Chapter 29: FTRJ: Chapter 29

Higher up on the list were mostly Finn’s name, Natsu and Gray’s, Erza’s, and Mirajane’s, followed by the amounts each owed in damages.

Makarov looked at his little notebook and chuckled softly. “Heh, this tells me exactly how much these brats owe. I’ll deduct it from their rewards. Levy’s so clever.”

One shudders to imagine the reaction of those listed if they knew Levy was behind this notebook.

Finn went upstairs and saw only a handful of missions posted on the mission board. S-class missions were inherently few and far between, especially with Erza and Laxus, the two mission-hogging maniacs, constantly snatching them up.

Honestly, Finn was grateful that any missions remained on the board at all; he owed a debt of gratitude to those two for their rare moments of restraint. Fairy Tail simply didn’t have enough S-class missions to go around.

The number of regular missions had increased, however. Judging by this trend, as the guild’s next generation of prodigies matured, the number of missions would undoubtedly increase as well.

The mission board displayed only one extermination mission: “Exterminate the Dark Mage, Hades.” The rest were primarily curse removals or other peculiar requests.

Mission Summary: A Dark Mage calling himself Hades is currently wreaking havoc in the western desert of the Kingdom of Fiore. This Dark Mage has completely taken over the city of Crocus, a settlement located in the western desert, and only a small portion of the original inhabitants managed to escape.

The mission was posted by the city’s lord, one of the survivors of the demonic invasion, who desperately sought the aid of powerful mages to either eliminate the demon or drive him and his forces out of Crocus City, thus enabling the displaced citizens to return to their homes.

Finn had always shown little interest in those types of missions; they were too mentally taxing for his taste. He preferred missions with clear, straightforward objectives that allowed for a more direct, forceful approach—a good old-fashioned brawl. This mission was perfect for him. An entire city under demonic occupation meant no need to worry about accidentally harming innocent civilians, and the target was clearly defined: charge in, sword drawn, and let the mayhem begin.

With that thought firmly in mind, Finn didn’t hesitate to claim the mission request and promptly left the second floor.

While Finn was upstairs, Mirajane, abandoning her newly adopted demure persona, marched aggressively towards Macao and Wakaba.

Standing with one foot perched atop a stool, she wore a distinctly arrogant expression. “I hear you two have been gossiping about me, Erza, and Finn, right?”

The cigarette dangling from Wakaba’s lips nearly fell out in shock. Mirajane had seemed so docile just moments ago; what had prompted this sudden transformation?

Both Macao and Wakaba were utterly perplexed.

Mirajane, however, merely cracked her knuckles, her fingers making a series of sharp popping sounds. A knowing smile played on her lips.

“Don’t worry,” she stated, her tone laced with a chilling undercurrent, “it’ll be over before you even know it—before you even feel a thing.”

“Please…spare us!!!”

“Bang—bang—bang”

Elfman, cowering in a corner, shielded his head with a book, trembling with fear. He was desperately trying to minimize his presence, terrified that his sister might not be satisfied with just Macao and Wakaba and would take her anger out on him. Elfman had suffered countless times before when Erza and Mirajane’s battles ended in a stalemate.

“Elfman, your book is upside down,” Cana kindly pointed out.

In short order, Macao and Wakaba lay sprawled on the ground, their faces bruised and battered beyond recognition.

Mirajane clapped her hands together, her peripheral vision catching sight of Finn beginning his descent from the stairs. She quickly composed herself, subtly adjusting her hair, which had become slightly disheveled during the altercation.

In the blink of an eye, the violent woman transformed back into the docile, well-behaved girl.

Gray, witnessing this astonishingly rapid shift in demeanor, couldn’t help but exclaim, “Mirajane, you change your expression so fast…” Before Gray could utter another word, Mirajane cut him off sharply.

“Shut up!!”

“Yes…” Gray promptly shut his mouth, his eyes wide with a mixture of fear and awe at Mirajane’s intimidating glare.

Mirajane then swept her fierce gaze across the guild members, ensuring that everyone present signaled their agreement to remain silent about the incident before finally nodding in satisfaction.

Mirajane had finally made up her mind; as Lisanna had wisely suggested the previous night, liking someone was nothing to be ashamed of. Any further hesitation, and she might lose Finn to that detestable Erza.

Erza already had the advantage of having known Finn longer; this was an undeniable advantage. Mirajane was determined to reclaim that advantage, and if it meant subduing everyone in the guild through force, so be it. That was her plan, at least.

Finn descended from the second floor, sensing the strange and somewhat tense atmosphere permeating the guild. He chose to ignore it, concluding that everything was simply out of the ordinary today.

He approached Mirajane and stated, “Is this alright? There aren’t many suitable missions available.”

Mirajane quickly scanned the mission board before replying, “I’m fine with whatever you decide. After all, you’re the main force.”

Finn scratched his head; this was another unusual aspect. Mirajane was usually very assertive, but he decided not to dwell on it. “Okay,” he said.

He then proceeded to register the mission request with Makarov before departing from the guild, Mirajane in tow.

Unbeknownst to Finn, as he left, a familiar expression—that same amused, almost motherly smile—once again graced Makarov’s face…

Three days after Finn and Mirajane’s departure…

The doors of the Fairy Tail guild swung open, and a figure of striking grace and strength entered. With her characteristic scarlet hair and clad in her shining armor, it was Erza, having returned from her mission.

Natsu and Gray, however, remained oblivious to Erza’s arrival, locked in their own heated battle.

“Goggle-head.” “Droopy-eye.” “Pervert!” “Snot-nose!”

The insults flew as fast as their fists, creating a cacophony of blows and counter-blows.

“Should we warn them?” Cana asked, her expression laced with sympathy as she watched the two combatants, for Erza had already taken notice of the unfolding chaos.

To everyone’s surprise, Erza, upon witnessing the brawl before her, exclaimed, “Really? I’ve told you time and time again that everyone in this guild is family! Family doesn’t fight! I’ve taught you this countless times, why won’t you listen?!”

With that thought firmly in her mind, Erza prepared to intervene, though this typically absent-minded queen seemed to have forgotten her own recent conflict with Mirajane.

“Damn it, I’m going to beat you until you cry today, Gray!” Natsu, his face already swollen from previous blows, growled, once again raising his fists to attack Gray.

“Huff…huff…haha, Natsu, look at you! Today, victory is mine!” Gray, sporting a sizable lump on his forehead, declared with unwavering confidence.

“Bang—bang” Two resounding impacts echoed through the guild hall as Erza, with remarkable composure, landed squarely on Natsu’s back, sending him sprawling to the ground. She then addressed Gray, who had similarly been sent crashing to the floor.

“I’ve told you before, we’re all family here! There’s no place for fighting amongst family!”

“You’re one to talk!!” Cana whispered under her breath, her gaze fixed on the two defeated combatants lying prostrate on the floor, victims of Erza’s swift and decisive intervention.

Erza surveyed the guild hall, a puzzled expression crossing her face. She couldn’t see the person she’d been hoping to find.

And Mirajane, who would typically have already made a dramatic entrance by this point, was nowhere to be seen.

This was highly unusual. She absently stroked the completed S-class mission request in her hand—a document she’d been planning to use to boast to Mirajane—feeling a surge of frustration and a sense of anticlimactic deflation.

She asked, “Where’s Mirajane? Why isn’t she here? And where’s Finn?”

Wakaba was about to respond when Macao swiftly grabbed the beer mug from the table and poured the contents down Wakaba’s throat.

Simultaneously, he whispered, “You forgot about Mirajane? She beat the living daylights out of us just two days ago! If you hadn’t been so quick to open your mouth and make that teasing remark, she wouldn’t have even noticed us.”

Macao then quickly glanced at Erza to ensure she wasn’t paying attention before continuing, “And you know about that whole…love triangle thing, right? If you tell Erza that Mirajane and Finn are off on a mission together, especially an S-class mission, she’ll probably go ballistic! Then we’re all doomed!”

Wakaba, understanding the gravity of the situation, nodded silently and lowered his head, desperately trying to minimize his presence.

“Come on, come on, let’s drink, let’s drink,” Macao urged, trying to distract Erza.

However, while Macao and Wakaba remained tight-lipped, others weren’t so discreet.

Erza knew that Cana possessed the most comprehensive knowledge of the guild’s happenings. Turning to Cana, she posed her question directly, “Cana, where are they?”

Faced with the unwavering gaze of the guild’s iron-willed queen, Cana couldn’t withstand the pressure and blurted out everything she knew—and even some things she wasn’t entirely sure of.

Much to her dismay, Erza’s expression grew progressively darker with each revelation.

“So, you’re telling me that Mirajane and Finn have gone off on a mission together—and it’s an S-class mission at that?”

Erza’s mind began to conjure up a vivid image: two days hence, Mirajane would strut confidently into the guild hall, brandishing the completed S-class mission request in her hand, waving it tauntingly before Erza’s very eyes.

And she would undoubtedly say something along the lines of, “Oh, Erza, it turns out that S-class missions aren’t so difficult after all! I completed one, you know! Oh, and by the way, I completed it with Finn! Hahaha!”

The more Erza contemplated this scenario, the angrier she became, her feet unconsciously applying more pressure to the ground.

Natsu, lying beneath Erza’s foot, was practically in tears.

Completely lost in her imaginative scenario, Erza remained utterly oblivious to Natsu’s cries of anguish. Natsu’s hands frantically pounded against the floor as he wailed, “Erza…I’m so sorry…Erza, I swear I’ll never fight with Gray again!”

“Natsu…I’m afraid I can’t save you this time,” Happy lamented, his eyes welling up as he watched Natsu’s suffering. But he was just a cat; who would dare to upset Erza’s already volatile mood?

Happy decided he wanted to live a few more years.

Gray, meanwhile, stealthily began to inch his way backwards, doing his utmost to avoid making any noise that might attract Erza’s attention. After all, Natsu was already wailing like a banshee; if he were to get caught in the crossfire, the consequences would be…unspeakable.

“Master Makarov! Master Makarov!” Just then, a letter-carrying bird swooped into the Fairy Tail guild hall. Upon hearing the name being called out, everyone present knew instantly that the message was intended for Makarov.

Makarov, who was rather tipsy at the bar, hastily sprang to his feet to receive the letter from the bird. His movements, however, were quite unsteady, leaving everyone concerned that he might tumble from the bar at any moment.

Makarov made a swift incision on the letter, and instantly, a multitude of projections materialized from within.

Upon observing the attire of these individuals, Makarov felt as though the alcohol had instantly evaporated from his system.

For these were the unmistakable uniforms of the Magic Council.

And, to Makarov’s misfortune, he recognized every single one of the individuals present in the projection—virtually every member of the Council was there.

At the center of the projection stood Crawford Seam, the esteemed chairman of the Council, though his expression was far from amiable.

He addressed Makarov directly, “Fairy Tail Guild Master Makarov, due to the actions of Fairy Tail guild members Finn and Mirajane Strauss, the city of Crocus in the western desert has been utterly destroyed.”

Upon hearing these words, Makarov’s jaw dropped open in astonishment. Meanwhile, having overheard the mention of Finn and Mirajane’s names, Erza hastily approached, much to the immense relief of Natsu, who was still trapped under her foot.

However, the chairman’s pronouncements were far from over. “The social impact of this event is extremely severe,” he stated, his voice heavy with barely suppressed fury. Even through the projection, one could sense the chairman’s intense anger.

His demeanor even suggested that he was on the verge of ordering the immediate execution of Finn and Mirajane.

However, the second-in-command, Ogra, subtly tugged at the chairman’s sleeve, reminding him to maintain his composure. The chairman, visibly struggling to restrain his rage, continued, “However, considering that the two individuals’ primary objective was the extermination of the Demon God, Hades,”

“And that no human casualties resulted from their actions, we will retain the right to hold them accountable. Nevertheless, in order to provide a satisfactory explanation to society, we will proceed with their apprehension.”

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