Fairy Tail: The Uncrowned King of Magic

Chapter 148: Chapter 148

When Lucy opened her eyes, she found herself lying in an incredibly soft bed.

The mattress and blankets were so comfortable that the only place she remembered sleeping this well was back at home.

’Did I somehow go home?’

No.

Wait.

Before losing consciousness, she had been—

Lucy shot upright.

Hadn’t a giant wave overturned their boat and thrown everyone into the sea?!

Then why was she—

"Huh?"

She looked down.

"A maid outfit?"

Why did these clothes look so familiar?

She could’ve sworn she’d seen them somewhere before...

"Yo. You’re awake."

"Hnngh—?!"

Lucy looked up and saw Marshall standing nearby in a fluffy penguin onesie.

For half a second, she thought he looked ridiculously cute.

Then her brain caught up.

"MARSHALL?!"

She pointed at him.

"Why are you here?!"

"This is my bedroom."

Marshall yawned.

"Why wouldn’t I be here?"

He climbed onto the bed.

"Move over a little. I’m going to sleep."

"Wait, wait, wait!"

Lucy grabbed the blanket.

"Explain what’s going on first!"

"Wasn’t I on a boat heading to Galuna Island?"

"How did I suddenly end up at your house?"

"And where are Natsu, Gray, and Happy?!"

Marshall gave her a long look.

"My dear Lucy..."

"You haven’t forgotten that you and Natsu illegally stole an S-Class quest, have you?"

Lucy stiffened.

"According to guild rules, that’s a very serious violation."

Marshall smiled sweetly.

"You wouldn’t want to get kicked out of Fairy Tail before you’ve even become a full member, would you?"

Lucy immediately panicked.

She lunged forward and clung desperately to his leg.

"N-No!"

"Please don’t kick me out!"

"I was wrong! I really know I was wrong!"

"Marshall, please give me another chance!"

Marshall crossed his arms.

"Oh?"

"Now you’re scared?"

Lucy nodded furiously.

"Mm-hmm! I’m very scared!"

Then she suddenly stopped.

"Wait."

Her eyes widened.

"So you brought all of us back?"

"Does that mean the S-Class quest failed?"

"No."

Marshall shook his head.

"I just happened to find the four of you unconscious on Galuna Island’s beach."

"I was worried Lucy might catch a cold, so I brought you back here."

"Really?"

Lucy immediately brightened.

"Thank you!"

Then another thought struck her.

"Wait! What about Natsu, Gray, and Happy?"

"They looked like they were sleeping comfortably."

Marshall answered casually.

"So I didn’t wake them."

"...Huh?"

Lucy stared at him and her brain stalled.

"So..."

"Yes."

Marshall lay back against the pillows.

"I only brought you back because I was worried you’d get sick."

"Natsu and Gray are tough enough to sleep outside for one night and Happy has fur. They’ll survive."

Lucy’s mouth slowly fell open.

Marshall continued as though nothing about this was strange.

"As for the S-Class quest, I formally accepted it on your behalf."

"The job is registered under my name now, and you, Natsu, and Gray are officially listed as my team members."

"So you don’t need to worry about being punished for illegally taking the request anymore."

He smiled.

"Aren’t you touched?"

Lucy’s eyes immediately filled with tears.

"Marshall!"

"You’re so nice!"

"Thank you!"

"In that case..."

Marshall’s smile became suspiciously innocent.

"Would Lucy be willing to serve as my maid for the duration of the mission to repay me?"

"Eh—?!"

Lucy froze.

Cold sweat instantly ran down her back.

She genuinely did not want to become Marshall’s maid again.

Not after those last two days!

Marshall’s expression turned sad.

"Could it be..."

"I helped Lucy with such a serious problem, but you won’t even grant me one tiny request?"

"Fine!"

Lucy surrendered immediately.

"I’ll do it!"

"Are you happy now?!"

Her eyes filled with tears again, though for entirely different reasons.

"I LOVE BEING A MAID!"

Inside, she was screaming.

’I swore I would never do this again!’

’It’s only been two days!’

’Why am I already trapped again?!’

’My life is miserable!’

Marshall nodded with satisfaction.

"Actually, Master specifically told me I had to teach everyone involved in stealing the S-Class request a lesson."

"Your punishment will be serving as my maid for a few days."

"As for Natsu and Gray..."

Lucy saw his expression and swallowed.

Something terrible was coming.

"I’m going to let them experience the real difficulty of an S-Class request."

Marshall grinned.

"Hehehe..."

"Lucy, while you’re serving as my maid, I have another assignment for you."

"You’ll act as my inside informant."

Lucy blinked.

"You’re not allowed to tell Natsu or Gray that I officially accepted the request."

"And I want detailed reports on everything you do during the mission."

"No matter how small it is."

Marshall leaned closer.

"That’s your maid assignment."

"Any objections?"

"N-No objections..."

Lucy shrank back.

All she could do was silently apologize to Natsu and Gray.

’Sorry.’

’Marshall already caught me.’

’I don’t have a choice!’

"Then remember to wake me up early tomorrow."

Marshall pulled up his blanket.

"If you want me to return you to Galuna Island before Natsu and Gray wake up, you’ll need to get me out of bed on time."

"Good night~"

He closed his eyes, Lucy stared at him.

"Wait!"

"Where am I supposed to sleep?!"

Only now did she realize how bizarre the situation had become.

’Who am I?’

’Where am I?’

’What am I even doing here?’

Marshall opened one eye.

"Wherever you want."

"There are plenty of guest rooms. Virgo can take you to one."

He yawned.

"Or if you really want to return to Galuna Island tonight, I can teleport you straight back."

"BACK TO THAT CURSED ISLAND?!"

Lucy recoiled.

"No way! Absolutely not!"

"If I can sleep in an actual bed, why would I voluntarily go back and suffer?!"

She looked at Marshall’s ridiculous pink-and-white penguin pajamas.

Then, because her mouth moved faster than her brain, she jokingly asked,

"Then... can I steal some of your blanket too?"

Marshall silently lifted one corner of it, inviting her to sit down if she wanted.

Lucy instantly turned bright red.

"N-Never mind!"

"I’ll use the guest room!"

"I’ll come wake you tomorrow!"

"Good night!"

She fled before she could embarrass herself any further.

Marshall watched her disappear through the door and shook his head.

She was unbelievably easy to fluster.

Always starting jokes she couldn’t finish.

Lucy, meanwhile, had another concern entirely.

There was no way she was reckless enough to share Marshall’s room.

If the fan clubs ever heard about something like that, they might genuinely throw her into the river.

...

The following morning, Marshall returned Lucy to Galuna Island.

She immediately found Natsu and Gray sprawled across the beach exactly where they had fallen the day before.

They really had spent the entire night sleeping in the sand.

Meanwhile, Lucy had secretly returned to Marshall’s home, slept comfortably in a warm guest room, changed into clean clothes, and eaten properly.

She felt a little guilty.

But also...

Strangely pleased!

Marshall’s voice reached her through Telepathy.

[Remember. Don’t mention me.]

[Just follow the normal process and continue the request as though nothing happened.]

[Report everything to me whenever necessary.]

[I’m going to prepare a few surprises for Natsu and Gray now.]

[Hehehe...]

Lucy’s conscience gave a painful little twitch.

[Got it. I’ll do as you say...]

Why did she suddenly feel like a traitor?

’Please don’t hate me when you eventually find out...’

Lucy silently prayed for forgiveness before walking over to wake the others.

Fortunately, Natsu and Gray were nowhere near as troublesome to wake as Marshall.

Two kicks did the job as Natsu sprang upright.

"OOOOHHHH!"

"We made it to Galuna Island?!"

He jumped to his feet.

"Let’s go!"

"Adventure time!"

"I’M ALL FIRED UP!"

Gray sat up much more slowly.

"...Wait."

Natsu immediately glared at him.

"Oi, ice bastard."

"You’re not still planning to drag us back to the guild, are you?"

Gray scratched his head and sighed.

"You people are impossible."

"But since we’re already here..."

He stood.

"Fine. Count me in."

Natsu blinked.

"What?"

"You finally changed your mind?"

"I’m still pissed that you secretly stole an S-Class quest."

Gray scowled.

"But if you two get thrown out of Fairy Tail, things will get boring."

He shoved his hands into his pockets.

"So let’s finish the job together."

Natsu grinned.

"Hahaha! Gray, every once in a while, you actually say something decent!"

"Shut up."

Then Gray suddenly narrowed his eyes at Lucy.

"Wait."

"Why are your clothes completely clean?"

He looked down at himself and Natsu.

"We smell like seawater and fish."

Lucy stiffened.

"C-Cough!"

"I woke up earlier than you!"

"So I already changed!"

Her face turned slightly red.

"Anyway, enough about that!"

"Let’s go meet the client!"

Lucy hurried forward before either of them could ask another question.

She had just lied directly to her teammates.

The feeling was... very strange.

’Waaah...’

’Marshall has corrupted me.’

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