This Could Get Even More Embarrassing

"I'm so damn cool!"

Hidden in the shadows, Eleven was beside himself with excitement. He had suddenly realized how incredibly cool it sounded to talk like that. Even he thought what he'd said made no sense, but it felt great! What he said didn't matter; it was all about the delivery!

I even managed to make it feel like a glorious defeat. Could I be a genius?

Unlike the little drama playing out in Eleven's head, the room was silent. Everyone stared at the spot where he had disappeared, unable to find a word to say.

Then a thug quietly broke the silence. "Hey, is the boss dead, or did he run away?"

At that question, the thugs erupted into chatter.

"No idea. What was all that nonsense?"

"Hahaha, I'm dying! What was he doing at the end there? Hahaha..."

"Be serious, don't laugh... Pfft, hahaha! I can't help it either!"

"Hahaha, people die when they're killed! Isn't that obvious?"

"'I would gladly hail you as my queen'~ Ahhh, I can't take it, I'm dying of embarrassment!!"

Gradually, the thugs' voices grew louder and louder, until they were all roaring with laughter. They had completely forgotten that the only one among them who could fight had disappeared, and laughed without a care in the world!

Eleven: (#｀皿´)

Those bastards actually dared to laugh at my art. Unforgivable!

But just as Eleven was about to lose it, a sharp cry interrupted the thugs' laughter.

"All of you, shut up!"

Erza, who stood at the front, turned to face the thugs behind her. A tear was actually hanging from the corner of her eye.

"Don't you go too far! Elizabeth may have been my enemy, but I think he was an opponent worthy of respect!"

Erza's expression was solemn and serious, but her heart was full of emotion, moved by Eleven's last words...

Such sincere, beautiful words! He hadn't hesitated to praise even the opponent who defeated him. What a respectable person!

People die when they're killed! That's the true meaning of life!

I'm ashamed. How could I possibly deserve the title of queen?

Erza's inner monologue was no less elaborate than Eleven's, and even that icy passion of hers had been kindled a little.

"You can't understand his words at all, and yet you stand here laughing at him!" Erza raised her sword and pointed it at the laughing thugs, her voice full of anger. "He sacrificed himself to protect you, and this is how you repay him!"

The thugs were stunned by the scolding. They thought the girl must have taken the wrong medicine. What are you getting all choked up for? Wasn't his acting over the top enough?

At last, one of them couldn't take it anymore. He raised a hand to speak. "Um, I think..."

"Shut up! I don't need you to think!" Erza cut him off before he could finish.

Erza gripped her sword hilt with both hands, raised it beside her, and planted her feet in a firm horse stance, taking an opening attack posture. "Today, I inherit the flame! Here shall your sins come to an end! Slash!" she shouted.

She charged at the thugs like lightning.

Watching from the side, Eleven actually felt a little embarrassed!

When the thugs laughed at him, he could still feel angry and think they were stupid. But he hadn't expected Erza to acknowledge him like this. Seeing her so moved that she was in tears, Eleven actually had the urge to cover his face and roll around on the floor.

This is way too embarrassing! Please, stop praising me! Ahh~~ Don't copy the way I talk!

⁄(⁄⁄x⁄ω⁄x⁄⁄)⁄

So this girl could be this offbeat too?

As the sun set, Erza tied the thugs together with rope in a long line. Jack, the first to be defeated, wasn't dead. Several people in the line carried him out over their heads.

The large group marched out of the ruins of a building and headed for the town hall. Not one of them dared to pull anything; they were all on their best behavior.

Eleven had already made his escape. Erza had completed her mission, and he really couldn't stand the embarrassment. He had practically fled with his face covered.

Erza went to the mayor to report that the mission was complete. Though she had demolished a small building, the mayor was still very pleased and paid her the full reward.

"What did you say? There was another mage besides Jack?" the mayor asked in surprise as he listened to Erza's report.

"Yes. He said his name was Elizabeth. He was an opponent worthy of respect," Erza said calmly.

"I've never heard of him. Was he a helper Jack brought in?" the mayor muttered to himself, rubbing his chin.

Erza added softly, "Don't worry. He has already scattered with the wind."

"Scattered with the wind? What does that mean?" The mayor was baffled.

Erza didn't answer. Instead, she went over to the window, rested her hands on the sill, and gazed at the blue sky and white clouds. A breeze blew past, stirring a few strands of her scarlet hair.

"The wind is rather noisy today," Erza said calmly, gently smoothing her hair.

The mayor: (O_O)??? (confused question marks)

Meanwhile, Eleven sensed danger the moment he returned to the guild.

Cana stood beside Makarov with her hands on her hips. Makarov wore a smile that didn't reach his eyes, and a cross-shaped vein seemed to be bulging on his forehead.

"Uh..." Cold sweat poured down Eleven's face at the sight. Quick-witted as he was, he immediately realized that the clever lie he had told that morning had been exposed!

Damn it!

"Um, Cana, you actually broke our agreement..." Eleven decided to strike first, but he was clearly lacking confidence.

"Hehehe." Cana's eerie laugh was his only answer.

"Eleven, how do you think this old man should prove his innocence?" Makarov's sinister voice rang out.

"Uh..."

Boom!!

Fairy Tail's doors were smashed open once again, and a gray-haired boy came tumbling and scrambling out. An old man's furious roars followed him.

"Ah, old man, I won't ever do it again!!!" Eleven begged for mercy as he fled.

Gray was watching from the side, so excited that he had started taking off his clothes, as if he were the one beating Eleven up.

The farce continued all the way to the end of the street in Magnolia before it finally came to a close, bringing the residents plenty of joy and laughter.

The next day, Eleven unusually didn't go to the guild. Afraid of another beating, he stayed home at the orphanage all day. Only when Maria asked him to buy something that evening did he dare go out.

Carrying a shopping basket, Eleven carefully sensed his surroundings, terrified that Makarov might suddenly pop out and beat him up. He also chose a route that kept him as far from the guild as possible.

As he walked, he eventually came to a remote stretch of riverbank, where he spotted someone he hadn't expected to see.