"This girl's brain really works in a strange direction…"
Watching Mira look at him with pure admiration just because he downed a cup of bitter coffee in one go, Shane shook his head.
Then he gestured to the server. The server smiled and nodded—his "face" cleared, and the bill was basically put on his tab.
Shane didn't waste time. He stood up and, without asking, grabbed the girl by the wrist and started pulling her toward the east side of the city.
"Hey—wait!"
Mira stumbled as she was dragged along. She glanced back at the clerk behind the counter, but the clerk just calmly watched them leave, with zero intention of stopping them.
"So you were going somewhere."
Mira jogged to keep up, frowning. "And… you're not paying?"
"Heh."
Shane didn't even turn around. He was smug as hell inside.
Joke's on her—he'd been living in Magnolia long enough that the cats and dogs he'd helped reunite with their owners could probably form a parade around the city three times. He had credit.
"This is the reputation I've built up. What's wrong with putting it on the tab?"
His wallet was in the red. Time to cash in on goodwill.
"As for where we're going…"
He spoke like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Didn't we agree I'd help you find a place to stay? Renting costs money, but I'm broke. So we're going to—borrow money."
"Huh?!"
Mira's beautiful brown-blue eyes went wide like she'd just heard a fairy tale.
"Borrow money? You don't have any?"
She genuinely couldn't process it.
This was the same guy who'd just been acting generous, talking like he'd handle everything—so he was actually penniless?
"Please."
Shane rolled his eyes.
"Back at the guild, didn't you hear that old man yelling that I still owe the guild over ten million? How would I have money?"
"…."
Mira's mouth twitched.
Accepting help from someone she knew—if it was for her siblings, she could grit her teeth and swallow her pride.
But dragging her along to borrow money from someone she didn't even know? That kind of shamelessness was impossible for her.
"I'm not going!"
She tried to yank her hand free.
But Shane had predicted this. His grip didn't budge.
"Quit whining. You're coming."
…
He basically hauled an unwilling Mira through the bustling city and into the quiet forest to the east.
At a familiar little yard, Shane stopped and knocked.
"Erza, I'm back."
Quick footsteps sounded inside.
Click.
The door opened.
A scarlet-haired girl poked her head out.
She looked like she'd been resting—she was in a loose white silk sleep shirt. The soft fabric traced the shape of her body more than it probably should have, the neckline slightly open, showing a glimpse of delicate collarbones and pale throat.
The moment she saw Shane, her eyes lit up.
"Shane?"
"Why are you back so soon? Didn't you say this job would take several days?"
"It went smoothly, so I came back early."
Shane answered casually, then immediately held out his hand and went straight to the point.
"Anyway—lend me some money. I need to rent a place for someone."
"Oh, okay."
Erza didn't hesitate for even a second. She turned to go grab her wallet.
But after one step, she stopped.
She looked back, black eyes narrowing slightly—her gaze landing on the white-haired girl at Shane's side.
The girl's clothes were worn and shabby, but her posture was proud and stubborn. Her delicate face—maybe from exhaustion—had a fragile, broken beauty to it.
"Who is she?"
Erza looked at Mira, then at Shane. Her gaze sharpened into something unmistakably interrogative.
"You're borrowing money from me… to rent a place for her?"
"Uh…"
Shane sighed. Of course he couldn't dodge the explanation.
He used the same simplified version Lisanna had given earlier and summed up the Strauss siblings' situation in a few clean sentences.
"…I see."
Whatever that subtle tension was in Erza's eyes evaporated, replaced by understanding.
"Got it."
No extra questions. She turned and padded back inside in slippers.
"Come in."
Shane waved Mira—who was still half-dazed—and led her into the house.
He walked straight into the kitchen, opened the fridge, and lit up when he saw a plate with a few leftover pan-fried meat steaks.
"Lucky!"
Shane hadn't eaten properly since yesterday. His eyes practically sparkled as he turned on the stove.
Sizzle—
Fat popped happily in the pan.
Mira stood in the living room, watching Shane rummage around like he was back in his own place. She crept closer and whispered,
"Hey… going through someone else's stuff like that isn't really okay."
"Someone else's?"
Shane gave her a baffled look, still working. He cut the reheated steak into two portions and set them on the table.
"This is my house."
"Your house… oh. Right…"
Mira tilted her head, then accepted it—because her attention had already been kidnapped by the crackling, glossy meat.
The smell hit her like a hook.
She swallowed instinctively.
She'd barely eaten while traveling. Her stomach was hollow.
"One plate each. Don't be shy," Shane said.
She couldn't resist. She took a bite.
"...So good."
Her eyes lit up.
Shane also dug in happily, nodding with satisfaction. After relentless "training," Erza's cooking really had gotten better.
While the two of them ate, Erza came back out holding a thick stack of bills.
She walked right up to Mira and held them out.
"Here. This should cover rent and living expenses for a few months."
Mira stopped chewing.
She swallowed, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand—and didn't take the money.
"No. I don't need this."
She pushed it back automatically. Accepting help from someone she barely knew made her skin crawl.
"No, take it."
Erza frowned and pushed the bills forward again, voice firm.
"You three just arrived in Magnolia. You'll need money for everything. This is necessary."
"We can work," Mira shot back. "And the guild provides housing."
"This amount isn't much to me," Erza said, stubborn and serious, "but for you it can make your life easier."
"…."
Mira narrowed her eyes and set her fork down.
"I said I don't need it."
"Um… maybe eat first?" Shane tried, mouth still full of steak.
Neither girl even acknowledged his existence.
"As your sister," Erza continued, posture straight, righteous energy radiating, "you should give your siblings a better life—not reject help because of pride."
She'd taken care of people before. She knew what it meant to have nowhere to go. She couldn't stand seeing kids struggle.
Unfortunately, that line stepped right on Mira's landmine.
"And how is that your business?"
Mira stood up sharply. All her earlier politeness vanished.
"And whether I've done my job as their sister… you don't get to judge."
The air went cold.
"Why did it suddenly turn into this…"
Seeing sparks about to fly, Shane jumped between them.
"Mira, don't get worked up."
He pointed at Erza, trying to smooth things over.
"This is Erza. The one I mentioned—after me, she's basically the second most reliable person in the guild."
"Reliable?"
Mira let out a cold laugh, eyes raking Erza top to bottom.
"I don't feel that at all. All I see is someone who forces her will on others, talks like she's always right… and someone just as reckless as you."
"Forcing my will… talking like I'm always right?"
Erza's eyes narrowed, and something dangerous shifted in the air.
If Mira insulted her, maybe she could ignore it.
But Mira lumped Shane in too—and Erza didn't like that.
"Am I wrong?" Mira challenged, chin up.
Shane honestly didn't care. He had self-awareness. Mira's evaluation of him was pretty accurate.
Still, Erza's expression hardened.
"Fine. If neither of us can convince the other…"
She pointed toward the door.
"Then fight."
"If you lose," Erza said, voice clean and absolute, "you take the money. No more arguing."
Mira shoved the last bite of steak into her mouth, chewed twice, and swallowed.
"Gladly."
She stepped forward until she was almost nose-to-nose with Erza.
She just couldn't stand this righteous, preachy redhead.
"And if you lose…"
Mira jabbed a finger into Erza's chest.
"You make that meat every day—three portions—and bring it to me."
"And in front of the whole guild, you call me—Boss Mira."
~~~
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