Winter sunlight lazed across Magnolia's streets.
As usual, the group decided that this year's New Year's Eve they still wouldn't spend it mixed in with the guild's drunken uncles—instead, the kids their age would do their own small get-together.
And since Mira and her siblings were new this year, everyone discussed it and chose the venue: Shane's place—biggest yard, best environment. They'd throw a lively outdoor barbecue party!
So, while it was still early, the whole crew marched in force to the shopping street and started stocking up.
"Ah… the Gale-Force Reading Glasses have a new model again? Reading speed up to thirty-six times?"
Passing a beautifully decorated magic item shop, Shane caught the poster in the display window and immediately locked onto it.
"Oh, right!"
He suddenly remembered: a long time ago he'd promised Levy a thank-you gift for helping him organize and recommend so many magic materials—then he kept putting it off because of one thing after another.
"Perfect. This makes an ideal New Year's present."
Shane stopped, leaned in to check the price tag—
"Gah…"
He sucked in a breath. That price… burned.
His wallet right now was cleaner than his face.
But that didn't stop him.
Looking perfectly calm, Shane tugged the sleeve of the red-haired girl beside him, who was picking out decorative ribbons.
Erza looked over, puzzled. "What is it?"
Shane said nothing. He just blinked, then smoothly held out both hands, palms up.
A universally understood gesture: pay up.
"Oh."
Erza understood instantly.
Without even asking a question, she pulled out a thick stack of bills and placed them into Shane's hands.
"Here."
The whole action was so fluid it was practically second nature—and Natsu saw every bit of it.
"Hey! What are you two doing?!"
Like he'd caught them red-handed, Natsu jumped up and pointed, shouting, "Doesn't the guild have a rule that members aren't allowed to lend each other money?! The old man even emphasized it!"
"Lending?" Shane counted the bills and corrected him with a straight face.
"Natsu, you've got the concept wrong."
"If you borrow money and pay it back later, that's a loan—that breaks the rule."
"But if I'm just asking for money and I'm not planning to pay it back at all… then it's not a loan. Got it?"
"This is… a perfectly reasonable redistribution of resources. And sponsorship from the wealthy!"
"Huh??!"
Natsu's eyes bulged as he stared at shameless Shane—and at Erza, who showed zero reaction and even seemed to think it made sense.
He didn't understand it at all, but he was deeply shaken.
Cana couldn't watch anymore.
She walked over, slung an arm around Erza's shoulder, and pointed at Shane—already trotting into the shop with the money to spend it—like she was scolding a hopeless friend.
"Erza, this won't do. Shane only dares to be this blatant because he knows you'll let him."
"Sometimes… you should be a little stricter with him. Use the same intimidation you use on Natsu and Gray—might work better."
Cana blinked, meaningfully.
Erza, however, clearly missed the subtext. She answered seriously:
"But Shane forged me an incredible sword, and he takes care of me in everyday life. And he really is short on money right now—so as a companion, helping each other is the right thing to do, and I…"
She rattled off a long list of reasons, each one thoroughly establishing how important Shane was to her.
"Stop, stop, stop!"
Cana pressed a hand to her forehead, feeling her brain throb.
No saving her. Erza was completely in Shane's grasp.
"Anyway!" Cana cut her off before she could continue her Shane Observation Journal.
"Just try it! Try being strict! Even once!"
"…Okay."
Erza nodded, half understanding.
…
By evening, everyone had bought the food and decorations they needed. They returned to Shane's house, set everything up in a bustling rush, then split up again.
Only Shane and Erza were left in the living room. A boring New Year's movie played on the TV.
Shane lounged on the couch, head down, fiddling with the new glasses—completely ignoring the film.
Erza had curled up in the corner of the couch instead of sitting upright like usual.
She'd kicked off her shoes; her socked feet rested on the couch edge, knees together, and she leaned like a big cat seeking warmth, pressing half her weight into Shane.
Because of the pose, her loose knit sweater had ridden up slightly, revealing a small strip of pale, smooth waist that caught the light with a porcelain sheen.
"Be stricter…"
She tilted her head toward Shane's defenseless profile, Cana's words echoing in her mind.
But… how?
Beat him up the way she beat up Natsu? Order him to put his clothes on the way she did to Gray?
Erza shook her head hard. She couldn't attach any of those images to Shane at all.
"What's up?"
Feeling a fluffy head rubbing against his arm over and over, Shane looked down, amused, at the red "furball" beside him.
Since she couldn't figure it out, the blunt girl simply asked directly.
She lifted her chin, her dark jade eyes fixed on Shane with earnest seriousness.
"If… I were stricter with you, like I am with Natsu and the others… what would you do?"
"…Huh?"
Shane froze mid-motion.
Looking at her studious, academic tone—as if she were discussing a research question—his heart gave a jolt.
In his mind flashed the terrifying aura Erza had when she was angry, and the pitiful memories of being forcibly dressed up.
Why was Erza suddenly entertaining such a horrifying idea?
That line of dialogue…
Shane's eyes sharpened. He mentally scanned the people around her earlier.
Instant case solved.
"It was Cana. That bastard definitely put this in her head."
With his deep understanding of his troublemaker friend, Shane didn't even need the full story.
"Cough."
He immediately set the glasses case down, placed both hands on Erza's shoulders, and—solemnly—lifted her off him and sat her upright.
They were face-to-face, extremely close.
"Erza, listen to me."
Shane stared into her eyes, his tone dead serious.
"Discipline is something you use on idiots like Natsu. I have absolutely no need for that!"
"And right now you're perfect exactly as you are. You don't need to change at all. Please keep it that way!"
Because seriously—if this knight decided to start being "strict" with him, could he ever live a peaceful life again?
"I'm… perfect?"
For some reason, that word triggered a wave of unfamiliar panic in Erza.
"Ugh…"
She turned her face away, cheeks heating up, her entire "strictness plan" instantly launched into orbit.
"…Okay. I understand," she murmured.
…
The next day at 2 p.m., the New Year's Eve atmosphere had thickened.
The first one to knock, as expected, was Cana.
The second she came in, she beelined to Erza—who was plating food—and wiggled her eyebrows shamelessly.
"So? So? Did you try it last night? How'd it go?"
"Try what?"
Erza blinked, genuinely confused. She'd clearly forgotten the whole thing.
"That thing from yesterday! Being strict with hi—"
"Stop, stop, stop!"
Before Cana could finish, Shane—who'd been watching like a hawk—was not about to let the culprit keep corrupting his pure knight.
He lunged in, grabbed Cana by the arm, and dragged her outside.
"Aww, Cana, you're here at the perfect time! I have something very important to ask you!"
"What important thing?!" Cana protested, annoyed.
"This—this potted plant!" Shane pointed urgently. "Is it good here? Quick, help me divine it!"
"Huh?! Anywhere's fine! Don't be superstitious!"
Cana stumbled, stomping furiously. "Hey! I wasn't done talking! Let go of me!"
"No, no! This is about whether I get rich next year! We must divine it right now!"
Shane gave her zero opening, physically separating her from Erza.
After that, friends arrived one after another, and the once-quiet yard steadily grew lively.
The one who worked hardest was Levy.
The bespectacled, gentle-looking girl used Wood Make magic to build adorable decorations around the doorway and yard.
The whole place instantly leveled up, bursting with festival spirit.
Everyone else hauled tables, started the fire, and skewered meat.
But the most eye-catching arrival by far was the final "heavyweight guest."
"Damn you, Erza… If I could move properly, do you think I'd come spend New Year's at your house?!"
Mira rolled in on a wheelchair, wrapped head-to-toe in bandages like a mummy, pushed by Elfman.
She glared at Erza—who was directing everyone—and grumbled nonstop.
But with only her mouth able to move, the sheer absurdity meant Shane—who'd planned to go console her—had to turn around and take two deep breaths just to avoid laughing.
"Yeah, yeah, so tragic."
After several breaths, Shane managed to compose himself. He walked over and patted Mira's bandaged head.
Then, being the absolute worst, he handed her wheelchair to the two least trustworthy people there.
"Natsu. Gray. You two have nothing to do, right?"
He snatched the wheelchair from Elfman and shoved it forward. "Take her for a ride."
"Ooh! Leave it to us!"
"Watch me drift this corner!"
The two bundles of excess energy charged in and took the "honor."
"Put me down!! I'll kill you!! SHANE, YOU BASTARD!!"
With Mira's furious shouting, the wheelchair took off around the yard like a race car.
…
In the kitchen, delicious smells filled the air.
Aside from Elfman, the main grill operator outside, only Shane and Lisanna were preparing side dishes and salads.
To Shane's surprise, Lisanna—despite being young—could really cook.
Her knife work was smooth, her seasoning precise, her movements efficient like a little adult.
"So impressive, Lisanna."
Shane tasted a bite of her freshly mixed salad and gave her a thumbs-up.
"This is chef-level."
"Hehe…"
Lisanna smiled shyly.
"It's nothing… Compared to Elfman and Mira, I'm still far behind."
"Huh?"
Shane froze, thinking he'd misheard.
"Mira? That Mira can cook?"
He looked out the window at the "mummy" in the yard—still trying to kick Natsu with her foot.
Mira… cooking?
"I genuinely can't imagine it."
Wouldn't anything she made be a purple-smoking dark dish?
"It's true!" Lisanna nodded earnestly. "My sister's cooking is really good! Really!"
Soon, the dishes were ready. They called everyone to carry the food outside.
Before everyone started grabbing seats—
"Levy, come here for a second."
Shane mysteriously pulled the small blue-haired girl—who was about to go get drinks—into a side room.
"Huh? What is it?"
Levy looked at him, confused.
Shane smiled and, like a magician, produced a beautifully wrapped glasses case from behind his back and handed it to her.
"Here. New Year's gift."
"This is… for me?"
Levy took it in surprise and carefully opened it.
When she saw the newest Gale-Force Reading Glasses resting inside, her eyes lit up instantly.
"This is the latest model… Didn't you already give me one before?"
She covered her mouth, delighted—then got flustered, quickly closing the lid and hugging it to her chest.
"But… this is expensive, isn't it?"
"It's fine."
Shane waved it off, calm as ever.
"For Er—cough—for me, it's nothing."
"I'm an S-class mage now. I can afford this. You helped me a lot."
Then he leaned in and lowered his voice, conspiratorial.
"Also, everyone else is fine, but don't let Natsu and Gray see it, okay? Or they'll come demanding gifts too."
Normally he wouldn't care, but his pockets were cleaner than his face right now—he couldn't bankroll that kind of price tag for everyone.
"Pfft…"
Levy laughed at his stingy, Scrooge-like caution.
She nodded vigorously and made a zipper motion across her lips.
"Okay! I'll keep it secret!"
~~~
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 120 Chapters Ahead of Others!