At last.
After quietly speaking in front of her mother Layla's grave, Lucy decided to return to Magnolia with Natsu and the others.
Although this cold Heartfilia mansion had begun to feel warmer, her heart had long since become inseparable from Fairy Tail.
In the study.
Jude stood in front of the French window, watching Lucy wave goodbye to the tearful servants.
"Go, Lucy. Follow the path you want to take. No matter what happens, the Heartfilia family will always be your strongest support."
Lucy, standing among her companions, felt something and suddenly looked up.
The moment their eyes met, she curved her lips into a bright, radiant smile and raised her index finger high in his direction.
This Fairy Tail hand gesture, meaning "I will always watch over you," was something Natsu had secretly told her about just moments ago.
Right after, Natsu, Gray, Erza, and Happy all smiled and made the same gesture.
Although Jude did not know the exact meaning, he could clearly feel the emotions from his daughter that went beyond words.
The old father, who had just experienced a kind of rebirth, was startled, hid behind the curtains without courage, and silently shed tears.
Only after Lucy's figure disappeared completely from sight did he pull back from the window, walk to his desk, and make a phone call.
"It's me. Contact the finance department and transfer one billion to Fairy Tail."
As expected of the head of a great business conglomerate, Jude regained his original dignity and authority in just a few seconds.
"As expected of you, Boss! If a sudden attack fails, then you try to acquire the company. What a brilliant strategy!"
There was a burst of flattery from the other end of the line.
"It's not an acquisition. It's just a simple donation. And remember, keep it anonymous."
"Ah? An anonymous donation?"
"Any objections?" Jude's tone left no room for argument.
How could a father's humble gesture to make amends to his daughter be tied to business interests?
"No, no, I'll send it to the Council right away!"
By the time Natsu and his friends returned to Magnolia in high spirits, dusk had already settled over the city.
At the makeshift work bar at the guild's reconstruction site.
Chase, who had returned earlier, wore a serious expression as he carefully examined the colorful graffiti in his hands.
Mira sat beside him, her hands folded, her large, beautiful eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Not far away, the Dark Magician Girl, dressed in construction clothes with a safety helmet on her head and a tape measure in hand, was happily directing the card monsters to move bricks.
The massive Rock Giant had taken over Makarov's job, effortlessly lifting heavy planks and stacks of bricks with more efficiency than several cranes combined.
The Devil Summoner was acting as a welder, able to complete all sorts of complex steelwork with just a flick of his fingers.
Needless to say, the Cursed Dragon and the City Guard Winged Dragon were even more useful, directly carrying Macao, Wakaba, and the others to work on aerial tasks.
Meanwhile, the Elf Swordsmen and Giant Shield Guardians assisted from the ground, easily moving bricks and carrying wooden beams.
It had to be said Chase's card magic was unbelievably practical in situations like this, and his friends could not stop praising him.
However, Cana, who was also a card wizard, wasn't so lucky. She was innocently caught in the comparison crossfire, instantly becoming the "other people's child" in the eyes of the older guild members.
"Chase, how's the completed blueprint this time?" Mira leaned in close to him, her curiosity showing as she asked.
Chase set down his sketchpad and replied seriously, "Great, great! You've added a lot of detail. The open-air bar and gym idea is fantastic!"
"Huh? But I've never even joined a gym before "
Seeing Chase's stunned, frozen expression as if struck by lightning, Mira seemed to realize something. Her face turned red, and she covered it with her hands, letting out a pitiful sob.
"Hahaha! Chase, you've finally shown your true colors!"
"Hey! Everyone, come and see Chase made Mira cry!"
Macao and Wakaba, hearing the commotion, immediately hurried over to tease Chase.
These two troublemakers even made a big show of shouting loudly in a playful, exaggerated way.
But they didn't laugh for long.
A sudden violet storm burst forth without warning. Mira, who had drawn upon the power of Satan Soul and transformed into her demon form, stomped down with one foot and reduced the temporary bar to rubble.
"Hey, you two have you finished your work yet?!" Demon Mira's cold, oppressive gaze bore into them.
"N-no, not yet " Macao and Wakaba clung to each other in fear.
"Then get moving!"
"Yes, Foreman Mira!" ×2
Just like that, the two of them took off like their lives depended on it, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
The other guild members who had been on their way to watch the drama instantly turned heel, suddenly finding new motivation to work hard and move bricks.
In certain situations, Demon Mira was even more terrifying than Erza.
"So, Chase, shall we get back to what we were talking about?"
Demon Mira caught Chase, tucking his head firmly under her arm, and pointed at the colorful graffiti that had fallen to the ground.
"Alright, alright, but before that, could you please let go of me…"
Trapped in the crook of Mira's arm, Chase felt his breathing grow strained and slowly raised his trembling hands in surrender.
Seeing this, Demon Mira curved her lips into a beautiful yet dangerously chilling smile. "No."
"Man! Chase, show us your masculinity!" Elfman cheered from the side.
Oh no, I'm going to suffocate!
"Well done, Sister Mira. You should teach that lazy master who summons card monsters but refuses to work a good lesson!" the Dark Magician Girl laughed loudly.
Wait a second whose side are you on?!
Just as Chase felt he was about to pass out, a loud bang echoed from the construction site fence.
"Ahahaha! We're back with Lucy!"
Through the gap stepped Natsu, strutting in with a huge bump on his forehead courtesy of Erza's fist.
Lucy, Gray, and the others followed close behind.
When they saw Chase's "miserable" predicament, everyone froze, stunned into silence by the bizarre scene in front of them.
Everyone except for the ever-impulsive Natsu.
"Whoa! Mira's using Satan Soul!"
Without thinking, he charged forward, flames bursting around his clenched fist. "This is a rare chance fight me!"
Thump.
A dull sound rang out, and as expected, Demon Mira dropped him with a single punch.
But thanks to Natsu's interruption, Chase finally escaped her crushing grip and sat down beside him, gasping for air.
"Welcome back, Lucy~"
Mira released her magic, smiling warmly as she waved. "Where have you been? I didn't see you all day."
"Sorry for making you worry, Sister Mira. I went home today." Lucy scratched her head, looking a little embarrassed.
"Went home?!"
At those words, everyone nearby Mira included immediately tensed.
Lucy's home… wasn't that the Heartfilia estate?!
"Relax. Lucy's father is surprisingly easy to get along with. He's actually a good person."
Erza explained in a calm voice.
"If I hadn't seen it for myself, I wouldn't believe that kind of man could be the same one who hired Phantom." Gray added, shaking his head.
"Hey! Let me tell you, Lucy's family is crazy rich. If you're ever short on cash, just borrow from Lucy!" Happy raised a paw and grinned.
That one sentence threw the whole group into a stir, their eyes suddenly glinting with greedy mischief.
Lucy: "…"
Terrified, she instantly clutched her wallet tightly to her chest.
This rotten cat! Always getting me into trouble!
....
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