Three rings lay quietly on the velvet lining, shimmering with a gentle luster under the light of the magic lamps.
They were of different shapes, but each was embedded with a magic crystal that sparkled like dots of starlight, as if a corner of the night sky had been cut out and sealed within that small space.
The three of them looked at each other, but no one made a move.
Mirajane smiled and said, "Who gives rings to girls as Christmas gifts?"
"Exactly, it's not like a proposal," Cana echoed. "And what normal person would give rings to three women at once? Isn't that just crazy?"
"A normal person indeed wouldn't do such a thing, but..."
Erza's eyes flickered as she looked at Hope, "This guy is a pervert, after all."
Mirajane: "That makes a lot of sense."
Cana: "I can't argue with that."
Hearing the three of them criticize him one after another, Hope naturally had to make an excuse, "What's wrong with a man being a pervert? I just want everyone to be Happy!"
"We get it, you stinking scumbag."
Mirajane reached out her hand, her fingertips trembling slightly. "The ring... put it on for me."
Hope was stunned for a moment, then he gently took her wrist and slipped a simple ring, intricately engraved with silver vine-like patterns, onto her ring finger.
The moment the gem touched her skin, it grew slightly warm, and a soft pale-golden halo rippled out from the ring, spreading along her arm for a second before quietly vanishing.
Mirajane felt the subtle changes in the magic within the ring with surprise. Her sensitivity to Takeover Magic allowed her to immediately notice the difference, "This is... so much Dark Attribute magic power."
Hope nodded.
Mirajane had two major sources of power, 'Soul of Lucifer' and 'satan soul', and her strength was already quite impressive under dual Take Over.
But rapid magic consumption had always been an issue.
So Hope specifically took a magic crystal from 'Nirvana' that could produce magic power on its own, converted it to Dark Attribute, and used the matter reorganization ability of 'Magnetic Field Power' to compress it before attaching it to the ring.
From then on, Mirajane would never have to worry about running out of mana again.
Clenching her fingers and feeling that continuous, reassuring warmth, when Mirajane looked up again, her eyes seemed to have caught the starlight. "I like it very much... thank you."
Hope was about to say you're welcome when Cana impatiently reached out her hand. "If it's something good, why didn't you say so earlier? Where's mine? Where's mine?"
Looking at the impatient drunkard girl, Hope's lips twitched. He took a ring from the small box and put it on her. Immediately, the card pouch Cana carried with her began to shake.
Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Red-Eyes Black Dragon, Cyber Dragon... the ten cards Hope had made for her flew into the magic crystal on the ring one by one.
Hope simulated the magic space that comes with 'Requip' magic and opened a magic space within this top-quality magic crystal. In the future, Cana would only need a single thought to take out a card, saving her the action of drawing cards.
And the most crucial point was that this magic crystal itself had the effect of giving magic items intelligence, which meant that the monster cards Cana summoned in the future would be even smarter.
"By the way, there are new cards I made inside. Remember to familiarize yourself with them when you have time."
Hearing Hope's words, Cana looked down at the ring, her eyes lighting up instantly. She pulled back the hand wearing the ring as if protecting a treasure, revealing a money-loving smile.
"You're a real pal! This gift... is awesome!"
Finally, Hope looked at Erza.
Erza, who always presented a strong front, met his gaze and was actually a bit flustered for a moment. However, she still took the initiative to reach out her hand and said tsundere-ly, "Having Mirajane and Cana isn't enough for you; you're really getting a bargain."
"Hehehe~ Who told your charm to be so enchanting?"
Hope smiled as he put the ring on Erza, looking straight into her eyes. "This ring has no fancy functions, it only has a built-in Reverse Teleportation Magic. No matter where you are, as long as you inject magic power into it, I will appear by your side."
Does it mean 'always by my side'?... Erza's lips moved slightly. She didn't speak, but she gripped the hand with the ring tightly with her other hand. After a moment, she finally spoke: "Thank you, Hope."
"Forget about the thanks."
Hope rubbed his hands together like a fly and smiled, "As the saying goes, reciprocity is key. Where are my Christmas gifts? You wouldn't happen to not have any, right? Then I'd be really heartbroken."
Erza, Mirajane, and Cana looked at each other and suddenly stepped forward together, each leaving a kiss on Hope's cheeks and lips.
Then they ran away shyly.
Looking at the girls' backs, Hope subconsciously touched his face.
Well, I love this so much.
——
——
Every year at the end of the year, Fairy Tail organizes a grand entertainment competition.
Since it's winter, the competition consists of events that fit the current season's characteristics, such as snowball fights, building snowmen, making ice sculptures, playing ice hockey, skiing, ice skating... and so on.
All in all, almost every guild member has a specialty event they can participate in. It's considered a rare large-scale entertainment competition for Fairy Tail during the year.
And since magic is prohibited, it's fair for everyone. Plus, the prize for this year's Winter Competition is a year-round discount voucher for a hot spring inn, which gives everyone plenty of motivation.
"Hmm? You and them..."
By the counter, Makarov heard Hope mention that Erza, Mirajane, and Cana had accepted his gifts. Although he had expected it, he couldn't help but show an expression like his own cabbages had been rooted up by a pig.
And three of them were taken at once... "You really are a beast!"
Makarov's complaint was still echoing in his ears, but Hope had already stepped through the snow to the Winter Competition grounds specifically designated by the guild.
This place had been temporarily transformed into a snow park, and it was also open to the residents of Magnolia for viewing.
To the east was the intense snow-fight zone, to the west was the creative ice sculpture area, the south was transformed into an ice skating rink and ice hockey field, and the small slope to the north became a ski track.
Colorful flags fluttered under the clear winter sky, and the air was filled with the aroma of mulled wine and grilled sausages. This kind of environment was perfect for setting up a small stall or something similar.
"Hope! Over here, over here!"
Natsu stood on the boundary of the snow-fight area, waving excitedly. Happy sat on his shoulder, holding a snowball half the size of his body.
Not far away, a shirtless Gray was striking a battle pose, with several snowballs already piled at his feet. "We agreed on a real man's 1v1 battle, you fire-idiot, are you actually trying to call for reinforcements?!"
"Hah, my temper's flaring! Take this!"
Natsu turned around and threw a snowball with a strange cry, and Gray refused to be outdone, fighting back. The two of them threw snowballs at each other as fast as machine guns.
Looking at these two buffoons, Hope couldn't help but laugh, but he had no intention of joining in.
With his current physical strength, even without using any supernatural powers, he could take down anyone with a single snowball.
Hope wandered around for two laps and was ready to head back, but just as he was about to leave, a Voice called out to him.
"Mr. Hope."
Looking in the direction of the Voice, Hope saw a girl with emerald-green hair waving at him, followed by a middle-aged man in standard Requip who looked like a guard.
They were two strangers.
Hope walked forward in confusion and looked at the girl, who was about the same age as Lucy, and asked, "Were you the one calling me? Let's get this straight first, I'm not interested in minors."
Before the girl could say anything, the guard behind her grew displeased and shouted sternly, "You scoundrel! How dare you offend Her Highness Princess Emerald!"
"Silence, Arcadios." The girl stopped the guard from drawing his sword. Although young, she faintly exuded the majesty of a ruler.
Hope watched this scene silently.
Princess Emerald?
I seem to have heard that somewhere before.
Oh right, isn't that the princess of the Fiore Kingdom?
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