Several people sat gathered around the low coffee table in Chase’s living room, the atmosphere a bizarre mix of domestic tranquility and utter chaos.
“So that’s how it is,” Chase said, leaning back against the sofa.
“Let’s ignore that brainless idiot Natsu for a second.” He shifted his gaze to the blonde sitting across from him.
“Lucy, is that really the reason you came sprinting into someone else’s house wearing nothing but a bath towel?” Having listened to the entire ridiculous saga, Chase studied her with a deadpan expression.
“I didn’t expect you to share Gray’s bizarre exhibitionist habits.
Joining Fairy Tail was definitely the right career choice for you.” “Aye!” Happy threw a blue paw into the air, nodding sagely.
‘Aye my ass!’ Lucy gripped the edges of her towel, pulling the terrycloth tighter across her chest.
A violent twitch seized the corner of her mouth.
Sure, Chase had a point, but being compared to a chronic stripper by a guy who had shamelessly demanded her measurements the moment they met?
And who was currently sitting shirtless in a room with a super cute young girl?
Just thinking about the sheer hypocrisy made her blood boil!
Wait a second.
A super cute young girl?!
It wasn’t until this exact moment that Lucy truly registered the presence of the girl sitting beside Chase.
She leaned forward, her brow furrowing as she stared intently at the stranger.
A nagging sense of familiarity tugged at her mind.
One thing was certain: this girl, who looked to be exactly her age, was definitely not a Fairy Tail Mage.
So where had she seen that face before?
Lucy racked her brain, her eyes drifting over the girl’s bright blue and pink outfit.
Her peripheral vision caught the distinctive, pointed magic hat resting on the blonde’s head.
A spark of recognition hit her like a lightning bolt.
“Um, wait a minute!” Lucy pointed a trembling finger.
“You wouldn’t happen to be the super famous Dark Magician Girl who was featured in Sorcerer Weekly, would you?!” The memories clicked into place.
A year ago, fueled by her desperate yearning to join Fairy Tail, Lucy had religiously bought every issue of the magazine to follow Mirajane’s modeling career.
Over time, she had developed a deep impression of the Dark Magician Girl, a wildly popular idol who had released multiple bestselling photo books.
She never in a million years expected to meet her in a casual living room setting.
And judging by their body language, this famous idol had an incredibly close relationship with Chase!
“Sorcerer Weekly, huh?” The Dark Magician Girl blinked, a wistful smile touching her lips.
“Speaking of which, I do feel a bit nostalgic hearing that name.” She tilted her head, her bright eyes landing on the pink Guild emblem stamped onto the back of Lucy’s hand.
“A new face I haven’t seen before.
You must be a newcomer to the Guild, right?” “Yes!
It’s an absolute honor to meet you.
I’m Lucy Heartfilia.
I just joined two days ago!” Lucy bowed her head excitedly, her towel slipping a fraction of an inch.
The Dark Magician Girl giggled and reached across the table, shaking Lucy’s hand warmly.
After properly introducing herself, she pulled back, puffed out her soft cheeks, and muttered under her breath, “What a cute girl.
Master must be secretly pleased again.” “Ma—Master?” Lucy felt like a bomb had just gone off in her ears.
Her gossiping gaze darted frantically back and forth between Chase and the Dark Magician Girl.
Aside from her and Natsu, Chase was the only other guy in the room.
The target of that slightly resentful “Master” was painfully obvious.
Was Chase not just a severe chuunibyou patient, but secretly a massive pervert too?
‘They’re involved.
These two are definitely involved!’ A crimson flush crawled up Lucy’s neck and exploded across her cheeks as a series of highly inappropriate, R-rated scenarios flooded her imagination.
“Hey Lucy, wanna do some business with me?” A blue blur popped up right beside her ear.
Happy rubbed his paws together, a sly glint in his dark eyes.
Having already tasted the sweetness of extorting her once, the cat wasn’t about to let a prime opportunity to harvest her wallet slip by.
“I can give you a twenty percent discount on the juicy details~” Lucy’s wild fantasies screeched to a halt.
She slowly turned her head, glaring at the cat with extreme prejudice.
Again?
A twenty percent discount?
I want to snap your little hollow bird bones!
The memory of her previous financial loss flared up, fueling the blonde’s sudden wrath.
“Do business?” Chase raised an eyebrow, leaning forward.
“What kind of business?” If his memory of the timeline served him right, Lucy and Happy didn’t have this kind of shady dynamic at this point in the story.
“Oh, that?
It’s just—” Before Happy could finish his sentence, a pair of pale arms shot out and clamped around his neck in a vice grip.
“No, no, nothing at all!
Happy is just drunk.
Yes, completely wasted!” Lucy flashed a terrifyingly fake smile, crushing the blue cat firmly against her impressive cleavage, completely smothering his mouth.
If Chase found out she was secretly paying to dig up his scandalous love life, her reputation would be ruined forever!
“Can you actually get drunk from drinking tea?” The Dark Magician Girl stared at the ceramic cups on the coffee table in genuine bewilderment.
She shifted her gaze back to Happy, whose face was currently being squished out of proportion between Lucy’s breasts.
“Well, if it’s that idiot Happy, I suppose it’s not entirely impossible.” Happy flailed his paws wildly.
Mmph!
Mmmph!
‘I’m innocent!
She’s slandering me!’ “Who cares about any of that?!” Natsu suddenly leaped onto the coffee table, a roaring column of fire erupting around his right fist.
The intense heat instantly vaporized the remaining tea.
“Hey!
Dark Magician Girl!
It’s been a long time, let’s fight!” “Are you sure about this, Natsu?” Having long since integrated into the chaotic, battle-hungry culture of the Fairy Tail Guild, the Dark Magician Girl didn’t flinch.
She rubbed her hands together, a brilliant, crackling light illuminating the gem of her magic staff.
“I’ve gotten a lot stronger training with Master.” Magic power surged through the small living room.
The air grew heavy, crackling with impending destruction.
And then— Thump!
Thump!
The two combatants each received a devastating, skull-crushing iron fist from above.
Natsu and the Dark Magician Girl instantly dropped to the floor, clutching the massive, smoking bumps on their heads.
They squatted side-by-side, whining in pain with unusual synchronization.
“Use your damn brains!” Chase stood over them, his knuckles still raised.
“Look at your surroundings!
This is my house!” Watching the swift execution of justice, Lucy nodded vigorously.
Her own apartment had just been completely trashed by these lunatics.
She felt a powerful urge to give Chase a massive thumbs-up.
“If you want to destroy a building, go fight at Lucy’s house!” Chase added smoothly.
Lucy froze.
She silently lowered her hand, burying that thumbs-up deep in her soul.
Thoroughly suppressed by Chase’s overwhelming physical intimidation, Natsu and the Dark Magician Girl abandoned their duel and obediently took their seats on the floor.
The chaotic living room finally settled into a fragile peace.
Through a detailed explanation, Lucy learned the truth.
The Dark Magician Girl was a card monster who had formed a magical contract with Chase.
The bond they shared was fundamentally identical to the connection Lucy had with Aquarius, Taurus, and the rest of the Zodiac.
It completely demystified the unique magic Chase wielded: Duelist’s Soul.
‘Thank God I didn’t fall for that stupid cat’s scam!’ Lucy celebrated internally, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow.
Honestly, for a split second back there, she really had been tempted to empty her coin purse to hear the scandalous gossip.
“A magic I’ve never even heard of before,” Lucy murmured, pulling herself out of her thoughts.
“Mr.
Chase’s Duelist’s Soul…” “It uses Spell and Trap cards, but at its core, it’s very similar to your Celestial Spirit Magic,” Chase explained, his tone shifting into something much more sincere.
“My card monsters aren’t just tools.
They are partners I cherish greatly.” It was the absolute truth.
Without the unwavering companionship and power of his monsters, he never would have survived this long, physically or mentally.
“Yeah!” Lucy’s eyes softened.
She nodded heavily, a bright, genuine smile blooming across her face.
She understood that feeling perfectly.
Just as the heartwarming atmosphere settled over the room, a bizarre noise broke the silence.
Puu~ Puu~ Un~ The wet, vibrating sound echoed directly from behind the blonde Mage.
Chase didn’t hesitate.
He looked her dead in the eye.
“Lucy, did you just fart?” “No way!!” Lucy’s face turned the color of a tomato.
She shrieked, scrambling backward.
Reaching behind her back, she hoisted a bizarre, trembling creature into the air for everyone to see.
It was stark white, built like a lumpy snowman, with a sharp, carrot-like nose and a perfectly round head.
“That sound came from this child!” Lucy defended herself frantically.
“His name is Plue!
He’s the Canis Minor Celestial Spirit I just signed a contract with!” Hanging in the air, Plue shakily raised a tiny, stubby arm.
“Puu~ Puu~” The creature’s silly, pathetic little face instantly captured the Dark Magician Girl’s heart.
“Oh my gosh, what a cute little snowman!” she squealed, her eyes turning into literal stars.
She possessed absolutely zero resistance to adorable things.
“…Uh, he’s not a snowman.
He’s Canis Minor.
A dog,” Lucy corrected weakly.
Seeing the sheer joy radiating from the other girl, she carefully handed the trembling spirit over.
The Dark Magician Girl snatched Plue out of the air, crushing him into a massive hug.
She rubbed her cheek against his round head, petting him relentlessly.
Plue stared blankly into the distance, his beady eyes hollow, looking completely devoid of the will to live.
“Plue, huh?” Chase rubbed his chin, watching the one-sided affection.
“I feel like he’d get along pretty well with this guy.” He raised his right hand, snapping two fingers into the air.
A card materialized between his knuckles.
With a flick of his wrist, he summoned the monster dwelling inside.
“Kuri Kuri~” A small, incredibly fluffy brown fiend materialized in a burst of light.
Kuriboh floated gently in the air, blinking its massive, adorable green eyes at the room.
[Akarin’s Note: Enjoying the story?