Side Story #1: Rich? I crash economies for a living

"I'm sorry for being late"

Irene said with an apologetic expression on her face as she entered the principal's office of Erza's school. Wearing a simple dress without wearing any make up. Emphasizing her natural beauty.

"You're finally here. Like mother like daughter. Bold of you to keep us waiting, who do you think you are?"

A middle-aged woman wearing a luxurious outfit and a branded purse said while glaring at Irene's direction. But recieved no response from Irene who immediately went towards Erza's direction. 

"You!! Tch, like mother like daughter. This is why I hate low-class and uneducated people"

She clicked her tongue with an angry and sarcastic expression on her face. Looking at Irene with an arrogant look.

"I see"

Irene answered without a single change in her expression while Erza frowned while glaring at the woman. Before she glanced at the middle-aged man dressed in a suit, staring at Irene'w body with a perverted expression on his face.

"Enough!"

The principal shouted with an angry expression on his face. Glaring at the woman like he couldn't stand her attitude. But due to their investment to the school. He'll get kicked out by the board if he openly told them off.

"Mrs. Balserion, Mrs. Hirano. We called you here to discuss about the conflict between your two children. Not for the two of you to bicker in the principal's office. So please refrain from making unnecessary comments"

He said while glancing at the woman. Tiredly sighing before he sat back down on his seat.

"Isn't it obvious!? She must be expelled!! Look at what that brat has done to my baby boy!"

She said while pointing at the 7 year old boy. Pointing at the red mark on his cheek, and several bruises on his body. Making Irene frown before looking at Erza's direction.

"Mrs. Hirano please calm down"

"How can I calm down!? This brat lacks discipline!! How can she beat up my boy when he only courted her! She should be proud that my son even took interest in her"

She said but recieved no response nor reaction from Irene who just smile at her direction. Like she was looking at a rock, and not a living being.

"Now now, please forgive my wife. We are just devastated to see our son in this state... Maybe we could discuss this peacefully and privately. How about it?"

The man said as he stretched out his hand to Irene. Giving her a wink as he took out his business card with his other hand.

"Stay away from my mom!!"

Erza shouted as she ran in front of Irene and used her body to block the middle-aged man from coming close. Making the man slightly frown.

"How dare you shout at my husband while his being nice!?"

She said before looking up and down Irene's and Erza's body before scoffing. Hiding her mouth under a foldable fan.

"It looks like both you and your daughter are the same. You're only good at seducing-"

She said but immediately stopped as she felt a flash of killing intent run down her spine. Making her look around but found nothing.

"Don't interfere"

Irene said to the guard that Lucias sent, standing behind her with a layer of mana covering his entire body. Making him completely invisible to the people around them except for Erza and Irene.

"I understand, we'll compensate for any damages. I hope we can peacefully talk this out as parents. I'll educate my daughter later regarding this so I hope you can forgive us just this once"

Timeskip

"Hmm? Is there something wrong, Erza?"

Lucias asked while looking down at Erza who was sulking while eating a large container of ice cream. 

"Nothing..."

"Really? How about you tell dad what happened? Maybe I can help you so don't feel so down"

He said as he sat down beside Erza. Giving her a gentle pat on her head but still recieved no answer from Erza who continued to eat her ice cream with a pout.

"... I heard you were called in the principal's office. Sorry if dad wasn't able to come, I'll try to make it up to you during the parent's meeting"

He said causing Erza's eyes to shine before looking up at Lucias with an excited expression on her face.

"You'll really go!? With mom!?"

"Of course, I already cleared my schedule at that day"

He said causing Erza's sour mood to improve as she placed the large container of ice cream down on the table. Hugging Lucias' with a bright smile on her face.

"Thank you, dad!!"

She said. Making Lucias unconsciously smile as he placed her sitting on his lap.

"So, care to tell me why were you called in the principal's office?"

He asked. Making Erza slightly nervous before honestly confessing the reason to him.

"I beat up a kid from school"

"... Why?"

Lucias asked. Intently listening to Erza's words.

"Because... he kept pestering me about how rich he is, and forces me to do what he wants... If I don't follow, my classmates bully me..."

She said while slightly lowering her head. Making Lucias to gently caress her head.

"Just ignore him. I'll talk to the principal at your school to deal with this bullying... Sometimes it's better to ignore them than to retaliate since that will show how much of a fool they are. They are also just normal humans, so don't hit them or else you'll accidentally kill them"

He said, causing Erza to look up at Lucias.

"He also called us poor..."

She muttered. Making Lucias' to look at her with a strange expression on his face.

"Is the daily allowance that I give you not enough? I knew it was little, but your mom keep stopping me from giving you more"

"Dad, you're already giving me 10 million yen everyday. I don't understand your sense of money. Mom said your spoiling me too much"

She said while pointing her finger at Lucias with a judgemental expression on her face. Making Lucias helplessly smile in response.

"Alright, dad's in the wrong... Is that why you beat him?"

"I beat him up because he insulted my mom! His mother also called my me and mom a slut!"

He said. Making Lucias' smile to freeze on his face before quickly covering her mouth.

"Did she really?"

"When we left the room principal's office. I heard her whisper this to my mom, and his dad kept looking at mom with a perverted expression on his face. Like what uncle Issei looked like while looking at Sandra in the past!"

"..."

"He also openly courted me, that's why I can't have any male friends at school"

"... He courted you?"

Lucias muttered silent before with a frown on his face. Displeased that there was someone trying to get close to his daughter, and an unknown woman with superiority complex insulting his wife.

"I guess.. in times like this... It's better to show them what our family is capable of... To make them see who they are dealing with"

"Are you going to kill them?"

"No... I'll just give them a slap in the face, with the same thing that they kept rubbing to us.. with money"

He said before pressing the earpiece on his right ear. Looking at Erza with a light grin on his face.

"They have the balls to rub on our faces how rich they are. Rich? I crash economies for a living. We'll let them see how "rich" we truly are"

"... You're acting petty, dad"

"Maybe I am, but it's to give them a slight warning... To stay away from both my daughter and wife"

Timeskip

"Mom!"

Erza shouted while waving her hand at Irene who arrived at their school for the parent's meeting. Making Irene stretch out her hands at Erza before hugging her in her embrace. Ignoring the stares of the men around her eying her figure.

"Where's your father? Is he still not here yet?"

She asked while looking around their location. Making Erza shake her head to the side as a mischievous smile appeared on her face.

"... What are you two planning?"

She asked with a slight frown on her face before hearing several shouts around her. 

"Look at that!!"

One of them shouted while pointing at a helicopter descending down from the sky. Slowly landing down on the empty land close to the primary school as a crowd slowly built up around the scene.

"That man..."

Irene muttered with a helpless smile on her face as Lucias came down from the helicopter, wearing a formal clothes, but not to extravagant to the point of obnoxiousness. Escorted by several men in black suits as he slowly walked towards Irene's and Erza's direction.

"You..."

"I know that this is slightly embarrassing, but bare with me, alright?"

He said. Making Irene sigh before pointing at the large number of guards behind him.

"Make them leave"

She said making Lucias nod his head before signalling for his men to leave together with the helicopter. Making all of them bow their heads respectfully before following his orders.

"Let's go"

He said, ignoring the stunned crowd before the 3 of them walked towards the entrance where they saw the familiar woman from before. Wearing the same extravagant outfit that screamed to the crowd how rich they are.

"Hmm? If it isn't the bitch from before. You still have the galls to show your face here in this school"

She said before her eyes stopped at Lucias who had a sharp expression on his face. Making her slightly blush in response.

"You must be Mrs. Hirano correct? I'm Lucias Frey, Erza's father"

He introduced causing the woman to cough before averting her eyes away from Lucias.

"S-So you're her father? You look young... you don't look like much except for that face of yours"

She said before entering the entrance of the school. Leaving her husband who glared at Lucias direction.

"Mr. Hirano... Let's a pleasure to meet you"

He said before placing his hand on the man's shoulder as he leaned closer to his ears.

"You better keep that dick in your pants, and stop eying my wife. Or I'll make you regret it"

He warned before seperating himself from him. Showing him a kind smile that was far different from the murderous tone that he used when he warned him.

"Got that?"

He said, causing the man to break out in fury before pointing his finger at Lucias' direction.

"You... Who do you think you are to threaten me like that?"

The man said before throwing his business card at Lucias with a provocative smile on his face.

"Don't you know who I am!? I'm a branch manager of the most prestigious StarTech Cooperation! I can kick you out of this country if I want to!"

He said making Lucias look at him with a weird expression on his face before throwing him his own business card. Making the man frown as he unconsciously caught the business card and read it with a irritated smile on his face.

"Tch... You think that any company will threaten mine? Aren't you so..."

He said but stopped his words as his eyes landed on top of the name of the company and the position that Lucias held in that company.

"I didn't know that one of my branch managers acted this arrogant and corrupt"

He said. Making the man tremble in fear as he felt cold sweat ran down his back. 

"C-CEO F-Frey... I-I think that there's just a misunderstanding between us"

He said with a nervous expression on his face. Making Lucias "smile" at his direction.

"Pack your things. You're fired, and I'll also investigate your branch so if I see anything wrong. You'll have to pay for it"

"I-I-I-"

"Do I have to repeat myself? Get out of my sight"

He said causing the man to hurriedly crawl away with a pale complexion. While Erza looked at him in surprise.

"Dad, you own a company?"

She asked making Lucias chuckle before gently patting her head.

"That's just a company that your uncle Riku created to cover up for the amount of money we're making everyday. It's also to regulate the economy to avoid accidently crashing it due to inflation"

He said before holding Erza's hand as the 3 of them entered the school building. 

Timeskip

"Dad! I want to eat your cooking!"

Erza said while she sat on Lucias' shoulder with a bright expression on her face.

"Alright, I'll cook you both a feast tonight so look forward to it!"

He said as they walked towards their mansion where the rest of the girls were waiting.

"So, what are you going to do with the branch company here in japan?"

Irene asked as she wrapped her arms around Lucias.

"I'll probably just give it away, it was bound to collapse anyway because of what that guy's shitty management"

"Won't you lose a lot of money because of that?"

Irene asked, making Lucias smile before he gave her a short peck on her cheeks.

"We don't really need that much money. It's not like we'll lose a lot, and... money doesn't really make me as happy as you girls do"

He said as they arrive inside the mansion. Greeted by the girls who were watching a movie on the sofa. Making Lucias smile as Erza ran towards the girls at the sofa with a light smile on her face. Satisfied from the time that she spent together with her step-father, and mother.

"I'm home"