Emergency Hunt: The Beast King

On the streets of Magnolia that afternoon, Mira, Elfman, and Lisanna walked side by side on their way back to the guild.

Lisanna stretched contentedly and remarked,

"That job was pretty easy. We finished it in no time."

"Of course it was. Our sister is an S-Class Mage. An ordinary job is a piece of cake for her." Elfman looked up at the sky, his eyes brimming with longing and fervor.

"S-Class... I wonder when I'll become an S-Class man!"

Mira watched her lively younger siblings with a gentle smile on her lips.

She had successfully become an S-Class Mage the year before, earning the right to take on S-Class missions. But to look after Elfman and Lisanna, who still had growing to do, she often chose to accompany them on ordinary jobs.

Only when she had time to spare did she take on S-Class missions to hone her skills.

After a year of training, though, Mira felt that ordinary S-Class missions could no longer challenge her, and Elfman and Lisanna had grown a great deal as well.

Perhaps it was time to bring them along on an S-Class mission so they could gain some experience.

At that thought, Mira patted Elfman on the shoulder and smiled confidently.

"Elfman, since you're so eager, let's go together next time there's a suitable job. It's about time you two gained some experience with S-Class missions."

"Really?! That's great, Sis! I've wanted to see the S-Class world for ages!" Elfman pumped his fists excitedly.

"Honestly, Elfman, you're always going on about S-Class. Natsu and Gray have rubbed off on you." Watching her brother eagerly anticipating an S-Class mission, Lisanna pressed a hand to her forehead and chuckled helplessly.

"Lisanna, you don't understand. This is a man's dream!"

When they returned to the guild, Lisanna said goodbye and left ahead of them, saying she had something to discuss with Natsu and Happy.

But the moment Mira and Elfman stepped through the guild doors, they were met by Guild Master Makarov's burning gaze.

"Oh! Mira! You're just in time!" Makarov jumped down from the counter as though he had spotted his savior and beckoned urgently. "Come here, quickly. Something serious has happened. There's an urgent S-Class hunt, and I'll have to leave it to you!"

Mira's face immediately fell, and she planted her hands on her hips in protest.

"Huh? Guild Master, I only just got back! Are you trying to work me to death?"

Mira looked around, trying to find another S-Class Mage.

"Isn't Erza here? And what about Blanc, that guy who's always lazing around?"

Makarov sighed, looking troubled.

"Erza's away on a job. Who knows what that brat Blanc is up to? He said he needed some time off, and he hasn't been back in ages. Even Gildarts, who used to hang around the guild every day, got chased out by Cana to go do some work."

"Thank goodness you're back. Otherwise, these old bones of mine would have to handle the job themselves," the Guild Master said with relief.

Seeing his grave expression, Mira stopped joking and asked with a frown,

"What kind of job is so urgent?"

"An emergency hunt-the Beast King!" Makarov said solemnly.

Before Mira could answer, Elfman stepped forward, fired up.

"Isn't this perfect, Sis? Let's go together! Lisanna and I will give you all the support we can!"

Mira saw the burning plea in her brother's eyes and remembered her earlier plans. Pride and confidence instantly welled up inside her. She gave the Guild Master a bright, bold smile.

"All right, Guild Master. Leave it to us! This is the perfect chance to show Elfman and Lisanna the S-Class world."

"Ho ho! Just what I'd expect from our guild's finest youngsters. You're a great help. Sorry for the trouble!" the Guild Master said with a smile.

"Ohhh! An S-Class mission! A man's battlefield!" Elfman was so excited he nearly jumped up to the ceiling.

Mira was about to call her brother over to set off when, without warning, a black-haired figure flashed through her mind, bringing with him a memory that still made her grit her teeth in anger.

It had been one evening at dusk. Blanc, who was usually so unassuming, had suddenly stopped her with a mysterious air.

"Mira, this is for you!"

Blanc opened his hand, revealing an exquisitely crafted necklace in his palm, and held it out to her.

In that instant, Mira's brain simply stopped working. At the sight of that delicate piece of jewelry, her face visibly flushed scarlet, and her heart skipped a beat.

What's going on? Giving me something like this out of nowhere... Is-is this a confession?!

This is way too sudden! Sure, he's pretty good-looking, and his personality is... No, no! I've never thought of him that way! What's he trying to do, springing this on me?

Should I refuse? Would that hurt him too much? But if I accept... Aaaah, this is so embarrassing!

Mira imagined an entire drama in her head, then finally turned her embarrassment into anger and gave Blanc a hostile look.

"Huh? What's gotten into you? Giving me a present out of nowhere."

Blanc smiled mysteriously and explained with a hint of pride,

"This isn't ordinary jewelry. I've sealed Triggered Defensive Magic inside it. It'll activate if you're struck by a fatal blow and block the attack for you. There's even a little surprise you don't know about!"

Then he pressed the necklace into her hand without taking no for an answer and said with concern,

"I made this especially because I was worried something might happen to you all during a job. It's important, so please take it."

Hearing that, Mira blushed even harder and stubbornly retorted,

"What? Who needs you worrying about me? I'm plenty strong, you know." Despite her dismissive words, she somehow ended up putting the necklace away.

Once Mira accepted the gift, Blanc relaxed. Then his expression turned serious, and he earnestly reminded her,

"It's best to wear it all the time, but if you don't want to wear it normally, that's up to you. Just make sure you wear it whenever you take Elfman and Lisanna on a dangerous job. It's to protect them, too!"

Mira had no idea what was wrong with her. Her feelings were a tangled mess, and she could barely look Blanc in the eye. Normally, she hated people telling her what to do, yet faced with his nagging, she merely answered in a daze.

"Got it."

When Blanc heard her agree, he smiled again. "Good." Then he turned and left.

Mira watched his retreating back in a daze and muttered, "What's with him? Springing this on me like that."

Mira gazed absently after him, just about to reflect on how he could occasionally be gentle and dependable. But the next moment, she witnessed something that shattered her composure.

Blanc made his way around the hall, giving presents to Erza, Cana, Elfman, Lisanna, Gray, Natsu, and practically every other member he knew well. There were bracers, rings, bracelets, and all sorts of other things. Every time he gave someone a gift, he said almost exactly what he had said to her.

Snap.

The thread called "reason" in Mira's mind broke.

Veins bulged on her forehead, and her clenched fists cracked. "That bastard!"

After that, Mira couldn't hold herself back. She found some random excuse to beat Blanc up, then refused to speak to him for a long time afterward.

Even now, remembering it made Mira struggle to suppress the urge to hit someone.

But when his instructions suddenly came to mind, Mira decided to put on the necklace she had never once worn since receiving it, the one she had tossed away at home and sealed out of sight.

"Let's head home first. I need to get something ready, then we'll go find Lisanna." Mira beckoned Elfman to follow.

"Oh! Okay, Sis!"

Back home, Mira dug an exquisite box covered in a thin layer of dust out of the deepest corner of her cabinet. She opened the clasp, revealing the necklace lying quietly inside.

Mira stared at it for a few seconds, then finally gave a cold snort and carefully fastened it around her fair neck.

This doesn't mean I've forgiven you, Blanc, Mira thought. I'm just... giving Elfman and Lisanna a little insurance.

With that done, the two set out to find Lisanna.

Under the setting sun, beneath a tree in a park in Magnolia, Lisanna stood with her hands on her hips, saying something to Natsu and Happy.

From a distance, they could hear Happy's woeful accusations that Natsu had eaten all his fish.

"Hey! Lisanna! We've got work!" Elfman called out to her.

Lisanna turned to look at them. Once Mira and Elfman drew closer, she asked in confusion,

"Huh? But didn't we only just get back?"

"It's an S-Class mission! S-Class! Let's go help Sis with her job!" Elfman's face almost contorted with excitement.

"What?! An S-Class mission?!"

Natsu, who had been sitting on the ground, sprang up as though fitted with a spring. His eyes went wide as he stared enviously at Elfman.

"No fair! What's going on? Elfman gets to go on an S-Class mission?"

"What kind of job is it?" Happy asked curiously, raising a paw.

"An emergency hunt-to eliminate the Beast King!" Mira answered, then added, "Natsu, want to come? It'll be a great chance to train."

Elfman hurriedly protested to his sister,

"Huh? No! I object. A man should protect his family all by himself!"

"Hey! Don't be so stingy! Take me along!" Natsu raised his fist indignantly and leaned forward, shouting.

"No! This is a man's first S-Class mission. I don't want you coming along and ruining it, Natsu!" Elfman puffed out his chest and turned aside, refusing to give an inch.

"Elfman, you cheapskate." Natsu sulkily turned his head away. Then he flashed a confident smile and punched his fist into his palm in front of his chest.

"Fine, don't take me! One day, I'll become S-Class and go on my own S-Class missions!"

"Yeah, that's the Natsu I know! But this time, I'm getting ahead of you." Elfman nodded approvingly and pointed a thumb at himself.

"Now that's ambition. We'll be off, then. Let's go, Lisanna, Elfman." Mira said goodbye, then turned and led the way.