Kagura's sudden exclamation of "Erza-nee" left Erza completely bewildered.
Even Ankh and Mirajane were taken aback, exchanging confused glances.
Erza has a sister?!
Mirajane couldn't help but shift her gaze to Ankh, whispering.
"Then... does that make you her..."
Ankh stared blankly at Kagura for a moment before furrowing his brows.
He immediately reached out with his senses. He couldn't sense any trace of Divine Power or familiar energy from Kagura. To Ankh, she just seemed like a relatively talented young girl with high magical potential.
Her situation was completely different from Erza's—she had absolutely no connection to divinity or the Ankhseram curse whatsoever.
"Seram, what do you think?"
Just to be safe, Ankh first consulted Seram.
Seram responded decisively, [You're right. This girl has nothing to do with us. She is purely human.]
Ankh thoughtfully stroked his chin, unable to stop himself from pondering the situation.
If she's not related by blood or magic... who is she?
Meanwhile, hearing Kagura address her like that finally confirmed the unbelievable suspicion in Erza's heart.
"Wait..." Erza gasped, her eyes widening. "You're Simon's sister? Kagura?!"
Ankh and Mirajane were baffled once again.
Simon's sister?
Uh...
Ankh thought hard for a long time. He tried to recall the face of the burly, thick-jawed man with the metal jaw guard from the Tower of Heaven.
Then he turned to look at Kagura again.
The honest-looking, laborer-type Simon... and this cold beauty Kagura...
Ankh's brain short-circuited.
How did this family's appearances develop so differently?
Did all the good genes go to the sister?
Genetics are truly a mystery.
Unable to contain the sorrow and relief she had buried for years any longer, Kagura threw herself into Erza's chest.
"Erza-nee!"
She held onto the scarlet-haired woman tightly, refusing to let go, burying her face in Erza's armor.
Deeply moved, Erza embraced Kagura in return.
"It really is you," Erza whispered.
She pulled the delicate girl closer, inadvertently giving Kagura a faceful of her ample bosom.
Kagura's intermittent sobs began to fill the air, making the situation increasingly emotional, yet slightly awkward for the bystanders.
A girl in a frilly gothic dress was holding a hooded swordswoman much shorter than her, while two awkward onlookers stood nearby.
Although Ankh had roughly understood Kagura's background from their earlier conversation about the missing brother, he still coughed lightly to break the tension.
"Ahem. Erza, just to confirm... is she Simon's sister?"
Erza nodded with a beaming smile, tears forming in her own eyes. "Of course! I could never mistake Kagura."
She looked at Ankh and Mirajane. "Speaking of which... Simon, Kagura, and I were all companions in Rosemary Village. When the cult attacked, I hid Kagura in a box to save her. I just never expected... that Kagura, who was so young back then, would still remember me."
Hearing this, Kagura released her hold slightly. Her small face flushed with slight embarrassment as she wiped her eyes.
Erza was right—Kagura had indeed forgotten most of her childhood memories due to trauma.
When the incident occurred years ago, the cult invaded Rosemary Village to capture children for the Tower. Before being taken away herself, Erza had saved Kagura.
Thus, aside from her biological brother Simon, the only "family" Kagura remembered from her childhood was Erza—an older sister figure who, though she hadn't known for long, had been exceptionally kind and brave.
Erza seemed to sense Kagura's unease. She gently patted the girl's head, smiling warmly.
"It's alright that you didn't recognize me right away. After all, it's been so long. The fact that we can meet again is already a wonderful thing."
Feeling the touch on her head, the usually aloof Kagura nodded obediently, docile as a kitten.
Erza then asked the question that mattered most. "Did you come here to find Simon?"
As if clutching at a lifeline, Kagura grabbed Erza's hand. Her face was full of hope and desperation.
"Yes! I heard that people from all over have been gathering in Magnolia these past few days, so I came to try my luck. Erza-nee... do you know where my brother is now? Is he... alive?"
Seeing Kagura's anxious expression, Ankh interjected before Erza could speak.
"Don't worry," Ankh said with a reassuring smile. "Your brother is safe. He's alive and kicking."
Erza nodded in agreement. "He is. Simon and the others—Sho, Wally, and Millianna—bid me farewell earlier to travel and adventure around the continent to see the world they missed."
"But," Erza added, her eyes twinkling, "just a few days ago, we received word that they're coming here to watch our guild's Grand Parade!"
"Really?!"
Kagura exclaimed excitedly.
She was unable to resist jumping for joy, her sword hilt clattering.
"He's coming here?"
Wasn't this a case of perfect timing? She had just arrived here, and now Simon and the others were coming to Magnolia for the Fantasia parade—what better opportunity could there be!
Watching Kagura on the verge of reuniting with her family, Ankh couldn't help but be moved by the girl's melting-ice smile.
'It was all thanks to the Grand Parade,' Ankh thought. 'Everyone in the guild had invited friends and relatives.'
In the "original" storyline Ankh remembered from his previous life, Sho and his group had also come to watch the parade... but in that tragic version of events, Simon had sacrificed himself to protect Erza from Jellal.
He had died in the Tower.
So, in that version, Kagura would never have received news of her brother—or rather, the news would have been of his death.
'Fortunately, I altered the course of events. That big lug Simon is alive and well, and Kagura should now be free from her emotional burdens and vengeance.'
Seeing this harmonious scene, Mirajane stepped forward and softly suggested, "Since you're waiting for Simon and the others to arrive, why not stay at our guild for a few days? It's safer than the streets."
Erza caught on immediately. She warmly extended the invitation.
"Indeed! Kagura, the Fantasia parade is still days away. Staying at our guild would be more convenient. Come stay with me! Though my place is small, we can share a bed!"
Ankh's lips twitched.
Your place is small? How are the rest of us supposed to live?
This was a classic "ric sister's" humblebrag.
Due to insufficient storage space for her massive collection of Requip armors, Erza had rented five rooms in Fairy Tail's female dormitory—which cost 100,000 Jewels monthly per room.
She had knocked down the walls to create a massive suite and armory and settled inside.
Thus, Erza's monthly rent totaled 500,000 Jewels. That was over seven times more than Lucy's rent. Even for an S-Class Mage, this was no small expenditure.
Calling it "small" was an insult to real estate.
Hearing Erza's suggestion, Kagura hesitated briefly.
She didn't want to impose.
She initially intended to voice her concerns but reconsidered, deciding such matters were trivial compared to their reunion.
After searching for so many years, she had finally found family.
Deep down, Kagura couldn't bear to part so soon either—every extra second together was precious.
"Alright then..." Kagura nodded obediently. "Thank you, Erza-nee."
"Yay!" Erza immediately brightened.
She wrapped an arm around the younger girl, and they cheerfully headed toward the guild hall, chattering about the past.
Ankh trailed some distance behind them, with Mirajane walking alongside him.
Mirajane bumped his shoulder playfully.
She teased him, "Suddenly gaining another little sister—you must be thrilled, aren't you?"
Ankh raised an eyebrow. He shook his head with a smile.
"My only sister is Erza," Ankh stated firmly.
He looked at the purple-haired girl ahead. "As for Kagura? She's Erza's sister, not mine. There's a difference."
Mirajane tilted her head quizzically. "Is there?"
"Of course there is," Ankh replied, gazing almost paternally at the two girls ahead. "But if it makes Erza this happy to have family, such trivialities don't matter. I'll protect her too."
Mirajane pouted, muttering under her breath, "Ankh's siscon tendencies are so annoying... he collects sisters like celestial mages collect keys."
"Hah? What was that?" Ankh asked, glancing at her.
Mirajane instantly beamed, adopting an innocent, angelic smile.
"Nothing! Just praising what a wonderful brother you are!"
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