The two of them, both having had their sore spots stomped on, immediately started grappling right there in the back seat.
That made life miserable for Brandish, who was also stuck in the back with them. Curling herself up, she tried desperately to mediate.
"Hey, hey, wait a second. No matter how you look at it, you are basically family. What kind of mother-in-law and son-in-law start fighting over something this stupid?!"
Kabe: "Mother-in-law? I am not acknowledging some washed-up dragon like her as my mother-in-law."
Irene: "Do not get smug, brat. Once we get back, I will make Erza break up with you."
Kabe: "You think just because you say break up, she will? Do not act as if you and Erza are all that close."
Irene: "That girl is my daughter. Naturally, she will listen to her mother."
Kabe: "Disgusting. A mother like that, so full of herself, trying to control her child's future whenever she wants, is absolutely disgusting!"
...
Very quickly, the two of them escalated into an even fiercer war of words.
Having run out of options, Brandish could only cover her ears and let them keep going, praying inwardly that they would at least stay rational and not really lose control.
This tiny car was absolutely not built to survive the two of them going all out.
Fortunately, neither of them was the sort to lose all sense of restraint. At the very least, all the way until they reached Magnolia, they never truly came to blows.
The magic car drove straight into town. Along the way, no one realized that the kingdom's hottest new "celebrity" was sitting right inside.
Kabe instructed Heine, who was driving, to avoid the crowded commercial streets and take the side roads instead, bringing them directly to the guild hall.
He had originally thought his sudden return would be a complete surprise.
But to his shock, when the magic car rolled into the little square in front of the guild, Makarov and the others were already outside waiting, as though they had somehow received the news in advance.
"That is weird. I never told anyone I was coming back today. So how did they know?"
The moment the question crossed Kabe's mind, he saw Irene calmly open the door and step out of the car.
"...Wait. Do not tell me it was because of this wom..."
"Just as expected. Even I cannot help but feel humbled before such powerful magic.
Allow me to introduce myself. I am Makarov Dreyar, the master of Fairy Tail. Welcome to Magnolia, Lady Irene."
Dressed unusually formally for once, Makarov stepped forward and introduced himself before Irene could even speak.
"As I thought, it was you, Irene!
Could you not at least have hidden your magic a little better?
Because of you, my whole plan to suddenly show up and scare these guys half to death completely failed!!"
Before Irene could answer, Kabe leapt out of the car and shouted in utter frustration.
The moment the guild members saw him, the serious expressions on their faces broke apart at once. All of them lit up with excitement, waving and shouting at the top of their lungs.
"You're back, Kabe!"
"Nicely done, kid!"
"Hero Kabe!!"
"Welcome home~~"
Under that flood of warmth and enthusiasm, Kabe's irritation vanished instantly.
His gaze swept across the crowd, taking in all those familiar faces he knew so well, and for the first time in days, he truly felt the solid comfort of being home.
Without even realizing it, a grin spread across his face.
Skipping right past the old master, he threw himself straight toward his companions.
"You idiots, your Lord Kabe is back!!"
"Ohhhh!!" *N
Watching Kabe hurl himself into the crowd, get caught by everyone, and then immediately be tossed high into the air, Irene casually brushed her hair back and said to Makarov, whose face kept shifting between pride, approval, helplessness, and grinding irritation,
"A pleasure to meet you, Master Makarov.
I believe there are some things we can discuss properly once inside your guild hall."
"Ah, right. Yes, of course."
Only then did Makarov come back to himself. With a slightly embarrassed scratch of the head, he gave Irene an awkward smile.
Then he turned around and shouted at the group of overly energetic brats in front of him,
"Stop blocking the entrance already. Bring our hero and our guests back into the guild!"
"Ohhh!!"