Boom Boom Fwoot Toot Toot Ting Ting Ting Fwoot

  Trumpets, drums, horns, xylophones and many more. A loud cacophony of noises echoed in the air as people cheered and shouted, everyone full of energy as the floats paraded ireets, colorful aiful as one be.

  Each float was massive, decorated with flems, and all sorts of things. Atop them were dancers which dao their hearts' tent, wearing bright smiles on their faces as they moved about, their as guided by the music drifting in the air.

  "Mama! Papa! Look, there's a dragon!"

  "Whoo! Let your hearts out everybody! Let's celebrate!"

  "Hey, what sort of dang is that? You look like a fish out of the water."

  It was still early in the m yet the city was already full of energy and happiness, lively as one be as they danced on their own tunes, something holding the hands of others, dang as a pair, cirg around the pce.

  The children were especially excited, running around the pce as if they ow, ughing as they chased one ahey pointed here and there, trying to satisfy their curiosity as they watched such a grand and majestic festival unfold.

  Well, there wasn't just dang, tests and petitions were also unfolding all over the city, each district holding a of their own, celebrating the Festival of Hearts in their own way, just as lively and cheerful as any other.

  The day had finally e, and now, it was time for the Festival of Hearts. Though the whole city has been celebrating for more than a week already, the Festival Proper is only two days long, today and tomorrow.

  Yet in those two days, Erdea bees the liveliest city throughout the whole ti. With people gathering from all over the ti, Erdea's popution has risen to an outstanding degree, crowds upon crowds of people filling up the streets and people enjoying their time as if there was no tomorrow.

  "Grey! Hurry up! Let's explore the whole pce!" ［Yuna］

  "Yuna, you're too excited. No one's chasing us, you know?" ［Grey］

  "I know, but...! I'm just so excited～!" ［Yuna］

  Of course, with such a grand celebration, there was no way our main characters were missing out on the enjoyment. Yuna is now brimming with excitement, eyes sparkliifully like the stars in the cold and tranquil night sky.

  And sihere were only a handful of people who khem, there was o wear hoods nor use illusion magic. They simply went around the pce as they are, enjoying the beautiful sights without restrig themselves. Like free birds in the sky.

  "Tsk! That idiot couple... Just where are they heading to now?" ［Julius］

  "Elder Brother, clig your tongue is bad manners. Please stop that." ［Iris］

  "Boss! Lady Boss! Wait for me!" ［Garret］

  It also went without saying that Grey and Yu around the festival with others. They already po spend the day tomorrow aloogether, so for today, they decided to go around the festival and enjoy whatever it has to offer.

  Surely enough, with every step they took, they were greeted by all sorts of novel and iing sights from simple stalls all the way to magnifit street performances all over the pce. There was no she of eai.

  There were even stages set up all over the city simply so that people could dance around and have fun like it was the st day of their lives. They tapped, cpped, twisted, and turned. Some were beautiful, and some... Well, not so much...

  "Ladies alemen! Please wele Kalleo, the Firemaster～!!!"

  And just as they turned about the street, they witnessed a man swallowing bzing fire with his bare mouth. There was ation in his eyes, swallowing it whole. A loud round of appuse eg soon after.

  "Ohh～! Grey, you swallow fire too?!" ［Yuna］

  "Yuna, don't try to kill off your fianow... Though, I'm also curious..." ［Grey］

  "Right～? It shouldn't be a problem for us, right?" ［Yuna］

  For some strange reason, seeing the man swallow fire made the two ied in it. With them being as tough and resilient as they are, it most likely wouldn't hurt them even a tiny bit. Still, they couldn't help but be a little bit curious.

  Especially Yuna, she was a dangerous one. Now, she's even thinking of using a bit of alchemy tthen the fmes and imbue them with some special properties. After all, an alchemist's thirst for knowledge ever be truly quenched.

  "Julius, would you e here for a little bit. We just want to talk with you." ［Grey］

  "Don't try to f*ck with me! I heard your versation full well! Don't you dare try to test your experiments on me!" ［Julius］

  "e on now, it shouldn't hurt that much... probably..." ［Grey］

  "Un! And we always heal you if ever something does g." ［Yuna］

  "That's exactly what I'm afraid of! Hey! Don't you dare go near me! Get away from me, you damn lunatics!" ［Julius］

  A loud scream echoed in the air, one full of fear and desperation. Though with how loud the pce was, the prince's scream of help was barely noticeable. Fear crept inside his heart as Grey and Yuna drew closer to them.

  After all, he already knew Grey and Yuna very well. He knows that if there ever was something they are curious about, they would surely try it no matter what. He quickly ran away with all his might, not wasting any more time to get away from the two.

  "Aww... He ran away... Grey, you scared him." ［Yuna］

  "Me? You were the one who had the scariest face, My Dear. You should have seen how terrifying your face was." ［Grey］

  "It was...? I was just joking, you know? I would never hurt a friend." ［Yuna］

  "Really now? Somehow, I doubt that." ［Grey］

  Yuna was just a little but curious, nothing too serious. She wouldn't actually hurt a person just to satisfy her curiosity... Probably. Well, what matters is that no one was hurt today. The Festival of Hearts was still fine and merry.

  And so, with Julius running away, there were only five of them left. Yet despite such a fact, they didn't feel even a little bit lohe Festival of Hearts was simply too filled with cheerfulness, smiles and ughter floating about all over the pce.

  "Everyone, let's get going, shall we?" ［Grey］

  Without further ado, everyone tinued expl the Festival with eyes filled with curiosity, excitement, ahusiasm. They pyed all sorts of games and watched all sorts of shows, seeing quite the spectacle they have never seen before.

  Of course, along with the beautiful sights, there were also ones which could only be described as, well... disturbing... They were simply straight up absurd areme, only a few people enjoying them, ughing as loudly as they could.

  An example of this were the people dang naked oage, wearing only flower heads as a e and only a leaf c their private parts. The way they danced was also like dyihworms ced with salt. How truly disturbing.

  "Ugh... They're at it again... Why do they do this every siime..." ［Garret］

  "Yuna, Iris, Violet, close your eyes. You don't o see this." ［Grey］

  "Hm? Is something wrong, Elder Brrey? Elder Brarret?" ［Iris］

  It couldn't even be called a performa was more of a strange exhibition only for those with straastes and drunkards whhing merrily. They were truly memories meant to be fottenー no, purged.

  With their sanity still intact, they quickly exited themselves and headed somewhere more pleasant, washing their eyes away with the beauty and delight from the other shows. The differen performance was heaven and hell.

  There were also a number of tests and petitions all over the pce. There were beer-chugging tests, singing tests, games, pageants, and many more. The festivities opped as the sun climbed higher in the horizon.

  "Everyone! Join now, and challenge ning champion for only 50 kiels! Do not miss this opportunity of a lifetime to engrave your name in our hall of fame!"

  And as they went around the city, they came across a rge test. Not just any test, it was aing test where they have to eat the most meat buns in only under 30 minutes. A by the gluttonous, for the gluttonous.

  They have yet to start, but there were already a couple dozen testants lining up and searing themselves along the long tables. Eae was either big or muscur, a few slender ones in the pick, eyes bzing with passion.

  "Oh? Isn't that...?" ［Yuna］

  "Right... He did say he'll join this time's eating test..." ［Garret］

  And amongst the testants, one was a familiar face who was seating himself ever so fortably. It was her than Marcus, the other members of the gang cheering on him plete with fans and banners. What true friends they were.

  "Oh! Young Lord, we didn't expect to see you here." ［Lester］

  "What's wrong with me being here? Marcus is also my friend so it's only natural that I stay and support him. Anyway, whehey starting?" ［Garret］

  "Well, they're just finalizing the roster. They're probably going to start in a couple more minutes or so." ［Lester］

  Like warriors heading to a battlefield, everyone's spirits were bzing high as they prepared themselves for the test. Some were praying, some were stretg, some were meditating, and so on and so forth. All were determio win.

  Seeing such a fun petition. Grey and Yuna's i were quickly ied ihought of partaking. It was still halfway in the m, lunch still a couple hours away. However, such a fact didn't matter. They simply wao join.

  "Lester, is the registration still going on?" ［Yuna］

  "Oh, Lady Boss! Good m! And yes, it should still be. Do you want to participate as well?" ［Lester］

  "Fufufu! That's the pn～!" ［Yuna］

  There was no time to waste. With bright smiles on their faces, Grey and Yuna took out a bronze from their pockets aered themselves for the test, the anizer of the event accepting them with a bright smile and open arms.

  They were soon guided to their seats, and as they registered at the same time, they were seated beside one another. Everyone's eyes were quickly on them. Especially on Yuna. People ot simply prehend why such a slim and slender young dy participated in the test.

  Soon enough, the meat buns were brought out oer another, an appetizing smell wafting through the air as they were pced atop the table. At that very moment, the testants' determination only burned abze even brighter.

  "Then, without further ado! Let the battle begin～!"

  With the host's signal, the testants didn't further waste any more time. They quickly wolfed dow and steamy meat buns before them, mung them oer a speeds no normal person could ever pare.

  Everyone was fighting with their lives on the liaking rge bites and revealing the juid meaty insides of the buns. They were all delicious, but that didn't matter at the moment. Everyone was dead set on winning the eating test.

  "Mmn～! So good～!" ［Yuna］

  Well, almost everyone... Uhe others, the young couple who just joined were simply enjoying themselves, sav the taste of the buns without much care in the world. They ate and ate, bright smiles blooming on their faces.

  After all, such buns would usually cost a couple kiels, and sidering the amount they could easily finish within half an hour, 50 kiels was but a cheap price to pay. There was no way they'd let go of such a rare and wonderful opportunity.

  "Yuna, don't talk when your mouth is full. Look, you're even making a mess of yourself. Something's on your cheeks." ［Grey］

  " you wipe it off? Please～!" ［Yuna］

  "Haah... You really are hopeless..." ［Grey］

  They even have the audacity to flirt out in the open, ag as if they were dining in a fiaurant on their lovely date. Such a dispy of affe only served to irritate and fbbergast the other testants, some even g from loneliness.

  Though, that was only half of the story. While they were flirting, the speeds at which their hands moved wasn't ahahers, moving as fast as lightning and finishing o bun after another without much effort or difficulty.

  "As expected of Elder Brrey and Elder Sister Yuna. This eating test was truly made for them." ［Iris］

  "How many do you think they'll finish at this rate, Iris?" ［Violet］

  "I don't know,,. However, it should be a couple dozen at the very least." ［Iris］

  Having dined with them for about a month already, everyone already knew what Grey and Yuna were capable of. Still, seeing them in a was a pletely different thing. They could only wat surprise as they watched the se unfold.

  "Go Boss! Go Lady Boss! Go Marcus! You do it!" ［Garret］

  "Go Marcus! Show them what you've got!" ［Leater］

  "Marcus, don't you dare lose now!" ［John］

  "Boss! Do your best! Don't let Marcus best you!" ［Olsen］

  Oher side, the gang was doing their best cheering on everyone, and so was the whole crowd. As the petitio on, the cheers only got louder, more and more people gathering to withe oute of the petition.

  And with the passing of time, testants dropped out oer ahough they did their best, eating more than a dozen buns each, their best was still not enough. The others were still much better, tinuing oe all the obstacles before them.

  "Ugh... I 't... tinue.., anymore..." ［Marcus］

  "Nooo!! Marcus!!" ［Lester］

  It wasn't long before Marcus dropped out, still about ten minutes before the test ended. And with him out of the petition, only six people remained in the test, doing their best against each other, mung more and more meat buns.

  Six people became five, then five became four, and finally, four became three. Those three were her than the reigning champion, Grey, and Yuna. One was almost reag his limits while the other two were simply enjoying themselves.

  RIIINNNNGGGGGGG RING RING

  "Time is upppp!!"

  The thirty minutes finally epsed and the eating test finally came to a close. All three remaining testants sted until the end, and the staff quickly tallied down the number of the meat buns they ate, suspense looming over in the air.

  Before long, the tally was finally pleted. The very moment the host looked at the results, his eyes widened in shod disbelief. It was then that everyone quickly uood that something iing was about to unfold.

  "The results are already in... And ing in at a total of 64 whole buns, we have the birth of a neion! Mister Grey has woing test!"

  The host's bold annou reverberating throughout the air, squeals of shod surprise rang soon after. Soon, a loud round of cheers and appuse echoed towards the sky soon after. It was a loud and chaotic cmor.

  As for the others' scores, the Champion came in third with 56 meat buns, and Yuna came sed at 62 meat buns. It was only a small two bun difference, but such a small difference was what decided Grey's victory.

  Soon, Grey was given a trophy and also a purchase coupon for the store, allowing him to buy a thousand kiels' worth of food. At the same time, Yuna won a smaller, 300 kiels purchase coupon. A wele surprise.

  "Uuu... I was so close as well..." ［Yuna］

  "Now, now, don't be too sad, Yuna. I'll make sure to cook you lots of food once we get back." ［Grey］

  "Mou,,, you always say that. That won't always work, you know..." ［Yuna］

  Yuna was a little sulky about her loss, and so, Grey tried to appease her like usual. However, as it seems, such a tactic didn't seem to work this time. Rather, Yuna only sulked even more, puffing her cheeks to show her dissatisfa.

  "Then, whatever should I be doing, My Dearest Princess?" ［Grey］

  "That's... I want to ride the ival attras with you..." ［Yuna］

  Meekly said Yuna, her cheeks blushing a rosy tint as her voice slowly died down. They were already pnning on doing so, so there was really o request it. Still, hearing Yuna's request, Grey couldn't help but feel happy, on cloud nine.

  "Haven't you already experienced most of the attras there though?" ［Grey］

  "Un, that's true, but... I haven't experiehem with you..." ［Yuna］

  Another work and arike to the heart. Grey meant to tease his dear fiancée, but instead, he was the one who took damage from how adorable she was. Both their hearts race rapidly at the moment, a little bit embarrassed.

  It was fortuhat they were still out in the open, otherwise, Grey wouldn't have been able to hold herself back from how adorable Yuna was. He could only hold back his desires, simply patting Yuna's head to relieve himself of some of the tension.

  "Then, everyone, shall we head towards... Huh? Where's Garret?" ［Grey］

  "Older Brother was dragged away by everyohey said they're going to go around and py games over the western district." ［Violet］

  "I see... That's unfortunate..." ［Grey］

  Grey had wondered why it became quiet all of a sudden but it was soon answered by Violet. With Garret out of the picture, there are only four of them left. It was a shame but there was nothing they could do about it.

  "Then, everyone, who wants to go to the ival?" ［Grey］

  """Me～!"""

  It was a unanimous decision. With no one objeg against their pn, everyone soon headed towards the ival. And unlike before when it was just the girls, the way there had bee even more crowded, the streets bustling as loud as be,

  The moment they arrived, a plethora of attras greeted them ing in all shapes, colors, and sizes. From small rocker horses all the way to massive roller coasters, stands standing here and there. There was anything and everything one could wish for.

  Strangely enough, even when Merusia's civilization could be sidered "Medieval", there are many things present which are too advanced for their time, and such were magic tools and devices. All were possible thanks to mana.

  Funnily enough, despite how "advanced" Merusia was, if oo pare it to Earth's teological progress after iiricity, Merusia's pace was like a snail's, slowly advang even after thousands of years with mana alongside them. Truly a mysterious world in more ways than one.

  "Grey, what are you spag off for? Let's go!" ［Yuna］

  Grabbed by the hand, Yuna quickly led Grey around the pce, showing off a ton of the attras they have tried before. She babbled on like aed child, eyes gleaming cheerfully as she smiled at Grey.

  "There's also a merry-go-round by the rightー Ah! The Ferris Wheel! Let's ride the Ferris Wheel, everyone!" ［Yuna］

  She marched to the beat of her own drum, pointing here and there eagerly as one be. Excitement whily bloomed ever brighter the moment she saw the Ferris Wheel, asking everyoo ride it before anything else.

  "The Ferris Wheel... Is everyone alright with that?" ［Grey］

  "No problem here." ［Iris］

  "Same here～!" ［Violet］

  There was no obje from everyone, and so, they quickly lined up after the Ferris Wheel. They bought their tickets, and lined up once more. Soon enough, it was their turn, riding in a car with all four of them.

  The car's doors soon closed and the whole wheel started to move, slowly but surely. The higher they went, the wider the sight they saw, seeing most of the city at the very top of the wheel, feasting their eyes on a mystical and bustling sight.

  "Waah～! There are so many people everywhere... And they look so small from up here as well..." ［Iris］

  "It looks so beautiful, doesn't it?... Ah! Older Brrey, I borrow the camera for a short moment?" ［Violet］

  "No problem. Take as long as you want." ［Grey］

  The young dies were very excited as they moved up and down the Ferris Wheel, and when Grey lent them the camera, their exciteme up even more, taking photos of the Festival from every ahey took.

  They were like excited children who just got their hands on a oy. Seeing them act like that, one wouldn't think they were a princess and a noble dy. Such a sight only served to make Yuna giggle to herself.

  "Fufufu! I k... Things really are more fun with you, Grey." ［Yuna］

  A sneak attack out of nowhere, catg Grey off guard. With a sweet smile on her fad the sunlight atuating her beauty, her gentle words made Grey's heart skip a beat, his face feeling slightly feverish.

  Of course, Grey didn't just stay still. Without wasting much time, he also unched his ter attack, holding Yuna's hand and gripping tightly. He then raised it o his lips and pressed it to the back of her hands, kissing her gently.

  "I love you." ［Grey］

  His words were barely audible, but Yuna could hear it loud and clear. Grey's sudde destructive strike made her heart race ever so wildly, face turning her in just a quick sed. Grey's teasing was simply too much.

  Thankfully, the young dies were still looking out of the window, their little moment a secret for themselves to keep. The moment the young dies turned around, all they saw was a beet red Yuna, the lovebirds already a short distance apart.

  "Elder Sister Yuna, is something wrong? Your face looks red..." ［Iris］

  "Older Sister Yuna, do you have a fever?!" ［Violet］

  "A-Ah, really...? It's probably just because I'm just so happy. It's just so fun with everyone! Fufufu!" ［Yuna］

  "Elder Sister Yuna..." ［Iris］ "Older Sister Yuna..." ［Violet］

  The young dies were far too i. Yuna simply made a little excuse, and now, they are ging closely to her. Now, Grey was the one who was chug to himself, once again thinking how adorable his fiancé was.

  And so, the fun tinues...

  CHAPTER 286 END