Hargeon port.
"Hey, hey, have you heard? The legendary Salamander is coming to our Hargeon!"
In a corner of the port market, a young girl with sparkling eyes tugged at her companion, whispering excitedly, yet her voice was loud enough for many people around them to hear.
"What? For real? That handsome mage who uses fire?" Her companion immediately covered her mouth, an excited blush spreading across her face.
"That's old news!" Another aunt carrying a vegetable basket chimed in, sidling closer.
She hushed her voice mysteriously, but her face held an excitement that belied her age.
"I heard from my nephew's friend's sister that she saw him with her own eyes this morning! That even more incredible mage—Ace-sama, is right here in our Hargeon!"
"Ace-sama?! The 'Digital Summoner'?! The S-Class Mage from Fairy Tail?!"
The surrounding passersby, who had been eavesdropping, instantly broke into a commotion, their reaction far more intense than when they heard about "Salamander."
"Oh my god! Is it true? The Ace who sends Dark Guilds running for their lives?"
"Let's go, let's go! Maybe we can see him at the port!"
Ace himself was currently in the crowd.
Hearing these discussions, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
He had become the subject of the very gossip he was listening to.
He had only come to Hargeon to follow the plot, so how had the news of his arrival spread so quickly? It seemed his "fame" truly preceded him now; keeping a low profile wasn't going to be easy.
He shook his head and continued to stroll unhurriedly through the port district, searching for that familiar, flame-like, restless dragon magic, and... the trail of a certain blue cat.
....
A long while later, inside a plainly decorated small restaurant in the port district.
"Whaaa—! How can it be so expensive?!" Lucy Heartfilia stared at the bill in her hand, her pretty face instantly falling.
Her wide eyes were filled with disbelief and despair.
The number on the bill was almost all the money she had on her.
She just wanted to thank the guy who helped her escape the "Salamander's" charms.
She never imagined the meal would be this expensive!
Did she misread the prices? Or was this a scam restaurant?
"Burp~"
Across from her, Natsu let out a satisfied burp and patted his stomach, which hadn't expanded in the slightest.
His face was one of pure bliss from having eaten his fill. "Thanks for the meal, Lufy! You're a great person! Right, Happy?"
"Aye!" The small blue cat, Happy, was happily licking a fishbone and nodded vigorously upon hearing his name.
Lucy looked at the carefree duo, who were completely oblivious to the severity of the situation, and felt like crying but had no tears.
Was she, the great lady of the Heartfilia family, going to have to eat dirt for the foreseeable future?
Just then, a gentle, clear, and somewhat familiar male voice sounded beside her.
"Allow me to cover this."
Lucy turned her head in astonishment.
The person who met her gaze was the same mysterious and handsome black-haired young man she had seen that morning.
He had appeared at their table at some point with a faint smile on his lips.
He held a money pouch and nodded at the waiter who had come over at the sound of his voice.
"A-Ace?!" Before Lucy could react, Natsu shot up from his seat with a swoosh.
An astonishing battle lust and excitement erupted on his face, his eyes practically shooting fire.
"You! Where have you been lately? I went back to the guild several times and couldn't find you! Let's fight! I'm definitely going to win this time!"
"Aye! It's Ace!" Happy also flew up and circled around Ace.
"A-Ace? Y-You two know each other?" Lucy looked from Natsu to Ace, her mind struggling to keep up.
This handsome guy actually knew this pink-haired kid?
"Yeah, we do." Ace paid the bill, thanked the waiter, and then naturally sat down in the empty seat next to Lucy.
He smiled at Natsu. "I was away on a long trip and just got back. As for fighting... let's wait until we're back at the guild. This isn't the place for it."
"Back to the guild?" Natsu's eyes lit up. "Are you heading back to the guild too? Perfect, let's go together!"
"Wait, wait, wait!" Lucy couldn't help but interject.
She looked at Ace, her eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of nervousness that one feels in front of a handsome guy.
"Um... Ace? A-Are you a mage too? From the same guild as Natsu?"
"Mhm," Ace nodded, looking at Lucy. "What about you? What's your name? Did you just arrive in Hargeon?"
"Y-Yes! My name is Lucy!" Lucy hurriedly introduced herself with a look of yearning appearing on her face.
"Fairy Tail...one of the strongest mage guilds in the Kingdom of Fiore, I-I've always dreamed of joining them!"
"The strongest? Of course!" Natsu lifted his chin proudly.
"But," Happy flew back to Natsu's head and added, "Ace is one of the strongest in our guild, you know. He's an S-Class Mage! Aye!"
"S-S-Class?!" Lucy covered her mouth, looking at Ace in shock.
Although she had felt this young man had an extraordinary air about him this morning, she never expected him to already be a legendary S-Class Mage at such a young age.
In her mind, S-Class Mages were supposed to be imposing, older, and unfathomable.
"S-Class Mages can be young too," Ace said casually, noticing Lucy's surprise.
His gaze swept over Natsu. "Natsu's strength has reached the S-Class threshold long ago. It's just that he's too dumb to be an S-class and the Master feels he still needs to temper his fiery personality."
"Hmph, I'm definitely taking the trial this year!" Natsu crossed his arms.
They chatted for a while longer.
Lucy's longing for Fairy Tail grew, as did her curiosity about Ace, this mysterious, powerful, and seemingly easygoing S-Class Mage.
Natsu, meanwhile, kept clamoring for a fight with Ace, but was temporarily placated by the combined efforts of Happy and Ace.
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