Under Erza's panicked gaze, her companions finally arrived.
"Chase! Look, look! I won money! 20,000 Jewels—and that includes Happy's 10,000!"
Lucy couldn't wait to show off her winnings to Chase, emphasizing Happy's contribution.
Erza, fearful, silently retreated, trying to reduce her presence, silently chanting: Can't see me, can't see me.
"What an exciting battle! I never thought you'd actually beat that monster Erza, Chase!"
The truly naked Gray smiled at Chase.
Erza continued: Can't see me.
"Manly! Both of you are super manly!"
Elfman raised his fists high and roared, seemingly with no intention of actively addressing her.
"Hey Elfman... Erza's a girl, you know..."
Cana, slumped over her barrel, hiccupped, half-drunk and half-sober.
Seeing that the key targets' attention wasn't on her, Erza, heaved a huge sigh of relief.
Whoever it was, if the next person could just be somewhat normal...
"Erza! How could you lose to Chase?! You're the captain of our strongest team!"
Happy, having lost money, flew over and clung to Erza's calf, weeping bitterly.
"..."
Erza's vision darkened, her head exploding: H-Happy?!?
"Erza, what's wrong?" Sensing something amiss, Happy looked up and asked.
Erza's face was ashen. She stood frozen, unable to answer immediately.
Soon, other companions noticed her stiff, trembling body. Thinking she might be injured from the battle, they gathered around with concern.
Under the gaze of more and more eyes, Erza swallowed hard.
After an extended period of mental preparation, she finally spoke, her voice trembling: "Aye~! I-I'm not hurt!"
Silence fell like a thunderbolt for ten seconds.
Then...
"EH?!!!!"
As if witnessing a species rarer than a dragon, everyone exclaimed in disbelief.
"W-wait! Happy Number Three?! Erza turned into Happy Number Three?!"
Lucy rubbed her eyes, unable to believe her ears.
"Haha, Happy, huh? Not bad luck."
Chase walked over and patted Erza's shoulder, explaining the punishment to everyone.
"Right, Erza?"
Erza whipped around. Her gaze was so ferocious it was more monstrous than any monster.
"Aye~! That's indeed what happened." The Fairy Queen—no, Happy Number Three—said.
While everyone was still immersed in shock, the surrounding temperature rose quietly, and searing flames suddenly burst forth.
Natsu, who had been knocked out cold by Erza's punch earlier, finally came to his senses. Clenching fiery fists, he shouted:
"Damn it! How dare she do that to me?! Where's that bastard Erza?! I want revenge! Revenge!"
"Oh ho. Perfect timing, Natsu."
Humiliated and enraged, Erza cracked her knuckles, her gaze shadowed, adding a special suffix: "Aye~!"
"Huh? Happy Erza?!" Natsu startled.
He had no idea what was happening, but he could clearly sense that Erza seemed...
Even more terrifying than usual!
His vengeful flames instantly dissipated. Terrified, Natsu opened his arms and spun around, tightly embracing the nearest person—Gray.
"Aye~! Gray and I are getting along fine! W-we haven't been fighting!"
Every hair on Gray's body stood on end. He pushed and kicked at Natsu. "You were dreaming, clueless bastard! Don't cling to me! If you want to die, don't drag me down with you!"
"There it is! Happy Number Two!" Lucy commented sharply.
Macao, Wakaba, and the other troublemakers eagerly jumped in to stoke the flames:
"Haha! Go, Natsu, Gray! Take advantage while Erza's magic is low and beat her!"
"Yeah! You two can do it!"
"Begging for mercy at a time like this? You two are so unmanly!"
"Damn it! If you're so brave, you do it!"
"Speaking of which, Mira-nee, what's for dinner tonight?"
"Ladies, let's continue—ignore them."
"Hey, hey, Erza! Want some fish?"
"Don't worry, Levy! Whatever happens, we'll protect you!"
...
THUD!
A sharp, piercing sound suddenly interrupted the scene, which was about to descend into daily chaos.
A toad-man clad in the Magic Council's official robes expresslessly approached, his webbed feet making puff-puff sounds.
"That guy is?" Makarov's brow furrowed slightly.
"Nobody move. I am an envoy of the Magic Council."
The toad-man pulled a document stamped with the Magic Council's seal from his robes and presented it to Erza. "Regarding the Eisenwald terrorist incident, for suspected damage to public facilities and eleven other charges..."
"Erza Scarlet, you are under arrest."
At these words, everyone looked bewildered and confused.
"H-how can this be?! We protected the station's passengers and residents from the dark guild's attack!"
As a first-hand witness of the entire incident, Lucy was the first to step forward and defend Erza.
"Exactly! Why aren't you arresting the escaped mastermind, Erigor?! Why come after Erza?!"
"Damn it! I won't let you take Erza! If you've got the guts, fight us!"
Natsu and Gray, who had been scared moments ago, now stood menacingly, unhesitatingly blocking Erza.
"Fairy Tail! Are you openly defying the Magic Council's orders?!" The toad-man growled.
These words ignited Natsu's fiery temper. He stepped forward, ready to blast this weird-looking bastard away.
"Stop, Natsu! Don't be impulsive."
Erza pushed Natsu back, walked up to the toad-man, and proactively extended her arms.
"Master!" Natsu looked anxiously at Makarov.
Makarov didn't reply. He calmly watched as Erza was fitted with Magic-Sealing Cuffs by the toad-man.
The Magic Council's so-called "arrests" of guild members were usually just formalities—symbolic gestures to the public, demonstrating their authority and power as administrators. They rarely led to actual sentencing.
So he wasn't worried.
"Damn it!"
Unaware of this, Natsu struggled fiercely. Just as he got rid of Macao and the others' obstruction, a powerful hand gripped him and held him in place.
"Follow the Master's and Erza's lead, Natsu." Chase said calmly.
Seeing this, Makarov immediately relaxed.
In situations like this, having an S-Class mage present really did make things easier~
The next second, however, Chase—who had just stopped Natsu—stepped forward himself, walked toward the Magic Council envoy, and stood beside Erza.
"Chase, you..." Erza's eyes widened in confusion.
"You're Chase, from the ruins island incident? What is it?" The toad-man recognized him.
"Destroying the meeting mansion and other facilities—I had a hand in that too. Take me along." Chase smiled.
He wanted to use this opportunity to first meet Jellal and Ultear, who were lurking in the Magic Council branch.
The existence of the Tower of Paradise was always an unavoidable trouble, the source of all tragedy and evil.
A year ago, his strength wasn't enough, but now...
With proper preparation, soloing the Tower of Paradise wasn't impossible!
And as repayment for the card he'd gotten, he'd keep Erza company—even if this arrest was just a formality.
This guy was an idiot, fighting to be tried by the Magic Council?
After a brief pause, the Magic Council envoy said coldly and arrogantly: "Only Erza is charged. Unrelated personnel, stay out of the way."
Then...
THUD!
A dull thud rang out as his abdomen took a solid punch, leaving him wincing in pain.
"Now I am too."
Chase withdrew his fist, smiling sunnyly.
The event was so sudden that Lucy, Natsu, and the others were all stunned. Even Erza, in cuffs, shot him an incomprehensible look.
As for Makarov...
The old man's eyes bulged, his mouth gaping wide. His blank mind contained only one thought:
Easier my ass!!!
***
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