Inside Ches's house, a few familiar faces gathered around the coffee table.
"So that's what happened. Honestly, let's set that brainless Natsu aside for now."Ches folded his arms, turning to Lucy with a strangely serious look. "Lucy, is that why you came running to someone else's house dressed in just a towel?"
Lucy instantly froze.
"I didn't expect you to have odd habits like Gray's," Ches continued, nodding thoughtfully. "Looks like joining Fairy Tail really was the right fit for you."
"Aye!" Happy chirped in agreement, tail wagging.
"Aye my foot!" Lucy snapped, tightening the towel at her chest with an angry twitch of her mouth.
Sure, technically Ches wasn't wrong… but being called an exhibitionist like Gray by this guy the same pervert who asked a girl's three sizes the moment they met, and was now casually lounging around shirtless with a super adorable magical girl at his side...
Just thinking about it made her blood pressure rise!
Wait… a super cute young girl?!
Only now did Lucy notice the girl sitting casually beside Ches. Her brows drew together as she squinted, scanning the figure with a scrutinizing gaze.
She looked about Lucy's age, with bright eyes, flawless skin, and an aura that screamed magic idol vibes. But she definitely wasn't from Fairy Tail Lucy was sure of that.
Then where had she seen her before?
Lucy tilted her head and racked her brain. Something about the outfit particularly that oversized, iconic hat felt oddly familiar.
Then it clicked.
Her eyes widened in realization, and she nearly shot to her feet.
"Wait a second… You're not the super famous Black Magician Girl who was featured in Sorcerer Weekly, are you?!"
The Black Magician Girl blinked, then smiled mischievously. "Hehe~ That's me!"
Memories surged back in Lucy's mind. It was around a year ago, when she was still dreaming of joining Fairy Tail. She had bought every Sorcerer Weekly issue featuring Mirajane, of course… but one other name had stood out Black Magician Girl.
At the time, this mysterious, charming spellcaster had taken the magazine world by storm with her magical fashion spreads, elegant poses, and even a few best-selling photo books. Lucy had secretly admired her as a role model.
She never imagined she'd meet her like this in a living room, in a towel, after crashing through a window.
And what caught Lucy's attention even more…
It seemed like the Black Magician Girl had a very close relationship with Mr. Ches!
"Magic Weekly, huh? Now that you mention it, I do feel a bit nostalgic," the Black Magician Girl said, brushing a lock of blonde hair behind her ear. Her expression softened with a faint, wistful smile.
Then she glanced at the Fairy Tail emblem on Lucy's right hand.
"A new face I haven't seen before. You're a newcomer to the Guild, right?"
"Y-Yes! It's nice to meet you. I'm Lucy Heartfilia! I just joined Fairy Tail two days ago!"
Lucy quickly straightened up and introduced herself with a polite smile, excitement brimming in her voice. Her towel slipped just slightly, and she clutched it tighter with one hand while offering the other.
The Black Magician Girl smiled brightly and reached out, giving Lucy's hand a gentle shake.
After introducing herself in turn, she leaned slightly toward Lucy and muttered under her breath, puffing out her cheeks like a sulking squirrel, "What a cute girl… Master must be secretly pleased again…"
"...M-Master?"
Lucy blinked.
Did she hear that right?
She slowly turned to look at Ches, then back at the Black Magician Girl.
Then again at Ches.
Her eyes gradually narrowed with the sharp glint of a seasoned gossip columnist uncovering a scandal.
Wait. There were only four people in the room her, Natsu (currently busy sipping tea and totally clueless), the mysterious Black Magician Girl…
…and Mr. Ches.
Which meant… that "Master" had to be !!
And what caught Lucy's attention even more…
It seemed like the Black Magician Girl had a very close relationship with Mr. Ches!
"Magic Weekly, huh? Now that you mention it, I do feel a bit nostalgic," the Black Magician Girl said, brushing a lock of blonde hair behind her ear. Her expression softened with a faint, wistful smile.
Then she glanced at the Fairy Tail emblem on Lucy's right hand.
"A new face I haven't seen before. You're a newcomer to the Guild, right?"
"Y-Yes! It's nice to meet you. I'm Lucy Heartfilia! I just joined Fairy Tail two days ago!"
Lucy quickly straightened up and introduced herself with a polite smile, excitement brimming in her voice. Her towel slipped just slightly, and she clutched it tighter with one hand while offering the other.
The Black Magician Girl smiled brightly and reached out, giving Lucy's hand a gentle shake.
After introducing herself in turn, she leaned slightly toward Lucy and muttered under her breath, puffing out her cheeks like a sulking squirrel, "What a cute girl… Master must be secretly pleased again…"
"...M-Master?"
Lucy blinked.
Did she hear that right?
She slowly turned to look at Ches, then back at the Black Magician Girl.
Then again at Ches.
Her eyes gradually narrowed with the sharp glint of a seasoned gossip columnist uncovering a scandal.
Wait. There were only four people in the room her, Natsu (currently busy sipping tea and totally clueless), the mysterious Black Magician Girl…
…and Mr. Ches.
Which meant… that "Master" had to be !!
"Do business? What kind of business?" Ches asked curiously, raising an eyebrow.
He was sure this scene didn't exist in the original timeline. Lucy and Happy striking shady deals? Was this a side plot exclusive to this reality?
"Oh, that, it's just..." Happy started to blurt out.
But before he could finish, a pair of pale, soft arms swiftly looped around his neck.
"Nope! Nooope! Happy is drunk! Yes, he's definitely drunk!"
Lucy laughed stiffly, practically mummifying the Exceed with her grip as she yanked him into a suffocating hug against her chest.
Happy's wings flailed helplessly, his face squished into her cleavage, unable to breathe let alone speak.
Ches blinked.
"...Can you get drunk from tea?"
Black Magician Girl tilted her head, then peered at the teacups on the table in earnest. "That's odd... Did we accidentally brew a drunken blend?"
Then she looked at Happy, who was twitching from lack of oxygen, and added seriously, "But if it's the idiot Happy, it's not impossible."
Happy: 『Wuwuwu!! I'm innocent!! She's slandering me!!』
Lucy's smile grew more forced as she sweatdropped. "Aha... you know how Exceeds are! Super lightweights."
Ches narrowed his eyes slightly, clearly unconvinced, but said nothing.
Behind him, the Black Magician Girl gave Lucy a subtle thumbs-up of sympathy.
Another soul fallen to Master's chaotic gravity... she thought.
"Whatever happens doesn't matter! More importantly..."Natsu suddenly sprang to his feet, fire flaring in his fist. "Hey! Black Magician Girl, long time no see! Let's fight!!"
"Are you sure about that, Natsu?"The Black Magician Girl cracked her knuckles, her staff glowing with fierce pink-blue light. "I've powered up with Master now! I won't lose like last time!"
Magic surged. Sparks flew. Battle stances were locked.
Then
THUMP! THUMP!
A pair of iron fists came crashing down on their heads in perfect harmony.
"OWWW!!!"
Both Natsu and Black Magician Girl dropped like stunned frogs, clutching their bruised noggins, crouched in the exact same posture teary-eyed and sulking.
Ches loomed over them, fists still clenched, expression cold.
"Use your brains, will you?! Look where you are! This is my house!"
Lucy, having just experienced Natsu's idea of a 'friendly visit,' gave a fierce nod of agreement from the side. "Preach!"
Ches let out a tired sigh and pointed toward the door."If you really want to fight, go blow up Lucy's house instead."
"EHHHHHH?! Why mine again?!" Lucy's scream pierced the roof.
Lucy: "…"
Without a word, she quietly withdrew her enthusiastic thumbs-up.
Oppressed by Ches's overwhelming "big brother" aura, both Natsu and the Black Magician Girl reluctantly gave up their urge to fight and returned to their seats like scolded kids.
The chaotic living room finally regained a sliver of peace.
Once everyone settled down, Ches gave Lucy a proper introduction explaining that the girl beside him wasn't a random guild mage, but one of his own summoned monsters, bound through a powerful contract.
"She's a card monster I summoned through Duelist Soul," Ches said calmly. "Our bond is similar to how you summon your Celestial Spirits."
"Eh?!" Lucy's eyes widened as she made the mental connection. "So she's kind of like Aquarius or Taurus…?"
"Exactly," Ches nodded. "Although my style includes Trap Cards and Magic Cards too, the core of it is about trust. My card monsters are not just tools they're partners. Friends I treasure deeply."
The Black Magician Girl proudly puffed out her chest at that, looking especially pleased to be described that way.
Lucy's gaze softened as she listened, and a warm smile played at her lips.
'Duelist Soul…' she mused silently. 'A magic I've never even heard of before. So rare, yet so... heartfelt.'
She gave Happy a quick side-eye. 'Good thing I didn't fall for that dead cat's con job. I was tempted for a second to pay for the gossip.'
Inwardly relieved, Lucy let out a quiet sigh of thanks. She did want to know more about Ches, but not at the cost of being caught red-handed snooping.
Ches leaned back and folded his arms. "It's thanks to these guys that I've come this far not just in strength, but as a person too."
His words carried an unexpected weight.
The room fell briefly silent.
Even Natsu, who had been fidgeting seconds ago, looked unusually thoughtful.
The flickering candlelight danced in the stillness, casting shadows of card monsters, Celestial Keys, and fire dragon fists all under one roof.
"Yes!"Lucy nodded earnestly, a bright smile blooming on her face as she resonated with Ches's words about bonds and partnerships.
But just as the atmosphere grew warm and inspiring…
"Puu~ Puu~ Un~"
A strange, rhythmic noise suddenly echoed behind her.
Ches blinked. "…Lucy, did you fart?"
His question was direct. Too direct.
"NO WAY!!"Lucy nearly flipped the table.
Her face turned beet red as she shot up and spun around. She grabbed something small off the floor and held it up with both hands, shaking it slightly for emphasis.
"This little guy is the culprit!"
In her palms was a strange white creature, with a round head, tiny body, pointed carrot-like nose, and constant quivering.
"This is Plue," Lucy announced dramatically, "the Canis Minor Celestial Spirit! He just signed a contract with me!"
"Puu~ Puu~"Plue confirmed weakly, raising one stubby hand in greeting, his whole body trembling like jelly.
"Whaaa~!"The Black Magician Girl's eyes sparkled as she immediately crouched down to get closer.
"What a cute little snowman!" she squealed, already reaching out to poke his cheeks. "Master, can we keep him too?!"
Plue trembled harder but didn't object.
"Uh… he's not a pet," Lucy muttered, a drop of sweat rolling down her temple.
Watching the tiny snowman twitch and wiggle under the attention of an overly enthusiastic sorceress, Happy tapped his chin.
"Aye… he's cuter than Natsu."
"I heard that!" Natsu barked, flames already licking his fist again.
"Don't you dare set my house on fire a second time!" Ches shouted, already reaching for another card threateningly.
And thus, the chaos resumed.
Lucy blinked in surprise at the fuzzy little creature that popped out of Ches's card.
"A furball?" she blurted without thinking.
"Kuri~"Kuriboh responded cheerfully, flapping its tiny paws as it hovered midair like a puffball balloon.
"Plue and Kuriboh..." Ches mused, crossing his arms. "Both are support-type creatures, both are small and harmless... and both have top-tier cuteness stats."
"That's not a real stat!" Lucy protested.
But her complaint was lost to the squeals of delight from the Black Magician Girl, who had now gathered both Plue and Kuriboh in her arms and was spinning around in place, overwhelmed by fluff overload.
"So cute! So soft! Master, can I keep them both?"
"No!"Both Ches and Lucy shouted in unison.
"Aww..."She pouted, hugging the two fluffballs tighter.
Kuriboh didn't seem to mind, but Plue's face was rapidly growing blanker. His soul was clearly somewhere far, far away.
Ches chuckled. "I suppose they do look like mascots of chaos when they're together."
Lucy sighed and plopped down on the couch. "At this rate, they'll form their own cute-beast guild."
Happy, watching from the side, munched on a fish and whispered, "As long as I remain mascot number one."
Natsu nodded solemnly. "You're number one… in trouble."
Happy: "Aye!"
The night grew louder, but the bonds between mages, spirits, and card monsters continued to deepen even if it came with a side of property damage and emotional trauma for Plue.
Want to read ahead, share your fandom thoughts, or just fuel my translation caffeine habit? Join me on Patreon here! :
patreon.com/Keep_ItUp