The salty air of Hargeon's docks clung to my skin, sharp and briny against the chill that had settled deep into my bones. I adjusted the worn leather strap of my bag, the rough material creaking softly beneath my fingers. Around me, the docks stirred to life in a chaotic symphony—merchants shouting over one another, their voices sharp and urgent as they hawked fish, spices, and magical trinkets. The slap of waves against weathered wood, the creak of rigging, the occasional clink of coins exchanged under hurried hands—all wove together into a rhythm that almost drowned out the jumble of thoughts swirling in my head. Almost.
I ducked beneath a tattered awning, pretending to check my reflection in the cracked window of a nearby fish stall. It was a poor reflection—a pale face, tangled dark hair, eyes too wide and wary for a child my age. But it was all I had.
"System," I whispered under my breath, voice barely audible over the bustling marketplace.
A faint blue glow flickered before my eyes, a translucent interface hovering just out of sight for anyone else. It was always there, always waiting.
[ Plinko System – Active ]
[ Current Quests: None ]
[ Tickets: 0 ]
Empty. As usual. Standing around wouldn't make me stronger, but drawing attention here would be stupid. This city wasn't mine, but it felt more alive than anything I remembered from before. The only thing keeping me sane—the only thing keeping me moving—was this damn System.
I pulled my hood lower, casting shadows across my face. "Blend in. Just blend in," I muttered, repeating it like a mantra. The docks were no place for strays—especially ones without magic, without power. The last thing I wanted was to stick out before I even figured out where I was.
That's when I noticed her.
A blonde girl stood in front of a magic shop, flipping through a jangling set of keys on a chain. She looked frustrated, brows furrowed as if she'd just been ripped off. But there was a fire in her eyes—a brightness that refused to be dimmed by the world's weight.
Lucy Heartfilia.
I knew the name. Not from this world, but from the stories I'd heard, the anime I'd watched before waking up in this strange new place. Which meant the story had finally begun.
Lucy sighed and turned away from the shopkeeper, her keys jingling softly as she walked. The walls nearby were plastered with gaudy posters—Bora of Prominence's face grinning wildly, promising power, glamour, and the chance to join his "crew." She wasn't buying it—not yet. But one of Bora's men had lured her toward the docks with whispers of meeting the "famous Salamander." I frowned, heart tightening.
I remembered this arc well enough. Bora, the imposter. The trap. Lucy would end up trapped on that ship. Natsu would crash in to save her.
But this time… I was here.
My fists clenched as Lucy hesitated on the gangplank of that garish ship Bora had docked at the harbor. My heart hammered in my chest. I could sit back and watch the canon play out. I knew how it ended—Natsu would burn the guy into ash.
But watching Lucy glance nervously at the men around her, the way her hand never left her keys, my chest tightened. She wasn't a character on a screen anymore. She was real. Vulnerable. And I couldn't just watch.
[ New Quest Generated! ]
Quest: Rescue Lucy from Bora's trap.
Difficulty: Common
Reward: 1 Common Ticket
Figures. The System wasn't about to let me slack off.
I exhaled slowly, steadying myself. "Alright then… looks like I'm stepping in early."
Inside the ship's ballroom, the atmosphere was thick with false charm and whispered promises. Women gathered in clusters, their eyes glazed as Bora's charm spell shimmered invisibly, clouding their minds. Lucy fought the magic, fingers clenched tightly around her keys, jaw set with determination.
Before Bora could make his move, a voice cut through the haze.
"Funny. I thought Salamander breathed fire, not lies."
Heads turned. A young man stood in the doorway, hood low. His dark hair fell in messy spikes, his eyes sharp and unyielding as they locked on Bora.
Bora scowled, his carefully constructed mask slipping. "Who the hell are you?"
I felt sweat bead on my palms as every eye turned to me. What the hell was I thinking? No magic, no real combat skills, no plan. But seeing Lucy's eyes clear slightly, hope flickered.
[ System Alert! ]
[ Quest Progress: Intervention Initiated ]
[ Bonus Objective Available: Expose Bora's true identity ]
[ Additional Reward: 1 Common Ticket ]
Two tickets instead of one? Now we're talking.
"Me?" I shrugged, channeling every ounce of confidence I didn't have. "Just someone who knows the real Salamander wouldn't need cheap charm magic to impress anyone."
Bora's face contorted with rage as murmurs spread. Several women blinked, the charm's effect waning as doubt crept in. His men moved to surround me, hands twitching toward concealed weapons.
Lucy's eyes flicked between me and Bora, hand instinctively moving to her celestial keys. My words had snapped her free.
"Get rid of him," Bora snarled, sophistication crumbling. "Make sure he can't swim back to shore."
As Bora's thugs closed in, my mind raced. I needed time. Natsu would show up eventually—assuming I hadn't derailed the timeline.
"Ladies," I called, backing toward the door. "You might want to ask why a legitimate wizard needs armed thugs at a recruitment party."
Whispers stirred. Bora's face darkened.
[ System Alert! ]
[ Combat Inevitable - Access Tutorial? ]
[ Yes/No ]
Oh, NOW you offer a tutorial? Perfect timing.
"Yes," I whispered as the first thug lunged with a knife.
[ Tutorial Initiated ]
[ Basic Combat Enhancement Activated ]
[ Temporary Skill Granted: Basic Combat Awareness ]
[ Duration: 5 minutes ]
Suddenly, everything slowed. I saw the knife's path, felt the shift my body needed. It wasn't much, but it was something.
I ducked the slash, grabbed the attacker's wrist, and used his momentum to send him stumbling into his buddies. Basic self-defense, enhanced by the System's gift.
"Lucy!" I shouted, hoping she'd get the hint. "Now's a good time to show what a real wizard looks like!"
Lucy's hand moved swiftly to her keys, a determined glint in her eyes. "Open, Gate of the Water Bearer! Aquarius!"
Golden light flooded the room as the celestial spirit materialized, her scowl unmistakable. Water swirled around her urn, powerful and wild.
Bora's eyes widened. "A Celestial Wizard? Seize her keys!"
I fought the urge to grin. Aquarius might hate everyone equally, but her power was exactly what we needed.
[ Combat Enhancement Active: 3:42 remaining ]
[ Quest Update: Lucy engaged in combat ]
[ Warning: Ship stability compromised ]
"Everyone down!" I shouted, tackling a woman away from Bora's thugs as Aquarius unleashed a tidal wave.
The ship lurched violently. Water crashed through windows and doors, sweeping away furniture and fighters alike. I grabbed a support beam, muscles straining against the torrent.
Through the chaos, I glimpsed Lucy's startled face as Aquarius's attack didn't discriminate.
The wave lifted the vessel from the harbor, crashing it toward shore. Screaming women fled through exits; Bora's men scrambled for safety.
Bora conjured fire magic, creating platforms to stay above water. His eyes blazed at Lucy and me struggling in the current.
"You'll pay!" he snarled, gathering purple flames.
Before attack, a new voice cut through.
"Heard someone was pretending to be me."
At the harbor's edge, pink hair wild, stood Natsu Dragneel—the real Salamander.
[ Combat Enhancement Deactivated ]
[ Quest Progress: 85% ]
[ Objective "Expose Bora" - Complete ]
[ Bonus Ticket Awarded ]
I allowed a small smile as I helped Lucy to her feet on the tilted deck. Perfect timing, Natsu. Now all I had to do was—
Wood splintered. The damaged ship broke beneath us.
"We need to jump!" I grabbed Lucy's hand. "Trust me!"
Her eyes met mine briefly before she nodded.
Together, we leapt from the sinking ship just as Natsu's roar of fire lit the night sky.
[ Quest Complete! ]
[ Rewards: 2 Common Tickets ]
[ New Quest Available... ]
The water knocked the breath from me, but I kept grip on Lucy's hand as we surfaced. Cold shock cleared my head; waves pushed us forward.
Behind, the sky erupted in orange and purple as Natsu and Bora's flames clashed. I heard fake Salamander's curses mixing with splintering wood and steam hiss.
[ System Status ]
[ Quest Completed Successfully ]
[ Calculating Final Rewards... ]
[ Use tickets now? ]
"Later," I muttered, spitting seawater as we reached shallows. Lucy rose, wringing hair, eyes wide at Natsu's fiery fight.
The harbor erupted in chaos. Citizens fled as magical fire lit the sky. Rune Knights would arrive soon, drawn by destruction following Fairy Tail wizards.
Lucy looked at me, gratitude clear. "Thank you. I don't know how you knew about the charm, but you saved us."
I pushed wet hair back, trying for composed. "Shiro," I said, offering a casual smile. "Anyone paying attention could see something was off. Real wizards don't need cheap tricks."
System pinged, but I ignored it. This was a moment—not a quest.
"So," I glanced at the fight, "that's the real Salamander, huh? Natsu Dragneel of Fairy Tail?"
Lucy's eyes lit at the guild's name. "Yes! I've always wanted to join Fairy Tail. It's my dream to—" She caught herself, embarrassed.
I smiled. This was the Lucy I remembered—passionate, genuine, full of dreams. "Maybe we'll both end up there someday," I said softly.
The System flickered approval. For the first time since waking in this strange world, I felt something other than fear.
I felt hope.
And with that, my new life in Magnolia began.