As Erza stepped into the guild, the clamor froze as if someone had hit pause.
"Welcome back, Erza!"
Shaking off her wandering thoughts, Mira-nee greeted her with a smile.
"Mm, I'm back. Also—where's Master?"
Erza's gaze swept the hall, pausing pointedly on Natsu and Gray before her tone sharpened.
"Eek—"
Feeling her eyes, Natsu and Gray instantly stiffened, forcing smiles as they slung arms over each other's shoulders.
Never mind that they'd been brawling the hardest moments ago.
"Master's upstairs writing apology letters. He won't be done anytime soon."
"Apology letters? So you guys caused trouble again!"
Erza's eyes turned razor-sharp; her voice grew even sterner.
"—I-It wasn't me!!"
The prime culprit, Natsu, broke out in a cold sweat, trembling despite himself.
"It's the same every time. Even if Master forgives you, I won't."
Taking in the wrecked tavern at a glance, Erza didn't need details to know what had happened.
"Wakaba, the ash from your pipe is about to fall. And Nab—still hovering in front of the request board? If you've got time to loiter, get to work!"
"Still as strict as ever… Erza," Levy muttered, shrinking herself to avoid notice.
Sitting beside her, Aurel couldn't help nodding.
"Kana, you're drinking ag—hm. Not hugging a barrel this time?"
"I can behave… sometimes…"
Dodging a bullet, Kana straightened in a flash and took a dainty sip, relieved.
Good thing I'm broke today, or I'd be in for another lecture.
"A new face. Is that a recent recruit?"
Spotting the unfamiliar boy at the counter, Erza blinked, one hand on her hip.
"That's right—little Aurel joined not long ago!" Mira-nee answered first with a gentle smile, while Levy and Kana wore slightly awkward expressions.
"I'm Aurel. Nice to meet you, Erza-san."
Aurel greeted her with an easy smile.
"I'm Erza. Please look after me as well."
Erza returned a polite nod, the corners of her lips faintly upturned.
But seeing the newcomer's face made her still for a beat, an odd flutter tightening her brows.
Was her heart… beating fast?
She felt the change but didn't dwell on it.
Hearts sped up in battle and training too, after all.
Aurel, finding Erza unchanged from moments ago, was quietly surprised.
Come to think of it, this was his first time meeting a young woman seemingly immune to the "tear-mole of love" effect…
After the brief introductions, the tavern buzzed back to life.
"Aurel-chan, get the old man a beer!"
"Hey, aren't you afraid he'll deck you if you call him that?"
Macao dabbed sweat for his friend, chiding him.
"…Ban that way of addressing me, old man."
Watching Wakaba wave, Aurel's mouth twitched before he sent a mug over via his Shadow Legion.
"Yo, Aurel, let's go another round today!"
Natsu's voice boomed as he slung an arm around Aurel's shoulder, grinning like they were already best friends.
Ever since that instant defeat, he just couldn't accept how he'd lost—so he wanted a rematch.
"Natsu, be kinder to new comrades!"
Erza turned with a frown at the words.
To her, it felt a bit like bullying a newcomer. Natsu might not match her, but he was still a pillar of the guild.
"It's fine to challenge me… but," Aurel said, eyeing Natsu's eager face, "if you can't beat Laxus, don't aim for me."
"How about you take care of Laxus first?"
"Ha—like I don't want to! But that guy won't fight me!"
Realizing the rematch was a bust, Natsu sagged with a grumble—then brightened, thrusting out a hand with a hearty laugh.
"Then lend me that magic tablecloth that makes food! Please!"
"Sure. Try not to burn it."
As Natsu eagerly spread the cloth on the table, Aurel yawned lazily and rose to check the request board.
"Wait, Aurel."
Just as he stood, Erza—who'd been listening—called out, voicing the doubt in her heart.
"Were you implying… you defeated Laxus?"
"Yup! On his first day, Aurel beat Laxus easily!" Levy—convinced she was his girlfriend—piped up before he could answer, eyes sparkling.
Beat Laxus—and easily?
Erza blinked, confused. Things weren't adding up.
She'd only been away seven or eight days. How had the guild changed this much while she was gone?
"My magic's special—that's how I won. Speaking of which—"
Remembering the reward he'd just obtained, a smile touched Aurel's lips.
"Erza-san, would you be willing to give me some pointers in swordsmanship?"
"Swordsmanship guidance?" Erza considered a moment, then nodded. "All right. I'd like to see your strength for myself."
A newcomer who could defeat Laxus…
Studying Aurel, the strange flutter in Erza's chest grew stronger, leaving her momentarily dazed.
"Wuu—"
When she came to, Natsu—cheeks full of grilled meat—was staring at her, eyes wide as if he'd seen the impossible.
You've gotta be kidding. Erza… was blushing?!
(End of Chapter)
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