Lucy: Ifrit Is a Good Person

Magnolia Station.

Natsu and Gray were arguing.

Lucy and Happy sat on a bench, chatting.

"Pfft."

A carriage stopped in front of Lucy.

Ifrit stepped down from the carriage.

He was dressed in light colors today and wore a hat.

"Mr. Ifrit, your luggage." The driver carried down his suitcase.

"Thank you." Ifrit paid the fare and left a tip worth half the fare.

"Morning, Mr. Ifrit." Lucy greeted him listlessly.

"Good morning, Miss Lucy."

Ifrit sat beside Lucy and asked, "Why do you look so unhappy?"

"Ha..." Lucy let out a long sigh. "I'm not that strong to begin with, and Natsu and Gray are like this... I'm worried about what we'll do if we run into enemies."

"Don't worry." Ifrit smiled. "Natsu and Gray are both very reliable. And Erza can practically carry us to victory."

"What about you, Mr. Ifrit?" Lucy asked.

Although Ifrit was not as gentlemanly as he appeared, but rather somewhat nasty and fond of teasing people, Lucy felt that this only proved he was highly intelligent and rational.

He would be a dependable teammate. Miss Mirajane had said the same thing.

He was not as reckless as Natsu and Gray.

And besides...

Erza looked rather reckless too.

"I'm not good at direct combat. As a Celestial Spirit Mage, you're the same way, aren't you, Miss Lucy?"

Ifrit took out a card and said, "This is something that can save your life. When you encounter danger, spread your legs apart, hold this up high with your left hand, cover your face with your open right hand, then shout the incantation: 'I am a mage of Dark Flame. Ignorant one, be consumed utterly by the black flames!' Then, you'll be safe."

"Really? Something like a playing card can... Don't lie to me." Lucy was doubtful.

"I wouldn't lie to you. This isn't a trivial matter," Ifrit said seriously.

"Thank you!" Lucy gratefully accepted the card, then hesitantly asked, "Do I have to make those movements and say that?"

"Yes, you must. Remember exactly what I said. Don't leave out a single thing, or it might not work!" Ifrit said with a grave expression. "Why not try it now and see?"

"No!" Lucy hurriedly refused.

"Then make sure you remember it. This is a matter of life and death!"

"Mhm." Lucy nodded and silently recited the incantation in her heart.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

Erza arrived, dragging a huge cart of luggage behind her. Natsu and Gray immediately became best buddies with their arms around each other's shoulders.

"Lucy." Erza looked at Lucy and smiled. "I heard about it. You defeated a Mercenary Gorilla with one finger. Thank you for joining us. This mission will definitely go smoothly!"

"Huh?!" Lucy jumped in fright. Being looked at with such expectation and gratitude by Erza made her feel rather honored.

But defeating a gorilla with one finger was completely a rumor!

If she turned out to be extremely weak in battle, then would...

"Erza, don't put too much pressure on the newcomer," Ifrit said.

"Ifrit!" Lucy looked at Ifrit gratefully. He really was a reliable, good person!

"Ifrit." Erza frowned at him instead and said sternly, "You had better feel pressured. This matter is extremely troublesome!"

"I understand." Ifrit nodded without arguing.

Troublesome?

The leader of that organization could not even beat Natsu.

And there was even an idiot carrying Lullaby around to play it for the Guild Masters.

They really had never been beaten up by a Light Guild before.

He had come this time to travel and, incidentally, have some fun.

He looked at Lucy, who immediately returned a grateful look. He smiled gently.

Lucy...

She really was such an innocent and interesting girl.

"Ughhh..."

Natsu, who had been full of fighting spirit before departure and wanted to challenge Erza, was now lying across a seat with his head resting on Erza's lap, his face full of misery.

Ifrit leaned against the window and watched the scenery outside.

Erza was explaining what had happened.

On her way back after completing a mission, she had heard news about the Dark Guild Eisenwald.

They had found the Cursed Flute Lullaby and were planning some huge scheme.

Erza decided to lead everyone straight into Eisenwald!

"Lucy, you're producing a lot of soup," Happy said.

"That's sweat..." Lucy was trembling all over, terrified by Erza's plan.

Ifrit glanced at her.

Although Lucy was reliable when it counted, her timid everyday side was rather amusing too.

The group chatted idly until they arrived at Onibus Station.

After getting off, they waited until the train had departed.

Only then did Happy ask, "By the way, where's Natsu?"

"..."

"Natsu was left on the train!" Lucy shouted belatedly.

"It's all my fault. I knew he couldn't handle transportation!" Erza blamed herself deeply.

"There's no need to worry, right, Ifrit?" Gray looked at Ifrit. "You're not the careless type."

In some matters, Gray had no trust in Ifrit whatsoever, yet in other respects, he trusted him without reservation.

Ifrit smiled faintly, and his figure slowly vanished.

"Huh?" Lucy froze.

"Ifrit's magic won't affect anything beyond a certain range. He must be on the train," Gray reassured her.

"That guy Ifrit, why didn't he remind us?!" Erza said angrily.

"With him looking after Natsu, there shouldn't be anything to worry about." Lucy relaxed.

Elsewhere.

On the train.

Bang!

Kageyama, a Dark Mage of Eisenwald, stomped on Natsu's face and smugly said, "Don't get so full of yourselves just because you're a legal guild, little fairy."

Those words ignited Natsu's fury.

But just as he was about to cause a scene, his magic dispersed because the train was still moving, and he lost all ability to fight.

Kageyama mercilessly beat Natsu while he was down.

Not far away.

Ifrit sat calmly and did not intervene.

Natsu had thick skin and tough flesh. He was no delicate flower raised in a greenhouse. Attacks of this level were not merely like scratching an itch—they were practically a bath scrub.

Just then, the train suddenly stopped.

The unexpected change sent Kageyama pitching forward uncontrollably.

The ugly flute rolled onto the floor as a result.

Only then did Ifrit walk over, pick it up, and place a fake flute he had casually made the previous night on the ground.

Kageyama did not notice any of this. In his panic, he picked up the fake Lullaby.

"You bastard, you actually dared hit me!"

Natsu revived on the spot, flames gathering in both hands as he prepared to unleash a powerful blow.

"Enough. Don't destroy the carriage. You should save some money. You're not getting any younger—how will you chase girls in the future if you have no money?"

Ifrit knocked Natsu on the head, then remembered that Lucy was a little rich girl who had practically thrown herself at Natsu. Natsu had someone to spoil him. It was not like that for Ifrit!

Thinking of that, he suddenly regretted not hitting him harder!

"Ifrit, why are you on the train? When I was getting beaten up just now, were you watching the show?!" Natsu redirected his anger at Ifrit.

"Yes. I saw that pathetic look of yours, Natsu." Ifrit's voice came from behind Kageyama.

"When did—?" Kageyama was startled. Just as he tried to turn around, Ifrit had already kicked him to the ground.