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Having just finished a commission, Riyao carried a bulging canvas bag, so full it looked like he was carrying a ruffled orange cat.

The canvas strap tickled the back of his neck, and the Fire Poker bracelet on his wrist gleamed, swaying softly with each step.

Just as they turned a corner on a sun-baked cobblestone street in Magnolia, they bumped into Mirajane and his two companions huddled at the alley entrance.

"Oh, what a coincidence! Did you come to visit me?"

At the alley entrance, piles of rotten apples lay unsold. The wind swirled fallen leaves around them. Three people, wrapped in tattered cloaks with three layers of patches, their faces mostly obscured except for the dusty ends of their hair, huddled together like thieves.

As soon as Riyao poked his head out, his eyes met theirs. Both sides froze on the spot, staring at each other. Even the calico stray cat that had been licking its paws by the wall suddenly stopped meowing and tucked its tail tightly between its legs.

Riyao patted the canvas bag on his shoulder, trudged across the rough pebbles, and shook off two bits of grass stuck to the soles of his boots onto the ground. A sticky, dark magical energy mixed with a musty smell first entered his nose.

He tilted his head and circled halfway around the three of them, his fingertip lightly poking at the brim of Mirajane's cloak that had slipped down to her shoulder. A speck of dust clung to the corner of her eye peeking out from under the brim, and he raised an eyebrow with a sly grin.

Why aren't you saying anything? Are you just naturally quiet?

He glanced at the three figures huddled in their cloaks, knowing exactly what was going on.

I've been mooching meals there quite a bit this year. Last time I went, I sensed the strange magic of the church. I was even thinking of going to check it out after this quest was over.

It seems he has successfully awakened Take Over Magic, and successfully absorbed the demon, but he was still driven out and forced to wander by the unruly villagers.

Riyao straightened up, crossed his arms, shook his head, and spoke with a teasing smile.

"Did you come to me for help because you couldn't make ends meet?"

Lisanna, who had been clutching the hem of Elfman's cloak and huddled inside, suddenly let go and jumped up, the cloak's hood flying off in the wind from the alleyway.

She revealed her soft, round face, with a few specks of dust on her forehead. Her eyes suddenly lit up like stars. She tiptoed over and hugged Riyao's arm tightly, her cheek rubbing against the canvas strap on his arm with a rustling sound.

"Brother Riyao!"

Elfman clutched the hem of his cloak so tightly his knuckles turned white, his head almost buried inside, his voice barely audible.

"... Brother Riyao."

Mirajane quickly pulled the dark hand that was sticking out of her cloak into her arms, clutching her arm and letting out a cold snort.

She deliberately slumped her shoulders, putting on a cocky, rebellious bossy act, her mouth as hard as ice water.

"We didn't come here to seek refuge with you! We're planning to go sightseeing!"

"Oh, Mira, don't be so polite with me, come on, come on."

Before she could hide the hand, Riyao swiftly grabbed it. The moment his fingertips touched the skin, he felt a burning, black magic surge up between his fingers, creeping up his arm and up his shoulder.

He raised an eyebrow and lifted his arm, bringing the hand close to his eyes and squinting as he examined it closely. He even deliberately pinched the blackened fingertips lightly, the burning magic making his palm itch slightly.

"This means he's awakened Take Over Magic, he's received... a demon?"

Mirajane's eyes widened instantly, and he panicked so much that he didn't know what to do with his hands and feet. His hand gripping his cloak trembled, and he quickly and warily scanned the residents at the alley entrance.

Afraid that someone would notice her hands, she even pulled her cloak askew, revealing the faded collar of her worn-out uniform underneath, as if afraid of showing too much.

"Let go quickly, or I might accidentally hurt you."

Several residents who were shining shoes and selling bread at the alley entrance stopped what they were doing and looked over when they heard the commotion.

Mirajane tried desperately to pull her hand back but couldn't budge it. She could only glare fiercely at Riyao, her eyes red with anxiety, and her voice trembling slightly.

"What are you doing! Let go! My hand is cursed by a demon! Don't touch it!"

"It's a small problem, don't be afraid or shy. The residents of Magnolia are very accepting of it."

Riyao casually shook the hand he was holding, even deliberately rubbing his blackened fingertips with his fingertips, then turned and waved to the surrounding residents, grinning in a way that made him look like he wanted to punch someone.

He deliberately winked.

"Besides, those guys from the guild led us to see the Giant of Light last year, what's your half-demon hand compared to that?"

Lisanna released her grip on Riyao's arm, tilted her round little head, her eyes shining like they were filled with starlight, poked the canvas bag hanging on Riyao's shoulder with her chubby fingers, and blinked curiously as she asked.

"Brother Riyao, what is a Giant of Light?"

Riyao raised his hand and ruffled Lisanna's soft hair, making it all messy. He winked mischievously and deliberately dragged out his words, keeping her in suspense.

"I'll take you there when I have the chance; I guarantee you'll be amazed."

Mirajane was dragged towards the guild by Riyao's arm. Her body was as stiff as a frozen loaf of bread, and her feet couldn't keep up with Riyao's light steps. Her cloak was torn off in half, revealing the faded delinquent girl's uniform underneath.

She struggled desperately, stamping her feet in frustration, her canvas shoes screeching loudly against the stone pavement.

"No! What nonsense are you talking about! Why are you holding my hand like that?! Where are you taking us?! Let go! I'm going to call for help if you don't!"

Upon hearing this, Riyao raised an eyebrow, his smirk stretching almost to his ears, deliberately teasing her with a drawn-out tone.

"Call for help? No problem, I'll call for you."

He then shouted at the surrounding residents, deliberately pulling Mirajane closer to himself. His voice was so loud that even the brass wind chimes hanging at the guild entrance jingled and clanged, and could be heard throughout the entire street.

"In broad daylight, under the clear sky, I'm abducting teenagers! Come and save them!"

Mirajane, Lisanna, and Elfman froze on the spot, their faces showing the same expression: eyes wide open and mouths agape as if they could fit an entire baked apple.

I was completely stunned, I even forgot to breathe, and all I could think about was, "Am I doing this right?"

Mirajane's face instantly turned as red as a ripe tomato. She was so anxious that sweat beaded on her nose, and she looked like she was about to cry. She lowered her voice and yelled at Riyao, her previous arrogant tone completely gone.

"What are you doing! Let go of me!"

"Of course I'm holding a girl's hand. Her nails are a bit dark, though. I'll get a manicure sometime."

Elfman scratched the back of his head, standing there helplessly, his face even redder than Mirajane's. He didn't know what to do with his hands, which were clutching the hem of his cloak. He glanced at Mirajane, then at Riyao, and mumbled softly, "Riyao- ge..."

Lisanna quickly raised her chubby little hand, stood on tiptoe, and tried to explain to the residents who had gathered around, her voice soft and gentle.

"No! It's a misunderstanding!"

Emi, leaning against the door of a women's clothing store, held a freshly made lace apron in her hand, smiled and waved, her cheerful laughter ringing out like a bell.

"Is Riyao trying to emulate Chairman Makarov's child-abduction tactics? Haha."

The surrounding residents watched this scene, but clearly didn't think much of it. The bread vendor smiled and shook his head, while the shoeshine man continued polishing his shoes.

After all, Riyao was a well-known conscientious mage doctor in Magnolia. Whether it was a serious injury or an old lady's chronic leg pain that she had been suffering from for half her life, he could cure it quickly and cheaply. Who would care about his little prank?

In the eyes of the Magnolia residents, Fairy Tail mages are all troublemakers, except for Riyao.

He continued dragging Mirajane toward the guild, Mirajane's legs stiffened, her body leaned back, resisting with all her might, her mouth stubborn as hell.

"Didn't you say you were a weak and powerless healing mage? How come you're so strong?"

Riyao casually shook his clenched hand, his tone incredibly irritating.

"Oh, it's not to prevent medical disputes, it's just that I'm a bit stronger, don't worry about that."

"What do you mean by 'don't focus on the important points'?!"

Mirajane's face flushed even more with anger.

Lisanna's tense face relaxed instantly. She winked mischievously and whispered something in Riyao's ear.

"Riyao Bro and Mirajane Sister are having an affair."

"Lisanna!!" Mirajane instantly bristled, her face turning so red it looked like it could bleed.

Riyao joked, "Mira looks like a fluffy little cat."

Riyao raised his hand and kicked open the guild's solid wood door with a loud bang. The hinges creaked as he waved at Makarov, who was sitting on a bar stool at the bar, holding Mirajane's hand, and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Hey! Old man, see how much better I am than you? I brought back three at once!"

Makarov was squinting at the newspaper, a cigar dangling from his lips. Hearing the sound, he looked up, the cigar still in his mouth, a blank expression on his face.

"Huh?! What's that?"

Seeing three little ones wrapped in cloaks huddled around Riyao, he jumped down from the bar, his short legs moving swiftly, and squinted as he approached to examine them.

The noisy crowd in the guild all turned to look, curiously eyeing the three little guys huddled behind Riyao.

Natsu, with a bone in his mouth, shoved and jostled with Gray as they squeezed together. Cana had just finished shuffling the cards and casually placed them on the table, glancing this way. Levy adjusted her glasses and leaned closer to Cana, looking curiously at her.

With so many people staring at him, Mirajane instinctively tried to pull his hand away, his shoulders hunching up, and his eyes dimmed instantly, as if he had returned to the day he was driven out of the village by the villagers.