"I told you I don't know that guy named Zeref or whatever! Can't you understand human language!"
Natsu didn't care about demons or whatever; he only felt that these two guys in front of him were picking a fight!
He stamped his foot fiercely, pointing at Gray's nose, shouting with spittle flying: "If you want to fight, just say it! Cut the crap! You perverted exhibitionist with droopy eyes!"
"Hah?!" Gray's veins popped on his forehead. The shock caused by "Demon of Zeref" was instantly replaced by the impulse to fight Natsu: "Who are you calling a pervert! You droopy-eyed bastard!"
Words were useless when minds didn't meet. The two boys with opposing magical attributes roared and rushed at each other, fists and feet greeting each other unceremoniously. Cold frost and scorching flames collided fiercely from time to time, making "sizzle—" and "boom!" sounds.
Like this, the two cursed at each other while wrestling and rolling toward the other end of the street.
Watching the two figures fighting further and further away, gradually turning into two small dots in her vision, Erza first shook her head, then suddenly realized.
These two guys ran away deliberately under the pretext of fighting! She hadn't clarified who stole her strawberry cake yet!
"Stop—!"
Erza shouted angrily, a terrifying aura rising around her again. Just as she was about to chase after and apprehend the two "suspects" trying to muddle through, a small hand gently blocked her way.
It was Tike.
"Big Sis Erza, wait a moment. They aren't the culprits."
"Hmm?" Erza was stunned.
Tike tilted his head slightly, his nose flaring gently a few times, distinguishing the residual scent in the air.
"The person who stole your cake is Lucia. I can smell her running toward home holding a cake with your scent."
Saying this, Tike extended his right hand. Amidst the flowing light in his palm, a strawberry cake emitting a tempting sweet aroma appeared out of thin air in his hand.
"Take this as compensation from Lucia. When I go back, I'll teach that guy a good 'lesson'."
Then, Tike glanced in the direction Gray and Natsu disappeared and added: "If you feel guilty about wrongly blaming them just now, go apologize to them."
Erza took the cake Tike handed over, the anger on her face subsiding slightly. Hearing the suggestion to apologize, a trace of imperceptible wavering flashed in her eyes. Immediately, she huffed lightly and turned her head to the side somewhat unnaturally.
"I have nothing to apologize for! What about you? Treating Natsu like that just now, aren't you going to apologize?"
Facing Erza's rhetorical question, Tike appeared even more righteous than her.
"I didn't do anything that requires an apology either."
"You..."
Erza frowned slightly, said no more, just silently picked up the cake in her hand and chased in the direction Gray and Natsu disappeared.
Only then did Tike turn his head back, refocusing his attention on Wendy, who had been shrinking behind him, seeing her trembling appearance.
(Ah... scared her.)
He raised his hand and stroked Wendy's hair gently, as if comforting her, or muttering to himself: "It's okay, Wendy... you are different... different..."
Seeing Tike return to his usual gentle demeanor, Wendy finally relaxed slightly. She hugged Tike, burying her face in his clothes, asking muffledly: "Brother Tike, why did you treat that brother like that just now? Was it because he said he could also use Dragon Slayer Magic?"
"Dragon Slayer Magic is indeed one reason." Tike's voice deepened. "But the main thing is he has the scent of a demon. If it were another demon, fine, but it happens to be a demon related to that 'Zeref.' Those guys aren't anything good."
"Then... is that brother also a bad guy?" Wendy confirmed with a trace of nervousness.
Tike recalled Natsu's completely oblivious, even somewhat goofy angry appearance, as well as the vague memory flashing through his mind, and shook his head.
"Mm... not exactly, at least not currently."
Hearing this answer, Wendy visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
Although it should be her first time seeing that pink-haired brother, she somehow felt the other party wasn't as dangerous as Brother Tike described. Instead, there was an indescribable familiarity, and deep down she didn't want him to be a bad person.
This wondrous feeling prompted her to look up, gazing at Tike with those clear, pure eyes carrying a hint of earnestness.
"Brother Tike, I think... that brother, he probably doesn't want to hurt you."
"Maybe."
Hearing Wendy's words filled with trust and expectation, Tike's heart moved slightly, but he didn't show it on the surface.
"Alright, ignore that guy for now. Come, I'll take you in to handle the guild joining procedures and stamp the Fairy Tail mark."
With that, Tike took Wendy's small hand, took a deep breath, and pushed open the teetering guild door that only had half left.
The interior of the guild was as noisy and chaotic as always. Magical lights of various colors scurried in the air like fireworks. Tables, chairs, wine glasses, and occasionally unlucky guild members flew horizontally like cannonballs. Accompanied by deafening arguments, fighting sounds, and unscrupulous laughter, they composed a "Rhapsody" unique to Fairy Tail.
Facing this battlefield-like chaotic scene, Tike pulled Wendy, sometimes sliding sideways, sometimes leaning back to dodge, sometimes jumping lightly. The two were like butterflies threading through flowers, accurately avoiding one "UFO" smashing over after another, finally arriving at the relatively calmer bar area with no mishaps.
On the bar counter sat a small old man wearing a jester hat.
He was the current Master of the wizard guild "Fairy Tail" and also one of the Ten Wizard Saints—Makarov Dreyar.
Makarov looked at Tike walking to the bar counter and the slightly reserved strange blue-haired little girl beside him, asking leisurely: "Tike is back. What were you guys clanging and banging about outside just now?"
The noise inside the guild was too loud, so he didn't hear clearly what exactly happened outside.
"Nothing much, Grandpa Master, just some small 'friendly exchange,' don't mind it, don't mind it." Tike revealed a well-behaved smile, then retreated behind Wendy. "Grandpa Master, she wants to join our Fairy Tail guild; please approve it."
"Oh? Is this child a new little wizard?"
Makarov narrowed his eyes with interest, his small body leaning forward slightly, getting closer to scrutinize Wendy carefully.
"What's your name? What magic do you know?"