Jehfrit chuckled. "But you were temporarily my magician's assistant, so you don't count as an audience member anymore."
"..." Laxus fell silent.
Everyone who had danced was now forced to play along as accomplices in Jehfrit's magic trick. Even those who hadn't danced—like Natsu, Lucy, and Cana—had been intimidated into compliance.
Erza, who hadn't danced or faced threats, had already been lured away by Jehfrit earlier. Mira sighed helplessly as she continued mixing drinks; though untouched by threats, she chose not to intervene either.
The Thunder Legion dared not step forward either—after all, if Laxus could be manipulated by Jehfrit, what chance did they stand? And finally, there was the most challenging piece of the puzzle: Laxus himself. He couldn't be threatened, deceived, or easily cowed—but since he was dragged onto the stage under the guise of neutrality, he too couldn't back out without ruining the illusion.
Master Makarov wouldn't spoil the fun either.
Thus—
Checkmate for everyone!
"The magic show isn't over yet," Jehfrit grinned. "There's still the second piece of paper."
"..." Another shiver ran through the crowd. "More?!"
"Hold on, let me take a quick break for an advertisement," Jehfrit said smoothly. "I'll soon open a little shop here at the guild. Please support it when it opens!"
"What will you sell?" someone asked hesitantly.
"Hmm… perhaps photos and memory crystals that record both visuals and audio," Jehfrit mused aloud. "And we'll have special opening-day promotions with gifts for everyone!"
"..." The room descended into stunned silence.
"Alright, the ad is done." Jehfrit unfolded the second sheet of paper.
On it were two words: "I'll buy."
"So, everyone," Jehfrit called out cheerfully, "will you say these words?"
No one dared disrupt the flow!
In unison, the entire guild shouted, "I'll buy!"
They had no choice but to agree!
Buying wasn't optional either—the items Jehfrit sold could only be purchased and destroyed privately; allowing them to circulate would spell disaster.
"Thank you all! The magic performance was a complete success. I look forward to seeing you at the shop!" With that, Jehfrit tipped his hat, bowed deeply, and stepped offstage, leaving behind a sea of slack-jawed, wide-eyed faces frozen in utter despair.
This magic trick was far too intense!
---
A Few Days Later
"Fairy Tail's Happy Little Shop" opened its doors.
At the entrance stood a signboard:
[Free Trade-In Promotion: Exchange old figurines for new ones (Fine print: A small fee covers our hardworking staff's efforts—only 20% of the original price)].
"What do you mean by 'old figurines'?" Wakaba, the first customer, asked curiously.
"Well, you know, the kind of figurines you can stick pins into," Jehfrit replied casually. In an instant, Wakaba's fragile mental state—carefully rebuilt over days—shattered again.
Jehfrit smiled innocently. "I figured some of your figurines might've worn out from use, making them inconvenient to handle. So, as part of the shop's grand opening, I'm offering this trade-in service."
"Trade in your old figurines for brand-new ones."
"Completely free!"
He pulled out a figurine—it depicted Max.
Clearly, this was no ordinary figurine—it was a cursed doll!
Sticking out of Max's head was a long, wobbly needle.
Wakaba sighed deeply.
So that's where everything tied together!
It all made sense now!
After the guild repairs, Max spotted a business opportunity and opened his own shop. At first, sales were lackluster—until he stocked Jehfrit's cursed dolls. These "figurines" were essentially voodoo dolls designed to be pierced with needles. People bought them for entertainment and stress relief, and Max raked in profits.
But then came the fallout—everyone initially feared retaliation, but days passed without incident, leading them to believe Jehfrit didn't care.
Turns out, he'd been biding his time!
From advising Laxus to suggesting the celebration party, performing the magic trick, and now... Jehfrit had orchestrated this elaborate scheme—not just to humiliate everyone but also to reclaim every single cursed doll while selling Max's cursed figurine instead!
Wakaba felt his scalp tingle violently.
To exchange or not?
That's the question.
But of course, he had to exchange!
If everyone else exchanged their dolls except him, Jehfrit would have a clear target!
Give him any excuse, and he'd turn your life upside down!
"Would you like to buy anything?" Jehfrit asked politely.
"I'll buy...!" Wakaba declared firmly. "I'll buy everything!"
"And would you like to trade in your figurines?"
"I'll trade!" Wakaba affirmed resolutely. "I'll trade everything!"
"Thank you for your patronage. By the way, each figurine requires a small handling fee—20% of the original price—to cover our hardworking staff's efforts," Jehfrit explained.
"No problem, it's only fair!" Wakaba nodded decisively.
"You're such a straightforward customer," Jehfrit praised warmly. "I hope all my future customers are as cooperative as you."
Straightforward?
No!
It was about knowing when to fold.
And who among the next wave of customers would dare do otherwise?
---
Jehfrit's Shop
Business boomed!
However, a few unexpected yet predictable visitors arrived during quieter hours: Lucy, Juvia, Evergreen, and Bisca.
"I'm just accompanying them!" Lucy quickly clarified her intentions.
"No worries. Actually, I think I might have something you'd enjoy," Jehfrit said slyly. "How about pictures of Natsu in cute mascot costumes? They're adorable!"
"..." Lucy blushed furiously, hesitated for a moment, and finally muttered, "I guess I'll take one..."
"What about photos of him playing with puppies, babysitting kids, or looking cool in battle?" Jehfrit offered.
These rare snapshots captured moments from Natsu's eccentric missions within Magnolia—encounters Jehfrit happened to witness over the years.
Lucy hesitated briefly before nodding. "I'll take them all."
"Lucy... unexpectedly bold, aren't you?" Evergreen teased behind her fan.
Lucy kept her head low, her ears burning red like chili peppers.
"And we also have plenty of similar photos of Gray," Jehfrit added nonchalantly.
"Please give me one!" Juvia eagerly shouted, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"Thank you for your purchase."
"Uh..." Even the usually confident Evergreen turned beet red, stammering awkwardly.
"For you, I recommend a mystery box—it might contain exactly what you need," Jehfrit suggested tactfully.
Running a business required keen insight!
"Mystery box, huh? I'll try buying one to take home," Evergreen sighed in relief.
"Um... do you still have videos of Alzack dancing?" Bisca asked nervously. She'd already sent Alzack on errands to ensure he wouldn't arrive before her.
"Of course, and even some follow-up Q&A clips," Jehfrit confirmed.
"Please sell them to me!"
"Thank you for your purchase!"
After packing up their purchases, the girls paid and left happily.
Jehfrit glanced around the nearly empty shop and remarked contentedly, "What great business! Everything's sold out."
In the corner sat several large boxes filled with cursed dolls.
Pulling out his notebook, Jehfrit reviewed the list and nodded approvingly—not a single doll remained unaccounted for!