The remaining two sessions of the guild masters' meeting in Crocus began as scheduled.
With nothing better to do, Chase took Dark Magician Girl with him to wander the surrounding mountains and forests, looking for magical beasts and fierce birds to stretch their legs (by beating them up).
Worth mentioning: during the lunch break, Makarov received a Magic Letter from Mira.
The letter's content was simple: Erza, Natsu, and Gray had formed a team.
The projected image of Mira in the letter appeared very happy, believing this team might be the current strongest in the guild, so she wanted to share the news with Master Makarov immediately.
She also specifically mentioned bringing Lucy along to prevent Natsu and Gray from fighting where Erza couldn't see them.
Mira was quite satisfied with her "perfect arrangement."
Makarov, however, was a nervous wreck after learning the situation. The hand holding the letter trembled uncontrollably.
Chase, whom he'd kept by his side, had still found time to blow up a neighboring mountain.
Putting aside their actual strength, just considering their capacity for destruction...
Erza, Natsu, and Gray combined roughly equaled two Chases!
"I'll be back tomorrow. I really hope those three don't pull anything stupid like demolishing a city in the meantime..."
"And I need to keep a close eye on Chase too. We finally got some vindication thanks to the Demon Ruins Island incident..."
Makarov silently prayed.
As if in response to his apprehensions, that "strongest team" over there had, well...
Already brilliantly destroyed half of Oshibana Station, a section of the Rushika Canyon railway, and three train cars!
Of course, all this damage was caused by their fierce battle to stop the dark guild's soul-reaping plot with Erigor, Kageyama, and the others from Eisenwald.
But unlike Chase's incident, only Erza and her team knew about their actions—no Weekly Sorcerer editors or island full of tourists to corroborate.
Time quietly passed.
By the time Chase and Dark Magician Girl finished their "hunting" and returned to the mansion, the sun was setting.
Many guild masters who lived nearby had already left, leaving only a small few who needed to stay another night and catch the morning train.
On a hill near the mansion, Makarov sat alone in a corner, holding the latest Weekly Sorcerer Magazine's newly released photobook, reading with great interest.
"The girls in this issue are all top quality! Too bad Mira and Dark Magician Girl's Demon God theme series got shelved."
"Such a shame. I really wanted to see it..."
The old pervert Makarov sighed deeply, though his gaze never left the colorful photobook.
Just then, a man wrapped in bandages suddenly broke into his field of vision.
It was Kageyama, the Eisenwald dark guild member who had escaped Erza and the others.
"Hmm? What's an injured young man doing here?"
Makarov noticed the skull flute clutched in the man's hand, and a flicker of seriousness crossed his eyes.
"Hey there, kid! You're badly injured—you shouldn't be wandering around. Better stay in the hospital!"
Suppressing his suspicion, Makarov greeted him with a smile.
The sudden voice startedled Kageyama, who was preparing to blow Lullaby and harvest the souls of the guild masters in the mansion.
Recognizing Makarov, he hid with some panic: "Ah? It's, it's nothing. Just getting some fresh air."
Fresh air? Out here in the wilderness near the meeting mansion?
Makarov saw through it but didn't call him out. Pointing at the flute in his hand, he asked, "Is that a musical instrument? Quite a strange shape."
"Y-yes. I'm actually a musician. Would you mind listening to me play a piece?" Kageyama thought quickly, scratching his head with a silly smile.
"Is that so? Well, hurry up then. This old man's in a bit of a rush."
Makarov put away the photobook, hopped down from the stone platform, and walked straight up to Kageyama.
Heh, so easy to fool, this Fairy Tail master...
A sinister glint flashed in Kageyama's eyes as he raised Lullaby to his lips.
One blow from this flute, and pompous, guild masters like Makarov would die in an instant—their very souls obliterated!
Meanwhile, in the bushes further away...
Chase had rendezvoused with a group of guild masters who'd caught on, and they were hiding, waiting for the show.
Several figures rushing from a distance broke the quiet scene.
It was Erza, Natsu, Gray, Happy, and Lucy—having chased the dark guild to Crocus!
"Huh? All the masters are here? And Chase too?!" Lucy exclaimed in surprise.
Unlike her shock, Natsu was less calm. He opened his mouth to loudly announce Eisenwald's conspiracy.
"You little Fairy Tail brats, the best part's coming up. No loud noises now."
Goldmine, the Mermaid Heel master, beat him to it, shushing Natsu with a gesture.
Smiling, he then gestured with his eyes toward Makarov, alone with Kageyama.
Seeing their own master, the strongest team instantly felt relieved and calmed down.
This, however, gave Bob of Blue Pegasus an opening.
The pervert's eyes sparkled with red hearts as he chased after Natsu and Gray, trying to get close.
Knowing full well his "terror," Natsu and Gray fled in panic.
The scene was so cringeworthy that even Lucy got goosebumps, quietly asking Happy about this guy's identity.
Erza, accustomed to this, simply confessed before striding over to Chase and Dark Magician Girl in her steel boots.
"Long time no see, Chase. Dark Magician Girl."
"Yo, Erza. Long time no see."
After exchanging greetings, they silently stared at each other for two and a half seconds.
Suddenly, Erza made the first move, rapidly pressing her hand against Chase's head.
Chase smiled and didn't resist, merely concentrating as he quickly mobilized his magical power, gathering it at his forehead.
Then...
Erza, holding Chase's fortified head, abruptly slammed it into her own broad chest, encased in steel armor.
CLANG!
A crisp metallic sound rang out.
"Oh? Not bad, Chase. Looks like you've grown quite a bit during that year on the Guiltina continent!"
"Haha! Your armor's gotten a lot harder too, Erza."
After their collision, the two exchanged smiles.
"I heard about the Demon Ruins Island incident. Just like you—no sooner do you return than you cause such a stir."
"It's nothing. I practically destroyed the whole island anyway."
"I see. Trying to reclaim your Destruction King throne? That won't be easy."
"What about you, Erza? Even on Guiltina, I heard more than a few stories about your exploits."
"Really, really? What exactly?!"
...
Watching the two chat so animatedly, Lucy blinked blankly, her mouth twitching.
So... this was Bro Chase and Erza's unique way of greeting?
So, so weird.
So weird she didn't even know where to start complaining...
***
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