By the time Chase and the other two returned to the tavern, most of their companions had already left. Only a few drunkards remained sprawled on the floor.
At the counter, Future Yajima had already departed. Makarov, Future Macao, and the tavern owner were huddled together, occasionally letting out lecherous "hehehe" chuckles.
No need to look—those three were probably discussing high-minded topics like the artistic beauty of the human form.
"Mas—ter!" Mirajane frowned and walked straight over.
"Huh? Ah! M-M-Mira! You guys didn't go straight back to the inn?" Makarov jumped, shrinking his head guiltily.
Mirajane didn't answer. Her kindly gaze drifted downward, landing on the latest issue of the swimsuit gravure magazine lying between the two of them.
"Ahem. Who left this worthless trash here?"
Makarov cleared his throat and frantically signaled the tavern owner across the table. "I say, boss, this is your fault!"
Sensing trouble, Future Macao silently slipped away into the shadows.
"Oh my, so it belongs to the boss?" Mirajane smiled.
That sweet smile carried immense weight in the tavern owner's eyes. He immediately confessed, "It—it was Mr. Makarov who paid me extra to buy it!"
Better a friend die than oneself—after spending these past few nights with Fairy Tail, he knew exactly who not to cross.
"Hey!!" Makarov yelped.
"Confiscated."
Ignoring his heart-wrenching, reluctant gaze, Mirajane mercilessly snatched up the photobook and casually handed it to Chase beside her.
Chase glanced at it, then passed it to Erza.
"S-So bold!" The contents made Erza's face burn red.
After a round of scolding.
A golden magic circle flickered, and a magic barrier that blocked all perception enveloped Chase, Mirajane, Erza, and Makarov.
"As expected, we couldn't hide it from old man Yajima," Chase sighed.
As he'd predicted earlier, Future Yajima had indeed noticed the existence of two worlds.
But according to Makarov, Yajima hadn't initially jumped to that conclusion—he'd simply been concerned about the subtle changes in the Fairy Tail members.
"Mr. Yajima will keep it secret for us, right?" Erza asked.
"With the friendship between him and this old man in this world—absolutely!"
Makarov puffed out his chest proudly. "Once the Grand Magic Games are over, I just need to treat him to a bowl of Fairy Ramen with twelve slices of chashu at the guild."
Actually, even without that connection, Future Yajima wouldn't say anything—if two Fairy Tails participated at the same time, the Grand Magic Games would probably be over on day one!
"Oh my, what an inexpensive friendship you have~" Mirajane covered her mouth with a laugh.
Old Makarov inside the cards said matter-of-factly, "Well, for little Ya, that's already the highest level of hospitality."
"Anyway—you went to all this trouble to set up such a mysterious barrier, so there must be something else you need to say."
Makarov looked around at the shimmering magic barrier, dropping his casual demeanor as he turned to Chase. "Where did you guys go just now?"
From Future Levy and the others, he'd learned that the place Chase had taken them was connected to dragons.
"An underground cavern beneath the Grand Magic Games venue. It's filled with dragon skeletons."
Chase took a sip of the black tea Mirajane handed him and gave a general account of what they'd seen and heard.
"That Acnologia—he was actually a Dragon Slayer?"
"The Dragon King Festival... I never imagined such a history from four hundred years ago. No wonder the Fiore Kingdom is so fixated on the Eclipse Gate!"
After hearing the story, both Makarovs wore grim expressions, clearly taken aback.
As for Chase's plan to go through the Eclipse Gate to fight dragons, they remained relatively calm—after all, they'd already guessed as much last night.
"For you to have traveled to such a critical point in time—you're incredibly fortunate..." Future Makarov let out a relieved sigh.
Unlike Mirajane and Erza, who were more worried about Chase's safety, his mind went to far more serious implications.
According to Zirconis, it wasn't hard to deduce that the Eclipse Gate likely connected to the continent of four hundred years ago—the era when dragons ruled.
And specifically, the region belonging to the faction that opposed coexistence with humans!
If Fairy Tail from the other world hadn't appeared, if Chase hadn't sensed all this in advance, and Princess Hisui had opened the Eclipse Gate while everyone was completely unprepared...
The consequences alone were enough to send chills down one's spine.
"Chase, I'll say it again—if you're confident, go ahead and do it. But make absolutely sure you stay safe!" Makarov gave his solemn instruction.
"Don't worry, old man. Don't forget—Mira and Erza will be there too," Chase said with a smile.
The power of great dragons was indeed terrifying. Even a single one could push Jura, the fifth-ranked Wizard Saint, to the brink of despair.
But when it came to fighting an entire dragon horde as a group battle, Chase had plenty of tricks up his sleeve.
And even if something completely unexpected happened—he could just destroy the Eclipse Gate itself!
For that kind of dirty work—ahem, that glorious and arduous mission—the two Makarovs were absolutely the best candidates.
Suddenly having their hands held, Mirajane and Erza blushed and turned their heads away, neither speaking nor pulling free.
Inside, they thought: He's the one being stubborn—why drag us into it?
Makarov caught their expressions. Though he'd long accepted the situation, he couldn't help but let out a heavy sigh.
How did the two fairest flowers of the guild end up on this lump of—
Future Makarov wasn't nearly as distraught. "Regardless, for now, the most important thing is to win the Grand Magic Games and claim the 30 million—ah, I mean, the championship!"
At the mention of 30 million, Makarov shook off his disappointment and reignited his fighting spirit. "Absolutely!"
"While you were out, we've already discussed it."
"For the new team's debut, we need to make a statement. Tomorrow, it'll be you three, Laxus, and Lucy."
Hearing that, Mirajane paused for a moment, then quickly caught on. "Wouldn't having all S-Class mages be a bit too unfair?"
"The competition events are one thing, but given the organizers' style, they'll probably designate other substitutes for the battle rounds," Erza analyzed seriously.
"Exactly. So the bigger effect is just to intimidate the other guilds."
Seeming to imagine the looks of despair on Bob's and the other old-timers' faces, both Makarovs let out sinister chuckles.
What a blessing to have friends like that!
"By the way, old man—about my suspended status..." Chase was more interested in whether he'd be taken off the ban list.
Actually, he didn't care that much—just thought he'd mention it.
Both Makarovs glanced at him simultaneously, thought for a moment, and said in unison, "Pending."
***
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