An expression of shock mixed with fear appeared on Lucy's silent face.
Hearing the name "Heartfilia" again stirred up memories she didn't want to revisit, and brought panic with it.
Although she knew it would come out eventually, Chase revealing her identity in this situation still caught her off guard. At a loss, she lowered her head, gripping the hem of her skirt.
She'd thought... she could hide it a little longer...
"I'm sorry, Chase. I deceived everyone." Lucy spoke in a faint, self-blaming voice.
"Hey, it's nothing. Besides that idiot Natsu who's always shouting about Igneel, everyone in the guild has their secrets."
Chase waved his hand dismissively and smiled. "Don't worry. For now, I think I'm the only one who knows. Even if others find out, they absolutely won't care about something so trivial."
Hearing this, Lucy slowly relaxed her grip on her skirt, though deep in her beautiful eyes, a profound uneasiness still lingered.
She was terrified that the Heartfilia identity would push her to the opposite side of the Fairy Tail guild she'd worked so hard to join.
That was something she, now accustomed to the guild's joyful environment, couldn't accept.
"That's right, Lucy! Don't look so worried."
Dark Magician Girl stood up and clenched her fist in support. "If Natsu and the others dare distance themselves because of this, I'll have Master give them a good beating!"
Her words obviously worked. Lucy took a deep breath, briefly calmed herself, and finally regained some spirit.
"Thank you, Dark Magician Girl."
"Hehe, you're welcome~"
Setting that aside... was it really appropriate to use her master as a token like that...
Chase is in complaining mode.
"So, Lucy, can you tell me why you abandoned your identity as a young lady and chose to join Fairy Tail?"
Chase poured warm tea and handed it to Lucy, then added, "You don't have to if you don't want to. I'm just curious."
Lucy took the cup and looked at her own reflection in the ripping tea.
After thinking for a few seconds, her eyes flickering, she mustered her courage and slowly explained why she'd run away from home.
"That place—Heartfilia Castle—was never a warm place for me."
Although the maid Stellar and the butler uncle were very kind people...
The master of that house, her own biological father Jude Heartfilia, was a man who cared only about business and wealth—who would even trade his own daughter's marriage and call it "lucky"!
She couldn't live in a place crushed by such a cold mountain, and she refused to accept an arranged marriage.
That's why she chose to escape. That's why she chose to join the Fairy Tail she'd longed since childhood.
"I see. What a super failure, terrible father!"
After listening to Lucy's story, Dark Magician Girl clenched her fists indignantly, wishing she could give that old bastard a couple of good punches right now.
Chase, who'd known this long ago, was much calmer. He took a calm sip of tea.
"Relax, Lucy. If you don't want to go back, just stay in the guild. Think of it as your second home."
"As long as you're unwilling, no one can force change your will—even if that person is your father."
Saying this, Chase casually crossed his legs, settling into a comfortable position.
But his tone was unusually firm: "If trouble from home comes knocking, just send me a commission."
"Demolition? I'm a professional!"
Lucy's beautiful eyes brimmed with tears. She forced a smile and tried to keep a normal tone. "Chase... 'demolition' sounds a bit excessive... and I can't afford an S-Class commission reward..."
"It's not just a commission. It's a promise."
Chase sighed helplessly, pretending to be troubled as he scratched his head. "Well, I can't exactly let that 'Bro' go to waste, can I?"
"It's only natural for a brother to protect his little sister."
In the original story, Lucy had been sealed on Tenrou Island for seven years, and returned to find that her father Jude had died unexpectedly.
All he left her were stacks of birthday letters filled with regret and love.
That hurt farewell became an eternal regret, and Lucy had cried her heart out.
Since she was calling him "Brother," Chase naturally wouldn't let this problematic father and daughter drift apart onto strange paths.
All it would take was an opportunity—
A chance that would give him, as a Fairy Tail mage, ample reason to confront Jude!
Lucy stood frozen, staring blankly at Chase and Dark Magician Girl, both smiling.
This feeling of being absolutely trusted and relied upon... she hadn't felt it since her mother Layla died.
For so long—at least before joining Fairy Tail—she'd been alone...
At that moment, the always-strong girl could no longer suppress the emotions reaching their breaking point.
Even covering her face with both hands couldn't stop the raging tears from falling.
"Really! Master, you made Lucy cry!"
Dark Magician Girl symbolically scolded, then quickly walked over to comfort her.
Soon, Lucy's emotions stabilized.
After all, she wasn't the fragile type.
"Here, Lucy. This is for you."
Seizing the moment, Chase pulled a pre-prepared dumbbell from under the coffee tab
le. "Before Dark Magician comes up with a specific training plan, use this to build up your physique."
"Because I was worried Lucy might not like it, I specifically asked Master to choose a pink one~"
Dark Magician Girl struck a cute peace sign and added with a smile.
Lucy looked stupidly at the pink dumbbell thrust before her, then at Chase and Dark Magician Girl.
"Pfft."
After a few seconds of silence, she burst into laughter through her tears.
"Forget how it is to give a girl a dumbbell as a gift—a pink dumbbell looks way too weird!"
The familiar complained about Lucy had returned~
"Still... thank you, Chase. I'll work hard!"
Lucy earnestly extended both hands and carefully accepted the somewhat heavy pink dumbbell.
At that moment—Sore wa dou kana!
Chase and Dark Magician Girl simultaneously grinned, revealing sinister smiles that immediately made Lucy sense something was wrong.
"You're welcome. 30,000 Jewels."
"What?" Lucy's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Thir-ty-thou-sand Jew-els." Chase's smile didn't move an inch.
"..."
"..."
"What kind of dumbbell costs this much?!"
Snapping out of it, Lucy erupted like a volcano. She slammed the carefully cherished object onto the floor.
So this WASN'T a gift—he expected payment!!!
CRACK.
Chase's floor let out a painful groan, several cracks splitting open.
Good thing he owned the whole building, or the downstairs neighbors would be charging up!
"Hmm? You've already taken it. If you don't pay, you might not make it out the door."
"This is a forced sale—no, extortion! Pure extortion!"
"With Dark Magician Girl as witness, this is clearly a legitimate transaction."
Hearing this, Lucy looked desperately at Dark Magician Girl as if grasping at straws.
Dark Magician Girl turned away, pursing her lips and whistling.
Her long golden bangs covered her face, which was struggling to hold back laughter.
Lucy completely collapsed: She'd forgotten—they were in cahoots...
If she'd known these waters ran so deep, she wouldn't have sent Horologium back so early!
30,000 Jewels—almost half a month's rent!
Running was definitely out of the question. Her opponent was that monster Chase who could easily overpower Natsu!
After much deliberation, honest Lucy decided to use her ultimate weapon—Seduction.
After briefly composing her expression, she sat on the coffee table and struck what she considered a seductive pose, her beautiful eyes blinking out a heart, her voice syrupy sweet:
"Kind Brother Chase~ Won't you just give me this... thing—I mean, this cute pink dumbbell?
"Aren't we siblings? If not free, maybe a discount~"
...
Scene change: Lucy, a giant "well" mark on her head, stomped heavily along the night road back to her apartment, angrily muttering.
Her mouth continuously emitted colorful notes.
"That bastard Chase! In the end, he only gave me a 2,000 Jewel discount!"
"Give back all my gratitude and go die!"
"Damn, heartless businessman! Perverted battle maniac! Eternal single deadbeat card player!"