a good idea to gift Liz-chan that. With it, she should be much farther from harm's way.」Yuna

Right, speaking of gifts...

「Yuna, I have something to give you. But close your eyes first.」Grey

「Okay...?」Yuna

After Yuna closed her eyes, I quickly grabbed the gift I worked so hard for last night. I then walked behind Yuna and attached it to her.

「It's not something weird is it?」Yuna

「Pfft. Don't worry, it isn't... Alright, you can open your eyes now.」Grey

When Yuna opened her eyes, what greeted her was a necklace with a deep emerald-green pearl in the middle.

「Hm...? Wait, isn't this?」Yuna

「That's right. It's a Gem of Tempest. I remembered that you wanted to have a Gem of Gale as your accessory, so I made that yesterday. Also... I made one for myself so we have matching accessories... Do you like it?」Grey

Embarrassed, I showed the necklace I had been wearing all this time to Yuna, and seeing it, a small smile sprouted on Yuna's face.

「Un, I love it.」Yuna

Yuna nodded her head slightly to my question, and ended the statement with a bright smile on her face.

Haah... All those efforts really paid off. Using production magic to make these was really tiring. I'm really glad she's happy with it.

「Well then, let's head to our rooー」Grey

I was about to suggest that we go back to our room, when suddenly, Yuna hugged me from behind.

「What is it now?」Grey

「Nothing, I just want to say thank you... and... I love you.」Yuna

Hm? Is this payback for what I did this morning? Well, whatever this is, I'm happy to hear those words from her.

「I love you too.」Grey

I said, with a slightly embarrassed face. And when Yuna heard it, she responded with a barely audible giggle.

Ahh... I wish I could see her face right now... But well, I'm already plenty happy with this.

「Well then, let's go back to our room. The night is getting deeper already.」Grey

「Un.」Yuna

With our hands linking with each other's, Yuna and I headed to our room, both happy and a little bit embarrassed.

CHAPTER 49 END