The Tavern Is Complete

"It's finally finished." Riyao stood in front of the tavern.

After a full month, a wooden building was rebuilt on the ruins that had been destroyed by Cana's misplaced card.

In order to perfectly replicate the appearance of the Fairy Tail tavern, Riyao and his team meticulously examined every detail.

From the old, curved wooden signboard on the roof to the jingling brass bell when the door is opened... everything has been restored exactly as it was.

Present Riyao and the others stood in front of the tavern, a strange and complex emotion welled up within them.

Looking at this familiar little tavern, it wasn't as grand and spacious as the later-rebuilt guild, but it exuded a familiar warmth.

This place used to be always bustling with activity. Natsu and Gray would fight, Cana would stand on the table and drink heavily, and old man Makarov would sit behind the bar, sipping his drink with a smile.

But now, looking at the empty tavern, I can't help but feel a sense of loneliness, as if all my friends have gone on distant journeys.

The once lively family is now reduced to just a few of them remaining in town.

"Come on in. I even put a luxury sofa behind the bar; I bought it at a high price," Riyao said with some pride.

He swaggered forward half a step, put his hands in his pockets, and held his chin high.

"I didn't expect Riyao to be so thoughtful, even putting out a sofa for us to sit on." Lucy clapped her hands, her expression delighted.

She clapped her hands together, thinking that she was exhausted from helping to move wood and do odd jobs for the past month, and that she should quickly grab a spot to lie down and rest.

"Dream on! That's my and Mira's private sofa. You guys go sit outside."

After saying that, Riyao pulled Mirajane inside.

He didn't even bother to glance at Lucy, pushed open the door, and grabbed Mirajane's little hand to pull her inside.

A few dark lines appeared on Lucy's forehead.

Her outstretched hand, ready to clap, froze in place, and the corner of her mouth twitched violently twice.

That blond jerk never misses an opportunity to show off his love or pour cold water on things. I just thought he'd learned to be considerate.

He really is a cunning and ruthless scoundrel.

Lucy rolled her eyes inwardly and followed behind, grumbling as she entered through the door.

The others weren't particularly surprised, and the group went into the tavern.

Everyone was already used to Riyao's tendency to prioritize romance over friendship.

The moment I pushed open the door, a faint fragrance of freshly polished wood wafted out.

The tables and chairs in the center of the hall were arranged neatly, and the consignment board next to the bar was now only used to display the menu.

"It's exactly the same as before! This is where I used to read. It's so nice."

Levy happily sat down in her usual spot, leaned on the table, and took a good look around.

She ran her fingers gently along the smooth edge of the table, pressed her cheek against the wood, and squinted her eyes contentedly.

In the past, whenever there was a fight or something going on in the guild, she liked to curl up in the leftmost corner by the window and read a book. Now that she's sitting here again, it feels exactly the same as she remembers.

Lisanna scurried up the wooden stairs to the second floor, grabbed the wooden railing with both hands, leaned half her body out, and waved to everyone below with a grin.

"So this is what it's like to be S-Class Mage? It doesn't seem that special, but it feels so fun to stand here. I'm S-Class Mage! Oh hahaha."

Back when I was in the guild, the second floor was a place only S-Class Mages could go up to.

The second floor was now empty. Looking down at Riyao and Lucy below, she couldn't help but put her hands on her hips, tilt her head back, and let out a strange laugh.

Wendy and Carla looked around.

Wendy, holding Carla's little hand, strolled slowly between rows of long tables, looking left and right with boundless curiosity.

They had no recollection of the tavern, having only visited it a few times before.

Back then, they were still at the Cait Shelter. By the time they joined Fairy Tail, the guild had already been rebuilt into a magnificent building, so they didn't have much of a memory of that earliest old tavern.

"It's not as big here, but it feels so warm. Does Carla feel the same way?" Wendy cupped her face in her hands, looking very happy.

"That's just an illusion," Carla, wagging her tail.

The white cat held its chin high with haughtiness, its long little tail swaying lightly, clearly not disliking its cozy little home.

Cana slipped behind the bar and searched everywhere, but couldn't find the drink she was longing for.

As soon as she entered, her goal was crystal clear; she darted behind the bar.

She slammed the wooden cabinet doors shut and pulled out each drawer, but apart from neatly arranged glasses, she didn't find a single drop of wine.

"Where's the wine?! There's no wine in the tavern, isn't that a scam?"

Cana slammed her hand on the wooden bar counter, her eyebrows standing on end in anger.

What kind of tavern is it if it doesn't have alcohol? That's the biggest insult to her!

Riyao pressed his hands against Cana's head and rubbed it vigorously.

"You should go find that stinky old man. Don't stay in the tavern. I'm afraid you'll drink all the drinks I don't sell."

Everyone knows how much alcohol Cana can drink. If she were a bartender, the speed at which she could drink alcohol wouldn't even keep up with the speed at which she could drink it all.

Let go, you bastard!

With a muffled thud, Cana's fist slammed solidly into Riyao's chest.

Riyao didn't even blink, but Cana's own hand was slightly numb from the shock.

Seeing that a direct confrontation wouldn't work, Cana opened her mouth wide and lunged to bite Riyao's hand.

Riyao was prepared and pressed a finger against Cana's forehead. She stretched her neck forward desperately, biting the air with her mouth open.

"Can't bite it, can't bite it."

Riyao raised his eyebrows, a smug smile on his face, and held his fingers firmly in place, preventing Cana from advancing even an inch no matter how much she struggled.

"If I can't bite him, then... Mira! He's bullying me."

Cana's eyes darted around, and she let out a drawn-out "Aww!" before twisting her body and slipping past like an eel.

She threw herself into Mirajane's arms, nuzzling her head against him and even using her squeaky ears.

"Mira ~ Look at him! Not only did he not give me any wine, he also pinched my cheek!"

Cana buried her face in Mirajane's arms, hugging Mirajane tightly around the waist, her voice soft and delicate as she spoke, rubbing her head against Mirajane.

Riyao instantly bristled and tried to pull Cana away, but she held on tightly and wouldn't let go.

"Cana, you little brat! Let go!"

Seeing that his exclusive embrace had been taken advantage of, Riyao's face instantly darkened.

He strode forward, grabbed Cana's shoulders with both hands, and pulled her away with all his might.

At this moment, Cana was like a piece of chewing gum stuck to Mirajane, refusing to let go no matter what.

"Hey, whatever, what can you do about it? Hehehe." Cana was still provoking her.

Cana peeked half her head out from Mirajane's arms, stuck out her tongue at Riyao, and looked very smug.

"Hahaha... No! Stop! Hahaha!" Cana was ticklish the most, and when Riyao pinched her soft waist precisely, she laughed until she was completely exhausted.

Taking advantage of the situation, Riyao grabbed her by the back of her collar and tossed her three steps away like a kitten, then pulled Mirajane tightly into his arms.

"You actually coveted my Mira? I'll call that bastard uncle back to pick you up later."

Riyao, with his arm around Mirajane, glared down at Cana and threatened her in a nasty tone.

"No way! I don't want to starve for three days straight and go without showering for days on end. I want to apply for a bartender job, as long as food, drinks, and accommodation are included, Brother Riyao ~"

Cana rubbed her stiff cheeks from smiling and stubbornly shook Riyao's hand.

Compared to his father, who spends most of his time wandering the streets, staying here as a bartender is clearly a much better deal.

"Is there something strange in your conditions? Also, try to tone down that 'mixed-up' sound."

Riyao grabbed Cana's face, not giving her a chance to make a sound.

He pinched Cana's cheeks with two fingers, making Cana face look like a pouty goldfish.

Cana's big eyes widened, and she made muffled protesting noises.

Mirajane patted Riyao's hand.

"Alright, stop teasing Cana, let me arrange the work."

Mirajane took out a notebook and began assigning tasks to Cana and the others.

She produced an account book and a quill pen from somewhere, sat down at the bar, and began assigning tasks with a serious expression.

"Why do I have to summon Virgo and Aries to be my maids every day?"

When Lucy heard Mirajane's job assignment for her, she felt as if she had been struck by lightning.

It's one thing for the mascot to serve tea and water, but she also has to act as a summoning intermediary, dragging her own Celestial Spirits over to do the hard work!

The thought of Virgo asking "Are you going to punish me?" every time she came out, Aries always saying "I'm sorry" made her scalp tingle.

"Impressive that you can say such a long sentence in one breath."

Riyao gave a perfunctory compliment.

"Just a little practice on your magic skills, and I'll give you a bit more pay."

"Points? If I calculate it this way, there are three people! I want triple pay!" Lucy slammed her hand on the table.

"If you don't do it, plenty of others will." Riyao smirked.

He shoved his hands into his pockets, glanced at her sideways, and casually uttered that incredibly lethal line, his eyes clearly saying, "Take it or leave it."

"What a vicious face!" Lucy gritted her teeth in anger.