"Everyone, I'm back." Zorn pulled a gift cart two people high with one hand and pushed open the Guild door with the other, entering the Guild.
"Hehe, I brought gifts for all of you, aren't you happy?" Zorn looked at the previously boisterous Guild, which had suddenly fallen silent, with Everyone turning to look at him, quietly saying nothing.
"Hey, Zorn, did you really wipe out a Dark Guild by yourself?"
One of the Guild Members suddenly asked with a hint of uncertainty, making the silent space a little less quiet.
"Well, yes, I got a little serious, haha." Zorn was a bit embarrassed, letting out two awkward dry laughs.
"So amazing, Zorn, you're that strong now?"
"Brother Zorn, you're the best."
"Oh oh oh, yay." Natsu's final cheer plunged the Guild back into a lively and joyful scene.
Zorn delivered each gift to Everyone's hands.
Laxus received a plush black coat, which Zorn found to be exactly like the one in the anime. Erza received a short sword. Mira received a very stylish jacket. Although Zorn initially considered a cherry-red dress, he gave up on the idea, thinking that Mira was still a fiery tomboy, and chose a jacket instead.
Ridasu received a set of the latest magic painting tools. Natsu and Gray both received clothes with gravity magic effects that suited their personalities, serving as excellent replacements for weighted gear. Zorn also selected the most suitable gifts for Everyone else based on their individual personalities.
"Lisanna, Elfman, these are for you. One is a very cute dress, and the other is a very masculine little suit. See if you like them." Zorn smiled and squatted down, handing the two outfits to Lisanna and Elfman respectively.
"Thank you, Brother Zorn, Lisanna loves it, hehe." Lisanna was overjoyed, taking the dress and holding it up to herself, even spinning around in front of Mirajane, her eyes narrowed into slits from happiness.
"Thank you, Brother Zorn, I like it very much too." Elfman thanked him a bit shyly and introvertedly, tightly hugging his new clothes, his eyes sparkling with joy.
"Cana, this is for you. I found a magic card that contains my Spriggan Shield defense magic, for your self-defense." Zorn took out a platinum-colored card from his embrace. The front of the card had a golden shield symbol, and the back was engraved with many complex golden magic lines, clearly showing great care in its creation.
"Thank you, I like it very much." Cana took the card, looking down at the exquisite magic card in her hand. The feeling of being valued warmed her heart and made her quite intoxicated with the sensation.
"Glad you like it. I'm sorry you couldn't make a move on this mission. Let's team up next time." Zorn scratched his head, saying apologetically. Zorn knew that Cana's current combat power was already very strong compared to the original work, but he was still a bit worried about her own defense, so he specifically had this card made.
"Mm-hmm, okay." Cana nodded with a little bit of secret delight in her heart.
"That..."
"Zorn, come here for a moment." The Master suddenly called out.
"The Master called me, I'll go first. Sorry, Cana, let's chat another time." Zorn heard the Master's call, smiled apologetically at Cana, then turned and walked towards the counter.
"Cana..." A fair arm suddenly wrapped around Cana, who was gazing at Zorn's retreating back, making Cana's gaze immediately retract to look at the owner of the arm.
"What's wrong? Don't look at me like a resentful woman. Do you like Zorn, hmm?" Mira looked at Cana's resentful little eyes, gossiping with a mischievous smile.
"I, I..." Cana's cheeks flushed crimson, and she became flustered the moment she heard Mira say the word "like."
"Oh, you like Zorn, do you?" A steady female voice suddenly came from behind the two of them.
"Huh? Eavesdropping girl."
"What did you say, gossiping girl?"
Cana watched the two start bickering again, let out a long sigh, and touched her heart. She turned to look at Zorn, who was bowing his head in front of the Master, and thought uncertainly, "Is this what liking someone feels like...?"
Zorn on the Master's side...
"I'm sorry, Master, I was impulsive this time." Zorn lowered his head and sincerely admitted his mistake.
"Hmm, it's good that you know you were impulsive. But in that situation, given your personality, you would indeed act that way. Don't do it again next time. Always pay attention to your safety. I don't want to lose a family member, understand, Zorn?" The Master looked at the serious Zorn before him, speaking with concern.
"But your strength is really impressive, Zorn, hahaha, not bad, not bad." The Master suddenly changed his tone, praising and acknowledging Zorn's strength.
"Okay, Master, you worried about me." Zorn raised his head, wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with his hand, and said emotionally.
"Haha, you're my child, of course. But the hat you gave me is really nice." Master Makarov touched the knitted hat on his head with his hand, saying with a happy laugh.
Zorn's heart was now very content, very content. In this world, he experienced friendship, family affection. As for love, there was no sign of it yet, but it didn't matter. Looking at the noisy and joyful scene in the Guild, Zorn was content and resolved to use everything to protect it.
The Master looked at Zorn standing before him. He felt Zorn's determination to cherish and protect his Guild family, and he quietly thought to himself, "Well, he's truly a good child."
"Everyone, let's have a feast to celebrate Zorn's annihilation of the Dark Guild!" The Master stood on the bar, raising his staff, and shouted loudly.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, yeah!"
The Guild instantly became excited. Natsu once again breathed fire to liven things up, but he was still punched into the floor by the disciplinary committee member, Erza.
"Idiot Natsu," Gray muttered haughtily from the side.
A few days later...
Zorn woke up from a lazy sleep and walked down the street. Just as he turned a corner, he saw Natsu and Gray fighting each other, fist to flesh, from the ground to the sky, from the ground to the sky, without stopping for a moment. Zorn was used to it; that handshake back then had no effect.
As he yawned and walked into the Guild, he heard the Master, sitting cross-legged on the bar, calmly asking where Natsu was. Zorn casually replied, "He's fighting outside. Ah, ah, I'm still a bit sleepy."
"Really, fighting so early in the morning." The Master picked up his wine glass and drank, saying indifferently.
Zorn watched, and silently thought to himself, "You're also drinking early in the morning, why are you lecturing Natsu?" Although he thought this, he still said to the Master, "Master Grandpa, drinking so early in the morning isn't good for your health. Don't drink it, give it to me." He then took the Master's wine glass, causing Master Grandpa to stomp his feet nearby, unable to get his wine glass back.
In the afternoon, Natsu and Gray were still making noise, playing under a tree. Zorn was watching them from the side when suddenly a pair of hands separated the two, saying to Zorn, "Aren't you going to do something about it? Just watching?" Erza stopped the two, then turned to Zorn and complained.
"You're back, Erza is really strict. It's okay, they can count this as training." Zorn shrugged and said.
"Mind your own business, Erza, why don't you fight me instead of him, huh?" Gray and Natsu said in unison, raising their fists and charging at Erza.
"Bang bang bang."
"You can't fight pointless fights next time. Go train properly, and Zorn, keep a closer eye on them." Erza finished fighting, then put her hands on her hips, said discontentedly, and walked away.
Zorn squatted down, poked the bumps on their heads, and listened to Natsu continuously muttering, "Damn it, Erza, I'll definitely win next time." He then picked them up and brought them back to the Guild, which led to the Guild Members teasing Natsu and Gray, making Natsu's anger even stronger.
One day later, in the East Forest...
"Bang bang bang."
"Ah, ah, someday I'll defeat Erza and Gray, then challenge Zorn and the others, just you wait," Natsu said, unwillingly punching the photos tied to the tree.
"Thud!" An egg fell from the sky, hitting Natsu and making him stumble and fall to the ground. Natsu looked up and saw an egg with many patterns in front of him, which instantly made Natsu happy. He hugged the egg and ran towards the Guild.