Dozens of Magicians, many of them eccentric, poured into a relatively prosperous border town, instantly drawing attention wherever they went.
News of the Duke's Mansion hosting guests had already spread, and the residents quickly learned who these visitors were.
At first, the townsfolk worried the Magicians might throw their weight around. Yet, to everyone's surprise, they were easy to talk to, if a bit too enthusiastic, and, most importantly, they spent money lavishly.
The prime example was a certain red-haired armored woman.
It was said that whenever she saw distinctive clothing, her eyes lit up like gemstones, and she practically waved money in the air, buying everything in sight.
The clothing shop owner privately thought that, had he been just a little bolder, he could have completely swindled her.
But he was a local merchant, and since he would still have to make a living in the Duke's domain, he wisely decided against it.
Later, when he inquired about her, he learned that she was known as the Fairy Queen, a title that sounded dangerous enough, and, worse still, that she was close friends with the Duchess herself.
Some people even whispered that she had once tried to stop the Duke's wedding but was defeated by the current Duchess. Surely, that had to be a rumor… right?
Someone had even seen the two trying on clothes together that very afternoon.
Either way, he was thankful for his restraint.
With Fairy Tail in town, the local economy flourished overnight.
Clothing, toys, food, alcohol, and every specialty Joya Kingdom had to offer sold like wildfire.
These people could eat, and drink, like no one else!
Of course, not all of them were easy customers.
Take, for instance, the intimidating man who bit straight into a metal shelf inside a store. His glare alone could have scared the life out of most men. Yet when reminded of the damage, he simply asked how much it cost and paid up on the spot.
He even had a cute little girl with him who tugged his sleeve and apologized earnestly on his behalf. She never mentioned the Duke's name, either, so polite that the shop owner felt almost honored.
A daughter? A much younger sister? Either way, that man was blessed.
The most troublesome case, however, was that pervert walking down the street stark naked.
Trailing behind him was a blue-haired girl clutching his clothes… and sniffing them.
Honestly, she could probably be labeled a pervert too.
The town's law-enforcement team received multiple complaints. Upon identifying them, they hesitated, to arrest or not to arrest?
In the end, they decided to bring them in quietly and let the mayor handle it. Surprisingly, both cooperated without protest.
The woman even looked delighted to discover she was locked up in the same cell as the man.
When the guards tried to move her to a separate room, she turned her head and glared, just once.
That single look nearly stopped their hearts. It felt like drowning while standing on dry land.
Meanwhile, back at the mansion, Rhodes was reviewing the estate's layout when Mayor Stuun came rushing in, looking panicked.
The mayor quickly reported the incident.
With just one word, Rhodes could have their release arranged, yet he found himself hesitating.
This was… embarrassing.
He rubbed his temples. "According to our local law," he asked, "what punishment would those two receive?"
"Mr. Gray is charged with indecent exposure, disturbing public order, and provoking unrest," Stuun explained carefully. Seeing Rhodes wasn't angry, he added,
"By regulation, it would be twelve lashes. As for Miss Juvia, her behavior wasn't excessive. She's either an accomplice or innocent. In fact, she voluntarily entered the cell to be with Mr. Gray…"
"Two idiots," Rhodes muttered. He briefly considered letting them sit in jail for a week or two.
At that moment, Mira, Lisanna, and Erza returned with piles of shopping bags and noticed Rhodes's troubled face.
Mira asked what was wrong.
Rhodes summarized the situation.
Mira and Lisanna burst out laughing, while Erza's expression darkened instantly. That idiot Gray, he truly never learned.
"Why don't you handle it, Erza?" Rhodes said. "Give them a solid beating first, then think about getting them out. If this turns into a complaint to the Council, the Master will have to write another self-reflection."
The shopping bags vanished in a flash. Erza's fist clenched, her eyes gleaming dangerously.
"Understood. Leave it to me."
The mayor, pale with both awe and terror, quickly led Erza away.
Rhodes exhaled and turned to Mira with a smile. "Now, about those new clothes, let's see what you bought."
He already had a suspicion: when Mira went shopping with Erza, the outfits she came home with tended to be… unusually bold.
Not long after, Erza returned, dragging two thoroughly defeated individuals.
One was Juvia; the other's face was swollen beyond recognition. Judging by his build, though, it was probably Gray.
Rhodes gasped. "The whipping's that harsh? Did they hit him in the face?"
"Erza hit him," Gray mumbled, his words slurred.
"It hurts so much…" Juvia took off her hat to reveal a large bump on her head, as if to prove she wasn't left unpunished.
Mira smiled sweetly. "Isn't Juvia's body made of water?"
"..."
Juvia averted her gaze, her cheeks reddening with embarrassment.
She used to say that all the time, but after joining Fairy Tail, she realized there were plenty of people who could still beat her senseless. It wasn't fair at all.
Lisanna stepped forward and poked Gray's puffed cheek. Watching him recoil like he'd been electrocuted, she grinned. "Did she hit too hard?"
Erza cracked her knuckles. "So there was supposed to be a whipping? I was careless. The mayor said I'd hit them hard enough and let them out… Isn't that ignoring the laws of this country?"
Juvia, who had been glaring daggers at Lisanna for touching Gray, froze mid-glare. The words "love rival" stuck in her throat, and she quietly "drifted" out of the danger zone.
Gray bolted too, but Erza's hand shot out, grabbing him by the collar.
Unfortunately, this was Gray, after all. His jacket slipped off smoothly, leaving Erza holding nothing but an empty piece of fabric.
Rhodes couldn't hold back his laughter. "That's enough. If the mayor says it's settled, then it's settled. Just get a formal release document from him later."
Gray's pitiful appearance became the best deterrent imaginable.
The next day, although it was another free day, not a single major incident occurred.
Well, except Cana, who had a few too many drinks at a pub.
When a drunkard tried to take advantage of her, she dealt with him decisively.
That didn't count as causing trouble; rather, it meant that particular drunkard wouldn't be causing any for quite some time.
Everyone stayed in Corundum for two days, enjoying themselves to the fullest before finally returning to the guild, still feeling reluctant to leave.
Meanwhile, in the royal palace of the Joya Kingdom, King Jun Danton Shagotte listened to his minister's report.
"They've already departed, Your Majesty."
"They said they'll return occasionally for short stays," the minister added.
"What a pity," the King sighed, genuine regret written across his face. "It would have been wonderful if Lord Rhodes could reside here long-term."
He had even tried to send envoys to recruit a few of those extraordinary Magicians, but every single one politely declined.
"What is it about Fiore Kingdom," the King muttered, "that draws so many remarkable Magicians to one place?"