"No thanks!" The overpowering scent of perfume hit Jehfrit's nose, and he quickly backed away.
"So fast!" Lucy couldn't help but be amazed by his speed.
"That's Bob, the master of Blue Pegasus," Erza explained. "He's the kind of person Jehfrit struggles to deal with."
"Are you sure? Little Jehfrit is quite popular in our guild. If you need it, many girls would be happy to be your girlfriend," Bob continued to approach, fluttering his wings dramatically.
"I'm really fine! Ugh—after fighting all day, I'm exhausted. I'm going to rest now. Goodbye, Mr. Bob!" Jehfrit hastily activated his magic, vanishing on the spot.
Bob stood there, legs pressed together and posing exaggeratedly. "Ah, such a shy child."
"Brrr—" Lucy shivered involuntarily.
"Lucy, are you cold?" Natsu asked from behind her, where she was still riding piggyback.
"Not at all," Lucy mumbled, burying her face deeper into Natsu's scarf.
"Let's go, Natsu," Gray said.
"Yeah."
After a few steps, Natsu suddenly spoke up. "Lucy, you're surprisingly heavy."
"What?! How dare you say that!" Lucy's face flushed red as she delivered a swift punch to the top of Natsu's head.
"It's true. You're way heavier than Lisanna," Natsu said innocently.
Though simple-minded, Natsu's words froze Lucy mid-motion.
"Don't ruin the mood, you idiot!" Jehfrit reappeared out of nowhere, camera in one hand and delivering a solid punch to Natsu's face with the other.
"What was that for, jerk?!" Natsu growled angrily.
"Serves you right!" Gray chimed in smugly.
"He has a point," Erza nodded firmly.
"Our Natsu is just like this," Happy sighed in mock exasperation, shaking his head like an overworked mother.
"This makes no sense!" Natsu grumbled. Still carrying Lucy, he couldn't retaliate, so he puffed up his cheeks and turned away in frustration.
". . ."
A moment passed.
Lucy's muffled voice came from within Natsu's scarf. "Who's Lisanna?"
". . ." Everyone fell silent.
Jehfrit broke the awkwardness. "Gray's childhood friend."
"Gray's childhood friend? Why were *you* carrying her?" Lucy asked, confused.
". . ." Gray smirked at Jehfrit, curious to see how he'd wriggle out of this one.
"Because we're comrades! Comrades helping comrades is normal—it's like this." Without missing a beat, Jehfrit climbed onto Erza's back.
Erza sighed but obligingly bent down to let him climb on.
This guy was heavier than expected.
It had been years since Erza last carried anyone on her back—the most frequent being Natsu. Compared to Jehfrit, carrying Natsu felt much easier, especially since Natsu usually fell asleep when she did. But now, Jehfrit kept squirming around, adjusting his position uncomfortably.
Of course, between the armor plating pressing against his stomach and thighs, Jehfrit wasn't exactly having a pleasant ride. Erza's strength didn't help either—he wasn't built like Natsu, who could endure almost anything.
". . ."
Watching Jehfrit shift awkwardly on Erza's back without complaint, Lucy realized something. Erza treated Jehfrit, Natsu, Gray, and the others like younger siblings.
Still, Lucy couldn't shake the feeling that Lisanna might mean more to Natsu than just another comrade. However, she decided not to press further. Something about the situation felt complicated, and besides, she didn't have the right to pry into Natsu's past.
"I'll take my leave first," Erza announced, walking off with Jehfrit still perched on her back.
A few steps later, though, Jehfrit vanished. He simply couldn't handle it anymore—not everyone could bang their head repeatedly against Erza's armored chest like Natsu could.
They walked a bit farther when Lucy, unable to let it go entirely, opened her mouth again. "There's definitely something strange here, Natsu—"
". . ." Both Erza and Gray immediately looked away.
Suddenly, Natsu tripped over something, tumbling flat onto the ground. Instinctively, his hand shot upward, landing on something far softer and bouncier than Lucy's thigh.
The unexpected incident cut Lucy off mid-sentence, allowing both Erza and Gray to breathe sighs of relief.
"Huh? What's this?" Oblivious and inexperienced, Natsu squeezed experimentally twice.
"AHHH! YOU JERK! YOU JERK! YOU JERK!"
Lucy's face turned beet red as she unleashed a flurry of slaps onto Natsu's head!
'Click click' The sound of rapid-fire photography echoed around them.
"What a creep," Gray muttered under his breath, resolving never to repeat Natsu's mistakes.
---
At the Inn
After resting overnight, the group prepared to return home alongside Master Makarov. With the station and railways damaged, they opted to walk back.
But Jehfrit?
Seriously?
Walk?
You've got to be kidding me!
Everyone knew Jehfrit always claimed to be weak and physically unfit. While Natsu suffered from motion sickness, Jehfrit had an outright dependency on transportation.
Fortunately, there was no rush to return. The next Alex Mecha Exhibition was set to take place in Aharnita Town. Hearing that its shopping district was worth visiting, Jehfrit decided to detour there early to scout the area. Being unprepared wasn't his style.
---
Aharnita Town
Upon arriving at the gates, Jehfrit was stopped by guards.
"Sorry, sir, please pay a 1,000 Jewel entrance fee," the guard said.
"Why?"
While 1,000 Jewels wasn't much, Jehfrit wasn't one to waste money frivolously. He needed a reasonable explanation before spending it.
The guard explained, "This is your first time visiting Aharnita Town, isn't it? Our town used to be impoverished until the Arnita family took over management and brought prosperity. However, some areas remain poor and unsafe."
"Therefore, the prosperous parts are located in the west. If you refuse to pay, you'll have to enter through the east side, which is rife with thieves and bandits."
Due to its geography, nestled in a canyon, Aharnita Town only had entrances on the east and west sides.
"I see," Jehfrit nodded, pulling out the required amount.
"Thank you, sir. Enjoy your stay in our town."
"Thanks for the well wishes."
Jehfrit adjusted his glasses. Indeed, Aharnita Town thrived vibrantly. Perhaps it was due to consolidating resources into one half of the town or because the Arnita family hailed from renowned merchants.
Setting aside any shady dealings behind the scenes, Jehfrit thoroughly enjoyed himself. There were countless attractions: amusement rides, toys, delicious snacks, and even a food street featuring specialties from across the land. It was truly a tourist paradise.
As evening approached, the Arnita family utilized the unique terrain, embedding numerous artificial crystals along the cliffs. Under the setting sun, they refracted dazzling colors, casting dreamlike patterns onto the buildings, streets, and people below. The entire scene resembled a fairy tale come to life.
Jehfrit wandered around, capturing everything on camera.
Suddenly, a tall figure passed through his lens.
A beauty!
Instinctively, he glanced over.