Mirajane had been accidentally caught in the crossfire. Her eyes rolled, and she toppled to the floor.
"Mira, my dearest Lady Camilla. You cannot pass out. Wake up, hurry and wake up."
Kai rushed over, grabbed her, and shook her hard, trying to jolt her awake.
"That has to be Miss Mirajane. She is so beautiful."
Lucy covered her mouth, feeling like she had just swallowed something too big to digest. A sly little grin crept onto her face.
Happy stood to the side, shaking his head, and then heard what Kai muttered next.
Kai thought of how his precious time was being wasted like this and could not help feeling it was a shame.
"She still had a chance of waking up on her own. Thanks to you shaking her like that, now she is completely out cold."
Gray, who had just been punched flying and happened to land beside Kai, saw the scene and could not stop himself from complaining.
"Quit running your mouth."
Kai turned and kicked Gray back into the brawl, then looked down at the unconscious Mirajane.
"Talk about bad luck."
He shook his head, propped Mira carefully against the wall, then was about to go look for Makarov to turn in his mission.
Before he could move, a giant strode in from outside and glared around at the chaotic guild hall.
"Everyone, quiet. You are making a racket in broad daylight. If you have that much energy, why are you not out taking more jobs."
Makarov's shout cracked like thunder. After he yelled, the guild quickly fell silent, and everyone went back to whatever they were supposed to be doing.
"Hey, Master, your body really is getting worse lately. You should retire early and enjoy old age."
Kai called out with a grin.
"My bones might not be what they used to be, but they are still better than yours, you brat."
"As soon as you step back into the guild, another mission is already done. I have to say, aside from that mouth of yours being awful, there is not much to complain about."
"Your speed in finishing jobs, your efficiency, even the amount of damage you cause, all rank at the top."
"Right, I also brought back a newcomer. Take a look and see what you think."
Kai handed over the request sheet signed by the guard captain, then turned his head and shouted.
"Lucy, Lucy."
"H-here. I am Lucy, a Celestial Spirit wizard. I really, really want to join Fairy Tail."
Lucy hurriedly ran over. Just now she had been stunned speechless by the noisy scene in the guild and had stood there dazed for quite a while.
Hearing Kai call her snapped her back to herself. She rushed over, tense and nervous, and stared at the short old man with the white beard in front of her.
Lucy swallowed hard.
"All right. Since you are someone he brought back, you pass. Mira, help Lucy register and get her a guild emblem."
The Mirajane who had been unconscious just a moment ago suddenly appeared in front of everyone, wearing a cute, gentle smile.
Kai looked at her and could not stop himself from swearing under his breath.
"So you just blacked out for a bit and you are already fine."
Mirajane laughed softly.
"Thank you for carrying me somewhere safe. Of course, it would have been better if you had not just propped me against a wall and left me there."
"So you were not truly out cold."
"Lucy, where would you like your emblem."
"Anywhere is fine, but it is best to put it somewhere easy to show. The guild emblem is proof of your identity."
"Sometimes, when you are working, you will need to present your emblem."
Mirajane patiently explained the role of the guild mark, then asked again where Lucy wanted it placed.
"Um, on the back of my hand."
Lucy thought of Kai. His emblem was on the back of his left hand. There was nothing particularly meaningful about it, it was just convenient.
But it was different for Lucy. Kai was the first wizard from Fairy Tail she had met, and he was the one who had invited her to join.
So Lucy was very grateful to him and also admired his strength, which was why she chose the back of her hand as well.
"Back when Kai got his emblem for the first time, he was worried he would not be able to get rid of it and did not even want to put it on."
It was not that he disliked the guild. He simply did not like sticking things onto his body.
[Ping. Achievement reached: Invited a newcomer to join the guild for the first time. Reward: Observation Haki - Future Sight.]