Erza returned to the camp to find Reby and Biguslo resting quietly.
Kana and Li Li also wanted to rest, but they were being pestered.
Kildas looked at Kana with a pained expression: "Damn it, who hurt my daughter like this? I won't let them get away with it!"
Gajeel held Li Li in his arms, to the point of tears: "Li Li... how did you get hurt like this?! Who did this? Who did you two encounter?"
"Calm down, Gajeel," Li Li said with a frown, "It was nothing serious, but you pressed on my wound."
Kana also pushed Kildas's face away, wanting him to keep his distance: "Don't be like that, do you think I'm a child? This is the S-Class exam, it's not like I lost a fight and came back to complain to my parents."
"But even if it's just an exam..."
Kildas and Gajeel were fussing, while Kana and Li Li kept trying to calm them down.
Meanwhile, under the sunshade set up next to the tent, Mira had tied up her hair, put on an apron, and was preparing food.
Beside her was Fried, who also had his long hair tied up and was wearing an apron. Seeing how adeptly he chopped vegetables, it seemed he could compete with Mira in culinary skills.
Erza came from afar, and upon seeing the shadow of green long hair, she thought Bisca had snuck over.
Upon closer inspection, she realized it was Fried.
"You're so slow, Erza. Did you run into a tough opponent?" Mira greeted Erza with a smile.
Erza was now dressed in a swimsuit, with band-aids on her face and bandages wrapped around her waist and arms.
Mira thought for a moment, realizing only Mest and Lucy's team, Gray and Loki's team, and Rhode and Wendy's team hadn't been heard from yet.
Among these examinee groups, who could have made Erza this way?
It was really hard to guess.
Erza straightforwardly admitted her defeat: "I met Rhode and Wendy and lost completely. Afterward, I took some time to heal up, which is why I came back so late."
It was expected that Rhode would pass, but Mira was still very pleased.
Just seeing Erza like this, she wiped her hands on the apron, apologizing on behalf of Rhode: "I'm sorry, when Rhode fights, he can be a bit much."
"No, if he hadn't held back, I might have been the only examiner carried back." Erza didn't mind being injured at all, "Besides, the S-Class exam is supposed to be like this."
Fried placed the chopped vegetables aside and also spoke to Erza: "You've worked hard. Come inside and rest; lunch will be ready soon."
"No need, I can help with the cooking," Erza said, activating her Requip Magic without hesitation.
Her long red hair was tied up, and she now wore an apron as well.
Moreover, she wore the apron directly over her swimsuit.
Unfortunately, apart from herself, there was only Mira and Fried present, so no one else could appreciate it.
Erza naturally joined the two in busying herself, asking, "How's everyone else doing?"
"Aside from Gray and Mest, whose outcome is still unknown, everyone else is in the tent," Mira replied, "The President just said the final passage has been opened and hurriedly asked Carla to fly him away."
"Even Fried lost? Who was the opponent?" Erza had previously thought Fried would definitely advance.
Fried said, "It was Elfman and Abar."
"Oh, it's them..." Erza nodded, as if it wasn't surprising.
Hearing them talk like this, Mira suddenly realized something amusing.
She, her brother, sister, and lover, all had fought and won today, all four of the Strauss family.
Was today the Strauss family's lucky day?
"By the way, the President mentioned a medicinal spring nearby. Soaking in it helps wounds heal faster and leaves no scars," Mira said, "Why don't we go with Reby and Kana later?"
Erza said, "I don't need it. Wendy and Rhode have already treated me, guaranteeing no scars."
"Oh, right, Rhode and Wendy would think of that."
Mira pouted, she had been frozen and struck by lightning and hadn't received any healing... though she wasn't really injured in the first place.
Why didn't she happen to run into Rhode?
Aggrieved.
...
"Ah-choo~"
Wendy considerately asked Rhode if he needed healing.
Rhode declined, thinking Mira must be thinking of him.
"We've arrived!" Wendy was a bit cheerful, feeling oppressed after walking in the narrow cave for a long time, and now seeing the light at the cave entrance made her spontaneously happy.
As they exited the cave, the sunlight felt a bit dazzling, and they both subconsciously shielded their eyes.
They then saw a group of people smiling at them.
Elfman exclaimed happily, "They've arrived!"
"It's brother-in-law and Wendy!" Lisana said, "I told you brother-in-law wouldn't be eliminated so easily."
"Love!"
Ibarglin hid behind Elfman, trying harder to lower her presence.
"Uh... Mr. Rhode, was your opponent Lord Gray? Jubia is worried."
"Hello, everyone, we weren't very lucky and ran into Erza."
Rhode greeted, noticing that everyone seemed quite spirited, though a bit dejected, sitting on the rocks with heads down, not speaking.
"Huh?!!!" Hapi exclaimed in shock, squishing his face with his hands, "Did you win against Erza? Erza?!"
Lisana chuckled, "I'm not surprised at all."
"But, Lisana..." Elfman reminded, "Erza never holds back!"
"It's fine; she didn't use her Fairy Armor," Rhode said, "And I had Wendy's help; you guys have no idea how powerful Wendy's magic is."
"N-no... not really..." Wendy said shyly, feeling happy just to be able to help.
"Which means, Lord Gray's opponent is Mest and Lucy..."
Jubia withheld honorifics only from Lucy, biting her handkerchief with a tearful expression, "Lord Gray... won't be seduced by that woman, will he?"
Lisana couldn't understand her logic, "What are you even thinking... Besides, they might have run into Sister Mira."
"Oh no, I forgot Miss Mira! If they meet Miss Mira... Lord Gray is in danger, Jubia needs to save Lord Gray..."
Lisana hurriedly hugged her, trying to calm her down: "No, Sister Mira has a sense of propriety..."
"Hapi~" Rhode ignored their commotion and waved Hapi over, quietly asking, "What about Natsu?"
Hapi also replied quietly, "Nothing much, just ran into Kildas and got severely lectured."
"Then how did you..." Rhode thought of Carla's prophecy and asked, "Did you guys cry from the beating?"
Hapi looked at him in surprise.
Looks like they did.
Rhode felt relieved; it was really just overthinking things.
Last year's exam went smoothly, so what unexpected things could happen...