"We also don't want to affect your life, Erza." Wally didn't hide anything either, laying out their true reasons directly.
The serious faces of her companions and their sincere words left Erza unable to rebut.
She couldn't say anything to stop them, nor could she insist they join Fairy Tail.
"Alright, I understand." Erza nodded seriously, accepting her four companions' farewell.
She knew she couldn't bind her companions' freedom, so she could only let them freely explore the world.
But she hoped they knew that Fairy Tail could always be their backup, their second home.
"Marco..."
Erza looked at Marco, who had been silent beside her.
Her eyes held a pleading look; she hoped to get Marco's support, wanting to leave a path open for her four friends.
"...I approve." Marco paused for a moment, then smiled and nodded, choosing to support Erza.
After all, it was just helping others fulfill their wishes.
"Good! I will hold a farewell ceremony for you right now!"
With Marco's support, Erza instantly gained confidence.
If she's the only approved, it might not carry much weight, but with Marco's approval, there would definitely be no problem.
"Farewell ceremony? But we haven't even joined yet!"
Hearing Erza's words, Sho said with a surprised look. The other three were the same, obviously not expecting this segment.
"Buzz!"
Erza requipped into a different armor, the "Farewell Armor."
This was a ceremonial armor worn only during farewells or ceremonies.
It was very gorgeous, featuring high heels and a fluffy skirt armor, and she held a long lance in her hand.
The armor was primarily white, embellished with gold patterns, and she also wore a red cloak.
She looked very much like an elegant knight, and also very much like a queen.
"Whenever a companion of 'Fairy Tail' is about to leave the guild, we hold a send-off party for them. At the same time, we must convey three rules to them."
Erza ignored Sho and the others' surprise and confusion, proceeding with the "farewell" on her own.
She already considered these companions as companions of Fairy Tail.
By sending them off now, if they wanted to return in the future, they could still do so.
Simon, Sho, Millianna, and Wally hadn't formally joined Fairy Tail indeed.
But with Marco's approval, Erza could treat them as if they had already joined, effectively leaving this path open for them.
"..."
Simon, Sho, Millianna, and Wally looked at Erza.
None of them spoke again; instead, they waited, deeply moved, for Erza to continue.
They all understood Erza's intention.
"Rule Number One: You must never reveal information that is disadvantageous to Fairy Tail to others for the rest of your life.
Rule Number Two: You must not contact past clients without authorization to gain personal profit."
Erza quickly went through the first two rules.
These two weren't very useful for Simon, Sho, Millianna, and Wally since they hadn't actually worked in the guild and didn't know any intelligence regarding Fairy Tail.
What Erza wanted to emphasize was naturally the third rule, the one that best represented the guild Fairy Tail.
"Rule Number Three: Even if our paths diverge, you must live on strongly. You must absolutely not despise your own life, and you must never forget the friends you cherished in the past for the rest of your life!"
Erza shouted out the third rule.
For Fairy Tail, once Fairy Tail, always Fairy Tail.
Even if one left the guild, everyone hoped the person leaving would live well and have a wonderful life of their own.
Of course, this referred to those who left normally and abided by the first two rules.
Fairy Tail wasn't a pushover either.
Failing to abide by the first two rules was clearly positioning oneself as an enemy of the guild.
Naturally, there would be no friendship to speak of then; what remained would be cleaning up the house!
"Do you understand?" Erza looked at her four friends and asked loudly.
Her eyes were filled with tears. Just having reunited with them only to separate again—Erza was human too; naturally, she would be sad and upset.
Watching the weeping Erza, Marco couldn't help but open his mouth slightly, because at this moment, tears were flowing from both of Erza's eyes.
Her artificial eye, which had always been unable to shed tears, was finally moistened by tears once again.
'It seems the knot in her heart is completely untied.'
Seeing this scene, Marco felt happy for Erza.
This symbol undoubtedly proved that Erza's psychological shackles had been unlocked; she had truly freed herself from the past.
"Understood!"
Simon, Sho, Millianna, and Wally answered loudly and earnestly, indicating they would definitely abide by these rules, live on strongly, and forever remember this friendship.
"Since it's a send-off party, we definitely need a big feast. I'll go find Mira and ask her to prepare a grand meal to send off our four companions."
Marco stepped forward proactively to find something for himself to do, also giving Erza and her four companions some space.
"Please do, Marco. I will thank Mira properly."
Erza was stunned at first, then nodded seriously, agreeing with Marco.
Her look toward Marco was full of gratitude because Marco was clearly further cementing the relationship between these four friends and Fairy Tail.
Once the send-off banquet was actually held, it meant everyone acknowledged them.
After all, Master Makarov was also on the ship.
If he also attended the banquet and acknowledged Simon, Sho, Millianna, and Wally, then it would truly be official.
As for whether Marco could pull this send-off party together, Erza didn't doubt it for a second.
She didn't think anyone in the guild would refuse Marco.
Even just for Marco's sake, everyone would definitely come to attend the send-off party.
Marco walked away and found Mirajane in the ship's restaurant.
The ships he procured were large passenger liners, so they naturally had complete facilities, and this restaurant was a large dining hall.
The members of "Fairy Tail" loved to sit in the dining hall when they had nothing to do, drinking, chatting, and bragging.
It was like this in the guild, and it was the same outside.
As soon as Marco entered the dining hall, he saw everyone there, even the motion-sick Natsu and Gajeel.
"These guys..."
Marco shook his head with a smile and didn't say anything, going straight to find Mirajane.
Mira was currently exchanging culinary skills with the chefs on the passenger liner.
Since there was no longer any danger here, the crew on these ships were naturally fully staffed, saving them the trouble of sailing the ships themselves.
"Mira, later we're going to hold a send-off party for Simon, Sho, Millianna, and Wally. Can I ask for your help?" Marco quietly leaned in next to Mirajane and whispered.
"Hmm? Are they leaving?" Mirajane was somewhat surprised.
They had said they wanted to stay and join Fairy Tail earlier; why were they suddenly leaving again?
"Everyone has their own goals; we shouldn't force it. Separating might be better for everyone."
Marco explained with a smile, though he didn't go into detail.
After all, it was Erza and the others' private business; it wasn't appropriate to talk too much behind their backs.
"You really think of everything..." Mirajane pursed her lips, glanced sideways at Marco, and made a slightly sour remark.
"Hehe~" Marco didn't speak, just chuckled.
It wasn't his first day being like this.
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