"You're back. How is it? My little house is pretty good, right?"
Zed pointed at the house he had taken out.
"Yes… it's pretty good, but how did you do it?" Erina couldn't help asking. The three of them were all puzzled.
"This is all thanks to my Gourmet Demon. One of my Gourmet Demon's abilities is spatial manipulation, which can open up a space to store items. When I returned to the Healing Town, I had someone build this mobile house and put it in my space. This way, I don't have to set up a tent or anything when I'm in the wild."
Zed explained briefly. After listening, the three finally understood but were even more amazed.
"Although it's not magic, it feels much more magical than magic!" Mirajane said, staring at the house. Carrying such a huge structure seemed unbelievable.
"Is there no similar storage equipment or magic in Miss Mirajane's world?" Erina asked. Comics often depicted space mages or storage gear, but Mirajane's reaction suggested otherwise.
"There is magic involving space, but it's very rare. Only one person in the Magic Council can use space magic. As for storage equipment, I haven't heard much about it."
Mirajane shook her head. Zed wasn't surprised. The Fairy Tail world differed from traditional fantasy—most mages focused on combat. Specialized magic like healing or spatial manipulation was nearly extinct. The Council member Mirajane mentioned was likely Doranbalt, who wielded memory and space magic. Originally from Fairy Tail, he'd erased his memories to infiltrate the Council. Even Erza's dress-changing magic—a limited spatial ability—could only store weapons and armor.
"Okay, let's go in and eat first. Tatsu, this is yours."
Zed took out prey from earlier—Tatsu's dinner. The Devil Serpent was too large to enter the house, so it stayed outside.
"Leave the cooking to us next."
Erina and Hisako took charge.
"Thank you for your hard work!" Zed said sincerely. With Gourmet Cells, their appetites were monstrous, requiring vast quantities of food.
"Don't worry. Since awakening our Gourmet Cells, our stamina has improved. This workload is nothing." Erina smiled.
"I'll help too!" Mirajane offered. Though an S-Class wizard, she'd handled guild chores since sealing her magic and felt compelled to contribute.
Zed didn't stop her, knowing she'd feel awkward idling. But without magic or Gourmet Cells, she quickly fell behind the duo's blistering pace—chopping, sautéing, and grilling across multiple stoves effortlessly.
Defeated, Mirajane retreated from the kitchen, her pride bruised.
"Your magic is still sealed, and you lack Gourmet Cells. It's normal to struggle. They've enhanced their bodies significantly," Zed reassured.
"Gourmet Cells… Could you tell me more about them?"
Mirajane's curiosity peaked. Zed explained their mechanics: physical and soul enhancement, synergy with Gourmet Demons, and evolution of life itself. The more she listened, the more awed she grew.
While magic had versatility, Gourmet Cells reigned supreme in raw power. Even souls grew resilient—like Frohze, who'd spent 600,000 years cooking Another in the spirit world without crumbling.
As they talked, Erina and Hisako finished—a mountain of dishes piled high.
"So… many!" Mirajane gaped. The feast could feed hundreds. Though she couldn't cook, she helped serve, marveling at the duo's superhuman efficiency.