The two sides were in a deadlock, so Happy suggested rock-paper-scissors. Natsu, fighting two opponents, successfully won the game.
Acnologia, facing the angry glares of the two women, raised his hands in surrender and said, "Don't look at me, I didn't do anything. If you're unhappy, you can go hit Natsu."
Actually, he was quite Happy about Natsu's victory. If they called themselves the Goddess Squad, they'd be laughed to death when they went out.
Natsu hugged Happy and burst out laughing, "I'm the strongest! Even if I give you another chance, you still can't beat me!"
Acnologia's eyes widened, wanting to punch the arrogant idiot to death. You should know when to quit, what if you lose again?
Just then, an emotionless voice came, "You're the strongest? Did you ask me first?"
Immediately after, a woman with scarlet hair walked in. She wore armor and had a heroic and valiant demeanor.
"Yo! Erza!"
"Welcome back!"
"How was the mission?"
Everyone greeted her. Although Erza was still young, her mindset and work style were very mature, making them unconsciously forget her age, only feeling that she was like a cool older sister.
Moreover, Erza was known as the Queen of Fairies, one of the guild's few S-Class Mages.
Erza sensed something and just turned to look at Acnologia when he suddenly lifted her with both hands, exclaiming in surprise, "Ha, Erza has grown so much?"
Although he knew Erza developed quickly, he didn't expect her to develop to this extent.
Erza, being lifted like a child in front of everyone, immediately blushed with embarrassment, "Who are you? Put me down quickly!"
Even she hadn't reacted in that instant; this blue-haired guy was so fast.
Acnologia didn't know that in Erza's mind, he was just a blue-haired guy, otherwise, he would definitely be sad.
He chuckled, "I am your father!"
Erza struggled and angrily retorted, "I'm your father, let go of me quickly!"
Acnologia had no choice but to put her down and said seriously, "I really am your father."
Saying that, he pointed to Irene, who had her face covered by a large hat, "That's your mother!"
"No! You're not!"
Erza's eyes reddened, her expression as if to say that she had never had a father or mother. If she did, why hadn't they come to see her for so long?
"I'm sorry, Erza, we failed in our responsibilities as parents..."
Acnologia was filled with guilt; he didn't know how to explain, and Irene even played dead.
She just remembered that although she had always been able to see Erza, for Erza, it had indeed been six years since she last saw her.
Even if a one-year-old child was smart, they definitely wouldn't remember.
"Damn it! Acnologia, you actually made Erza cry!"
Natsu's eyes widened, and he shouted in a rage, "Erza, I'll get revenge for you!"
"Fire Dragon's..."
"Scram!"
Erza was furious and kicked him flying, destroying the atmosphere she had carefully created.
She had started remembering things since she was one year old, so she naturally remembered these unreliable parents who hadn't come to see her for six years. She had to make them feel guilty.
If forgiveness was too easy, it wouldn't be cherished.
Acnologia didn't know his daughter was so manipulative, and now he was indeed filled with guilt: "That... that..."
He hesitated, then suddenly saw more and more people gathering around, feeling utterly speechless. These people really loved to join in on any excitement.
Just now, he had given Gray and Ur a chance to be alone, but when it was his turn, everyone was just watching the drama unfold.
Not a single person helped; it was a waste to buy them gifts.
"Daughter, this is what happened..."
Irene thought for a moment, then rattled off the fabricated story Acnologia had made up earlier, and then looked at Erza pitifully, her expression as if to say, 'Please forgive your mother.'
Acnologia also cooperated with a solemn expression. If it weren't inappropriate for him to cry, he would have shed a few tears.
"I won't listen! I won't listen! You're just lying to me!"
Erza looked at these two actors and grew even angrier. This kind of lie might fool others, but they thought they could fool her?
The two of them ganging up to trick a seven-year-old child, couldn't they have some shame?
If they had been sincere from the start, she might have forgiven them, but now, absolutely not!
Irene pouted. This little girl, she wouldn't take the hint. I'm not going to bother anymore.
She watched Acnologia humble himself, pulling out gifts and smiling foolishly, then angrily sat aside, letting Acnologia do the coaxing. She wouldn't.
After all, he, as a father, was not as good as she, as a mother, who at least raised her for more than two months.
Soon, it was evening. With the old father's unremitting efforts, Erza finally smiled, and the two sat together, chatting and laughing.
Meanwhile, Irene was gritting her teeth in anger. This naughty girl was definitely targeting her and wouldn't even save her mother some face.
Acnologia led Erza to Irene, and after another round of persuasion, the two finally hugged each other, crying buckets.
He felt like his lips were about to wear out; slaying dragons four hundred years ago wasn't this tiring.
But thankfully, his hard work wasn't in vain. The family was finally reunited, hahaha!
The three came to Erza's small cabin and had a reunion dinner together.
Erza invited the two to join her squad. Upon learning that her parents had joined Natsu's Fire Dragon Squad, she glared with wide eyes and directly kicked her elderly parents out of the house.
Under the dark night sky, Acnologia and Irene looked at each other in silence.
Acnologia swallowed, moistening his dry, hoarse throat: "That... let's find a place to stay, and we'll figure something out later."
Irene asked, "It's so late, where can we find a place to stay?"
"I'll go sleep at Natsu's, you go find Lucy!"
Their sensory abilities were unparalleled in the world, so finding two familiar magic sources was naturally easy.
"Okay!"
With that, the two parted ways.
Acnologia followed Natsu's scent and found a small wooden house in about five minutes.
The door wasn't locked. As soon as he pushed it open, he smelled a pungent odor; garbage was everywhere, and the food had molded.
Natsu and Happy were sleeping like dead pigs, as if lying in a trash heap.
Acnologia was speechless. You're better off sleeping on the street; the caves he slept in back then weren't this dirty.
He walked in, found a relatively clean blanket, then went to the doorway and made a makeshift bed on the floor.
He would make do at Natsu's doorway tonight and figure out how to buy a house tomorrow.
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