Natsu spoke with an indifferent shrug, “Isn’t that just a dumb gorilla?
No big deal.
This talking giant clock is way more interesting!” The old Natsu could have finished this Vulcan easily, let alone the current him, who could tap into Dragon Force at will.
Killing this stupid colorful gorilla was no challenge at all.
The only thing he needed to be careful about was not using too much force.
The gorilla had used Take Over magic on Macao.
If Natsu used his full strength and burned it to ash, Macao, who was inside the gorilla’s body, would also be finished.
Horologium waved his wooden hand.
“‘Celestial Spirit!
Celestial Spirit!’ Miss Lucy says.” The gorilla’s eyes immediately locked onto Lucy inside the giant clock’s glass case.
He was instantly overjoyed, beating his chest and howling enthusiastically.
“Woman!
Woman!
I love women!” Hearing that, Lucy’s body instantly went rigid.
She stared at the monster with terror on her face.
“‘I don’t want to be liked by a gorilla monster!
Natsu!
Natsu!
Hurry up and kill him!’ Miss Lucy says.” As a clock-shaped Celestial Spirit, Horologium had no offensive capabilities, but his defense was highly reliable.
Resistant to extreme temperatures.
Soundproof.
The glass case was also able to withstand heavy impacts.
There was only one flaw…
It was a bit ridiculous!
Aside from that, his summoning time limit was quite short.
Natsu’s expression turned cold.
He turned to face the Vulcan and spoke with a sharp edge to his voice, “I intended to let you live a little longer, but you dare to target my woman…
I’ll give you a blazing fire in the middle of this winter!!” Happy, who was floating nearby, giggled.
“It’s true!
Gray was right, Natsu’s common sense has been wrecked by Lucy!” Horologium immediately relayed Lucy’s string of real-time rants: “‘Since when did I become your woman?!
Don’t just claim me arbitrarily!
Besides, what does ‘Natsu wrecked by Lucy’ mean?!
That’s easily misunderstood, you know!’ Miss Lucy says.” “‘Ah!
Why am I even arguing about this?!
I…
I…’ Miss Lucy says.” “‘Aaaaaaaaaaa!
Truly frustrating!’ Miss Lucy says.” Happy’s eyes twinkled mischievouslY.
He covered his mouth and giggled again.
“Oh, it turns out it’s actually Lucy who has been wrecked by Natsu!” Natsu’s expression returned to serious, and dragon scales slowly appeared on his face and hands.
Even before his fire erupted, the extreme heat radiating from his body had already melted the snow and ice within a radius of tens of meters.
The blizzard winds that had been howling in the Hakobe Mountains were immediately broken by the heat wave exploding from Natsu.
Dragon fire soared high!
Magic power carrying an incredible temperature drove away the blizzard.
The area of tens of meters around him suddenly changed from biting winter to a scorching summer.
The gorilla, which had been staring lecherously at Lucy, now realized the drastic temperature change.
Cold sweat dripped down his forehead.
The ten-meter-high pillar of dragon fire made him tremble with fear, and even his raised hands were now stiff in the air.
“T-this…
what kind of monster…” What greeted him next was the Fire Dragon’s Iron Fist!
The three-meter-high gorilla was sent flying by Natsu’s direct hit, soaring to the peak of the mountain.
He was even embedded firmly in an ice cliff, completely unable to free himself!
Right at that moment, Horologium’s summoning duration expired.
Lucy, who fell rolling out from within the clock, felt the warm temperature around her with a confused face.
Suddenly!
The girl’s aura turned very gloomy again.
She muttered weakly, “If I have Natsu the walking furnace nearby, why did I bother hiding inside Horologium?” Because you really are dumb!
That divine voice from nowhere appeared again, wounding Lucy’s pride for the umpteenth time.
She squatted on the ground with a look of despair while drawing a circle in the dust.
However.
A sudden onset of cold made her shiver again.
The blizzard returned, forcing her to hug herself tightly.
She hurriedly looked up, searching for Natsu.
The young man had already flown to the mountain peak with the help of Happy’s wings!
Lucy shivered violently and screamed, “Don’t…
leave…
meee!!” “Wait!
Isn’t Natsu always motion sick on transport?!” “Why doesn’t he get sick if he’s flying with Happy?!” “Argh!!!
Why am I commenting on that at a time like this?!
I really have been infected by Natsu’s weirdness!” “Cold!
So cold!
Oh my god, cooold!” The wind was howling too loudly.
Her voice couldn’t be heard at the top.
Moreover!
She was only wearing a thin sailor uniform!
In such an extreme snowy environment…
On the other hand, seeing Macao lying unconscious on the snow, Happy scratched his head, showing a doubtful look on his face.
“Natsu, did we forget something?” Natsu stared at him with confusion.
“No, we didn’t forget anything.
Macao has been found, let’s go home immediately!” Happy still felt as if something important had been left behind, his face darkening as he thought about it.
“I feel like I really forgot something.” Natsu patted the cat’s small head with a wide smile.
“It’s nothing, let’s go home!” Carrying Macao on his back, the man and the cat hurried down the mountain.
Leaving Lucy, who was still standing alone in the middle of the blizzard with a dumbfounded expression.
“NATSUUUUUU…!” That heartbroken scream echoed through the blizzard, who knows how far.
A shadow slowly approached!
As night began to fall, the shadow gradually enveloped Lucy’s figure.
Back in Magnolia town.
After simple treatment by Natsu, Macao slowly woke up and recovered.
Seeing that Natsu and Happy were the ones who had saved him, Macao gave a bitter smile and said, “I’ve caused both of you trouble.” Natsu grinned widely.
“It’s nothing, besides I also had to secure my position to continue lazi—” Realizing he had almost let his true intention as a couch potato slip, Natsu hastily corrected his words.
“…I mean, we’re guildmates!
There’s no such thing as trouble!” With a suspicious twitch in his face, Macao whispered softly, “Somehow I have a feeling you didn’t come purely to save me…” “But even so!
I’m still thankful to you!”