"Sorry for the trouble, Miss Erza."
Seeing Erza switch back into her silver armor, Roland nodded politely and handed her a handkerchief.
Challenging the Fairy Queen today was partly to test his sword skills for real, and partly because the system had refreshed the daily quests.
[Quest One: At this moment, I am the guild's strongest!]
[Quest Description: Defeat the strongest S-Class mage presently in the guild and cement your title as the strongest!]
[Quest Reward: A Knight Does Not Die With Empty Hands — from the Fate universe]
As for the other two quests, Roland glanced at them and couldn't help facepalming.
[Quest Two: Guild Daily Life!]
[Quest Description: As a guild member you can't just loaf around and flirt. Complete any commission task, your choice!]
[Quest Reward: Shinpachi Glasses — from Gintama]
[Quest Three: Secretly in Love with Juvia!]
[Quest Description: Daily jobs can get dull. Go see Juvia for a romance and give her the passionate kiss she dreams of!]
[Quest Reward: Weather Controller — from Doraemon]
Never mind whether the Shinpachi Glasses are useful. The Weather Controller would help, but it's not enough to make him run back to Oak City.
It was already afternoon. By the time he arrived it would be night, and Phantom Lord's base sat downtown.
The two guilds were mortal enemies. He wasn't looking to invite trouble.
"No trouble at all. Since you've joined the guild, we're all family."
Erza took the handkerchief and wiped the dust from her face, shaking her head.
As expected, the newcomer's strength was truly formidable.
He had beaten her Heaven's Wheel with swordplay alone. Put that way, Laxus losing didn't sound unbelievable.
After receiving the quest reward, Roland froze, then smiled and spoke seriously. "I'll be in your care from now on, Miss Erza."
"Ah... yes, likewise."
Looking at that refined face and gentle smile, for some reason Erza felt her heartbeat quicken and her breath catch.
Even her words stumbled. In the end she turned her head aside and forced a calm tone.
"By the way, I heard from Mira that you like strawberry shortcake and cream puffs. This afternoon I'll treat you."
Roland added with a light laugh. "Payment for the sword guidance just now. Eat to your heart's content."
Strawberry shortcake, all you can eat.
"Really?"
Erza's eyes lit up at once. She clenched her fists before her chest, the gallant knightly air turning suddenly girlish.
A very cute contrast.
On the other side, Cana was gleefully counting thick wads of paper bills, already planning to drink the night away.
Because Erza was among the earliest S-Class in the guild and had been around the longest, most people had bet on her.
"Natsu, I won my money back this time."
"Oh! Nice work, Happy!"
Seeing the green bills in Happy's arms, Natsu pumped a fist, eyes shining.
"Tch..."
Gray, shirtless, crossed his arms with a sour look and clicked his tongue.
The ones who had just returned from jobs—who could have guessed a newcomer of three days would beat that terrifying woman so easily.
"Hey, flame-brain, you know that rookie well?"
After thinking it over, Gray couldn't hold back his curiosity and asked the nearby Natsu, who was pondering dinner.
"Ha—who are you calling flame-brain. Wanna fight, ice block idiot?"
"Damn it, I've had enough of you!"
"Hey, you two, quit throwing sandals at my head!"
"Shut it, old man!"
Back in the yard, chaos erupted again. Roland had just opened his mouth when the impatient Erza seized him and tugged him back toward the bar.
For strawberry shortcake, she was even ditching her hall monitor role.
At least pretend to scold them once.
"Ahem. It's always like this. Even if I stop them, they'll be brawling again soon."
Noticing his look, Erza gave an embarrassed smile and explained with a small cough.
As the two returned, Mirajane and Levy came in from outside where they'd been watching.
"Nicely done, Roland."
Recalling that swordplay that bordered on art, Mirajane couldn't help praising him.
Whatever the spectacle, beating Erza with pure technique was impressive enough.
"You had such amazing sword skills and never told me."
Levy slipped naturally into the seat beside him, then slowly puffed her cheeks.
"I wasn't hiding it. You just never asked."
Looking at her cute face, Roland couldn't resist poking her cheek with a finger.
"..."
He kind of had a point.
Levy batted his hand away in a huff and rolled her pretty eyes.
He loved to tease.
Roland pulled back his hand and spread the gourmet tablecloth he'd taken back from Natsu across the counter.
Under Erza's gaze he spoke softly. "Four orders of crab roe soup dumplings, six slices of strawberry shortcake, and... four colas."
In the next instant, steaming dumplings and fragrant cream cakes appeared on the cloth along with four glasses of cola.
"No matter how many times I see it, it feels magical. With a tool like this, even chefs wouldn't be necessary."
Mirajane clasped her hands and marveled in her gentle voice at the food that had materialized.
Not just chefs—the cost of ingredients vanished too.
If he ever wanted to slack off, he could use it to open an otherworldly restaurant.
"Incredible... not only the aroma, but the flavor and texture are perfect. Did these really appear out of thin air?"
Biting into the fragrant cake, Erza spoke in shock, a trace of white cream at the corner of her lips.
"Conjuring food out of thin air isn't something magic can't do."
"This tool is nothing like magic."
Levy propped her fair chin on her hand and couldn't help retorting.
"If only we had something like this during jobs. Right—Roland, team up with me. I have a well-paid S-Class request right at hand."
Erza crossed her legs with elegance and savored the cake. Mid-sentence she changed tack, eyes expectant.
"No can do. Roland isn't an S-Class mage, so he can't accept requests from the second floor."
Before Roland could answer, Mirajane replied for him with a warm smile.
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