Mystogan, Laxus

"I don't want to be Ifrit's enemy." Lucy quickly shook her head. "But Mirajane... is that Miss Mirajane?"

I didn't know the other three. I'd already seen Erza's strength firsthand, but Mirajane...

She looked gentle and kind. Could she really be that powerful, perhaps even comparable to Erza?

"Well, well, that was all in the past." Mirajane smiled gently.

"Yeah, Miss Mirajane is very strong, but she really hasn't fought in years," Gray said.

"Why—" Lucy was about to speak when Ifrit placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked over in confusion and saw him put on his glasses, then gently shake his head.

Lucy was perceptive enough to immediately keep quiet.

"It's starting," Gray said.

"I'm heading back first," Ifrit said.

"Huh? You're not watching?" Lucy asked in confusion.

"Ha—" Ifrit yawned. "Watching what? It's already over."

"Over?"

Lucy looked toward the center of the room.

Natsu burst forth with heat and charged at Erza. They had only exchanged a few moves when a frog hopped out.

"That's enough! I am an envoy from the Magic Council!" said the humanoid frog.

Everyone looked on in surprise.

But Ifrit had already left.

It was just a performance.

Some time ago, the mages led by Erza had fought Eisenwald. Though they had done a good thing, the battle had damaged the station, and Natsu had burned down the tracks. That had all been pinned on the team leader as well.

The Magic Council was merely going through the motions, putting on a show for the public to demonstrate that it had control over the Light Guilds, while the Light Guilds cooperated to show that they accepted oversight.

After all, Light Guilds were not Dark Guilds. They had reputations to maintain.

It should have been a matter of going there one day and returning the next.

But because of Natsu's interference,

Erza and Natsu had ended up needing several extra days before they could return.

This was already the fastest possible outcome. Every procedure that could be skipped had been skipped.

Who could blame Fairy Tail for being so powerful?

The Magic Council had no real way to deal with that troublesome little fire dragon. Afraid that he might cause more forced demolitions, they hurriedly released him once the investigation was done and sent him off to wreak havoc somewhere else.

Everyone was happy that Natsu and the others had returned.

They gathered in the guild hall and drank.

"Ifrit, just stay by Mirajane's side!"

Watching everyone drink to their hearts' content, Makarov, seated atop the counter, spoke to Ifrit with unusual seriousness.

"Guild Master, I feel like you're worrying about something rather rude," Ifrit said helplessly.

Holding a glass of lightly alcoholic fruit wine, Lucy looked curiously at Ifrit standing behind the counter. "I don't think I've ever seen Ifrit drink."

"Forget drinking," Gray said. "He can't even touch the stuff."

"Why?"

"Because—" Gray was about to answer when a wave of drowsiness suddenly hit him.

Lucy and Happy, sitting before him, had already collapsed onto the table.

"Damn it." Gray tried to hold on, but he could not resist falling asleep.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Along with faint footsteps, most of the people in the guild hall collapsed.

Erza barely remained awake, but she was in a miserable state, kneeling on the ground with her head lowered as she fought the drowsiness with all her might.

Ifrit casually caught Mirajane, then slowly lowered her against the wall, leaving her seated there.

He and Guild Master Makarov felt somewhat sleepy as well, but it was not too difficult to overcome.

Mystogan, wrapped from head to toe in a black robe, had come to accept a job.

Ifrit smiled. "Today really is a special day. Two important figures have arrived at once."

Mystogan raised his head and glanced upstairs before turning to leave.

As he walked out of the guild,

everyone gradually woke up.

"What happened?" Lucy looked as though she had just fallen asleep and been rudely awakened.

"Mystogan came by. That was his Sleep Magic." Gray looked at Ifrit, who was completely alert, and could not help saying, "Sure enough, only this guy can resist Mystogan's magic."

Lucy looked at Erza, who had risen to her feet, then at Ifrit behind the counter. Her understanding of S-Class mages—and of Ifrit's strength—deepened further.

She then looked at Natsu, who was still sleeping soundly on the floor.

Natsu...

She could not help shaking her head. How could this guy sleep on the floor?

She walked over and helped him up.

She felt that her strength had grown considerably lately. Perhaps it was because she was constantly stopping a hot-tempered fire dragon. She was no longer the delicate young lady she once had been.

"By the way, why does he make us fall asleep whenever he comes here?" Lucy asked curiously.

"No idea. That guy doesn't want anyone seeing what he looks like. I guess only strong people who can resist Sleep Magic get to see his face."

Gray looked toward the counter. "Probably only the Guild Master and Ifrit know what he looks like."

"And me, Gray," a voice came from the second floor.

Everyone looked up at the second floor.

Only Ifrit lowered his head and took a sip of strawberry Sparkling Water. A rebellious blond young man had arrived.

"Laxus!"

"When did you get here?"

The guild members were confused.

"The awkward one is here," Gray sighed.

"Laxus!" Natsu woke up. "Fight me!"

"Forget it. You can't even beat Erza," Laxus mocked.

"What did you mean by that?!" Those words angered Erza, but she did not make a move. Laxus's arrogance was irritating, but that was no reason to attack a companion.

"Accept my challenge, Laxus!"

With that, Natsu jumped up and flew toward the second floor.

Boom!

The Guild Master's enlarged arm smashed Natsu back down.

"You're not S-Class. Don't go to the second floor," the Guild Master said with his eyes closed.

"Hahaha, Natsu, you should get to the second floor first!" Laxus laughed, covering his face.

Everyone in the guild was displeased. Was Laxus's rebellious phase not lasting a little too long?

"Or..." Laxus gradually stopped smiling. He looked at Ifrit and said, "Why don't you come up and give it a try?"

Ifrit calmly set down his cup.

"Laxus." Ifrit's voice came from behind Laxus.

Laxus's heart skipped a beat. Lightning covered his arm as he turned and threw a punch.

Boom!

A huge hole was blasted straight through the guild's second floor!

Laxus's expression turned serious.

Click.

A dark gun barrel pressed against Laxus's temple as Ifrit said flatly, "Don't move."

"Hey, old man, Ifrit isn't S-Class," Laxus said with a calm smile.

"Ifrit." The Guild Master opened his eyes.

"I didn't go to the second floor." Ifrit was sitting at a seat somewhere in the main hall, raising the cup in his hand toward the Guild Master.

Seeing this, the Guild Master closed his eyes again.

"Laxus, cherish this time. The current you is very boring." Ifrit stood and walked toward the guild entrance.

"Is that so?" Laxus grinned.

Rumble!

Thunder exploded within the guild hall, and everyone instinctively covered their ears!

Golden lightning struck Ifrit's shoulder at the very limit of what the eye could perceive!

Laxus appeared within the lightning, pride written across his face as he pressed his palm against Ifrit's shoulder.

"Ifrit!" everyone cried out.

Bang!

A gunshot rang out.

Laxus froze. The cord of his left earphone had been severed just above his shoulder.

Ifrit walked over from behind, patted Laxus's shoulder, and said earnestly, "Don't attack your companions, Laxus. Otherwise, before you can even put any plan into action, you'll be kicked out of the guild. That would be too ridiculous."

Laxus narrowed his eyes as he watched Ifrit walk out through the guild doors, but he did not attack again.

"Hmph."

Only after Ifrit left by car did Laxus snort coldly and transform into a streak of lightning, flying out of the guild so quickly that no one could catch sight of him.

The guild members let out a sigh of relief.