Chapter 295: I Don't Have Long to Live
"Take this, Erza!"
Noah grabbed a pillow in each hand and threw them at Erza in quick succession with considerable force.
"Hmph. You won't hit me."
Erza swatted the first pillow away with the one in her hand, then jumped to dodge the second.
The second pillow sailed past her and hit Gray square in the face, sending him flying.
While everyone was enthusiastically engrossed in the pillow fight, Noah noticed Lucy getting up from the floor where she had been playing dead and heading for the door.
Happy noticed her movement too. He abandoned the battle and quietly followed her out.
"Sigh... are they really human?"
"Pun-pun!"
"Ah, is Happy really a cat?"
Wearing a yukata and wooden clogs, Lucy walked slowly down the path. Plue, the Canis Minor spirit she had summoned, trotted obediently beside her.
"And Plue... you're a dog too, right?"
"Pun-pun!"
Lucy muttered to Plue, knowing he couldn't speak human language and not expecting an answer.
"Actually... I am human. Pun-pun!"
"Is that so...?! EHHHH?!"
Hearing the sudden response, Lucy replied instinctively before realizing something was wrong. Since when could Plue talk?
"Human? Wait... you can talk?"
"Aye!"
"Aye?"
"I am the messenger of the hero who possesses the Rave Stone! Pun-pun!"
"Alright, alright, that's enough. Stop with the boring pranks and come out!"
Lucy said irritably, realizing Happy was hiding nearby and messing with her.
"Tch. Based on Lucy's low intelligence, I thought I could fool her for a whole week."
"Thanks for thinking so highly of me."
Lucy looked exasperatedly at Happy as he emerged from the bushes.
"Eh, where are you going, Lucy?"
Happy had followed her because he saw her running off. Lucy sighed. "If I stayed with those guys playing pillow fight, I felt like my life would be in danger. So I came out for a walk."
"Hey, beautiful!"
A frivolous male voice came from behind her. Lucy turned around to see two men who looked like delinquents standing there.
One wore a red cap, black clothes, a chain necklace, and several rings and bracelets. The other wore white clothes and kept bobbing his head incessantly.
"That yukata suits you. Are you sightseeing?"
"We're from Oshibana. How about it? Wanna grab a drink? It'll be funky!"
"There are too many things to tsukkomi here! And sorry, I'm with friends."
Lucy looked at them speechlessly, turned around, and started walking back the way she came.
"Oh come on~ What's the harm in hanging out for a bit?"
"Sorry."
Lucy walked away without hesitation.
"Your friends are that cat and..."
The two men stared at the white, unidentified creature, Plue, having no idea what it was.
"Pun-pun!"
They paused, then forcefully changed the subject. "T-That funky little follower can come too."
"Let's go!"
They approached Lucy. She quickly took two steps back to avoid them.
"Happy, think of something!"
"Meow~"
"You actually replied with 'Meow'!"
"Talking to a cat... how cute."
"It's not cute!"
While Lucy was retorting to Happy, one of the men grabbed her arm.
"Wait, don't go too far!"
Seeing they were trying to force her, Lucy's expression darkened, and she tried to shake them off.
"Eh...? W-What's happening? My body... I can't move!"
Lucy suddenly realized she was paralyzed. The two men moved closer.
"Come play with us!"
"Let's have a funky night together!"
"They're wizards?! Crap..."
Realizing she had been hit by a spell, Lucy panicked. Just as she was trying to figure out how to escape, a figure rushed in front of her.
BAM!
The figure punched the head-bobbing delinquent so hard he spat blood and flew backward.
"Y-You... who are you..."
The other delinquent in black was shocked and stammered.
The figure didn't answer. He delivered a flying kick that sent the second man flying, also spitting blood.
"Ooh!"
"Pun-pun!"
Happy and Plue watched the newcomer with excitement.
"Are you hurt?"
The person turned around and asked Lucy.
"Loke!"
Lucy was surprised to see it was Loke, whom she had met earlier.
Hearing Lucy's voice, Loke shuddered. He immediately hid behind a nearby bamboo stalk, peeking out at her cautiously.
"I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing?!" Lucy retorted.
"They are rogue mages who specialize in kidnapping women. I happen to be on a job to arrest them."
"Is that so?"
"Well then, I must take them away. Excuse me."
Loke started dragging the two unconscious men away.
"Um, thank you for saving me."
"Uh... don't mention it."
"Hey... if you don't mind, could you keep me company for a bit?" Lucy smiled and invited him.
"Eh?"
Hearing Lucy's invitation, Loke didn't look happy. Instead, he broke out in a cold sweat.
"Ooh! Th-Th-This development is...!"
"Pun-pun!"
Happy and Plue looked at Lucy and Loke excitedly. Lucy rolled her eyes. "It's not like that. I just want to talk to Loke about something."
After thinking it over, Loke agreed.
He dealt with the two criminals first, then went with Lucy to a nearby restaurant called "Super Express." It was one of the most popular spots in Balsam Village.
It was said that the taciturn owner's good character, combined with countless delicious dishes, won over every customer who visited.
"Hey... you don't need to sit that far away..."
Lucy looked helplessly at Loke, who was sitting several tables away from her.
"S-So... Sorry... haha..." Loke laughed awkwardly.
Lucy got up and moved to sit next to him.
"I've wanted to ask you for a long time. Did a Celestial Spirit Wizard do something to you? Noah seems to know what it is, but he won't tell me."
Loke remained silent after hearing her question.
Lucy puffed out her cheeks in annoyance, then sighed. "If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine. But... I'm me..."
"Yeah, I know... I'm sorry, really... If I hurt you, I apologize. Just forget about me," Loke said to her.
"What is this, a breakup line?" Lucy retorted.
"It's not like that..." Loke pushed up his glasses. Lucy looked at him and sighed.
"Breakup... huh?"
"What about the word breakup?"
"Nothing. Just remembered some old things."
"What things?"
Lucy asked, but Loke didn't answer.
Beside them, Happy and Plue, having eaten and drunk their fill, were fast asleep.
"Sigh, forget it. I just wanted to ask a little. Noah said I could solve your problem, after all."
Lucy stood up from her chair. If he wouldn't talk, there was nothing she could do.
"Thank you for saving me. I understand a little why you're popular now. And, no matter what, I still consider us comrades."
Lucy smiled at Loke, then turned to leave. "Well... I should probably go..."
Suddenly, Loke grabbed her hand.
"Wait."
Lucy turned back to look at him. Loke walked up to her expressionlessly and suddenly hugged her.
"Wh-What is it?!"
Suddenly embraced by Loke, Lucy blushed.
"Lucy..."
"Y-Yes?"
"I don't have long to live."
Loke whispered in her ear.
"Eh?"
Lucy's pupils dilated. She was shocked by his words.
"Um, you..."
Lucy wanted to ask for the reason, but Loke released her and stepped back, facing her directly.
"What exactly is going on?" Lucy asked seriously, her blush fading.
Loke didn't speak. He turned his head away. Soon, his shoulders began to shake, and then laughter erupted from his mouth.
"Heheh... Hahahaha!"
Lucy stared at Loke as he laughed.
"You fell for it! That's a technique to seduce girls. Using tears to move a heart. How was it? Scared you, didn't it?"
Lucy's pupils dilated again, this time in anger.
SLAP!!!
A crisp slap echoed through the restaurant. Lucy slapped Loke hard enough to send his glasses flying.
"I... hate those kinds of jokes the most!!!"
Lucy shouted angrily, tears welling in her eyes.
"Let's go! Happy, Plue!"
"Aye!"
"Pun-pun!"
Lucy grabbed the sleeping Happy and Plue and stormed out of the restaurant.
Loke stood there, a bright red handprint on his face, watching Lucy leave.
He picked up his glasses from the floor. What am I doing... I can't let emotions get in the way. I can't drag Lucy into this.
Noah, I'm sorry. I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint your good intentions.
I already...
When Lucy returned to the inn, the pillow fight was over.
Natsu and Gray were lying motionless on the floor, while Noah and Erza were cleaning up the mess.
"Lucy, what's wrong? You look so angry. Did something happen?" Erza asked, seeing the fury on Lucy's face.
"Nothing. Just met Loke and had a talk," Lucy replied, still fuming.
~~~
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