The Fairy Queen

The next day, in front of Fairy Tail's job board.

Levy of the Road Engine Team searched the job board for ages but couldn't find the Elba Mansion request she had seen before.

Mira said, "That job? Natsu took it."

Levy said disappointedly, "I thought about it for so long before deciding to take it, and Natsu actually snatched it first."

Suddenly, Makarov said to Levy, "You should be glad you didn't take that job."

Levy looked at the guild master in confusion. "Why?"

"I just received word from the client."

"Did the client decide to cancel the job?"

"No! They raised the reward to 2 million J!"

Levy cried out, "Ten times?! That's almost as much as an extermination job!"

Makarov said seriously, "Something may have happened."

"Ahh, what a waste of a good job."

Mage guild commissions came in many varieties. Low-level requests, such as finding things or fortune-telling for love, generally paid anywhere from 2,000 J to 200,000 J.

Medium-difficulty jobs were usually escorts or bodyguard work, paying between 100,000 J and 500,000 J.

High-level commissions included exterminating bandits or magical beasts, with rewards ranging from 400,000 J to 2 million J.

Above those were S-Class jobs, which started at 5 million J.

Makarov looked at Ye, who was sprawled over the bar like a corpse, and immediately grew irritated.

"You brat, are you really that free?! Why aren't you taking any jobs?!"

Ye lazily replied, "Taking jobs is impossible. I'll never take jobs in this life. As long as I lie here, I can survive. The guild is like my home, and every guild member is so talented. They speak so nicely too. I love the guild members most of all."

Seeing Ye grow increasingly lazy, Makarov said, "Since you have nothing to do, come with me to the regular meeting in a couple of days."

Hearing that he had to accompany the guild master to a gathering of guild masters, Ye refused. "I'm not going with you to chat nonsense with a bunch of old men and women, especially Guild Master Bob. Just thinking about him gives me chills!"

Seeing Ye refuse, Makarov couldn't say much more and continued sipping his drink.

Just then, Mira came over to Ye and asked, "Come with me to the magazine publisher later. I need to pick up some materials."

"Sure!!"

Before long, Ye left the guild holding Mira's hand.

Macao said, "Those two are about old enough to get married, aren't they?"

Wakaba replied, "Yeah. If Lisanna's incident hadn't happened, I think they might have gotten engaged by now."

Makarov sighed. "Lisanna has always been a thorn in Mirajane's heart. If that isn't resolved, who knows when those two will finally get their happy ending?"

After Ye and Mira left the publisher, they went on a date, strolling slowly through the streets hand in hand.

"It feels like it's been a long time since we came out for a walk like this."

"Isn't it because you're such a busy person that you never have the time?"

"Am I?!"

"Of course! Hmph!"

"Haha, sorry, sorry."

"Come on, I'll take you around properly!"

The next day, at Fairy Tail.

"Mira, bring me three beers over here!"

"Okay, okay, coming right up."

Macao drunkenly said, "Mira, when can you go on a date with me?"

The moment he finished speaking, a vicious aura enveloped Macao, instantly sobering him up.

"Just kidding, just kidding."

Mira answered with a smile, "Don't you have a wife?"

Then Mira transformed into Macao's wife.

"Mira, don't do that."

At that moment, Lucy came to the job board and pondered what job to take. She hadn't earned a single cent on her last job with Natsu, and now she was worrying about rent.

Mira came over to Lucy and said, "If there's a job you want to take, you can tell me. The guild master went to the regular meeting."

"A regular meeting?"

Ye slowly said, "It's just a bunch of old men and women gathering together to brag and catch up."

"Don't lead the newcomer astray."

"But Ye is right. If guilds lack communication and cooperation, terrible consequences can arise."

"Terrible consequences?"

Natsu said fiercely, "The dark guys will show up!"

"Eek!!!"

"Scaredy-cat Lucy, or Scaredy Luce for short!"

"Don't just give people nicknames, you stupid cat!"

"But dark guys really do exist. They're dangerous people who ignore the law and use magic however they please."

Lucy looked at Natsu and snarked, "Sooner or later, they're going to poach you."

"Come on, Lucy, hurry up and pick a job."

"What does the job I pick have to do with you?!"

"Aren't we a team?"

"No! Our team is disbanded."

Natsu asked in confusion, "Why?"

Lucy said resentfully, "Anyone with blonde hair would do. Didn't you say that?"

Natsu grinned. "We chose Lucy as our partner because you're a good person, Lucy."

Hearing Natsu's sincere words, Lucy felt a little troubled.

At that moment, Gray came out and said, "You don't actually have to team up with him. Lots of people would want to team up with you."

"Gray, your clothes."

"When did that happen?!"

Natsu slowly said, "So annoying."

Hearing Natsu's words, Gray snapped angrily, "Did you just say I'm annoying?! You damn firehead!"

Natsu refused to back down. "You're the annoying perverted stripper."

The two immediately began arguing face-to-face.

Leo came over to Lucy, draping an arm around her shoulders. "Lucy, how about we form a team of love? How about tonight?"

"Huh?!"

Leo continued his offensive. "I truly think you're incredibly beautiful. Even sunglasses can't block your charm..."

Just as he was about to continue, he noticed the Celestial Spirit keys at Lucy's waist.

He cried out in horror, "You're a Celestial Spirit Mage?!"

Happy chimed in, "Aye! She's got a cow and a crab."

Leo said regretfully, "I never thought fate would toy with me like this!!! Sorry, our team of love is hereby disbanded!" With that, he ran out.

Lucy complained, "It never even started."

"By the way, what's wrong with Ye? He looks so listless. Doesn't he have work to do?"

"Oh, him? In his words, his laziness is acting up. Anyway, he only takes a few jobs all year."

"Ahh, why? Does he live off you, Mira? That's awful!"

Mira shook her head. "No, the jobs he does are different."

Just then, Leo rushed back in. "This is bad! Erza is back!"

Upon hearing that Erza had returned, everyone in the guild looked as if they had been struck by lightning. Natsu and Gray stopped arguing too, fear appearing on their faces.

"Erza? I think I heard Natsu mention her before."

Mira explained, "Erza is probably Fairy Tail's strongest female mage."

"The strongest?! What kind of person is she?"

Outside the guild, Erza arrived at the entrance, dragging a massive horn behind her.

The guild's atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing point. Not a single person spoke.

"Is the guild master here?"

"The guild master went to the regular meeting."

"Is that so?"

When Erza's gaze swept over everyone, she began lecturing them. Most of the guild members were thoroughly berated. Then her eyes landed on Natsu and Gray.

"Aye! Erza, we're still very good friends today!"

"Is that so? Friends may fight sometimes, but I still prefer seeing you get along peacefully."

Erza's gaze swept across the room again, as though she were searching for someone.

"He's over here!"

"Ye, you seem to have nothing to do. Come with me on a job tomorrow!"

"Huh? What a pain!"

As he spoke, Erza's sword instantly rested against Ye's neck. "Think before you speak."

Ye swallowed. "Okay! I'll definitely be there on time tomorrow."

"Mira, keep an eye on him for me."

"Of course."

Looking at the beautiful yet dashing Erza, Lucy asked, "Why is everyone so afraid of her?"

"Gray is always taking his clothes off, so Erza has scolded him many times. Natsu wants to challenge her every day and has been beaten badly too... She's like the discipline committee chair."

"What about Ye? Did Erza scold him too?"

"Ye used to have a very bad personality, so Erza dragged him off and educated him for an entire month." (After Lisanna's incident, Mira had asked Erza to educate Ye!)

"Just thinking about it is terrifying!"

"Erza actually invited Ye on a job."

"Could they be planning to conquer some country?"

"I think they're finally making a move against the Magic Council!"

Watching the guild members become more and more outrageous.

"Just how strong are those two?!"

Early the next morning, Ye arrived at Magnolia Station, dragging his exhausted body behind him.

Erza nodded in satisfaction. "This time was good. You weren't late. Asking Mira really was a good decision."

There were also three sneaky figures in the station, watching Ye and Erza meet up.

Ye glanced at them. "Are you three coming out or not?"

"It's all your fault we got found out."

"Morning, Erza, Ye."

"Why did you follow us? Well, since you're here, you might as well come along."

"Aye!!"

And so, Ye's group boarded the train bound for Onibus.