That phrase, "The sleeping Demon should awaken now," exploded like a thunderclap in Mirajane's heart, which had been calm for too long.
Her body stiffened for a moment. She slowly turned her head, her blue eyes, which always held a gentle smile, now filled with a deep, unfathomable complexity of emotions.
Shock, confusion, and a hint of pain from an old wound being touched.
"I..." Mirajane's voice was a little dry.
Ryoma just blinked at her, said nothing more, and then prepared to return to his room.
He knew that a few words were enough. Too many words would only cause unnecessary trouble. He just wanted to plant a seed in advance, a seed that would allow this former "Demon" to find herself again.
After all, they would later have to face Phantom Lord and the guild civil war initiated by that idiot Laxus.
If Mira could overcome her psychological trauma earlier, then when Laxus started the guild civil war, he shouldn't be able to beat them up.
Mira watched Ryoma's retreating back, her hand clutching the cup tightening unconsciously.
Lucy looked from one to the other, completely bewildered by the strange atmosphere between them.
She just felt that the Mirajane she saw for a moment just now was incredibly unfamiliar.
Beneath the calm of the night, there were always those who couldn't stand the quiet.
After Natsu was punched into the floor by Makarov, it was as if countless ants were crawling in his heart.
"As long as I complete an S-class mission, the old man will have nothing to say, right?"
Natsu grew more excited as he spoke, "By then, I'll be the strongest in the Guild."
When Lucy left the Guild and returned to her rented apartment, Natsu and Happy were already waiting for her at her place.
"Ah!"
"Can't you two just go home?"
"I've decided!"
Natsu suddenly stood up, pulled a request form from his pocket, and slapped it on the table.
"Let's go complete an S-class mission, Lucy!"
When she saw the "S" mark at the top of the quest form, Lucy's entire body froze.
"What's going on? You're not supposed to go to the second floor."
Happy said, "I took it without permission."
"Huh?! An S-class mission? Are you crazy! Absolutely not!"
"We don't have the qualifications to take on an S-class mission."
"Tch, how boring." Natsu pouted, and leaped off the bed.
"Happy, let's go."
"Aye!"
The man and the cat jumped out of Lucy's window.
"Honestly, those two idiots..."
Lucy sighed helplessly, bending down to tidy the table Natsu had messed up, only to find the request form "accidentally" left on the floor.
She picked it up, intending to chase after them to return it, but her gaze was drawn to the contents of the form.
Quest Details: Lift the curse on Galuna Island.
Requester: Residents of Galuna Island
Reward: 7 million Jewels and a Golden Zodiac Key
Lucy's breath hitched for a moment, her eyes fixed on that line of small print.
She was a Celestial Spirit Mage. Being able to get a Golden Zodiac Key was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
To go, or not to go?
Reason and desire battled within her. After only three seconds, reason was defeated.
"Natsu, Happy, wait up!"
Lucy grabbed the request form and rushed out.
—
The next day, at Fairy Tail.
Ryoma yawned and sat in his usual spot at the bar.
He had just finished cleaning the entire Guild hall and was now enjoying his well-deserved reward—a glass of lemon sparkling water personally made by Mira.
"Yo, Ryoma, on logistics duty again today?" Macao, cigarette in mouth, leaned over to tease him.
Ryoma didn't even bother to lift his eyelids, shaking the ice cubes in his glass. "Can't be helped."
The hall was as lively as ever, until Mira came down from the second floor, a hint of panic on her face.
"This is bad!"
"Master, one of the request forms on the second floor is missing."
"Pfft!"
Makarov's tea, which he had just drunk, sprayed out, drenching the face of a nearby Guild member.
Ryoma looked at the member's uncomfortable expression and secretly sighed. 'Good thing I'm far away.'
Hearing the commotion, the mages around them quieted down.
There were only a few in the entire Guild bold enough to touch the quests on the second floor.
"Posted on the second floor, that must be an S-class mission."
"Which idiot would take something like that?"
Makarov frowned. He already had a suspicion in his heart, and that ominous premonition made his temples throb.
Ryoma, however, was calm, even having the leisure to move his cup aside to avoid being affected.
"Who could have done it? There shouldn't be such an ignorant idiot in the Guild." Makarov was so anxious he was pulling at his beard.
"Hmph, haven't there always been idiots?"
On the second floor, that familiar and arrogant voice rang out again.
Laxus was leaning against the railing, looking down at the chaotic crowd below.
"Laxus!"
"Do you know something?"
Laxus sneered, ignoring their questions, and slowly uttered two words, "A cat."
He paused, seeming to enjoy their confused expressions, before continuing, "I saw a winged cat tear it off and run away."
The entire Guild instantly fell into dead silence.
A small blue cat with wings.
Who else could it be but Happy?
And where Happy appeared, Natsu was bound to be there.
Everyone roared in unison, "It's Natsu and Happy!!!"
"What are those guys thinking?! Taking an S-class quest without permission..."
"Though I knew he was an idiot, I didn't think he was this stupid."
Laxus looked at the anxious faces of the crowd below, the mockery on his face growing stronger.
"This is a serious violation of rules. Old man, they'll be expelled from the Guild when they return, right? But with their level of strength taking on an S-class mission, it's unlikely they'll even return."
"Laxus!"
A clear, cold shout of anger interrupted his mockery.
Everyone turned back in surprise, finding that it was Mira who had spoken.
At this moment, Mira's face no longer held a trace of a gentle smile. Her eyes were icy, and an almost imperceptible black aura seemed to emanate from her, a chilling sense of oppression.
Ryoma watched this scene, a smile appearing on his lips that no one else saw.
See, the seed had been stimulated and sprouted.
"You clearly saw it, why didn't you stop him?" Mira's voice was devoid of any warmth.
"I only saw what looked like a thieving cat running off with a paper. I didn't realize it was Happy."
Laxus turned his head, meeting Mira's gloomy expression, and far from being afraid, he showed an excited smile.
"That expression of yours is really long overdue."
Makarov asked with a solemn expression, "This is bad. Which quest is missing?"
"The Cursed Island, Galuna."
Upon hearing this, the crowd in the Guild erupted again.
"Enough!"
Makarov slammed the table, roaring, "Laxus, go immediately and bring that idiot Natsu back to me!"
"Sorry, old man."
Laxus shrugged, turning to walk deeper into the staircase.
"I'm about to leave for a quest myself, I don't have time."
"You!" Makarov's beard trembled with anger.
"Who else here besides you can drag Natsu back by force?"
Hearing this, Gray stepped forward. "Old man, I can't pretend I didn't hear that."
"I'll go, I'll definitely bring him back."
With that, he rushed out of the Guild doors without looking back.
Watching Gray's departing back, Makarov still looked worried.
If Gray went, he feared those two wouldn't return before they had fought a world-shattering battle.
His gaze swept around the Guild, finally settling on Ryoma at the bar, who was minding his own business, even having the leisure to drink.
Ryoma's body stiffened. Feeling that gaze, he tried to maintain a relaxed posture, attempting to shrink himself into an irrelevant background.
"Ryoma!" Makarov called out with full vigor.
Ryoma's hand, holding the cup, paused in mid-air. He slowly turned around, forcing an extremely innocent expression onto his face. "Master, did you call me?"
"Stop pretending." Makarov's finger was practically poking his nose, his tone brooking no argument,
"You go too. I don't trust Gray alone, you follow them, and make sure to bring both of those idiots back in one piece."
Ryoma's relaxed expression instantly crumpled.
He wailed inwardly, 'I knew it! Is it that hard to slack off a bit?!'
Ryoma put down his cup, stood up, stretched with a big yawn, and sighed helplessly, "Honestly, I just finished cleaning, and now I have to go on a business trip again?"