A good match...
In what way are they a good match?
Looking at the two laughing and talking behind the bar, Mirajane had a brilliant smile on her face. Levy could even see her small, slightly red earlobes.
Could it be that Mira likes Roland too?
First Cana, and now Mirajane. Levy sighed, feeling exhausted.
Why do all these people... have to fixate on him!
Levy admitted that Roland was charming; after all, she herself had been inexplicably drawn to him, and it had ended in love at first sight.
But he shouldn't be so charming as to attract every single woman—is there any difference between that and charm magic?
At this thought, Levy stomped her foot in frustration.
"Uh... Levy, are you okay?"
Hearing the commotion beside him, Reedus slowly turned around. Seeing the furious-looking blue-haired girl, he scratched his head and asked kindly.
"Ah, sorry... I was just thinking about some unpleasant things."
Levy waved her hands with a forced smile. After taking a deep breath, she quickly walked to Roland's side.
So what if many people liked Roland? After all, she had gotten his first kiss—in other words, she had a head start.
"Roland!"
A familiar voice sounded as the cute, blue-haired girl sat down across from Roland, holding a glass of juice, her eyes staring at him with a hint of resentment.
Noticing Levy's gaze, Roland didn't need to guess to know what had caused it.
"Is everything settled with Shadow Gear?"
Roland reached out and ruffled her hair twice, saying with a light laugh, "I've also found some good quests. Let's go out on a job tomorrow."
"Mm... okay!"
Although being petted on the head in the guild felt embarrassing, Levy didn't dodge. She looked up, her gaze meeting his directly, and nodded with a flushed face.
That was surprisingly easy to resolve...
Seeing the smile gradually return to the girl's face, Roland couldn't help but think.
"My, my, have you two gotten that close already?"
Noticing their intimate interaction, Mirajane, who was standing nearby, blinked in surprise.
It had only been two days, yet the two of them were acting like a newly-in-love couple.
Although she usually enjoyed seeing love blossom among the guild members, for some reason this time—she had a strange feeling in her heart.
She felt that the two of them didn't match.
Suppressing the strange feeling in her heart, Mirajane kept a smile on her face and said, against her better judgment, "Levy and Roland look good together."
"Mira..."
Hearing her gentle voice, a trace of guilt appeared in Levy's heart.
Mira was trying so hard to set her up with Roland, yet she was treating her like a love rival...
Suddenly.
An intense wave of drowsiness washed over her. Levy's vision began to blur, her eyelids grew heavy, and with a 'thud', she slumped onto the table and fell asleep.
"Strange, I suddenly feel so sleepy."
"This feeling..."
"Mystogan must be back."
The lively crowd in the tavern all collapsed one by one. Some were slumped over tables, snoring, while others were lying back on wooden barrels...
Natsu beside them had even face-planted into his devilishly spicy curry rice.
"Don't worry, it's just a comrade from the guild returning—"
Mirajane swayed slightly, fighting against the drowsiness as she tried to explain.
Before she could finish, she lost consciousness and fell into Roland's arms.
A light, elegant floral scent wafted from her hair. Feeling the voluptuous barmaid in his arms, Roland's heart couldn't help but beat faster.
"Mystogan?"
Taking a deep breath, Roland looked up towards the guild entrance.
The door had opened silently at some point, and a man wearing a black hood, a black cloak, and a mask covering his face walked in slowly.
The Jellal from Edolas, and also the prince of that parallel world.
If I remember correctly, Mira's sister is in that world.
Looking down at Mirajane's quiet and gentle sleeping face, Roland gently poked her cheek twice. It felt surprisingly nice.
"Ah, he always makes such a big scene." The Guild Master's helpless voice sounded from the second floor, drawing both their gazes.
If he hadn't suddenly felt his consciousness waver while writing his self-criticism, he wouldn't have known Mystogan was back.
But—
"As expected, you're fine too."
Makarov sat cross-legged on the railing, looking at Roland, the only one still standing, with an expression that said he had expected this.
With such powerful magic power in his body, it wasn't surprising that he could resist the sleep magic.
"There's... someone else?"
Mystogan was stunned, a hint of surprise in his eyes hidden beneath his hood.
Usually, only the Master and Laxus could resist his sleep magic. Now there was another unfamiliar face...
"This is a newcomer who joined the guild yesterday. His name is Roland."
Makarov introduced him naturally, his voice old yet full of energy.
A newcomer?
Mystogan paused in his tracks, then continued towards the request board, picking out a quest flyer for himself.
After holding it up for the Master to see, he turned and left without any delay.
"Wait, aren't you going to undo the sleep magic?"
Makarov covered his mouth and yawned.
"It will wear off in a moment."
The instant Mystogan stepped out of the guild, the unconscious members inside began to wake up one by one.
The noisy atmosphere instantly replaced the silence.
"It was that guy again..."
Macao rubbed his aching head and said helplessly.
"Yeah, his sleep magic is so over the top."
"Cough, cough—so spicy, so spicy!!"
Natsu, who had woken up from his devilishly spicy curry rice, had a bright red face, and puffs of fire kept coming out of his throat.
"Mmm..."
Miss Mirajane also woke up. She groggily half-opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw was Roland, wearing his black-framed glasses.
She paused for a moment, then subconsciously took the glasses off Roland's face, revealing the mole at the corner of his eye.
After staring for two seconds, Mirajane's face turned an unnatural shade of red. She averted her gaze, looked away, and handed the glasses back to him.
"...The glasses suit you better."
"..."