Six S-Class Mages!

With a weight lifted from her heart, Lucy's curiosity began to stir again.

She looked at the large, human-shaped crater that Makarov had just created with his slap, then glanced at the staircase leading to the second floor of the guild hall, and couldn't help but ask, "By the way, why didn't the guild master let Natsu go up to the second floor? Is there anything special about the second floor?"

The moment this question was raised, the atmosphere, which had just eased, seemed to become somewhat delicate again.

Natsu stopped his playful fight with Gray, a hint of resentment flashing in his eyes.

Some of the more senior members around also wore complicated expressions.

"Oh, this..."

Jiang Bai took a sip of water, glanced at the eager Natsu, and said in a matter-of-fact tone, "Because the second floor is too early for a newbie like you."

"The quest board on the second floor is full of extremely difficult quests that only S-Class Mages can accept."

"S-Class Mission?" Lucy's eyes sparkled with curiosity.

That's right.

A gentle voice came from the side. Mirajane had walked over at some point. Her smile was still sweet, but her words carried a hint of undeniable seriousness.

"Each of those missions was fraught with extreme danger; even the slightest mistake could cost you your life."

"Therefore, in order to protect everyone, the guild stipulates that only S-Class Mages who have passed the assessment, been recognized by the guild leader, and possess the most outstanding strength are qualified to go up."

"To risk my life..." Lucy felt her heart skip a beat.

She had thought that going with Natsu and the others to thwart the "Eisenwald's" conspiracy was already a very dangerous mission, but she never expected that such a mission would be so dangerous that she couldn't even reach the threshold to the second floor.

"Speaking of which,"

Jiang Bai stroked his chin, as if mentioning it casually.

"Including that elusive Mystogan from earlier, it seems like there are only six people in our guild who can openly go up to the second floor to accept quests."

"Huh! Are there really six?"

Lucy's gossip-loving spirit was instantly ignited, and she started counting on her fingers...

"Let me see... Jiang Bai, you're definitely one, and there's Erza, that terrifying Laxus from just now, and that Mystogan who used Sleep Magic... that makes four."

"And Gildarts, although that old man rarely returns to the guild, he's still one of the strongest," Jiang Bai added.

"Gildarts?" Lucy tried to recall the name, but couldn't.

"Then... we're still missing one!"

Lucy pressed on,

"Who was the last one? I can't think of anyone else!"

Jiang Bai looked at her curious expression and suddenly revealed a mischievous smile.

He pointed to the gentle figure beside them, who was smiling and watching them.

"And there's one more, you'll never guess."

It's Mira!

"Eh?!"

Lucy's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, and she let out a scream louder than ever before, staring at Mirajane in disbelief.

"Mira... is also S-Class?!"

Her voice was distorted with shock, and everyone in the guild turned to look at her.

But this time, no one laughed at her overreacting, because almost all the new members reacted exactly the same way as Lucy when they first learned the truth, or even more so.

Lucy's gaze swept back and forth between Mirajane's slender, seemingly fragile waist and her gentle, sweet, and harmless smile.

Delicate, quiet, gentle, considerate...

She could think of countless words to describe Mirajane before her, but none of them could be associated with words like "powerful," "dangerous," or "S-Class Mage," which were full of power.

The contrast is too great!

She couldn't even imagine what this soft-spoken older sister would be like when she went alone to complete those S-Class Missions that "might cost her her life."

"Mira is amazing!"

After the initial shock, Lucy's eyes filled with admiration.

She felt that this guild was a treasure trove; even the seemingly unremarkable signboard girl was actually a legendary S-Class powerhouse!

"Then... then why is Mira now retired and working as the guild's mascot?"

Lucy asked the question that had been nagging at her.

Mirajane's smile froze for a moment.

A faint, almost imperceptible pain and sorrow flashed across the depths of her eyes, so fleeting that one might mistake it for an illusion.

But Jiang Bai noticed it.

That's because... a lot of things happened.

Mira quickly regained her gentle smile, softly patted Lucy's head, and said in a relaxed tone,

"However, I'm now serving everyone in the guild, and seeing everyone happy every day makes me very happy too."

The gentler her smile, the more Jiang Bai felt a tightness in his chest.

He knew about Mira's past.

She was once known as "Demon Mirajane," with a fiery personality and great strength. She and Erza were the two most dazzling rising stars in the guild.

But all of that changed completely during a mission when he believed his sister Lisanna had "died."

Even though she said Lisanna was not dead, it became a wound that could never be erased from her heart, making her fear her own power and causing her to retreat to the sidelines.

Originally, because of Laxus's interference, Jiang Bai was too lazy to look for any more missions.

Seeing Mira's forced smile now, any desire he had to go out and stretch his muscles vanished completely.

Jiang Bai walked to the bar and plopped down on it.

"Mira, give me a glass of ale, iced."

"Okay, Xiao Bai."

Mira smiled and agreed, then turned to get busy.

Jiang Bai spent the entire afternoon hanging out in the guild.

He didn't go to cultivate; he just sat quietly at the bar, chatting idly with Mira.

He would occasionally tell a joke, making Mira laugh continuously and creating a particularly warm atmosphere around the bar.

Time slipped by unnoticed, and soon it was getting late.

The guild members went home in twos and threes, and the noisy hall gradually became quiet.

Jiang Bai also stood up, stretched, and prepared to go back.

However, as he stepped out of the guild gates and looked at the streets bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, and then thought of his empty house, a sudden sense of loneliness overwhelmed him.

Just two days ago, Erza and I experienced the ultimate tenderness and intimacy.

The feeling of two people embracing tightly, falling asleep to the sound of each other's breath and heartbeats, and waking up to see each other the next day is addictive.

Those who have tasted delicacies are now forced to go back alone and eat dry, hard bread.

This withdrawal reaction is the most unpleasant.

Jiang Bai sighed and resignedly walked towards home.

However, before he had taken more than a few steps, a familiar voice, tinged with urgency, suddenly rang out from behind him.

"Little... Xiao Bai! Wait a minute!"

Jiang Bai turned around and saw Mirajane jogging after him.

She ran up to him, slightly out of breath, her beautiful cheeks flushed with a lovely blush from running, making her look especially radiant in the sunset.

Her eyes darted away, avoiding Jiang Bai's gaze, her hands nervously clutching the edges of her apron.

"What's wrong, Mira? Is something the matter?" Jiang Bai asked, somewhat puzzled.

Mira took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind, and suddenly raised her head.

Her beautiful eyes reflected the glow of the sunset, and also Jiang Bai's figure.

"Xiao Bai..."

Her voice was soft, carrying a hint of barely perceptible shyness and nervousness.

"Tomorrow... tomorrow morning at eight o'clock, could you... could you wait for me under that big tree at the park entrance?"

After she finished speaking, she seemed to have used up all her strength, her cheeks turning so red they looked like they were about to bleed.

"See you there!!"

Before Jiang Bai could answer, Mirajane dropped those words, then abruptly turned around and ran away like a startled fawn, leaving behind only a hurried yet beautiful silhouette.

Jiang Bai stood there blankly, staring in the direction Mira had disappeared, his mind completely blank.

This... this is...

A date invitation?

Has happiness come a little too fast?!

An indescribable ecstasy, like a volcanic eruption, exploded in his chest!

The sense of loss and melancholy that I felt from being alone was instantly washed away!

"Smack!"

Jiang Bai raised his hand and slapped himself hard, the sound ringing out.

Ouch... that hurts!

It's not a dream!

This is true!

Mira asked me out!

Jiang Bai's heart was instantly filled with immense excitement and exhilaration.

He couldn't help but clench his fist, wave it forcefully at the air, and a silly grin spread across his face.

For tomorrow!

For the perfect date with Mira!

Make sure to get a good rest tonight and recharge your energy!

Hmm, I'll go back and take a nice, fragrant bath first!

Jiang Bai's mood was like riding a roller coaster, soaring from the bottom of the valley to the top of the clouds in an instant.

He hummed an off-key tune, his steps so light they seemed to float, and strode towards home.

The moon tonight seems much rounder and brighter than usual.