Lucy suddenly felt like her future was looking bright. She quickly shifted gears, her voice brimming with admiration as she turned to Mirajane.
"Miss Mirajane, you're amazing too! The Fairy Ramen you make is hands-down the best in the guild, right? It's gotta be the most delicious ramen I've ever had in my life!"
She launched into a gushing rant. "That broth is so rich, I could practically drink it forever! The noodles are perfectly chewy and springy, and don't even get me started on the char siu—it's so fragrant, it's unreal!"
"I heard you came up with that secret char siu recipe all on your own, Miss Mirajane. Even mages from other guilds come rushing to try it, but it's so exclusive, people can barely get a bowl!"
Heh, thank goodness I asked about it when I tried it! Lucy thought, mentally patting herself on the back for her curiosity.
Hearing such heartfelt praise for her cooking, Mirajane's slightly intimidating posture softened. She leaned back in her seat, covering her mouth with a hand as she let out a genuinely delighted giggle. "Oh, Lucy, you're too sweet! If you love it that much, just let me know next time you're craving it, okay?"
Her voice was noticeably gentler now.
Yes! Nailed it! Lucy thought, practically ready to sign her own autograph. Catching the mix of shock, admiration, and "how'd she pull that off?!" looks from Natsu, Gray, and Happy, she puffed out her chest a little, her inner self throwing a wild applause party.
That's right, I'm a total pro!
But before she could bask in her glory for more than two seconds, Mirajane's teasing voice floated over with a sly edge.
"Well, it seems my cooking's earned quite a few fans. Unlike some people who can turn perfectly good ingredients into biochemical weapons… and end up poisoning themselves."
Her gaze slid pointedly toward Erza.
Lucy's triumphant grin froze. She hadn't expected the conversation to reignite a war! She desperately wanted to plug her ears and pretend she was deaf.
Erza's lips curled into a smirk that didn't reach her eyes. She crossed her arms, her voice cool and sharp. "Oh? And what good is cooking when enemies come knocking? You think serving them a bowl of ramen will make them cry and beg for mercy?"
She tilted her chin up. "At the end of the day, protecting the guild and our friends comes down to raw strength. Only those with fists hard enough get real respect, don't you think?" Her eyes locked onto Mirajane, unyielding.
Their gazes clashed with a near-audible crack in the air. An invisible wave of killing intent spread through the train car, turning the spacious compartment into a suffocating pressure cooker. The air felt thick, like jelly, making it hard to breathe.
Natsu, Gray, Happy, and Lucy shivered in their seats. They were regretting every life choice that led them to this moment, wishing they could leap out the train window to escape this battlefield!
Happy leaned toward Lucy, his voice a barely audible whisper filled with despair. "This is all your fault, Lucy! Why'd you have to bring up the Demon?! And you didn't even know Mirajane is the Demon! It's so obvious, how could you miss it?!"
Lucy shot back in an equally hushed, frantic whisper. "Obvious?! Miss Mirajane looks so sweet and gentle! Who'd guess she's the legendary 'Demon' who could wipe out a whole country in one blow?!"
Happy's forehead glistened with a massive bead of sweat. "You said it was a town earlier, not a whole country!"
Lucy's face turned deadly serious, as if she'd reached enlightenment. "I've realized now that the tabloids understated her power. This aura? A town wouldn't cut it!"
Gray couldn't hold back anymore. His voice trembled as he whispered, "I hate to interrupt, but… your 'whispering'… we can all hear it."
Lucy and Happy froze like statues. They instantly sat ramrod straight, staring at the train's ceiling as if it held the secrets of the universe.
The car fell into a deathly silence, broken only by the rhythmic clunk of the train.
Though only a few minutes passed, to Lucy, it felt like centuries.
Unable to resist, she slowly, ever so slowly, flicked her eyes downward to check the situation—only to meet Erza and Mirajane's icy glares head-on!
Lucy jolted as if scalded, her eyes snapping back to the ceiling's light fixture. Help! I can't survive this! When is this train stopping?!
Just as the group felt like they'd suffocate under the silent tension, a heavenly voice broke through.
"Alright, enough bickering. I've got some new desserts for everyone to try."
Roger, like a magician, pulled several fancy little boxes from his system inventory. He handed one to Erza and one to Mirajane before setting the rest on the table for Natsu and the others to grab.
"These are otherworldly desserts called 'chocolate lava cakes.' Try them and see how they compare to what we usually eat."
Erza and Mirajane took the boxes, and the terrifying aura in the car dissipated like mist under a gentle breeze. Their attention shifted entirely to the delicate desserts in their hands.
Erza eagerly opened her box, picking up a tiny cake fork. She carefully cut into the cake, and a rich, dark chocolate lava oozed out like a volcano, its enticing aroma filling the air.
"Wow! There's stuff inside! It smells amazing!" Erza exclaimed.
Mirajane, ever graceful, sliced a small piece and popped it into her mouth. The moment the silky, warm cake and molten chocolate hit her tongue, her eyes widened in delight.
"This is incredible! It's smooth and sweet with just a hint of bitterness. That touch of bitter doesn't ruin it—it balances the sweetness perfectly, adding such depth!"
Her "nuclear-level" kindness aura vanished, replaced by pure, serene enjoyment.
Erza took a bite and was instantly won over by the unique texture, nodding enthusiastically. "Mmm! This is awesome!"
Seeing Erza and Mirajane lost in dessert-induced bliss, their auras now calm and peaceful, Natsu, Gray, Lucy, and Happy's eyes welled up with tears of relief.
Savior! Roger, you absolute legend!
Their hearts, which had been dangling by a thread, finally settled. They no longer feared being obliterated for breathing too loudly.
Lucy grabbed her own cake. The otherworldly dessert looked a bit odd, but the aroma was irresistible. She cautiously took a bite—and the next second, her eyes sparkled like a starry sky. "Oh my gosh! This is so good! Are otherworldly cakes really this magical?!"
The sweet, silky flavor with a bittersweet aftertaste instantly soothed her frazzled nerves.
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