Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari
----------
"Everyone, please come to our village to rest."
The Giant Sol's voice was booming, and he pointed in the direction of his home. "I am so grateful for your life-saving kindness to me and to Flare."
Although Noah's rescue was merely a convenient act, and the group didn't care for any reward, Erza still accepted on behalf of Noah and everyone else.
Firstly, everyone was curious about what a village inhabited by Giants looked like.
Secondly, they also wanted to witness the Eternal Flame that had burned for four hundred years.
Moreover, San Jiao Shin, Samagui , and the other five unfortunate souls who had been enslaved by Zoldeo for many years now needed ample rest to live proper human lives again.
Sun Village was vast.
It was as if the houses and buildings of an ordinary village had been enlarged more than tenfold, and the entire village occupied an area larger than a small town.
But to the Giants, it truly was just a small village.
Sol's loud voice quickly spread the news of Flare's danger. A group of Giants, carrying spiked clubs, broadswords, and other weapons, rushed out furiously, intending to get revenge for their "daughter."
However, the instigator had been reduced to ashes, so revenge was impossible. Thus, a grand celebratory banquet began.
Most Giants were straightforward in nature, and their food was no different.
A "small biscuit" that was half the size of a person was something Natsu couldn't conquer even with all his might—half a biscuit left him groaning on the ground, completely stuffed.
Gray's face was flushed crimson, and he was so drunk he looked like a ripe tomato. The Giants' brew was incredibly potent, but that didn't stop him from mocking Natsu.
"This Natsu is just too weak, you know."
"That's right, it's just Natsu, after all. Gray-sama is so brave."
While praising him, Juvia secretly kept plying the already tipsy Gray with drinks. With her persistence, she successfully got Gray to pass out.
Juvia's intentions were well-known to everyone, of course.
Having succeeded in her plan, Juvia rested Gray's head on her lap, wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth, and took out a storybook, beginning to telepathically narrate to Gray.
"Once upon a time, there was a brave hero named Gray. To save his beloved Princess Juvia, he embarked on a journey to defeat the Fire Demon King Natsu."
"..."
"Along the way, Hero Gray, with his powerful strength and personal charm, made Knight Erza, martial arts master Noah, and others compete to become his subordinates. Oh, and there was also a jealous Lucy secretly following them."
"..."
"After countless hardships, Gray defeated Natsu. The Fire King personally admitted he was inferior to Hero Gray and then went into seclusion."
"Finally, the hero and the princess reached their happy ending. Gray and his beloved Juvia lived happily ever after."
"How delightful!"
"Delightful, my foot!"
"What kind of ridiculous story is this? How did Erza and I become Gray's lackeys?!"
If Erza hadn't been holding him down, Noah would have wanted to crack open Juvia's head right then to see what else was inside besides her twisted love for Gray.
Lucy also had a strained expression. "At least you two had combat power in the story, but why am I portrayed as a big-chested airhead in Juvia's story? And why did Natsu become the villain? Isn't she just settling personal scores through Gray?"
Seeing the uncomfortable expression on the sleeping Gray's face, as if he were having a strange and awkward dream, everyone fell silent.
First getting Gray drunk, then continuously narrating a trashy story full of her personal delusions to him—what else could this be but brainwashing?!
To make Gray fall in love with her, she would go to such lengths?!
Juvia, you really are... too much.
Noah slowly exhaled. Fortunately, Mira was only mischievous—even her pranks wouldn't go to this extreme.
Just as Noah watched Juvia pull out a second storybook, a hand suddenly wrapped around his arm, followed by a soft body pressing against him.
Erza had changed into a casual dress at some point. Her upper body was pressed against Noah, her cheeks were flushed, her eyes were hazy, and a faint smile hung on her lips—she was clearly drunk.
Gray had been knocked out by Juvia, but Erza hadn't drunk much, so how did she get so intoxicated? Could the Giants' wine really be that potent?
Noah looked at the wine glass on the table but decided against trying it.
As for Erza, seeing how tightly she was holding his arm with both hands, Noah didn't think he could pull free, so he just let her lean against him.
Witnessing this entire scene, San Jiao Shin and Samagui both exchanged knowing smiles. With their extensive experience, they could tell at a glance that the red-haired girl was faking her drunkenness.
They recalled that in their time, they would directly confess to someone they liked.
Young people nowadays have so many tricks.
But this was youth, after all—shyness was the norm.
The general of the resistance and the northern hunter exchanged a smile and clinked their glasses in understanding. Yes, this wine was indeed potent.
The banquet continued late into the night. Under Sol's arrangements, the group stayed in a large house specially built by the Giants to host outsiders, capable of accommodating up to twenty people.
After a night's rest, everyone was full of energy, except for Gray, who still had a headache from drinking too much the day before.
"What happened yesterday? I feel like I had a very long and strange dream..." Gray rubbed his head, looking dispirited.
Of course, no one would tell him that Juvia had narrated wonderful little stories to him all night. As a condition for keeping Juvia's secret, she would try to portray everyone positively in her future stories.
Except for Natsu, since he was Gray's sworn enemy.
Natsu, completely unaware of this, was full of spirit and seemed a bit impatient. "Let's go to the altar quickly—I can't wait any longer!"
"Natsu, the Eternal Flame is sacred to Sun Village. You behave yourself. Don't think I don't know you want to take a bite."
Erza knew Natsu too well—the boy couldn't hide any of his thoughts from her. Natsu, whose little scheme had been exposed, could only repeatedly promise not to try to eat the Eternal Flame.
Led by Flare, the group arrived at the center of the village. Here stood a massive altar where a vigorous flame burned, never demanding sacrifices, but instead selflessly protecting everything in the village.
Flare bowed to the altar. "Lord Flame, these are the people who saved me and Uncle Sol yesterday."
On the altar, within the fiercely burning flames, a pair of majestic eyes opened. But upon seeing the group below, especially the restless pink-haired youth, the flame's eyes showed intense emotional fluctuations.
A deep voice rang out.
"Son of Igneel, we meet again."