"Oh, oh, Roland's back!"
"You're finally back! Fight me, Roland!"
Seeing the figure outside the door, many people in the guild raised their mugs to greet him, and there was even a pink-haired young man with flaming fists who charged forward with fighting spirit.
"Fire Dragon's Iron—"
"Knightwalker, he's all yours."
Facing the aggressive Natsu, Roland easily sidestepped and said without turning his head.
"Huh—who's Knightwalker? And don't ignore me!"
After his attack missed, Natsu immediately changed direction, his legs igniting with scorching flames, clearly not giving up on his idea of a rematch with Roland.
However, before he could take a step forward, the white, scaly scarf around his neck was suddenly pulled, and he fell to the floor.
"Cough, cough, that bast... Er-Er, Erza!?!"
Before he could finish, Natsu saw the expressionless crimson-haired girl, and a cold sweat instantly broke out on his face. He even had trouble speaking.
Didn't Erza go out on an S-class mission? She's back so soon?!
"...You're Natsu, right?"
Glancing at the pink-haired young man, whose face was covered in cold sweat and whose fear was unconcealed, Knightwalker frowned slightly and quickly recalled his name.
Every time she besieged the Fairy guild, she could see this guy hiding behind his comrades, crying in panic.
"We-welcome back, Erza!"
Natsu immediately stood up straight, a forced smile on his lips, his voice trembling slightly.
Why does this guy look so scared? Is it because of my counterpart?
Knightwalker uninterestingly retracted her gaze and turned to look at the members in the bar, a trace of surprise flashing in her eyes.
Makao, Jet, Elfman... even the members she had killed with her own hands were all sitting safely at the tables, laughing and talking with each other. The atmosphere was very lively.
It seemed it was really as Roland had said. Except for their hairstyles, personalities, and clothes, they were basically identical to the members of the Edolas Fairy guild.
Heh, a little interesting.
Knightwalker ignored the nervous Natsu beside her and walked straight into the guild hall, observing with great interest.
"Phew, I thought I was going to get beaten up."
Looking at Erza's departing back, Natsu first breathed a sigh of relief, then couldn't help but scratch his head.
He didn't know if it was his imagination, but he suddenly felt that today's Erza was a little different.
While Natsu was about to fall into thought, Roland, not far away, had already distributed gifts to everyone.
"A magic pipe. It can simulate various flavors of smoke. I specially picked it for you, Uncle Wakaba."
"Oh-ho! I've never seen this type of magic item before!"
Wakaba tried taking a puff. The smoke coming out of the pipe turned dark purple, and a grape flavor filled his mouth.
Such a rare item made the old man's eyes widen, and he couldn't help but praise, "Thanks for the gift, Roland-chan!"
"...If you're really grateful, please remove the '-chan' from the end of my name."
Roland shook his head speechlessly, then tossed two gift boxes to Jet and Troy, who were drinking.
"I picked these out for you two. One is a special plant seed, and the other is a pair of magic shoes that increase speed."
Even we get a share?
Jet and Troy looked at each other, a slightly surprised expression on their faces, and they were a little touched.
"Thanks, Roland," Jet said with a smile.
"...I like this gift."
Troy took a deep breath and said in a low voice.
His specialty was plant magic, while Jet's was God Leg magic. The two gifts were obviously chosen with care.
It made the two of them develop a trace of goodwill toward Roland.
If Levy were to be with a gentle person like Roland... it wouldn't be so hard to accept.
"Glad you like it," Roland replied with a smile, then looked around and said with some doubt, "By the way, is Levy not at the guild today?"
According to Levy's personality, if she knew he was back, she would definitely be the first to pounce on him.
"She hasn't been to the guild for two days. It seems... she's hatching a pet?" Jet handed him a beer and couldn't help but say.
"Ah, that egg looks about the same size as the one Natsu brought back when he was a kid. Could it also be a flying cat?"
Troy stroked his chin and added.
"I see." Roland nodded in understanding, then said with a slight smile, "I have a surprise for her later, so look forward to it."
A surprise?
Jet and Troy were stunned. Before they could ask, Roland had already headed to the bar.
At this time, Guild Master Makarov was sitting cross-legged on the bar, taking a sip from the large mug of beer in his hand, a look of relief on his face.
Although he had only been in the guild for a short time, Roland seemed to have integrated into this noisy family.
"I'm back, Master."
Roland had a gentle smile on his lips as he handed over the gift box in his hand.
"Oh, oh, you shouldn't have! You even bought me a gif—"
A happy smile appeared on Makarov's face, and he was just about to reach out to take it, but the gift box was handed to Laki behind him.
"I heard from Mirajane that you like restraints and such, so I bought you a pair of handcuffs specially used for interrogation in the kingdom. I hope you like them."
The moment she heard "restraints," Laki's eyes lit up, and she quickly took the gift box.
"Thank you!"
So, so it wasn't for me?!
Makarov's outstretched hand froze in mid-air, and his expression gradually turned gray.
"Alright, all the gifts have been taken care of now."
Roland stretched, placed the empty backpack on the table, and said to himself.
"Ahem, ahem, Roland..."
Makarov, beside him, coughed twice, casually sidled up to him, and reminded him in a low voice, "Didn't you forget something?"
—Why does even Laxus have a gift, but I, the Guild Master, don't!?
That's right, Roland had even prepared a gift for Laxus this time and had Makao deliver it for him.
"?"
Roland tilted his head in feigned confusion.
"The gift! Where's my gift!"
Makarov shook his shoulders without any regard for his image and asked loudly.
"Don't worry. Although there's no gift, I've prepared a surprise for you!"
Roland couldn't help but laugh. He raised his mug to look at the guild's main door and said softly, "Didn't Mirajane bring you a surprise?"
Because she had been away for over a year, Lisanna wanted to adjust her mentality before facing everyone, so he had distributed the gifts first.
"A surprise?"
Makarov looked puzzled, but as he followed his gaze, his face instantly went blank.
That figure... it can't be!?
At that moment, the others in the guild also noticed the two silver-haired sisters at the entrance. When they saw the short-haired figure, they were all stunned in unison.
The entire guild instantly became much quieter.
"Is that... Lisanna?"
The cup in Gray's hand fell to the floor. His eyes slowly widened, his face filled with shock.
"Hey, stop talking nonsense. Are you drunk?"
Loke, across from him, couldn't help but frown.
Lisanna had been dead for a year. It was impossible for her to appear in the guild. This guy must be drunk.
"Maybe..."
"Hey, hey, you're kidding, right!?"
"Is it a hallucination? I knew I shouldn't have drunk so much!"
As a series of disbelieving voices rang out, everyone's gazes couldn't help but turn to the entrance.
Under the afterglow of the setting sun, Lisanna, wearing a white dress, stood there, a smile unconsciously appearing on her face.
"Um... well, I'm back, everyone!"
Under everyone's shocked gazes, Lisanna suppressed the excitement in her heart and shouted loudly.
"Lisanna..."
"Is it really Lisanna?!"
Natsu and Happy's eyes widened in disbelief.
At the same time, the guild fell into a brief silence, as if everyone was waiting for the girl's answer.
"Long time no see, Natsu, Happy!"
Lisanna waved lively.
"Lisanna!!"
After confirming that this was the Lisanna they all knew, tears welled up in Natsu's and Happy's eyes. Unable to hide their excitement, they shouted and flew toward her.
But they were intercepted halfway by a Shadowkhan ninja that emerged from the shadows.
"You two, control your emotions."
Roland looked at the tearful person and cat, then turned to look at the dazed Makarov beside him and said with a light laugh.
"What do you think of this surprise, Master?"
"...Ah, it's indeed quite a surprise. But didn't Lisanna pass away a year ago?"
After a long silence, Makarov looked at the crowd surrounding Lisanna and couldn't help but ask.
"You should know about Edolas—the existence of the parallel world, right, Master?"
"Yes, I know a little."
Makarov nodded with a complicated expression.
Not only did he know, but his good friend Porlyusica was from Edolas and was currently living in seclusion in a treehouse deep in the forest east of Magnolia.
"So... is this the parallel world Lisanna?"
"No, she's the Lisanna from our world." Roland shook his head and explained, "Lisanna didn't die back then. She was transported to the world of Edolas by a dimensional magic."
"The purpose of our mission this time was to go to Edolas and bring Lisanna back."
"...I see."
Makarov looked at Natsu and the others, who were raising their mugs to celebrate, and a smile slowly blossomed on his lips as he jumped down from the high platform.
"This surprise from you and Mira—I like it!"
He didn't press Roland about how he knew. After all, everyone had their secrets—even as the Guild Master, he shouldn't inquire.
For example, the mysterious Mystogan, the always-drinking Cana...
"Welcome back, Lisanna!!"
"We'll have a party today and drink to our hearts' content!"
"Yay, a welcome party!"
"..."
After Mirajane's explanation, everyone also learned about Lisanna's situation, and a fervent cheer instantly erupted in the guild.
Looking at his sister, who was buried in the crowd, Elfman wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, suppressing the urge to cry with joy, and roared, "You guys, stop crowding around with those improper looks!"
"All of you, stay away!!"
"Ahaha... looks like not just my sister, but even my brother Elfman has changed a lot."
With the help of the Shadowkhan ninjas, Lisanna quickly left the crowd. Looking at Loke, who had been thrown out by Elfman, a smile appeared on her lips.
"After all, after you went to Edolas, things happened here too."
Mirajane said, tilting her head slightly.
"Ah, I also didn't expect to suddenly have a brother-in-law..."
Lisanna held the cup of orange juice, her soft pink lips holding the straw as she remarked with a muffled voice.
Who would have thought that in just one short year, her hot-tempered sister would become so gentle and find a brother-in-law who was about her age?
"Really, don't just say whatever you want in the guild!"
Mirajane subconsciously looked around. After confirming that no one else had heard, she quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, Levy wasn't at the guild—otherwise, her and Roland's affair would definitely be exposed.
"Why are you so nervous..." Lisanna blinked in confusion.
"Ahem, Mirajane, can you lend me the guild stamp?"
At that moment, Roland, who was sitting beside them, interrupted their conversation and called Knightwalker over.
"The guild stamp?"
Mirajane was stunned for a moment, but after looking at Knightwalker, a look of realization appeared on her face.
"I see. You want to make Knightwalker a member of the guild?"
"Can I not join?"
Hearing that she was to join the Fairy guild, a look of resistance appeared on Knightwalker's face, and she couldn't help but ask.
"What color do you want the stamp to be? You can also choose the location freely."
Roland selectively ignored her request, reached for the stamp in the box, and asked with a smile.
"...Black. Put it on my back."
Knightwalker closed her eyes and said with a blank expression.
Out of sight, out of mind. She would just put the stamp on her back and pretend it didn't exist.
"No problem. But to put it on your back..."
Roland looked at her back, which was tightly wrapped in a white inner shirt, decisively put the stamp in his pocket, and said with a slight smile.
"I'll borrow that stamp for now. We'll do it tonight."
"..."
Can I take it back?
Knightwalker couldn't help but think.
After the surprise at the guild was delivered, Makarov also took the lead in preparing a grand banquet, so most people wouldn't be going home tonight.
This was especially true for Lisanna, the star of the banquet.
As for Roland—he had a blue-haired girl at home who was hatching an egg, so it was impossible for him to attend the banquet.
"Then I'll head home first. After the banquet is over, I'll have the Shadowkhan ninjas send you two back."
Roland snapped his fingers, and six Shadowkhan ninjas emerged from the surrounding shadows, kneeling on the ground like loyal servants.
"Then I'll have to trouble you."
Mirajane didn't refuse and said in a gentle voice.
If she could, she also wanted to let her sister stay at her long-lost home.
...
After a simple farewell, Roland took Knightwalker and left the guild.
"Is this your home?"
Looking at the two-story residential building in front of her, Knightwalker frowned imperceptibly.
"I'm just renting. I'll go buy some land tomorrow and build a manor."
Under the moonlight, Roland took out a bronze key and opened the door. He could vaguely see a light coming from the second-floor window.
—Levy should be in the bedroom.
"Wait in the living room for a bit. I'll go upstairs and check the situation."
After giving his order, he walked up the stairs to the bedroom door and was about to knock.
But at that moment, the wooden door was suddenly pushed open, and the blue-haired girl's small head poked out from the crack.
When she saw Roland outside, a bright light flashed in her eyes, and a smile couldn't help but appear on her lips.
"You're back~"
"Yes, thanks for looking after the house for the past few days."
Roland stroked her soft blue hair and greeted her softly.
As the concealing door opened, Levy threw herself directly into his arms, her eyes half-closed in comfort.
Looking at her cute appearance, Roland had a gentle smile on his face as he picked up her petite body and placed her on the bed.
"I'll go downstairs first—"
Before he could finish, Levy wrapped her arms around his neck, and her soft lips covered his.
"Can the other things... wait until tomorrow?"
Levy bit her lower lip lightly and said in a soft and seductive voice by his ear.
She couldn't hold back anymore—especially after Roland and Mirajane had been out for three days, it had given the girl a strong sense of crisis.
"...I understand. Don't regret it."
"I've long been prepar—Mmph!"
In the living room.
Knightwalker put down the magazine in her hand, looked up at the ceiling, and the corner of her eye twitched slightly.
That guy—what on earth did he go upstairs to do?!
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