A magic merchant infiltrating Fairy Tail

Did Lucy get better, but these two got sick instead? No, no... an idiot shouldn't catch a cold!

"When I woke up, these two were sleeping right next to me. They must have been so busy taking care of my illness..."

Kira walked to the bedroom door and peeked inside curiously, only to find Natsu and Happy fast asleep on Lucy's bed: "Really... you've progressed to sleeping together? Were you really provoked by EdNatsu and EdLucy?"

Lucy panicked immediately, her face turning bright red: "Eh?! No... that's not it..."

"Alright, alright... We're all adults, I understand!"

"No... what do you know?! It's definitely not what you think!!"

"Still trying to deny it? I've recorded the evidence!" Kira chuckled mysteriously. "I'll show you the photos in a couple of days. Natsu did all sorts of things while you were sleeping, you know~"

"Huh?! What did he do?! Don't go!! Explain yourself!!"

Clang!

"Seriously... Kira always says things that really bother you..."

……

The autumn nights in Magnolia were colder than a cold shower while chewing on ice. The evening breeze lashed Kira's thin body, making his overcoat whistle.

Turning the corner, Kira caught a glimpse of Gray and Juvia on a date—he cursed inwardly but pretended not to see them; turning the corner again, he saw Gajeel and Levy on a date—Kira cursed inwardly again but pretended not to see them again…

"Achoo! Achoo!... Seriously, I hope I've caught a cold too... It's all Natsu's fault!"

The thought of Natsu probably sleeping soundly in her warm bed right now, with Happy in one arm and Lucy in the other, made Kira furious.

"Damn it!! That jerk who makes everyone jealous!! I'll definitely teach him a lesson sometime... Right! I'll do it during this year's harvest festival!!"

Chapter 440 The New Harvest Ceremony

The flu didn't linger long in Magnolia, finally ending completely before that day arrived.

Not long after, the citizens decorated their homes with lanterns and colorful decorations, preparing to celebrate this classic and grand festival—the Harvest Festival—once again, just like in previous years!

The guild tavern was bustling with activity.

"You know what? Natsu was sleeping in Lucy's bed when I left that day!"

"What? They've already progressed this far?"

"I heard Selene is still staying at Lucy's house. Won't that bother them?"

“The other party is a dragon, Natsu will probably be very happy…”

"Isn't this a third party? Our Lucy's position is in serious jeopardy..."

"Don't joke around! She's the mother of a two-hundred-year-old child! Besides, Natsu only has Lucy in his heart, I can see that!"

"Come on, you're an old man, how could you possibly understand the mindset of young people these days..."

Meanwhile, Lucy, the subject of their conversation, was sitting alone at the bar, sullenly drinking her juice: "What's going on? Why does it feel like everyone's talking about Natsu and me all of a sudden..."

Listening to her guildmates gossip about her and Natsu, Lucy felt both shy and annoyed, but she had to admit that what they were saying wasn't entirely unfounded.

Oh dear, didn't you know?

Mira stood opposite her, leaning against the bar and smiling as she looked at her. "Kira showed his photo album at the guild a couple of days ago. There were quite a few intimate photos of you and Natsu in it."

Lucy immediately bristled: "What did you say?! Why would that guy have those kinds of things?! Mira-san, what kind of photos are those?!"

"Hmm... they're all just 'very ordinary' photos!" Mira's cheeks flushed as she thought of something, and she unconsciously looked away.

"Just an ordinary photo??" Lucy looked suspicious. "Your expression doesn't say that! You must have kept a copy, right? Show it to me!"

"Huh?! No! I want to keep it... Oh no, I mean, I don't have that kind of thing..."

"Who would believe you? You clearly meant to say 'keep it!'"

Lucy didn't believe a word of such unconvincing words, so she pounced on Mira and started groping her. Mira, who usually doesn't have much fighting power, couldn't resist Lucy's actions and was soon panting and blushing from being touched by her.

Desperate, Mira cried out to her younger brother who happened to be passing by, "Elfman, come help me!"

Elfman had no interest in getting involved in the girls' war; he simply stood there cheering them on: "Sister, fight back like a man!"

Mira's delicate voice came through: "I'm not a man, I'm a weak woman... um... drink... ha..."

"Lucy and Mira are fighting?! What an intriguing scene! Move aside, I want to see!! I love watching girls fight!!"

These are just a bunch of lecherous old men who love to watch the drama unfold.

"What? Lucy and Mira are fighting? Wait for me, count me in!"

This is a straight man who loves to fight.

"No fighting allowed! You all keep causing trouble as soon as the president is away. What kind of behavior is this?!"

This is a disciplinary committee member who spoils the fun.

More than half an hour later, the guild members, each with a big bump on their head, were cleaning up the overturned tables and chairs, while Mira, submitting to Lucy, obediently handed over her treasures.

"I originally planned to take it out when you got married..."

Lucy's ears burned at those words: "Who...who...who's going to marry him? No way!! Mira-san, don't talk nonsense!"

Mira looked at her with a teasing expression: "Is it really just nonsense?"

Lucy was speechless. She lowered her head and flipped through Mira's photo album. The photos inside had been laminated and were all well-preserved. They would probably last a very long time.

In every photo, Lucy and Natsu are very close, and Happy is also in several of them. The locations where the photos were taken include Lucy's home, streets, restaurants, cinemas, and amusement parks in Magnolia, and a few in the wild, which Lucy remembers is where she and Natsu work.

"Wow! You've preserved the photos so well!"

"Right, right? It was filmed really well, wasn't it?"

"Hmm..." Lucy nodded subconsciously, then quickly realized, "Wait! Now is not the time to be amazed! When were these taken...? Is that guy a stalker?"

Suddenly, Lucy stopped flipping through the photos. She saw several pictures that she didn't recognize at all, but which showed her in unusually intimate poses with Natsu.

"Hey, what's with these pictures? I don't remember ever doing anything like that with Natsu!!"

Mira leaned closer and saw photos of Natsu and Lucy cornering against a deserted street, hugging, kissing, and getting into a red car that started vibrating.

"These photos... I do find them a bit strange, but photos don't lie, so just admit it!"

Mira's statement is reasonable and well-founded; there is no such thing as photo editing in this world, so the photo is indeed real.

Lucy completely broke down, screaming, "This is clearly not me and Natsu!! Ah, I know! It must be Lucy and Natsu from Edolas! Kira is using their photos to slander me..."

Just as she was furious and about to confront Kira, Kira appeared first, accompanied by Makarov.

Good afternoon, everyone!

The familiar voice, the familiar tone, the familiar face—the culprit who had caused so much trouble in the guild appeared right in front of the person in question without any attempt to conceal himself.

"Kira!! You actually showed up in front of me like nothing happened?!"

"What's wrong?" Kira was taken aback at first, then suddenly realized, "Oh, are you angry about the photo? Natsu isn't angry anymore, why are you angry?"

"How can this be the same? That idiot Natsu..."

"Alright, alright!!" Kira clapped his hands, interrupting her before she could finish speaking. "The most important thing right now isn't that, it's that the Harvest Festival is coming! We have to make the most of it this year!"

The guild fell silent at the mention of the Harvest Festival.

I remember this time last year, our guild held a grand guild competition in Magnolia. Apart from a few people who didn't make it into the top sixteen due to luck or other reasons, most of the others had a great time.

"Hey... Kira! Is there going to be a 'Guild Tournament' at the Harvest Festival this year too?"

"That's the Fairy Tail Magic Tournament! I'm determined to get into the top ten this time!"

"Last year's competition format was terrible; remember to make major changes this year!!"

After everyone quieted down, Makarov stepped forward, jumped onto the table, and announced loudly, "There will definitely be a competition, and it will certainly not be the same as last year's format!"

Kira nodded and continued, "That's right! I've already discussed it with the president. This time, we'll focus on the battles and won't have any fancy competition formats. So everyone, please make sure to rest well and train hard during this period!"

"And then, there's one more thing!"

Makarov lowered his eyes and shouted, "This time, the first place winner will receive a pure gold trophy, a substantial cash prize, and a super grand prize!!"

"A grand prize?!" ×N

The guild members' voices immediately rose several octaves. The unknown, mysterious reward Makarov mentioned had piqued their curiosity, and they began whispering among themselves.

"Will it be a super cool weapon?"

"Is it a dragon egg? I want a dragon as a mount! That would be so cool!"

"As long as it's not the president's invitations, that's fine..."

Hearing everyone's complaints, Makarov lost face and shouted, his face flushed, "Enough! I don't always try to fool you with invitation tickets!"

It's just that our guild's funds aren't enough! What's wrong with invitation tickets? Invitation tickets are bought with money too! Do you really think I bought them wholesale from a factory? Besides, you guys are having a lot of fun, aren't you? Kira is much better; he won't haggle with me over invitation tickets.

"Kira, come here..."

Makarov was about to have Kira announce the prize when he turned around and found that Kira had disappeared.

Where are they?

The next moment, Kira's voice came from the crowd: "As expected... he always tries to fool us with invitation tickets! Last time it was an amusement park ticket, the time before that it was a seaside villa ticket, and the time before that it was..."

"Kira!!! Shut your mouth!!"

Chapter 441: Without changing your living conditions, you're no different from before becoming an S-rank.

"The 'Fairy Tail Second Magic Tournament' held during this Harvest Festival will not only award the 'Guild Champion' trophy and a prize of 500,000 J, but also a '100-square-meter, three-story villa' located in the central town!!!"

When Makarov said this, everyone in the guild was stunned. They stopped complaining about how "the guild leader is stingy" and just stood there dumbfounded, all looking at the short figure standing on the table with a smug smile on his face.

"What...what did the president just say?"

"I think I heard something about a 'villa'... Could I have misheard?"

"It shouldn't be! I heard it too, it seems like the first place winner of the competition will be awarded a villa?"

"Really? That's a villa! Has our guild become that rich in just one year?"