Kabe silently lamented for a while, then turned his back and fiddled with something.
Only after rustling around for a bit did he turn back and hand Evie a small bulging cloth pouch.
"Since it is like that, I should at least give you a gift to show my feelings."
As he spoke, he lifted a hand to stop Evie, who had been about to refuse, and stared straight into her eyes very seriously.
"You have to accept this. I went through a lot of trouble to trick... cough, I mean to beg Porlyusica granny to make these energy-replenishing pills.
Believe me, the two of you are definitely going to need them, and absolutely going to use them."
Seeing Kabe give a big thumbs up, Evie froze for two seconds.
Then the meaning finally clicked in her mind and her face flushed bright red as she silently accepted the pouch.
Only then did Kabe grin and add cheerfully,
"Remember, do not let him take too many at once, half a pill each time is enough.
There is enough in here for you two to use for half a year."
Evie spat at him in flustered embarrassment, cheeks burning.
"You little brat, why do you even have something like this?"
"Of course it was for training. At the start I asked Granny Porlyusica to make them as a tonic to help my body recover after intense workouts.
That kind of... extra effect, I only found out about by accident later."
Evie was half convinced, half doubting, but she did not press him further.
Humming a little tune happily, she was already thinking about clocking off early so she could go test them out.
Erza and Cana listened with completely confused faces.
They had no idea what kind of coded conversation those two were having.
Even so, they quietly noted it down in their hearts and decided that when they went home, they would also pick out a suitable gift for Evie.
...
Although it was a pity Evie was leaving, people coming and going was normal for a mages' guild.
Even Fairy Tail could not escape that rule.
Two days after they found out, Evie officially withdrew from the guild.
She left Magnolia together with her husband, a blonde man who looked a bit handsome, and headed for the capital.
That day all the married and unmarried men in the guild drank themselves stupid.
The whole night was filled with wailing that could have summoned ghosts.
Yet the next morning, once they woke up, every single one of them returned to business as usual.
Compared to last night, it was like they had become completely different people.
"They really are heartless, this bunch."
Leaning his chin on one hand, Kabe stirred his fruit juice and complained.
Beside him, Gray was leaning against the counter, bare except for his underwear, arms hooked over the edge.
He had already seen this kind of thing too many times, and answered in a bored drawl,
"This is a guild after all. People leaving and joining is normal.
If we had to mope for half a day every time someone walked out the door, we might as well quit working altogether."
Kabe glanced sideways at his overly mature act and attempt at coolness, and decided to remind him of the real crisis at hand.
"Gray, your clothes."
"Yikes! When did that happen?!"
Only after Gray scrambled in a panic to the guild entrance and found his discarded clothes did Kabe continue curiously,
"Speaking of which, ever since we sent Evie off at noon yesterday, I haven't seen the old man at all.
You think he went out to scout for a new barmaid? Wonder what type of beauty he dragged back this time."
"Oh, that is obvious. Definitely one of those big-chested, big-butted types.
That old geezer only goes for that style."
The moment Gray finished speaking, the guild doors were pushed open.
Both of them immediately turned to look, eyes drawn to the entrance.
And saw Makarov's grinning old face.
"He is back already? Where did that old man go to recruit from, is this even legal?"
Kabe muttered under his breath.
The next second, a familiar little head popped out from behind Makarov.
Levy, who had once studied at the church with Kabe, spotted two familiar faces at a glance.
She immediately ran into the guild in delight and waved excitedly.
"Kabe, Gray, long time no see!
Like we promised, I am here to join Fairy Tail!"
Crack, crack.
The two of them were so shocked that they crushed their wooden cups in their hands.
The very next second, Kabe's foot flashed out and he kicked the approaching Makarov flat on his back, roaring furiously,
"You dirty old man, I misjudged you. I did not think your tastes would have gotten this heavy already.
You even set your sights on someone as young as Levy!"
Gray also stepped in front of the stunned Levy, shielding her, and shouted angrily,
"You senile old pervert, that is a crime, you know!
Do not think you can do whatever you want just because you are the guild master!"
Having been randomly kicked and almost having his old waist snapped, Makarov listened to their nonsense and immediately bellowed back,
"You two stupid brats, planning to mutiny?!
Levy is a child I have had my eye on for a long time, someone I wanted to invite into Fairy Tail.
This old man's thoughts are not as filthy as the trash in your heads!"
With that, the fuming Makarov stepped aside so that the one behind him was revealed.
"Open your eyes and look properly. This is Laki. I found her to help out with reception and to be a temporary barmaid."
The purple haired girl with glasses, called Laki, bent her head a little shyly and greeted the pair.
"Hello, I am the newcomer, Laki Olietta. Please take care of me."
"..."
Looking at Laki, who was not much older than Levy herself, the corners of the two boys' eyes twitched madly.
They exchanged a glance, nodded in unspoken agreement, then in the next instant unleashed a synchronized flying kick combination.
They booted Makarov into the floor again and followed up with a flurry of punches and kicks.
"Now you have nothing to say for yourself, right, you lolicon old pervert?"
"Exactly, you lolicon old pervert!"
"Owww, my old back!"
...
Ten minutes later, Kabe and Gray, both sporting bruised noses and swollen lumps on their heads, stood to one side and watched.
Levy, Laki and a tagalong whose name they had kind of forgotten were surrounded by a circle of uncles, being bombarded with questions.
Kabe suddenly clapped his hands in realization.
"Oh, so that is how it is.
The old man is probably worried that even if he finally gets a new barmaid, she will just end up getting married and quitting a few years later, like Evie did.
So he might as well start raising them from childhood.
Genius. I really have to hand it to him."
Beside him, Gray also nodded in heartfelt admiration.
"That is the one who has led Fairy Tail to prosperity, the Third Master.
His thought process and vision are on a whole different level from us little brats."
"Exactly, exactly. Grandpa Master, you are truly wise and mighty."
The two bootlickers, both covered in lumps, heaped flattery on Makarov without shame.
Clutching his lower back and baring his teeth in pain, Makarov snorted coldly.
"Get lost. Do not let me see your faces."
"Yes sir, Master!"
"Yes sir, Master!"
Having screwed up and been punished, the two did not dare show even a hint of resentment.
They immediately oiled their heels and bolted out of his line of sight.