"Thump, thump, thump…"
As the footsteps grew closer, the Guild Members' expressions became more solemn. Natsu and Gray hugged each other even tighter, looking at the door with fear.
At the Guild entrance, illuminated by the sunlight, Erza, holding a giant horn, stepped into the Guild.
With a "bang," as Erza placed the giant horn in the center of the Guild, dust flew everywhere.
"I'm back, is the Master here?" Erza's mature voice finished, and she scanned the room. Everyone avoided her gaze.
"You're back, Erza. The Master isn't here, he already went to the regular meeting with Zorn."
Lisanna, who had just finished wiping a table, held a rag in both hands and explained with a gentle smile.
During their two years together, Lisanna had come to understand that this world's Erza was a warm, loving, and responsible older sister, and they had a very good relationship.
It was just that her personality was a bit too straightforward, with a strict obsession for maintaining discipline within the Guild.
"Is that so? Zorn went too. Then I'm relieved about the Master."
"Um, Erza, what is this amazing thing?"
"It's the horn of a monster I defeated. The locals were very enthusiastic and wanted to give it to me as a gift. Is it an eyesore?"
"Not at all, haha!" The person who had just asked the question immediately waved their hands in denial, terrified. They wouldn't dare directly deny the thing, even though it was indeed in the way, blocking the path, but they didn't dare say it.
"Is that so?"
Erza slowly looked around: "I heard a lot of bad news about the Guild on my way here, saying that Fairy Tail Guild Members have been causing trouble."
"Even if the Master tolerates you in every way, I won't."
Erza turned her head and immediately saw Loki, who was secretly peeking at her from behind the bar: "Loki! You'd better be sincere to girls!!"
Loki flinched at that sentence, terrified that Erza would hit him, and backed up, bumping into the bar.
"Bickslow, if you want to dance, go outside. Wakaba, ash is all over the floor, get a rag. Don't just loiter around the request board all day, get to work…."
"Honestly, you're all just a bunch of overgrown children. I have important matters, so I won't lecture you anymore…"
Lucy watched as Erza finished lecturing almost Everyone, still with an expression as if she was letting them off the hook, and only then did she confirm that Erza was indeed the Guild's disciplinary committee member.
"Erza seems quite normal, just a bit naggy, but she's still doing it for the Guild Members' good. Why is Everyone afraid of her?"
Lucy covered one side of her face with her hand and secretly asked Cana, who was watching the show. Due to Zorn's presence, Cana didn't become an alcoholic like in the original story, so the scene where Erza scolded her didn't happen.
"Where are Natsu and Gray?"
"Natsu and I have a great relationship, we're good brothers, right Natsu?"
"Aye~" Gray and Natsu hugged each other tightly, hand in hand, looking at Erza with smiles, though the sweat on their faces somewhat betrayed their inner feelings.
However, the straightforward Erza didn't notice anything amiss and was very Happy to see the two of them in such an affectionate scene, nodding with relief.
"Of course, they're afraid. After all, Natsu and Gray, as well as Loki who's terrified at the bar, were beaten half to death by Erza back then." Cana put one hand on her hip, glanced at the three terrified individuals, and seemed to recall that scene, smiling as she said to Lucy.
"Huh, no way."
"Natsu, Gray, there's a very troublesome matter that I need your help with. I heard about it on the road when I was coming back."
"Since the Master isn't here, we have to act quickly. Will you help me?"
Erza looked at Natsu and Gray solemnly. This sentence also surprised the Guild Members, as a wizard of Erza's strength, one of the Ten Wizard Saints, would still need help from others.
"We…" Natsu and Gray exchanged glances. They hadn't expected to go on a mission together again, as their first outdoor mission was with Cana leading them.
"Yosh! It seems you're very willing! Then it's settled. We'll depart tomorrow, so get ready."
After Erza clapped her hands to decide, she directly picked up the giant monster horn again and walked out of the Guild, likely to dispose of it.
The Guild Members watched Erza leave, relieved, and the atmosphere became lively again.
However, Loki at the bar clutched his head uncomfortably, and before leaving the Guild, he gazed deeply at Lucy.
Lucy, who was still chatting enthusiastically with Cana, also sensed something and glanced at the Guild entrance, but only saw a flash of green clothing disappearing from the Guild, so she didn't pay any more attention.
————Separator————
Meanwhile, Zorn and Master Makarov had just arrived at a transit town.
Zorn parked the car and removed the magic power transmission device strapped to his hand.
The Master was sound asleep in the back seat, one leg propped on the seat, the other dangling to the floor, and his wine glass had already rolled into the car.
Zorn turned his head and smiled helplessly at the scene, shaking his head.
He used magic to gently float the Master, and amidst the astonished gazes of others in the town, he calmly walked into an inn and booked two rooms.
The night passed peacefully.
...
The next day, the train slowly pulled into Onibus Station.
Erza, pulling a large cart of luggage, with Happy and Lucy, and Gray, walked towards the exit, enduring the curious stares of the people around the station.
She didn't notice that Natsu was currently looking distraught, panting heavily, trying to overcome his nausea and vomiting, lying on his seat.
"Will the Dark Guild, Iron Forest, still be in this town?"
"I don't know. We need to find them and stop them from using Lullaby. People from Dark Guilds never do anything good."
"But this is like looking for a needle in a haystack." Lucy sighed, and thinking about facing an entire Dark Guild made her even more afraid. In her thoughts, she couldn't help but think of Natsu, and her eyes scanned around, but she didn't see Natsu.
Her footsteps slowly stopped, and she looked surprised and uncertain: "Um, where's Natsu?"
"Eh, Natsu?" Erza seemed to remember, quickly stopped, turned, and wanted to rush into the train, but saw the train had already started, carrying Natsu far away.
"The train's gone!" Happy also chimed in, still waving and wishing Natsu a good journey.
"Damn it, it's all my fault. I was so busy talking. Natsu is so afraid of transportation. You can punch me hard." Erza clenched her fists in annoyance, deeply blaming herself.
"It's okay, haha!"
Natsu is on the train anyway, so he can't punch you.
To be continued~~~
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