Aftermath

An unfamiliar ceiling.

When Qian Guang woke up, his whole body ached as if he were falling apart. One of his ribs seemed to be broken, too. His memories stopped at the moment he had been swept into the Tornado and Laxus had prepared to save him. He knew nothing after that.

Had Laxus really saved him? Otherwise, there was no way he would have gotten away with only one broken rib.

But the snoring beside him instantly shattered that thought. Qian Guang painfully turned his head and saw the orange-haired old man slumped asleep in a chair with his hands on his stomach. The snot bubble at his nose was enormous.

Resisting the urge to pop it, Qian Guang looked around. They seemed to be in an inn. On the bed beside him lay a mummy, and if he looked closely, he could see blond hair.

Hah, I lost. That guy really is strong. I've gotten too complacent, too. I kept thinking that because I'd transmigrated, I was some chosen one who could effortlessly crush everyone. The missions this past year hadn't been difficult either. In short, I got carried away. This time really woke me up.

Suddenly, Qian Guang noticed that the mummy moved!

His eyes turned toward Qian Guang. Qian Guang saw a trace of confusion in them—and the smugness of a victor.

Childish!

That was what Qian Guang thought, but in truth, he was dying of envy!

"Mmhhmmmmm!!!" The mummy declared his victory to Qian Guang, but unfortunately, not a word could be understood.

The mummy realized he could not speak and tried to tear off the bandages. Unfortunately, he could not move his hands either; they had been secured in place. All he could do was rage helplessly! (◦`~´◦)!!!

Qian Guang could not bear to look at the constantly wriggling thing. He had wanted to laugh, but when he opened his mouth, he discovered that it, too, seemed to be wrapped in bandages. He instantly understood why Laxus had looked confused when he woke up. That confusion had not been about the surroundings—it had been for me. I'm a mummy too!

Finding no way out, Laxus stopped struggling. Whoever had wrapped the bandages might have had terrible technique, but they were secure as hell.

Laxus simply stared at Qian Guang, his gaze containing thirty percent pride, seventy percent indifference, and ninety percent smugness!!!

Qian Guang glared at him a few times, but when the other man only grew smugger, he silently looked away. He could not stand seeing others act smug! Especially when he really had lost! Lost completely, at that!

"Yo! You two woke up pretty fast, and you're both full of energy! Hahahahahaha!" Gildarts had woken up while the two were glaring at each other. The scene had been so amusing that it was a shame there had been no camera to capture it and show everyone back home.

The two turned to look at the culprit who had turned them into mummies, as if they could shame him with their stares!

But who was Gildarts? Never mind whether he could understand them; even if he did, he would not care. He could still eat and sleep with a clear conscience.

"Hahahaha, you two stay here. I'll go get you something to eat."

It was good that Gildarts still had a little humanity, but untie the bandages before you leave, bastard!!!

Qian Guang and Laxus looked at each other again. This time, there was no smugness—only murderous looks.

In the end, Gildarts still spared the two of them. They had to eat, after all.

The next day, once he saw that they could both move around, he hired a carriage to return to the guild together.

Three days later.

"Warning, warning! Activating Gildarts Mode!"

Boom!

The guild wall exploded once more, but this time the guild master said nothing. He simply waited for Gildarts's result, and everyone else in the guild was eagerly anticipating it as well!

Lisanna nervously clutched her sister's hand. Mirajane said nothing, but she was watching anxiously too. Before long, though, her anxiety turned into worry.

Two figures, one large and one small, walked in with bandages wrapped around every part of their bodies except their heads.

Mirajane immediately ran to the somewhat dejected figure. "What happened?! How did you get hurt this badly again?! Didn't I tell you to be careful?"

Seeing him like this, Mirajane no longer cared about who had won the test. Her usual tsundere demeanor was gone as she circled him and began checking his injuries. Lisanna and Elfman hurried over as well.

Laxus seemed to be stung by the sight. He clicked his tongue, and the faintly smug look in his eyes instantly vanished. He silently walked to the bar and ordered a drink.

Qian Guang felt a little awkward. He had told them before that he would definitely win, yet now he had been proven wrong. He scratched his hair with one hand and rested the other on Lisanna's head. "Sorry, everyone. I lost again this time."

"What are you talking about?! It's fine as long as you're okay! Hmph! ╯^╰ You're not allowed to lose next time!" After confirming that Qian Guang was not seriously hurt, Mirajane punched him once. Then she turned tsundere again.

"Wow! Did Laxus win? Damn it! I'll definitely defeat him and become an S-Class mage!" Natsu, who had been eavesdropping nearby, instantly fired up. "Come fight me, Laxus!"

"Hmph. Boring." Laxus glanced at Natsu and ignored him.

"Ah! Bastard!"

"Quiet down!" The guild master pressed Natsu, who was about to charge over, into the floor. Then he turned to Gildarts. "You announce it."

Gildarts stepped forward and looked at the curious crowd. "Ahem! I announce that Laxus has won this S-Class examination! He has become Fairy Tail's newest S-Class mage!"

"Oh!!!"

"You're amazing, Laxus!"

"Damn it! A junior surpassed me!"

"Damn you, Laxus! I'll definitely defeat you!"

The crowd cheered and offered Laxus their most sincere congratulations. Natsu and Gray had already gathered around him.

Laxus wore a cool expression on the surface, but Qian Guang, who knew him well, could tell that he was enjoying it inside. Even his violent lightning had become gentler.

"Hey, you're not giving up over this, are you?" Mirajane did not go over. Instead, she pulled Qian Guang down to sit beside her.

Mirajane looked at the slightly discouraged Qian Guang and raised a fist to knock on his head. After two knocks, it turned into a gentle stroke, and then she wrapped her arms around Qian Guang's head.

"Well, you're strong. You can win next time. I'll be with you, and we'll train together afterward."

Qian Guang leaned against Mirajane. He could accept failure, but the fact that he had still lost even after using traps showed that the gap between them had grown. He was reflecting on his own problems.

But he could not say that now, or he would not get such nice benefits! Though... it was a little uncomfortable (¯ㅿ¯;)

At some point, the noisy guild suddenly fell silent. Qian Guang did not care, though. Wouldn't it be strange to pay attention to anything else right now?!

But Mirajane noticed something was wrong. It had suddenly become quiet—quiet in a rather eerie way. She looked behind her.

Lisanna covered her eyes while peeking through finger gaps as wide as her eyes. Erza's face was slightly red as she muttered, "So bold!" Gildarts and the guild master, those two unserious men, watched them with teasing expressions. Laxus glanced over and turned away, but the corner of his eye kept stealing looks in their direction. The others were either shocked or looked as though this was only natural. Of course, there was also an idiot like Natsu, staring blankly in confusion.

!!!

Mirajane's face instantly turned bright red, transforming into a steam engine!

"See? I told you there was something going on between those two."

"Nicely done, Qian Guang."

"Big Sister Mira... you should at least wait until you get home."

The crowd began whispering among themselves. Mirajane's arms unconsciously tightened, and Qian Guang instantly found himself unable to breathe. His face was pressed painfully against her, and he flailed his hands in the air, trying to get someone to save him. But to everyone else, it looked like he was showing off.

"Seriously, that's enviable."

"This is youth."

"Mira... I... can't... breathe..."

Only then did Mirajane realize she was still hugging a head. The last string in her mind instantly snapped.

"Ahhhhhhhhh!!!"

She flung Qian Guang away in one motion, then rushed out through the hole Gildarts had made.

"What did I do wrong?!" Qian Guang, embedded in the wall, felt utterly wronged.

"Hahahahahaha! Serves you right!" His companions immediately burst into laughter, and the guild became lively again. But this time, the topic was Qian Guang and Mirajane as a "couple"!