"Tap, tap, tap…"
The sound of approaching footsteps grew louder, and the expressions of the guild members grew more serious. Natsu and Gray hugged each other tighter, their faces filled with fear as they stared at the door.
At the entrance, bathed in sunlight, Erza stepped into the guild, carrying a massive beast horn.
BANG! Dust rose into the air as she planted the enormous horn in the center of the guildhall.
"I'm back. Is the guild master here?" Erza's commanding voice rang through the hall, her eyes sweeping over everyone. Not a single person dared to meet her gaze.
"You're back, Erza! The guild master isn't here—he went to the council meeting with Kael," Lisanna explained gently, holding a cloth in both hands. Over the past two years, she had come to understand that this Erza was warm, caring, responsible, and like a big sister—someone she got along with very well.
Personality-wise, though, Erza had a bit of a strict streak, especially regarding guild rules.
"Is that so? Kael went too… then I'll feel at ease about the guild master."
"Uh, Erza… what's that huge thing?" someone asked nervously.
"This? It's a horn from a monster I defeated. The locals were very eager to give it to me as a gift. Is it in the way?"
"No, not at all! Haha!" The person immediately waved their hands frantically, too afraid to speak against it. While it was indeed a bit cumbersome, no one dared challenge Erza directly.
"I see," Erza said, scanning the room slowly. "I've heard a lot of troubling things about the guild along the way… that some members of Fairy Tail have been causing mischief. Even if the guild master tolerates it, I won't."
Her gaze immediately landed on Loki, who was peeking nervously from behind the bar.
"Loki! You better be sincere with girls!"
Startled, Loki jumped, fear written across his face. He stumbled backward into the bar, trying to get away from Erza's scolding.
"Bishida! Go outside if you want to dance! Wakaba, pick up the ashes from the floor! Stop loitering by the mission board and get to work!"
"Honestly… such a bunch of kids. I have important things to do, so I won't nag anymore…"
Lucy watched Erza's sweeping rebuke, noting how Erza's demeanor suggested both authority and fairness. That's when Lucy realized Erza acted like the guild's self-appointed disciplinary officer.
"She seems normal… just a little bossy, but it's for the good of the guild. Why are people so afraid of her?" Lucy whispered, covering one side of her face, glancing at Kana who was enjoying the scene. Kana, thanks to Kael's presence, hadn't developed the drinking habits from the original timeline, so Erza's scolding wasn't directed at her.
"And where are Natsu and Gray?"
"My relationship with Natsu is great! We're brothers, right, Natsu?"
"Yeah~" Gray and Natsu clung to each other, hands intertwined, smiling at Erza—but the sweat on their faces betrayed their inner fear.
Erza, blissfully unaware, smiled warmly at the display of their brotherly affection.
"They're definitely scared. Natsu, Gray, and Loki were practically beaten half to death by Erza in the past," Kana whispered to Lucy, remembering the old scene.
"No way…" Lucy murmured in shock.
"Natsu, Gray, I have a troublesome task that I need your help with. I heard about it on my way back. The guild master isn't here, so I have to ask you now. Will you help?"
Erza's serious tone left the guild members stunned. A S-Class wizard like her asking for help—it was almost unbelievable.
"We…" Natsu and Gray exchanged glances, surprised that they'd get another chance to go on a mission together. Their first mission had been led by Kana, after all.
"Yoshi! Looks like you're willing! Then it's settled. We leave tomorrow—get ready," Erza declared, slapping her hands together before hoisting the massive horn once again and leaving the guild to deal with it.
The guild breathed a collective sigh of relief, and the lively atmosphere returned.
Loki, still at the bar, rubbed his head uncomfortably. Before leaving, he gave Lucy a long, intense look. Lucy, still chatting animatedly with Kana, caught the glance but only saw a flash of green as Loki departed, and she didn't pay much attention.
Meanwhile, Kael and Guild Master Makarov arrived at a small transit town.
Kael parked the magic-powered vehicle and removed the magical energy transport device from his wrist.
Makarov lay sprawled in the back seat, one leg on the chair, the other dangling, with his cup long since tipped over. Kael shook his head with a wry smile at the chaos.
Using magic, he levitated Makarov calmly as curious townspeople watched, then walked into an inn and booked two rooms.
The night passed uneventfully.
The next day — On the train slowly pulling into Onibas Station.
Erza led a cart piled high with luggage, accompanied by Happy, Lucy, and Gray, drawing curious glances from people at the station.
She didn't notice Natsu, pale and dazed, struggling with nausea as he lay in the train seat, trying to suppress the urge to vomit.
"Could the Dark Guild—Iron Forest still be in this town?" Lucy asked.
"I don't know, but that's why we need to find them. We must stop them from using LULLABY. The Dark Guild won't do anything good," Erza replied firmly.
Lucy felt a chill at the thought of confronting the entire Dark Guild. Her eyes swept around but didn't spot Natsu. She slowed her steps, uneasy.
"Uh… where's Natsu?"
"Natsu?" Erza suddenly remembered, stopping in her tracks. She turned to run toward the train but saw it already moving, taking Natsu away.
"The train's gone," Happy said, waving and playfully mourning Natsu's departure.
"Damn it… my fault! I was talking too much, and Natsu hates vehicles! He could've punched me properly," Erza groaned, clenching her fists in self-blame.
"It's okay! Haha," Natsu would've said anyway—he was on the train and couldn't punch her.