Autumn had arrived in Magnolia.
The sky was clear with thin clouds, and the sweet scent of fruit filled the air.
The annual Harvest Festival had arrived right on schedule, and the entire city was immersed in a festive, celebratory atmosphere.
Colorful ribbons and jack-o'-lanterns lined the streets.
Vendors sold freshly picked fruits and golden-brown pies, while children held hands and wove through the crowd, their faces beaming with carefree smiles.
In the plaza in front of the Fairy Tail guild, a special event was in full swing.
"Ladies and gentlemen! The most exciting part of the Harvest Festival is here—the Miss Fairy Tail Contest!!!"
In front of the temporary stage, the host—dressed in a flashy sequined suit and holding a magic megaphone—was hyping up the atmosphere at the top of his lungs.
A large crowd had already gathered below the stage.
It consisted not only of Fairy Tail members, but also many Magnolia residents who had come to see the show.
"This year's lineup of contestants is more spectacular than ever! Not only do we have familiar faces, but we also have powerful new competitors! Who will win the crown of 'Miss Fairy Tail,' the 500,000 Jewel prize, and the honor of having dinner with the Master? Let's wait and see!!!"
The crowd erupted in enthusiastic cheers and whistles.
Ace leaned against an oak tree with a mug of apple cider in his hand, watching the stage from a distance.
Beside him stood Gray, who was also holding a mug, and Happy, who was perched on a branch gnawing on a fish.
"They do this every year. Don't they get tired of it?" Gray pursed his lips, but his eyes were curiously fixed on the stage.
"Aye! But Ace watches with great enthusiasm every year!" Happy teased mercilessly.
Ace didn't mind. "However, I am merely critiquing this superficial event!"
Gray chuckled but didn't reply.
Ace's gaze swept over the area behind the stage—the contestants' waiting area—where he could vaguely see a few familiar figures busily preparing.
"Well, without further ado! Let's welcome our first contestant—" The host's voice suddenly rose.
"The flower of Fairy Tail's heavy drinkers, a woman of both charm and alcohol tolerance—Cana Alberona!!!"
A passionate and unrestrained flamenco piece started playing.
The stage curtains parted, and Cana gracefully walked out, stepping to the rhythm.
She wore a daringly designed bikini. It was striped with red, green, and yellow, giving it an exotic flair.
The top had a deep V-neck that outlined her proud curves, while the bottom was a high-waisted brief with side tassels that swayed gently with her dance steps.
Her long hair was tied in a high ponytail with a bright red rose tucked into it.
She wore exquisite stage makeup, and the glitter at the corners of her eyes sparkled in the sunlight.
"Whoa-oh-oh-oh—!!!"
The male members of the audience instantly went wild.
Whistles, cheers, and strange cries of "Cana, I love you!" rose and fell.
Cana spun in the center of the stage and blew a kiss, triggering an even more frenzied response.
"Mature, enchanting, and sexy! This is our contestant Cana!" the host announced excitedly. "By the way, after the competition, contestant Cana will be serving special cocktails at the bar. The first ten are half price!"
"That's an ad! That's definitely an ad!" someone in the crowd complained, but their voice was quickly drowned out by the cheers.
Ace took a sip of his cider, watching the confident and radiant Cana on stage.
He had to admit that once the guild's resident drinker shed her usual casualness, she possessed a stunning charm.
The well-designed swimsuit, in particular, perfectly combined her exotic style with her mature allure.
"Next up is our second contestant!" the host's voice rang out again. "Though she hasn't been in the guild for long, she's a super rookie certified with S-Class strength—the Water Mage, Juvia!!!"
The music style instantly changed to an ethereal, gentle melody of harps and flowing water.
A clear stream of water suddenly surged from the stage floor, spiraling upwards under magical control to form a water curtain.
The curtain slowly dispersed, revealing Juvia's figure within.
She had changed into a refreshing blue bikini.
The main color was a delicate sky blue dotted with a white polka-dot pattern.
The style was cute and playful—the top was a bandeau with a bow, and the bottom was a skirted brief edged with white lace.
Her blue hair was braided into a loose French braid, adorned with a few seashell hairpins.
She wore light makeup, making her already fair skin look even more translucent.
"So... so cute..." The men in the audience stared with wide eyes.
"A completely different style from contestant Cana! Pure, playful, yet with a hint of sexiness!" the host narrated.
"Contestant Juvia, would you like to say something?"
Juvia nervously wrung her hands, her cheeks flushed.
Her voice carried across the venue through the magic megaphone. "Um... this is Juvia's first time participating in an event like this... I hope... I hope everyone likes it..."
After speaking, she bowed deeply.
The curve of her chest was faintly visible as she bowed, sparking another round of cheers.
Behind the curtain at the side of the stage, Lucy peeked through a gap, stomping her feet in frustration.
"What the heck! Cana is one thing, but even Juvia... She's usually so shy, but she's so bold on stage!" She looked down at the swimsuit she had borrowed from Virgo, which was supposedly a "guaranteed win," and her face turned even redder.
"I... I won't lose..."
A smile touched the corner of Ace's lips.
He could "see" Lucy's predicament behind the curtain; his perception was surprisingly convenient at times like this.
Speaking of which, when he watched this part of the story on a screen before he crossed over to this world, he always felt something was missing.
Now, watching it live, the atmosphere of youth, passion, and a hint of hormones was far more impactful than the "censored" version.
"Contestant number three!" The host's voice pulled Ace back from his thoughts.
"Fairy Tail's poster girl, whose beauty makes men all over the continent fall at her feet—Mirajane Strauss!!!"
The music changed to an elegant violin piece.
The stage lights focused, and Mirajane walked out slowly.
She wasn't wearing a swimsuit, but a wine-red, off-the-shoulder long dress. The dress was tailored to fit snugly, perfectly outlining her slender curves.
The deep V-neckline revealed her delicate collarbones and a hint of cleavage, while a high slit in the skirt showed off her long, straight legs with every step.
Her silver-white hair was loosely pinned up with a few strands falling beside her cheeks, adding a touch of lazy sexiness to her gentle smile.
"Mirajane! Mirajane! Mirajane!"
A unified chant rose from the audience, from men and women, young and old alike.
Mirajane smiled and waved to the crowd, every subtle movement exuding the charm of a mature woman.
"Contestant Mirajane has chosen her usual elegant long dress today. It seems she's going for the classy route!" Macao said excitedly. "Contestant Mirajane, do you have a talent to show us?"
Mirajane took the magic microphone, her gentle voice spreading throughout the venue.
"Today, I'd like to perform a special magic for everyone."
She paused with a mischievous smile on her face. "Transformation Magic."
The crowd fell silent in an instant.
Everyone held their breath, looking at her with anticipation.
Mirajane formed a hand seal in front of her chest, and the light of a Magic Circle spread out beneath her feet.
The light grew brighter and brighter, completely engulfing her figure.
When the light faded, what appeared on stage were Happy, Gray, Gajeel, and a few of Ace Digimon.
They were all wearing the exact same wine-red dress.
"Aye?" Happy tilted his head, looking completely bewildered.
"HUUUH?!" Gajeel's hair stood on end.
"Wh-what is this?!" Gray looked down at the dress he was wearing, his face turning green.
As for Mirajane herself, she was nowhere to be found.
The audience was dead silent for three seconds before erupting into deafening laughter.
"Hahahahahahaha!!! It's a prank transformation!!!"
"Mirajane, you're too much!!!"
"Happy looks so cute in a dress, ahhh!!!"
Behind the curtain, Lucy was laughing so hard she couldn't stand up straight.
"Hahahaha! The top contender self-destructed! Mira-san, I thank you in advance!"
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