Open for Business

The tavern has been open for some time now, and members all over the mainland are basically aware of the news.

Although the Fairy Tail sign was gone and the area above the gate was empty, the neighbors in Magnolia had long since tacitly agreed to the situation.

Every morning when the sunlight shines on the stone pavement, the wooden door of the tavern is already pushed open, and the aroma of freshly baked bread and ale wafts out.

Even those companions scattered in different places, even if they didn't return, would still send letters and local specialties to the small mailbox in the back alley one after another.

"It's a shame we can't display the guild emblem." Riyao slumped onto his personal sofa.

He sank into the thick, soft sofa, half a butter biscuit in his mouth.

"There's no other way, we have to lay low." Mirajane wiped the cup in her hands.

She carefully wiped the water stains from the bottom of the glass with a white cloth, then looked up at Riyao, her eyes crinkling into a gentle smile.

Lucy and her companions, dressed in maid outfits, were moving between the tables, carrying plates.

The hall was quite full of guests at the moment, including local drinkers and a few passing merchants.

Lucy wore a lace-trimmed headband, carried a heavy wooden tray in both hands, and ran back and forth between several tables in her little leather shoes, her nose covered in sweat.

With a blank expression on her face, Virgo held four large jugs of ale in her hands, but she didn't ask the guests for any punishment.

Aries twisted the hem of her apron with both hands, repeatedly apologizing as she handed the guests cutlery, her face as red as a ripe apple.

Mirajane looked at their attire and smiled with satisfaction.

This was the best solution she came up with after visiting Yajima's shop, Blue Pegasus, Mermaid Heel, and so on.

Seeing how excited she was, Riyao didn't stop her; after all, it was pleasing to the eye in itself.

He shifted into a more comfortable position, his eyes scanning the hallway. He thought to himself that his wife's taste was impeccable; at least she never felt bored sitting behind the bar daydreaming.

"How about switching to bunny girls next week?" Mirajane stroked her chin.

Her eyes sparkled.

Riyao thought for a moment, "The tavern's style is so off, Levy and Wendy are obviously not a good match!"

"Forget about bunny girls, the current classic maid outfit is just fine."

Riyao quickly waved his hand, his tone serious as he nipped the idea in the bud.

"Hey, I'm curious to see what Cana the Bunny Girl will look like, since she's been secretly drinking the guests' drinks."

Mirajane turned to look at Cana, who was secretly drinking.

Cana took the shaker, tilted her head back, took a sip, and let out a satisfied yawn.

"Oh, I'm just tasting it after I mix it, so I can adjust it if it doesn't turn out well."

Hearing the noise, she quickly wiped the foam from the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand, turned around, and winked at Mirajane with a grin.

"That had to be for the best, otherwise I'll really have to give you a good talking to." Mirajane flicked Cana's forehead.

Mirajane walked over with a smile and gently tapped Cana's forehead with her finger, making a crisp "tap" sound.

Seeing that Mirajane wasn't really angry, Cana finished the rest of her drink.

Talent scout Bora, who was like a human trafficker, scratched his head and asked somewhat uncertainly.

"Um, that should be the bar I booked."

Mirajane looked at Cana, who quickly mixed another drink and pushed it in front of Bora.

"It feels like letting a wolf into the house," Riyao sighed.

He shook his head helplessly at Cana's shameless attitude.

The tavern's heavy wooden door creaked open a crack, and the Demon Village from Demon Island poked half his body inside.

As soon as his signature sharp horns were revealed, his yellow beastly eyes swept behind the bar, meeting Mirajane's gentle smile.

The old village chief's legs trembled violently, his face instantly turning from blue to white, and the next second, he turned and walked out.

With a bang, the wooden door slammed against the doorframe as he pulled it shut.

Mirajane blinked.

She was still holding the glass in her hand, staring blankly at the swaying door panel.

Something seems to have appeared?

She looked at Riyao, who was laughing so hard he was doubled over, with some confusion.

Riyao was rolling around on the sofa laughing so hard he was rolling on the floor, clutching his stomach with both hands, tears welling up in his eyes. The sofa springs were creaking from his laughter.

What are you laughing at?

Mirajane walked back to the sofa, looked at him, and her cheeks puffed out slightly.

"The Demon Village from Demon Island just walked in and quickly left; he must have been frightened by you."

Riyao finally managed to stop laughing, pointed to the door, and his voice was still breathless.

"What do you mean by being scared by me? Am I that scary?"

Mirajane sat on Riyao's Riyao, leaning into his arms, wrapping her arms around Riyao neck, her fair face very close, her eyes filled with a dangerous scrutiny.

Riyao pulled Mirajane into a hug and pressed her against him.

"Now that demons see you, how can they not be afraid? You've absorbed all the demons in the entire Tartaros."

Mirajane was overjoyed at the thought of this; his strength had increased by leaps and bounds, he could suppress Riyao again, and his position in the family was secure.

She patted Riyao's head.

"Little Yaozi, you know who's the boss of the family from now on, right?"

Mirajane poked Riyao's nose with a finger, her tone full of pride.

"Haven't you always been it?"

"You two are really something else! Don't you see there are other people around? You two are so sickeningly sweet."

Cana looked at the two of them with disdain, rubbing goosebumps on her arms with both hands, and rolling her eyes.

Riyao and Mirajane exchanged a glance and laughed.

The two not only didn't let go, but hugged each other even tighter, completely ignoring Cana's protests.

Bang!

The tavern door was kicked open from the outside, the hinges creaking.

Mest led Lahar in.

Mest, dressed in a sharp Magic Council, her black coat billowing behind her as she stepped across the threshold, let out a loud shout.

"We received a report that you employed child labor!"

"Hey, you dare come back? What kind of lame excuse is that? You perverted lolicon! I'll electrocute you today!"

Riyao, who had been holding Mirajane, suddenly darkened upon hearing this.

As he spoke, he stood up, his right side transforming into a dragon claw, from which blue electricity surged.

Lahar quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

"Mest was just joking, don't worry about it. We were just passing through Magnolia and thought we'd drop by."

Lahar wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, placed the two boxes of souvenirs he had brought on the empty table next to him, and tried his best to prove that he had not come here to cause trouble.

"I'll put up a sign on the tavern door saying 'Mest Not Allowed' later."

The lightning in Riyao's palm flickered twice, then retracted into his body along the scales, and the dragon claw returned to the shape of a normal hand.

He glanced at Mest sideways and snorted coldly.

"I'm not a lolicon, I'm just showing concern as a senior!"

Mest gestured with both hands in front of her, the veins on her neck bulging, desperately trying to clear her name of the label that had been attached to her for years.

"Heh." Riyao rolled his eyes.

The sneer wasn't loud, but it carried unparalleled mockery and disdain.

"What do you mean?!" Mest was furious.

He pointed at Riyao, stamping his feet in frustration, looking like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

Lahar shook his head and went to the bar to order two glasses of juice.

He had expected this outcome, so he pulled out a chair, sat down, and quietly waited for Mirajane to serve him a drink.

Wendy looked at the two of them, torn between them.

The little girl stood in the middle of the table, holding an empty tray in both hands. She looked at Riyao and then at Mest, her mouth opening and closing, unsure whether to offer advice or not.

Carla stood on Riyao's shoulder, and the two, unusually, were of one mind, their eyes fixed on Mest.

Mest felt completely overwhelmed.

Stared at by a person and a cat with eyes that looked at him like he was a pest, he completely deflated, his knees buckled and he knelt on the ground, his hands supporting him on the floor, sinking into a dark Despair.

orz