Since the client was the Heartfilia family, Layla might be coming along too.
Shane had been thinking about the Eclipse Gate this whole time and had been worrying about how to ask in detail—so this was basically a pillow being delivered right when he got sleepy.
"No problem! I'll take the job!"
Shane agreed immediately, bright and decisive.
"Uh…"
Makarov had been half-squinting, with his whole speech already drafted—
a full three thousand words of life wisdom about "young people mustn't be lazy" and "always keep striving."
But Shane's sudden burst of motivation completely threw him off.
He swallowed the lecture back so hard it almost blew his mustache crooked.
"F-fine…"
The old man waved a hand, feeling like he'd thrown a full-power punch into cotton.
"Don't forget—Heartfilia's carriage is expected to arrive tonight. As their guard, make sure you go meet them in advance."
After that reminder, Makarov trudged off toward the bar to drink, looking oddly world-weary.
Just recently he'd gotten a huge sense of accomplishment mentoring a confused Erza, and he'd thought the guild's brats couldn't live without their guiding elder.
Turns out… it was just an illusion!
Shane didn't bother with the old man's suddenly-ancient back.
He stretched and slowly peeled himself off the table.
"Come to think of it, the guild's been livelier lately."
He scanned the hall and noticed quite a few new faces.
For example, two young guys whispering together at the request board.
One had a neat black buzz cut and looked quiet and honest; the other had messy orange hair and animated arms, clearly energetic.
"Those two are… Troy and Jet, right?"
Shane searched his memory for the names.
Maybe they felt an S-Class mage's gaze land on them—both newcomers stiffened.
Facing a ruthless figure who could keep even "Demon" Mirajane completely in line, they looked downright nervous.
Just then, Levy shuffled past with a stack of ancient books taller than she was, wobbling like she might fall any second.
"Levy! I'll help!"
"Me too! This kind of heavy work should be done by guys!"
The two newbies acted like they'd been granted amnesty. They rushed over to show off and escaped Shane's line of sight at top speed.
"…"
Shane rubbed his face, speechless.
"Am I really that scary?"
He was genuinely puzzled.
This wasn't even the first time. He was usually pretty friendly!
He wanted to ask someone to confirm it.
But all his familiar friends had scattered, and the only one left was the boozy airhead drinking in a corner—asking her would definitely get him nothing but insults.
"Whatever. I'm going home."
Shane shrugged, stopped overthinking it, and left the guild, planning to loaf around until evening before going to greet the client.
…
When he pushed open his front door, the living room was empty—only the embers in the fireplace still radiated faint warmth.
Shane wandered straight to Erza's door.
It was slightly ajar.
Through the crack he could see the girl who normally swung a sword nonstop sitting bolt upright at her desk, expression focused.
The desk was piled with stationery.
The stack of sealed letters—already written and stamped—was so thick it was almost as wide as a pinky.
"This is ridiculous…"
Shane's mouth twitched.
He had no idea where she got this kind of energy.
Ever since Erza officially accepted Kagura as her student, it was like she'd found a new life purpose and thrown herself into it completely.
Every day was either sword practice or letter-writing. She was busier than anyone.
He'd once teased her, saying, "If you get a student, you'll have no time for me," and somehow it had become prophecy.
He was happy she'd found something meaningful.
But he'd gotten used to her always being nearby, and now that he was suddenly being ignored… he felt a little sour.
He crept closer, about to say something—just to remind her he existed.
But before he could—
"Wait."
Erza didn't even look up. Her pen didn't stop moving. Her voice was cool and firm.
"I'm busy. I still have a few points about footwork to finish. Don't interrupt."
"…"
Shane stood there, feeling a bleak wind blow through his soul.
Being treated like a demon by the new recruits at the guild was one thing, but coming home and getting the same treatment?!
In all of Magnolia, was there seriously no place for Shane to belong?!
"Fine! You're busy!"
The more he thought about it, the more annoyed he got.
He stormed forward, grabbed Erza's pale, proper cheeks with both hands, and kneaded them like dough—absolutely shameless.
Her pen immediately slipped, dragging a long ink smear across the page.
"Mmph… Shahn? Wha' ah you doin?!"
Erza was forced to tilt her head up, face squashed, complaining in garbled protest.
"This is punishment!"
Satisfied at the faint red marks his hands left behind, Shane finally let go.
Then, before Erza could explode, he instantly greased his feet and bolted out of the room.
"I took a job! Gotta go scout the location! Don't wait for me at dinner!"
"SHANE!!"
Her embarrassed shout followed him—but the culprit was already gone.
…
He'd said it all grandly—"scouting."
But as Magnolia's famous "Cat-and-Dog Hero," Shane knew every brick of the city. He could draw a map with his eyes closed; there was nothing to scout.
So he picked a random open-air café with a good view, ordered a fruit juice, and lay face-down on the table, zoning out.
Until the sun dipped low and the last light painted Central Avenue gold.
With crisp hoofbeats, an extravagantly decorated two-horse carriage rolled into view.
Even from far away, Shane could sense the gentle, spring-water-like magic inside the carriage.
"Finally."
Shane smiled, slapped a few bills onto the table, and vanished.
The next second he landed lightly on the carriage roof like a nimble black cat.
He cleared his throat, flipped himself upside down, and tapped the glass.
"May I come in… Layla-sama?"
"Ah! It's Shane!"
Before any adult could respond, a bright, excited voice burst out.
Clatter!
The window flew open.
Golden hair gleamed in the sunset as Lucy leaned halfway out, her doll-like face full of excitement.
"Come in! Come in!"
Shane flipped down into the spacious carriage.
"Hey, Lucy—you came too?"
He looked at the little girl scrambling to stand up on the seat to greet him and raised a brow.
"So it's the whole family trip, huh?"
"Lucy heard she'd get to visit your city, and she wouldn't stop insisting on coming," the elegant lady beside her said, smiling as she smoothed her daughter's messy hair.
"No amount of persuading worked."
Her voice was as gentle as spring wind.
"It's been a while—sorry to trouble you again, Shane."
"Layla-sama, you're too kind."
Shane greeted her with a smile, then glanced around the carriage.
Other than the mother and daughter, it was empty—no sign of the stern family head.
"Where's Jude-san?"
Shane was curious. "The request said you came to negotiate a big business deal. He should be here for something like that."
Layla's smile turned a bit more helpless.
"Him… he's sulking."
She sighed, amused.
"The moment Jude heard I specifically named you as our guard, he got furious. He insisted on traveling separately and refused to ride in the same carriage as you."
As if worried Shane might take offense, she added quickly:
"But don't worry about security. The family's elite guards are with him, so it won't affect your job."
"I see…"
Shane nodded, looking at Layla—always so considerate—then couldn't help thinking again:
Jude, who had nothing but money going for him, must've saved the galaxy in a past life to marry someone this perfect.
"Shane! Look, look!"
Lucy, who'd been ignored for a few seconds, tugged his sleeve and proudly pulled a gleaming golden key from her clothes, waving it in front of him.
"I can summon super amazing Celestial Spirits as friends now!"
She lifted her chin, her face screaming, Praise me!
"This is…"
Shane blinked. He recognized that key.
Wasn't this Aquarius's Zodiac Key—something Grammi had entrusted to Layla?
He looked to Layla, silently asking: Isn't it a bit early to hand a Zodiac Key to Lucy?
Layla answered with a warm, maternal gaze—equal parts indulgent and proud, like she was saying:
Don't underestimate my child. She's talented.
"…"
Shane chuckled.
"That's incredible, Lucy."
He ruffled her soft blond hair and praised her without holding back.
"Making friends with Celestial Spirits at your age… you'll be an amazing mage someday."
"Hehe… I'll keep my promise and help you soon!"
Lucy beamed, nuzzling his palm, practically floating with happiness.
"You two really get along."
Layla smiled, thoroughly entertained.
"Oh—Shane."
She continued, "Tomorrow I have to accompany that stubborn man to the negotiations. It'll be unbearably boring, and Lucy definitely won't sit through it."
"So… tomorrow, I'm entrusting her to you for the day."
"Hm?"
Shane frowned slightly, hesitating.
"My job is to protect the Heartfilia family. If you go without me…"
"It's fine," Layla said, waving it off, still gentle.
"There's no real danger—just legitimate merchants."
Then she added, as if casually:
"We posted this named request mainly because we wanted an excuse to see you."
And she even "complained" with a smile:
"It's been so long… and you never come visit."
"…"
Shane scratched the back of his head, embarrassed.
Layla treated him like a nephew; he honestly didn't know how to handle it.
"Ahem… I will, when I have time."
He hurriedly shifted the topic, expression turning more serious.
"By the way, Layla-sama."
"About the Eclipse Gate… if I want to use it, is there any way?"
He carefully framed it, bringing up someone's fixation on "going back to the past."
"You want to use the Eclipse Gate?"
Hearing that sensitive term, Layla's beautiful brows knitted instantly.
She didn't ask why. She just thought for a moment, then explained seriously:
"If there isn't a Celestial Spirit Mage from the other timeline to cooperate…"
"Then to activate the Eclipse Gate unilaterally, you'd need the Twelve Zodiac Keys—and an amount of magic so vast it's hard to even imagine."
"That's not something one or two mages can supply. You'd need to drain the kingdom's entire magic reserves, or spend years slowly storing power."
Shane caught the implication.
She didn't say "impossible," only "extremely difficult."
"So… I really do have a chance to use it?" Shane's eyes lit up.
"It was never the Heartfilia family's private property," Layla said calmly.
"The Eclipse Gate belongs to the Kingdom of Fiore. If you truly want to use it, you'll need to properly request permission from King Toma."
Then she went into more detail: how Celestial Spirit Mages locate time coordinates, and what kind of mana scale would be needed to open the gate.
Lucy listened with wide eyes, not understanding much but feeling like it was very impressive.
Meanwhile Shane felt his heart sink the more he heard.
The price of opening the Eclipse Gate was absurd.
Even if you gathered the entire mana of dozens of S-Class mages, you might still need years of charging just to open it once.
"This cost… looks nearly impossible."
Shane sighed internally.
He wasn't sure if hearing this would give that person hope… or crush them.
"She'd probably say nothing, then quietly start planning anyway."
Shane shook his head and set the thought aside.
"Thank you, Layla," he said sincerely.
"It's nothing. I'm glad I could help."
Seeing him apparently abandon the idea, Layla softened again and added:
"Also, about what you asked before—Ancestor Anna…"
"I'm sorry. The family still hasn't found any additional information about her."
As they spoke, the carriage rolled to a stop in front of a luxurious hotel.
"Then I'll head out."
Since today was just the rendezvous and the real work started tomorrow, Shane checked the sky and stood to leave.
"Bye, Shane!"
Lucy leaned on the window and waved hard, eyes full of reluctance.
Layla smiled and patted her head.
"Don't worry. Shane promised—he'll spend the whole day playing with you tomorrow."
"Really?!"
Lucy's eyes sparkled. She immediately put on a stern "grown-up" face and warned him seriously:
"Then you have to come early! No sleeping in!"
"Don't worry."
Whether for the job itself or for Layla's kindness, Shane wouldn't slack off.
He stood in the night, smiling as he waved and promised:
"At first light tomorrow, I'll come pick you up—and we'll play all over Magnolia!"
~~~
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