Chapter 67: FTRJ: Chapter 67

Erza approached, hands on her hips, taking a moment to compose herself. “Forget it, getting involved with that guy is just going to exhaust everyone.”

“Let’s forget about that. Want to work together?” Erza turned to Finn.

“Huh?” Finn was taken aback. Didn’t Erza usually handle missions solo?

Erza ignored Finn’s expression and said, “Of course. Natsu, Gray, and Lucy are coming too.”

“What?!” Gray exclaimed, startled.

“Gray, your clothes…” Cana pointed out.

“Ah? When?” Gray looked down at himself, completely unaware.

Erza reflected, “We’ve been together ever since the Iron Forest incident.”

“You’re only noticing that now?” Wakaba commented dryly.

“Anyone could see that! How could you be so oblivious?!” Macao added, piling on the teasing.

“Were we?” Finn tilted his head, thoughtfully considering.

“That’s Erza for you,” Cana sighed, impressed.

Erza smiled. “So, should we just officially form a team? Just the five of us,” she then turned to Happy, adding, “Six, including Happy.”

Lucy looked uncertain. “But, is someone like me really up to it?”

“What do you mean ’someone like you’?” Natsu said, clenching his fist in encouragement. “It’s better because it’s YOU, Lucy!”

“Aye!” Happy cheered, flying excitedly in a circle.

“Without you, something would feel missing,” Erza placed a hand reassuringly on Lucy’s shoulder.

Seeing Erza’s trusting gaze, Lucy nodded emphatically, a happy smile spreading across her face.

Mirajane observed the group, thoughtfully considering. “Finn, Erza, Natsu, Gray, Lucy…”

“That’s the strongest team ever!!” she exclaimed.

Cana set down her cup. “That’s right, Fairy Tail’s strongest team is officially formed!”

“Not a bad idea at all,” Macao agreed, nodding in approval.

“Speaking of, Lucy’s pretty strong too. If she unleashes Aquarius, there aren’t many who could win,” Wakaba pointed out.

“Team up with this guy?” Gray glared at Natsu with obvious displeasure.

“Why would I team up with this idiot?!” Natsu retorted, equally annoyed. Their gazes locked, sparks seemingly flying between them.

Just then, Erza’s low, serious voice cut through the air. “Any objections?”

“Eh!! None at all! We’re thrilled!” they both replied instantly.

“Aye!” The two former rivals acted like long-lost friends, instantly bonding with a hearty slap on each other’s backs.

“And there’s Happy 2.0…” Lucy commented dryly, unable to resist a sarcastic remark.

Erza, clearly pleased with the sudden camaraderie, announced, “In that case, let’s get to work immediately.”

“Eh?? So soon?” Finn had just ordered a glass of milk and hadn’t even taken a sip yet.

Mirajane looked at Finn with a knowing, mischievous smile. “Go on now.”

Finn complained, “But I’m so tired, I…”

Ignoring Finn’s protests, Erza grabbed Finn’s arm and pulled him away before he could finish his sentence. In the distance, Finn’s desperate cry could be heard echoing, “My milk!!!”

Mirajane, displaying a sweet smile and waving her hand in farewell, called out, “Be careful out there! And remember to bring back some souvenirs!”

…

Night. Makarov sat alone on the roof of the nearly completed guildhall.

Gulp, gulp, gulp, he took a long draught of beer, then set down the glass, letting out a long sigh. His face was slightly flushed, perhaps from the alcohol.

“Retirement, huh…” he looked at the nearly finished building.

“The new guildhall will soon be complete. If so, it’s time to pass the Master’s mantle to the next generation.” The thought caused Makarov a considerable amount of headache.

“Finn, that child, shows absolutely no interest in becoming Master.”

“Laxus…that boy has some serious psychological issues. And Mystogan…he’s practically incapable of communicating with humans.”

Makarov stroked his chin thoughtfully. “That leaves only Erza. She’s still quite young, but…”

“Master, you’re here!” Mirajane’s voice interrupted Makarov’s contemplation.

“Oh? Mirajane.” Makarov stood up as Mirajane approached, hurrying up the stairs with a file in her hand.

Mirajane offered her usual sweet smile. “Seems like they’ve gotten into trouble again.”

“Hmm?” Makarov suddenly had a thought.

Mirajane handed the file to Makarov, her eyes curving into crescent moons. “Finn and the others…seem to have destroyed about half of the opposing town while they were on their job.”

Mirajane’s tone suggested a hint of pride in their actions.

“Ah…ah…” Makarov’s mouth hung open, completely speechless and stunned.

Mirajane continued, flipping through the file, “Master, the Council demands an immediate apology for this incident.”

“Eh?” Makarov looked down at the file, a look of dawning horror on his face.

“It seems they’re requesting a statement of at least ten thousand words,” Mirajane calmly stated the potentially fatal fact.

Upon hearing this, Makarov felt his strength drain away, collapsing to the ground as if his very soul had fled his body.

“Eh? Master, what’s wrong? Should we call for a doctor?” Mirajane asked concernedly, crouching beside Makarov.

“How am I supposed to retire after this~~~” Makarov’s mournful cry echoed through the night.

Meanwhile, at Sun Village, Magnolia’s most popular hot spring resort.

Finn lay comfortably in a hot spring, a towel draped over his head.

“So relaxing. All the fatigue from today is gone,” he picked up a glass of white liquid from the side of the pool, taking a leisurely sip.

He then turned, plucked a grape from a nearby bowl, and popped it into his mouth, savoring the moment. “Truly, one of life’s greatest pleasures.”

“You even drink milk in a hot spring?” Gray looked at Finn with a mixture of disbelief and amusement.

“Gray, you don’t understand. Milk has many benefits; it’s the ultimate beverage,” Finn said, eyes closed, a serene expression on his face.

“Gurgle gurgle…”

Finn pointed at the bubbling water. “Hey, isn’t that Happy?”

Gray squinted, looking around. Apart from Natsu happily splashing around on the other side of the pool, he couldn’t see Happy anywhere. “It looks like him, but…this situation…”

“Idiot, Happy looks like he’s drowning!!!” Finn suddenly shouted, realizing something.

“Ah!!” Gray quickly dove into the water, swiftly retrieving the bloated Happy from the depths.

Happy’s eyes were still rolling around in his head as he weakly mumbled, “I’m never going to a hot spring with you guys again…”

Inside the inn at Sun Village.

Natsu, clutching several pillows, said excitedly, “Let’s do it!”

Happy, also armed with a pillow, was equally enthusiastic, having apparently already forgotten the near-drowning incident in the hot springs.

Gray, who was just about to settle down for a nap, said in an irritated voice, “What is it? You’re being so noisy! I’m really tired.”

Natsu pointed around the room. “Look, we’re in an inn! Inns are for pillow fights!”

Finn threw back the covers of his bed. “I was finally asleep, you know!”

“Why sleep so early? Get up!” Erza and Lucy entered, each carrying a pile of pillows. “I’ve got all the best quality pillows here!”

“Do pillows even have quality?” Lucy commented dryly.

“I’m going to beat Erza!” Natsu declared, raising his pillow and throwing it towards Erza.

However, Erza, with her exceptional agility, easily dodged the attack.

And so, Gray, who was standing behind Erza, became the unfortunate recipient of Natsu’s pillow.

“Bang!” The pillow landed squarely on Gray’s face, leaving his cheeks flushed red from the impact.

“Natsu, you…” Gray, his face contorted in anger, was about to retaliate when a pile of pillows suddenly appeared beside him.

“When did…?” Gray’s mind was filled with question marks, but he didn’t dwell on it, immediately grabbing a pillow and joining the fray.

“Ah, Juvia is so happy to be able to help Gray-sama,” Juvia whispered from behind a nearby rock, her face flushed crimson with a mixture of excitement and shyness.

“Take this!” Gray flung a pillow at Natsu’s face, sending him sprawling to the ground.

“Next up is Finn,” Gray declared, picking up another pillow and aiming it at Finn.

Finn calmly reached out and caught the pillow with a gentle hand. “If that’s the case, then let’s begin.”

Finn, in turn, swiftly threw the pillow towards Gray.

“Excellent throw! Let me just catch this…” Gray’s words were cut short as the pillow struck him with tremendous force, sending him flying backwards into the wall with a resounding crash. Cracks appeared on the wall from the impact.

Lucy, who had been eagerly anticipating the pillow fight, stared wide-eyed at the scene unfolding before her, her mind reeling in disbelief. “Is that guy even human???”

Countless question marks raced through Lucy’s mind.

Finn, pillow in hand, turned towards Lucy. “Lucy, want to join?”

“Eh!! No, no, I don’t feel too well. I think I’ll go back to my room and rest,” Lucy said, immediately turning and sprinting out of the room with surprising speed.

Despite Lucy’s departure, the pillow fight continued with great enthusiasm.

However…

The next morning, Natsu and Gray, both sporting bandages, stared at Finn with deadpan expressions.

Elfman, utterly speechless, muttered, “What are you all doing again…?”

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