Postpartum Care for Sows

Arcadios's shoulders and back were taut like a fully drawn bow, his chest heaving so hard it looked like it was about to burst a bellows, and there were still some wood chips stuck to his forehead.

He took three deep breaths while looking at Riyao's retreating figure, barely managing to suppress the surging anger in his stomach.

"Your Excellency Riyao, could you please explain in detail what happened here?"

Riyao was putting on his shirt with his back to him, not even noticing that one button was wrong. He scratched his messy hair, waved casually, and spoke in a tone so perfunctory it was almost offensive.

"Sigh, it's just like this, like this and that."

The entire forest fell into a deathly silence.

The air felt heavy, like it was filled with lead, and the low pressure made it hard to breathe. A vein popped out on Arcadios's forehead, and he gritted his teeth, uttering each word with barely a whisper.

"Your Riyao, Sunrise! Please, speak well!"

Riyao, who had been making a perfunctory gesture, paused, finally belatedly sensing the frighteningly low tension beside him. He scratched the back of his head and chuckled awkwardly.

He quickly straightened his crooked collar, forced a serious expression, and cleared his throat.

"Okay, okay, I'll tell you. It's just that a bunch of punks were tricked by Nibu Longla, who kidnapped me and brought me here, intending to kill me to avenge his Nildo Longla. That's all."

He paused, then raised an eyebrow at Arcadios: "That group of punks is the Dark Guild, the Buried Love Family. Have you heard of them?"

Arcadios's face was as black as the bottom of a hot pot. He said in a deep voice, "Never heard of it. It must be a third-rate guild."

"That's right, just a bunch of small fry."

Riyao shrugged, speaking casually.

"That group of punks has been wiped out. Nibu Longla was using them as human bombs anyway. The poison gas here will probably dissipate by tomorrow, so there's no need to send anyone to clear it out."

Arcadios pressed down on the throbbing veins and nodded.

"Understood. What are Your Riyao's plans next?"

"Go home! Goodbye!"

Before the words even landed, Riyao vanished in a flash, as if his feet were coated with 500 pounds of lubricant, leaving only a swirling trail of fallen leaves on the ground.

Half the forest has been blown up. If they try to charge me for the damages, I'll be left with nothing but my underwear! I'm outta here, or I'll get ripped off!

The sound of the wind carrying the Riyao drifted from the distant forest path, along with the panting of those who had run out.

"Hey, dark-faced uncle! Remember to say hello to Hisui and Leo for me!"

Arcadios stared at the empty intersection, his knuckles cracking as he gripped the hilt of his sword, the veins on his forehead throbbing so hard they seemed about to pop out, and the oppressive atmosphere causing leaves to flutter down from the trees beside him.

The steam train spewed forth white steam repeatedly, and the Riyao returned to Magnolia.

Riyao sauntered to a stop at the guild's main entrance, hands on hips, deep in thought. He needed to make a scene when he returned to the guild—would kicking the door open be cool enough, or leaning against the doorframe, chin raised, and shouting?

He'd already lifted his leg halfway, but his pose wasn't even settled yet.

Bang!

A loud crash smashed half of the wooden door away, and a dark figure shot straight out with a whoosh!

Good heavens, before Riyao even kicked the door down, Gray!

Riyao reacted quickly, reaching out to catch him steadily in his arms. Gray, still dazed from the impact, rubbed his eyes and managed to utter a single "Thank you."

"Get out of here!"

With a flick of his wrist, Riyao tossed the person back into the doorway like a shot put, a swift and decisive move befitting the loving daily life of Fairy Tail!

"Thank... thank you, you bastard, Riyao!!" Gray's angry curses, mixed with dust, floated out.

Riyao scratched the back of his head and laughed nonchalantly, "Hey, don't be so polite, we're practically family!"

He pushed open the door and stepped inside. A wave of heat mixed with shouts of battle instantly hit his face. As expected of his own guild, the hall was indeed in the midst of another daily brawl.

The table was leaning against the corner, wine glasses were scattered all over the floor, and magical light was shooting everywhere, almost lifting the ceiling off the room.

Riyao leaned against the door frame, glanced around, and raised an eyebrow, instantly understanding. No wonder things had gotten so out of hand today; neither of the two big shots in charge were there.

With the president nowhere to be found and Erza, the new discipline committee member, also absent, there's no one to keep these crazy monkeys in check.

He cleared his throat, took a deep breath, and shouted, "Ahem~ The president is back!"

The once chaotic hall fell silent instantly. Everyone—those waving fists, raising glasses, dodging attacks—froze in their tracks, and all one hundred-plus people turned to stare at the door.

As a result, they saw Riyao leaning against the door frame with a foxtail grass in his mouth, grinning from ear to ear, with no sign of the president at all.

Macao, holding up the half of the guild sign that had been knocked askew, was still as enthusiastic as ever with his loud voice.

"Riyao! You're back, kid!"

Riyao pouted, "Sigh, don't even mention it, I almost didn't make it back."

"Damn you Riyao! You actually threw me in here!"

Gray emerged from the crowd, his hair covered in grime, his face flushed red, and roared so loudly that the whole building shook.

"I already told you not to thank me, no need to be so polite."

Riyao shrugged, looking completely nonchalant.

"You little rascal! You tricked us again!"

Wakaba squatted on the ground picking up his broken pipe, his cheeks puffed out in anger as he cursed indignantly.

"How can this be called a scam? I'm just raising your awareness of fraud prevention!"

Riyao stood with his hands on his hips, utterly self-righteous.

Levy, clutching her notebook, squeezed to the front, her eyes sparkling as she stared intently at the half-covered book cover peeking out from Riyao's arms, her gaze practically radiating light.

"Brother Riyao! What's that book you're holding?!"

Riyao smiled gently, touching the corner of the exposed magic book.

"Oh, this one, 'Postpartum Care of Sows'."

Guild members ㅍ_ㅍ

Cana raised an eyebrow and smiled slyly, rubbing her hands together as she said, "Silly Riyao, I heard you had a great time in the capital. Did you bring me any gifts?"

Riyao waved his hand, his confidence so strong it could shake the ceiling. "No!!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the group that had been bickering around Riyao suddenly swarmed him, grabbing his arms and pulling his collar, naturally dragging Riyao into the torrent of Fairy Tail's daily chaotic battles.

After only two rounds of fighting, a glance out of the corner of my eye landed on the doorway, and my movements froze abruptly.

He gestured towards the door with his chin, his tone as casual as if he were saying that the apple juice was good today.

"The president is here."

Gray, clutching an ice pop, was charging forward when he heard this. Without even stopping, veins bulged on his forehead, and his roar shook the entire building.

"Who would believe that! Don't think we haven't heard the story of the boy who cried wolf! You just fooled us, and you want to do it again?"

Well, it turns out the whole guild isn't buying his act. The chaotic brawl that had paused for half a second just moments before erupted into an even bigger commotion, with magic punches flying so loudly they nearly lifted the ceiling off the roof, and not a single person looked towards the door.

Without uttering a single word of explanation, Riyao shrugged and spread his hands, then slipped out of the fray as if he'd been greased, settling comfortably behind the bar, elbows propped on the counter, chin in hand, leisurely becoming a spectator, and even casually grabbing a glass of iced juice from Macao.