"What a hassle I've caused you, Erza-san."
Seeing Erza back in silver plate, Aurel dipped his head politely and handed her a handkerchief.
He'd challenged the Fairy Queen today partly to test the sword techniques he'd just obtained—and partly because his system's dailies had refreshed.
[Quest 1: In this moment, I am the guild's strongest!]
[Description: Defeat the strongest S-Class mage currently in the guild and secure the title of strongest!]
[Reward: A Knight Does Not Die With Empty Hands (from the Type-Moon world)]
As for the other two, Aurel took one look and pinched the bridge of his nose.
[Quest 2: A Day in the Guild!]
[Description: You're a member of the guild—so don't just date all day. Go complete any request!]
[Reward: Shinpachi's Glasses (from the Gintama world)]
[Quest 3: Juvia's Secret Crush!]
[Description: Daily jobs get dull. Go find Juvia, start a romance, and give her the kiss she's dreamed of!]
[Reward: Weather Controller (from the Doraemon world)]
Never mind what Shinpachi's glasses even did; the Weather Controller could be useful… but not enough to make him trek to Oak Town again, right?
It was already afternoon—he'd arrive at night. Plus, Phantom Lord's base sat in the city center.
The two guilds were mortal enemies. He wasn't in the habit of inviting trouble…
"It's no trouble. Since you've joined, we're family," Erza said, taking the handkerchief and wiping the dust from her face.
Still… the newcomer was indeed frighteningly strong.
With swordplay alone he'd beaten her in Heaven's Wheel. Thinking about it like that, Laxus losing didn't sound so impossible.
As Aurel accepted his reward, he blinked, then smiled again. "Then please look after me from now on as well, Erza-san."
"...Ah—p-please do."
Faced with those refined features and that gentle smile, Erza felt her heartbeat quicken again for no clear reason. Her breath caught.
Even her words stumbled; at last she turned away, feigning composure.
"By the way, Mira-nee mentioned you like strawberry shortcake and cream puffs. How about I treat you this afternoon?"
Aurel added with a soft laugh, "Consider it thanks for the sword pointers. Eat until you're full."
Strawberry shortcake—and as much as she wanted?!
"Really?!"
Erza's eyes shone. Hands clenched at her chest, the gallant knight suddenly looked a touch girlish.
The contrast was… adorable.
Elsewhere, Kana counted a fat wad of bills in high spirits, already planning how hard she'd drink tonight.
Erza was among the earliest S-Class in the guild and had known most people the longest, so the majority had bet on her.
"Natsu, I made our money back!" Happy crowed.
"Oh! Nice job, Happy!" Natsu pumped a fist at the green bills in his arms.
"Tch…"
Gray, shirtless as ever, crossed his arms and clicked his tongue, scowling.
Fresh back from a job, who would've guessed a three-day rookie could beat that terrifying woman so easily?
"Hey, fire-for-brains—are you tight with that newbie?" Curiosity finally winning out, Gray glanced at Natsu, who was already pondering dinner.
"Ha—who're you calling fire-for-brains? You wanna go, ice idiot?!"
"I've had it with you!!"
"Hey—don't chuck your sandals at my head when you fight!"
"Pipe down, old man!"
"…"
The backyard devolved into chaos again. Aurel opened his mouth to say something—only for Erza, impatient for cake, to tug him straight back into the bar.
All that for strawberry shortcake—was the discipline committee off-duty today?
At least say a few symbolic words…
"Ahem. They're always like this. Even if you stop them, they'll start again soon…" Noticing his look, Erza offered an embarrassed little cough of explanation.
With the two of them back inside, Mira-nee and Levy, who'd been watching outside, also came in.
"Wonderful performance, Aurel," Mira-nee said, unable to hold back praise as she recalled that near-artful swordcraft.
Never mind spectacle—beating Erza with technique alone was astonishing.
"I didn't know you were that good with a sword. You never told me…" Levy slipped naturally into the seat beside him, her voice trailing into a puffed-cheeked pout.
"I wasn't hiding it. You just never asked."
Watching her cute face, Aurel couldn't resist poking her cheek.
"…"
He… kind of had a point.
Thinking that, Levy swatted his hand away and rolled her pretty eyes, huffy.
All he did was tease her!
Aurel withdrew his hand and spread the gourmet napkin he'd reclaimed from Natsu across the counter.
Under Erza's puzzled gaze, he said quietly, "Four orders of xiaolongbao, six slices of strawberry shortcake."
An instant later, steaming buns and fragrant, cream-topped cakes appeared on the cloth.
"No matter how many times I see it, it's amazing… With a tool like that, who needs a chef?" Mira-nee clasped her hands, voice warm with wonder.
Not just chefs—ingredients didn't cost a thing either.
If they ever felt like coasting, they could open an otherworldly restaurant with that tool.
"Incredible… It's not just the smell—the taste and texture are perfect. These really come from nothing?" Erza asked, a dab of cream on her lip, eyes wide.
"Conjuring food from nothing is pretty magic, isn't it?"
"That tool is anything but magic…" Levy propped her chin in one white palm and couldn't help retorting.
"If only we had one on outside jobs… Oh—Aurel, team up with me? I've got a well-paying S-Class request right now!" Erza crossed her legs elegantly, savoring the cake. Mid-sentence, she pivoted, eyes expectant.
"Nope. Aurel isn't S-Class, so he can't take second-floor requests," Mira-nee answered for him with a serene smile before he could speak.
Mira-nee wasn't wrong.
His strength ranked with the guild's top tier, but rules were rules—three days in, Aurel couldn't touch S-Class requests.
"If you want the second floor, you have to pass the guild's S-Class exam first," Mira-nee said, lifting one finger and patiently explaining. "It's usually held once a year; Master announces the eligible candidates. The exam site is our holy ground—Tenrou Island."
"So until the next exam, I'm stuck taking the cheap requests." Aurel bit into a forked strawberry; rich sweetness bloomed on his tongue as he sighed.
He'd meant to run a few S-Class jobs, make some cash, and buy a house of his own… Time to think of other ways.
Tools then… He had thought it through.
Like using a enlarging lamp to bulk up gold and sell high. But the effect was timed; once the light stopped, it went back.
Sell it, and the scam would be exposed…
At that thought, Aurel lifted his eyes to the Shadow Legion bustling through the hall—and an idea slowly took shape.
"What if the Shadow Legion took gold to trade with a dark guild?" he murmured, rubbing his chin.
They were the scum of the scum. He'd feel zero guilt taking their money.
"What are you spacing out about?" Levy waved a small hand in front of his eyes, head tilted.
"I was thinking where to settle down after I've made enough. This town's scenery is nice. If I decide to stay, I can't rent forever, right?"
He took her soft little hand and shared his plan.
The landlord would be back in six months; hunting for a new place then sounded worse than buying one now…
At least then he'd have a home in this unfamiliar world.
"Buying a house, huh!"
Levy's eyes lit up, a smile tugging her lips.
"Property takes a lot of savings. Mira built hers up over years…" Erza dabbed her lips with elegant motions. At some point, her armor had become a white sleeveless blouse, a deep blue guild crest bared at her shoulder.
She lifted a steaming coffee, her tone tinged with nostalgia. "Back then, Mira was running S-Class jobs day and night."
"Oh? So Mira-nee's that strong?" Aurel glanced over, feigning surprise at Mira-nee's own distant look.
"That's right. At the time, she and I were about evenly matched," Erza said with a firm nod.
"It wasn't that amazing…" Mira-nee scratched her cheek, shyly modest.
"Come to think of it, I've never seen Mira-nee's magic," Aurel said, propping his chin in one hand and eyeing the guild's poster girl with a curious smile.
"My magic? I'm best at Transformation Magic now," Mira-nee said gently, fingertip to her rosy lips. "For example—Change: Only the Head is Levy!"
At her words, Mira-nee's body stayed the same—but her head turned into Levy's.
"How is it? Fun magic, right?"
She winked at Aurel, irresistibly cute.
"Ah—wait?! Why me? And it looks so weird!"
"Change back, Mira-nee!"
Levy yelped, mortified by the perfect face—hers—perched on Mira-nee's far more… generous figure.
Unlike the flustered girl, Aurel watched the transformation with interest.
He had to admit: Levy's cute looks paired with that sultry body… worked surprisingly well.
"And next… Change: Only the Head is Erza!"
Beaming, Mira-nee kept right on in a lilting tone.
"Oh, me this time?" Erza folded her arms, openly intrigued.
With a puff of smoke, Erza's refined, warmly smiling face graced Mira-nee's frame.
"Hee-hee~" Mira-nee hummed, one hand on her hip, the other at her lips as she blew Aurel a kiss.
"…Ahem. Mira-nee, maybe change back," Aurel said, palm to forehead. Erza's face doing something that girlish was… disorienting.
"My, Aurel, are you shy?" Mira-nee blinked, faux-surprised, and dispelled the spell.
"Not shy—just… odd. Erza-san would never do something like that in her life, right?"
"You can't say that," Levy said, thoughtfully tilting her head. "I remember Erza's wardrobe has a lot of sexy outfits—bold swimsuits, very… persuasive dresses."
"Mhm. My favorite is the bunny-girl set. The ear headband is cute," Erza said without a hint of embarrassment—and even flashed a little preview of the outfit.
Right then, the shadows on the floor twisted and stretched. A Shadow Ninja stepped out, dropped to one knee, and presented a black briefcase with both hands.
"What's this?"
Everyone blinked at the odd case, curiosity written on their faces.
"Just a little experiment. Take it back first," Aurel said, taking a slow breath as he tamped down the smile tugging at his lips, then gave a crisp order.
So this… was the Shadow Legion's true use!
(End of Chapter)
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