The deal finally came to a close with the girl's blushing cheeks.
"The other two... no, it should be one cat and one person."
Touching the side of his face where she had kissed him, Roland kept his promise and gave her the answer.
One cat and one person?
"The cat... you don't mean Happy, do you?"
Mirajane reacted instantly, covering her mouth in surprise.
She had no clue about the other person, but if it was a cat...
A strange cat that could communicate and use Aera magic—it could only be Happy, right?
"That's right. Happy is from a race called the 'Exceed'." Roland nodded and explained slowly, "The Exceed, who are born with magic power in their bodies, are far superior to humans in terms of power and status."
"To put it more concretely, they are probably something like god-like beings."
"Gods?"
Mirajane's expression was strange. She clearly couldn't believe that the usually weak Happy was from such a powerful race.
It didn't seem like it at all!
"The reason they're called gods seems to be because the queen of the Exceed has the ability to control the life and death of humans."
Although the memory in his mind was already fuzzy, Roland remembered the Exceed clearly.
Though they were said to have the power to control life and death, it was actually just the ability of prophecy.
The so-called queen was just putting on an act.
After briefly talking about Happy, Roland also told her the name of the last person.
The physician who lived in seclusion deep in the forest east of Magnolia—Porlyusica.
As a friend of the Guild Master, Mirajane, the poster girl, naturally knew her. She had even led guild members to her treehouse for treatment several times.
Although she acted like she despised humans and was rough with the injured... Mirajane felt that Grandma Porlyusica was a good person.
Perhaps something like a tsundere?
While the girl was lost in thought, Roland's gaze shifted to the system panel.
Today's missions had been refreshed.
[Mission One: Power, Prestige, and Status!]
[Mission Description: Do you want to become a respected existence in the magical world? Then please become one of the Ten Wizard Saints!]
[Mission Reward: Four-Star Dragon Ball (from the world of "Dragon Ball")]
Another mission with super high difficulty and a useless reward—
Roland glanced at it, unenthusiastic.
To complete it in one day, there was no other way but to use force to intimidate others, and the Four-Star Dragon Ball reward was useless.
It seemed like an impossible mission like this was refreshed every day.
Carefully recalling the previous daily missions, Roland seemed to have grasped the pattern of the system's mission releases.
One extremely difficult, one simple, and one specifically for romance.
[Mission Two: Magnolia's Fastest Courier!]
[Mission Description: Besides dangerous missions like subjugating monsters and annihilating dark guilds, the request board also has missions that are extremely friendly to the weak, like delivering packages—complete any delivery-related mission!]
[Reward: A Strange Pokémon Egg (from the world of "Pokémon")]
"Pfft—cough, cough!"
The moment he saw the mission reward, Roland unexpectedly choked on his coffee, causing the silver-haired girl across from him to look over.
"Did you choke? Really... you're like a little kid."
Mirajane was stunned for a moment, then a helpless smile appeared on her face.
She took a napkin from the side, her exquisite body leaning forward, about to wipe the water from the corner of his mouth.
"Don't do something so embarrassing!"
Grabbing her approaching hand, the corner of Roland's mouth twitched.
He found that ever since they confirmed their relationship, Mirajane's behavior was full of wifely power—hmm... treating him like a son.
After taking the napkin and wiping the corner of his mouth and the coffee spilled on the table, Roland looked at the second mission with a complicated feeling.
Another mission where the reward didn't match the effort. He could get a Pokémon egg just for delivering a package.
"I hope it's not something like a Jynx or a Stunfisk..."
After secretly giving an order to a Shadowkhan ninja, Roland couldn't help but mutter under his breath.
Otherwise, he could only bear the pain and release it.
Looking down from the second mission, the third mission was, as expected, related to romance again.
Only this time, the mission... seemed a bit peculiar.
[Mission Three: It's Not Like Lisanna Died or Anything, Right?]
[Mission Description: The former She-Devil has become so weak and powerless, how pitiful—help Mirajane recover her former power!]
[Mission Reward: Slave Contract (from the world of "KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!")]
After reading the mission description, Roland looked up at Mirajane, who was eating strawberry cake in small bites across from him.
Perhaps because she had learned that her sister wasn't dead, the girl's face was brimming with a satisfied smile, her slightly puffed-out cheeks resembling a hamster's.
Cute, I want to take her home and raise her.
Quietly retracting his gaze, Roland decided to complete this mission before nightfall.
After all, the Slave Contract was a pretty good reward.
...
Leaving the cafe, it was already noon.
Walking along the crowded street, Roland told her about the special training he had planned for the afternoon.
"Eh! You want to restore my power?"
Mirajane's surprised voice rang out on the street, and she stared at him blankly.
"Yes, we'll restore your power today, and tomorrow morning we'll set off for Edolas."
"But... I haven't been able to use that power for a long time."
Ever since her sister's death, she had tried to use Take Over magic, but had failed every single time.
It was as if she had never taken over those demons.
At this, Mirajane's expression couldn't help but dim. Her right hand gripped her left upper arm out of anxiety, looking pitiful.
"It's because of Lisanna's death that you couldn't use your power, right? Now that you know Lisanna isn't dead, your mental block should be gone."
Roland patted her head comfortingly, a gentle smile on his face.
"In any case, let's give it a try first. I'll accompany you this afternoon."
"...Okay."
Mirajane hesitated for a few seconds, then nodded lightly.
If she had a choice, who would be willing to remain so weak forever?
After the two agreed on a location for the afternoon's training, they headed toward the guild.
————
At the guild entrance.
Looking at the bar, which wasn't as noisy as usual, Mirajane tilted her head curiously and subconsciously remarked.
"Looks like everyone's out of spirits today."
"No, they already had a fight this morning. The Master probably lectured them, so they should be quiet for a while."
Roland corrected her.
But just as he finished speaking, a bare-chested Gray was thrown out from inside, landing beside him.
"Damn it, Loke—you bastard!"
Gray struggled to his feet, unable to stop himself from shouting.
"..."
Roland looked up at the sky, speechless.
"Looks like you don't understand the guild well enough yet."
Seeing his expression, Mirajane covered her mouth and giggled.
"Oh, Roland and Mira, you're back!"
At that moment, Gray also noticed the two of them and greeted them as he stood up.
"Gray, your clothes."
Roland looked at Gray, who was only wearing a pair of shorts, and reminded him helplessly.
He really couldn't understand how this guy could instantly take off his pants and throw them aside when he was around.
"When did I!?"
Gray's eyes widened in shock, the expression on his face not looking fake at all.
Ignoring the pants-wearing Gray, Roland and Mirajane walked into the bar.
As expected—aside from the sleeping Natsu, the others were gradually starting to brawl again.
Loke, who had thrown Gray out, was now sitting with a girlfriend on each arm, a handsome smile on his face as he tasted the red wine being brought to his lips.
"Are you envious?"
Following his gaze, Mirajane asked softly by his ear with a gentle smile.
"Instead of me being envious of Loke, he should be the one envious of me."
Roland nonchalantly retracted his gaze and looked at the slightly jealous poster girl, also smiling.
Whether it was the cute and petite Levy or the gentle and beautiful Mirajane, neither of them could be compared to the two girls across from them.
"..."
Mirajane didn't reply, just hummed twice in satisfaction, and then walked behind the counter.
She and Roland wouldn't be at the guild this afternoon or for the next three days, so she had to arrange all the important matters beforehand, as well as ask the Master for a long leave of absence.
"You're going on a mission with Roland?"
Makarov put down his mug and stared at the two of them with wide eyes, his tone a little surprised.
"Yes, we'll probably be out for about three days, so I'll have to trouble you with the guild's bills and mission registrations!"
Mirajane held up three fingers and said with a beaming smile, then winked playfully.
"Oh, oh... I can see that this is a good thing—but, isn't three days a bit long?"
Makarov first nodded in relief, then couldn't help but ask tentatively.
"Don't worry, Laki will help you out."
Mirajane said with a helpless smile.
"Is that so? That's great!" Makarov's eyes lit up, and a smile blossomed on his wrinkled face again. "By the way, what mission are you two going on?"
"That's a secret!" Mirajane shook her head, not revealing that they were going to a parallel world.
When Lisanna returned to the guild, it would surely shock everyone!
Thinking of that scene, she couldn't help but let out a light laugh.
"You can't even tell the Guild Master?" Makarov pressed, unwilling to give up.
Seeing the unconcealable happiness on Mirajane's face, he really couldn't suppress his curiosity.
"Nope!"
Roland, who was drinking watermelon juice on the side and watching the scene with great interest, suddenly felt a faint numbing sensation on his skin.
In an instant, he and Makarov both looked up at the second floor at the same time.
Laxus, who they hadn't seen in a long time, was sitting on a bench, his sharp eyes fixed on him, arcs of golden light wrapping around his body.
"Laxus, no fooling around in the guild!"
Makarov's brows furrowed as he scolded in a deep voice.
Clearly, it wasn't just Roland who had felt that numbing sensation just now; everyone in the entire guild had felt it.
"Hmph, I have no interest in playing house with this bunch of weaklings."
Laxus snorted coldly, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Roland, his arrogant posture reined in slightly as he said, word by word:
"Roland, fight me again!"
"Next time, Laxus. I have something to do this afternoon..."
"The location will be under the big tree at South Gate Park. I'll be waiting for you there."
Before Roland could finish, Laxus interrupted him in a deep voice. After saying his piece, he turned into a flash of lightning and disappeared from the second floor.
It seemed he was going to the park to wait ahead of time.
"But I have things to do this afternoon..." Roland sighed wearily.
Can't this guy listen to what people have to say?
"Are you going?"
"Like hell I am."
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