The leaves swayed along the playful winds, vines dancing in the air as the gales passed them by. Flowers bloomed ever so beautifully in the vast forest, grasping silently for the sun as the clouds drifted ever so lazily.
Blades of grass and spades of leaves, both green and bountiful. The little critters munched on them and so did the little bugs, their chirping echoing harmoniously. Everything was fine and dandy... It was a normal day...
WHOOOOOOOONNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGG
... Or at least it would seem at first, when out of nowhere, a massive pillar of golden light came crashing down the world and into a silent building. It was massive and conspicuous, like a beacon reaching out to the heavens above.
Funnily enough, the current scenery was not playing out in the real world. Everything as far as the eye can see was the Sanctuary, now a full-fledged ecosystem with plants and animals alike. As for the recent golden beam...
"Yaaay～! I did it! I made another one!" ［Yuna］
... It was the result of Yuna successfully concocting yet another Legendary-Grade potion in her laboratory. Her smile was even brighter than the beam, reaching from ear to ear as she did her little celebratory dance.
A new day has passed since Grey and Yuna spent the day with the children, and after much debate, they told Melchor and the other adults of their plans. It took some convincing, but they soon gave their approval to let the children train.
After all, even if the children don't become adventurers, they will still be able to fend for themselves if danger ever comes their way. Of course, they will also be helping out and see to it that trustworthy adventurers will train them.
Seeing the children work so hard to gather their courage and try even harder in achieving their dreams, Yuna felt motivated and started making new potions in her Laboratory. She just made her 3rd one right now.
"Let's see... Let's name this one... Ah! Right! The 'Tear of Revelation'! That's quite the fitting name, isn't it?" ［Yuna］
The Legendary-Grade potion she made has the effect of multiplying one's senses, acuity, and intelligence several folds, enabling one to practically learn everything about their immediate surroundings and sense things they've never known before.
It was inspired by Grey's "Divine Mind" and "Divine Eyes", and though the effect only lasts several hours and the range is less than a hundred meters, it would be very useful during battle, scouting, and various other situations.
RUMMMMBBBBLLLLLEEEEE BOOM BOOM BOOM
And just as Yuna was admiring her new work, a loud rumble and a series of booms came ringing for a very far distance. The ground shook a little and the winds danced with excitement, the grass swayed by its whims.
"Fufufu! It seems like they're having fun." ［Yuna］
However, there was no need to fret. While it may look like a catastrophe from afar, it was simply Grey and the Familiars training and sparring against one another, making sure they are still in shape and continuing to hone their skills.
They are already a dozen kilometers away, but the shock and tremors still managed to reach Yuna's laboratory. Thankfully, everything around her was protected by a thin yet resistant barrier, not a single bit of damage to be seen all over the place.
"Mmn～! I knew it! This tea is the best!" ［Yuna］
Yuna is so relaxed about the situation, she is even drinking tea amidst the rumbles, rewarding herself for the hard work. It was a specialty tea she made, nothing less than a Superior-Grade potion as it was made by several rare magic plants.
"Fufu! Should I make some for Grey too?" ［Yuna］
It has recovery and calming effects and also cleanses the body of filth and impurities. However, that isn't what matters to Yuna... She made it simply because it was sweet and tasty, a hint of mint, zest, and chocolate all packed together.
"And... Tadah! My secret weapon～!" ［Yuna］
It wasn't just the only potion she made for amusement as well. The drawers under her planning table contained all sorts of potions and empty vials, and one of the potions there was actually an artificial sweetener.
It was odorless, colorless, and tasteless, much like the potion she just made, and though it seems to be that way, the moment it comes in contact with edible items, it instantly turns them sweet. It's also healthy despite being artificial.
It was one of Yuna's numerous attempts to get around Grey's sugar ban. She may have been prohibited from taking sugar, but it didn't say she couldn't make something similar. Of course, Grey doesn't know of it yet. Otherwise, it would be trouble.
"Mmn～! That really hits the spot! I should have made this sooner!" ［Yuna］
Just a couple drops to her tea and in an instant, it became even sweeter than before, all the while enhancing the aroma and the richness of the flavors. It was so good, the young lady finished the whole glass in a single sip.
"Fuwaah～! That was good! I could drink these all dayー Hm?" ［Yuna］
The drink was so sweet and delicious, Yuna was reminded of something she almost forgot. It was nothing too serious, but an important matter to the young lady, her face turning a little pale as she realized her mistake.
"Ah, right! My cookies!" ［Yuna］
Of course, it was all about sweets again!
Before she started concocting her potion, Yuna was actually baking some special cookies. They were cookies meant to be cooked very slowly, and so, she just left them be for a while and decided to do some alchemy.
Though... It seems that Yuna got quite absorbed by her potion making that she had completely forgotten about the cookies and since then, a few hours already passed. Panic soon struck the young lady.
"No! No! Please don't be burnt! Please don't be burnt! Not my cookies!" ［Yuna］
A pale and panicky expression on her face, Yuna quickly rushed towards the house, her footsteps resounding all over the halls. She was in so much hurry, she didn't even close the doors nor the drawers, even leaving her new potion unattended.
A few minutes passed and a familiar figure appeared in the empty Laboratory. It was Alpheratz, the curious and gentle forest spirit whose eyes were all soft and sparkly, a glint of excitement dwelling within. And along her were... cleaning tools...?
"Mistress' Laboratory... Did she make another potion...?" ［Alpheratz］
She was a curious spirit, but other than that, she also loves cleaning and orderliness. Whenever she has free time, she either satisfies her curiosity or cleans the house, no matter which room she goes to. She even makes a maid outfit for herself.
Alpheratz was so firm on cleaning that Grey and Yuna were a little worried about her. It's good that she's helping out with the chores, but they wanted her to relax as well. All they could do was give her allowance to spend on books she's curious about.
"Hmm... I wonder what the Mistress was making..." ［Alpheratz］
Mumbled the pretty spirit as she looked at Yuna's concoctions. However, she didn't let her curiosity get the better of herself and simply started cleaning the place, taking out her broom and feather brush, humming softly all the while.
There was a lot of byproduct waste and particles from making potions, so she was careful to dispose of them. For those that she deemed useful, she separated them in tiny baskets and left them on top of the table for Yuna to use later.
She even arranged the glass vials and flasks, funneling Yuna's newly made potion and putting them inside empty flasks. She was extremely careful when doing so, a little bit excited as she felt like she was doing alchemy herself.
Before long, the whole laboratory was cleaned, not a single speck of dust to be seen. All there was was a satisfied Alpheratz with a bright smile blooming on her face like the flowers on her body. She was happy.
"Oh! Are you cleaning the lab, Alpheratz?" ［Yuna］
"Welcome back, Mistress... And yes, I was. I'm already done cleaning, but there may still be some dust and grime left." ［Alpehratz］
"Fufufu! I don't think that at all! Everything's super clean and sparkly." ［Yuna］
It was just her hobby, but Alpheratz' cleaning skills were only second to Grey and Yuna's magic. If it is done by hand alone, no one could beat her, not even the latter. Even the Royal Maids wouldn't be able to compare.
"Ah, right! Alpheratz, I left the cookies in the oven a little while ago. Were you the one who turned it off?" ［Yuna］
"Yes... Was I not supposed to...?" ［Alpheratz］
"No! No! Not at all! The cookies would have all been burnt if it wasn't for you! Look, don't they look pretty? They're also really delicious. Have a taste!" ［Yuna］
Not only that, Alpheratz was also very attentive to things and always took action whenever she deemed it necessary. She doesn't even need to be instructed, the pretty spirit doing the best she can whenever and wherever.
If there was one thing troubling Yuna, it was that her name was too long, and so are the others'. They are all pretty and all, but it's a mouthful to say them. She might go ahead and talk to Grey about what nicknames to give them soon enough.
"Then, I will be taking my leave, Mistress." ［Alpheratz］
"Don't overwork too much, okay? Take a break whenever you need it." ［Yuna］
"Yes. I will remember so." ［Alpheratz］
A handful of cookies in her hands and a sweet smile on her face, Alpheratz soon headed out and went straight to the other rooms to continue cleaning. As for Yuna, she continued on with her alchemyー or so one would think...
But rather than make potions, Yuna started making her new tea again to be paired with the cookies she just baked. She poured one ingredient after another, then added some hot water, and viola! The tea was done!
"A couple drops of my secret weapon, and... Tadah! My delicious tea!" ［Yuna］
Of course, Yuna also added a couple drops of her sweetener into the mix to enrich the flavors even moreー or so she thought. But when she took a sip, it just tasted normal, not an ounce of change to be noted.
"Did I add too little...?" ［Yuna］
The young lady added a couple more drops, but the taste remained the same. It was as if her sweetener had stopped working. It didn't take long before she realized what was going on, her eyes shifting back to her working table.
What was supposed to be there was already gone, and new flasks had been filled inside her secret drawer... No, rather than gone, it would be better to say they were cleaned up by a certain spirit... What Yuna used was not her sweetener...
"Ugh... What's happening... So... Dizzy..." ［Yuna］
It took a little while, but the effects soon started to hit hard, Yuna's head feeling a little nauseous and the world starting to spin quite a bit. It was not poisonous, so the Divine Amulet didn't work on it... The potion has been changed...
...
"It looks like your coordination has improved again, Good work everyone." ［Grey］
"Hahaha! We have been practicing all day, after all!" ［Canopus］
"Still, it isn't enough to take down the Master..." ［Arcturus］
"Ugh... I'm gonna get you next time, Master!" ［Vega］
The ground filled with cracks and craters, traces of explosions and incinerations all over the place, holes and gashes carved upon the mountains, a pandemonium of frost, flames, poison, lava pools, and everything else deadly.
No matter where one looked, such a sight seemed straight out of an apocalypse. Yet despite all that, everyone was cheerful and merry, their laughs echoing in the air as they chatted with one another, a single figure in the middle of it all.
Grey and the familiars are now done in their training, and after a few hours of moving around, everyone was now sweaty, dirty, and covered with dust. Their wounds have already been healed, but it seems that they need to take a quick dip in the bath.
With merry smiles on their faces, everyone soon headed towards the center of the Sanctuary, the familiars took their Salferine forms as they headed for the hot bath to clean themselves and heal their fatigue... All except Grey...
"Now... Where's that mischievous fiancée of mine..." ［Grey］
He also wanted to take a bath, but first, he wanted to check up on Yuna. She already told him she would be in the Laboratory, practicing Alchemy. But knowing his fiancée well, she could be up to some interesting shenanigans again.
There was no time to waste. After using magic to clean himself, Grey then headed towards the Laboratory. It didn't even take him a couple minutes, however, rather than surprising Yuna... He was the one taken by surprise...
"Y-Yuna?! Wh-What the hell happened here?!" ［Grey］
"Uuu... Grey... No... Why are there two Greys...? Ugh..." ［Yuna］
"Now's not the time for jokes! You're burning!" ［Grey］
The moment he entered the laboratory, Yuna was already collapsed on the floor and her eyes were spiraling from dizziness. She was also feverish and her body was hot. It has been so long since Yuna had a fever, he felt quite a bit of panic.
"Ugh... So loud... Grey... Ugh... Dizzy..." ［Yuna］
"Dizzy?! Why the hell are you dizzy?! What happened here?!" ［Grey］
"It's the potion... Ugh... I... drank... Ugh... Accidentally..." ［Yuna］
"Potion... Is it poison?!" ［Grey］
Grey was quick on the action, and quickly searched for what potion Yuna was talking about. It didn't take him long to find it, appraising it as soon as he could. It was only then that he managed to calm himself, heaving a sigh soon after.
Thankfully, the potion Yuna ingested wasn't dangerous and she wasn't poisoned either. It was simply the side-effects of the potion which makes one sick for a few minutes after ingesting it... As for the effects... They were... quite troublesome...
However, Yuna only ingested a little bit of the whole potion, and so, rather than a few minutes, the effects are taking a much longer time to kick in and the effects have also been minimized... Though, she'll have to be sick for a couple hours instead...
Grey didn't even know how Yuna accidentally drank it, but after using his eyes to see the past, everything was soon cleared up. Yuna had mixed her new potion with her drink, and due to some chemical reactions, the original effect has been overwritten.
"Haah... You silly girl... This is because you're so careless... I'll be taking away your sweeteners as punishment. All of them." ［Grey］
"Uuu... You meanie... My sweeteners... No..." ［Yuna］
"Stop thinking about your sweeteners. You should be more worried about yourself. Seriously, what am I gonna do with you..." ［Grey］
"Okay... Ugh... So dizzy... I hate this..." ［Yuna］
"And who told you to be so careless?" ［Grey］
Such effects could not be detoxified, but it could probably be dispelled using holy magic. However, as she is right now, there was no guarantee Yuna could cast the right spell on herself. She might just make it worse, if anything.
As for Grey, he could most likely dispel it. However, he opted not to. Much like the original potion, the current potion also has effects on one's mental state. He doesn't want to risk taking the chance of hurting Yuna, when the effect is just temporary.
Well, Grey could also try his best with all his abilities, but actually, he would rather leave Yuna as she is. She needs to know the consequences of her carelessness. Moreover, he was also interested in the effects of the potion.
"Grey... You're making a strange face... Is something wrong?" ［Yuna］
"Nothing, really... Anyway, you can talk longer sentences now... Are you feeling betterー no, you're still feverish..." ［Grey］
"Uuu... I feel like I'll throw up at any moment..." ［Yuna］
"Endure it for now... Don't worry, I'll take good care of you." ［Grey］
Hiding his curiosity from his fiancée, Grey then flicked his fingers and the winds danced at his command. They carried Yuna gently and softly to Grey's arms, the young man receiving her princess-carry style, still as gentle.
Yuna's head still hurts a little and her body was still burning, but feeling Grey's subtle heartbeats was more than enough to make her feel better. She clutched her hands and pressed her head closer to him, feeling him closer.
Before long, Grey and Yuna soon arrived in their house. Grey gently carried the sick Yuna towards their bedroom and laid her down on the soft bed, making sure she was comfortable and sticking close to her in case she needed something.
It has been a long time since Grey took care of someone sick, the last time about a few years ago. It was none other than Yuna that she took care of back then, the young lady often getting sick when they just started training.
"Hahaha. This sure takes me back..." ［Grey］
"Is something funny, Grey...? Why are you laughing...?" ［Yuna］
"Nothing much... I just remembered back when you used to be so sickly. You were practically burning every now and then." ［Grey］
"I wasn't sickly... Your training was just too harsh..." ［Yuna］
"Hahaha. Let's just say that's true... I used to take care of you back then..." ［Grey］
It was when they just met for a couple weeks, neither of them a High-Ranker back then. Yuna used to get sick every few days and Grey had to take care of her, using his knowledge in alchemy to give her the best medicine he could.
Back then, Grey still wasn't very good at healing magic and so all he could rely on was his knowledge and Yuna's perseverance. Grey would spend the whole day looking for herbs and clumsily concocting potions for the young lady.
Though, after some time, as Yuna got stronger and stronger, she had also gained resistance against common diseases. Even when she gets sick, Grey could just also use recovery magic to fix her up. It's been so long since he took care of her like such.
"Back then, it was like I suddenly gained a little sister. I was an only child so it took some time getting used to it... Ahh～. It was so toughー" ［Grey］
"Dummy... I never thought of you as a big brother..." ［Yuna］
"Yuna, that hurts my feelings, you know... You don't have to be so blunt," ［Grey］
"That's not it, Dummy... You were a man... You've always been a man in my eyes... Mou... Don't make me say something so embarrassing... Dummy..." ［Yuna］
Though, it seems like there was a little bit of misunderstanding since then, the young lady confessing her thoughts ever so boldly, her face even redder than before as she shifted her eyes away, clearly embarrassed about her own confession.
As for Grey, well... He was a little taken aback. He never thought Yuna had seen him in such a way even back then, also feeling quite a bit flustered from her words. He was happy and embarrassed at the same time.
"Hmph... It's because you're like that that you didn't notice my feelings for so long... So that's the reason you were so dense..." ［Yuna］
"You didn't have to say that, you know? I've learned from my mistakes." ［Grey］
"... Well, that's fine... It's also because you thought of me like a little sister that you cared so much for me... I'm actually really happy..." ［Yuna］
"Yuna... You're being really honest right now..." ［Grey］
"I'm just telling the truth..." ［Yuna］
Yep, she's being very honest right now... It's probably because she's not feeling well or just because of the mood, but Yuna's words only carried honesty, laying her heart bare as she confessed all her feelings to Grey.
Grey wanted to take a video of Yuna being so honest, but the young lady might just get mad at him for doing so. All he could do was burn the memory to his mind and keep it dear as one of his greatest and most valuable treasures.
"Grey... I... I love you..." ［Yuna］
"Hahaha. I love you too." ［Grey］
A sweet and sappy atmosphere looming in the air, time passed by in a flash. With Yuna soon falling asleep, Grey then headed downstairs and cooked a hearty lunch for them to enjoy, most of them good for Yuna's sickness.
Alpheratz also arrived soon enough and after learning about Yuna's situation, she immediately apologized with a guilty expression on her face. Of course, Grey wasn't blaming her as she was doing her job. She instantly forgave her.
Though... It did take a little while before he could convince Alpheratz to not blame herself. He managed to calm her down with a few pats on her head and some words of comfort. She was able to cheer up, soon after.
"Hmm... This should be good enough. Then, next isー" ［Grey］
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaa!!" ［Yuna］
Just when Grey was taste-testing his dishes, a loud scream echoed from above and a couple heavy bangs. It seems like Yuna has woken up and the potion has finally taken effect, a calm yet curious expression plastered on Grey's face.
The young man then turned off the stoves and ovens, then heading upstairs to their bedroom. The moment he opened the door, he was greeted by a puzzled Yuna, eyes filled with confusion as she clutched the blanket and looked around the place.
"Huh? Who areー No, you're Grey, right...? But... Where am I...?" ［Yuna］
CHAPTER 486 END