Kabe felt the warmth pressing against his arm and hesitated for a moment before nodding.
"I can, but..."
"That's wonderful. Kabe-senior really is such a warmhearted and kind person."
Bisca happily cut off the rest of what he had been about to say. With a pair of watery, sparkling eyes, she gazed at him in a way that made her look unbearably earnest and adorable.
"Senior, I don't really understand how missions work yet. Please explain it to me."
Faced with a look like that, and seeing himself as a gentleman who simply could not refuse a beautiful girl, Kabe chose to be helpful after all.
So, with full sincerity, he began quickly explaining to the newly joined girl how the guild operated, as well as the many things a mage needed to pay attention to while working.
Bisca also put on an especially serious expression, nodding from time to time in response, or following up with a few more questions.
...
From a far corner, Sorano watched the "eager and diligent" Bisca and could not help muttering inwardly.
Wasn't the plan to seduce him? So why are you asking him questions now?
Is this really the time for you to be acting studious? Just throw yourself at him already!!
Sorano was getting anxious just watching, and the other people in the guild were not feeling too great about it either.
"Isn't that the newcomer Erza brought back yesterday? How did she end up chatting with Kabe?"
"Damn it, I've been sitting here since morning. I even greeted her too.
If she had questions that simple, why didn't she ask me? I could've answered them just fine!"
"Idiot. Look at Kabe, then look in a mirror at yourself. Isn't the answer obvious?"
"Erza, Mira, where are you? Hurry up and save us! If this keeps going, I'm seriously going to die of jealousy!!"
With reddened eyes, Macao muttered his prayer in a low voice.
And unexpectedly, almost the instant he finished speaking, Erza really did appear at the entrance.
She had come alone. After stepping into the guild, she casually greeted a few people, then her eyes immediately locked onto Kabe, who was talking quite happily with Bisca.
Without pause, she walked straight over.
"She's here, she's here. The show's starting!"
Macao and the other men, driven by pure jealousy, instantly widened their eyes, all prepared to watch Kabe suffer.
Their filthy little anticipation immediately drew unified looks of contempt from female guild members like Kinana and Mikki.
But what happened next left the entire crowd dumbfounded.
After Erza reached the table, she did not show much anger or irritation at all.
On the contrary, she smiled, sat down very happily across from them, and said to Bisca,
"Bisca, seeing that you've already started chatting with the guild members so quickly, I feel relieved. It looks like you're fitting into the guild well."
Bisca, who had been incredibly tense inside when Erza arrived, let out a slight breath of relief upon hearing that. Smiling awkwardly, she replied,
"That's because everyone in the guild has such a good personality. And Kabe-senior has been taking very good care of me too. He's willing to help me understand the guild."
Erza first gave Kabe a satisfied glance, then looked puzzled.
"What happened to your voice? It sounds a little strange."
Bisca's heart jumped.
Still speaking with that deliberately softened, affected voice, she glanced sideways at Kabe and hurriedly explained,
"N-no, it's nothing. Maybe I just got too excited last night and didn't sleep well."
"I see. That's understandable for someone who just joined. Just make sure to rest more in the future."
Everyone around them who had been secretly pricking up their ears to listen instantly felt miserable.
Don't believe her, Erza! She's lying to you! Why, of all times, does your airheaded side have to kick in now?!
And Kabe, since he had never really interacted with Bisca before, was also completely fooled by her act.
Looking at Erza, who had come alone, he asked in confusion,