Laugh When We Get Back

Riyao swiftly and decisively pressed Gray onto the operating table, before Gray could even react.

His hands and feet were firmly bound by leather straps, so tightly that he couldn't break free.

Gray struggled twice, but the straps didn't budge. He turned his head and glared at Riyao, veins bulging on his forehead.

"Hey! Isn't this wrong? Why are your hands and feet tied up?!"

As he spoke, Riyao picked up a notebook and a pen from the tool shelf, his tone as casual as if he were remarking on the nice weather.

"It feels more ceremonial this way, and it won't hurt."

Gray watched as Riyao circled around him, reaching out to touch him all over, occasionally jotting down notes in his notebook, and then marking him with the tip of his pen.

The way he was being assessed was like measuring a rough piece of jade waiting to be carved, and Gray's hair stood on end.

"You keep drawing like this, it makes me feel very insecure!"

Riyao already had a plan in mind.

I'm planning to give Gray a quick and temporary boost; if Gray can fully understand it, he might be able to master it permanently.

Moreover, this plan does not prevent Gray from obtaining the Devil Slayer Magic later on; perhaps the combination of the two will even have a surprising effect.

In this magical world of idealism, anything is possible.

As for why not give him demonic power, where can you find a demon that matches his attributes?

Riyao had memorized most of Gray's data. He closed the notebook, tossed it aside, pulled up a chair, sat down, crossed his legs, and tapped his chin with his finger.

"Gray, how are your learning abilities?"

Gray's tone was somewhat uncertain, and his eyes darted around.

"It should be... pretty good, right? I didn't need much time to learn the Ice-Make back then..."

Riyao stood up, turned around and walked to the tool shelf, turning his back to Gray as he rummaged through it.

"It's okay, I'll reinforce this for you in the most straightforward and direct way."

What are you looking for?

Riyao turned around, holding a gleaming scalpel in his hand.

Gray's eyes widened, his pupils contracted sharply, his face turned deathly pale, and his voice changed tone.

"Hey! You really were going to cut my kidneys, weren't you! I knew it!"

"Oh, I took the wrong one."

Riyao glanced down at the scalpel in his hand, then casually tossed it aside. The scalpel hummed and vibrated as it sat embedded in the table.

He rummaged around on the tool rack again and pulled out a carving knife, its tip gleaming with a faint, emerald-green light.

Gray screamed in terror, his voice cracking.

"Hey!! What's the difference?! Does changing the knife mean it's no longer kidney-cutting?!"

"This is a carving knife, completely different from a scalpel."

Riyao explained earnestly, his tone as sincere as if he were stating something perfectly natural.

"What's different? They're both knives!"

The group of people eating under the Parasol Tree heard shouts coming from the direction of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and looked up.

Juvia put down her chopsticks, clutching the hem of her clothes with both hands, her face full of worry.

"I hope Lord Gray is alright... He sounded like he was in so much pain."

Mirajane, with a piece of fish still in his mouth, waved his hand dismissively.

"Don't worry about it, Riyao knows what he's doing. Although he's usually a bit frivolous, he's very reliable when it comes to serious matters."

A scream came from the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

"Ah!!"

Juvia jumped to his feet, nearly tipping his chair over.

"Are you sure there's no problem?! That sound is clearly like someone being tortured!"

Mirajane paused in her chewing, her smile froze slightly, and she scratched her cheek.

"There shouldn't be any problems... maybe... most likely there won't be any issues."

Another ecstatic sound, indescribable as either pain or pleasure, emanated from the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

"Uh~"

Juvia's cheeks flushed instantly, and she covered her mouth with her hands, her voice muffled as she squeezed out through her fingers.

"Um, I'd like to ask, Lord Riyao loves Lord Mirajane very much, right?"

Lisanna burst out laughing, almost choking on the fish. She quickly patted her chest to catch her breath, then nodded earnestly.

"My brother-in-law loves my sister very much, don't worry, it's definitely not what you think."

Mirajane put down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth, and got up to walk towards the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

She went around to the side, touched the window, tiptoed, and quietly peeked inside.

At the same moment, Riyao also poked his head out from inside, and the two of them looked at each other through the window, their noses almost touching.

Riyao tilted his head, grinning with a roguish air.

"Hmm, whose little rascal is this, peeking at her husband while he's working?"

Mirajane blinked, her expression as calm as if she were strolling through a market, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"Fine, I won't let you see it then. I don't want to see it anyway."

She calmly straightened up and walked away, her steps unhurried, humming as she went. After a few steps, she suddenly turned back, made a face at the Riyao shining through the window, and stuck out her tongue.

Riyao made a face back, squeezing his features together, and then reached out to pull the curtains shut.

Carla shook her head and complained, patting her forehead with her little paws.

"Two childish brats."

Riyao drew the curtains, and the room darkened again, with only the faint green light from the tip of the carving knife remaining.

He returned to the operating table and continued tattooing Gray. The scalpel sliced across the skin, and the emerald green magical patterns spread with the blade, slowly seeping into the skin as if they were alive.

"Hehe, how about you fight Natsu tomorrow? Let's see how it goes."

Gray lay face down on the bed, his face pressed against the pillow, his voice muffled.

"Putting that aside, how much longer will it take? I've been lying here for over an hour."

"Artworks naturally take longer to create. Have you ever seen a master's work that was rushed out?"

There was a hint of pleading in Gray's voice.

"How about I put on my underwear first? I feel really insecure like this."

Riyao didn't even look up, continuing to carve with his knife.

"Hey, I just drew the curtains, no one's going to see anyway."

Gray's voice rose an octave.

"Is this about drawing the curtains? Hey! Can't you respect my feelings?!"

Riyao smiled, his tone suddenly softening, with a hint of barely perceptible seriousness.

"This is just to make up for a regret. We couldn't put the guild emblem on your big butt back then, so this is how we make up for it."

Gray hesitated for a moment, but didn't dare to struggle.

Riyao's carving knife never stopped; the green-glowing tip of the knife drew smoothly on Gray's back, the emerald green lines spreading from the shoulder blades down the spine.

The lines flowed so smoothly, like water painting on skin, each line precise to the millimeter, each turn perfectly placed, as if a masterpiece had been carved on Gray's back.

Riyao suddenly said something, his tone as casual as if he were talking about the weather.

"While I'm at it, I'll also help you correct your habit of taking off your clothes indiscriminately."

Gray was completely bewildered, his expression utterly blank.

"???"

Riyao smiled meaningfully.

You'll find out later.

Riyao was exceptionally serious, his brows furrowed slightly, his lips pressed into a line, and he stared intently at every inch of the pattern beneath the blade.

Each cut is infused with magic and life energy, and a vibrant green light flickers at the tip of the carving knife, pulsating rhythmically like breathing.

Sweat dripped from his forehead onto Gray's back, but he didn't even bother to wipe it away.

After a long period of inscription, although magic power and life energy continued to recover and did not decrease much, the mental energy was greatly depleted.

Riyao's temples throbbed, and his hand trembled slightly. He took a deep breath to steady himself and delivered the final blow.

"Phew, all done."

Riyao straightened up, stretched, and his bones cracked a series of sounds. He then tossed the carving knife onto the tool rack.

"Go find somewhere you can familiarize yourself with the area; don't try it out on my estate."

Gray groggily propped himself up; the straps had been untied. He rubbed his wrists, shook his head, and looked completely bewildered.

"Huh? I've already fallen asleep. How do I use it? You didn't teach me."

Riyao waved his hand dismissively, as if shooing away a fly.

"You'll understand how to use it when you need it. Go ahead and use it. Your body will remember; don't think about it, just use your intuition."

Gray got out of bed with some doubt, finally put his underwear back on, and regained that long-lost sense of security.

Riyao opened the door, he saw Mirajane standing there, arms crossed, leaning against the doorframe, as if she had been waiting for a while.

She was about to say something when her gaze inadvertently swept over Gray's back as he turned around.

Mirajane's eyes widened, her shoulders trembled slightly, and a smile spread from the corners of her mouth to her eyebrows. She was trying hard to hold back her laughter, but she was clearly about to burst out laughing.

Riyao, quick as lightning, covered Mirajane's mouth with one hand, grabbed her waist with the other, picked her up, and ran. He rushed towards the main building of the manor, shouting to Gray without looking back.

"Gray, you go first! Don't look back!"

Mirajane struggled twice in his arms, making indistinct sounds through her covered mouth, her shoulders shaking more and more violently, and tears of laughter welling up in her eyes.

Riyao looked down at her, unable to hold back any longer. His lips curled up wildly, and he lowered his voice.

Shh, go back and laugh.

Mirajane nodded vigorously, but her body was still trembling. The two stumbled into the main building, and the door slammed shut behind them.

"Ha ha..."