**Chapter 9: First Mission**
The next morning
The clock inside the guild showed 9:30. Erza sat on a chair with an irritated look, her leg shaking nonstop.
"Bang!" Erza slammed her hand on the table and shouted angrily, "Damn it! It's been an hour and a half past the meeting time and that bastard still hasn't shown up!"
Makarov sat leisurely on the counter sipping wine and calmly said to Erza, "Don't worry. That kid probably overslept. Look, here he comes."
Erza looked up and saw Kaito walking through the guild doors. She instantly rushed over, grabbed his collar, and lifted him up.
Then she roared at him, "Didn't I tell you to meet at eight?! Do you know what time it is now?!"
Kaito scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed. "Sorry, sorry! I ran into a cat on the way."
"A cat? Was the cat hurt?" Erza asked curiously.
Kaito waved his hand. "Ah! No! It was just really cute, so I got distracted watching it."
Erza's face turned completely black. "Go to hell!" She threw Kaito hard toward the far wall.
The moment his body was about to crash into the wall, "Poof!" Kaito turned into golden light particles and scattered, then instantly reformed beside her.
Erza's expression grew even worse. This bastard's ability was a natural counter to her. Most of her attacks were physical, and physical attacks had zero effect on him.
Kaito acted like nothing happened and said to Erza, "Weren't we going to do a mission? It's getting late. Let's go!"
Erza ignored him, grabbed her luggage, and walked out of the guild. Kaito quickly followed.
Makarov suddenly spoke up, "Stinky brat, Erza is a girl. Take good care of her."
"Don't worry! With me around, nothing will happen." Kaito waved behind him without turning around and caught up to Erza.
Kaito and Erza first took the train. The train's technology level was similar to Earth's in the 1990s. He had already ridden it once yesterday on the way to Fairy Tail, so it didn't feel particularly new. After all, he was from the modern era—he had ridden 600 km/h bullet trains before, so a train going barely 100 km/h felt slow.
After getting off the train, they switched to a pig-drawn carriage. Kaito's eyes lit up at the sight. It felt fresh and interesting. The pig pulling the carriage was as big as a cow, walking with steady, powerful steps. Magical world creatures really were different. He wondered what it would taste like roasted.
Erza was still angry about Kaito being late. She kept a straight face the entire way and deliberately refused to talk to him.
Kaito naturally wouldn't force a conversation. He had proper values and aesthetics. As a fine young man raised under socialism, touching a loli could get you the death penalty. Besides, she was still in the "big future" category.
After who knows how long, the pig carriage stopped with a creak. The driver shouted, "Guests, we've arrived at your destination."
Kaito and Erza got off the carriage and saw a very luxurious villa in front of them.
"Tch~! Damn capitalists!" Looking at the villa, Kaito felt extremely jealous. In the future, he would build a bigger and more impressive house than this.
The villa was surrounded by tall iron fences. Two guards in black suits stood at the entrance.
When Kaito and Erza approached, the two guards stopped them.
"Stop! Who are you? This is Mr. Darlock's private villa. Strangers are not allowed to enter."
Erza spoke up, "We are mages from the Fairy Tail guild. Mr. Darlock posted a request at our guild. Here is the request sheet and the Guild Master's approval."
"Did everyone in Fairy Tail die? Sending two brats." The two guards looked at Kaito and Erza with doubtful eyes.
Kaito got annoyed the moment he heard that. As a former village tyrant, only he was allowed to look down on others. No one else could. He immediately said in an impatient tone, "If you don't know how to speak properly, then shut up and get lost! Don't interfere with my mission."
"Brat!?" The two guards immediately glared at Kaito.
Kaito picked his ear with his pinky. "Didn't hear me clearly? I told you two to scram. You're blocking the road."
"Bastards!" The two guards moved angrily to beat Kaito up.
"Clang!" Erza drew her sword, pressing the tip against one guard's neck, and said coldly, "I am a legitimate mage of Fairy Tail. The Guild Master sent me, which means he acknowledges my strength. If you doubt it, feel free to try."
Erza had been heading straight toward them. When the guards badmouthed Fairy Tail, she felt a strong urge to teach them a harsh lesson.
At that moment, the villa door opened and a woman around thirty years old wearing a maid outfit walked out. She asked the guards, "What's going on? All this noise is disturbing Mr. Darlock's afternoon nap."
"Lady Maria! These two claim to be mages from Fairy Tail here to complete the posted request."
Lady Maria looked at Kaito and Erza, then nodded. "So you're the mages here for the job? Then follow me inside."