Lucy didn't rush to find her companions; instead, she changed into her usual clothes.
She prepared a bouquet of flowers and went to her mother's grave, softly speaking words she wanted her mom to hear.
The Hartfilia family's cemetery was extravagantly built, with dedicated servants tidying it up every day.
From outside, you could see the exquisite statues and Lucy standing in front of them holding the bouquet and speaking.
Rhode grabbed Hapi's tail with one hand and hooked Natsu's neck with the other, preventing them from barging in.
Only when Lucy bent down to place the bouquet did Rhode release the two reckless ones.
"Lucy!"
"Lucy!"
As Lucy turned around, Hapi had already darted into her embrace, with Natsu rushing forward first.
"This is not the place to be noisy," Rhode climbed the steps, glanced at the writing on the tombstone, and made a slight bow.
Reira Hartfilia, X748~X777, aged 29 years.
It's been seven years since she passed, and Lucy was only 10 back then.
Erza was the first to apologize: "Sorry Lucy, for being so noisy here."
"No, mom would be happy for me," Lucy chuckled softly. She had already shed all her tears. Now, she wanted her mom to see her happy.
"It's my fault for making everyone worry."
Gray quietly put on the clothes Rhode handed him: "Even though it was a wasted effort, it's not too bad."
Rhode said, "We made baseless assumptions and even trespassed into a private residence."
Lucy said helplessly, "Natsu and the others always do this. I'm almost used to it."
Hapi nuzzled in Lucy's arms: "Aye, we were really worried about you."
Natsu laughed: "That's right, Hapi was almost in tears."
"I didn't cry!"
...
The group watched Lucy say her goodbyes to her mother, then set off together back to the Guild.
This time, Lucy sat with Natsu and Hapi, while Rhode sat with Erza and Gray.
Two river crabs walked along the spacious road, initially accompanied by a servant tearfully bidding Lucy farewell, but soon there was no one.
Gray looked at the vast open green land and curiously asked, "Why is this town where you live so big and empty, with just a few houses?"
"Huh? This isn't a town; it's our estate," Lucy gestured to the distant mountain, "From here to the other side of that mountain, it's all my family's."
"..." Five bewildered faces.
"Huh? What's wrong with everyone?"
Natsu looked at the mountain Lucy pointed to: "Miss Millionaire!"
Gray mirrored his move: "Casually dropping such a bombshell statement!"
Erza looked up at the sky with hands on her hips: "Ah, the sky is so blue... the sunset is so beautiful..."
"Even Erza's malfunctioning!" Hapi tugged on Rhode's clothes, "Rhode, say something!"
"Lucy..." Rhode was much calmer than the others, "Is your family hiring any bodyguards?"
"Huh?"
"Or maybe a driver? An accountant might work too."
He knew her family was wealthy, but he hadn't imagined this level of wealth; it went beyond Rhode's imagination.
If Lucy weren't so serious, Rhode might have thought he was listening to a comedy skit. Like those jokes about needing to drive to the bathroom and turning back halfway through...
Hapi: "Total defeat!"
The young lady's topic was just a momentary joke.
Once they left the town, I mean, once they left Lucy's home, she started worrying about rent again.
Rhode gave her a great suggestion: "Why not ask Natsu and Hapi to contribute as well? They practically live there."
Lucy quickly refused: "No way! Then they'd have every right to stay!"
"As if they don't already act like they have every right."
"But... but that's still a no!" Lucy blushed, sharing rent would just make them seem... seem...
"I could cover a share with Hapi too," Natsu grinned mischievously, "Lucy's bed will be mine then."
"I'll take the dining room and kitchen."
"I said no!"
"Then just do the tasks honestly." Rhode pondered, then added, "The bad news is, I've already picked out the most profitable tasks. By the time we return, they'll probably be taken."
"Ah! No way!" Lucy ran her hands through her hair, "And why did you do that?"
Rhode looked at her: "Weren't you complaining yesterday about urgently needing money? We were trying to help out people like you. But then you ran off without a word."
"I'm sorry..." Lucy was at the brink of tears again.
Natsu patted her back: "No worries, we'll take on high-difficulty tasks."
Lucy was dejected: "But those don't earn much money."
Natsu laughed lightheartedly: "You've got us here, don't you?"
Lucy whispered: "It's because of you guys..."
...
By the time they returned to the Guild, the sun had long set.
But there were still people on the site, or rather, in the open-air tavern in the middle of the site.
This group wasn't picky at all; as long as they had tables, benches, drinks, and companions, no matter how simple, they were good.
"We're back!"
Instead of a collective welcome, they were met with a few drunken inquisitions:
"Where did you all run off to? Couldn't handle just a bit of work?"
"I bet you were slacking off!"
"Yeah, Elfman did Rhode's share, were Natsu and Gray slacking?"
"Who's slacking? Tomorrow, we'll do double to show you!" Natsu shouted, having already agreed with Rhode.
Huh? Rhode exchanged looks with Elfman, then glanced at Mira.
Elfman looked up at the sky, while Mira covered her mouth, laughing.
Rhode had left a note earlier, worried about being accused of slacking, and then Mira suggested having Elfman do double the work.
Rhode thought she was joking.
"I was going to do it myself," Mira said, both amused and annoyed. "But after I moved two pieces of wood, Elfman declared me a manly man. So..."
Rhode felt a bit of relief: "Hmm, he deserves a talking to."
He ran behind Mira to massage her shoulders: "Oh, carrying two pieces of wood must have tired you out. Let me give you a shoulder rub."
Elfman drank his beer: Gulp, gulp, gulp...
This is too much to handle.
With everyone watching, Mira swatted Rhode's hands away and handed him a pile of documents: "Now that you're back, get to work. Hmm, have you had dinner yet, are you hungry?"
"We rushed back too fast; I didn't have time to eat," Rhode now regretted missing the chance for a top chef's meal from the rich family.
"I'll go get you something," Mira left the counter, pausing to greet Lucy before heading to the kitchen.
Gray also took the chance to place an order: "Mira, whatever food is fine, something for two, maybe three servings."
He hadn't eaten lunch at all.
Mira nodded: "Alright, but I think two servings will be plenty."
"Why?"
Because another meal box suddenly appeared in Gray's hand.
Mira laughed: "You shouldn't waste someone else's kind gesture, you know~"