"Since that's the case…"
Phoenix put down the roasted chicken and stood up from the ground.
"…!"
Although she had made up her mind, Mirajane's voice still trembled. If Phoenix proposed some unacceptable condition, Mirajane truly didn't know what she would do. Behind Mirajane, Elfman looked at Phoenix with apprehension, and Lisanna was equally uneasy.
Phoenix looked at the expressive Mirajane and her two siblings, his face devoid of any emotion, which made the three of them even more anxious and uncertain.
"Haha~"
Phoenix's stern face suddenly relaxed, and a sincere smile appeared on his face. Phoenix bared his teeth in a smile and extended his hand forward.
"Join Fairy Tail!"
"Huh?"
Mirajane's body instantly stiffened. His simple condition made her momentarily disbelieving.
"Mm-hmm, as expected, I still like Big Brother the most!!"
Lisanna's heart finally relaxed, and she immediately threw herself into Phoenix's arms. Phoenix quickly and carefully caught her.
"Lisanna…"
"Big Brother is really too naughty. I was very, very scared just now, you know. An angry Big Brother is really so scary."
"Well, I'm sorry about that, because that's just the kind of person I am."
"But now I'm not scared anymore!"
"Not scared?"
"No matter how angry Big Brother gets next time, I won't be scared! Big Brother is actually very gentle, not scary at all."
"No, I am…"
"Big Brother!"
Lisanna interrupted Phoenix, looking up at him seriously.
"…You!"
Seeing Lisanna's persistent attitude, Phoenix motioned for Lisanna to continue.
"Big Brother, there's something I absolutely must tell you."
"Hmm, what is it?"
"Although I truly had the thought of not letting Big Brother hurt my sister before, I truly, truly like Big Brother very much."
"I'm sorry."
"Eh?"
Unexpectedly, Phoenix apologized so straightforwardly, which instead made Lisanna stunned.
"I spoke too harshly before. I apologize."
Phoenix half-squatted down to meet Lisanna's gaze and apologized very sincerely.
"Does Big Brother really believe me?"
Lisanna still seemed to disbelieve that Phoenix would so easily trust her. She had been considering how to prove herself, but she didn't expect it to be so simple.
"I believe you."
These simple three words seemed to carry immense magic. Lisanna's eyes immediately welled up with tears, but a very brilliant smile was on her face.
"Big Brother… I like you so much! Mwah—!!" Lisanna gave Phoenix a big kiss on the cheek. "When I grow up, let me be Big Brother's bride!"
"Hmm, we'll talk about it when you grow up."
At this moment, time seemed to freeze.
After a while—
Mirajane, who had just recovered, instantly switched to her demon form, and a tremendous amount of magic power erupted from her body.
"Dark Blast!!"
A black energy orb violently smashed towards Phoenix.
—!!
A warning sign flashed in Phoenix's mind. He embraced Lisanna with his left hand and, without hesitation, punched forward with his right hand.
"Airquake!!"
Rumble—!!
Poor Mirajane was instantly sent flying by the powerful vibration ability. The surrounding forest also suffered greatly, and the solid ground was completely shattered. With Phoenix at the center, an area of 500 meters in radius was utterly transformed into a pile of rubble. If Mavis hadn't pulled Elfman aside at the last moment, that unlucky child would have been lucky to only be injured.
"Hey! Mirajane, are you still going to fight me? After I finish eating, I'll give you a good beating!!"
Although Mirajane was out of sight, Phoenix's Kenbunshoku Haki had already sensed her location. After all, it was a hasty attack, and besides causing some destruction to nature, Mirajane only suffered superficial injuries.
"Bastard!! No need to wait until dinner, I'll send you to meet God right now!!"
A dense dark magic power erupted again. A pile of rubble not far away exploded, and Mirajane's disheveled figure flew out menacingly.
"Let's talk nicely. I really hate being disturbed while eating."
Was this truly Phoenix? The surrounding terrain had been completely overturned several times, yet the bonfire and roasted meat beside him were not affected in the slightest. Could it be that others were not as important as roasted meat?
While Mavis grumbled inwardly, Mirajane on the other side was already on the verge of going crazy with anger.
"Bastard!! How can there be such a shameless person like you in this world!! Lisanna marrying you or whatever, I absolutely forbid it!!"
"Lisanna marrying me?"
Phoenix had only taken Lisanna's words as a joke and hadn't taken them seriously at all, so his reaction wasn't as strong as Mirajane's.
"Marry you, my foot!! Dark Spark!!"
A barrage of attacks, just like during the day, assaulted Phoenix from all angles. However, since it was daytime, apart from the sharp whistling sounds, it was impossible to lock onto all the black Flash bullets in his vision.
Phoenix did not pull out his Tachi, Ryūjin Jakka, as he had during the day. Instead, he opened his mouth and took a deep breath. The surrounding, previously abundant air suddenly contracted, and everyone felt some difficulty breathing. Mavis's expression changed. Without thinking, she pulled Elfman behind her and placed a golden protective barrier in front of them.
"Dragon's—Roar!!"
Phoenix, holding Lisanna, spun around. The roar he unleashed swept 360 degrees indiscriminately, engulfing all incoming barrages in the hurricane of the roar. Mavis, having set up her defense in advance, was fine, but Mirajane was once again in a tragic situation. She was directly swept away by Phoenix's roar and slammed hard onto the ground. It was fortunate that Phoenix had dispersed the power of the roar to block all attacks; otherwise, Mirajane would not have simply fallen.
"Pfft—cough, cough, cough…"
Mirajane climbed back up from the ground. Although she was thoroughly disheveled, Mirajane's fighting spirit increased rather than decreased. Taking heavy steps, Mirajane advanced straight towards Phoenix, step by step.
"Cough, cough… I'll kill you!! I absolutely will kill you!! Even if I die, I will never let Lisanna fall into your clutches!!"
"Sis… Sister!!"
At this moment, Lisanna, who had just realized that the battle between Mirajane and Phoenix, which had just ceased, was rekindled because of her, immediately became anxious. Running to Mirajane's side and holding her hand, Lisanna explained nonstop, but Mirajane was no longer listening to anything Lisanna said.
"Let's make another bet, Phoenix!! If you lose, don't bother Lisanna and stay as far away from her as possible. If you win… I'll drag you down with me even in death! I'll stake my life!! I must defeat you!!"
"Ah-woo, ah-woo… Hmm, what did you say, defeat me?"
Phoenix raised his greasy face and looked at Mirajane, gnawing on a wild boar.
"You… you…"
There was no more 'you', because Mirajane was actually so enraged by Phoenix that she fainted.
"Ugh, really, eating a meal is so much trouble. Lisanna, don't mind her. It's good that she fainted; it saves me from losing my appetite. Come over and eat together. I saved the best piece for you."
Swallowing the food in his mouth, Phoenix waved his hand, signaling Lisanna to come over quickly.
"…Sigh!"
Lisanna looked at Phoenix, then turned back to look at her sister, sighing helplessly.
"Brother, come help me carry Sister over there."
"Oh."
Elfman was truly obedient. As soon as Lisanna finished speaking, he ran over to help with eager steps.
After Lisanna and Elfman had settled Mirajane, both of them gathered around the bonfire to enjoy the roasted chicken and roasted pork Phoenix had prepared.
"Wow, it's really delicious, Big Brother! Can you teach me?"
Gnawing on the roasted chicken, Lisanna said with a happy expression.
"I can, but after you learn, you have to roast good food for me to eat."
Phoenix was like a demon, showing a sly smile, just short of having a tail wagging behind him.
"Hmm, no problem at all. I'll cook for Big Brother for my whole life."
"Haha, that would be truly wonderful! Thank you!"
Phoenix originally wanted to pat Lisanna's head as encouragement, but seeing his hands covered in oil, Phoenix embarrassedly pulled his hand back.
"Hehehe, it's okay, Big Brother. Big Brother's hands are very warm."
Lisanna snuggled up to Phoenix, leaning against him with a slight blush on her face.
"Haha~"
Phoenix heartily laughed twice again, then directly plunged his left hand into the fiercely burning bonfire and began to burn it.