Gloom... There was only a gloomy expressio on Grey's face. Rather thaing the m with a bright and rexed expression, his face looked as if it was the end of the world.

  5 days, 23 attempts. That was Grey's current record in trying to fess to Yuna. And ead every one of those attempts were all failures. What's more, each attempt was much worse than the previous ones.

  Grey deeply regretted not fessing on the first try. That attempt was the only one which was unsuccessful because of his owude. The remaining ones failed because of random and sudden circumstances.

  "Haah... Fet it, I'll find a way to fess one way or another." ［Grey］

  Deg to not think too much about it, Grey prepared himself for the day. He first bath to refresh his mind and body. After which, he wore his trusty set of adventurer clothing. Of course, he didn't fet to check his "Iory" to make sure everything was ready.

  With all things done and ready, Grey headed to the dining hall to fuel his day with a warm ay meal. When he arrived, oher person was already sitting there. It was Gustav who will also be participating in the Labyrinth.

  "Oh, Lrey, good m. Are you excited for the byrinth's opening?" ［Gustav］

  "Well, yeah... It's going to be my first time, after all." ［Grey］

  "ht... You've just registered as an adventurer a couple of months ago. I totally fot because of your strength." ［Gustav］

  Gustav ented with a slightly amazed tone. Because of Grey's prowess, he sometimes fets that the young man before him could still be sidered a rookie adventurer. It was one of those moments.

  Well, there aren't any rookies in the world capable of battling it out with a lesser dragon. Even amongst the veteran adventurers, only those who are truly capable could stand toe to toe with one.

  "Anyway, Lrey, that pis... pista... piー" ［Gustav］

  "Pizza?" ［Grey］

  "Ah, yes, pizza. Could you please teach me how to make it?" ［Gustav］

  "Mmm... Sure, why not." ［Grey］

  A sudden shift iopic, Gustav suddenly requested to be taught by Grey. While the tter didn't have any problems with it, he was still fused why a man like Gustav would like to learn how to make them.

  In a manner which Grey couldn't expin, he felt that something was off with Gustav's request. It was especially suspicious when he heaved a sigh of relief after hearing Grey's positive response.

  "But Sir Gustav, why do you want to learn how to make it though?" ［Grey］

  "Ah, that's because..." ［Gustav］

  Wanting to firm things, Grey did not hesitate to ask Gustav of his suspis, which Gustav answered holy. The answer was something that Grey didn't expee from a respectable military officer.

  Apparently, every time Gustav es back from an expedition, Vanessa would always force him to tell every siail. And every time there was food involved, she would ask Gustav to make it for her.

  As her subordinate, Gustav couldn't do anything about it but follow her orders. He tried to refuse oime but the oute wasn't pretty. He was made to run a hundred ps oraining grounds with him only wearing his underwear.

  After hearing that strey felt pity fustav. Grey didn't expect that behind Gustav's bright smile, was hidden a painful and shameful experience caused by the one and only Vanessa.

  It was clearly an abuse of authority, and Grey wao refute, but when he remembered Vanessa's overbearing personality, he was forced to silence. He didn't want to get dragged into Vanessa's schemes.

  "Alright, Sir Gustav, let's head to the kit. I'll show you how it's done." ［Grey］

  "Lrey... I'll forever be in your debt!" ［Gustav］

  A great emotion of joy flooded Gustav's heart at the moment. He could finally be saved from Vanessa's etrid sudden whims, It was the very least Grey could do to help out Gustav.

  Without wasting any more time, Grey and Gustav headed to the kit where Grey briefly demonstrated the process of making pizza, and Gustav took notes of the process without missing a sihing.

  Gustav also didn't shy away when he didn't uand something. He immediately asks Grey questions and eborations. After all, his pride and dignity as a knight is on the line.

  "That should be it. Any more questions?" ［Grey］

  "No, this is more than enough. I'll never fet this kindness, Lrey." ［Gustav］

  "Don't worry about it. Just make sure that you show Big Sisー I mean Lady Vanessa just hoable you are." ［Grey］

  "Of course!" ［Gustav］

  To show his gratefulness, Gustav slightly bowed his head trey, and soon after, he then saluted him like how a knight would to their superiors.

  Due to Gustav's sudden request, pizza was added into the breakfast meal. It was somewhat strao have it for breakfast, but what's important was that everyone e with smiles pstered on their faces.

  After breakfast, Grey, Yuna, Fritz, and Gustav all headed towards the western gate and then headed a little bit north when they exited town. They were heading to the Labyrinth of Death which was the main reason why Grey and Yuna traveled to Moterno in the first pce.

  While Grey and Yuna have been in Moterno for about a month already, they still have yet to see the Labyrinth. After all, most of their time ent guarding Eliza and taking quests which happeo be not in the Labyrinth's dire.

  Just a few hundred meters outside of town, a rge number of people could be noticed gathering by the byrinth. The byrinth was like a cert venue on the day of the cert, and the partits were the fans eagerly waiting to see their idols.

  "You'll be giving a speech today, right, Fritz?" ［Grey］

  "I am. It's part of my duty as the lord, and... shouldn't you two be on the front lines now?" ［Fritz］

  "We'll be heading there shortly." ［Grey］

  "Hahahaha! May fortune befall you, Lrey, Lady Yuna." ［Gustav］

  "Thank you, Mister Gustav." ［Yuna］

  Shortly after they arrived at the location, Fritz and Gustav separated with Grey and Yuna to fulfill their duties. Fritz headed to the byrinth's entrance, while Gustav prepared the knights to head ihe byrinth.

  As frey and Yuna, they headed to the front, just like Kris and Aria had previously said. On the way there, not one adventurer bothered them, but rather, gave way for them. Rumors of Grey and Yuna's might have reached the ears of all adventurers.

  "Oh, Grey, Yuna, you're here!" ［Althea］

  The first to greet them was the Guildmaster, Althea, who was facilitating the adventurers. Behind her were Kris, Aria, and three other people. They were the h-rankers who helped out in the recapture a few days ago.

  Other than them being B-rankers, all of them were much older, yet weaker than Kris and Aria. It made Grey once again realize that the two were still geniuses of their hts evehey banter a lot.

  "All right, I'll introduce everyoo you. Starting from the right, it's Kris, Aria, He, Grucius, and Jiro. Everyohis is Grey and Yuna. Although they are young, please don't uimate them." ［Althea］

  The Guildmaster introduced the h-rao Grey and Yuna without any sort of honorifics. It seemed that she was fortable enough with them to the point she could just address them casually.

  "I am He, leader of the B-rank party 'Green Bze'. o meet you." ［He］

  -----------------------------------

  [Salferine]

  [Name] He

  [Race] Human

  [Sex] Female

  [Age] 36

  [Status] Healthy

  [Mana Capacity] 1,092 [Mana Quality] C

  [bat Power] 1,264 [Threat Level] B

  [Attribute] Fire     [Magic Proficy] High (53%)

  [Css] Archer     [on Proficy] High (52%)

  [Physical Enha] 54%

  [Ability] Poison Fire (3☆)

  -----------------------------------

  Despite her age, He didn't look a day older than 25. She was the big sister type of character which Grey had remembered from his days of reading fi works. Behind her are her four party members, all of which were women.

  "Call me Grucius, B-rank party 'Scarred Wolves' leader." ［Grucius］

  -----------------------------------

  [Salferine]

  [Name] Grucius

  [Race] Therianthrope (Wolf Tribe)

  [Sex] Male

  [Age] 46

  [Status] Healthy

  [Mana Capacity] 1,221 [Mana Quality] C

  [bat Power] 1,566 [Threat Level] B

  [Attribute] Null     [Magic Proficy] High (51%)

  [Css] Brawler    [on Proficy] High (58%)

  [Physical Enha] 61%

  [Ability] Iron Fist (3☆)

  -----------------------------------

  Grucius was the stereotypical example of an adventurer people usually think of at first. He was tough looking, had a deep voice, a wild appearance, and heck, he even got a scar on his left eye. He was a menag one.

  Behind Grucius were three other members of the wolf tribe, two men and one woman. All of them bore resembo Grucius, making Grey ihat they were all reted to one another.

  "And I'm Jiro. The leader of 'Silent Thunder'. A pleasure to meet you!" ［Jiro］

  -----------------------------------

  [Salferine]

  [Name] Jiro

  [Race] Human

  [Sex] Male

  [Age] 34

  [Status] Healthy

  [Mana Capacity] 1,116 [Mana Quality] C

  [bat Power] 1,341 [Threat Level] B

  [Attribute] Lightning   [Magic Proficy] High (53%)

  [Css] Assassin    [on Proficy] High (53%)

  [Physical Enha] 57%

  [Ability] Stealth (3☆)

  -----------------------------------

  Lastly, there was Jiro. He was that one dude in fial works whose eyes were always closed. Behind him were three beautiful women. Because of that, many male adventurers are gring daggers at him.

  It is also worth noting that Jiro, like He, looked nothing like how their age would suggest. It was the power of being a high-ranker. Your body would do its best to retain its peak form.

  "I'm Grey of the B-rank party "Aster". It's also a pleasure to meet you." ［Grey］

  "I'm Yuna of the same party. We'll be in your care." ［Yuna］

  After He, Grucius, and Jiro introduced themselves, Grey and Yuna also gave their owings to them. Surprisingly, none of the other B-rankers were surprised by Grey and Yuna's ranks.

  They have already heard a number of rumors about the two and they have already verified from the Guildmaster that they were indeed high-rankers like them. If there was something to be surprised about, it was that they were youhan they had anticipated. Especially Yuna who was still 16 years old.

  Of course, Kris and Aria didn't o introduce themselves anymore. They were already acquainted with everyone's parties because of the past byrinth explorations they have attended.

  "All right, then Yuna, Grey, please ready your position." ［Althea］

  "Alight," ［Grey］

  "Un." ［Yuna］

  Just like how Kris said it would be, the high-rankers were pced in the front, with Krisin the lead. He was then followed by the h-rankers, then the kers, the D-rankers, the knights, and finally, every other partit.

  A few moments ter, Fritz walked in front of the rge crowd and annouhe rules that should be followed while ihe byrinth. The rules are as follows:

  First, no stealing of loot from other partits. Sed, only the partits that found the treasure room and their panions ehe said room. Third, no fighting amongst the partits. Fourth, partits should not meddle in the problems of other partits, unless asked for. And stly, partits should not put the other partits in danger. Anyone caught breaking these rules will be kicked out and punished accly.

  The first three rules were self-expnatory. The fourth one is created so that no one pins when their loot is stolen. This is because some partits use the premise of "helping out others" in order to steal their loot.

  Lastly, and the most important rule, the fifth ohis is because there were cases where partits who 't beat their oppos, in order to escape, push it to other partits. This usually leads to the other party getting hurt, and in the worst case sario, death. If proven that a partit did this, they will be subjected to prison and face severe sequences.

  "Now, without further ado, I decre the Labyrinth of Death's official opening!" ［Fritz］

  As Fritz gave the signal, the crowd of partits cheered in joy aement. Not wasting any more time, the ones in the front, the high-rankers, dashed their way through ihe byrinth.

  Just like in the special dungeon, when the high-rankers ehe byrinth, the duorchstoarted illuminating the path, and the byrinth whice looked like the abyss, became a well-lighted tunnel which give fortuo the ones who challe.

  On their way, the vanguards met different types of monsters, there were slimes, goblins, kobolds, and many more. Although it was called the Labyrinth of Death, it didn't mean that only dark-attribute or undead monsters would spawn.

  Rather, monsters who are of the dark-attribute or uype monsters will get their strength boosted. For example, skeletons which are H-rank will bee as strong as G-rank monsters. Thus, partits o be wary of them.

  Ihe byrinths, there are 10 floors, with each floor a rank strohan the previous one. Each floor is also divided into color-coded zones, namely, blue, green, yellow, red, and bck. Blue being the safest and Bck being the most dangerous.

  In order to quer the byrinth, one must defeat the boss on the lowest floor, which is of course at Disaster Css. Sihe Vanguards are in the front, it is their duty to eliminate any mohat are to for the floor they are in.

  After a few dozen mihe Vanguards have run kilometers of distance, and after each fork road, less and less of them stayed in one group. After some time, Yuna and Grey were left traveling together with Jiro and his party.

  "13 skeletons just about 200 meters ahead." ［Grey］

  Just like Grey had warhem, after about 200 meters, 13 skeletons appeared out of nowhere. But with retive ease, they took them down in an instant. It couldn't even be sidered a fight.

  "Whoa～ There really were 13 skeletons. Was that your ability, young man?" ［Jiro］

  "Yeah, sort of..." ［Grey］

  "A dete type ability, huh... I wish I had ooo..." ［Jiro］

  Although his eyes were closed, Grey could feel on an instinctual level that Jiro's eyes were sparkling in fasation. It ic whie hurt one's head if they think too much about it.

  While they had just met, Jiro was already ag friendly trey and Yuna. He was a very outgoing and friendly person who could get along with just about ahough it will probably be hard with men, seeing how the adventurers were looking at him with pt.

  As Grey chatted with Jiro, Yuna was also engaged in a versation with the dies. Other than Eliza, it was the first time Grey had seen Yuna open up with strangers very quickly.

  Also, along the way, Grey and Yu that Jiro was not in any sort of harem-type party which the male advehought them to be. Rather, the three dies in Jiro's party were actually all his little sisters.

  "Pretty unbelievable, huh?" ［Jiro］

  "Well, yeah..." ［Grey］

  But even with that fact established, Grey couldn't his head around the fact that they were all siblings. Just like every case Grey had entered, they bore no resembo one another.

  "Hahaha, right? Even I wouldn't believe myself if I was another person. It's just that they ied our mother's looks while I ied our father's." ［Jiro］

  "Must be tough, huh..." ［Grey］

  "You could say that again. It's especially tough whenever we're ihe guild. I would always get the pt and envy of the other adventurers. Though, I made sure to teach them a lesson if they cross the line!" ［Jiro］

  Jiro ended his senteh a menag smile. He had remembered the times when some adveried to y their hands on his little sisters. Needless to say, all of them received a beating they could never fet.

  Grey could wholeheartedly rete to Jiro's experiences. After all, it wasn't just once or twie unknown men looked at Yuna in undesirable ways. Though they were easily scared off by him.

  "Well, I don't do much of that these days. I usually devote my time to my wife and children. We only get together in special events like this one." ［Jiro］

  A longi happy smile appeared on Jiro's face as he looked at his little sisters. He clearly missed adventuring with them but couldn't do it because of the new priorities he had established.

  'A family, huh...' ［Grey］

  Hearing Jiro's words, Grey was also thrusted into deep thought as he reminisced about his life ba Earth. He felt a little empty but also a little happy as he remembered his previous life.

  While his parents died early on an act during his high school days, Grey didn't feel particurly alone as his retives were there for him. He also had acquaintances and friends in work which he shared happy times with in the office.

  But even though he enjoyed iing with people, he also enjoyed his time aloh his hobbies. While it cked a little excitement and was a little repetitive, it was not a bad life to say the least.

  Though Grey really didn't have too much attat to that life as he was someone who could move on easily. This time was different, he greatly treasures his time with Yuna and would do everything to protect it.

  The times he had spent with her were irrepceable and were much more valuable than any treasure. Thinking back to that, it made him realize that he really was such a fool to realize his feelings after only a very long time.

  "Well, it looks like it's another fork road. I guess this is where we part ways. Make sure to greet us the ime we meet." ［Jiro］

  "Yeah." ［Grey］

  As Grey was rethinking his life, a sudden fork road appeared in front of them. It meant that it was time for their parties to go separate ways and make sure to perform their duties as vanguards.

  "Take care～!" ［Little Sister 1］

  "Look out for Bck Zones, okay?" ［Little Sister 2］

  "Un. You too, please take care!" ［Yuna］

  Having said their goodbyes, Jiro and his little sisters parted ways with Grey and Yuna and headed to the left route, leaving Grey and Yuna aloh each other. Needless to say, it became much quieter with less people around.

  "Hey, Yuna, are you ready to go all out?" ［Grey］

  "Un." ［Yuna］

  "Well then, in three, two, one, go!" ［Grey］

  With no other eyes around, Grey and Yuna stopped limiting themselves, and with a signal from Grey, they both sped up to breakneck speed, skillfully ing up all the dangerous mohey met along the way.

  Them being on the first floor, all the monsters could easily be killed without the use of magic. Even the Bck zones which were swarmed with monsters were easily cleared up with just the two of them.

  "Yuna, let's see how far we go!" ［Grey］

  "Un!" ［Yuna］

  CHAPTER 58 END