When Kenichi, Erza, and the group returned to the guild, they saw that the previously dilapidated guild had completely vanished, replaced by a brand new one.
"Oh~! A new guild!"
Natsu and Happy looked at the new guild before them and couldn't help but exclaim excitedly.
"New isn't just the guild, you know!"
Hearing Natsu and Happy's exclamations, Mirajane in her red dress playfully blinked and said to everyone with a smile.
"A new bar!"
"A new shop!"
"A new swimming pool!"
After everyone entered the guild, Mirajane introduced them one by one.
"Ooh! There's even a swimming pool!"
Natsu clenched his fists, his eyes full of excitement.
"Not just a swimming pool, but other recreational facilities too!"
Mirajane's fair, pretty face was adorned with a gentle smile.
Hearing Mirajane's introduction, Lucy also scanned the surroundings.
Suddenly, she seemed to see someone unexpected and exclaimed in surprise: "That is... Juvia?"
As soon as Lucy spoke, Kenichi also followed her gaze.
Sure enough, Juvia in formal attire was walking towards them.
"Ju... Juvia, why is she here?"
After all, Juvia had captured Lucy before.
Seeing Juvia now, Lucy asked with some nervousness.
"Because Juvia is now a member of our guild!"
Mirajane, seeing Lucy's nervous expression, tilted her head and answered with a smile.
Juvia was completely different from before.
Previously, her fair face always wore a gloomy expression, giving her a gloomy and somber feel.
But now, that gloomy feeling had completely vanished from Juvia.
Juvia walked up beside Mirajane, her eyes darting a glance at Kenichi, then she said to everyone: "I am Juvia. Please treat me well!"
"Please treat us well too!"
Erza first responded to Juvia, then looked at her and said: "Besides Gajeel, now we have Juvia too. That means the guild has gained two new members at once!"
"Exactly! So, Erza, could you show Juvia around our guild first?"
Mirajane clasped her hands in front of her and asked Erza.
"I can't. I have work to do."
Erza refused without even thinking.
"Work? Didn't we just get 2.1 million J in rewards not long ago?"
Lucy looked at Erza, completely puzzled.
After leaving the Tower of Heaven, Kenichi's group had completed two jobs in a row.
One was to crush the underground cult in Rubinas City.
The other was Simon's commission to stop Jellal.
These two jobs earned Kenichi's group a total of 2.1 million J in rewards.
In Lucy's view, having just received 2.1 million J, they could easily go without working for a short while.
But now, they had just returned, and Erza was already talking about going to work.
Naturally, Lucy found it strange.
Under the watchful eyes of Lucy, Gray, and the others, Erza directly answered: "That? That's already all used up!"
As soon as Erza said this, Lucy and Gray were shocked.
"So fast!"
That was 2.1 million J!
"Back at the Tower of Heaven, that woman named Kagura destroyed several of my armors. I used the reward money to buy new ones."
Lucy asked with surprise: "Huh? You buy all your armors with money?"
"Of course. How did you think I got them?"
"I thought they came with the Requip Magic!"
Hearing Lucy's words, Erza also sighed.
Then she turned her gaze to Kenichi and asked: "Kenichi, want to work together? I'm planning to take an S-Class job. With your strength combined with mine, any S-Class job should be no problem!"
Before Kenichi could answer, Lucy beside him asked: "Didn't Macao say just now that current S-Class jobs require an S-Class mage to lead?"
"Aren't I an S-Class mage?"
"By the way, there are currently five S-Class mages in the guild!"
"Me, Mystogan, Gildarts, Laxus, and this one right beside you!"
Erza pointed at Mirajane.
"Huh? Mira-san?"
Lucy looked at Mirajane, her face full of disbelief.
After all, in Lucy's impression, Mirajane had always been a gentle figure with a constant smile.
She found it very hard to imagine that this Mirajane was actually an S-Class mage on par with Erza, Laxus, and the others.
Seeing Lucy's astonishment, Mirajane didn't speak, only responding with a smile.
"How does one become an S-Class mage?"
Kenichi knew that soon, Fairy Tail would hold an S-Class mage promotion trial on Tenrou Island.
But Kenichi wanted to know if there were other ways to become an S-Class mage besides that trial.
After all, once promoted to S-Class, there would be no restrictions when taking jobs.
"Kenichi, you want to become an S-Class mage?"
Hearing Kenichi's question, Erza looked at him and said, then continued: "Indeed, your strength is sufficient for promotion to S-Class!"
"However, to officially become an S-Class mage, you need to pass the annual S-Class mage promotion trial!"
"Coincidentally, the S-Class mage promotion trial will be held soon!"
"Besides the trial, are there no other methods to become an S-Class mage? For example, direct appointment by the Master or something?"
"Sigh, you really do say surprising things. If Master could just appoint people, it wouldn't be fair to others who want to become S-Class mages! Anyway, the S-Class promotion trial is coming up soon. There's no need to rush."
Erza first said to Kenichi with a meaningful tone, then continued: "Speaking of which, what about that S-Class job I mentioned earlier? Want to do it together?"
"We just got back. I don't really feel like working for now."
Seeing that Kenichi actually refused Erza, Gray and Natsu were shocked.
"Natsu, did you hear that?"
"Yeah! Kenichi actually dared to refuse Erza!"
"In our guild, besides Laxus and a few others, no one dares to refuse Erza, right?"
"Yeah! And Erza isn't even angry!"
Natsu and Gray, who were often oppressed by Erza, couldn't help but look at Kenichi with worship in their eyes.