Makarov glanced at the securely bound Ultear, smilingly pulled out the cork of the fruit wine Shane gave him, tilted his head to take a swig, and smacked his lips comfortably. "In a good mood? Seems the operation went smoothly?"
Shane looked at the Master somewhat strangely. Before leaving, this old man was full of worry, giving instructions repeatedly. How come he looked so relaxed now?
He scratched his head and said vaguely, "Well, although there were some accidents in the middle, the main purpose was indeed achieved."
"Your luck is also bad enough. Not long after you left, not only did Gildarts return, but news also came from the Council."
Makarov chuckled. Perhaps seeing Shane's doubt, he explained, "That guy Brain, he didn't just build one tower, but secretly built a whole eight R-Systems.
After cleaning up the mess of the Bureau of Magical Development, the Council mobilized a large number of troops and destroyed seven of them with thunderous means. The one you went to should be the only Tower of Heaven not discovered."
He put down the wine bottle, tapping his finger on the tabletop. "With Brain's cunning fox-like nature, in this panic-stricken situation, he absolutely wouldn't dare show his head.
And with your strength, unless Brain appears personally, there should be no one in that tower who can stop you. Naturally, this old man is relieved."
Saying this, his gaze fell on Ultear again, carrying a trace of inquiry. "However, I didn't expect you to have such an 'unexpected gain'."
Shane nodded and pushed the silent Ultear forward a bit, exposing her completely to the gazes of Makarov and Gildarts.
This situation where nothing is under my control again—
Ultear pursed her lips tightly, her hands hanging by her side clenching quietly, an indescribable humiliation surging in her heart.
"Hmm." Makarov looked her up and down. "This should be the girl you mentioned before, hiding in the dark, possibly belonging to a second force, right? Quite good-looking—"
Saying this, he looked at Shane mischievously, teasing, "Shane, you kid, really know how to 'abduct' beautiful women back."
This lecherous old man!
Shane was speechless. Seeing the topic about to go astray, he interrupted hurriedly. "Anyway, she holds a lot of intelligence now but is tight-lipped. Besides reporting the mission completion, I also wanted to ask you, Master, do you have any way to make her open her mouth honestly?"
Hearing this, the teasing look on Makarov's face retracted a bit.
He looked at Ultear silently for a few seconds, then shook his head slowly. "Shane, Fairy Tail is a home, not a Council prison, let alone a Dark Guild's torture chamber. We might fight, capture enemies, but prying open someone's mouth by force—that kind of thing isn't what we should do."
Although Shane had long guessed this would be the answer, hearing it with his own ears still made him uncontrollably disappointed.
Of course, he understood the Master's principles. It was just that the secrets on Ultear were like a tangled mess, making him somewhat upset.
"Don't think so much." Makarov waved his hand, a hearty smile back on his face. He stood up, took a deep breath, and roared at the noisy guild hall: "Brats! Quiet down!"
When everyone's gaze gathered, he raised his wine glass high. "Shane, Erza, Gray—they completed the mission and returned safely!
Moreover, we also welcomed the newcomer Laki who wants to join the guild!
More importantly, although Christmas has passed, it's never too late to celebrate! Now, for the return of companions, for the joining of newcomers, for Fairy Tail—let's have a party!"
"Oh——!"
The atmosphere of the entire guild was instantly ignited, cheers almost flipping the ceiling.
Cheerful music sounded timely, Mages excitedly banging on the tables.
Food and wine were served like flowing water. People talked and laughed loudly, singing out-of-tune songs with arms around each other's shoulders.
Gray had taken off his shirt at some point and was arm-wrestling with a few partners.
Erza was pulled by Cana and Levy from left and right, a high mountain of food soon piled up in front of her.
Laki was surrounded by enthusiastic female Mages, her small face red, looking at the scene she longed for with both nervousness and excitement.
And Ultear, temporarily forgotten in the corner, watched all this quietly.
The noise was deafening. The warm air was filled with the aroma of ale and the greasy smell of food.
Everyone's face was brimming with a pure, dazzling smile without haze.
They raised glasses to celebrate, genuinely happy for the return of their companions.
This defenseless, vigorous vitality formed a sharp contrast with the dark, cold, calculation-filled world she was familiar with.
This is—Fairy Tail?
An indescribable complex emotion grew quietly in the bottom of her heart.
Disgust? Rejection? Or—a trace of weak confusion she herself wasn't willing to admit?
Ultear looked away subconsciously, unwilling to watch anymore.
Makarov insisted that Shane just joined the guild, happened to miss the Harvest Festival, and now missed Christmas again, saying he wouldn't let him leave no matter what.
—
This led to Shane and the others dragging slightly tired steps out of the warm guild only when the bright moon hung high.
The cold wind of the winter night blew, dispelling a bit of drowsiness.
Pushing open the door of the home not returned to for a long time, air carrying a faint dusty smell hit their faces.
Moonlight shone through the window, casting a clear glow on the floor covered with a thin layer of dust.
"Haven't been back for a long time." Shane ran his finger across the living room table, leaving a clear trace, rubbing the dust on his fingertip somewhat disdainfully.
"Mhm, furniture is dusty." Erza followed behind him, also noticing the accumulated dust in the room. She nodded seriously. "Need a big cleaning tomorrow."
"No need to wait until tomorrow." Shane waved his hand, then turned behind him with an extremely natural movement.
There was Ultear, whom he simply brought home together since he didn't know where to place her.
Before Ultear could react to what this look meant, she heard Shane snap his fingers with a crisp snap.
The three long whips of Magic Power binding her all the way, making her movement difficult and feel humiliated, disappeared at the sound.
Suddenly gaining physical freedom made her subconsciously move her somewhat stiff wrists.
Immediately after, Shane's matter-of-course order smashed over: "You go clean the house now." He paused and added, "Oh, right, clean the bathroom first; I want to take a bath first."
Ultear was completely dumbfounded, looking at Shane incredulously, almost thinking she heard wrong. "Me?
I go?"
Make her, Ultear, clean up?