A magic merchant infiltrating Fairy Tail

"How will the competition be conducted? Will it be a free-for-all?"

"I'm fired up!!"

Hearing the shouts and screams around him, Kira smiled and looked up at Laxus: "So, Laxus? Let's save the final battle for then!"

Holding competitive matches within the guild is something Kira has always wanted to do.

If we follow the original timeline, Laxus would have started a civil war at that time. Because of Kira's involvement, Kira is unsure whether he will cause other unexpected incidents.

Therefore, by replacing the civil war with another peaceful means, we can take the initiative into our own hands!

How the competition will be conducted will be up to us.

Perhaps we could take inspiration from the Grand Magic Games format: team up, dungeons, going up mountains and down to the sea, free-for-all battles—there's so much we could do!

Laxus looked at Kira, a smug smile spreading across his face: "Just what I wanted!"

"That really scared me to death. I thought they were going to fight. I never expected this turn of events."

After Laxus left, Lucy slumped listlessly on the table and said this, while listening with lingering fear to the incessant chatter around her.

"It's just that the final battle has been postponed, but it's going to be a real show! I'm really looking forward to this year's harvest festival!"

Who do you think will win?

"Hard to say."

"The market is open! The market is open..."

Listening to the lively discussion in the guild, Makarov felt uneasy. He had watched these kids grow up, and now they were all going through their rebellious phase. What would he do in the future? "These kids are really a handful!"

Amid the noise, Lucy asked Mira, the bartender, about something that had been bothering her: "What did the president mean when he said we couldn't go up to the second floor?"

“This is a bit early for you,” Mira patiently explained to her. “The missions on the first floor are nothing compared to those on the second floor. The missions on the second floor are S-rank missions.”

"S-rank?!!"

"It's an extremely dangerous mission where even the slightest misjudgment could lead to your death, but the reward is also quite substantial. Only mages approved by the guild master can take on S-rank missions, and there are currently only six people in the guild qualified for that."

"Actually, it doesn't matter if you don't take on S-rank missions. You can't have enough lives to take on those missions anyway."

Lucy didn't think too much about who Mira meant by "six people," and just smiled awkwardly, "That's true..."

Chapter 50 Lucy Delivers Herself to Your Door

The next day, Kira woke up from his sleep after partying until late at night.

The midday sun illuminated Hope House, which served as both Kira's magic shop and his residence.

"Finally got a proper rest. I did two missions in a row. The last time I was this exhausted was..." Kira thought for a moment, but couldn't recall a specific time. In the end, he could only mutter to himself, "Last time..."

It took an hour to wash up and eat brunch before slowly opening the door to do business.

I can go to work whenever I want and leave work whenever I want. Ah, it's so great to own my own shop!

Kira knew this was not a good idea. As a mage in a competitive guild like Fairy Tail, doing missions was his true calling. But how many people would be willing to say no to a life where they could do business from home and earn money without leaving their house?

Anyway, he can't bear to part with it!

Kira's Hope Hut has been open for two years. During these two years, he has worked no more than five hours a day on average, which makes all the shop owners in the surrounding area envious. As a result, his acquaintances in the guild and his customers who do business with him also know Kira's general work schedule.

As luck would have it, a newcomer in the guild happens to be looking to do business with Kira.

"Yo, Lucy! Natsu! Happy! Good morning!"

Is there anything more comfortable than having easy money come knocking on your door early in the morning?

"Early my foot! It's already past noon and you're only just opening?! Do you even consider this opening a shop?! Do you know how long I've been waiting here?!"

Lucy, who had found out the location of Kira's shop at the banquet yesterday, was eager for the key. She dressed up beautifully early this morning, but ended up waiting outside Hope House all afternoon.

Vibrant flowers and green plants adorn the interior and exterior of Hope Cottage, while rows of oak shelves display countless magical items.

Kira invited the two into the shop: "Huh? When you were asking about Hope Cottage, didn't you also find out the opening hours? Never mind, I'll keep an eye on it next time, so I can do business properly."

Kira is clearly not doing his business properly, but he doesn't realize it at all. After all, he's the boss. He can just lounge comfortably in his recliner and drink his tea without any restraint.

"Erza clearly said you'd be there whenever she arrived..."

"Of course! After all, Erza is a VIP customer of my shop. As long as she comes, I can take care of her even if I'm not there!"

Lucy: "..."

"How about it? Do you want to give it a try? As long as you spend a certain amount, you can become a VIP customer of our store and experience firsthand my attitude of being arrogant at first but then obsequious. I guarantee you'll have an amazing time!"

"No need, it doesn't sound like a good thing!"

"That's a real shame!"

While Kira was greeting Lucy, Natsu and Happy were also touring Kira's shop.

Although they had always known that Kira ran a magic shop, this was the first time Natsu and Happy had come here. After all, they didn't usually need these magical items, and they would rather spend the time visiting the guild and playing with everyone.

Natsu and Happy were fiddling with a bunch of gadgets: "Wow! Kira! What's this for?"

Kira looked up and said, "It comes with a light magic crystal for illumination, but it looks a bit nicer!"

"what about this?"

"The image recording crystal was used to record the video I played yesterday."

"what about this?"

"The disguise mask is equipped with shapeshifting magic, which allows the wearer to transform into someone else."

"Happy, look! It's me, Lucy!"

"Amazing!"

"It's the same inside!"

"No!!!"

"This...this...and this too?"

Natsu picked up other items one after another, and Kira introduced each one as he picked it up.

"A staff that amplifies magic, but it might be useless against a mage like you..."

"An external magical source can store magical power for unforeseen circumstances..."

"A potion to remove negative status effects. After drinking it, you won't be afraid of transportation anymore, but it has a limited duration..."

“Oh, right, since you’ve come all this way, there’s something I think you’d like to see,” Kira said, getting up from his seat and taking something from the innermost shelf. “This telescopic fishing rod can be extended or retracted at will, making it easy to carry. Most importantly, it’s guaranteed to catch fish, and you only have to wait three minutes—provided there’s a fish.”

"Oh!! Really? Natsu, I want this! Buy me this!!"

"If you want to eat fish, just go into the water and catch it..."

"But..."

Happy and Natsu got into an argument about whether or not to buy a fishing rod.

"Honestly, these two guys said they came with me, but they're having a blast on their own." Lucy was speechless as she looked at Natsu and Happy, who were having so much fun.

At that moment, Kira walked over carrying a beautifully decorated square box: "Sorry to keep you waiting, Lucy... You must have come for this, right?"

He hadn't forgotten that Lucy was the main customer today. What money could those two poor bastards, Natsu and Happy, possibly have? Most of the money they earned from missions went to compensation for damage to public property; they were lucky to even have enough to eat.

Lucy is different; even if she doesn't have money, she will definitely buy the key she has.

"Ah, could this be...?" Lucy exclaimed, looking at the box in Kira's hand. She already knew what was inside.

“That’s right, it’s the Celestial Key of the Twelve Gold Palaces that I have.”

Kira gently opened the box, revealing four golden keys. The already exceptionally valuable box instantly emitted a dazzling light, and even Natsu and Happy stopped their noise and came closer to take a look.

"Wow! So dazzling! So amazing!"

In the golden light, the key inside the box and the key on Lucy's waist seemed to resonate with each other, and a rich aura of the Celestial Spirits instantly filled the entire Hope Hut.

Is there any doubt? This is of course Kira's magical effect! When it comes to illusion magic and special effects magic, in the entire Fairy Tail, Kira is second to none, not even Mystogan.

Whether it's the magic that makes the box glow when opened or the celestial aura surrounding it, everything Kira prepared specifically for his customers.

Otherwise, how can we make these lovely customers feel a sense of connection with this product? Otherwise, how can they be willing to spend money on it?

It's all just a routine!

Fortunately, although the trick is old, it is still very effective! Not to mention Lucy's determination to get the key, even her former business partners often fall for it.

"Ah, Lucy, look! These Protoss seem quite pleased with you!" Kira put on a show. "They'll be very sad if you don't buy it!"

Of course, these words could only fool Natsu and Happy, those two brainless fools. Kira knew in his heart that although Lucy wanted it, she was not stupid. What hadn't the rich young lady of Heartfilia seen?

“Listen carefully, they’re saying to you, ‘Buy me! Buy me!’”

Natsu believed him: "Really? Lucy, then hurry up and buy it!"

"Yes, yes, you came here for these Protoss Keys, didn't you?"

Natsu, Happy, thank you for coming. If this deal goes through, I'll treat you to grilled fish later.

Chapter 51 I heard there's a photo shoot job that's very lucrative.

"So, how much does a key cost?"

"Each key is 5 million J. We agreed on a 10% discount before, so I'll give you 18 million J."

"So expensive!!!" After exclaiming in surprise, Lucy gave a pleading smile: "Um... could you make it a little cheaper? You know, I'm currently a runaway, so I don't have much money on me..."

Business deals, especially big ones, should be discussed properly by sitting down. Kira poured Lucy a cup of black tea, and the two sat facing each other at the reception table in Hope Lodge.

As for Natsu and Happy? Kira sent them off to play with a few small toys.

"That's why I gave you a discount, right? These are unique Protoss keys! Four keys for ten million is already a very low price!"

Kira asked, "I heard that the mission you took on last time with that duke was supposed to have a reward of 200 million J?"

"No... actually, I didn't receive any payment that time for some reason..." Lucy said awkwardly.