Night had fallen. A veil of thin clouds dulled the glow of the moon, and cold gusts of wind occasionally swept through the silent streets of Magnolia.
Whether it was the aftermath of Fairy Tail's guild being destroyed, or a sign of the storm that loomed unseen, the city felt unusually quiet tonight.
Chase's home.
In the warm glow of his living room, a soft light from a magic circle shimmered steadily on the floor.
"Ta-daah! The Dark Magician Girl makes her grand appearance!"
She popped out of the summoning circle in her signature blue-and-pink robe, striking a playful peace-sign pose with a cheeky grin.
Chase, who was lounging on the sofa with a cup of tea in hand, didn't even look up.
He knew better than to waste energy scolding her.
No matter what you say, she won't listen. And even if she listens… she won't change.
"Hehe~ The air outside really is fresher, huh~"
Stretching with satisfaction, the Dark Magician Girl strolled straight to the cabinet like she owned the place. She pulled out a bag of barbecue-flavored potato chips, ripped it open with a flourish, and began snacking happily.
Still munching, she plopped down next to Chase on the sofa, completely unbothered, limbs sprawling lazily as if she were a college girl flopping down after class.
Having been scolded again by the Dark Magician back in card space, she'd clearly come here to unwind and unleash her full gremlin energy.
Chase could only shake his head, resigned. He poured her a cup of hot tea and handed it over.
"All right. Spill it. What's going on that made you so desperate to come out?"
He could communicate with his card monsters without summoning them, so usually, if there wasn't something important, they wouldn't bother popping out like this just for air.
The Dark Magician Girl pouted, hugging the warm tea cup.
"Ugh, Master's the worst! He crammed a pile of new grimoires into my room again!"
She puffed up her cheeks in indignation. "I just finished the last batch too!"
"Oh, and Chase don't go snitching on me, okay? If he finds out, I'm getting another lecture!"
Hearing that, Chase sat up straight and cracked his neck dramatically.
"Oh, I think the Dark Magician did mention something to me earlier today…"
He narrowed his eyes playfully. "Hmm… Suddenly my shoulders feel awfully sore. I wonder what else he said...?"
"I'll learn! I'll learn right now!"
In a flash, the Dark Magician Girl tossed her chips aside and rushed over, gently kneading Chase's shoulders like her life depended on it.
Surprisingly, she was pretty good at it.
Her hands were soft yet firm, the pressure just right. And for some reason, she smelled faintly of… barbecue.
Wait what?
"...Okay, that's enough. Just sit down and wipe your hands first."
Chase cast a disgusted look at the girl's hands, now covered in orange barbecue powder.
If it weren't for the fact that the Dark Magician Girl was genuinely that innocent… he might've thought she did it on purpose.
Thank goodness I haven't showered or changed yet.
Giggling sheepishly, the Dark Magician Girl scampered back to her little "doghouse" by the corner and curled up on a soft cushion like a cat lazing after mischief.
"Master, I heard from Li Ziqiu that you gave cards to everyone in the guild?" she asked, blinking curiously.
"Yeah," Chase replied calmly, brushing the barbecue powder off his shoulder and taking a sip of tea. "If I guessed right, the Phantoms are going to make their move tonight."
As he spoke, he casually filled her in on the Phantom Lord guild and their recent schemes.
"I can't believe something that disgusting exists in a so-called legal guild!"
The Dark Magician Girl clenched her little fists, visibly furious.
Thanks to how often Chase talked about his guildmates, she was already quite familiar with everyone in Fairy Tail honestly, she was practically an honorary member by now.
So the moment she heard that sweet little Levy was the likely target, she couldn't help but burn with rage.
"Gajeel's situation is… complicated," Chase said, setting down his teacup. A faint light flashed in his eyes. "But if he dares to show his face tonight, I'll make sure he gets a taste of what 'real life' looks like."
The smirk on Chase's face was subtle but menacing.
The Dark Magician Girl immediately felt a wave of sympathy for whoever this Gajeel was.
"…Why do I get the feeling this guy's in for a bad time?"
Just then
BANG!
The front door was kicked open with a loud crash.
The noise alone made it obvious who the culprit was.
"HEY! CHASE! We're here!"
Natsu marched in like it was his own house, grinning as wide as ever.
"Hey, Natsu and everyone." Chase raised a brow and smiled, unsurprised.
Following Natsu came Erza in a casual dress, Lucy holding Prue in her arms, and Gray shirtless, as usual peeking in behind them.
Happy, naturally, didn't bother with any pretense. After one glance around the room, he made a beeline for the fridge.
Even though it sounded ridiculous… Chase did sometimes cook comfort food from his hometown. The smell of grilled fish lingered often enough that Happy had memorized it.
"Natsu, don't be so rude! This is Chase's house!" Lucy scolded him.
Erza glared sternly at Natsu and gave him a firm scolding before sitting herself down across from Chase with practiced ease. She picked up the teapot and began preparing tea, her movements natural, as if it were her own home.
"Chase's place is way more spacious," she said matter-of-factly. "Lucy's place barely qualifies as livable."
"Yeah…" Gray sighed as he slumped into the seat beside her. "Thanks, I'll take a cup too."
"No problem," Erza nodded. "The water's about to boil."
Before Chase had gone on his ten-year mission, the group had often visited. They were already familiar with every corner of the small house. That comfort hadn't changed.
"Hey, don't tell me you guys have completely stopped thinking of yourselves as guests?"
Chase raised an eyebrow, amused.
"And you, Gray what right do you have to judge me for reading novels in Lucy's room without asking first, when you literally trespassed and stripped while doing it?"
Lucy twitched, her expression caught between indignation and exhaustion. "Ugh… I don't even know where to begin with you people."
"Here," Erza said, handing her a freshly poured cup.
"…Thanks. Thanks," Lucy replied, defeated.
With that, she too plopped down naturally among them. The once-spacious living room now felt cozy and bustling with life.
Not that Chase minded.
To him, there was no need to be uptight about things like "private property" when it came to close friends. He wasn't like Lucy, always guarding her tiny apartment like it held state secrets.
That said…
Someone better fix that door Natsu kicked in.
"Lucy, Erza, what brings you two here tonight?" the Dark Magician Girl asked, straightening her posture a little now that there were more guests.
The cheerful mood dulled in an instant.
Natsu sighed heavily and slumped onto the coffee table, his cheek puffed in frustration.
"Sister Mira said Phantom might still be hiding in Magnolia," Lucy explained. "She thinks they might even know where some of us live… so she asked us to stick together."
On the way over, Erza had already briefed her on the whole situation.
And even though everyone now carried one of Chase's defensive cards, extra caution didn't hurt. These weren't enemies you could afford to underestimate.
"I was originally going to stay over at Lucy's," Erza added, casually sipping her tea. Her brows relaxed as she savored the warmth. "But her place is a bit cramped. Since you live nearby, Chase, I figured I'd come here instead."
"…Wait. So we're forming a base camp now? Why didn't I get the memo?" Chase asked, blinking.
Erza placed her teacup on the table with a quiet clink and said solemnly, "Because I don't believe Phantom would be reckless enough to target you, Chase."
She looked him dead in the eyes.
"I've fought you. I know what kind of strength you're hiding."
Erza glared sternly at Natsu and gave him a firm scolding before sitting herself down across from Chase with practiced ease. She picked up the teapot and began preparing tea, her movements natural, as if it were her own home.
"Chase's place is way more spacious," she said matter-of-factly. "Lucy's place barely qualifies as livable."
"Yeah…" Gray sighed as he slumped into the seat beside her. "Thanks, I'll take a cup too."
"No problem," Erza nodded. "The water's about to boil."
Before Chase had gone on his ten-year mission, the group had often visited. They were already familiar with every corner of the small house. That comfort hadn't changed.
"Hey, don't tell me you guys have completely stopped thinking of yourselves as guests?"
Chase raised an eyebrow, amused.
"And you, Gray what right do you have to judge me for reading novels in Lucy's room without asking first, when you literally trespassed and stripped while doing it?"
Lucy twitched, her expression caught between indignation and exhaustion. "Ugh… I don't even know where to begin with you people."
"Here," Erza said, handing her a freshly poured cup.
"…Thanks. Thanks," Lucy replied, defeated.
With that, she too plopped down naturally among them. The once-spacious living room now felt cozy and bustling with life.
Not that Chase minded.
To him, there was no need to be uptight about things like "private property" when it came to close friends. He wasn't like Lucy, always guarding her tiny apartment like it held state secrets.
That said…
Someone better fix that door Natsu kicked in.
"Lucy, Erza, what brings you two here tonight?" the Dark Magician Girl asked, straightening her posture a little now that there were more guests.
The cheerful mood dulled in an instant.
Natsu sighed heavily and slumped onto the coffee table, his cheek puffed in frustration.
"Sister Mira said Phantom might still be hiding in Magnolia," Lucy explained. "She thinks they might even know where some of us live… so she asked us to stick together."
On the way over, Erza had already briefed her on the whole situation.
And even though everyone now carried one of Chase's defensive cards, extra caution didn't hurt. These weren't enemies you could afford to underestimate.
"I was originally going to stay over at Lucy's," Erza added, casually sipping her tea. Her brows relaxed as she savored the warmth. "But her place is a bit cramped. Since you live nearby, Chase, I figured I'd come here instead."
"…Wait. So we're forming a base camp now? Why didn't I get the memo?" Chase asked, blinking.
Erza placed her teacup on the table with a quiet clink and said solemnly, "Because I don't believe Phantom would be reckless enough to target you, Chase."
She looked him dead in the eyes.
"I've fought you. I know what kind of strength you're hiding."
Erza glared sternly at Natsu and gave him a firm scolding before sitting herself down across from Chase with practiced ease. She picked up the teapot and began preparing tea, her movements natural, as if it were her own home.
"Chase's place is way more spacious," she said matter-of-factly. "Lucy's place barely qualifies as livable."
"Yeah…" Gray sighed as he slumped into the seat beside her. "Thanks, I'll take a cup too."
"No problem," Erza nodded. "The water's about to boil."
Before Chase had gone on his ten-year mission, the group had often visited. They were already familiar with every corner of the small house. That comfort hadn't changed.
"Hey, don't tell me you guys have completely stopped thinking of yourselves as guests?"
Chase raised an eyebrow, amused.
"And you, Gray what right do you have to judge me for reading novels in Lucy's room without asking first, when you literally trespassed and stripped while doing it?"
Lucy twitched, her expression caught between indignation and exhaustion. "Ugh… I don't even know where to begin with you people."
"Here," Erza said, handing her a freshly poured cup.
"…Thanks. Thanks," Lucy replied, defeated.
With that, she too plopped down naturally among them. The once-spacious living room now felt cozy and bustling with life.
Not that Chase minded.
To him, there was no need to be uptight about things like "private property" when it came to close friends. He wasn't like Lucy, always guarding her tiny apartment like it held state secrets.
That said…
Someone better fix that door Natsu kicked in.
"Lucy, Erza, what brings you two here tonight?" the Dark Magician Girl asked, straightening her posture a little now that there were more guests.
The cheerful mood dulled in an instant.
Natsu sighed heavily and slumped onto the coffee table, his cheek puffed in frustration.
"Sister Mira said Phantom might still be hiding in Magnolia," Lucy explained. "She thinks they might even know where some of us live… so she asked us to stick together."
On the way over, Erza had already briefed her on the whole situation.
And even though everyone now carried one of Chase's defensive cards, extra caution didn't hurt. These weren't enemies you could afford to underestimate.
"I was originally going to stay over at Lucy's," Erza added, casually sipping her tea. Her brows relaxed as she savored the warmth. "But her place is a bit cramped. Since you live nearby, Chase, I figured I'd come here instead."
"…Wait. So we're forming a base camp now? Why didn't I get the memo?" Chase asked, blinking.
Erza placed her teacup on the table with a quiet clink and said solemnly, "Because I don't believe Phantom would be reckless enough to target you, Chase."
She looked him dead in the eyes.
"I've fought you. I know what kind of strength you're hiding."
If Phantom really dared to come and attack this little house, there was only one conclusion:
They must've given up on life.
"Now that you put it that way," Chase said, cracking his knuckles with a grin, "I'm kinda looking forward to it."
Erza caught the fire in his eyes, and after pausing for a moment, she let out a soft sigh. "You know… I never imagined you'd end up being calmer than Lucy in a situation like this."
"Pfft!" Lucy nearly sprayed her tea. "Why am I the baseline for everything now?!"
Chase reclined lazily on the sofa, plucked the half-eaten bag of potato chips from the Dark Magician Girl's hands, and tossed a few into his mouth.
"Isn't the Master's intention pretty clear?" he said while chewing. "A full-scale war between guilds would shake the entire magic world. It's a dangerous game."
He crunched another chip and added with a shrug, "Besides, Phantom's guild master Jose is one of the Ten Wizard Saints. I don't even know if I could take him one-on-one."
That wasn't false modesty. It was the truth.
In the original timeline, Jose might not have looked overwhelmingly strong, but he was still a veteran wizard whose presence made even Jura a fellow Saint Ten feel the pressure.
Under those circumstances, if Makarov hadn't recovered in time, Fairy Tail might have been left without a countermeasure.
After all, Fairy Law a super spell that converts the user's life force into destructive light was so absurdly overpowered that it broke all balance.
Even so…
Uncertainty doesn't mean fear. If Jose had the guts to attack again, Chase was more than ready to throw hands.
.....
Keep supporting me with you comments and reviews if you like the story please drop a power stone and your support is very much appreciated.
Want to read 40+ chapters ahead , share your fandom thoughts, or just fuel my translation caffeine habit? or if you want to support me please Join me on Patreon here! :patreon.com/Keep_ItUp