With August's intervention, Lucy and the others finally returned to their normal size.
However, Lucy wasn't happy in the slightest, because her best friend, Brandish, had exposed her identity!
Shocking! The young lady of the Heartfilia family is actually a member of Fairy Tail?!
Shocking! The young lady of the Heartfilia family has joined Fairy Tail's band of lunatics—the future of the Heartfilia family looks bleak!
To make sure she wouldn't see such absurd headlines in tomorrow's newspaper, Lucy was frantically trying to think of a solution.
"Brandish, we practically grew up together! We're sisters from different fathers and different mothers!"
"And you just sold me out like this?!"
"What about our nearly eight years of friendship?!"
"Does love just disappear like that?!"
While the Fairy Tail mages were still reeling from Lucy's identity...
Lucy seemed to teleport in front of Brandish. She grabbed both of Brandish's shoulders and shook her back and forth as she anxiously questioned her.
"Mmm..."
Brandish remained expressionless, narrowing her eyes without answering.
"I never would've guessed Lucy was the young lady of the Heartfilia family!"
At the same time, Gray crossed his arms and looked at Lucy in surprise.
"Exactly! Judging by the way she acts, she doesn't look like a noble lady at all~"
Mirajane nodded in agreement with Gray.
"I sincerely apologize for not looking like a proper young lady!"
Lucy turned sideways and sarcastically mocked herself after hearing Mirajane's comment.
"The Heartfilia family? Never heard of them."
"Are they really that famous?"
Natsu looked at everyone's shocked expressions in confusion.
It was obvious he knew absolutely nothing about Lucy's background. He had never even heard the surname Heartfilia before.
"Of course the Heartfilia family is famous."
"In the Kingdom of Fiore, they're practically known by everyone."
Cana answered Natsu.
"Huh?! They're that famous? Then why don't I know them?"
Natsu argued.
"That's because I've never really considered you a normal human being."
Cana twitched at the corner of her eye before replying.
"..."
Natsu frowned deeply, clearly displeased.
"The Heartfilia family's businesses cover medicine, railways, construction, food, textiles, and countless other industries throughout the Kingdom of Fiore."
"You could say that as long as you live in Fiore, every aspect of your daily life depends on the Heartfilia family's support."
Cana briefly explained the family's economic influence.
"Huh?!"
Natsu looked astonished. Although he hadn't understood most of it, he at least realized that the Heartfilia family was incredibly powerful.
"Even the materials used to make the clothes you're wearing came from companies owned by the Heartfilia family~"
"And the trains and railways throughout the kingdom all have Heartfilia investments."
"In other words, every time we ride a train, a tiny bit of money ends up going to the Heartfilia family."
"And this enormous commercial empire was built by collecting those tiny amounts of wealth from all thirty million citizens of the Kingdom of Fiore, every single day."
"Some people even say the Heartfilia family is the second most powerful family in the Kingdom of Fiore, surpassed only by the Fiore royal family."
"They're truly wealthy enough to rival a nation."
Mirajane continued where Cana left off, giving a more detailed explanation.
"So your family is actually that amazing, Lucy? I never would've guessed!"
Natsu grinned at Lucy after listening to Mirajane.
"Haha..."
Lucy merely smiled awkwardly without saying anything.
"But if Lucy's family is so rich..."
"Why are you always worried about paying rent every month?"
"Shouldn't they have built you a palace in Magnolia to live in? That sounds more like the Heartfilia family's style."
Happy suddenly remembered something and curiously asked Lucy.
"That is true..."
Charle, who had quietly listened to the conversation, nodded in confusion.
"W-Well... that's because..."
Lucy's expression turned rather awkward.
The truth was, she had no idea how to answer.
The question involved some private matters—more specifically, secrets concerning the Heartfilia family.
After all, the only heir to the Heartfilia family running away from home instead of inheriting the family business would undoubtedly affect a commercial empire of that scale.
To prevent internal unrest within the Heartfilia Group, Lucy had always concealed her surname.
In a sense, this was one of the responsibilities she bore as the family's heir.
"Because Lucy ran away from home."
Just as Lucy hesitated, Brandish—Lucy's beloved childhood friend—stabbed her in the back once again.
"Brandish..."
Lucy turned toward Brandish with a look of utter despair.
"Hehe~"
Seeing Lucy's hopeless expression, Brandish's lips curled upward in satisfaction, looking thoroughly entertained.
Compared to Lucy, who had already been tempered by society for half a year, Brandish's personality was actually much closer to that of a true Fairy Tail member.
It could even be said that Brandish, raised personally by August, was born to be one of Fairy Tail's troublemaking pranksters.
"Lucy is the only daughter of Jude Heartfilia, the current acting head of the Heartfilia family, and Layla Heartfilia."
"She's also the family's sole heir."
"Uncle Jude originally wanted to train Lucy into an outstanding businesswoman so the family could continue prospering."
"Unfortunately... Lucy simply wasn't suited for it."
"Or rather, she had no interest in business."
"So to oppose her father, she ran away from home."
"She wanted to become a famous Mage and prove to Uncle Jude that she could live perfectly well without relying on the Heartfilia family."
"Although... even after becoming a Mage, she still isn't living very well."
"She still has to rack her brain every month just to pay her rent."
Every sentence Brandish spoke was like another sharp sword piercing straight into Lucy's heart.
"Stop..."
"Please stop talking..."
Lucy covered her ears, looking as though she had a splitting headache.
Brandish's words were simply too ruthless.
Lucy was still young.
She couldn't handle such brutal truths.
"Hehe."
Watching Lucy suffer only made Brandish happier.
"So Lucy's actually a runaway noble lady~"
Happy sighed emotionally.
"It really does fit her."
Gray nodded.
"Lucy really does have that 'fallen noble lady' vibe."
Mirajane took the opportunity to land another critical hit.
"..."
Coming from Mirajane's angelic face and gentle voice, those cruel words dealt extraordinary damage.
Lucy suffered a critical emotional hit.
"So everyone, do you understand now?"
"Lucy has been deceiving all of you."
"She never told you her true identity."
"That means she doesn't trust any of you!"
"So hurry up and ostracize her!"
"Drive her out!"
Brandish continued enthusiastically.
For the Candy City Uncle Jude had promised her, the normally lazy Brandish was truly giving it everything she had.
"N-No!"
"I didn't mean to hide my identity on purpose!"
"And it's not because I don't trust everyone!"
Lucy hurriedly explained to everyone in panic.
She genuinely feared that the Fairy Tail members would actually do exactly what Brandish suggested and reject her because she had hidden her identity.
Although most Fairy Tail members seemed to have something wrong with their heads...
The time she had spent here had been the happiest period of her life since leaving the Heartfilia family.
Those carefree, thoughtless days reminded her of her childhood.
She truly regarded Natsu and everyone else as her companions.
She didn't want to leave Fairy Tail.
"Lucy, you don't need to say anything."
Just as Lucy was panicking, Makarov stepped forward from the crowd.
He walked to Lucy with an unusually serious expression.
"M-Master..."
Lucy looked at the stern-faced Makarov.
Her voice was barely louder than the buzzing of a mosquito.
She was afraid.
Truly afraid.
She thought Makarov was angry.
"Lucy..."
"We all understand."
"Who here doesn't have secrets?"
"So you don't need to worry."
"We know you have your reasons."
"Lucy..."
"Fairy Tail will always be your home."
Makarov spoke solemnly.
The truth was...
The moment he learned Lucy was the heir to the Heartfilia family, he had already made up his mind.
Even if he had to kick Laxus out of the guild...
He absolutely couldn't let Lucy leave.
Laxus, meanwhile, would simply be left wondering:
"Huh?!"
If anyone wanted to take Lucy away from Fairy Tail...
They would have to step over Makarov's dead body first.
That was exactly the determination with which Makarov comforted Lucy's wounded heart.
"Master!"
Lucy's eyes became moist with emotion.
Since leaving the Heartfilia family...
No one had treated her so kindly.
"That's right, Lucy! Don't worry! You'll always be our companion!"
"Since you've joined Fairy Tail, we'll never abandon you!"
"Lucy, let's stay together forever!"
"Lucy, could you please ask my future father-in-law whether he'd accept a son-in-law?"
"The children can take your surname!"
"I only have one condition!"
"Please give me one million J every month as spending money!"
"I'm begging you! I don't want to work hard anymore!"
"Huh?!"
The Fairy Tail members all comforted Lucy...
Though admittedly, something rather strange had slipped into the conversation.
"Everyone..."
Lucy looked at everyone with heartfelt gratitude.
Their words truly comforted her...
Except for that one complete scumbag who wanted to marry into the Heartfilia family.
"Tsk..."
Brandish clicked her tongue.
This was definitely not the outcome she wanted.
She wanted to see blood flowing like rivers...
Cough.
She meant...
She wanted to see Lucy driven out of Fairy Tail by those idiots.
Then, after hitting a wall, Lucy would obediently return home and inherit the Heartfilia family before it became covered in dust.
And Brandish would finally receive her Candy City.
Unfortunately...
Things hadn't gone according to plan.
Brandish frowned.
Then she decided to reveal her trump card.
"By the way..."
"You probably don't know this."
"Uncle Jude—the acting head of the Heartfilia family—said..."
"Anyone who helps bring Lucy home..."
"Will receive a reward of ten billion J."
"Listen carefully!"
"Not one hundred J."
"Not one million J."
"But ten billion J!"
Brandish unleashed her ultimate move.
"Despicable!"
Lucy trembled slightly before angrily shouting at Brandish.
"Sorry, little Lucy~"
Brandish smiled sweetly.
For a greater cause...
Their friendship would simply have to be sacrificed.
"W-What?! Ten billion..."
The Fairy Tail members collectively inhaled sharply.
Only now did they truly understand just how wealthy the Heartfilia family was.
Previously, "wealthy enough to rival a nation" had only been an abstract description.
Now...
It had become a very concrete number.
"Hmph."
Lucy snorted.
She had completely given up on Brandish.
The woman had already been bought off by her father and become one of his evil accomplices.
But Lucy wasn't worried.
She believed...
The Fairy Tail members would never become money-grubbing people like Brandish.
"Give it up, Brandish!"
"You think everyone is as greedy as you are?!"
"Our Fairy Tail guild would never—"
"Really?"
Brandish smiled seductively.
"Of course..."
Lucy nodded confidently.
She believed in Fairy Tail.
She believed in all of her companions.
They would never stoop to Brandish's level.
"If I get ten billion J..."
"I can buy an endless supply of fish!"
"Hehehe..."
"Lucy..."
"Please let me take you back to the Heartfilia family!"
Happy drooled as he stared at Lucy.
"Huh?!"
Lucy had only just declared that her guildmates weren't greedy...
And Happy immediately slapped her in the face with reality.
"...The stupid cat doesn't count."
Lucy forced herself to keep a straight face.
"Oh?"
Brandish smiled.
"And what about her?"
Lucy hesitated.
"I..."
She didn't know how to explain anymore.
"More expensive alcohol!"
Cana drooled.
"Better weapons!"
Erza began calculating just how many Gajeels ten billion J could buy.
"Huh?!"
Gajeel looked utterly confused.
"If I had ten billion..."
"Could Lord Zeref create an even stronger demon for me?"
Mirajane thoughtfully rubbed her chin.
"I don't believe His Majesty cares about money."
August calmly explained.
"Then never mind~"
Mirajane shrugged and immediately lost interest.
"I have no idea what's going on..."
"But now I'm fired up!"
"Lucy is mine!"
"No one is taking her!"
Flames erupted around Natsu as he shouted at everyone.
"Huh?!"
Lucy's cheeks instantly flushed red.
Although she knew the timing was inappropriate...
Natsu's declaration still made her heart race.
However...
While Lucy was still feeling flustered...
The money-hungry members of Fairy Tail had already begun surrounding her.
"..."
Lucy's expression changed.
"You all need to wake up!"
"Don't let yourselves be fooled!"
She desperately tried to awaken everyone's conscience.
Unfortunately...
Jude was simply offering too much money.
No one present was capable of rational thought anymore.
"Damn it..."
Lucy cursed under her breath while desperately trying to think of a way out.
Buzz!
Just then, a brilliant light flashed.
A handsome man wearing a suit, with short orange hair and sunglasses, suddenly appeared before her.
"Lucy."
"It's been a long time."
"It seems you could use a little help."
The elegant man scooped Lucy into a princess carry and smiled gently at her.
"Leo?!"
Lucy cried out excitedly.
That's right.
The newcomer was none other than Leo, the Celestial Spirit of the Lion Gate.
Sensing Lucy's danger, the leader of the Zodiac Spirits had used his special authority to cross the boundary between the Celestial Spirit World and the Human World without being summoned, arriving directly beside his contractor.
"Lucy."
"My heart belongs to you alone..."
Leo smiled warmly as he gently stroked Lucy's cheek.
Then he looked up...
And immediately spotted Erza.
Instantly—
"My beautiful lady!"
"May I have the honor of knowing your name?"
"I feel that fate has brought us together."
"Please..."
"Accept these roses!"
"Your beauty surpasses even these flowers!"
Leo casually tossed Lucy aside like discarded luggage.
In the next instant, he dashed to Erza, dropped to one knee, and presented her with a bouquet of brilliant red roses.
"I thought you said your heart belonged to me alone?!"
Lucy shouted while sitting on the guild floor.
"Lucy!"
"My love for you is absolutely sincere!"
"I was only—"
Leo hurriedly turned toward Lucy to explain...
Only to immediately notice Mirajane standing nearby.
"My lady~"
"May I ask your beautiful name?"
"It would be my greatest honor."
"Your beauty..."
"Is as pure and flawless as these lilies."
Before anyone realized it, the roses in Leo's hands had become a bouquet of white lilies.
"Heh."
"So much for loyalty."
Lucy twitched violently.
"Lucy!"
"My devotion to you is witnessed by the heavens!"
"I'm merely taking care of a few trivial matters before proving my sincerity!"
Leo desperately explained.
"We'll keep the flowers."
"But..."
"Lucy."
"May we beat this scumbag to death?"
Mirajane and Erza accepted the flowers before asking Lucy politely.
Naturally, they recognized Leo wasn't human.
He was a Celestial Spirit.
Although he looked exactly like a handsome man...
Celestial Spirits were actually much closer to fairy-like beings than humans.
"Leave him to you."
"Don't hold back."
"You don't have to worry about my feelings."
Lucy nodded firmly.
She had completely given up on Leo.
"Huh?!"
Leo still hadn't realized disaster was approaching.
His brain was still trying to process what Erza, Mirajane, and Lucy had just said.
"Come on, Leo."
"Let's have a little talk."
"So you're the Lion Spirit?"
"Excellent."
Before Leo could think further...
Two overwhelming forces dragged him toward Fairy Tail's bar.
"W-Wait!"
"Please let me explain!"
"I mean..."
"Hear me out!"
Leo desperately tried to explain.
He even attempted to resist.
Unfortunately...
His resistance meant absolutely nothing against Erza and Mirajane.
"AAAAAHHHHH!!"
The next moment...
A bloodcurdling scream echoed throughout the entire Fairy Tail guild hall.
"Scumbags deserve to die!"
"Even Celestial Spirit scumbags!"
Lucy smiled as she looked toward the direction where Leo was being beaten.
Without realizing it...
She had already started finding happiness in other people's suffering.
It was proof that Lucy had continued evolving toward becoming a true Fairy Tail member.
Meanwhile...
At the guild bar...
Gildarts quietly drank his beer.
Watching Leo being mercilessly beaten by Erza and Mirajane...
The corner of his mouth slowly rose.
"My path is not a lonely one after all."
Indeed, just as the spirit of Fairy Tail was continuously passed down, Gildarts' Way of the Scumbag was also being inherited!
One Gildarts may fall, but countless scumbags will rise in his place!
"Remember this from now on..."
"Anyone with orange hair is a scumbag!"
Erza looked at Leo, who was lying on the floor twitching, and said to Mirajane.
"Come to think of it, Evan's hair color is kind of close to orange too~"
Mirajane seemed to think of something and said to Erza.
"Nonsense! Big Brother Evan's hair is clearly yellowish-brown!"
Erza immediately refuted Mirajane.
Meanwhile...
Just as Fairy Tail's mages, almost completely brainwashed by Brandish, were shambling toward Lucy like zombies...
Makarov, the Guild Master of Fairy Tail, finally stepped forward!
"Everyone, stop!"
Makarov blocked the guild members whose minds had been clouded by greed, protecting Lucy behind him.
"Master..."
Lucy looked at Makarov with gratitude in her eyes.
"Look at yourselves! Do any of you still resemble Fairy Tail mages?!"
"Isn't it just ten billion J? We may not have ten billion J..."
"But with our own hands, we can create countless more ten billions!"
"Think carefully! What was it that I always taught you?!"
"Think carefully about how a qualified mage should earn money! What kind of money should you earn?!"
"Remember why you joined this guild in the first place!"
Every word Makarov spoke was filled with wisdom, each sentence like a profound truth, instantly enlightening everyone in the guild.
"Master..."
As Makarov finished speaking, clarity finally returned to the eyes of Fairy Tail's mages. Thinking back on what they had just done, all of them were filled with regret.
"It seems you've realized how terrible your actions were."
"It's not too late as long as you realize it! Correct yourselves before you've committed an unforgivable mistake, and you'll still be Fairy Tail's pride!"
"And now... I'm sure you all have something you want to say to Lucy."
With his hands behind his back, Makarov smiled at everyone before him. As Fairy Tail's former Guild Master, he had watched these children grow up. Naturally, he wanted them to become better people. Even if they had taken the wrong path, it didn't matter—as long as they corrected themselves in time, they were still good children.
"I'm sorry, Lucy. I shouldn't have wanted to trade you for fish."
Happy was the first to apologize.
His expression was completely sincere. He truly believed he had done something wrong.
"No... It's okay..."
"I know you didn't mean it~"
Lucy smiled warmly, forgiving Happy.
"Lucy, um..."
"I can live without alcohol, but the guild can't live without you!"
The next to apologize was Cana.
"Lucy, I was wrong..."
"I shouldn't have wanted to exchange you for money. Starting today, I'm quitting gambling!"
Macao made a solemn vow before Lucy.
"Lucy, me too! I'm quitting gambling too!"
Wakaba made the same vow.
"Everyone..."
Looking at the Fairy Tail mages who were all swearing oaths and begging for her forgiveness, Lucy was deeply moved.
Sure enough, Fairy Tail's mages never let people down...
"Damn it!"
Brandish gritted her teeth and glared at Makarov.
Sure enough, her greatest enemy in Fairy Tail was this old man right here...
This little old man had ruined her plans several times already. She was furious and officially placed Makarov at the very top of her enemy list.
"Don't you want money too?!"
Brandish questioned Makarov.
"Heh..."
Makarov merely chuckled as he looked at the finally exasperated Brandish.
"Money? Of course I want money!"
"But, little girl, you've misunderstood something..."
With his hands behind his back, Makarov looked completely composed.
"What have I misunderstood?! I don't see what I've gotten wrong!"
Brandish asked in confusion.
"Indeed..."
"If I capture Lucy and hand her over to the Heartfilia family, Fairy Tail can receive a reward of ten billion J! But that's all it will ever be—just ten billion J..."
"Once we take that ten billion J, Lucy will have nothing more to do with Fairy Tail."
"But... as long as Lucy remains in Fairy Tail, and as long as she remains the sole heir of the Heartfilia family, then sooner or later, all of the Heartfilia family's assets will belong to Fairy Tail! Hehehe..."
As he explained, Makarov let out an unmistakably villainous laugh, looking every bit like the final boss.
"How despicable! Is this what Fairy Tail mages are like?!"
Brandish stared at Makarov in shock.
"Heh..."
Makarov simply smiled without answering.
"As expected of Master Makarov! Brilliant!"
Meanwhile, Fairy Tail's mages all nodded in admiration after hearing Makarov's words.
When it came to being despicable, even all of them combined couldn't compare to Makarov.
"Hey, hey, hey! I'm still standing right here!"
Lucy protested loudly.
"Give it back! Give me back my emotions, you jerk!"
She angrily condemned Makarov's behavior.
"I was such an idiot! I was far too naïve!"
"Master Makarov is the Guild Master of Natsu, Gray, and all these Fairy Tail lunatics! And he was the previous Guild Master too, which means Natsu and the others were all raised by him! Since he taught all of them, how could Makarov himself possibly be a normal, decent person?!"
Lucy vented furiously.
She finally understood.
She had been far too naïve.
Makarov wasn't a good man at all.
He was a devil who devoured people without even spitting out the bones—the king of devils.
"This is bad... He's just as despicable as I am. I need to think of another strategy..."
Cold sweat continuously dripped from Brandish's forehead.
In this clash between scumbags, neither side had gained the upper hand.
"Brandish, you're surprisingly suited for Fairy Tail."
"You practically mastered it without a teacher! Compared to me, you're the one who truly belongs in Fairy Tail."
Watching Brandish desperately rack her brains, Lucy couldn't help but continue mocking her.
Meanwhile, while Brandish's exposure of Lucy's identity had sparked a fierce battle over Lucy within Fairy Tail...
August and Evan were standing nearby discussing something else.
"Fairy Tail hasn't been able to recruit any new members lately. If this keeps up, the guild's size will shrink considerably..."
"Although we're still the strongest organization in Ishgar—and even in all of Earth-land—we're seriously short on manpower. Coincidentally, the Alvarez Empire lacks top-tier combatants, while Fairy Tail lacks enough top-tier members. So why don't we merge them?"
"Of course, I'm only talking about having the Spriggan Twelve join Fairy Tail. The Empire's ordinary mages won't be affected at all."
Evan explained his plan to August.
This was Evan's plan—to completely recruit the Alvarez Empire's upper echelon into Fairy Tail.
After all, Zeref, the founder of the Alvarez Empire, and August, its true leader, were already members of Fairy Tail.
Adding the rest of the Spriggan Twelve wouldn't make much difference.
"Very well."
After thinking for a while, August nodded in agreement.
"Then I'll have to trouble you to bring the Spriggan Twelve here."
Evan said softly.
"Leave it to me."
"I'll bring them over..."
"But to be honest, there are quite a few troublemakers among the Spriggan Twelve. Brandish is only one of them. I suspect several of them won't readily accept the idea of the Spriggan Twelve joining Fairy Tail."
Although August agreed with Evan's plan, he still felt it necessary to point out the potential problems.
"Don't worry."
"They're just troublemakers."
"Fairy Tail specializes in dealing with troublemakers."
Evan laughed confidently.
Troublemakers?
So what?
Fairy Tail specialized in handling people like that.
Besides, to every other guild in the Kingdom of Fiore, every single member of Fairy Tail was a troublemaker.
"Very well."
Seeing Evan's confidence, August said nothing more.
He had only wanted to remind Evan.
After all, August knew Evan possessed more than enough strength to deal with any troublemaker.
"So, what are you going to do now?"
August asked.
"Wait for this farce to end."
Evan answered without hesitation.
"Very well."
August likewise remained silent. Together with Evan, he quietly stood to the side of Fairy Tail's guild hall, smiling as they watched Lucy surrounded by the guild members.
As for the commotion caused by Lucy...
It finally came to an end as the sky gradually darkened and everyone went home to rest.
Exhausted after an entire day's ordeal, Lucy dragged her tired body back to the house she rented.
Then, when she opened the bathroom door to take a bath...
She found a beautiful woman already soaking comfortably in her bathtub.
The corner of Lucy's eye twitched as she looked at the woman.
"Hey, hey, hey! Brandish! Why are you in my room? And why are you using my bathroom?!"
The one occupying Lucy's bathtub was none other than Brandish.
"Because I don't have anywhere to stay in Magnolia."
"So I had no choice but to impose on you~"
Brandish answered as though it were perfectly natural.
"If you don't have anywhere to stay in Magnolia, then go back home!"
Lucy shouted.
"I can't do that~"
"Because I'm already a member of Fairy Tail now~"
"Lucy, why don't you guess whose fault it is that I was forced to join this guild of lunatics?"
As she spoke, Brandish revealed the Fairy Tail guild mark branded on her back.
"..."
Lucy opened her mouth slightly, yet couldn't say a single word.
"Looks like you can't answer."
"Then let me tell you."
"It's all because of you that I was forced to join this guild."
"If you hadn't run away from home, I wouldn't have come looking for you. And if I hadn't come looking for you, I wouldn't have suffered like this~"
Brandish continued complaining nonstop.
At this moment, even she didn't know who she should vent her frustrations to.
Although she appeared to place all the blame on Lucy...
Brandish knew perfectly well that even if Lucy had never run away, she still wouldn't have escaped joining Fairy Tail.
After all...
August was Fairy Tail's Guild Master.
As long as August and Emperor Zeref stood on Fairy Tail's side, she had no choice.
Still, Brandish dumped all the blame onto Lucy because she wanted to see Lucy's guilty expression.
That always made her feel immensely satisfied.
"So that's your excuse for setting me up? I always treated you as my best sister!"
Lucy took a deep breath before asking.
"Sisters should help each other!"
"They should share each other's joys and sorrows!"
"If I'm already this miserable, then if you're not at least a little miserable too, I just can't accept it."
Brandish answered without even thinking.
"Gee, thanks."
The corner of Lucy's eye twitched as she expressed her "gratitude."
"No need to thank me. It's what sisters are supposed to do~"
Brandish simply smiled.
"Heh, Brandish, take this!"
Lucy let out a cold laugh.
Then she jumped straight into the bathtub, and the two girls immediately began wrestling with each other in the water.
"How shameless! A sneak attack! No sense of honor at all..."
Soon, the house was filled with the cheerful laughter of two young girls.
"Come to think of it... I think I left Leo back at Fairy Tail..."
"Forget it. Whatever."
While playing around with Brandish in the bath, Lucy suddenly remembered Leo.
Then she promptly stopped worrying about him.
After all, scumbags weren't worth worrying about.
"Lucy, I'd advise you to surrender."
Although Lucy had initially caught Brandish off guard, Brandish quickly regained the upper hand and pinned Lucy beneath her with a smile.
"Heh..."
Unable to defeat even a cat in close combat, Lucy merely sneered at Brandish above her.
Everything was going according to plan.
Her real trump card was...
Thinking this, Lucy immediately took out the golden Zodiac Gate Key she always wore like a bracelet.
"That... Oh no!"
The moment Brandish saw the key, panic flashed across her eyes.
Yes.
The usually fearless Brandish was finally afraid.
"Open! Gate of Aquarius! Aquarius!"
As Lucy shouted...
A brilliant light burst forth from the bathtub.
A beautiful mermaid with long blue hair, an elegant appearance, and a graceful figure appeared above the bathtub. Her upper body was that of a stunning woman, while her lower body was that of a fish.
"Lady Aquarius..."
Brandish trembled slightly as she greeted Aquarius nervously.
"Aquarius, you're here~"
Lucy greeted her happily.
Then...
"You two..."
"How many times have I told you?!"
"Don't summon me inside a bathtub!"
"Do you two never learn?!"
"Or have you both just been treating everything I've said as if it went in one ear and out the other?!"
Just as Lucy and Brandish smiled at the beautiful mermaid before them...
Veins suddenly bulged on Aquarius's forehead.
She grabbed both Lucy's and Brandish's heads with her fair hands and squeezed with tremendous force.
"..."
Lucy and Brandish both froze.
"Reflect on yourselves properly!"
With Aquarius's furious roar...
She flung the pair of unfortunate sisters straight out of the room and into Magnolia's river.
Today was yet another day of Lucy evolving closer to becoming a true Fairy Tail lunatic.
Meanwhile...
On the Western Continent, inside the conference room of the Alvarez Empire's capital...
The Spriggan Twelve, those standing at the very pinnacle of the Alvarez Empire and entrusted with protecting their master, Emperor Zeref, had all gathered inside the small meeting room.
"Huh? August was the one who summoned us, so where is he?"
The speaker was a robust young man with bronze skin.
He had once crossed paths with Evan.
Now one of the Spriggan Twelve, he was known as the Desert King, Ajeel Ram.
Believing his strength had now fully matured, he openly complained about the Magic King August's tardiness.
"Enough already, Ajeel..."
Sitting beside him was a beautiful young woman with short golden hair.
She wore a red bikini top and flared pants.
Although the outfit was rather strange, combined with her flawless figure and beautiful face, she still looked stunning.
At this moment, she was clearly dissatisfied with Ajeel's behavior.
"Timaira, you're the one who should stop talking~"
Ajeel snorted coldly.
The young woman displeased with him was likewise one of the Spriggan Twelve.
Like Ajeel, she was one of the newer members.
Her name was Dimaria Yesta, a descendant of the God of Time.
Because she loved battle, the soldiers of the Alvarez Empire called her the War Queen, a valkyrie who constantly fought on the battlefield.
"Enough, all of you."
"Lord August will be here shortly."
Besides Ajeel and Dimaria, the meeting also included Winter General Invel Yura, Death God Bloodman, Assassin Jacob Lessio, and Judge Wahl Icht.
These four were the veterans among the Spriggan Twelve.
They were also people who had personally witnessed Evan's overwhelming strength.
"You people..."
Ajeel frowned.
He had no better opinion of Invel and the others.
Buzz!
At that moment...
August arrived.