The Upcoming S-Class Trial

"Majestic Destroyer Flame!" With Ed's battle cry, a sea of fire surged forth, driving back the Vulcan pack before him.

"Come to think of it, Ed, how did you even come up with all these moves? They all seem pretty useful too," Mira asked curiously.

"Don't ask. The answer is that I'm naturally gifted," Ed replied smugly.

"Alright, the monster pack has been driven back. Mission complete! Brother Ed, Sister Mira, that's another mission done."

Lisanna happily confirmed that there were no other monsters on the battlefield, then ran over cheerfully with Elfman and said to the two of them, "It feels like you and Sister Mira have been working really hard lately. You've basically been taking missions nonstop."

"We have debts to pay, after all, and we need to save money too." Ed silently calculated how their debts would look after receiving the reward for this mission. "Yeah, this reward should be enough to pay off the debt completely. Wow... it really took quite a while."

"Did it? It's only been a few months since you and Sister Mira started dating." Elfman thought back and said in surprise, "Didn't you owe more than ten million back then? Paying back that much in just a few months is already amazing."

"We have to pay it off quickly. Otherwise, how am I supposed to save money?" Ed replied as if it were obvious.

"What are you saving money for?" Mira asked, slightly puzzled.

"To buy a house! Are we supposed to keep living in the dorms or renting a place after we get married?" As their relationship steadily progressed, words like that could no longer make Mira blush.

Mira said directly, "Oh~ You're thinking pretty far ahead. How big are you planning to buy?"

"At the very least, it needs to be a detached house with a garden. Preferably two stories. We'll live upstairs, and we can enjoy the view of the garden whenever we want~" Ed said after thinking it over.

"Hmm... that does sound nice. But how are we arranging rooms for Lisanna and Elfman?" Mira thought it seemed acceptable, but then remembered her younger siblings.

Ed froze for a moment. "They're moving in with us after we get married too?"

"Sob... sob... It hasn't even been that long, and you're already planning to make Brother Elfman and me leave our sister's embrace. Brother Ed, you're really going too far," Lisanna said to them, pretending to be deeply hurt.

Elfman had no idea what to say at all and could only ask weakly, "Sister, are you moving out after you get married...?"

"Then just find a place with more rooms. Lisanna, Elfman, and I promised each other when we were little that we'd be family who depended on one another. We won't leave each other," Mira said firmly to Ed after comforting Elfman.

"Don't worry. I'm joining this family, not breaking it apart. I'll listen to you and pick somewhere bigger. Though it feels like we'll need to save quite a bit more money..." Ed declared that he would spoil his girlfriend, while feeling as though the mortgage from his past life had caught up with him again.

"I've saved quite a lot too. We can use it directly," Mira said after calculating her own savings. The gap should not be too large.

"It's fine, keep saving yours. Trust me—once I become S-Class, I'll earn the money in no time." Ed looked extremely generous as he waved his hand, intending to take full responsibility for it.

"If we're getting married, doesn't it make no difference whose money we use?" Mira turned slightly and murmured softly.

"? What did you just say?" Ed had not heard her clearly and asked in confusion. "Nothing. Come to think of it, this year's S-Class Trial should be starting soon. We'd better head back quickly," Mira said, changing the subject.

"Really? I've been waiting forever. But come to think of it, am I qualified to take the trial?" Ed suddenly remembered that he had only been in the guild for about a year. "I've only been here for exactly one year. There isn't some minimum membership requirement, is there?"

"Not really. It's mainly based on things like the number of missions you've completed." Mira thought about it and counted how the group had been clearing missions like mad over the past few months.

Ed in particular often picked up urgent delivery missions while carrying out extermination missions. "You should have completed enough missions. Let's head back first and talk about it there. They'll probably announce it within a few days after we return."

"You're right. When I think about how hard I've worked lately, even I find it scary." Ed recalled how, over the past few months, he had first successfully mastered the conversion and release of several elements.

At the same time, he had replicated many ninjutsu, expanding his arsenal of skills.

He had also taken on and completed a large number of missions. Alongside that, his relationship with Mira had progressed as well. A young couple's feelings developed quickly in the beginning, and once this mission was over, they could finally pay off the debt they had incurred at the start.

Two days later, Ed and the others returned to the guild. The moment they entered, they were greeted by a familiar sight as an incomparably noisy din poured out from inside.

A group of people inside were cursing loudly. After only a sentence or two, they started fighting, and then cups, plates, and chairs began flying through the air. Every so often, someone who had been sent flying would crash into a corner.

Ed casually blocked a flying chair and said to Mira beside him, "Honestly, I haven't seen this scene in a long time. I kind of miss it."

"That's because lately, you've basically been leaving as soon as you accept a mission and never staying around. Otherwise, wouldn't this be a daily occurrence?" Mira replied casually.

"Oh! Ed, Mira, you're back!" "Damn you, Ed!" "You've been dating Miss Mira for so long already—haven't you lived without regrets, Ed?!" When the brawling crowd noticed Ed and the others returning, they greeted them.

"Oh! You're back, Ed! If you hadn't returned soon, I was planning to have someone notify you." Makarov greeted Ed and the others when he saw them.

Then he physically suppressed the other troublemakers who were still tangled together and shouted, "That's enough. Next, notify everyone who hasn't returned yet: this year's S-Class promotion trial is about to begin. The specific list and details will be announced in three days!"

"Oh! It's finally starting! This time, I'll definitely become S-Class!" That was Gray.

"A droopy-eyed bastard like you dreams of becoming S-Class? Don't you know dreams are supposed to happen at night?" That was Natsu.

"S-Class Trial, huh? That brings back memories~" That was Erza.

"What? You, armor woman, are already reminiscing about the past?" That was Mira.

"I'll kill you!"

"Come and try it if you've got the guts!"

Amid the familiar shouting, Ed walked over to Makarov and asked, "Old man, am I on the list for this trial?"

"You'll find out in three days." Makarov had no intention of revealing it early and merely said calmly to Ed, "Anyway, don't go out on any long missions these next few days. Make sure we can find you at any time, understand?"