"The Council sure moves fast… they're already hyping it up."
In his brand-new house, Kabe put down that morning's newspaper, shook his head, and picked up the coffee on the table.
It had been about five days since Sorano was brought back to Fairy Tail.
On the very day she joined, she'd hurried off with the master, following him straight to the Council headquarters.
In that same stretch of time, Kabe's new home had finally been completed as well.
After confirming with "foreman" Laki that everything was in perfect condition, they'd done the handover.
Now, in the dining room of that new house, Kabe sat at the table with Erza and Mira, who had just returned from a job yesterday, sharing breakfast together.
Hearing his sarcastic comment, Erza, who was seated at his left, smoothly reached over and picked up the newspaper he'd just set down, scanning it carefully.
Across from them, Mira swallowed the bite of bacon sandwich in her mouth, curled her lip with clear dissatisfaction, and said:
"You seem very concerned about that new girl. You're still thinking about her even while eating."
Kabe calmly took a sip of his coffee and argued back:
"I'm criticizing the Council. I didn't even mention her name once, don't frame me like that."
Even as he said it, he couldn't help silently sweating at how sharp Mira's sixth sense was.
Knowing exactly what kind of man he was, Mira simply gave him a huge, theatrical eye-roll to make her attitude perfectly clear.
At the same time, Erza quickly finished reading the article in the paper.
She set it down with a complicated expression and took a slow, deep breath.
"I didn't expect Brain to be connected to that black magic cult that built the Tower of Heaven…
Those bastards… I really want to take them out with my own hands."
These days, Erza had more or less made peace with most of her past.
But even so, just hearing the words "Tower of Heaven" still made her body shiver and dragged her back to those unbearable memories.
Kabe and Mira both knew, at least partially, about Erza's entanglement with the tower.
Hearing the weight in her voice, they immediately dropped the teasing and moved to steer the topic away, trying to pull her attention elsewhere.
Mira said, "Hey, what do you think is going through those Council geezers' heads?
Making all this info on Brain public like that—aren't they afraid he'll get spooked and run?"
Kabe shrugged. "If they've got the guts to stir up this much noise, they must have some cards in hand. Worst case, they'll just shove the hard work onto our master."
Mira sighed dramatically. "Ah~ poor old man. Being one of the Ten Saints really isn't easy."
Listening to the two of them deliberately change the subject, Erza naturally understood the kindness behind it.
She let out a small, relieved smile, setting down the sadness in her heart and smoothly joining in on the conversation.
While the three chatted and took turns roasting the Council, Aries—dressed in her neat maid outfit—came over with her own breakfast and sat down beside Mira.
Nibbling on the vegetable salad that Lady Mira had personally made, listening to their easy conversation, Aries felt a soft warmth bloom in her chest.
Over the years she'd had countless "masters," but she'd never experienced anything like this—
Sitting and eating together, chatting like equals, like… friends.
The cozy, domestic atmosphere made her feel, for the first time, like she might actually be part of a family.
Of course, Aries never forgot her "duties."
Even if Lord Kabe didn't need her in battle, she would still devote herself wholeheartedly in other ways—
Just like now, taking the role of a maid and doing her best to serve the three "lords" of the house.
As Aries secretly reveled in that happiness, and the other three continued their round-table Council-bashing, five figures quietly approached outside the house.
Ding-dong~~
The crisp chime of the doorbell rang through the dining room, cutting their conversation short.
Kabe didn't even need to look. He spoke to the other three as he pushed his chair back:
"That's Cana and the others. I'll get it."
He had just started to stand up when Aries, across from him, reacted first the moment the bell rang.
She bolted out ahead of him, trotting to the entrance and pulling the door open.
"Good morning, Lady Cana, Lady Laki, Lady Levy, Lady Lisanna, Lady Juvia."
Seeing the five silhouettes standing outside, Aries greeted them one by one.
Listening to her recite their names like she was reading off a menu, Cana rolled her eyes, hooked an arm around Aries' elbow, and strode right in.
"I've told you how many times now—quit with the 'lady this, lady that.'
If I hear you call me that again, I'll have Kabe smack your butt."
With that threat thrown out, Cana kicked off her sandals and, still clinging to Aries, headed deeper into the house.
Laki, Levy, Lisanna and Juvia followed right behind, switching into house slippers with practiced ease—
like they were walking into their own home—and then all poured into the living room in one wave.
It wasn't until Aries found herself being tugged all the way into the dining room, standing in front of Kabe and the other two, that she finally caught up mentally.
Her cheeks flushed as she ducked her head and murmured softly:
"I-I understand… Ca-Cana."
Cana, acting on instinct, reached up and ruffled Aries' soft pink curls in encouragement.
Then she flashed a grin, lifted her hand, and waved at the three at the table.
"Yo, you three—we're back again."