"So that is what you think? You can explain it like that?!"
The four of them stared at Erza like their worldview had cracked.
From their perspective, it was obvious Kabe had just been a shameless pervert who liked both of their looks and did not want to give up on either girl.
They never expected Erza to turn it into something so noble and touching.
Kabe's voice drifted over from behind them, quiet and dry.
"So you noticed after all, Erza. Even if it came late, at least that beating was not in vain."
The five of them jolted as one, whipping their heads around.
Kabe stood there behind them, no one knew when he had appeared, and on the surface he looked barely hurt at all. Their souls almost flew out of their bodies.
"K-K-K-K-Kabe?!"
All five shouted at once.
Seeing how panicked they were, Kabe just smiled and gave them a lazy wave.
"Yo, everyone from the future. Getting to see you like this ahead of time is quite the surprise."
None of them answered his greeting. Instead, Erza grabbed him around the waist in one smooth motion and bolted.
Lucy and the others also rushed after her, the entire group fleeing the scene as fast as they could.
Not long after they left, two red-faced drunks stumbled into the area, swaying on their feet.
Makarov hiccuped, squinting after Erza and the others' disappearing silhouettes, chuckling at himself.
"Hic... I really am getting old. For a second there I could have sworn I saw Erza, Natsu, Gray and the others all grown up already.
Only Kabe still looked like a little dwarf who never grows."
Gildarts shook his head to clear it, then frowned in confusion.
"You are drunk. There is no one here."
"No one?"
Makarov rubbed his eyes and looked again. By then, Erza and the rest were long gone.
"Hahaha, guess I really did drink too much. But that is fine. When you are happy, you are supposed to keep drinking."
"Right, right. Let us head back to the guild and keep going."
The two drunks staggered toward the guild.
A second later, the guild echoed with Cana's furious shouting.
"Dad! Master! Where did you two run off to this early in the morning?!
Ugh, the reek of alcohol! No more drinking, both of you! Get out and go home to sleep!!"
...
On the other side, Erza and the others, with Kabe in tow, had sprinted all the way to the lake behind the guild.
She finally loosened her grip and set Kabe down, bending over with her hands on her knees, gulping in big breaths of air.
Then she shared a glance with Lucy and the others. They silently spread out, forming a loose circle and hemming him in.
Kabe, however, did not sense how dangerous his situation had become.
He was still staring blankly at Erza's white sleeveless shirt and the blue ribbon tied at her chest.
Being hugged against her earlier, he had gotten a very clear feel for how... exceptionally developed she was.
"Hiss... whew. Seeing how well you two are eating, Erza, Lucy, I can rest easy."
Natsu, Gray, Happy: "?"
Erza followed his gaze, looked down, and her face instantly went red when she realized what he meant.
Lucy pointed at herself, stunned.
"K-Kabe, you recognized me?
That cannot be right. At this time, we should have only met once. You can recognize me even after I grew up?"
Kabe clicked his tongue, putting on an exaggerated air as he crossed his arms and lifted his chin.
"Do not underestimate my memory and intelligence. My wisdom is no less than my strength."
He barely got to act cool for two seconds before Happy, covering his mouth with his paws, ruthlessly exposed him.
"Aye! Whenever Kabe sees a pretty girl, he stares at her from head to toe.
He probably noticed the Celestial Spirit key pouch on your waist while he was checking out your figure."
Lucy yelped softly, quickly twisting to the side and guarding her chest with both arms, cheeks burning.
Kabe's eyes narrowed at the little cat who had so casually revealed his hobby.
Before Happy could sense the danger, Kabe moved. His hand flashed out, grabbed the cat by the tail, and hoisted him upside down.
"Whose pet is this? To slander me so much.
I have decided. Today's lunch is cat meat."
"Eek! No, cat meat tastes bad! Save me, Natsu!!"
Only now did Happy remember that this version of Kabe did not know him yet.
Thinking about this guy's ridiculous appetite and how he could eat nearly anything, Happy's heart froze. His legs kicked wildly as he shouted for help.
Natsu rushed forward at once.
"Happy is not a pet. He is a comrade of our guild!"
Kabe had only wanted to scare the cheeky furball anyway, so he let go the moment Natsu said that.
Once free, Happy flew straight into Natsu's arms, hiding behind him with just half his head peeking out.
Kabe gave him a wicked grin and said slowly,
"So, your name is Happy. Looks like you are a comrade who will join the guild in the future.
Relax. When that day comes, I, as your senior, will make sure to give you plenty of attention."
"Ayiii!!"
Happy's face went pale. He instantly remembered all the times he had been teased mercilessly by Kabe when he was little.
It is over. Time paradox! I am sorry, future me!
Deeply feeling the horror of temporal influence, Happy slapped both paws over his mouth and refused to say another word.
The others, hearing what Kabe had just said, also blanched, finally sensing how strange and dangerous this situation with time really was.
Erza hurried to change the subject, stumbling over her words from nerves.
"Y-you... how did you even find us? And today, what you saw... can you forget it?"
Kabe snorted.
"Forget something like this? That is not really possible. But I can promise not to talk about it outside."
He shook his head helplessly, then let his gaze sweep slowly over Erza, Natsu, and Gray.
"As for how I found you... have you forgotten my sensory abilities?
Three distinct auras, not weak at all and strangely similar to my comrades, suddenly show up outside the guild. It would be weird if I did not notice."
They all froze, then slapped their foreheads in realization and frustration.
Gray muttered under his breath,
"I told you we were being too careless.
It is lucky Kabe came to find us himself. If someone else in the guild had noticed, we would be in serious trouble."
Erza felt a wave of cold sweat and guilt, immediately starting to blame herself.
"Sorry, it is my fault for not controlling myself. When we get back, I will write a self-reflection and ask the master to punish me."
"It is not just your fault, Erza. Do not blame yourself too much."
Lucy gave a weak laugh as she tried to comfort her. Her own behavior had not been much better just now.
Seeing how guilty Erza was, Lucy could not help feeling embarrassed and annoyed at herself as well.