At Ches's house, several people sat around the coffee table.
"So that's it. Let's not even talk about that brainless idiot Natsu for now."
"Lucy, is that the reason you ran to someone else's house wearing just a bath towel?"
Ches, who had listened to the whole story, carefully looked at Lucy and said seriously, "I didn't expect you to have strange habits similar to Gray's. Joining Fairy Tail was indeed the right choice!"
"Aye!" Happy raised his hand to agree.
Aye my ass!
Lucy tightened the opening of the bath towel at her chest, her mouth twitching wildly.
Although Ches was right, being called an exhibitionist like Gray by a pervert who asked a girl's measurements upon meeting, and was now alone in a room shirtless with a super cute young girl...
Just thinking about it made her angry!
Wait, a super cute young girl?!
It wasn't until this moment that Lucy noticed the Black Magician Girl sitting next to Ches. Her eyebrows furrowed, and she stared intently like a pervert, feeling a strange sense of familiarity.
What was certain was that this girl, who was around her age, was definitely not a Magician from Fairy Tail.
So, where had she seen her before?
Lucy racked her brain, pondering deeply, until her peripheral vision caught sight of the distinctive magic hat the Black Magician Girl was wearing. Her eyes suddenly lit up.
"Um, you wouldn't happen to be the super famous Black Magician Girl who was once in 'Magic Weekly Sorcerer', would you?!"
Lucy's memories gradually became clear.
That was a year ago. Because she especially yearned for Fairy Tail, she paid close attention to Mirajane, who was very popular in Magic Weekly.
Over time, she also developed a deep impression of the Black Magician Girl, who was also very popular at the time and had released multiple photo books.
She never expected to meet her in such a scenario.
And it seemed that the Black Magician Girl had a very close relationship with Mr. Ches!
"Magic Weekly, huh? Speaking of which, I do feel a bit nostalgic."
The Black Magician Girl sighed with a smile, then looked at the Guild emblem on Lucy's hand. "A new face I haven't seen before. You're a newcomer to the Guild, right?"
"Yes! It's nice to meet you, I'm Lucy Heartfilia. I just joined the Guild two days ago!"
Lucy greeted her excitedly.
The Black Magician Girl smiled and shook hands with Lucy. After introducing herself, she puffed out her cheeks and muttered softly, "What a cute girl. Master must be secretly pleased again."
"Ma- Master?"
Lucy felt like she had heard something incredible, her gossiping gaze constantly moving between Ches and the Black Magician Girl.
Besides her and Natsu, only Mr. Ches was here.
So, the person referred to by that resentful "Master" was naturally obvious.
Mr. Ches wasn't just a severe chuunibyou patient, but secretly a super pervert too?
They're involved, these two are definitely involved!
Thinking this, Lucy's face instantly turned crimson, and certain R-rated images immediately popped into her head.
"Hey Lucy, wanna do business with me? I can give you a 20% discount~"
Happy seized the opportunity and popped up. Having tasted the sweetness, it wouldn't miss any chance to harvest Lucy's wallet.
Lucy's wild thoughts instantly stopped, and she stared at Happy with a wary face.
Again?
A 20% discount? I want to break your bones!
Just thinking about the losing business from earlier made the girl furious.
"Do business? What kind of business?" Ches asked curiously.
If he remembered correctly, Lucy and Happy didn't have this kind of interaction in the original story at this point, did they?
"Oh, that, it's just..."
Just as Happy was about to speak, his neck was suddenly locked by a pair of white arms.
"No, no, Happy is drunk. Yes, that's right!"
Lucy smiled fakely, holding Happy firmly against her chest, not giving him any chance to speak.
If Mr. Ches found out that she was secretly inquiring about his "scandals" everywhere, it would leave a very bad impression!
"Can you get drunk from drinking tea?"
The Black Magician Girl glanced at the tea on the coffee table in surprise, then looked at Happy, who was gradually being deformed by being squeezed in the cleavage, and said seriously, "But if it's the idiot Happy, it's not impossible."
Happy: Wuwuwu! (I'm innocent! She's slandering me!)
"Whatever happens doesn't matter! More importantly..."
Natsu suddenly stood up, his right fist bursting into flames. "Hey! Black Magician Girl, long time no see, let's fight!"
"Are you sure, Natsu? I've gotten stronger with Master now."
The Black Magician Girl, who had long integrated into the Fairy Tail Guild's style, showed no fear. She rubbed her hands together, and the magic staff in her hand glowed brightly.
Then...
Thump! Thump!
The two people who were about to fight fiercely each received an iron fist from Ches. They clutched their heads and squatted on the ground, crying out in pain, their movements unusually synchronized.
"Use your brains! Look at your surroundings! This is my house!" Ches scolded with a serious face.
Hearing this, Lucy, whose house had just been unfortunately affected, nodded vigorously, feeling an urge to give a thumbs-up.
"If you want to fight, go fight at Lucy's house!"
Lucy: ...
She silently withdrew her big thumbs-up.
Hindered by Ches's "intimidating power", Natsu and the Black Magician Girl finally gave up the idea of fighting each other and obediently sat back down.
The chaotic scene finally returned to calm.
After a detailed introduction, Lucy learned from Ches that the Black Magician Girl was a Card monster who had signed a contract with Ches.
The relationship between them was similar to the one between herself and Aquarius, Taros, and the others.
At the same time, she completely understood the magic Ches used—Duelist Soul.
'Good thing I didn't fall for that dead cat Happy's trick!' Lucy secretly rejoiced.
To be honest, for a moment just now, she was indeed tempted and wanted to spend money to watch the drama.
"A magic I've never heard of before, Mr. Ches's Duelist Soul," Lucy sighed, finishing her internal monologue.
"Although there are Trap Cards and Magic Cards, it's similar to your Celestial Spirit Magic. My Card monsters are also partners I cherish greatly," Ches said seriously.
It was precisely because of the unwavering companionship of the Card monsters that he was able to get to where he was now.
Both physically and mentally.
"Yes!"
Lucy empathized, nodded heavily, and a bright smile bloomed on her lips.
As she finished speaking, a strange sound, "Puu~ Puu~ Un~", suddenly came from behind her.
"Lucy, did you fart?"
Ches didn't stand on ceremony and asked directly in front of Lucy.
"No way!!"
Lucy was completely speechless and retorted sharply.
She turned around and lifted a cute creature with both hands. It was all white, had a pointed nose and a round head, and its small body was constantly trembling.
"That sound just now came from this child. His name is Plue, the Canis Minor Celestial Spirit who just signed a contract with me."
Plue shakily raised his right hand: "Puu~ Puu~"
His silly and cute expression and actions instantly attracted the Black Magician Girl's attention: "What a cute little snowman!"
She had absolutely no resistance to cute things.
"...Uh, not a snowman, he's Canis Minor, Canis Minor."
While patiently explaining, Lucy carefully handed Plue to the Black Magician Girl, whose eyes were sparkling.
The Black Magician Girl took Plue, hugged him, and petted and rubbed him.
Plue's face was filled with the expression of having no desire to live.
"Plue, huh? I feel like he should be able to get along well with this guy."
Ches nodded thoughtfully, pointed two fingers into the air, drew out a Card, and summoned the monster inside.
"Kuri Kuri~"
Kuriboh floated in the air, blinking its adorable big eyes.