Chapter 108: Wendy
"Everyone from Fairy Tail! Sorry to keep you waiting!"
"We are Blue Pegasus's chosen ones…"
"The Trimens!"
The villa's lights suddenly dimmed. A spotlight beamed down from above, illuminating three handsome men in crisp suits striking poses.
"Hibiki Lates!" announced the sunny-looking one with a charming smile.
"Eve Tearm!" declared the blond-haired pretty boy with a wink.
"Ren Akatsuki!" finished the dark-haired, tan-skinned member with a flourish.
Lucy's eyes turned into hearts. "They're gorgeous!…"
"First meeting, Titania. Your beauty exceeds even the rumors," Hibiki said smoothly, approaching Erza. "Please, right this way."
"Allow me to offer you a towel!" Eve added.
"Perhaps a cocktail?" Ren suggested, turning to Lucy with a dazzling smile. "And you, young lady—please, won't you join us? Such adorable charm!"
Lucy felt her skin crawl at the saccharine delivery. She shot Dino a desperate look. "Dino… help…"
"Dino?!" All three Trimens' ears perked up simultaneously. They spun toward him, eyes widening.
The trio crowded around Dino, studying him with critical gazes. Eve crossed his arms. "Wait—this is the guy who knocked Brother Hibiki off the top spot in Sorcerer Magazine's 'Wizard Boyfriend Rankings'?"
"Doesn't look like much," Ren muttered.
"His fashion sense is completely ordinary! Nowhere near as stylish as Brother Hibiki!"
"Why does Master Bob keep going on about this guy?"
A unnervingly seductive voice interrupted them, dripping with such overwhelming intensity that everyone present broke into an involuntary cold sweat.
"How rude of you all! A man's appeal isn't merely his appearance—his talent matters greatly! But above all, what truly counts is his… MAN!"
A short, portly figure descended the stairs dramatically.
The three Trimens immediately dropped to one knee. "Master Ichiya speaks the truth! We were shallow!"
Lucy's eye twitched violently. 'You guys SHOULD be judging by appearance in this case! And what's with calling him "Master"?!' she screamed internally.
"My darling Erza! I exist solely for this moment with you!" Ichiya leaped toward the scarlet-haired mage with outstretched arms.
GRIP!
A hand clamped down on Ichiya's head, stopping him mid-flight.
"M-MAN?!!"
"Master Ichiya!!!"
"You brute! How dare you treat Master Ichiya so disrespectfully!"
"Barbarian! Release him at once!"
Dino smiled pleasantly at the dangling guild master. "Ichiya. I see you haven't changed."
After a few futile kicks at the air, Ichiya gave up struggling and coughed awkwardly. "Dino… you're as rough as ever."
"Master Ichiya—you know this savage?!" the Trimens gasped.
"Do you want me to teach these three disciples of yours what real savagery looks like?" Dino's grin widened, showing teeth.
Ichiya blanched. "You three—apologize! This is Dino Maxim, one of the Ten Wizard Saints! All three of you together couldn't last a minute against him!"
"That's impossible!" they chorused, stunned.
Dino set Ichiya down gently. Truth be told, he didn't have strong feelings about most people, but Ichiya had earned his respect. Despite the man's… eccentricities… he was genuinely brave when it mattered. Possibly the manliest man in all of Fiore, in his own bizarre way.
The door suddenly burst open. A young man with silver hair and a confident smirk entered. "This the coalition meeting point? I'm not late, am I?"
"Lyon?!" Gray blurted, recognizing his fellow disciple from Galuna Island.
"Gray?!" Lyon looked equally surprised. "You joined the alliance too?"
"Tch!"
A voice as unsettling as Ichiya's cooed from behind Lyon: "My darling Leon joined Lamia Scale for love! Yes—love! Which means me! I am love~~!"
Lucy's face went pale. "No… that voice! It's Sherry!" She'd fought the pink-haired woman before and the memory still haunted her.
"Lucy, dear! You look the same as always—but I have been reborn through the power of love!"
Lucy deadpanned. "No… please stay how you were before."
"Lord Dino! It's been too long!" A tall, imposing man with a shaved head and elaborate robes approached, bowing respectfully while clutching a staff.
Dino blinked, then recognition dawned. "Oh! Jura! Wait—did you grow hair? Almost didn't recognize you!"
Jura removed what was clearly a wig, laughing sheepishly. "Ah, you caught me. Just easier to wear this in public these days."
"That's Jura Neekis of Lamia Scale," Hibiki murmured to his teammates. "Iron Rock Jura—one of the Ten Wizard Saints."
Natsu leaned toward Happy, whispering, "What's an 'Iron Rock Jura'?"
"One of the strongest mages in Fiore," Happy explained. "Same rank as Dino—one of the Ten Wizard Saints!"
While Jura ranked lower among the Ten than Dino did, he'd held the title for years and commanded great respect. Dino, by contrast, was newly appointed—many mages still didn't even recognize him.
Lyon looked between them. "Mr. Jura, you know him?"
"Lord Dino saved my life years ago," Jura said warmly. "Shortly after I earned my title, I ventured into a forbidden zone overrun with monsters. I'd have perished if he hadn't intervened."
Gray whistled. "Two Wizard Saints against Oración Seis? They don't stand a chance."
"Speaking of which," Ichiya mused, "Cait Shelter hasn't arrived. I heard they're only sending one representative."
Footsteps echoed from the entrance—followed by a startled yelp.
"Kyaa!"
Everyone turned to see a small girl with long blue hair sprawled on the floor.
"Ow ow ow… S-sorry I'm late!" The girl scrambled to her feet, bowing apologetically. She wore a simple dress with a white collar and looked no older than twelve. "I'm Wendy Marvell from Cait Shelter! It's nice to meet you all!"
A stunned silence fell over the room.
"A kid?!"
"They sent a child?!"
"Wendy!"