Natsu dashed around the guild like a crazed little Fire Dragon several times but didn't find any trace of a dragon.
Hapi and Carla also flew a lap outside but found nothing.
Carla hesitantly asked, "Wendy, did you really smell it?"
Wendy nodded, "Yeah, but once I left the guild, I couldn't smell it anymore."
"So is Grandeeney hiding inside the guild?" questioned Hapi.
"It could be someone or something she came into contact with," Rhode suggested. "Wendy, let's go back and search again."
"Alright!" Wendy's nostrils flared slightly as she sniffed the familiar scent, returning to the counter.
Wendy hesitated and said, "It seems to be inside."
"Inside the counter?" Mira bent down, reaching inside, "There's only my handbag, clothes, and Rhode's clothes..."
Natsu tilted his head, "Why are both your clothes here?"
"They've got a thing going." (tongue click).
Mira lightly tapped Hapi on the head, "They're exercise clothes, we change during training. Besides that... there's also this bag."
Wendy sniffed and got excited, "This is it! This cloth bag has Grandeeney's scent on it."
Natsu also sniffed it, "I can only smell Rhode and Mira, and also... Granny Porlyusica?"
"That's the medicine bag Granny Porlyusica gave me," Rhode pondered. "Could Granny Porlyusica be a dragon in disguise, which is why she always says she dislikes humans?"
"But Grandeeney really likes humans," Wendy said. "May I... meet this granny?"
Natsu was about to run off, "I'll take you right now!"
"Wait, Natsu!" Rhode quickly grabbed Natsu by the scarf and collar, "We should ask the President first."
Natsu jogged in place, looking back irritably, "Why make it so complicated?"
Natsu instinctively trusted Wendy, even subconsciously treating her as one of their own.
Rhode thought Wendy might become one of them in the future and had some level of trust, but she wasn't there yet.
Whether out of consideration for safety or respect for Granny Porlyusica, they should seek the President's advice first.
After all, she's reclusive in the forest because she doesn't want too much human interaction, right?
Mira also advised, "Granny Porlyusica doesn't like being disturbed, so let's wait for the President to come back and ask him. Maybe he knows something about it."
Rhode opened the cloth bag, the smell of medicine masked some of the scents, but Wendy was sure each packet carried Grandeeney's scent.
It was undeniable now; there was definitely a connection between this dragon and the person.
The Fairy Tail specialty cuisine at lunch slightly distracted Wendy, but after the meal, she and Natsu were still restless.
Luckily, the President soon returned.
"Is this child also a Dragon Slayer Mage?" Makarov listened to Mira's recount, "I remember the President of the Cat Transformation Inn is named Robin Lu, right?"
Wendy excitedly asked, "Do you know our President?"
Makarov replied, "I've never met in person, but I heard they are descendants of a somewhat isolated ancient tribe, the Nirubit Race, right?
In recent years, to increase external interaction, they established the guild. Is Wendy also part of the Nirubit Race?"
Wendy shook her head, "Carla and I joined later, so we don't know about that.
But the Cat Transformation Inn is a guild formed by the entire tribe, and it's a great guild!"
"I see." Makarov liked kids who loved their guild, "You can go see Porlyusica if you want, but... Rhode."
"Huh?"
"Keep an eye on Natsu, don't let him cause trouble."
"Me?" Rhode didn't understand why the President thought he could control Natsu.
"What do you mean by that, old man!" Natsu wasn't happy either, but finding out about the dragon was more important, so he pulled Rhode along, "Wendy, hurry and follow!"
"Alright!" Wendy took a few steps but then stopped, turned, and bowed to Makarov before continuing to run out.
Hapi and Carla flew over, closely following.
Makarov sat cross-legged at the counter, his expression somewhat anxious.
Fire Dragon Slayer Mage, Sky Dragon Slayer Mage, and a Summoner who can summon dragons...
What kind of major event is going to happen in the future that requires so many dragon-fighting mages to gather?
Mira inquired, "President, is there something troubling you?"
Makarov shook his head, "Nothing, just feeling a bit off from the hangover."
Mira sensed he was lying, "Really? Then no drinking for you these few days, President."
"Oh, come on!"
"Aren't you going, Warm?" Mira saw Warm still at the counter, eating the fish Hapi left behind.
"Hururu~" Warm indicated he just wanted to eat.
...
Rhode, Natsu, Wendy, Hapi, and Carla sat on the River Crab, moving quickly and soon stopped outside the treehouse.
Carla complained, "If we had such a convenient ride, why did you run like crazy at the start?"
"Ahahaha, I forgot!" Natsu laughed, jumping down and banging on the treehouse door.
The door opened, and just as Natsu was about to speak, a broom smacked him on the head:
"You annoying brats, don't you have any manners? Haven't you fully recovered from the aftereffects? Why aren't you resting well?"
"I'm sorry!" Natsu apologized, even after being hit, "But we need to ask something important! It's..."
Bam! The door closed again.
"Go back!"
Natsu felt frustrated, "Listen and let us finish talking!"
Wendy's tears welled up, and she raised her little hand to wipe them away continuously.
"Sorry, Wendy, did she scare you?" Rhode quickly said, "Granny Porlyusica has an odd temper but is really kind."
Wendy shook her head, speaking in a teary voice, "No, I just feel so nostalgic. Her voice, her scent, they're just like Grandeeney's, Mom..."
Inside the bookhouse, Porlyusica leaned against the door, listening to the little girl cry; the Sky Dragon... was like a mother to that child.
First Natsu, then Wendy—is it Makarov's stupidity causing trouble, or do big events just seek out Fairy Tail?
With that personality, if Natsu gets caught up in any mess, there's no way not to help him out, is there?
One person's happiness is everyone's happiness, one person's anger is everyone's anger, one person's tears are everyone's tears...
Fairy Tail is a guild made up of a bunch of troublemaking idiots, after all.
Seriously, why did I even stay in this guild back then...
Porlyusica recalled some old memories, took a book from the shelf, then steeled her expression and gripped the doorknob firmly.