Fairy Tail: You said you were just acting, are you serious?

She looked down and realized that Richie, who had been wearing a leash on his collar, was nowhere to be seen, leaving only a torn leash.

Kana frowned, looked down and searched around to see where Richie had gone.

After searching her surroundings, she finally found the white, four-legged creature standing at the entrance to Fairy Tail's main hall.

Liki turned around, stuck out its tongue, met Kana's gaze, barked, and then ran towards the door.

Kana was startled and immediately ran towards the gate.

She rushed to the gate and stopped. Fortunately, it was evening and the number of passersby gradually decreased, and she saw that Li Qi had already slipped to the street corner.

She chased after Richie without hesitation, fearing it might get lost in the street.

The chase lasted for a while, with Kana keeping close behind, but the distance between them didn't shorten at all.

In the end, Richie stopped by the flower bushes, stuck out his tongue and exhaled, and squatted there to poop.

Gasping for breath, Kana reached the flowerbed and leaned against a lamppost; she was almost unable to catch her breath.

"Liqi... really..."

Kana shook her head helplessly as she watched Richie run so far just to relieve himself.

After she calmed her breathing, she looked up at this unfamiliar place.

This was Kana's first time in this town. It was a somewhat dimly lit garden, surrounded by a row of grass walls, creating a secluded space.

The entire garden here is deserted, without a single person in sight. The streetlights in this area are not as dense as those on the main streets, and there is a great distance between each light.

In the cool breeze, the areas not covered by the streetlights appeared particularly eerie.

At this moment, Kana felt a little scared and unconsciously shrank back, trembling slightly.

She hadn't noticed as she chased after them, but now that she's turned back, she realizes she doesn't recognize the way and doesn't know how to get out of the garden.

Liki walked towards Kana, licked her calf, and looked up at his little master's head.

Woof~

Liki's actions greatly reduced Kana's fear, and she squatted down and picked him up.

"Thank goodness you're here, let's go home."

Kana used these words as a form of psychological comfort, but her trembling hands couldn't fool herself.

She held Lilchi tightly in her arms, searching for a way back.

Kana almost slipped on a fallen leaf with her left foot, but luckily she managed to regain her balance and avoid embarrassment.

She looked up and saw a huge tree shadow in the distance, its branches intertwined in all directions. The shadows of its branches and the night sky formed two sinister pairs of eyes, as if staring straight at her.

That one glance sent chills down Kana's spine, sending a shiver down her spine and up to her scalp.

Kana unconsciously quickened her pace, trying to escape the maze-like garden, but no matter how she walked, she couldn't find her way out.

Woof~

Just then, Ritchie, who was in Kana's arms, barked to the side, drawing Kana's attention.

Kana turned her head stiffly, and by the faint moonlight in the distance, she finally saw a person's figure.

However, Kana did not feel relieved; instead, her fear intensified.

Because the figure had a pointed head and seemed to be holding a long, narrow object in its hands as it moved towards her.

Tap, tap, tap...

The figure, accompanied by the sound of footsteps, was briefly illuminated by the streetlights, revealing a blood-stained pointed helmet and a robe splattered with blood.

The interplay of light and shadow deepened the shadows on his face, his cold gaze fixed on Kana, a blood-stained chicken-killing knife still in his hand.

The blade gleamed coldly in the moonlight.

"what!"

Kana's eyes instantly filled with tears, blurring her vision.

She quickened her pace again, walking deeper into the garden, wanting nothing more than to get rid of that figure.

Kana kept running, but she never expected to run into a dead alley surrounded by grass walls.

She turned to leave, only to find that the figure had blocked her way.

The figure raised his hand, making a gesture of silence with his index finger.

Shh!

Kana's legs instantly lost all strength, and she collapsed onto the cold grass.

Just then, Liki, who was in her arms, landed beside Kana and rushed toward the figure.

Woof~

"do not want!"

As Kana watched Richie walk further and further away, she closed her eyes in despair, tears streaming down her face.

Richie is going to die.

Clang~

Woof woof woof

Unexpectedly, Kana kept hearing Richie barking and the sound of it licking something.

Kana slowly opened her left eye, but the sight before her stunned her, and her fear lessened considerably.

The figure squatted down on the ground, constantly stroking Lich's head.

Richie ignored him and just kept licking the broken chicken-killing knife lying on the ground.

Exhausted, Ron stood up after his foot massage and walked towards Kana.

With tears in her eyes, Kana stared blankly as Ron approached, finally stopping just a step away from her and extending his hand.

In his palm lay a white handkerchief, unstained with blood.

Kana looked at the handkerchief, then glanced up at Ron, who was reaching out his hand, and her fear vanished without a trace.

"Thank you......"

Kana picked up a handkerchief and wiped away her tears.

Ron nodded, then turned and pointed to the only exit, before looking back at Kana.

"You mean...you know the exit?"

Ron nodded again, then walked over to Richie, picked up the knife, and headed towards the exit.

Cana first held Richie in her arms, then slowly followed Ron's retreating figure.

Kana walked out of the dead alley and now looked around the garden without feeling any fear.

Even the eyes reflected in the tree shadows had softened considerably, as if telling her not to worry.

As Kana watched the slowly walking figure, he seemed to grow taller as well.

Tap, tap, tap...

Once upon a time, these footsteps filled her with fear, but now they sound reassuring and put her at ease.

Chapter 21 Believe in Yourself

Glug glug~

Makarov drank the water in the wooden bucket cup in one gulp, enjoying this leisurely moment with contentment.

The lobby on the first floor has been closed for a long time, and most of the members have gone home, but there are always a few guys who are completely drunk and sleeping soundly on the benches or tables.

Makarov shook his head as he watched those guys snoring and blowing bubbles through their noses.

Tap, tap, tap...

Just then, two dark figures appeared at the entrance of the hall. Makarov glanced at them, gasped, and his heart skipped a beat.

When he finally saw who it was, all the strength in his body suddenly had nowhere to go, and he scratched his head speechlessly.

"You always manage to surprise people, but don't do this so late, it'll scare them to death."

The people who came were Ron, who was carrying a knife, and Cana, who was carrying Richie and had come back with Ron.

Liqi, on the other hand, still sticks out his tongue and grins foolishly all day long.

Ron nodded and finally took off the helmet that made it difficult to move around.

Ron breathed a sigh of relief and, without caring about his image, rubbed his tense cheeks with one hand.

"Phew, maintaining this expression is making my facial muscles twitch."

If it weren't for the few bits of mental energy he gained after killing the chicken, he wouldn't have been able to sustain himself for so long.

Kana was stunned. How come this guy named Ron looked like a completely different person after taking off his helmet?

Makarov snorted through his nose; this kid's performance art was a real headache.

Then he revealed a kind smile and asked Kana:

"Child, didn't you just go back? Why are you back again?"

"Um, that..."

Kana lowered her head, unsure of where to begin.

Ron pinched the bridge of his nose and took the initiative to explain:

"President, I think she seems to be lost. It's dangerous for a girl to be out alone, so I brought her here since it was on my way."

Kana nodded, and said shyly:

"This is my first time in Magnolia, and it's huge."

Makarov showed an "I see" expression and said:

"In that case, you can stay here tonight. It's too dangerous outside because it's so dark."

Kana nodded quickly and said okay.

Seeing that Cana had found a place to stay, Ron turned to leave.

"Wait, you too, stay in the guild."

Ron stared wide-eyed, pointing at himself in disbelief, wondering if he had misheard.

"Yes, it's you. And what's with the knife in your hand?"

Seeing that Ron was still holding the blood-stained chicken-killing knife, Makarov asked helplessly.

Ron raised the knife to his chest and pointed to the cracked side blade.

"I broke the knife while I was killing the chicken. I was going to offer to pay the landlady for it, but she said no, you can take it if you like."

Ron tilted his head and thought, "I think I made the right gestures, right? Maybe I should buy a new knife tomorrow and return it to them?"

Kana was stunned. The more Ron spoke, the more confused she became.

The difference after removing the helmet was so striking that she didn't know how to react.

Makarov shook his head; he was naturally worried that Ron might encounter danger going back so late.

But more importantly, we shouldn't let him go out and scare people.

Makarov looked at Ron, and then thought of Laxus, who was no longer close to him, and couldn't help but sigh.

Why are boys always so troublesome?

Then Ron and Kana, carrying wooden buckets of orange juice, followed Makarov to the round table.

Meanwhile, Richie, who had been put back on the leash, lay down on the ground and fell asleep, tied to the pillar.

After a brief chat, Ron yawned first.

"President, it's getting a bit boring sitting here like this."

Makarov raised an eyebrow and asked:

"So what are your thoughts?"