Journey to Paradise Inn

Back to Magnolia.

As was his habit, Ifrit first returned to the guild to say hello, then planned to settle down and work on Till 7.0.

"Ah, Ifrit, you came back at just the right time!"

The moment he arrived at the guild, Natsu slung an arm around his neck.

"What is it?" Ifrit asked curiously.

"That Loke guy gave us some tickets to Paradise Inn! It's a super high-class hotel, so let's all go together!" Natsu said excitedly.

"Loke? He's suddenly being so generous?" Ifrit asked in surprise.

"Ah, I'm planning to return to the Celestial Spirit World, so I prepared gifts for everyone." Loke said, "Ifrit, though, your gift is separate. You've taken care of me a lot over the years."

"Oh?" Ifrit tilted his head slightly.

Loke took out a paper box and said, "Open it."

"..." Ifrit accepted it. Seeing Natsu and Happy staring at it with curious faces, he said, "Natsu, why don't you open it?"

"Huh? That wouldn't be right, would it? Loke gave it to you," Natsu said.

"It's fine. It's mine, but you can still open it." Ifrit smiled.

"Alright!"

"Aye!"

Natsu and Happy happily held the box and opened it.

Pfft.

A burst of red gas erupted, spraying directly into Natsu and Happy's faces.

"What was that? It's just alcohol." Natsu scratched his head.

"Ahahaha, what a shame." Loke looked deeply regretful. "Ifrit actually didn't fall for it."

"By the way, Loke, you prepared wine, didn't you? Beer would be one thing, but if Ifrit got drunk on wine, things would get really troublesome," Gray said.

"Huh? Is there a difference?" Lucy asked in confusion. "Isn't it all alcohol? Doesn't Ifrit collapse the moment he touches—uh."

Halfway through her sentence, Lucy suddenly saw Ifrit smiling at her and hurriedly shut her mouth.

"Well, he doesn't always pass out. That's just one possibility. If it's wine..." Gray thought for a moment, then said, "Lucy would be in troub—"

"Gray." Ifrit's low voice cut him off. "I have repeatedly emphasized that I do not drink because of my father's instructions. That does not mean I cannot drink. Do not think that just because you have knocked me out with sleeping pills a few times, added potions to induce me, or successfully played pranks on me with Mystogan's hypnosis magic, you can spread rumors however you please!"

"You really are stubborn about this," Erza said, rubbing her forehead helplessly.

"It's like how Ifrit never catches any fish, but says it's because—" Happy said.

Natsu continued, "Cold winters put fish to sleep. Winter is too cold, so the fish hibernate."

Gray continued, "Hot summers sink fish down. Summer is too hot, so the fish stay at the bottom."

"..." Ifrit adjusted his glasses.

"Hey, hey, you should all just stop talking! Ifrit, don't take it to heart!" Lucy said, her face turning pale with fright.

"I'm not scared of you, Ifrit! If you want to fight, bring it on!" Natsu said, rolling up his sleeves.

"That's right, I'm not scared either!" Gray said with a serious expression.

"Why would I fight? I'm a peace-loving person." Ifrit smiled.

"Enough." Erza ended the topic at the right moment. "Anyway, we can talk on the way. There are just enough tickets, so Ifrit, if you have nothing to do, come have fun with us."

"Alright." Ifrit nodded, then added, "But let me unload first."

As he spoke, he took out a card and tossed it onto an empty patch of ground.

Rumble...

Goods of all shapes and sizes suddenly appeared, piled up there.

"What are these?"

Everyone looked over curiously.

"Little gifts I bought for everyone. They all have names on them," Ifrit said.

"Thanks, Ifrit," everyone said gratefully.

"Alright, let's go," Erza said.

"Let's go!" Natsu excitedly grabbed Lucy and started jogging.

"Wait, slow down, Natsu," Lucy said helplessly as she quickened her pace to match his.

"Lucy's stamina is getting better and better," Ifrit could not help remarking.

"Will Lucy become a muscle woman?" Happy asked excitedly.

"I won't!!!" Lucy shouted from afar.

Everyone boarded the train.

Natsu instantly collapsed.

Ifrit sat by the window, Gray in the middle, while Erza sat on the other side with Happy in her arms.

As usual, Natsu sprawled across the seat with his face pressed against Lucy's thigh, then closed his eyes with a pained expression.

"By the way..." Happy looked at Ifrit and asked, "Can't you use magic to trick Natsu into not getting motion sickness?"

"Ah..." Ifrit shook his head. "I can't."

This was a flaw inherent to Dragon Slayer Magic. Unless they fixed it themselves, Ifrit could deceive the five senses, but he could not deceive the essence of magic.

No magic was perfect. That was why wizards existed—people who studied magic.

"By the way, what have you all been doing lately?" Ifrit asked curiously.

With him starting the conversation, Happy eagerly began recounting what had happened recently.

First, Lucy had gone home because she wanted to tell her father not to interfere in her affairs anymore. Fairy Tail was her family too.

Natsu and the others had worried about her, so they went along with her.

Then there was Loke's true identity. He was actually a Celestial Spirit—Leo the Lion.

Unable to bear his previous master's abuse of the Celestial Spirits, he had disobeyed her summons, which led to her death. As a result, he was banished.

It was not until Lucy acknowledged him recently and he became her Celestial Spirit that he was able to return to the Celestial Spirit World.

After hearing everything, Ifrit glanced at Natsu, who was lying on Lucy's lap. Lucy was rubbing his head, seemingly trying to ease his symptoms, though that was naturally useless.

Ifrit smiled and asked, "So, did Natsu get acknowledged too?"

"???"

Everyone froze.

Happy was the first to react, teasingly saying, "Although Lucy's father looked pretty serious and hard to get along with, everyone else praised Natsu."

Lucy blushed. She understood what Ifrit meant.

"Well..." Gray said with a strange expression, "I guess Natsu got acknowledged."

Even Lucy's ears turned red. Lowering her head, she vigorously rubbed Natsu's hair.

"Urgh, Lucy..." Natsu whimpered.

"Ah, sorry." Lucy came to her senses and quickly let go.

Erza wore a gratified smile.

"There's something going on~" Happy covered his mouth and made a strange sound.

"Ugh—" Lucy clutched her head with both hands and shut down on the spot!

Out at sea, a ship rose and fell with the waves.

At the bow sat a beautiful pink-haired woman in an elegant kimono.

A long sword rested across her lap, while she held a photograph in her hand—a family portrait with many children in it.

"Emily..." Her red lips parted slightly, her face filled with sorrow.

"Captain, since you accepted the mission, don't overthink it." Beside her stood a burly man with an owl's head. He advised, "Only by carrying out the commission seriously can it be called justice!"

"Harming innocent people is not justice." She sighed.

"But don't you need money to treat your younger sister? If she doesn't receive treatment soon, she'll die," Owl Strongman said.

"..." She raised her head and looked at the tower drawing ever closer ahead of them, pressing her lips tightly together.

Inside the cabin.

Quiet voices could be heard.

"Udal, the position of captain of the Three Ravens is now yours to decide."

"Thank you, Guild Master, for granting me this opportunity. I am determined to claim that position!"