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

"According to the hotel owner's description, it seems to be in this area."

Wearing warm winter clothes, Ron is following the hotel owner's instructions to find a suitable performance venue.

He decided to stay in this remote village for a few days and, incidentally, put on another storytelling performance to build up his popularity.

They stayed temporarily at the only inn in the village, and after settling their horses, they asked the owner if there was any open space where they could put on an open-air performance.

Finally, they learned that there was a fairly spacious open space nearby, where no one usually lingered, making it perfect for a performance.

Ron planned to scout the place out in advance, so after putting his luggage away, he slipped out of the hotel.

He walked in the direction the innkeeper had described, admiring the scenery around the village.

Even though this village isn't as big as Magnolia town, it has all the necessary buildings and is much more developed than the Dust Town Ron visited before.

However, Ron noticed something was off. The residents passing by on the street kept staring at him, but not with enthusiasm; instead, they looked at him with indifference.

Ron frowned, noticing that every resident who passed by immediately noticed his arrival, all giving him the same look, exuding an air of xenophobia.

Ron thought for a moment: Was it because I was from out of town that they noticed me and were wary of me?

Ron then realized that it was only natural to be wary of outsiders; perhaps there were just too few outsiders coming here.

Finally, Ron bypassed a row of dilapidated back walls and saw the open space the innkeeper had described.

Ron saw that the location was good and smiled with satisfaction.

"Waaaaah..."

Just then, Ron heard a sobbing sound behind him, which made him turn around.

Ron followed the sound and saw a slightly chubby boy with short white hair sitting on the ground crying. Beside him was a little girl with white hair, gently patting his back and softly comforting him.

Ron paused for a moment, a look of surprise in his eyes, his mouth slightly agape.

Seeing the two children, he felt a sense of familiarity.

Could it be them...?

He leaned closer and heard the white-haired little girl's comforting words, which confirmed their identities.

"It's alright, Brother Elfman, what they said isn't true, don't take it to heart."

Ron took a deep breath, surprised by the unexpected joy.

Yes, it was them. He actually ran into Lisanna and Elfman here.

It was only then that Lisanna and Elfman noticed a child approaching them, and they looked on with puzzled expressions.

Ron felt a sense of kinship seeing the two children and bent down to greet them with a smile.

"Hey, what happened?"

Crying in this weather will make you catch a cold!

"No, it's nothing."

Upon hearing Ron's words, Elfman quickly wiped away his tears, sniffed, and stammered.

Lisanna smiled at Ron and said:

"It's just a small thing, my brother cries too much."

"It's good that you're alright."

Ron nodded in response with a smile and continued to inquire.

That's enough. We'll be staying here a while anyway, so we can ask more questions later.

"Big brother, are you from out of town?"

This is the first time I've ever seen you.

Seeing that Ron's face was unfamiliar, Lisanna asked him a question.

The two men were amazed by Ron's natural and unintentional approach to them.

"Hey, what are you doing?!"

Just as Ron was about to reply, a girl's figure suddenly appeared beside him.

Ron turned his head and saw a white-haired girl rushing towards him.

The girl had long white hair tied in a small pigtail. She was dressed in a delinquent outfit, and her expression was not friendly.

She came to Ron, pulled Elfman and Lisanna behind her, and spread her arms to protect them.

She kept staring at Ron with a wary look, like a mother hen protecting her chicks.

Ron was taken aback when he saw the girl staring at him like that, then he smiled knowingly.

Since Elfman and Lisanna are here, it's not surprising that Mirajane is here too.

The three people in front of me, each with a distinct personality, are none other than the Strauss siblings, who will later join the Fairy Tail guild.

The older sister was none other than the white-haired delinquent who had bared her teeth at him, Mirajane Strauss.

Elfman, the second brother, hiding behind his eldest sister with a terrified expression, and Lisanna, the youngest of the three.

Mirajane's vigilance grew stronger as she saw Ron still looking indifferent.

What's wrong with this guy? That smile that looks like he wants to kidnap someone makes Mirajane feel that this person is very bad.

"Who are you anyway? What are you trying to do by getting close to them?"

"You're in cahoots with those guys who bullied Elfman, aren't you?"

Ron's smile froze instantly, followed by a helpless look in his eyes.

"Sister, it's not him, you've misunderstood, it's not him."

When Elfman realized that his sister had misunderstood, he quickly helped Ron clarify the situation.

"Yes, Mira, you've mistaken me for someone else."

Lisanna quickly echoed.

"Huh?"

Mirajane paused for a moment, turned her head, and looked at her sister-in-law with a surprised expression, as if asking if it was true or not.

After they both nodded, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she looked a little embarrassed.

But when she turned back, she gave Ron a wary look and said firmly:

Even if they're right, you don't look like a good person.

You haven't answered my question yet.

Seeing Mirajane's insistence, Ron sighed.

He cleared his throat and then formally introduced himself.

"My full name is Ron White. I am the director of the Pure White Theatre Company and a storyteller who happened to be passing by."

"A storyteller?"

Mirajane looked puzzled.

"Yes, I plan to stay here for a few days before heading back."

Ron nodded, then took a stack of pure white theater troupe flyers from a bag hanging to the side and handed them over.

Mirajane glanced at the flyer in Ron's hand with some skepticism. Finding nothing suspicious, she carefully took the flyer away.

She looked at it carefully and saw that the flyer was indeed for a storytelling performance by the Pure White Drama Troupe. Only then did her wariness of Ron lessen slightly.

Mirajane looked at the flyer in her hand, and after confirming that there were no problems, the wariness on her face lessened a bit.

She looked away somewhat awkwardly, crossed her arms, and mumbled something indistinctly.

"I misunderstood, I'm sorry."