The ten returning Mages were warmly welcomed by everyone.
"I saw your performance. I'm so proud of you." Layla smiled, looking at Lucy as Erza supported her back into the waiting area.
"You were amazing, Lu-chan!" Levy cheered. "Congratulations!"
Teams A and B were just temporary labels for the tournament.
At their core, they were still members of Fairy Tail—one big family.
No matter who took home the trophy, everyone celebrated together.
However, Porlyusica wielded her broom to sweep back the rowdy members trying to crowd them.
She was swamped, rushing around to tend to the fighters.
Fortunately, Wendy hadn't suffered any serious injuries, so the two healers hurriedly treated everyone's wounds.
The girls' injuries weren't too severe.
Mostly, their magical power had just bottomed out.
After Wendy healed and bandaged them, they'd be bouncing around again by the next day.
Laxus's injuries were the worst.
Aside from the physical toll of his close-quarters brawl with Jura, he'd taken the Wizard Saint's ultimate attack, Rumbling Mt. Fuji, head-on.
But Dragon Slayers were just built like that.
Relying on their monstrous physical strength, they thrived in close combat and always ended up covered in bruises.
Next was Gajeel.
He had tanked two Super Magics. Luckily, Lucy's magical reserves were low, so her Urano Metria hadn't hit its peak output.
As for Cana, she had only just begun mastering Fairy Glitter, so her cast was a heavily watered-down version of the real thing.
Even so, the Iron Dragon stubbornly walked back on his own two feet. Porlyusica looked like she wanted to smack him with her broom.
As for Makarov, he was still standing with his hands on his hips in the stands, doing a happy little jig while muttering.
"Fifty million J… Fifty million Jewels…" Being surpassed by his grandson? That wasn't nearly as important as the prize money!
...
At the Restaurant
While Fairy Tail held a massive celebration banquet in the restaurant, the Golden Lion Knight, Ren, tracked down a half-drunk Makarov.
"Lord Makarov, His Majesty invites the seven participating guilds to attend a royal banquet at Mercurius Palace tomorrow evening. This is your formal invitation."
The other members of the Croix Knights were busy dispatching invitations to the remaining guilds across the city.
"A banquet?!" The rowdy guild members immediately zeroed in on the keyword.
And since it was going to be held at Mercurius Palace—a place none of them had ever set foot in—the cheers grew even louder.
"Please tell His Majesty that we'll be there."
The sober Ur stepped up, accepting the envelope on Makarov's behalf and nodding politely to Ren.
"Then I won't disturb your celebration any longer. Farewell."
..
The Next Day
Although Laxus and Jura had leveled a good chunk of the city, King Toma dispatched royal construction teams to carry out repairs at breakneck speed, and the financial compensation provided was generous.
The royal treasury was overflowing, so the citizens of the capital didn't mind the collateral damage to their houses one bit.
When the guild wandered the streets of Crocus, they were met with a tidal wave of enthusiasm.
Especially Laxus—he was nearly drowned by cheering fans.
Gray had also gained a massive following of female admirers.
Since both of them had shredded their shirts and showed off their physiques during yesterday's matches, their popularity skyrocketed.
Eight-pack abs, broad shoulders, chiseled builds... when it came to flexing mid-battle, Laxus and Gray had nailed it.
Raizel experienced a different kind of enthusiasm.
He was swarmed by kids!
Wendy was also surrounded by a crowd of children around her own age, treating her like a hero.
As for the fans swarming Ultear and the other girls, Erza and Mira quickly stepped in to maintain order.
A neat row of tables was set up in the plaza.
Ultear, Cana, Lucy, and the rest sat down while fans lined up with merchandise, eager for their favorite Mages to sign autographs.
It looked exactly like an official idol meet-and-greet.
The fans were relentless. The girls started signing in the morning and continued well into the afternoon.
Raizel had it a bit easier, he just needed to pose for photos with the kids, who didn't care much about signatures.
Ultear and the others even had Raizel run food delivery for them, grabbing quick bites while swapping seats.
Finally, after checking the time, Raizel clapped his hands and used a bit of magic to amplify his voice.
"Alright, everyone! Tonight we've been invited by His Majesty to attend a royal banquet at Mercurius Palace. We need to start getting ready, so that's all the autographs for today!"
In truth, it was only four o'clock.
There was plenty of time since the banquet didn't start until seven.
But Raizel knew if they kept signing, the line would never end. It was better to find an excuse and slip away while they still could.
"I wanted to go shopping, but I didn't even get the chance..." Ultear sighed as she signed the final poster.
Mira smiled, her eyes crinkling. "And judging by the crowds, we probably won't be able to shop in peace for a while."
Lucy, on the other hand, was glowing with energy. "I'm fine with it! This is the first time I've ever had so many fans!"
...
🏰 Mercurius Palace Banquet Hall
The golden dome, the high ring of spaced alcoves holding pristine plaster statues, and the lush golden décor all emphasized the royal family's splendor.
Even with the heavy use of gold, the architecture felt elegant, not tacky.
A massive crowd had already gathered in the hall. Raizel spotted a few unfamiliar faces, but since they were mingling with the contestants from the other six guilds, they were likely non-combatant guild members joining the celebration.
Raizel, Laxus, and the guys kept things simple.
They wore sharp, fitted black suits, the only difference being the color of the dress shirts underneath.
Raizel glanced around but didn't spot Ultear, Erza, or the other girls.
'They were probably still putting on makeup and finalizing their dresses.'
He did, however, spot Cana.
She was already stationed by the royal wine barrels, drinking heavily!
...
"Excuse me… Do I really have to wear this kind of outfit?" Yukino shifted nervously in a light-green formal gown, a pale-green rose tucked neatly into her hair.
She lightly covered her mouth, her lips pursed in self-doubt.
For someone who rarely wore formal dresses, the outfit felt a little too glamorous.
"Mm! It really suits you!" Lucy winked, looking stunning in a pink strapless satin dress accented with delicate feathers.
"You look beautiful, Yukino," Mira complimented with a warm smile.
Mira wore a striking red formal dress.
The off-shoulder design elegantly framed her collarbones. The vibrant red fabric made her pale skin glow, and the fitted cut highlighted her graceful figure.
With its floor-length, trailing skirt, she looked like royalty.
There was a very good reason Mira frequently graced the cover of Weekly Sorcerer.
"Mira-nee, come help me," Lisanna called out, her hands reaching behind her back.
The complicated ties on her dress were too tough to manage alone.
"Yukino looks good no matter what she wears," Wendy encouraged softly, her large eyes sparkling. Wendy's outfit wasn't too different from her usual attire.
Her twin tails were tied with yellow ribbons, and she wore a cute red jacket over a knee-length skirt, paired with white socks and flat boots.
Ultear stepped out from behind the changing screen, looking breathtaking in her chosen gown.
"Are you all ready? If you are, let's head out and join the party."
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