Takeshi excitedly opened the box. The full box of money was so dazzling that he could barely open his eyes.
He immediately counted out 20,000,000. "This is my prize money from the Tournament, I'll take it first."
Then, he counted out another 15,000,000 and gave it to Erza. "This is the reward for this quest. You get half, and I get half."
Erza asked, "Uh... why didn't you just count out 15,000,000 directly?"
"The process of dividing money is also a kind of joy, isn't it?"
Erza hesitated for a moment before saying, "Takeshi, the main credit for this time is yours. You should take more."
"Here we go again. Last time Elfman was the same. What credit or no credit. Since we teamed up to do a quest, it's naturally divided by headcount. That backward system of distribution by labor is not suitable for teamwork."
"..."
"Thank you."
"What are you thanking me for? If anyone should be thanking, it should be me thanking you. Thanks to you, I've gained a full 35,000,000 this time." Takeshi said with a cheerful laugh, his happy expression completely genuine.
Erza felt a little more at ease after seeing it.
Takeshi began to calculate rapidly in his mind: 35,000,000 Jewels is equivalent to 350,000 dollars.
If this were in his previous life, if he put all this money in the bank, he wouldn't have to work for the rest of his life.
Fortunately, this world also has banks, and although the interest is not high, it's still 3%. After he goes back, he'll deposit this money in the bank, and when he's old and retired, the interest will be enough for him to live on.
Perfect plan.
Just then, Erza suddenly leaned closer to him, looking at him and saying, "Takeshi, I have something I want to ask you."
Gulp!
Takeshi couldn't help but gulp as he looked at Erza's beautiful face so close.
Is she going to confess? Does she want to be with me? I'm not mentally prepared for this.
Should I say yes or yes? It's really hard to choose.
"Takeshi... can I become your disciple?"
"Pfft—!"
Takeshi spluttered when he heard that.
What the hell?
Erza wants to become his disciple?
Takeshi's lips twitched as he asked, "W-why?"
Erza said, "Of course, to learn swordsmanship. Takeshi, you are the strongest swordsman I have ever seen, even capable of slaying a Dragon. That's a Dragon that legend says can destroy a country."
"None of our attacks had any effect on it. Only you could severely injure and even slay it."
"It was true when you were saying that Arthur didn't know swordsmanship. I want to learn real swordsmanship."
Erza's eyes gleamed as she spoke.
If anyone else had said this, she wouldn't have believed it, even scoffing at it. But having personally witnessed Takeshi's swordsmanship, she knew that what he had said was not an exaggeration, it was a fact.
Takeshi, however, felt a pang of emptiness inside. Why did he have to act so cool in the arena back then?
"This... my swordsmanship is actually very weak."
"Weak?! If your swordsmanship is considered weak, then what about the others?"
"Uh... to be honest, I myself am actually very weak. Right now, I might barely be at the guild's second-tier level. My swordsmanship is not mine, but rather belongs to the character I use Take Over on."
"Isn't that just your magic? How can it not be yours?"
Erza and Mirajane had fought since they were young, so she was extremely familiar with Take Over Magic.
She naturally knew that the swordsmanship belonged to Yoriichi, whom Takeshi had used Take Over on, but this was Takeshi's magic to begin with.
"Yes, that's true, but the consciousness is still mine. I can use it, but I don't know how to teach others. Moreover, the swordsmanship that suits me may not suit you. You are a swordsman, but not purely a swordsman. What suits you is the best."
He didn't want Erza chasing him around, calling him 'master'. That would be too terrifying, so he'd better refuse.
And he wasn't talking nonsense. Erza's magic was Requip.
"If you want to learn swordsmanship, I can transform into Yoriichi and spar with you sometime when I have time."
"Really?! That's great."
Erza was very happy to hear Takeshi say that.
This made Takeshi suspect that her original goal was just to spar with him.
—
Magnolia, Fairy Tail.
Bang!
Makarov threw a thick stack of newspapers in front of Takeshi and Erza. The newspapers reported on the events that had occurred in the Kingdom of Sobelia, with Takeshi and Erza being the main focus.
The two only learned that the news had spread throughout the entire Ishgar continent in the past three days after returning to the Guild.
After all, a legendary Dragon had appeared, and Takeshi had even become a Dragon Slayer hero. This level of buzz wouldn't die down for at least ten days to half a month.
"Explain yourselves. What exactly happened?"
Takeshi and Erza sat kneeling obediently before Makarov.
"Well... Master, we just went to do a quest. Who would have thought we'd be so unlucky as to encounter something like this?"
Takeshi's words immediately reeked of an excuse.
"It's like this, Master..."
Erza immediately reported everything, including the king's original intention to slay the Dragon, and how the two of them had even accepted an SS-Class Quest.
"Nonsense!"
"You two are being too reckless!"
"An S-Class Quest is one thing, but you dare to tackle an SS-Class Quest? That's a Dragon, a single one can destroy a country!"
Makarov was truly angry this time. From the newspaper reports, it was clear how dangerous this quest had been, and these two audacious brats actually dared to take on such a quest.
Takeshi cried out in protest, "Master, you can't blame us for this. We hadn't even started the quest yet. Who knew the quest target would come attacking on its own? We couldn't just stand by and watch so many innocent lives in the city be killed, could we?"
"Still trying to argue! Is that what I'm talking about?!" Makarov slammed the table in anger.
Mirajane came over to mediate, "Master, calm down. Haven't they returned safely? Although their taking on an SS-Class Quest was inappropriate, the outcome was still good. You two, quickly promise that there won't be a next time."
Mirajane secretly winked at Takeshi and Erza.
The two immediately understood. "Master, we promise. There will definitely not be a next time."
Hearing Mirajane's words, Makarov's anger slightly subsided.
"Hmph! If there's a next time, I'll definitely break your legs. Now get out."
"Understood."