Her words were reasonable, logical, and well explained, leaving Lucy completely unable to argue back.
"I-I understand. Then I'll shamelessly accept it."
Seeing Lucy put the money into her shoulder bag, Meredy finally smiled and continued walking ahead to lead the way.
"That's more like it. Most newcomers come through the same process, Lucy. Don't push yourself too much."
Lucy quickly followed after her.
Listening to those unusually mature words, she felt a little comforted, but she couldn't help turning her head in surprise and asking:
"Meredy, are you really only 13 years old?
I thought only old-fashioned people like my dad talked like that."
"Old-fashioned?"
Meredy turned around and met Lucy's gaze, a hint of amusement flashing in her eyes.
"I learned these words from Erza-san. When she comes back, I'll definitely tell her your evaluation of her."
Lucy immediately stopped walking.
Meredy turned back in confusion, only to see Lucy's pretty face turn pale as her body unconsciously started trembling.
"E-Erza? The legendary Fairy Queen?
I actually called her an old-fashioned person?!"
"I'm finished, I'm finished! I'm definitely dead this time!!"
Seeing how a simple joke had scared Lucy this much, Meredy was completely stunned.
"Your courage is really small, Lucy.
Relax, I was just joking."
"Just joking? Really?"
Lucy cautiously confirmed again.
"Really, really. Come on, timid Lucy."
Meredy helplessly confirmed.
Only after hearing that did Lucy carefully continue following her.
"Seriously, Meredy, why did you scare me like that for no reason?
And what's with 'timid Lucy'? That's such an embarrassing nickname!"
"What's wrong with timid Lucy? I saw you sweating from fear just now.
And you were the same when we were in front of Aunt Irene earlier. You were so scared that you directly sat down on the ground.
You're too weak, timid Lucy."
When Meredy brought up her embarrassing past, Lucy's embarrassment instantly reached its peak.
Her face turned red as she waved her hands repeatedly.
"Stop, stop! Don't say it anymore! That's too embarrassing!"
Just a moment ago, Meredy had looked like a kind and reliable senior.
But when it came to teasing people, she showed absolutely no mercy.
Lucy silently complained about this in her heart while feeling wronged.
Fortunately, Meredy was still a kind child by nature.
After teasing Lucy a few more times, she stopped bringing up the topic.
"Hey, Lucy, do you have somewhere to stay tonight?
Or are you planning to stay at an inn?"
"No, no, inns are too expensive. I definitely can't afford that with my current savings."
Lucy had never considered staying at an inn from the beginning.
Those places casually cost several thousand J per day, which was far beyond what she could afford right now.
"I know another Celestial Spirit Mage from the guild, Sorano.
Before we left, Lucky-senpai already contacted her for me. I'll be staying at her house temporarily these next few days."
After hearing this, Meredy's reaction immediately confused Lucy.
"Sorano-nee?
Lucy, you're actually going to stay at our house? That's great!"
"Y-Your house?"
"Yeah. Sorano-nee, Bisca-nee, and I all live in a big house outside the city.
There are several empty rooms there. Lucy, you can choose whichever one you like."
As she spoke, Meredy raised her hand and pointed in a certain direction to the east.
Lucy followed her gaze, but naturally she couldn't see the large house Meredy was talking about.
However, knowing that she could live with the "senior" she had spent the past half-day getting familiar with, Lucy became even happier.
"That's great! I actually still have a lot of questions about the guild and quests. I can continue asking you for advice tonight."
"Of course. Ask whatever you want. If I know the answer, I'll tell you everything."
With their new relationship as roommates, the distance between the two girls clearly became much closer.
After that, they walked hand in hand, happily skipping all the way back to the guild.
However, just as they got close, a strong smell of alcohol hit their noses.
Meredy instinctively covered her nose and frowned angrily.
"They started again.
Those old guys who never work properly and only know how to drink and brag."
Lucy peeked through the window.
All she saw were bright lights and several moving figures.
"That's strange. Why is the guild so quiet? Did everyone already leave?"
"Impossible. Those guys usually won't leave the guild until closing time.
With such a strong smell of alcohol, they definitely drank too much again."
While saying this, Meredy pulled Lucy inside with a dark expression.
"Lucky-nee, we're back from completing the quest…"
"Huh? Where's Lucky-nee?"
Meredy originally wanted to go straight to the bar where Lucky usually stayed and tell her that they had completed the quest.
But she didn't see Lucky anywhere behind the counter.
At that moment, she suddenly felt Lucy's hand tighten around hers.
The force was so strong that Meredy felt a little pain.
"Ouch, Lucy, what are you doing?"
After complaining, Meredy looked up at Lucy.
She saw Lucy staring straight ahead into the center of the guild hall.
Meredy subconsciously followed her gaze.
And then, at a long table near the front, she saw a figure she had not seen in a long time.