The guild's temporary outdoor bar counter.
"Aaaaaah—!!!"
A tragic roar pierced the rare tranquility.
Natsu was like a pendant, sticking tightly to Ron, his eyes overflowing with resentnt.
"Ron, you guy are so unfair!!"
Natsu grabbed Ron's shoulders and shook them frantically, creating afterimages.
"To think you'd leave us behind and sneak off to the Spirit World alone, I want to go on an adventure too!"
Ron took a deep breath, pressed down on Natsu's head, and pushed the over-energetic guy half a ter away.
"I say, did you miss so key information just now?"
He straightened his crumpled collar and rolled his eyes irritably.
"First, I didn't go there to play; I was forcibly taken by the Bearded Guy."
"Second, I almost got swatted to death over there, do you think it was a picnic?!"
"Didn't I bring you a gift? Do you not like it?"
Ron looked Natsu up and down with a suspicious look:
"That's not right, don't dragons have a habit of collecting shiny treasures? As a Dragon Slayer Wizard, did you put your talent points in the wrong place?"
"Huh?"
Natsu had a look on his face that said, "What nonsense are you talking about?"
"Who says dragons like shiny things? Igneel doesn't have such a strange habit!"
"..."
Ron shrugged, "Well, it seems the dragons of Aslant are more pragmatic."
"I really like Ron's gift."
Thinking of what Ron had taught her, Lucy had a smile on her face.
'I'll be a powerful Wizard in the future, then...'
A small theater began to play automatically in her mind:
In the scene, her left hand was pressing down on Ron, her right hand was capturing Erza, and Natsu and Gray were lying at her feet as she let out a queen-like laugh.
"Hehe... hehehe..."
Lucy's shoulders kept twitching as she let out a creepy laugh.
Natsu and Gray silently took a step back, looking at the suddenly crazed Lucy with strange expressions.
"This is bad, Natsu."
Happy said with a solemn expression.
"Lucy finally couldn't take the pressure, her brain is broken!"
Ron looked at Lucy, who was letting out aningless giggles, and shook his head in regret.
'Has the normal Lucy finally been assimilated after all?'
Just then.
Buzz—
A golden light suddenly lit up, and a familiar figure appeared out of thin air.
"Yo, everyone's here."
"Loke?!"
Lucy suddenly woke up from her queen delusion, looking surprised.
"How did you get out? Aren't you supposed to be resting in the Spirit World? And..."
She looked at the key pouch at her waist, "I clearly didn't open the gate!"
"Because I wanted to see you so much, my body opened the gate on its own."
Loke pushed up his sunglasses and walked in front of Lucy.
He leaned down slightly, getting close to Lucy's face, his voice so gentle it could practically lt, coming with its own soft-light filter.
"Although my body is still recovering, my heart has already flown here."
"After all..."
He gazed affectionately into Lucy's eyes:
"Staying too long in a place where I can't see Lucy's smile, I would wither away from loneliness."
Boom—!
A direct hit, an instant kill.
Lucy's face turned completely red instantly, steam rising from her head.
"You, you you you... what are you saying! Don't flirt with people as soon as you co out!"
"They've got a thing going on——!!!"
"Shut up! You stupid cat!!"
Embarrassed and angry, Lucy grabbed Happy and pulled his face like she was kneading dough.
"Don't talk with a rolled tongue!"
"Ouch, ouch, ouch... Lucy has turned into a demon..."
Natsu, however, leaned in close to Loke with a curious look.
As if looking at so rare creature, he circled Loke, looking him up and down, left and right.
"Hey, Natsu, what are you doing?" Loke felt a bit creeped out by the staring.
"Loke, are you really a Celestial Spirit? You don't look like one at all."
Natsu scratched his head in confusion, "Shouldn't you look like a bull, a horse, or a crab or sothing?"
"Why are you a person?"
"..."
Loke's mouth twitched as he explained patiently.
"Celestial Spirits co in many forms; they don't all look like animals. Natsu, isn't the Virgo you know also in human form?"
"Virgo?"
Natsu imdiately pictured the Virgo he first saw, "No! That guy can turn into a gorilla!"
"Loke is a Celestial Spirit of the Leo."
"Lion?"
Happy broke free from Lucy's clutches, his eyes shining.
"Is it a grown-up cat?"
Loke slapped his forehead and gave a bitter smile, giving up resistance: "I... I guess so."
Lucy complained wildly in her heart: No way, it's not even close!!!
"Alright, alright."
Lucy looked at Loke, whose face was still a bit pale, and her heart softened:
"The greetings are over, Loke. You should go back; your body hasn't fully recovered yet."
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Loke smiled gently, took out five invitation vouchers from his coat, and handed them to Lucy.
"Before I go, I want to give this to you."
"VIP invitation vouchers for the Akane Beach Resort Hotel. It includes food and lodging, and there are top-tier amusent facilities."
"You've taken care of a lot, so consider this my thank-you gift to everyone."
The air was silent for three seconds.
The next second.
"Waaaaaaaa—!!!"
Natsu, Happy, Lucy, and Gray—three people and one cat—instantly let out deafening cheers.
Ron looked at the blue sea and sky printed on the invitation voucher, a smile curling at the corner of mouth.
'Akane Beach? It would be nice to relax a bit.'
'Moreover, the Tower of Heaven...'
While everyone was still cheering, a female voice ca from behind.
"What are you all still dawdling for?"
They all froze and looked back, their eyes widening instantly.
"That was too fast!!!" x3
Erza had already changed into a refreshing sumr-style beach outfit, wearing a sun hat and sunglasses on the bridge of her nose.
"This..." Lucy was dumbfounded, "When did she pack this?!"
She pushed her sunglasses and looked like it was only natural.
"Since it's Loke's kindness, we must seize the ti; we can't afford to waste it."
"This is respect for a companion's feelings!"
Erza waved her hand, her aura fully unleashed.
"If you don't want to be left behind, I'll give you five minutes. Depart imdiately!!"
Loke smiled as he watched the excited Natsu and the others, finally letting his gaze rest on Lucy.
"Lucy," he called softly.
"What is it, Loke?"
Loke hesitated for a mont but then said seriously.
"Although the sins I committed haven't been erased, I... I've gained the courage to keep moving forward from you."
He stepped forward and gently held Lucy's hand, his gaze incredibly firm.
"As my owner... from now on, no matter what happens, I will risk my life to protect you."
"This is the oath of the Leo!"
Hearing this, Lucy was stunned for a mont.
She held Loke's hand back, a brilliant smile blooming on her face, and shook her head to correct him:
"I'm not so owner. We..."
"Are partners!!!"
User Comments
0 comments from readers