"What's with those looks?! Éclair, Momon, and I fought like crazy out there!" Lucy shot back.
These guys were so annoying. They had the luck to choose the easy path, and yet they were the ones questioning her.
"That bastard Chase showed no mercy at all!" Cana stood with her on the same side.
"Uh, yeah... that was a fight I never want to experience again," Lily said, lingering fear spreading across his black cat face.
"Speaking of which, didn't you guys also defeat Mira?" Éclair noticed the emphasis in Makarov's earlier statement.
"Yeah, yeah!" Momon chimed in.
At the mention of this, Elfman immediately lowered his head in shame. "We, uh... used underhanded means."
"Hey! What's underhanded about it? It was strategy!" Evergreen kicked him hard.
Just like in the original story, she had used the bombshell that "she was going to marry Elfman" to successfully distract Mira, allowing Elfman to land a heavy punch on her cheek.
Though it was hard to believe, everyone still accepted the fact that Lucy and Cana had passed.
"Come to think of it, the only team whose result is still unclear is Natsu and Happy's, right?" Cana said, looking around at the remaining competitors.
"By process of elimination, the one they ran into was..." Lucy took over, propping her chin on her hand as she analyzed.
Immediately, everyone's expressions froze. The terrifying, twisted face of Erza simultaneously appeared in their minds.
The opponent was that female knight who would absolutely never go easy...
For a moment, sympathy and pity filled the crowd, along with a few sounds of rejoicing.
Thank you, Natsu, for taking on, in a sense, the most terrifying monster for us.
"Well then, let's move on to the content of the second trial," Makarov said.
Lucy instantly complained, "You're announcing Natsu's death sentence without even waiting for his result?!"
"W-wait!"
From the end of the forest path, Happy's voice suddenly rang out. "W-we passed Erza's trial!"
Looking up, Happy was flying in the air, his paws on his hips, looking very proud. Natsu beside him, however, was sulking.
"WHAT?!!" xN
The deafening exclamation was even louder than when everyone had heard that Lucy and Cana had passed.
"Happy, are you sure what you're saying is true?" Makarov was the most surprised.
Though the fact that Natsu and Happy had been able to leave their path and appear here was the best answer, knowing Erza's style as he did, he still found it hard to accept.
Natsu + Happy defeated Erza?
Absurd!
"Hehe. Let me tell you, I'm the undeniable hero here!" Happy said, raising his hand and puffing out his chest. His cat tail was practically pointing to the sky.
"Dammit! I was so close!" Natsu clenched his fists, pouting, and looking quite unhappy.
"Aye~ Your approach was too heavy-handed, Natsu. You can't deal with a monster like Erza through force alone~" Happy said, spreading his paws.
The two's diametrically opposite reactions made everyone even more curious about what had actually happened.
Pressed by Makarov, the proud Happy passionately began recounting the whole story.
A few minutes earlier. Exam Area E.
"What a shame, Natsu. This is the end."
Erza stood before the fallen Natsu, slowly raising her Purgatory serrated greatsword, preparing to knock him out and end the trial completely.
Happy, with little fighting ability, stood frozen in place, watching the struggling Natsu like a helpless husband.
The vow to absolutely help Natsu become an S-Class mage echoed deep within his mind. Finally, the damn cat overcame his fear of Erza, mustered his courage, and took a firm step forward.
"Happy, you want to fight me?" Erza's cold gaze swept over him.
"I-I'm a mage too! And I'm Natsu's partner! I-isn't that only natural?!"
Though terrified, Happy still protected Natsu behind him.
"I see. I understand. Then, in response, I will give it my all!"
Seeing Erza actually show an extremely serious expression, Happy immediately regretted it. He quickly extended his paw. "Actually, you don't have to—"
But Erza didn't give him the chance to finish his plea for mercy.
BOOM!
The serrated greatsword swung down with tremendous force, squeezing out sonic booms. The howling wind pressure made Happy's whiskers wildly flutter.
I'm going to die, I'm going to die, I'm going to die!
Happy was frozen stiff with fear. Whether by luck or by angle, in that moment of panic, the corner of his eye suddenly caught sight of a pure white flower blooming quietly amidst the black armor and crimson hair.
Come to think of it, no matter what armor Erza changed into during the battle, this flower, which he had never seen before, had always been there.
Erza... really liked this flower?
In the 0.1-second gap, thoughts raced. The idea of helping Natsu win the S-Class Trial was long forgotten. Based on pure survival instinct, words of praise flew out of Happy's mouth. "That flower is so pretty!"
SWOOSH.
The pitch-black serrated greatsword stopped abruptly, hovering just one centimeter from Happy's head.
"R-really?!" Erza's eyes lit up. Like an elementary school student whose favorite toy had been praised, her face beamed with a happy smile completely at odds with her Purgatory Armor.
It worked!
Happy rejoiced inwardly and continued blowing smoke. "Mm-hmm! The shape, the color, even where it's placed is perfect! It suits you so well, Erza!"
"Well, that's only natural. Chase put it in my hair himself~" Erza said proudly and happily, tilting her head to better show the flower.
"Chase gave it to you? Hooked up (with a rolled tongue)~!"
Happy's passive was immediately triggered. Then he quickly covered his mouth with his paw.
Don't mess this up for me at this critical moment, you damn mouth!
"Ahem." In an exceptionally good mood, Erza gave a light cough, disarmed her Purgatory Armor, and reverted to her normal serious mode. She casually waved her hand. "That's that. Natsu, you pass."
"Huh? What kind of passing is that?! I absolutely can't accept this! Let's keep fighting!" Natsu protested loudly.
"I said... you... PASS." Erza's gaze sharpened.
"Aye~ Arigatou gozaimasu!"
Natsu instantly turned into a good boy. With a ninety-degree bow and thank you all in one go, he grabbed Happy and ran off without a trace.
Back to the present, under the Tenrou Tree trunk.
Having heard the whole story, Makarov and the others stood petrified in place, somewhat unable to accept it.
The corners of Lucy and Cana's mouths twitched uncontrollably.
We fought tooth and nail against those two monsters, and you're telling me all it took was a compliment to handle Erza?
Not fair!
This is absolutely rigged!
If those two could at least complain about their unfair and bad luck, Elfman and Evergreen, who had also faced an active S-Class mage, had no words. They could only stand there blankly, scratching their heads in embarrassment.
Mira also wore the same flower in her hair.
"A man! So you can pass without using underhanded means!"
"Enough out of you, you muscle-bound male!"
***
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