Chapter 97: A Hero for Three Seconds
Chapter 97: A Hero for Three Seconds
The others had never seen anything like it. "Isn't Natsu only supposed to eat fire?"
"That guy just ate Laxus's lightning?"
Happi was delighted. "Natsu!"
"Ahahaha! I'm not afraid of your lightning anymore, Laxus!"
In an instant, Natsu burst with astonishing magical power, but after taking just two steps, he began to stagger.
"Take this! Huh? La~x~us..." Natsu swayed, then fell to the ground with a thud.
"Natsu!" Everyone rushed over to him.
Mira knelt down to check Natsu's condition. "He doesn't seem to be injured, but he might not be able to digest Laxus's lightning."
Erza facepalmed, thinking he had actually mastered the magic to eat lightning.
Gray, who had been worried a moment ago, scoffed. "That idiot!"
"Natsu..." Happi asked anxiously, "Is he really okay?"
Mira patted Happi's head. "He should be fine, but it's best to have Grandma Porlyusica check him out."
Laxus, who had been building up his fighting spirit, was interrupted. The lightning around him dissipated, and he turned away coldly. "Boring."
Fried draped a coat over Laxus, and they left together.
Rod frowned. What were they even here for? They just came and left, just to check in at the guild?
"I'll take Natsu to Grandma Porlyusica," Rod said, having started calling her 'lady' but now following Mira's lead.
It felt better to call her 'Grandma,' making it more intimate.
Rod summoned a River Crab and, with Gray's help, lifted Natsu onto its back.
He had been worried about being too rough and hurting Natsu, but when he saw how rough Gray was, almost kicking Natsu onto the crab, Rod relaxed.
It wasn't a big deal; Natsu was just tough.
Rod rode the Swift Crab, taking Natsu and Happi with him as they rumbled out of the guild.
The doorframe was slightly damaged by the crab's shell, but it was nothing compared to the destruction Natsu's breath attack had caused.
The others relaxed, settling their bets and beginning to repair the guild.
"Make way, emergency patient!"
Rod felt like he was experiencing the sensation of "a crab crossing the street—ruling the road," even though the Swift Crab didn't walk sideways.
The streets were bustling with people, many of whom recognized Rod's crab. Tourists, seeing the locals calmly making way, weren't afraid either.
It was fitting for a city where magic thrived, with magical creatures running around everywhere!
Once they were out of the city, Rod no longer needed to shout to clear the way.
He poked Natsu's face, feeling that this time his symptoms were much worse than motion sickness. Could this be considered food poisoning?
"Happi, can Natsu eat anything other than fire?"
"I don't know, I've never seen him eat it, but he eats our fish."
"Fish isn't magic... So, he just decided to give it a try on a whim?"
"Love."
That was too unreliable.
Rod signaled the crab to speed up and soon arrived at Porlyusica's treehouse.
"Happi, go knock on the door."
"Love!" Happi flew off but quickly returned. "Rod, I'm too scared to go."
"She hates people, not cats."
"I'm not just a regular cat."
"Ha ha." Rod saw through Happi.
Happi's definition of what constituted a cat was very flexible, depending on the situation.
With no other choice, Rod had to knock on the door himself.
When Porlyusica opened the door, she didn't look happy. "What do you want? Did you run out of the antidote so quickly?"
“No, it’s just that Natsu seems a bit off, so I thought you could take a look at him.”
Rod pointed to Natsu, who was lying on the back of the river crab. “He took a lightning attack from Ragsas during their duel.”
“Another reckless idiot! Can’t that Makarov teach his brats to behave?”
While grumbling, Porlyusica began to examine Natsu.
“Wait here.” Porlyusica went back into her house, apparently not intending to let them in.
“Rod, will Natsu be okay?”
“From the way Porlyusica is acting, he’ll be fine,” Rod replied, based on his understanding of her. “If it were serious, she would have told us to carry Natsu inside or dig a grave on the spot.”
“Right.”
A few minutes later, Porlyusica returned with a test tube and administered the medicine to Natsu.
“Is that all it takes?”
“Not a chance!” Porlyusica snapped. “He’ll be weak for a while. Tell him to rest when you get back and not to eat any more random things!”
“Natsu, Natsu~” Happy slapped Natsu’s cheeks. “But why isn’t he waking up?”
Porlyusica waved them off. “Stand back.”
Happy obediently moved aside, and then watched as Porlyusica punched Natsu in the stomach.
“Oof!” Natsu folded in half like a book, then sprawled out again.
“Ow!” Natsu woke up, clutching his stomach in pain.
Happy was furious. “What are you doing!”
Rod added, “Granny, beating a patient is a bit much, don’t you think?”
“You asked me to wake him up,” Porlyusica retorted, clearly annoyed by the lack of discipline in the Fairy Tail members. “If he’s fine, leave now and go back!”
“We’ll be on our way. Sorry for the trouble,” Rod said. “Come on, Happy.”
Although Natsu had been punched again, at least he had been treated. Doctors knew their limits, and Rod forgave her, considering it part of the medical fee.
Porlyusica suddenly called out, “Wait a moment!”
“Huh? Oh, do you need help with something?”
Porlyusica looked at Rod and furrowed her brow. “Have you been in a lot of fights recently?”
“No, just the occasional sparring session with my guildmates. I do a lot of regular training, though.”
Porlyusica seemed to be getting angry, pointing at him but unable to find the words.
Rod was confused by her mood. “Um, you—”
“Just wait here!”
Her tone made Rod want to run, but he stayed put.
A moment later, Porlyusica returned with a cloth bundle and thrust it at Rod.
“Mix the medicine inside with warm water. Use it to massage any sore muscles after each workout. Don’t use any random ointments!”
“How did you know I—”
“Just go!”
“Oh… thank you.” Rod led Natsu and Happy away, riding the river crab.
Once they were out of sight, Porlyusica stomped her feet and ranted like a frustrated teenager.
“Idiots! All of Fairy Tail are idiots! The old ones and the young ones never give me a moment’s peace, and the kids are even more reckless! Do you think your bodies belong to someone else? Idiots!”
Still fuming, she grabbed a broom and started whacking a nearby tree.
“Makarov, you idiot! How do you raise these kids? One after another…”
(End of Chapter)
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