After the noise, the heavy atmosphere that Laxus had brought completely vanished.
Everyone gathered around the temporary request board, picking jobs that suited them and slowly easing back into work they hadn't touched in quite some time.
The same went for the newly formed strongest team. Under Erza's lead, they set out brimming with fighting spirit, heading to challenge a magic cult secretly operating inside the Rubinas Dungeon.
Soon, the lively scene faded, replaced only by the clanging of construction workers outside the guild fence.
"By the way, Chase, aren't you going to pick up a job?"
Mira approached with a cup of black tea and a glass of juice, setting them in front of Chase and the Dark Magician Girl respectively.
"I took a quick look earlier, but nothing caught my interest," Chase said, taking the tea.
Perhaps out of concern for safety and stability, Makarov had ordered that all S-Rank and above requests be suspended until the new guild hall was finished.
Anything below S-Rank held no appeal for him. He could handle subjugation missions easily enough, but he had zero interest in day-to-day errands.
As for high-pay jobs that required tedious, time-consuming work, they were even more boring.
Please, with hundreds of millions in assets, did he really need to chase a little extra pocket money?
"So, you can't even get a proper fight in," Mira teased with a knowing smile.
"Hahaha, you know me too well."
Chase took a sip of the tea, the rich, mellow aroma blooming across his tongue and warming him from the inside.
"Strange… has our guild's tea always been this fragrant?" he asked, curious.
"This is from a special batch the supplier gifted to Master Makarov. Since the guild's finances are secure, he plans to gradually improve everyone's quality of life, including tea, drinks, and ingredients," Mira explained softly.
She looked straight into Chase's eyes, a faint spark of anticipation flickering within her gaze.
"I see. Looks like that billion really gave the Master a boost in confidence," Chase said with a nod.
Inwardly, he thought, so even in a world of magic, human relationships and courtesy are still king. A 'special gift' like this must be the finest of the finest.
Maybe it was the atmosphere, but it tasted even better than the blend he'd enjoyed at Jude's place.
Hearing his reply, the light in Mira's eyes dimmed, and she sat back, a little sulky.
What? Shouldn't the main point be that I risked getting scolded by the Master just to sneak you this tea?
"By the way, Mira, speaking of requests… when will you be doing another photo shoot for Magic Weekly Sorcerer?"
Whether it was insight or just luck, the Dark Magician Girl leaned her chin into her hands and added, "The last pictures came out so pretty!"
After the events on the Island of the Demon Ruins, the promotional poster themed around that island had naturally been scrapped and never released.
Hearing the mention, Mira's attention shifted, and she sighed with regret.
"They have contacted me, but I still have the construction of the new guild to oversee, plus everyone's commissions. I'm swamped and just don't have the time right now."
"Well, why not let Master do it for you?" the Dark Magician Girl suggested, instantly thinking of her easy-going Master.
But a moment later, she shook her head quickly. "No, no, this idiot Master can't handle it!"
"Hey, you've been getting cocky lately. Want me to send you back into the deck to reflect?" Chase said, rapping her lightly on the head.
"Ouch!"
The Dark Magician Girl winced, covering her head, not daring to talk back.
"Chase!"
Seeing her adorable little sister get smacked, Mira frowned, her expression turning warm but edged with warning.
The Dark Magician Girl seized the chance, transforming into a pink streak of light and darting behind Mira at lightning speed, sticking out her tongue and making faces at Chase.
Is that really how flying magic is supposed to be used?!
If Lucy had been there, she would definitely have complained about it.
Since he had nothing better to do, after finishing his tea, Chase wandered over to the construction site to help carry bricks and check on the progress of the new guild's construction.
After all, he was a serious civil engineering major… though that didn't exactly translate well into the logic-defying world of magic.
Time slipped by quietly, and before long, night had fallen.
Chase said goodbye to Mira, left the construction site, and headed home with the Dark Magician Girl at his side.
The two chatted casually about guild matters as they walked.
When they were still a short distance from their front door, Chase's eyes sharpened and his brows furrowed slightly.
It was quiet. Too quiet.
Not the normal kind of late-night stillness he could still hear the faint creak of a fishing boat drifting along the nearby river, with a few boatmen on deck drinking and boasting loudly.
It wasn't the cautious hush that fell when Magnolia's residents were deliberately hiding away just moments ago, someone had been whispering sweet nothings from a second-floor windowsill nearby.
This was different. No sound of animals. No chirping of insects.
Those little background noises that he could pick up even while half-asleep in his room… were gone. Completely gone.
"Master, something's not right," the Dark Magician Girl said, her tone suddenly serious.
For all her recklessness in daily life and even in battle, she was still a genius magician with years of experience. Her senses were razor-sharp, and her instincts rarely failed her.
"It seems we have guests waiting for us at home," Chase said with a faint smile, his eyes narrowing.
Ever since joining the guild, this kind of anomaly had only happened here around his own house. The target was obvious.
The only question was… who was stupid enough to try it?
Remnants of Phantom Lord? Saber Tooth mercenaries? A lingering grudge from some past enemy?
He considered the possibilities as he continued walking at a steady pace, silently triggering his trap card in preparation.
Running at the first sign of danger was not his style.
A brief exchange of glances was all it took for the Dark Magician Girl to understand his plan. She kept chatting naturally, as if nothing were out of the ordinary.
They reached the door. Chase pulled out his key.
And then
The strike came.
From the shadows, an arc of blinding steel flashed. The moment it cut through the air, it seemed to slice the world itself, the chill of the blade biting with merciless precision.
Chase's pupils contracted. Even expecting trouble, the sheer speed of the attack left almost no room to react.
Whoosh.
It was as if time had been frozen. The gleaming sword tip, cold light dancing along its edge, hovered just a finger's breadth from Chase's calm expression.
Golden light burst to life as a magic circle flared in the dim room. Radiant lines intertwined, forming the intricate shape of a hexagram that bound the blade in place.
In that glow, Chase finally saw his attacker clearly.
A woman, dressed in a white off-the-shoulder kimono, her long pink hair whipping in the wind stirred by her own sudden strike.
Her icy, predatory eyes now carried a flicker of fear as the curse of the hexagram locked her movements.
"Oh? The emblem of the assassination guild… Skull and Bones."
Chase's gaze dropped to the crest embroidered at the hem of her kimono. His lips curved into a faint smile.
"So… am I on someone's bounty list?"
....
Keep supporting me with you comments and reviews if you like the story please drop a power stone and your support is very much appreciated.
Want to read 40+ chapters ahead , share your fandom thoughts, or just fuel my translation caffeine habit? or if you want to support me please Join me on Patreon here! :
patreon.com/Keep_ItUp