The number of travelers in the town was even higher than usual.
This was because Mayor John's 80th birthday was fast approaching—a milestone event that also marked the tenth anniversary of Aharnita Town's transformation from poverty to prosperity. To celebrate, Alex, a renowned machine craftsman celebrated nationwide, had been invited to host an exhibition. The town was abuzz with promotions: discount cards, shopping vouchers, and other incentives flooded the streets, drawing so many visitors that the town was practically bursting at the seams.
Fortunately, Jehfrit had planned ahead. When he left the inn last time, he'd paid in advance to reserve rooms for their stay. With everything set, he led the group directly to the inn. However, there was one small hiccup.
At the time, he'd only considered himself, Natsu, Gray, and Happy (the cat). So, he'd booked just one room.
But now, with three additional girls joining them—Lucy, Juvia, and Erza—it felt… awkward.
The innkeeper confirmed there were no other vacancies available. Thankfully, Lucy and the others didn't complain. For Lucy, it wasn't unusual; she was used to sharing beds after dealing with Natsu sneaking into her covers. Besides, who needed an magic blanket when you had a fire-breathing dragon slayer?
Juvia, on the other hand, was thrilled by the prospect of being closer to Gray-sama. And while Erza looked slightly disappointed—this particular inn lacked a hot spring—she accepted the situation gracefully.
After dropping off their luggage and taking a brief rest, night fell. It was the perfect time to explore the lively town again. Though Jehfrit had visited before, his excitement remained undiminished. After all, fun activities never grew old, and new experiences always brought fresh joy.
"Natsu, Natsu! Come try this!" Lucy called out, pulling Natsu toward a shooting booth.
The group paused to watch as couples took turns aiming at prizes. Some people fired toy guns while their partners cheered or teased them depending on whether they hit the target. Juvia's eyes sparkled—maybe acting cute while playing one of those game would catch Gray-sama's attention!
Meanwhile, Erza stood nearby, her gaze locked onto a plush doll perched high above the others. Her expression left no doubt: she intended to win it no matter what.
When it was finally Natsu and Lucy's turn, they stepped up to the counter. Each paid for a gun.
"Lucy, which prize do you want?" Natsu asked, turning to her.
"Hmm? Don't worry about me, pick something you like," Lucy replied, smiling but dismissive.
"I don't really want anything," Natsu admitted, scanning the prizes without much interest.
"Well then, I'll choose mine, and I'll aim for this one myself!" Lucy declared cheerfully.
"No problem!" Natsu gave her a thumbs-up, radiating confidence.
As expected, Natsu's aim was flawless—but hitting the targets proved tricky. The soft foam bullets barely carried enough force, requiring multiple shots to knock down the prizes.
"Juvia, what do you want?" Gray asked next.
"Eh? Gray-sama is going to get me a gift?" Juvia blushed deeply, pointing to a blue plush toy. "I want that one!"
"No problem." Gray smirked. His skill was unmatched, though Juvia herself wasn't bad either.
"Jehfrit, can you help me get that?" Happy pointed to a cat-shaped plushie.
"Sure thing." Jehfrit nodded casually.
*Cough cough.*
A sudden cough drew Jehfrit's attention. Nearby, an elderly man in a white shirt had accidentally disturbed passersby when he failed to cover his mouth in time. Despite apologizing profusely, some pedestrians muttered complaints under their breath before hurrying away.
"What bad luck," someone grumbled quietly, unwilling to let the incident ruin their evening.
"I'm so sorry," the old man repeated sincerely, bowing slightly.
Jehfrit noticed the man glance in his direction. Their eyes met briefly, and the elder offered a polite nod before disappearing into the crowd.
"Jehfrit, what's wrong?" Happy asked curiously.
"That was Edward," Jehfrit said simply. "He's someone important—like a guild master."
"Never heard of him," Happy shrugged, losing interest immediately.
Edward was indeed a common name, but this particular man was far from ordinary. Jehfrit recognized him instantly—he'd accompanied his adoptive father on a visit to Edward Adrian decades ago. Back then, Edward was the mayor of Lugitian Town, known for his integrity and dedication to public service. Even Jehfrit's grandfather held the man in high regard.
What could bring Edward here now? Jehfrit wondered silently.
"Jehfrit, it's our turn," Erza reminded him.
"Right."
Pushing aside his thoughts, Jehfrit focused on the game. Naturally, winning was child's play for him. By the end, everyone walked away happy, clutching their prizes. Meanwhile, the stall owner wore a satisfied grin—not because of their exceptional skills, but because their antics attracted more customers.
*Rumble rumble...*
Thunder echoed overhead.
"Huh? Is it going to rain tonight?"
"We should head back to the inn quickly!"
Concern rippled through the crowd. Jehfrit's group, however, remained calm—they weren't far from their lodgings.
By the time they returned, the rain hadn't started yet. After freshening up, they gathered in the room. Under Erza's efficient arrangement, sleeping spaces were decided: men on the left, women on the right, with Happy nestled comfortably in the middle.
It didn't take long for snores to fill the air—courtesy of Natsu and Gray. Everyone except Juvia had grown accustomed to their nightly symphony. Just as sleep began to settle in, loud noises erupted outside.
"Everyone out! Get out here!"
Shouts and pounding footsteps approached rapidly, culminating at their door.
"Emergency inspection! Everyone out now!"
The door shook violently under persistent knocks.
*Click.*
Erza opened the door to reveal a squad of soldiers accompanied by a cloaked mage. Looking down the hallway, she saw that every guest had been rousted from their rooms.
"All of you, step outside. Your rooms are being searched!" the lead soldier announced sternly.
Jehfrit and the others filed out obediently.
"All mages?" the cloaked figure inquired, eyeing them curiously.
"Fairy Tail," Erza stated plainly. As members of a legitimate guild, there was no reason to hide their identity.
"Well-known names!" The cloaked mage's tone softened considerably. "We've received reports of a thief breaking into the mayor's residence and stealing a significant amount of money. The mayor is furious and has ordered the town sealed off until the culprit is found. We apologize for disturbing your rest, but we hope you understand."
"No issue," Erza replied curtly, adding firmly, "Just don't damage our belongings."
"Of course." The mage visibly relaxed.
The soldiers entered the room, glanced around briefly, and exited just as quickly.
"Sorry for the inconvenience. You may return to your rest," the mage said politely, leading his team away.
Back inside the room, Erza frowned deeply. "Something's happened."
"Troublesome," Jehfrit sighed.
"The nerve of that thief—to steal directly from the mayor's house!" Happy exclaimed in awe.
"Happy, anyone skilled enough to pull that off wouldn't need money. And if they truly wanted cash, robbing the mayor's estate would be the last place they'd choose," Gray reasoned coolly.