By noon the next day, the temporary bar at the new guild was as lively as ever.
News that Loke was actually a Celestial Spirit had spread everywhere, leaving the guild stunned at first but Fairy Tail being Fairy Tail, things quickly returned to normal.
Those who flirted kept flirting. Those who danced kept dancing. Those who drank kept drinking.
For them, what mattered wasn't Loke's identity, but that he was safe and still one of their own.
During the morning, several women who claimed to be Loke's girlfriends stopped by looking for him. Among them was even the granddaughter of a retired Council member!
The most outrageous part was that none of them seemed to mind each other's existence. The scene was surprisingly harmonious, with no "harem showdown" like in the pulp novels.
All Chase could do was silently tip his hat. Rocky really is something else.
The truth was simpler: Loke had promised to take them all on vacation to a famous seaside resort. But since he now needed to rest and recover in the Spirit World, he had given those tickets to the strongest team instead.
The result? Erza instantly pulled out a cartload of luggage and changed into a swimsuit at astonishing speed. By now, the team should have already been enjoying the beach.
After sending the disappointed girls away, Mira finally turned her attention across the bar.
"Chase, how's the new house coming along?" she asked, smiling warmly.
"The main structure's finished, and they're working on the decorations. The contractor says it'll be done in a few days." Chase's tone carried genuine admiration. "Ten days to put up a three-story building… their speed is insane."
"That's fast! Don't forget about our agreement." Mira placed her hands on her hips, suddenly serious.
"Relax," Chase said, waving his hand.
Why do I feel like she cares about that house even more than I do…
"Agreement? What agreement?"
Makarov's head popped up beside them, his face wearing the grin of a man eager for gossip.
"President, that's a secret." Mira pressed a finger to her lips and gave Chase a playful wink.
"Tch. Fine, I don't really want to know anyway." Makarov pouted, almost childlike, before settling himself at the bar.
But when his eyes turned toward the workers carrying furniture into the new guild hall, his expression grew solemn.
"At today's special Council session about the R-System, I ran into an unexpected little guest."
"A guest?" Mira tilted her head. "Isn't that a meeting only for guild masters?"
She remembered clearly how, not long ago, Makarov had complained about not being able to drag Chase along. Though Chase himself had no idea, the old man had already begun to consider him as a potential successor.
"The girl's name is Minerva Orland," Makarov said gravely.
"Orland? Isn't that the surname of Jiemma, Sabertooth's master?" Mira's brows furrowed.
"That's right. Minerva is Jiemma's daughter. She was attending as Sabertooth's acting master."
Makarov stroked his beard. "During the Phantom Lord incident, the Council decided not to dissolve Sabertooth since most of the members hadn't known about Jiemma's treachery. Compared to Phantom Lord, Sabertooth was too insignificant to waste energy on. So the Council let them linger on, at least in name."
He sighed. "Otherwise, a girl her age would never have been allowed to attend something like that."
Mira frowned. "Even so, isn't she still just a kid?"
"That kid's magic…" Makarov shook his head. His eyes shifted to Chase. "It was the same ancient Lost Magic you faced on the Demon Ruins. The Eighteen Gods of Battle!"
"The Eighteen Gods of Battle?!" Mira's eyes widened.
Having personally fought through the horrors of the Demon Ruins, she knew all too well how terrifying that magic was both offensively and defensively unmatched.
Chase, too, was stunned. He had suspected Minerva was extraordinary, but he hadn't imagined her ancient magic originated from that source.
"It seems Jiemma really is an idiot," Makarov muttered, shaking his head. "To abandon such a talented daughter just to curry favor with Jose… truly pathetic."
"What a waste," Chase agreed casually.
Makarov's mind lingered on the memory of the girl bowing politely before him at the Council session. So different from her father. Despite wielding ancient Lost Magic, she had shown humility instead of arrogance. She didn't look down on the weak.
Later, after speaking further with Yajima, he had pieced together the outline of Minerva's past.
"In that case, why not invite her to Fairy Tail, Master?" Mira asked curiously.
She knew all too well that Makarov loved taking in strays. She, Erza, Natsu, Gray all had been welcomed into Fairy Tail when they had nowhere else to go.
Makarov shook his head. "It's not that simple. That child still holds a strong resistance to joining us."
From her point of view, Fairy Tail had been the ones who crushed Sabertooth's pride and left them in shambles. Even if the fault lay with Jiemma, it was hard to expect her to separate the guild from her father's downfall.
"She's not like Juvia or Gajeel," Makarov added softly. "There's no personal bond to bridge the gap."
"Oh, and Chase she asked me to thank you."
"Me?" Chase raised an eyebrow.
"She was one of the civilians you saved during that incident," Makarov explained.
"A sensible child," Chase said with a faint smile. "How about I go bring her here myself, as the savior she owes?"
He knew Minerva's potential. A girl who, at the same age, could match Erza even after she had opened her Second Origin. The thought of her power made Chase's blood stir.
"Idiot!" Makarov brought his hand down in a chopping strike against Chase's head. "Don't even think about dragging her here against her will. Wait until the time is right!"
"Alright, alright, I get it, old man," Chase muttered, rubbing the sore spot.
Before Mira could laugh at him, commotion broke out at the entrance. Makao and Wakaba nearly choked on their drinks, gawking like they had seen a ghost.
"It's hidden all the way in the deepest part of town no wonder it's so hard to find. And your reputation!"
A cool, crisp voice rang out.
The guild doors swung open, and a short-haired beauty strode in. She wore only a daring swimsuit, her sharp eyes scanning the bar as she clicked her tongue.
"Every resident I asked gave me looks of disgust when I mentioned Fairy Tail."
The room fell into stunned silence.
Because standing there, bold as ever, was none other than Ur.
....
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