The days of rehearsal for the public performance melted away like snow in the desert.
In the blink of an eye, the brief seven days flew by.
It was almost time for the official show.
Over these seven days, the group had rehearsed to near perfection.
Through blood, sweat, and Natsu's occasional accidental arson, they managed to reach a point where they could perform without making catastrophic mistakes.
Among them, Ankh's achievements were particularly impressive.
Despite his initial reluctance and his relegation to the role of the "Narrator," he had memorized his lines flawlessly.
His deep, resonant voice was perfect for setting the scene, adding a layer of professional gravitas to a script that was, quite frankly, a mess.
On the final morning, the air in the theater was thick with tension.
As everyone was conducting their last dress rehearsal before the curtain rose, the theater owner, Rabian, suddenly appeared at the doorway.
He looked more nervous than the actors, wringing his hands as he timidly called out:
"Um, excuse me! The... the support group has arrived too. Thank you all so much for arranging this!"
The five members of the Strongest Team paused mid-scene. They looked at him in confusion, then at each other.
"Support group?" Lucy asked, tilting her head. "Since when did we have such a group?"
Curious, they walked to the front entrance of the theater.
What they saw made their jaws drop!
Standing outside in the morning sun was a small army.
"Yo!"
Makarov Dreyar, the Guild Master of Fairy Tail, stood at the front of the crowd, waving casually as if he hadn't just brought half the magical world with him.
Behind him, a motley crew of supporting characters and extras had gathered together, creating a bizarre tableau.
The guild master of the Blue Pegasus Guild, striking poses and surrounded by sparkles.
There was the wild and shouting Master Goldmine from Quatro Cerberus.
Mr. Yajima from the Magic Council was there, looking calm as always.
Even the demon village chief from Galuna Island stood tall, looking imposing next to the shorter humans.
And most shockingly, crouching in the back like scolded dogs, were Gajeel's former underlings from Phantom Lord—the ones who hadn't been arrested.
Lucy stared in shock at the familiar faces one after another.
Her brain struggled to process the sheer randomness of the gathering.
"So many people!" she exclaimed, her voice cracking. "And why are the Phantom Lord guys here?!"
"We're here to work security!" one of them shouted nervously.
Lucy held her head. She didn't even know where to begin complaining. The sheer absurdity was overwhelming!
[Exhausted Director Lucy: Sanity Level 10%]
"By the way... you came too?"
Ankh's voice cut through the noise. He was looking at a specific man in the crowd with genuine surprise.
Lucy followed his gaze and gasped. "You! You're that fake Salamander! Bora! Why are you here?!"
It was indeed Bora of Prominence—the man who had tried to kidnap Lucy in Hargeon Town using Charm Magic.
Bora was as flamboyant as ever.
He wore a high-collared cape and held a rose. Upon seeing them, he flicked his purple bangs and laughed heartily.
"My name is Bora, miss! Please, let bygones be bygones!" Bora struck a pose. "Those two gentlemen knocked some sense into me last time! I have turned over a new leaf. I've long stopped scouting and forcing idols to debut."
"Huh?!"
Lucy stared blankly at Bora.
Her brain screeched to a halt. "Scouting... idols?"
She tried to recall the scene when she first met him.
He had lured women onto his ship... he had mentioned going to a "party"...
'So, back then,' Lucy thought, her eyes widening, when Bora lured women onto his ship, he wasn't trafficking them into slavery... he was forcing them to debut as a pop idol group?
'What kind of absurd twist was this?'
Seeing Lucy's astonished expression, Bora couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
"Otherwise... what did you think I was doing? I'm a talent scout, not a monster!"
Lucy's face turned bright red. Steam practically erupted from her ears.
"N-no... it's nothing..." she stammered, waving her hands frantically. "I totally knew that! Haha!"
What she had imagined, of course, were all sorts of... criminal scenarios involving dungeons and chains.
Turns out, the reality was just show business.
While Lucy wrestled with her own impure thoughts, Mirajane Strauss made her way through the crowd.
She had come with Master Makarov to oversee the event.
She happily ran up to Ankh, her blue dress fluttering. Her eyes were sparkling with excitement.
"Ankh!" she chirped. "I really can't wait to see your performance! The narrator is the soul of the play, you know!"
Ankh scratched his head, feeling a bit awkward under her intense gaze.
He remained silent.
If nothing goes wrong, she'd probably see him right at the start... provided Natsu doesn't burn the curtains down first.
Mirajane then covered her cheeks with her hands, smiling to herself like a fangirl. "But I never expected that you would be willing to make a comeback too. It's been so long since you were in the spotlight!"
Ankh blinked. "Making a comeback debut? Wait, what does that mean?"
Seeing Ankh's confused expression, Mirajane tilted her head curiously.
"Dont you also need to wear a mask during performances? Or maybe a hood? This should be your first public performance in years, right? The fans might riot if they see your face."
Ankh's body stiffened.
'Damn,' he thought. 'Life had been too comfortable lately. I actually forgot about this matter.'
Lucy looked at Ankh strangely.
She walked over, having recovered from her embarrassment with Bora.
"Why are you guys talking about? Why doesn't Ankh like showing his face in public? I mean, he's handsome, sure, but is it that big of a deal?"
Ankh and Mirajane exchanged glances.
Both of them involuntarily showed bitter, knowing smiles.
"Lucy... you haven't seen Ankh's fans..." Gray sighed from nearby, shuddering as if remembering a traumatic war.
Even Natsu stopped eating the buffet food to nod seriously.
"They're all crazy. Like really really crazy."
'Even Natsu agreed?' Lucy nodded thoughtfully, looking at Ankh with new light.
While guild members saw him every day and were used to him, Ankh's true appearance held an immense, almost magical attraction for anyone in the outside world.
He possessed a beauty that truly crossed gender boundaries.
His features combined masculine elegance and righteousness with a feminine charm and softness that drove people wild.
After years of effort and hiding away on missions, Ankh's "beauty that brings trouble" reputation had begun to fade from the public consciousness.
Coupled with his own powerful presence and decisiveness, Ankh had successfully suppressed his enchanting qualities and making his "manliness" return.
But standing on a stage? Under spotlights? That might undo all his hard work.
Seeing Ankh's anxious expression, Mirajane stepped closer.
She lowered her voice, speaking with a professional tone.
"Actually, Ankh... if you are worried about fan troubles, you could find an Agent."
Ankh was stunned.
He blinked. "An agent? What's that?"
Mirajane adjusted her posture, taking on the demeanor of an entertainment industry veteran.
"It's a profession that only emerged in recent years in Fiore," she explained. "The qualifications for an agent require business acumen, expertise in social etiquette, flawless handling of affairs, sharp insight, and always prioritizing the employer's interests."
She began to tick points off on her fingers.
"Their main work is to manage everything related to the idol in the idol's name. This includes scheduling performances, negotiating payments, managing public events, and handling the press. But most importantly... they act as a shield. They can effectively organize fans by releasing schedules and announcements in an 'official' capacity, keeping the mobs at bay."
Mirajane's eyes gleamed.
"If the idol is famous enough and the agent is skilled, the earnings can be several times higher than working alone. With enough money, you could even partner to establish a company, sign more idols, and continue the profit cycle."
After listening to Mirajane's explanation, Ankh fell into prolonged silence.
This working model...
Wasn't this just like the talent agencies and star studios from his previous life on Earth? How had the Fairy Tail world developed so much of the entertainment industry without him knowing?
'I really have been living under a rock' Ankh realized.
But putting aside those miscellaneous thoughts, Ankh carefully considered it.
This might actually be quite good.
Originally, his main annoyance with being famous was having fans disrupt his daily life.
He hated the noise.
But if there was an agent handling things and the financial effect was really as good as Mirajane said, this might not be a bad approach.
Not only would there be no fan troubles, Ankh mused, but with money pouring in, I could even start my own company.
He didn't expect to be as wealthy as the Heartfilia family, but at the very least, he should be able to afford a massive manor in the countryside with a hot spring, right?
Ankh's mind was now filled with thoughts of money.
His eyes practically turned into jewel symbols. He didn't feel the slightest bit ashamed of his greed.
Like many in the guild, while working as Mages, they were developing their own industries through their personal interests.
For instance, Lucy aspired to become a writer.
Warren was researching high-tech Magic communication tools.
Max opened a merchandise shop.
Why couldn't Ankh be a Tycoon?
Ankh nodded with great interest and smiled, a spark of ambition in his eyes.
"That sounds pretty good. Can this really prevent fans from going berserk?"
Mirajane nodded cheerfully.
"Agents are officially supported by the Fiore Royal Family. Registered agents have their idols strictly regulated and protected under specialized laws... Of course, for someone with Ankh's special status as a Wizard saint, it adds another layer of legal protection."
At this point, Mirajane couldn't help but squint subtly at the completely unaware Ankh.
Mirajane had heard rumors through her networks... that the reason the royal family agreed to support the agent profession so quickly might have involved Princess Hisui's influence behind the scenes.
The still young Princess Hisui had already demonstrated talents beyond her years.
And it seemed, based on certain whispers, that she had pushed for these laws specifically because of a certain mage she admired...
Ankh didn't overthink it, simply considering himself fortunate to be in the right place at the right time.
Satisfied with Mirajane's assurance, Ankh nodded decisively.
"Alright. I'm sold. So how do I find an agent? Is there an interview process? Will she interview me, or do I interview her?"
Mirajane raised a finger to her lips and smiled mysteriously.
It was a smile that promised chaos.
"Leave it to me," she said sweetly. "I'll arrange everything quickly. I guarantee this person is reliable, capable, and perfectly suited to handle you."
"You just focus on preparing for your grand comeback on the public eyes!"
Ankh looked at her in surprise, then nodded slowly.
"Okay. Thanks, Mira."
Although Mirajane's help was expected and usually welcome, Ankh felt a sudden chill run down his spine.
'Why do I feel... inexplicably uneasy?' Ankh wondered, looking at Mira's smile.
'It feels like I just signed a contract with a devil.'