Hearing this, Ultear was about to retort immediately—that pair of shackles is still on the ground; where has it gotten better?!
But before she could speak, she heard Shane nod and say in a tone stating a fact, "Mhm, consider it better. Reached a cooperative relationship with her for the time being."
Saying this, he seemed to remember something and reminded Erza, "You don't need to hate her particularly in the future. The Bureau of Magical Development seems to have been destroyed by her."
He paused slightly, quoting a saying from his hometown: "A gentleman judges by deeds, not by heart. Although she wanted to do evil before, she failed because of insufficient ability.
Comparing the two like this, the number of good deeds she has done is actually far more than the evil deeds she has done."
He touched his chin and finally concluded, "Mhm, let me think. Can't count as a friend no matter what; just consider her—
—a passerby whose name is known."
These words were clearly stating facts, even carrying a component of praise.
But falling into Ultear's ears, they sounded incredibly harsh no matter how she listened, especially the words "insufficient ability," making her movement of drinking porridge freeze.
"It was Ultear who destroyed the Bureau of Magical Development?" On the contrary, Erza appeared exceptionally surprised.
She turned her head abruptly, her heroic eyes lighting up instantly. Her gaze toward Ultear also changed from vigilance to a certain eagerness, as if re-recognizing her.
She leaned forward unconsciously, her tone carrying confirmation. "Is it true? That place that imprisoned and hurt so many people—was destroyed by you?"
Ultear really wasn't good at dealing with a serious and pure person like Erza.
That straightforward gaze was dazzling like sunlight, making her uncomfortable all over.
She unnaturally avoided the scarlet-haired girl's gaze, deliberately suppressing her voice to be cold. "Sort of. But don't misunderstand; I only did it for myself."
She specifically emphasized the latter half of the sentence.
"So you are a good person." Erza seemed to have not heard her explanation behind at all, her eyes brightening even more with a whoosh.
She immediately turned and ran back to the kitchen, brought out a large bowl full of white porridge almost overflowing, and placed it solemnly in front of Ultear.
"Eat more!"
"Hey, Erza. I'm not full yet."
Shane looked at the bottom of his bowl in front of him and said dissatisfiedly.
Didn't we agree to just treat her as a passerby whose name is known? Why entertain so enthusiastically?
But precisely because of his attitude, Ultear, who originally had no appetite for plain white porridge and only planned to fill her stomach, got motivated instead.
She glanced at Shane provocatively, the corner of her mouth hooking up slightly, revealing an extremely faint smile carrying a sense of victory.
Then she picked up the spoon and drank in small sips unhurriedly, as if tasting some rare delicacy.
"—Fine." Shane started drinking the pitiful remaining porridge in his bowl somewhat gloomily, sighing in his heart:
Only known Ultear for a few days, and Erza's elbow is already turning outward toward her. What will happen after getting along for a long time in the future?
Erza didn't think so much. She finished the porridge in her bowl in two or three gulps and asked casually, "Shane, any plans for today?"
Shane put down the bowl and sighed. "Agreed with Cana yesterday to go help at that small church in the west of the city. Christmas just passed; those kids are probably turning the place upside down."
Saying this, he couldn't help complaining, "How can there be reverse bargaining like Cana's! 50,000 Jewels reward, forcibly bargained down to 30,000 Jewels by her.
If not for my soft heart—cough, if not for really being short of money recently, who would take this kind of loss-making business."
"Mhm! I like children; I'll go too!" Erza's eyes lit up, her face instantly showing the expression of a "reliable big sister."
"Alright," Shane nodded. "One more person, more strength. Finishing early to get paid early is good too."
After simply cleaning up breakfast, Shane took the two out.
Erza was in high spirits, while Ultear, under Shane's gaze of "this is what you asked for," reluctantly bent down to pick up the shackle, locking it back onto her slender ankle with a click.
The winter streets of Magnolia still had unmelted snow. There weren't many pedestrians, but there were plenty of gazes cast their way.
In this city, everyone had seen plenty of strange things, but two people walking together with a fifty-meter shackle on their feet was ultimately still fresh.
Ultear's face was expressionless, walking without looking sideways, as if those gazes didn't exist.
Erza seemed to have completely failed to notice the surrounding gazes, or simply didn't care, wholly immersed in the anticipation of the upcoming work.
"So, where exactly are we going?" Ultear finally couldn't help asking coldly.
"Not Kardia Cathedral."
Shane explained, pointing toward the edge of the town. "It's a small church over there. Father Brock there is kind-hearted and took in many homeless children. Cana—mhm, a guild companion, is also temporarily staying there."
The small church looked somewhat old. The white outer walls were slightly mottled but cleaned very cleanly.
Pushing open the slightly heavy wooden door, warm air mixed with the children's crisp noise rushed out immediately.
Different from the deserted look outside, the church was full of vitality. More than a dozen children of different ages were running, jumping, laughing, and playing inside.
Father Brock, wearing an embroidered priest robe, stood among the children, his white hair glowing softly under the sunlight.
Seeing Shane and the others, he welcomed them with a chuckle. "It's Shane and Erza, right? Really thank you for coming to help this time."
When the old priest's gaze swept over Ultear, it stayed on the shackle on her ankle for an instant. A trace of surprise flashed in those kind eyes, then turned into gentle tolerance. "This is—"
"She is Ultear, considered—temporarily here to help." Shane introduced simply.
"Welcome, child." Father Brock's smile remained as usual.
After exchanging greetings, the work began.
Actually, there were no special tasks, mainly playing with the children and cleaning up the residual decorations after the festival.
Erza integrated among the children quickly. She seemed to be born with a temperament that made children trust her. One moment she was pulled to play hide-and-seek, the next she was asked to demonstrate her freely changing magic armor, drawing bursts of exclamations from the children.
Shane resignedly shouldered the cleaning work, wiping the benches while looking around for the client of this mission. "That guy Cana, actually not here—"
Ultear stood alone in the corner, watching the frolicking children expressionlessly.
"Big sister, your hair is so beautiful, like silk."
A little girl with pigtails walked timidly in front of her, holding a cloth doll washed white in her arms.
Ultear was slightly stunned, looking down at this little bean. She frowned subconsciously, without responding.
The little girl wasn't shy and pointed curiously at her ankle. "Is this shiny thing an anklet?"
"—No." Ultear glared fiercely at Shane, who was carrying a bucket in the distance.
"Oh." The little girl seemed to understand but not quite, yet extended her warm small hand, gently holding Ultear's fingers hanging by her side. "Big sister, come play with us!"
That small touch made Ultear's body stiffen.
She instinctively wanted to withdraw her hand, but meeting the girl's clear eyes, her movement paused.
After a moment of silence, she let the little girl lead her, moving stiffly to the edge of the activity area.
She still didn't join the game, just standing quietly. But when the ball rolled to her feet, she would kick it back gently after a pause.
When a little boy fell, she would squat down and wipe the dirt off his face with her cuff.
These subtle actions were all seen by Shane, who was taking a break. The corner of his mouth moved slightly.
"Clearly doing quite decently—why still pretend to be a villain."