Amid the Dragon Destruction Swordsman's repeated "little brother" and Taurus's "big brother," the simple new partner introduction successfully evolved into a swearing-brotherhood ceremony between the perverted brothers.
And it was cross-species. As their masters, Chase and Lucy were extremely embarrassed. They silently sent the two idiots back to their respective worlds.
"Well, Chase, I'll be heading back now!"
After some rather unsubstantial small talk, noticing it was getting late, Lucy stood up and said her goodbyes.
Although Chase had plenty of spare rooms, since her own rented place was just across the river, staying over with Natsu and the others felt strange.
Moreover, Natsu and Gray's belittling had successfully stimulated the girl's competitive spirit. She decided to continue training secretly according to the Dark Magician's training guide and then amaze everyone!
Of course, before that, there was one very important thing: writing the day's Fairy Tail civil war into her adventure novel.
With that thought, Lucy glanced at the unconscious Natsu and the claw-sharpening Happy. A hint of bitterness rose in her heart.
When was the last time she had private space? Since Chase's house got destroyed? Or maybe even earlier, during the Phantom Lord incident?
Whatever. She was definitely opening a can of fish to celebrate when she got home!
"Lucy, I'll come with you."
Erza suddenly stood up, interrupting Lucy's thoughts and starting her. "W-Wait, Erza. If I remember correctly, don't you live in Magnolia?"
"More precisely, in the girls' dormitory on the southeastern hill!" Happy answered.
As the only male in the entire guild allowed to set foot in that forbidden zone, he knew quite a bit about it.
"Huh? Girls' dormitory?"
Hearing this term for the first time, Lucy was confused. "Is that our guild's own dormitory?"
*Then what was she doing renting this 70,000 Jewels-a-month place?*
Was she just showing off that she had money?
"Yes. By the way, the rent is 100,000 Jewels a month~" The sinister Teacher Happy saw right through Lucy's thoughts.
Lucy's mouth twitched. She immediately felt her little rented place was quite nice.
She couldn't even afford 70,000 Jewels without Chase's help. 100,000 Jewels would kill her!
"When you have time, I can take you for a tour. Levy and Laki's rooms are really fun. We can also sneak a peek at Juvia's room — she just moved in."
"Oh, and the second-floor public bath is great too. Perfect for soaking in this weather."
Listening to Happy's detailed introduction, Lucy's eyes lit up with interest. "Really? Then..."
"Guide fee: 10,000 Jewels. I'll give you a 5% discount, since we're comrades."
"Screw you!" Lucy's flying kick was instantaneous.
Happy, price-gouging on the spot, was kicked high into the air. With a thud, he hit the ceiling, then slid down the wall, landing in a heap with a blue bottom.
Well, cats were soft-bodied creatures...
"Touring the dorm can wait. Lucy, let's head back." Erza continued as if nothing had happened.
"So, Erza, you still haven't said why you have to come with me..." Lucy looked confused.
"If I had to give a reason... probably a whim?"
"So casual!"
"Ah? Was that too abrupt? I'm very sorry—"
"N-Not really. It's definitely more reassuring than sharing a room with Natsu and Happy!"
And so, the soft-hearted Lucy took Erza back to her rented place.
Shortly after they left, Gray yawned and slowly headed for the stairs to the second floor.
"I'm tired from fighting all day. I'm going to sleep, Chase."
As he passed the unconscious Natsu, he didn't bother to step around him. He just walked right over him.
These guys really treat this place like their own home...
Watching Gray disappear around the corner of the stairs, Chase sighed heavily.
He didn't mind such trivialities. He started cleaning the tea set on the coffee table, then took a comfortable hot bath.
After that, he picked up Natsu from the floor and Happy from the corner, casually tossing them onto the sofa.
These two were filthy and smelled of sweat. They certainly didn't deserve to sleep in a bed — guest rooms included!
Turning off the lights, he went up to the master bedroom, lay down on the spacious bed, and finally felt alive again.
Even he was completely exhausted after the entire civil war.
Especially in the real man's one-on-one fight with Laxus, he had taken quite a beating. All his muscles ached.
But thankfully, that matter was finally over. The biggest internal contradiction in the guild had been perfectly resolved. Now he could start working on...
Everyone's Comrade Power-Up Plan!
With that thought, Chase closed his eyes and entered the card space deep in his consciousness.
Stars filled the sky, dotted by the bright moonlight.
In a desert area with flying sand, at its center stood a magnificent temple in ancient Egyptian style.
This was the Dark Magician's domain.
Chase walked into the temple. In the spacious hall, the Dark Magician in his black robe stood on a stone
slab with his arms crossed. Before he was a magic image screen pieced together from dozens of footage.
It was repeatedly playing the guild members' battles, as recorded by the Kuribohs — down to the smallest detail.
Dark Magician Girl, brought in to assist, sat at the workbench. On her cute, fair face was a pair of light blue glasses engraved with a miniature magic circle.
They were similar to Fūei's Glasses — magic props that could capture multiple image streams at once.
The light blue glasses paired with her pink robe gave the usually silly, simple-minded girl an air of maturity and intellect.
"Ah! Master, you're here!"
Sensing Chase's presence, Dark Magician Girl immediately catapulted from her seat and hopped over to him.
Immersed in boring work, she had been waiting far too long for this chance to slack off!
"Yeah. I thought of it and came to check in."
Chase nodded and slowly walked toward the workbench.
"I basically have a general direction for each of them. But the full package might still take a bit more time." The Dark Magician said in a low voice.
If it were just one or two people, it would be fine. But involving all the core guild members, even he, proficient in magic, would need considerable effort.
"Thanks for your hard work." Chase naturally understood the workload involved.
"It's fine. It's not like I have anything else to do." The Dark Magician raised his deep eyes to look at the various battles on the display screen.
Hearing this, Dark Magician Girl, following behind Chase, pouted. She muttered in her heart, I'm not free. I want to go out and play with Mira-nee...
Although she made no sound, the Dark Magician still caught her little thought. He looked at her with a serious, earnest gaze.
"Moreover, these practical data are very beneficial for our research of the structure and operating principles of magic in different worlds. After all, the path of magic requires gathering the strengths of many schools to advance, to forge one's own path, to explore and touch that unreachable abyss. This—"
The first sentence was tentatively addressed to Chase. But the subsequent long lecture was entirely directed at his apprentice, Dark Magician Girl.
Seeing they had no burden or pressure, Chase felt relieved. He silently withdrew from the card space.
He knew the Dark Magician's personality too well. Around others, he would stand with his arms crossed, acting cool. But once the topic of magic came up, he would talk endlessly.
If he stayed any longer, his ears would definitely grow calluses!
Dark Magician Girl watched him disappear with eager eyes. She stood there, wanting to cry but having no tears.
***
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