Chapter 2: The Charmed Levy, the Shadow Legion?
"Levy... That name sounds familiar."
Sharing an umbrella with the girl he'd just met while walking along the broad cobblestone street, Roland wore a thoughtful expression.
"So, Roland, did you just arrive in this town today?"
Tilting her head slightly, Levy's shoulder-length blue hair cascaded down as she secretly watched him with her eyes.
Her other hand, holding books, unconsciously pressed against her flat chest. Even now, she could still feel her heart pounding intensely.
She couldn't even bring herself to look away.
Something's wrong, this is really wrong!
This state she was in—could this be what books describe as love at first sight?
Thinking this, Levy's breathing unconsciously quickened, the blush on her cheeks deepening like someone intoxicated.
"Yeah, though I didn't expect to get scammed right after arriving..." Noticing the girl's unusual behavior, Roland considered asking but decided against it.
Better to let the girl keep some dignity.
...
The distance from the town park to where Levy lived wasn't far. Chatting as they walked, they soon arrived before a large residential building on the hillside.
"FAIRY HILLS"
Looking at the wooden sign hanging above the main entrance, Roland instinctively glanced back at the girl behind him, his tone somewhat uncertain.
"Is this your home?"
"No, it's the women's dormitory I'm renting!" Levy quickly shook her head.
Women's dormitory?
Roland forced a smile and continued asking, "Don't your women's dormitories prohibit male entry?"
"Of course they do, but—" Levy first cautiously observed the dormitory entrance, then whispered, "As long as Grandma Hilda doesn't find out, it's fine. Besides, we can enter from the second floor."
Why does this feel like we're having an affair...
Before Roland could speak, Levy handed her umbrella to him. Her slender index finger elegantly traced patterns in the air, as if writing some characters.
"Solid Script: Float!"
With her soft incantation, five semi-transparent letters materialized in the rain, light and floating like balloons drifting in the air.
As he held the umbrella, watching this unbelievable scene, Roland suddenly remembered something.
His gaze immediately scanned the girl's exposed fair skin, quickly finding a special white stamp on the smooth skin of her left shoulder.
And the meaning represented by that stamp was—the guild named "Fairy Tail."
Fairy Tail, huh...
No wonder the girl's name sounded so familiar.
Roland couldn't help but widen his eyes. He truly hadn't expected the world he'd crossed into to be this one.
After calming down slightly, he let out a light sigh, immediately recalling information about this world in his mind.
In terms of danger level, Fairy Tail wasn't any safer than the other three major shonen manga worlds.
Just then, the girl's cheerful voice came from beside him.
"All done!"
Having finished casting her magic, Levy clapped her hands, a lovely smile gracing her pretty face: "Now just touch the letters in the air and you'll float up~"
"Like this?"
Withdrawing his thoughts, Roland—experiencing this world's magic for the first time—reached out curiously toward the row of glowing white characters.
The next moment, he felt his body slowly floating upward, as if freed from gravity's control.
...
The girl's room was located in the corner of the second floor of the dormitory.
As Roland entered through the window, the first thing he saw were rows of deep blue bookshelves. The floor was completely covered with scattered books, leaving no place to step.
It resembled a small library more than a room.
"Ah, well... I was in a bit of a hurry when I went out this morning..."
Levy, who had just closed the window, also noticed the messy state of the room. She scratched her cheek with her fingertip in slight embarrassment, trying to salvage some dignity: "So I haven't had time to clean up yet!"
Though even if she had cleaned, it wouldn't have been much better.
"It's fine. A room like this actually has quite a nice atmosphere," Roland said as he casually picked up a book from the floor, a gentle smile playing on his lips.
"Interpretation and Deciphering of Ancient Scripts..."
Glancing through the pages of the book in his hand, he could roughly understand the content with just a quick scan thanks to having eaten the Translation Konjac.
Even more remarkably, he could comprehend the images of ancient characters listed in the book.
"That book—are you interested in ancient scripts too!"
Seeing the book in his hand, Levy immediately shuffled closer, her eyes sparkling with a certain light.
She looked exactly like someone who had found a kindred spirit.
"I've learned a bit about ancient scripts due to my travels," Roland explained, noticing the girl's excited expression.
"That's amazing!" Levy exclaimed, sitting backwards on a chair with her chin propped in her hands. "And—to think you're so young but already traveling everywhere! That's really impressive!"
"Not at all. So far, I've only traveled to three or four countries."
Roland shook his head as he sat on the chair, his peripheral gaze drifting toward the rainy night outside the window.
As the Sun completely set, the vast Magical Power within his body completely dissipated, leaving him no different from an ordinary person again.
"Three or four is still a lot! Unlike me—I've never even been abroad," Levy said, suddenly remembering something. She quickly asked, "Since you've traveled to so many countries, Roland, you must have read many books too, right?"
"Just a few..."
"Could you tell me about them!?"
Seeing the growing brightness in Levy's eyes, Roland knew there would be no early sleep tonight. He simply smiled and agreed.
After all, telling stories to a kind and lovely girl who had taken him in—wasn't such a bad thing.
...
The next morning, the early sunlight streamed through the window, gently scattering across the numerous books.
Levy rubbed her eyes and covered a yawn with her hand, glistening teardrops unconsciously forming at the corners of her eyes.
When her blurred vision cleared, the first thing she saw was Roland, who had also fallen asleep at the table, facing her.
His soft black hair, exquisitely perfect features, combined with the black beauty mark near his left eye, created a uniquely captivating charm.
As she carefully studied the boy before her, Levy's cheeks gradually flushed without her realizing.
Is this what it feels like to like someone?
Feeling her heart beating increasingly stronger, she grew more certain of this unbelievable truth in her heart.
That was—she had fallen for this boy she had just met.
"...Good morning, Levy."
Sensing the intense gaze from across the room, Roland half-opened his eyes and offered a friendly greeting.
Before Levy could respond, the system's task panel abruptly appeared before him.
[Daily Tasks Refreshed:]
[Task 1: Welcome, New Guild Member!]
[Task Description: Having arrived in a world where Mages are mainstream, how could one not seek like-minded companions? Please find and join a suitable guild.]
[Task Reward: Shadowkhan (from the "Jackie Chan Adventures" universe)]