HOP HOP HOP

  The rabbit ran across the forest, jumping over the rocks, hiding along the bushes, and passing uhe roots of the massive trees. It traversed the verdant forest, sniffing the air from time to time as it indulged in the peaceful sery.

  It eaceful forest, the bugs and critters living their lives as they usually would, the flowers in bloom as they greeted the sun above, the creeks flowing ever so quietly, and the mountains standing proud uhe blue sky.

  FWOOOOSSSHHHHHHHH BOOM BOOM BOOM

  Thunder resouhroughout the forest, a single arrow darting like a lightning bolt and pierg the clouds as it passed through. Shockwaves echoed in the air, a number of sonis eg on after another.

  The arrow rushed towards the barren cliff sides of the mountains, cruising away as if there was no tomorrow. A single bird flew up without much thought, fpping its wings as it tried to head higher in the mountain, but before it could even reach halfway...

  BOOM GASHAK KHIEEEEEKKKKKKK

  The rampaging arrow struck its heart, b a hole through its chest and ending its life almost immediately. Without much strength left, it spiraled down the ground and crashed with a couple booms, falling down from extreme heights.

  The remaining birds saw it fall and were quickly armed by such a sight. Their hearts were struck with panid they quickly fpped their wings. There was vigin their eyes, watg out for everything heading their way.

  BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM

  Unfortunately for them, they didn't even have the ce to escape. As soon as they started fpping their wings, a volley of arrows came towards them and hit them one by one, all of them going down like flies as they lost their lives

  The volley of arrows tinued and many more of them were killed by the sudden assault. Some tried to flee, rushing away with the fear of death engulfing their hearts, whilst the more ceous ones searched for where the arrows came from.

  It was more than 3 kilometers away from them, arrows shot out in rapid succession by a young man. His eyes were sparkling as the deepest shade of amethyst, ses and series pying out as they reflected on his eyes.

  "Waah～! That's amazing, Grey! You shot them all down!" ［Yuna］

  "There's still a lot of them left, you know?" ［Grey］

  "Still! You already hunted more than a dozen of them! That's impressive!" ［Yuna］

  Of course, the one responsible for hunting down the rge birds was her than Grey. He had decided to use his archery skills for ond shot his prey from more than 3 kilometers away, not missing them even a siime.

  After all, with Grey's eyes, everything was clear as day to him. All they o do was stand atop the peak of one of the mountains and start shooting. What followed was a bloodbath, several rge birds dropping like flies.

  They are now in a quest to subjugate or drive away a flock of D-rank Skull Vultures which has been disrupting the cliffside route towards the west. It was a k quest of much importarading heavily affected by it.

  Skull Vultures are D-ras which possess the dark-attribute. They oftehe skulls of the prey they've hunted on their heads, thus giving them their hey are also powerful enough to crush trees and boulders with their talons alone.

  "Yuna, do you want to try shooting too?" ［Grey］

  "Hmm... Is that okay? I'm not as good as you with the bow, you know?" ［Yuna］

  "It's fine. With this distance, I'm sure you hit them without much trouble... What was your lo shot with an arrow again?" ［Grey］

  "That was a few months ago already... I think it was 2 kilometers?" ［Yuna］

  "Then that's more than enough isn't it? You're already Camity-Css right now so I'm sure it's improved again. You test it out now." ［Grey］

  Not just physical strength, but the senses and acuity of the mind is also improved as one advahrough the ranks. The moment one bees a High-Rahey definitely hit enemies very far away as if it is nothing.

  Like she said, Yuna could hit an enemy 2 kilometers away with extreme accuracy, but now that she has reached Camity-Css, she hit anything within an 8 kilometer distance. Hitting the Skull Vultures is not a problem.

  As frey, there is ue. With his eyes as it is, he see an object even smaller than an inch more than 60 kilometers away and hit a target more than 300 kilometers as if it was just in front of him. He was a monster.

  "Then... Whie should I..." ［Yuna］

  Yuna pulled the string and locked her eyes to one of the Skill Vultures. She breathed in calmly, gathering mana from her body and the air, soon densing them into an arrow or mana, glowing ever so dimly.

  BOOOOM FWOOOOOSSSHHHH BOOM BOOM BOOM

  Without much hesitation, Yuna then released the string and the mana arrow, firing it towards the unsuspeg Skull Vulture and hitting it straight at its skull. A hole was bored through its head and it crashed soon after.

  "Ohh～! I really hit it! That's a new record, right?!" ［Yuna］

  "Yeah, it is... Though, it seems like they've found us now..." ［Grey］

  But it was also because of that shot that the Skull Vultures identified where Grey and Yuna were. They quickly turheir heads towards the two's dire, rushing out without aation, hostility burning in their eyes.

  They flew at incredible speed, the sound of lightning apanying every single fp of their wings. They shrieked and screeched, ready to hunt down Grey and Yuna, and aveheir fallehren. A trail of darkness followed them.

  "Yuna, just keep on shooting, I'll keep them at bay." ［Grey］

  "Un! Leave it to me!" ［Yuna］

  There was o think too much. Yuna quickly pulled the b and created 4 mana arrows from thin air. She pulled baore and released soon after, a strong gust of wind blowing the forest with gusto.

  The arrows flew without any disturbance, rushing out towards the Skull Vultures. All of them hit and 4 more vultures met their doom. They crashed towards the ground and some were caught in the opy of the forest.

  Yuna tio shoot and more vultures met their ends. Some tried to dodge, but all they did was dey their suffering, getting several wounds and crashing down as their wings were broken. Blood spilled across the forest.

  KAKKKKKKK KHIEEEEKKKKKK

  Of course, some of the Skull Vultures mao survive the deadly volley, readying their talons, beaks, and wings as they rushed towards the young dy, ready to rip her to shreds. Unfortunately for them, she wasn't their only oppo.

  "Hey, up here." ［Grey］

  Before they even noticed, Grey suddenly appeared above them, his shadow grag their sight. He pulled ba of his arms and ched his fits tightly, a loud boom thundering through the pce as he released his punch.

  The strike ected and the Skull Vulture's skull was shattered, blood gushing out of its beak. It lost its life in an instant, crashing down towards the trees. The vultures all withe downfall of one of their kin, enraged even more.

  KAAWWKKK KAKKKK KHIEEEKKKK

  They all rushed out trey, and bore their talons as if there was no tomorrow. Whips of darkness shed out from their wings, all rushing trey, their sharp and pierg cries eg in the air.

  Unfortunately for them, their oppo was several leagues higher than. All he did was wave his hand and all the whips dispersed into nothingness. He followed with another punch, another one of the vultures taken down.

  "Haah... How persistent..." ［Grey］

  Yet despite the number of Skull Vultures they have already defeated, they have yet to lose their will to fight. They tio rush trey, still ung several whips of darkness and bolting trey with their talons wide open.

  "Grey, dodge!" ［Yuna］

  "Roger!" ［Grey］

  However, they were all so focused ohey had fotten once again that he wasn't their only enemy. Yuna had prepared the volley of mana arrows, the bow shining a subtle gleam as the mana arrows were packed with power.

  Yuna released the b and shot out over a dozen arrows. They all flew towards the vultures, taking them down as if there was no tomorrow. From more than a dozen Skull Vultures, only a couple remained after the massacre.

  And such a couple of vultures were quickly ended by Grey. He used wind magic to boost his mobility and rushed towards them, appearing before them before they could even notice. Life fshed before their eyes.

  A quick few puer and every single Skull Vulture disappeared from sight. The ones who've run away before have gotten quite some distance away, and some were even hiding. There were still a couple dozen of them.

  "Hmm... Should we chase them down, Grey?" ［Yuna］

  "No need... They already surrendered so just leave them be," ［Grey］

  "I see... You have the bow back then. It was fun!" ［Yuna］

  However, there was o chase them down. It might have been cowardly for the Skull Vultures to run away, but it was because of it that they survived. Fleeing is also a skill to behold, the w of nature rewarding them for their right decisions.

  Well, even if they let them be, there should be no more problems with the cliffside route. The merts and travelers should now be able to pass through in pead not worry about getting attacked. Their quest was done.

  Now, there's only ohio do, and that is to collect the corpses of the Skull Vultures they defeated and store them in the Iory. They defeated quite a lot so finding and st them should take quite some time.

  "Hmm... I wonder... Do you think their meat tastes good?" ［Yuna］

  "I don't know... Maybe we try it ter." ［Grey］

  "Un! Sounds good! Grey's cooking is delicious, after all!" ［Yuna］

  There was no time to waste. As soon as they defeated all the Skull Vultures, Grey and Yuna soorieved their corpses and stored them in the Iory. Afterwards, they then headed to their quest area, excited as be.

  It has been almost a week since Grey and Yuna fiddled with the new camera, and while they don't do quests as fervently as before, they have no other choiow but to do so as Kris and Aria are staying at Malus Vilge right now.

  As it seems, Valka's due date is ing and she is about to give birth sooner or ter. Aria headed there to assist her mother, and Kris tagged along as well. They arrived quickly with Grey's help, and will be staying there for quite some time.

  But with them staying there, it also meant that only Grey and Yuna handle High-rank quests. B-rank and above are now their responsibility, taking k quests from time to time wherever they are avaible.

  "Grey, what do you think? Will Miss Aria's new sibling be a girl or a boy?" ［Yuna］

  "I haven't checked it with my appraisal yet... But doesn't Miss Aria feel weird getting a new sibling? She's already married, after all." ［Grey］

  "I don't know... I'm an only child, after all." ［Yuna］

  It certainly was weird. After all, it was also about time for Aria to have a child herself. But with her mother now bearing a new child, she stopped thinking of having one for the time being and focused on her mother first.

  "Hm? What about me then? You do know I sidered you my little sister ever since we met, right? You were so cute back then." ［Grey］

  "It's exactly because of that that you were so dense! Do you know how painful it was to be sidered a little sister by someone you love?!" ［Yuna］

  "Eh... Did you hate it that much...?" ［Grey］

  "I-It's not that I hate it! It was just frustrating! And depressing!" ［Yuna］

  Of course, what day would be plete with a little bit of flirting. With the atmosphere sweet and sappy as be, Grey and Yuna tinued heading towards their destination, arriving after flying for several dozen kilometers with Sirius.

  A few mier, they soon arrived at their destination, a rocky and cliffy sery greeting them. They o desd down the mountains and into the mio gather some materials... Ores and minerals to be exact.

  They are out on an iigatio ro see if there really is somethio be mined in the abandoned mines and see what kind of dangers lurks within. They have never been to a mine before so it was quite exg for them.

  "Waah～! It really is dark, huh... I wonder how deep we are already,.." ［Yuna］

  "Well, it's a cave, after all... I heard it's been over 30 years since people stopped mining here. It used to be a good souraterials." ［Grey］

  "Oh? What happened?" ［Yuna］

  "Nothing too serious. All the ores were just extracted, so there was nothing more to mi dealt quite a huge blow to the territory, actually. Now, adventurers are just using it as a hunting ground for beasts and monsters." ［Grey］

  The mine was out of ores, or so eople thought. But retly, a passing party of adventurers mao uncover a rge deposit of ores in the deeper se of the mines, taining many Middle and Low Grade ores.

  It seems like a part of the mines colpsed and revealed a se of the mine which people didn't know of, and as it seems, the mine was still far from beied of resources, and there might even be more to see.

  Unfortunately, with rewards es risks. The party also entered some beasts inhabiting the mines while they were expl. They couldn't make out what it was, but they didn't proceed to go any further. All they knew was that it owerful.

  However, if such what the adventurers said was true, it could revitalize the territory of the Baron who made the request. His territory has been struggling quite much sihe closing of the mines, but with the hope the adventurers brought, he quickly moved and posted a quest, a k o that.

  "Well... Looks like the Baron is lucky..." ［Grey］

  It cost him a couple huhousand kiels to post the request, but it was all worth it. In front of Grey and Yuna was a rge deposit of metals and minerals. There weren't just Low and Middle grade ones, but High-grade as well. It was a jackpot!

  "Ohh～! Look, Grey, there's a lot of ores! we take them?" ［Yuna］

  "Yuna... This is the Baron's property, you know... We 't just take the territory's property. A lot of people depend on it." ［Grey］

  "Even just a little bit? Just a tiny bit?" ［Yuna］

  "No, and no. We already have a lot of ores, you know? I even give you some Superirade ores ter. So give up on this one, alright?" ［Grey］

  Yuna's hoarder blood was about to run wild again, but thankfully, Grey mao stop her. Being a bcksmith, not like he couldn't uand her feelings, but unlike his beloved, he just knew how to trol himself.

  It was his first time seeing a mine, and now, he was in front of a treasure trove of ores and minerals. He couldn't help but feel excited, curiosity brimming inside him as he watched the ores sparkle from the orb of light he made with magic.

  "Yuna, I told you not to take them, didn't I? Don't make me repeat myself." ［Grey］

  "But I haven't done anythi! I was just looking!" ［Yuna］

  "I know, but before you say that, you should see the look in your eyes. I know you love colleg materials, but please calm yourself down for now, alright?" ［Grey］

  Yuna was flicted, but in the end, there was nothing she could do but give up. She loves colleg things and h them, but she doesn't want to be scolded by Grey again. She could only rein in her desires and snap away from the temptations.

  Instead of the ores, she simply focused her attention on the glowing moss growing by the sides of the mihey aren't magits, but they are still excellent materials for alchemy. They be used to make Middle-Grade cos.

  "Grey, I collect these, right?" ［Yuna］

  "Hmm... That moss grows quickly, doesn't it? Just a little bit should be fine." ［Grey］

  "Yaay～! Then, I'll be colleg these then! I'll also collect the other pnts while we're at itー Ah! And don't worry, I won't touch the ores! I promise!" ［Yuna］

  "Hahaha. Alright. Just make sure you don't go too over the top." ［Grey］

  Well, it only took a bit of talking and Yuna was now in high spirits. She may not be allowed to mine ores, but she still collets and other alchemy materials around, her eyes now sparkling brightly. She was really enthusiastic.

  "ht! Yuna, I also saw some k and a couple of B-ras with my eyes just now. I'll tell you their locations, so you hunt them while I do some work here? You keep the materials ter, so you hunt them as much as you want." ［Grey］

  "Really?! No takesy-backsies, okay?! I'll hunt them all down!" ［Yuna］

  And now, with Grey's ter words, her spirit fred up even more. Now, not only she get more materials, she also warm up her body with a bit of fighting. Sihere are B-ras, it should be quite fun.

  The young dy didn't waste any more time and quickly rushed out towards wherever her feet took her. She collected moss and pnts, aed some monsters a whilst she ran arouedly, happy as be,

  "The mines won't colpse, right...?" ［Grey］

  Grey asked himself as he watched how excited Yuna was running around the pce. If by ce, she actally strikes the walls of the mioo hard, the whole pce might just colpse. It would be a terrible disaster.

  Thankfully, despite how excited ahusiastic she was, Yuna is actually quite the responsible young dy. She was making sure to tread carefully and not cause the mines any unnecessary stress. Everything would be alright... Probably...

  CLICK CLICK FLASH FLASH

  Not dwelling on such thoughts anymore, fshes of light shone all throughout the mines, apanied by the sounds of clicks and ccks as Grey pressed the camera. He was taking photos to dot the whole experience.

  He walked and he clicked, capturing several photos in a single minute. He made sure to dot all the important things to be found, and also capture just what kinds of danger lurks ihe caves, eliminating the dangers afterwards.

  RUMMBBLLEEEEEEE THUD THUD THUD

  And just as he was expl the mines, a subtle rumble shook the ground, dust and pebbles falling off from the ceiling. It seems like there was a rge fight happening somewhere in the mines, and there was o guess who was involved.

  Grey, listen! I caught a weird lizard! It has gills! ［Yuna］

  The cause was her than the silver-haired elf who just went on an exploration just a few minutes ago. It seems like she has already engaged in battle with one of the B-ras in the mines aed it with ease.

  Grey used his "Heaven's Eye" to look into it, and surely enough, she defeated a high ranki. It was a Geolotl, an axolotl-like creature which is of the Earth-attribute. And as Yuna said, it really does look weird at a gnce.

  Grey, we eat this? ［Yuna］

  Haah... Yuna, why do you always ask that... ［Grey］

  Shenanigans aside, Grey and Yuna tinued on their quest and after expl the caves and mines for about an hour, they finally gathered a substantial amount of evideo prove the adventurers' words.

  While they were at it, they also defeated all the Middle and High ranked beasts in the mihey have caught 2 B-ras, over a dozen k ones, and over a few hundred D-rank and E-ras. It was quite a huge haul.

  "The's go to our destination, shall we?" ［Grey］

  After the caves and mines, Grey and Yuan then headed to the destination. It was yet another forest in another erritory. It was an urgent B-rank quest posted nor long ago, and amongst the highest ranking ohey had taken.

  Apparently, a monster had formed in the middle of the massive forest just a few days ago, and there have been some reports of adventurers getting injured. It is said that it was a of Treants led by a k High Treant.

  Surely enough, as soon as they arrived, they were greeted by a very green sery, the trees standing proud and mighty as they reached for the sun. It seemed like a peaceful forest with nothing to be afraid of.

  "How many treants are there, Grey? A hundred?" ［Yuna］

  "No, there's just a couple dozen... Though, the amount of trentlings sure is amazing. There's several hundred of them." ［Grey］

  "Oohhh～! That's a lot～!" ［Yuna］

  It wasn't just a lot, it was too much. Though trentlings are just H-rank, such a number was very serious. If the keeps on expanding, they might bee Treants and wreak havoc to those who pass by. It was going to be a problem.

  Well, not that it matters to Grey and Yuna anyway. The treants may be outstanding at camoufging, but they are no match frey and Yuna's sharp sehey are nothing more thahey have to uproot. Pin and simple.

  "Yuna, let's have a little petition, shall we?" ［Grey］

  "Un! You're on!" ［Yuna］

  "Then... Ready... Set... Go!" ［Grey］

  A pair of booms resounded in the air, and two figures vanished like a blur. The very moment, the sound of shrieks and bellows reverberated in the air, thuds eg oer another as the treants fell one by one.

  That day, the whole forest was cleared of impurities. Not just the treants, but all the monsters as well. They were all wiped out before they could even realize that death was already upon them. It was an utter and plete massacre.

  CHAPTER 399 END