Chapter 164: FTRJ: Chapter 164

“Juvia… Juvia didn’t mean to look, it was just a coincidence…” Juvia stammered, her voice barely a whisper. Mirajane instantly retracted her

“Juvia… Juvia didn’t mean to look, it was just a coincidence…” Juvia stammered, her voice barely a whisper.

Mirajane instantly retracted her hand from Finn’s, her face reddening considerably. She covered her face with both hands, her cheeks flushed crimson, as red as a ripe apple.

“Um… I should probably go find Erza,” Mirajane mumbled, before turning and quickly exiting the tent with a hurried gait.

“Looks like someone’s hopes were dashed,” Nancy remarked lightly, her voice carrying a hint of amusement as she spread her wings and took flight.

Upon hearing Nancy’s comment, a sharp pang of guilt pierced Finn’s heart, leaving him feeling as though he had been pricked by a needle. He suddenly realized that his earlier actions might have been overly harsh.

Had he truly been so lacking in perception? A dangerous glint appeared in his eyes as he turned his attention towards Lisanna and Juvia.

“Oh! It seems Miss Erza is calling for me. I should probably go and see what she requires,” Juvia stated nervously, her voice laced with a hint of forced nonchalance as beads of perspiration trickled down her brow. She had concocted a flimsy excuse to escape Finn’s scrutiny.

Lisanna, however, showed no signs of apprehension or fear. Instead, she approached Finn with a playful smile, her hands clasped behind her back as she tilted her head to one side.

“Brother-in-law Finn,” Lisanna teased, her voice filled with a mischievous tone, “should I now address you by that title?”

Finn let out a long sigh, resigning himself to the situation. What else could he do? He had no choice but to indulge his mischievous younger sister.

“You,” Finn began, his voice laced with a hint of playful exasperation, “are a truly precocious little rascal!” He gently tapped Lisanna’s forehead with his index finger.

“Hee hee, Brother-in-law Finn, I’m not that little anymore,” Lisanna retorted playfully, her laughter echoing through the tent.

…

Shortly thereafter, the group gathered around the dining table, patiently awaiting Mirajane’s culinary creations.

It must be said that Mirajane possessed a remarkable ability to resolve even the most challenging of situations. After engaging in a brief, private conversation with Erza, Mirajane managed to persuade Erza to relinquish her role as the designated chef.

“Oh, by the way, Mira, what exactly happened to your face?” Finn inquired, his gaze directed towards the slight mark on Mirajane’s cheek. He had noticed the mark upon Mirajane’s arrival, but he hadn’t had the opportunity to inquire about it before she had hastily retreated.

Mirajane’s response was delivered with a forced smile, attempting to mask her embarrassment.

“Oh, that? Elfman defeated me, resulting in a minor injury,” she explained, her voice laced with a hint of forced nonchalance.

However, Finn and the others were far from convinced by Mirajane’s explanation. While acknowledging that Mirajane had only recently regained her full magical capabilities, they were all well aware of her exceptional strength, enhanced by the potent Satan Soul. The notion that Elfman could have possibly defeated Mirajane was simply beyond belief.

“There’s no way Elfman, even with Erza’s assistance, could have defeated you,” Erza stated, her voice laced with disbelief.

“Well…” Mirajane’s face broke into a spontaneous smile, her cheeks flushing slightly.

“It seems Erza confessed her desire to marry Elfman, and the sheer shock of that revelation left me momentarily vulnerable, allowing them to successfully ambush me,” Mirajane explained, her voice laced with a hint of amusement.

“What?!” The group reacted with a mixture of surprise and disbelief.

“Wait a moment!” Erza exclaimed, her voice laced with excitement, her emotions clearly running high. “When exactly is the wedding scheduled to take place? And when precisely did they develop such a close relationship?”

“And what attire should I wear to the wedding?” Erza continued, her thoughts racing. “Should I opt for a bridesmaid’s dress, or perhaps even a best man’s attire?”

Erza continued to mutter to herself, her thoughts seemingly wandering off course.

“Erza… I must say, you seem to be exhibiting a rather excessive level of excitement,” Nancy remarked, a bead of perspiration trickling down her brow.

“No, now that I think about it, that was probably their battle strategy,” Mirajane stated, shaking her head thoughtfully. She had come to a realization regarding Elfman and Erza’s actions.

“Do you truly believe it was merely a battle strategy?” Erza questioned, her voice laced with a hint of skepticism.

“I find it highly improbable that those two would actually develop a romantic relationship,” Mirajane stated, her voice laced with conviction.

“Not necessarily, Mira,” Finn countered, his voice laced with a hint of amusement. “Such things can happen unexpectedly. Perhaps those two are simply destined to be together,” he suggested, his words laced with a hint of playful speculation.

Upon hearing Finn’s words, Mirajane and Erza exchanged a meaningful glance, before turning their attention towards Finn. Seemingly recalling their own personal experiences, they both nodded in silent agreement.

“Indeed, that’s quite possible,” Mirajane and Erza stated in unison.

“Erza and Elfman…” Lisanna mused aloud, her thoughts drifting towards the unexpected pairing. “They do seem rather well-suited for each other,” she added, her voice laced with a hint of approval.

“Ma… marriage…” Juvia whispered, her face flushing an even deeper shade of crimson than Mirajane’s earlier blush, her thoughts clearly consumed by the unexpected development.

“Speaking of which… what about Laxus and the others?” Lisanna inquired, her voice breaking the silence.

“Laxus, the Thunder Legion, and Gildarts have already departed for the guild, having set sail on a ship,” Erza informed the group.

“How impatient! Why didn’t they stay to offer their support until the very end?” Lisanna questioned, shaking her head slightly.

Upon the vast expanse of the open sea, a ship bearing the Fairy Tail emblem sailed serenely onward.

“I heard you lost to Lucy and Cana,” Laxus remarked, his voice laced with a hint of amusement as he approached Freed, his words delivered with a playful tone.

“You’re not one to go easy on opponents, Freed. Could it be that you harbor some ulterior motive?” Laxus inquired, his voice laced with a playful hint of suspicion.

Freed sighed wearily, his expression one of resignation.

“Laxus, your imagination is truly boundless,” Freed replied, his voice laced with a hint of exasperation.

“It’s simply that I feel a sense of indebtedness towards them,” Freed explained, his voice laced with a hint of sincerity.

He gazed towards the azure sky, a look of profound relief washing over his features.

“During our previous encounter, we inflicted considerable harm upon them. As such, I made the decision from the outset that if I were to encounter Cana during the trials, I would allow them to proceed without hindrance,” Freed explained, his voice laced with a hint of remorse.

Freed offered a gentle smile, his expression one of quiet contemplation.

“Although none of them have ever expressed any resentment towards us,” Freed continued, his voice laced with a hint of humility, “I felt compelled to act in this manner to ensure my own peace of mind.”

Freed then turned his attention towards Laxus.

“Furthermore, from what I understand, you also allowed Levy and Gajeel to advance through the trials,” Freed stated, his voice laced with a hint of curiosity.

Upon hearing Freed’s words, Laxus’s expression became serious and thoughtful.

“Gajeel’s strength is undeniable, and his success was entirely justified,” Laxus stated, his voice firm and unwavering.

Freed shook his head slightly, his expression one of gentle disagreement. “However,” he countered, “the true focus of the assessment was not upon Gajeel’s abilities, but rather upon Levy’s. From your perspective, there’s no logical reason why you would have permitted them to advance,” Freed pointed out, his voice laced with a hint of subtle challenge.

“Bear in mind,” Freed continued, his voice laced with a hint of gentle reminder, “during your tenure as an examiner, you never once allowed a single candidate to successfully complete the trials.”

Witnessing Freed’s knowing expression, Laxus couldn’t help but chuckle, a hint of amusement evident in his tone. “You’re quite perceptive, my friend,” Laxus conceded. “You inflicted harm upon Cana, while I, in turn, caused significant damage to Fairy Tail. A sense of guilt is certainly a factor in my decision,” Laxus admitted.

“However,” Laxus continued, his voice laced with a hint of genuine admiration, “there’s one point I cannot deny: the bond of camaraderie between Levy and Gajeel truly left a profound impression upon me.”

…

Within the temporary Fairy Tail base on Tenrou Island, Finn furrowed his brow, his expression one of growing concern as he realized that Mest and Wendy had yet to return.

“Mest and Wendy haven’t returned yet,” Finn stated, his voice laced with a hint of unease.

“They are indeed quite tardy,” Mirajane remarked, her voice laced with a hint of concern as she made a quick calculation of the elapsed time. “At this point, all of the participants who have completed their trials should have already returned to the base, with the exception of Wendy and Mest.”

“Perhaps they simply forgot about the designated meeting place,” Lisanna suggested, her voice laced with a hint of speculation.

Finn and Nancy exchanged a brief glance, their eyes conveying a shared sense of unease.

“What is it?” Erza inquired, her voice laced with concern as she noticed the change in Finn and Nancy’s demeanor.

“There’s something wrong with Mest,” Finn stated, his voice laced with a hint of gravity, deciding to no longer conceal his suspicions.

He proceeded to relay his suspicions and Nancy’s observations regarding Mest’s unusual behavior.

“So, it seems our suspicions regarding Mest were indeed accurate,” Erza stated, her voice laced with a hint of seriousness as she considered the implications of Finn’s revelation.

“This Mest character is undoubtedly involved in something nefarious,” she concluded, her expression one of grave concern.

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