New Year, Formalwear

New Year

Home, noon

"Beautiful, so beautiful. This is what life is all about."

Dumb Dumb lounged in the soft nest Lisanna had made for him. All he had to do was turn his head to eat the food Lisanna had carefully prepared.

"Hmph! Next time, don't bring this thing into the house."

Mirajane got angry the moment she saw the scene.

No matter how much Mirajane had hit Dumb Dumb yesterday, she had failed to break through his defenses. She had only smashed the guild's front door and exhausted herself.

After that, the guild master had finally made up his mind to replace the door.

When Lisanna learned that Dumb Dumb had come to protect her, she had been delighted. She kept hugging him and refused to let go, not allowing her sister to throw him out.

"Fine, fine. Mainly because he looked so pitiful with nowhere to go."

Qian Guang glanced at the remaining egg yolk on his plate and secretly used spatial magic to teleport it beside Dumb Dumb.

Dumb Dumb rolled his eyes at him and opened his mouth to eat it. He never refused food, after all. He had never eaten so many delicious things before.

Mirajane seemed to sense something, but she said nothing. She patted Elfman's head and said to Qian Guang,

"Hurry up and eat. We're going shopping later."

Feeling the hand on his head, Elfman thought she was talking to him. He immediately stuffed bread into his mouth.

Qian Guang looked at the not-so-bright kid. He was already nearly as tall as Qian Guang, so why was he still so stupid? He really was a perfect match for that stupid turtle.

Well, when Qian Guang had watched the anime before, he had thought there was no New Year here. He had not expected it to exist all along; it was just different from his previous life.

There was no sea of red decorations filling the streets, but the joy and festivity had not changed. At night, there were all kinds of game stalls and banquets organized by the locals.

Every tavern was packed to the brim on this day every year, and the guild was livelier than ever.

Unfortunately, all Qian Guang had experienced last year was pain!

They had hit way too hard!

This time, Qian Guang, Mirajane, and the guild master had all agreed: no potions today!

Otherwise, they might tie him up and drag him to the New Year banquet.

"Brother Qian Guang! Sister Mira! Brother Elfman! Do I look good in this?"

Little Angel Lisanna ran downstairs. She had changed into a white dress. The little girl was already thirteen, and the dress showed off her gradually lengthening figure, making her look just like a little fairy.

"Oh, our little princess is here. Let's go buy clothes and snacks first."

Qian Guang dragged over Elfman, who was stuffed yet still cramming food into his mouth, then scooped up the turtle who could never get full.

Lisanna happily linked arms with Mirajane.

"Let Turtle Grandpa go! Turtle Grandpa still wants to eat!"

"Stop yelling. If I say move, you move!"

Mirajane fiercely flicked him on the head.

Dumb Dumb instantly looked aggrieved. ˃ʍ˂

"Hehe, don't be sad. We'll eat even tastier things outside."

Lisanna smiled and patted Dumb Dumb's head to comfort him.

The moment Dumb Dumb heard there would be tastier food, he was energized. He immediately shrank down and crawled onto Lisanna's shoulder, making her laugh like silver bells.

"Come take a look! Fresh fruit!"

"Candy! Come buy candy!"

"Fine cloth here!"

The streets were full of cries from vendors. Every household had come out to buy new clothes and fresh food, making Magnolia far livelier than usual.

"Wow! I want that!"

Lisanna spotted a stall selling sugar figurines and charged over with her turtle guard.

"Wow, Dumb Dumb, look, it's you! Boss, give me one of those!"

Dumb Dumb stretched out his neck to look. It was an ugly-cute turtle sugar figurine. He glanced at it disdainfully. "No! That is not Turtle Grandpa."

But Lisanna did not listen. She bought it and dangled it by his mouth to tease the turtle.

＜(｀^′)＞

Turtle Grandpa was a turtle with principles. He absolutely would not... emmmm, Turtle Grandpa would just take one bite. Oh wow, delicious. Another bite. Hey, hey, hey, don't take it away! Turtle Grandpa's neck can't reach it anymore.

"Giggle, giggle."

Not far away, Qian Guang watched Lisanna get along with Turtle Grandpa and felt comforted. He just did not know whether he could change what happened later. Next time, he would tell Mira not to take the Beast King mission. If she had to go, she should take him with her.

Seeing her younger sister's cheerful smile, Mirajane's expression softened as well.

She looked at Qian Guang and thought, This is wonderful. Everything from before is over. It feels like everything has become beautiful because of you. Meeting you was wonderful.

Qian Guang's thick skin was no joke. Seeing Mira gaze at him so tenderly, he was not embarrassed in the slightest. He even wanted to stick his face closer so she could get a good look.

"Um, Sister, Brother Qian Guang, I want to go look over there."

Elfman, who could not read the atmosphere, appeared.

Qian Guang shot him a murderous glare. Elfman trembled as he pointed at a fitness equipment shop in the distance, and he shook even harder under Qian Guang's gaze.

Qian Guang grabbed his shoulder, turned him around, and kicked him in the back!

"Get lost! Just go straight to the guild tonight. I don't want to see you right now!"

Elfman felt terribly wronged. He had specifically picked such a quiet moment to ask. How had he still made Brother Qian Guang angry?

Mirajane smiled as she watched them fool around, though she could not help worrying whether a blockhead like Elfman would ever find someone.

After kicking one nuisance away, Qian Guang looked toward the sugar figurine stall again. Little Angel was lovely, but she still needed to be sent away.

However, their sensible little angel had witnessed the entire tragedy and very consciously went to find her Brother Elfman.

"Ahem, looks like they both have something to do. Come on, I'll take you shopping for clothes. It won't do for you to keep wearing that little camisole."

With all the nuisances gone, Qian Guang pretended it was fate's arrangement and tried to take Mira's hand as they headed toward the clothing shop.

Mirajane rolled her eyes at him and did not let his grubby hand succeed. She crossed her arms and walked ahead first.

"Wait, I want to browse around first. I still haven't bought gifts."

Hmph! That big pig hoof had not even confessed and already wanted to hold hands. If he confessed, would he not start wanting to kiss her?

No, no. She could not let this scumbag have his way.

Qian Guang did not mind and followed Mira.

Nighttime

Qian Guang was already carrying bags upon bags of things, all gifts for his guild companions. There was even something for Laxus, who was away and never came back. (◦`~´◦)

Mirajane stared at the clothing shop in front of her with a face full of disbelief.

"This is the clothing shop you were talking about?"

She did not know what to say as she looked at the dazzling array of formalwear before her.

"Oh, this? Tonight's banquet is a formalwear event, of course we need formalwear. I saw Erza buy a red gown here yesterday."

Mirajane could not imagine the people in the guild wearing formalwear, but once she heard that Erza had bought one, she no longer hesitated and rushed inside.

Qian Guang sighed. Sure enough, Erza was Mira's true love, and he had become a nameless third wheel.

(*꒦ິ⌓꒦ີ)

"Welcome, beautiful lady!"

The shop owner was a plump, balding middle-aged man with a small mustache.

The moment he saw Mirajane, he came up to greet her, but he also made a gesture toward Qian Guang behind her.

Qian Guang secretly nodded. He had visited this shop yesterday and reached an unspeakable agreement with the owner.

╭☞(￣▽￣)╭☞

Mirajane felt that the owner was acting a little strangely, but she did not pay it much mind and began looking around.

She was instantly drawn in by the beautiful clothes and jewelry around her. What young girl did not like pretty clothes? Even Erza, who never bothered with her hair, liked them.

"Wow, this one is so pretty. This one too."

Mirajane looked left and right, then at red, then at white. In any case, she simply could not decide.

"Ahem, beautiful lady, when I see you, it is as though I have seen a fairy. These things are not worthy of you."

The owner appeared, rubbing his hands as he approached Mirajane.

"!!!"

"Where? Where?"

The owner pressed a button, and the cabinet behind him where he kept his tools began sliding apart.

An elegant, gorgeous black gown appeared before them.

Low-key yet luxurious jewels adorned the gown, adding an air of nobility without making it look vulgar.

"Wow!!!"

Mirajane's eyes instantly lit up. Everyone who saw this dress for the first time would probably have the same expression.

This was not ready-made clothing. Qian Guang had commissioned the owner to make it before he had gone out on his mission, and it had only been completed yesterday. He had even worried it would not be finished in time.

After all, Mira was only fourteen, and a finished gown might not fit properly. Furthermore, the fabric had been made from a special magical beast and could adjust according to the wearer's body, so she could continue wearing it in the future.

What kind of development did anyone expect from a fourteen-year-old child!!!

But nineteen-year-old Mira was truly gorgeous!

"Can I really wear this?"

"Of course. It was made from Rouge Beast hide, so it can be worn by any body type. Besides, a young lady with such a fine figure as yours will look even better in it."

That struck right at Mira's heart. Exactly. Her figure was great. That idiot Qian Guang had even mocked her. He really had no eye for beauty.

Qian Guang secretly gave the owner a thumbs-up. As expected of a merchant—those were the kind of words that could fool even ghosts.

The owner merely continued rubbing his hands. He did not carefully inspect Mira, after all. She was the companion of an already major customer, and guests who brought their own materials along with extravagant processing fees were rare.

This dress had cost Qian Guang the earnings from several missions. It truly was a million for one dress.

"The fitting room is this way."

The owner activated a mechanism, and a luxurious fitting room appeared.

"Then I'll go in first?"

Mirajane looked at Qian Guang uncertainly, her eyes filled with an unreadable meaning.

"Go on, go on. I'm already ready to take pictures."

Fourth-Dimensional Space, activate!

"No pictures!"

Idiot!!!

After saying that, she turned around to change clothes. The owner had a female sales assistant go in with her to help.

"Hehehe, young man, remember my shop if you need clothes or have good materials in the future."

Qian Guang rolled his eyes at the owner's fawning smile. This shop charged far too much, though the finished product was indeed stunning. No wonder Erza liked buying clothes here.

"Sure, sure. Next time for sure."

"Um, I'm changed."

With the sales assistant's help, Mirajane successfully changed into the dress, but only her head was peeking out now.

Qian Guang's eyes immediately lit up when he heard that. Who knew how long he had been waiting? Even the owner had started sweating from the top of his head.

Mirajane's face was flushed red. The dress was pretty, but it was far too revealing! Her entire back was exposed!

She usually wore a little camisole, but... but this was different!

Mirajane shyly stepped out slowly.

The gorgeous black gown wrapped around her body, revealing her graceful neck and clearly defined collarbones. The folds of the skirt spilled across the floor like moonlight, while her long black hair cascaded down, hiding the blush on her cheeks.

Qian Guang was utterly stunned. He had imagined Mira would look beautiful in it, but he had not imagined she would look this beautiful.

"Perfect! Absolutely perfect!"

The owner was as excited as a child. After all, what designer or tailor did not want to find a suitable owner for the dress they had made?

Qian Guang decisively pulled out his camera, ready to snap a series of candid shots.

Mira crossed her arms over her chest and said coyly, "No pictures!"

Though she said that, she was still very satisfied with Qian Guang's earlier reaction.

Qian Guang immediately put away the camera and walked toward Mira. He bowed slightly before her and extended his hand.

"My princess, please allow your knight to guard your side."

Mira found the knight before her, dressed so casually, rather amusing. If all knights were like this, the king would probably take their swords back.

"Very well. But I do not need a knight, Your Highness."

Mira did not believe in knights and princesses. A princess would eventually marry a prince. She did not need a knight's protection; she could stand beside her prince and face the dragon with him.

Qian Guang smiled happily. This was the strong-willed Mira he knew.

"Wait, wait!"

Unfortunately, the ugly minister had appeared.

The owner did not want Qian Guang to take Mirajane straight out just yet. Her hair had not been styled, had it?

And that prince's clothes were far too improper. He needed to change! Fortunately, Qian Guang had also had an outfit made for himself beforehand.

And so,

Qian Guang underwent a grand transformation under the owner's chubby little hands.

The nighttime festivities had begun outside. The streets were full of laughing, playing people, drunken young men singing loudly, and passionate, unrestrained girls.

The handsome prince had finally received his princess.

Qian Guang, dressed in white formalwear, held Mirajane's hand as she wore her black gown and appeared at the entrance. Behind them, the owner and sales assistant watched the pair with admiring expressions.

Passersby on the street also cried out in amazement, cheering and teasing them.

Lisanna and Elfman, waiting at the entrance with a carriage, stared blankly for a moment at their transformed sister and Brother Qian Guang. They were simply too beautiful!

Lisanna and Elfman had changed into formal attire as well, but it was nowhere near as extravagant as Qian Guang's and Mirajane's.

Elfman was fine, since he was already quite burly. Lisanna was too small to pull off the look a formal dress was supposed to have. And who wore formal attire with a turtle on their head?! They had even tied a bow on the turtle!

The formal attire was not actually required. It was merely a formal banquet Qian Guang had asked the guild master to arrange for his upcoming grand plan, though Mira did not know that.

When Mirajane saw the carriage waiting at the entrance, along with Lisanna and Elfman, she knew this had all been planned in advance. Otherwise, why would those two be here?

Mira rolled her eyes at the shameless man holding her hand.

Qian Guang responded with a smile and slowly helped her into the carriage.

"Be careful."

"Hmph! You only know how to keep things from me. I want to see what you're up to."

The carriage slowly headed toward the guild.