"Are you planning to use the fact that you helped me resolve my side effects to make me do this?"
Raizel faced Irene calmly.
"I acknowledge everything you just said, but I will not force you, because in my view, the transaction between us has already ended."
"I am asking you as a friend, or from an even lower position, such as that of a junior."
"I solved your side effects, and in return, you left the empire and treated Erza a little better. You have already done those things. You do not owe me anything."
Irene gave a soft laugh.
"I thought your attitude would be more aggressive. More forceful."
"Because whether I am forceful or not, whether I am eager or not, makes no difference to you. Whether I act humbly, act forcefully, or propose another transaction, the final decision still rests in your hands, doesn't it?"
Irene did not answer, so Raizel continued.
"Because whether you use Enchantment Magic to help forge the armor, or whether you want to teach Wendy High Enchantment Magic, I have no right to interfere. It is the same as if I wanted to teach someone Super Archive Magic. You would likewise have no right to interfere."
Hearing Raizel's words, Irene's eyes narrowed slightly again.
She discovered that Raizel truly suited her tastes.
He did not bring up Erza's relationship with her, nor did he say anything like, "I helped you solve your side effects, so you should repay that kindness."
In truth, Raizel could absolutely have used that favor to ask for her help.
If he relied on that kindness to make a request, would she refuse?
The answer was no.
But would she feel uncomfortable about it?
The answer was yes.
In Irene's eyes, Raizel was truly very interesting.
If she had to find the closest word to describe him, Irene could only think of "merchant."
That might be the closest, but it was not entirely accurate either.
A merchant loved money.
Raizel did not.
As if she had discovered something especially amusing, Irene folded her arms and leaned back against the sofa.
After a soft laugh, she said, "I had not finished speaking just now. Although they may not have much hope, my final answer is that I accept."
Although Raizel had already expected Irene to agree to his request, hearing her agree still made him sit up straighter and lower his head slightly in thanks.
"Thank you for your decision."
That's right.
The two of them had looked like they were on the verge of drawing swords just now, but they had been doing it while leaning back against their sofas with their legs crossed.
Raizel looked exactly as if he had returned to his own home.
That was also one of the things Irene liked about Raizel.
Irene did not like people who became afraid the moment they saw her, regardless of whether they were men or women.
Selene was not afraid of her.
Raizel was not afraid of her.
That was why she treated the two of them slightly differently from everyone else.
Although Selene had currently been temporarily removed from that category, since she had clearly intended to watch Irene and Raizel make fools of themselves.
Irene sat up straight and leaned forward slightly.
One elbow rested on her crossed leg as she supported her chin with her hand. With a smiling gaze fixed on Raizel, she asked,
"Your reaction is rather disappointing. Aren't you going to ask why I agreed? Something like whether I awakened motherly love toward Erza?"
Raizel answered calmly without changing expression.
"Although I am indeed curious about the reason, since I have already made an effort and achieved the goal I wanted, what importance does the reason hold for us?"
Raizel said "us."
Meaning himself and Irene, not just himself alone.
Raizel was somewhat puzzled.
Although Irene's mind was deep, after so many interactions with her, Raizel believed her attitude toward Erza should not be this cold anymore.
At the very least, it should not be cold enough to make Erza feel something that could almost be called fear.
Of course, that did not mean Erza was afraid of Irene.
It meant that if Erza wanted to take one more step closer to Irene, she feared she would be coldly rejected and kept thousands of miles away.
Had something unknown happened during the conversation between mother and daughter on the magic airship?
Before Raizel could think too much, Irene withdrew the smile from her face and leaned back again.
"Since you do not want to know the reason, I will not say it."
"Bring the materials to be forged another day. Also, have that little blue-haired girl follow me. Starting tomorrow, I will teach her High Enchantment Magic."
"I will have Heine and Juliet prepare a room for her. During that period, they will also be responsible for her meals."
As if remembering something, Irene added another instruction.
"Have her come alone. Remember to tell her that from twelve-thirty to two-thirty is my afternoon nap time. She is not to disturb me."
Raizel nodded obediently.
"No problem. I'll remember that."
Then, somewhat pushing his luck, Raizel asked,
"Can Carla, the one who stays by her side, come with her? Those two have been inseparable since childhood."
Irene folded her arms and thought for a moment before suddenly asking,
"That white cat?"
"Strictly speaking, she's an Exceed."
Irene did not care about Raizel's correction.
"A cat does not violate the agreement of one person coming. Do as you like."
Before leaving, Raizel suddenly stopped again and looked back.
"Oh, right. If you like sweets, then Erza and I both have a great deal of authority in that area."
"If there is any flavor you like, you can ask me, or Erza."
In an instant, that familiar silence appeared in the hall again.
After a moment, Irene turned her head under Raizel's gaze and answered,
"Something refreshing like Starlight is quite good."
Raizel raised an eyebrow.
It seemed Irene's sense of taste had already fully recovered.
She actually liked lighter flavors.
That box of ice cream had not been overly sweet either, which fit Irene's words.
Without showing anything, he replied,
"Then you can try yogurt cheese-filled cake, snow pear cake, and mango panna cotta."
"If you like Starlight, I can also invite that shop owner to Magnolia. After all, I like that Starlight dessert quite a lot too."
Raizel arrived at the door and nodded to Irene.
"Then I'll take my leave first. I wish you a pleasant day."
Then he closed the door.
Only Irene was left sitting in the hall.
She glanced at the box of ice cream she had thrown into the trash can, with only a little remaining inside.
Letting Raizel see her like that had been completely outside her expectations.
After all, even Heine and Juliet did not know what she was like while resting.
This absolutely belonged to an unforeseen situation.
But who told her to give Heine and Juliet those instructions earlier?
Heine and Juliet had merely followed them strictly.
Fortunately, Raizel was someone with the power of the Face-Saving Fruit fully maxed out, so it had not left her too embarrassed.
It could only be said that she had underestimated Selene too much.
Selene had probably discovered long ago that after her afternoon nap, Irene often listened to music and ate some sweets.
She simply had never exposed it.
Not until Raizel arrived.
But Irene also knew that this was probably just one of Selene's strange little amusements.
Selene would not dare use it as a threat.