After a brief spell of weightlessness and dizziness, Hope and Erza found themselves standing in a strange, rather dilapidated stone chamber.
The Magic Circle at their feet was fading, and ripples of spatial mana still lingered in the air.
This building had been secretly constructed by Mildian Magic Academy as a teleportation reception point.
Pushing open the revolving door, the two discovered the chamber was actually the rest area of a public bathhouse in Kardia City; muffled city noises drifted in from beyond the walls.
Hope and Erza both struggled to keep straight faces.
For such a prestigious place as Mildian Magic Academy, its secret base was hidden inside a bathhouse—bizarre, to say the least... Yet the concealment was flawless; no one would suspect trouble from newly arrived bath-goers.
Without pausing, the impatient Erza shoved the door open—only to collide with the bathhouse's caretaker.
"Little miss, who wears armor to take a bath?"
The caretaker had barely finished when she spotted Hope behind Erza and gave a knowing grin; youngsters these days liked their fun even in the baths.
That mischievous, experienced look made Erza blush. She instinctively grabbed Hope's hand and dragged him out of the bathhouse.
Watching the two figures dash away, the caretaker shook her head. "Such a serious-looking girl, yet she can't take a little teasing."
"Whatever's happened that Hyberion had to use a teleportation circle..."
...A short while earlier.
While Hope and Erza were mowing down foes in Mildian Magic Academy's arena, ten kilometers outside the Vast Woods...
A four-wheeled magical carriage rolled to a stop.
Motion-sick Natsu tumbled out. Before he could stand, Lucy stepped on him as she disembarked; Gray and Happy followed suit, using him as a doormat.
"Hey! You're doing that on purpose!"
Looking at the footprints on his clothes, Natsu yelled.
Lucy, Gray, and Happy turned back in unison, all wearing savage expressions.
"You idiot, you puked all over us!"
"Aye! My fur's only just dried!"
"Why'd you stuff yourself before we left?!"
Seeing shirtless Gray and star-spirit-clad Lucy, Natsu's bravado evaporated.
He forced a laugh. "Well... it's Mirajane's fault. She knew I get carsick yet made breakfast so good I ordered ten extra helpings..."
"And you blame Mira?!"
"Apologize to Miss Mirajane!"
"Aye!"
As the two humans and one cat pummeled him, the last Fairy Tail member in the carriage sighed; he should've known better than to yield to the guild master's request.
When the final companion stepped down, Gray paused. "I said it when we set off, but I'll say it again—never thought I'd team up with someone as mysterious as you."
"Mystogan."
Clad in black robes that hid every feature save emotionless eyes, Mystogan offered no reply, merely walking toward the villa.
Gray wasn't bothered; during the entire ride Mystogan had spoken fewer than three words, none longer than three letters.
What a shy guy... Entering the oddly decorated villa, Natsu—loaded with everyone's luggage as an apology—marveled, "So this is the rendezvous? Pretty big."
Lucy muttered, "Terrible taste in décor..."
Gray sighed. "Well, the villa is Blue Pegasus Master Porlyusica's contribution to the Guild Alliance as a gathering spot..."
Recalling Porlyusica's "voluptuous rotundity," Gray broke out in goosebumps; even he suddenly wanted a shirt.
The moment they stepped into the main hall, a garish spotlight hit the center where three figures struck dramatic poses.
"Fairy Tail guests."
"We've been expecting you."
They were Blue Pegasus's representatives: "Hundred Nights" Hibiki Lates, "Void Night" Ren Akatsuki, and "Holy Night" Eve Tearm.
All three were top-tier hunks, regulars in the magazine "Boyfriend Material."
Glancing at nose-picking Natsu and shirt-hunting Gray, Lucy sighed; her teammates looked hopeless by comparison.
Yet something felt off.
Suddenly the world spun; when it stopped, Lucy found herself on a sofa, the three "Night" hunks flirting around her.
"You must be tired from the trip..."
"Lovely lady..."
"Spend tonight with us..."
Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!
Now she knew—they were Hosts!
As the blonde panicked, a syrupy voice drifted from the stairs.
"That's enough, you three."
Lucy looked up—and wanted to gouge her eyes out.
A short, stubby man stood there; the three pretty boys instantly flocked to him.
It was Blue Pegasus's S-Class Mage—Ichiya.
Seeing Lucy, Ichiya's eyes lit up; he glided over. "O fair maiden, I am Ichiya, may I—"
Unable to cope, Lucy froze—until Natsu stepped in and punched Ichiya square in the face.
"Stay away from Lucy!"
Ichiya flew straight into new arrivals entering the hall.
"What a warm welcome,"
a voice remarked. A hand caught Ichiya's head and flash-froze it in ice. "Do you underestimate Lamia Scale?"
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