News that Natsu wanted to challenge the guild's newcomer spread fast.
"Natsu and that Roland kid?"
Wakaba, pipe in his mouth, rubbed his chin and glanced at Macao across from him.
"Well? Gonna watch?"
"Feels like it'll be boring. Even Laxus couldn't last three minutes against that newbie—" Macao paused, then added, "Natsu probably won't even take a single punch."
After all, just the pressure the guy leaked out had cowed the entire guild. He didn't dare imagine what kind of weight Laxus had been shouldering face-to-face.
If it were him, he would've surrendered already.
"So are you going or not?" Wakaba blew a smoke ring and said, oh-so-casually, "Not many people saw yesterday's fight, you know."
"Then let's go! I want another look at the newbie's strength."
Macao's eyes lit up. He stood without hesitation.
—
The battlefield was the garden behind the guild.
As the word got out, everyone in the hall drifted outside to watch. A scantily clad big sister hugged a barrel of booze, tipsy and grinning as she opened a betting table.
She plucked up a light pen, wrote "Natsu" and "Roland" in midair, and sang out with a bright smile:
"Place your bets! Natsu pays 7 to 1, the newbie pays 2 to 1!"
"Two to one? There's no money in that!"
"Aye, I'm putting 8,000J on Natsu!"
"Ohh, looks like Cana has a lot of faith in the newbie!"
Plenty who hadn't witnessed yesterday's battle were completely thrown by her weird odds.
"Ma, ma, the newbie is totally my type, so, you know, I'll pay you guys a little extra~" Cana sat on the barrel, cupped her flushed cheeks, and spoke shyly.
"This woman… way too crafty, right?"
"Yeah, she even wrote 'newbie' instead of his name on purpose."
Macao and Wakaba both broke into a cold sweat. After a look at each other, they decisively pulled out thick wads of cash.
"He's just joined—us seniors have to give him some confidence. 10,000J on the newbie!"
Worth noting: they spoke only after most people had already bet on Natsu.
Then—
"I'll bet on Roland too. 10,000J," Mira said with a squinty smile.
"Roland for me as well—same as sis," Elfman muttered, turning his head aside in slight embarrassment.
Because, yeah… it felt a little shameless.
"Didn't think everyone believed in the newbie this much. Guess I will too." Levy cleared her throat and quietly handed over a fat stack. "Two hundred thousand J!"
"Max is 50,000J, Levy-chan!"
Seeing that kind of big swing, Cana lazily raised a signboard with the rules on it. She'd come prepared for this.
As more and more people piled onto Roland, the rest started to realize something was off.
"Why is everyone betting on the newbie?"
"Ha, you don't know?" Warren scratched his head after putting his money down. "Roland beat Laxus yesterday—and pretty easily."
"Wait—he beat who?!"
At the name "Laxus," the Natsu-backers exploded.
Happy frowned hard for a few seconds, then turned to ask decisively.
"Cana, can I move my Natsu bet over to Roland?"
"Nope. All sales are final." Cana hummed a cheery tune and refused without mercy.
"How could you… That was all the money Natsu and I had left." Happy's eyes misted as he tried to move her heart.
She ignored him, took a leisurely swig, and sighed.
"Nice sunshine today."
Standing in the center of the yard, Roland lifted his face to the glare and couldn't help but sigh.
It was ten in the morning—his power might not be at peak, but it was more than enough.
"Since even Laxus lost to you, I'm going all out."
Natsu lowered his stance. A feral grin tugged at his mouth as crimson flames surged from both hands.
"Couldn't ask for more."
The next instant, Natsu sprang like a leopard, right arm cocked. The blaze on his fist flared hotter.
"Karyū no Tekken (Fire Dragon's Iron Fist)!"
Roland didn't move. Only when the blow was about to land did he tilt his body. The scorching heat skimmed past his shoulder.
Too slow.
What looked fast to the onlookers crawled like it was slowed dozens of times in his eyes.
"Tch, nice reflexes!"
Missing, Natsu killed his momentum, whipped his hips, and his left leg burst into flame like a lashing fire-whip toward Roland's head.
"Karyū no Kagizume—Huh!?"
Eyes wide, Natsu watched as Roland caught his side kick in one hand. The flames licking his leg were useless—like they weren't there at all.
Doesn't this guy feel heat?
Before Natsu could recover, Roland—who had been facing away—blurred like a mirage and vanished. When he reappeared, he was already in front of Natsu.
"Keep at it, Natsu."
With an easy, sunny voice, Roland carefully reined in his strength and drove a lightning-quick punch into Natsu's stomach.
Boom—
The impact sent Natsu shooting back like a meteor across the sky. A thunderous crash, a cloud of dust, and a whole section of brick wall collapsed.
"Damn—"
Half-buried in rubble, Natsu tried to rise, but pain lanced through his abdomen, forcing a hiss between his teeth. After a few tries, he gave up and flopped back.
Is the gap between me and Roland… really this big?
"Natsu!"
Happy, eyes wet, shouted and sprinted over.
"I held back," Roland offered, then thought a second and added, "At least you won't end up like Laxus—stuck in the infirmary for two days."
"Don't worry, Happy. I'm fine."
Seeing the tears in Happy's eyes, Natsu was moved.
"That's not it… I, uh, I lost all the money we had left," Happy mumbled, turning away.
"What!!"
Right then, a scantily clad woman strolled up to Roland and, acting like an old friend, hooked an arm around his shoulders.
"Thanks a ton, newbie."
Her cheerful voice drifted over with a strong waft of grape wine.
"Made a nice pile of drink money off you today. How about this onee-san treats you to a fancy lunch?"
Cana beamed as she invited him.
"Hey—Cana, what do you think you're doing!"
From a short distance away, Levy's eyes flew open at the intimate scene. She jogged up, pried the two apart, and puffed her cheeks in indignation.
Annoyed as she was at Cana, she couldn't help sneaking a glance at Roland.
Is my boyfriend… a little too popular?
There's already one Loke in this guild—that's plenty!
(End of Chapter)
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