Fairy Tail: Vector Manipulation

The moment Natsu and Gray saw that Chen Fan was safe and sound, they both relaxed and shouted at him, "Where the hell did you run off to? We've been looking everywhere for you." Though their tone was harsh, Chen Fan could still feel their concern.

"It was nothing. I just got washed ashore over there." Chen Fan waved it off indifferently.

"I promised Grandpa that I'd bring you back safely!" Gray snapped, furious at Chen Fan's nonchalant attitude.

"Well, as long as Chen Fan is okay, that's what matters." Seeing Gray this angry for the first time, Lucy hurriedly tried to smooth things over.

Seeing how angry Gray and Natsu were made Chen Fan a little happy. After all these years, he had always treated them like his own younger brothers. They had been the first two people he had met after joining this guild.

He stepped forward, patted them on the shoulders, and said with a smile, "Aren't I fine? All right, don't underestimate me so much. If nothing else, I can protect myself. You just didn't know that. Come on, we still have a job waiting for us."

"You're still thinking about the job?" Gray said.

"Wouldn't you feel unwilling to let Natsu and the others reach the second floor first?" Chen Fan said to Gray seriously. Then he turned away, leaving Gray deep in thought.

At the mention of the job, Natsu immediately perked up and jumped around excitedly. "Since Chen Fan's fine, then forget about it! Let's go exploring! Exploring!"

"Aye...!"

"Going by the details of the request, that's exactly what you shouldn't do," Lucy remarked from the side.

Lucy then took out a map and said to Natsu and Chen Fan, "There seems to be a village on this island. The Village Chief is the client for this job, so let's head there first." With that, she put the map away.

Just then, a voice called out. It was Gray. "Wait."

Natsu glanced back at Gray. "What is it? The ship's broken too, so you can't take us back anyway."

"No, I'm coming too. Chen Fan's right. It really would be embarrassing to let you guys get to the second floor first. If you got kicked out, I'd be a lot lonelier. If we complete this job brilliantly, Grandpa shouldn't have anything to say, right?"

Hearing Gray say that, Lucy and Natsu both smiled. Gray smiled as well.

"Then let's go! Oh!"

"Let's go!"

"Aye...!"

With that, they ran ahead. Chen Fan followed behind at a leisurely pace. Listening to Natsu and the others' cheerful voices, he looked up at the azure sky and smiled knowingly. At the same time, his resolve to protect those smiles grew even firmer.

Lowering his head, he suddenly realized that Natsu and the others had already gone far ahead. He waved and shouted after them, "Wait for me!" Then he hurried after them.

"Come catch us!"

"Hurry up!"

"Haha..." Natsu and Lucy called out to Chen Fan as they ran even faster, leaving laughter in their wake.

Village Matters

Night fell quietly. Chen Fan and the others stood before a massive fence, where a sheet of paper had been posted.

"'No entry,'" Gray read from the notice.

"So what's with this 'no entry' stuff?" Natsu grumbled.

Seeing this, Lucy stepped forward and shouted, "Excuse me, could you open the gate?" But no one answered.

Crack. Natsu clenched his fists, a cruel smile curling at his lips. "Should we destroy it?"