"Sorry!"
Erza's anger flared quickly but dissipated just as fast. After immediately apologizing, she awkwardly climbed off Nate and sat on the edge of the bed.
"I really want to spar with you again, but I promised I wouldn't challenge you anymore," she said, taking her verbal agreements seriously.
Nate sighed. "You've used up a lot of your magic power today. Even if we do spar, how about we wait until tomorrow?"
"Are you really willing to spar with me again?" Erza blinked in surprise.
Nate was curious. "Why are you so insistent on sparring with me?"
Erza thought for a moment before answering seriously, "Hmm… I guess it's because I want to learn from you."
"Learn from me?"
"Your magic power wasn't particularly strong when you first joined the guild, but now you've surpassed me," Erza said, nodding. "So, I think sparring with you might help me improve too."
Nate found the idea amusing. 'I gain all my magic power by taking advantage of others—I never meditate or train. Do you think you can level up by just relaxing like I do?'
"Do you want to fight in the game or in real life?" he asked.
"In real life!"
"In that case... before we fight, you'll have to agree to one condition."
Erza froze for a moment, recalling their first meeting, but then smiled. "No matter how many conditions, I'll agree."
Nate grinned. "If you lose, how about becoming my girlfriend?"
'A proper defeat deserves a cutscene—something dynamic like 'Fairy Queen Erza Defeated'.avi!'
"Huh?" Erza's face went blank with shock.
"Or, if you win, I'll be your boyfriend."
'Isn't that the same thing?!' she thought.
Erza slowly processed his words, and her face turned a deep shade of red. "I... I've never been anyone's girlfriend before. I don't know how to be one."
Her words came out stiff and awkward, as if she wasn't used to such conversations. However, her mind was racing: 'Should I agree? I was the one who asked for the spar, so it might be rude to refuse…'
Erza had never considered dating. Though she had admirers in the past, she dealt with them by simply beating them up.
Although Nate couldn't hear her thoughts, her expression revealed everything.
'What an adorable reaction', Nate thought, chuckling. "If you don't want to, we can still spar. No need to feel pressured."
"I'll agree!" Erza responded earnestly, her face reddening further. She then added seriously, "It has nothing to do with the sparring. If it's with you… I'd be happy to be your girlfriend."
She didn't dislike Nate—in fact, she quietly admired him. In her eyes, Nate was outstanding: handsome, powerful, kind, and admired by everyone. Her only worry was whether she, a woman who only knew battle, could be a good girlfriend.
'How can I be a good girlfriend?' she wondered.
Nate, meanwhile, was slightly taken aback by her genuine response. A sudden thought crossed his mind: 'If Erza finds out I have other girlfriends, will she try to kill me?'
He hadn't expected her to take it so seriously, especially when she said, "It has nothing to do with sparring."
'Stay calm, stay calm.'
"Well, let's start with a kiss," Nate suggested, grabbing her shoulders, ready to claim what was rightfully his as her boyfriend. This time, it was perfectly justified.
Erza stood there, completely still, waiting passively.
Suddenly, there was a small noise nearby.
Erza's eyes cleared instantly, and she shot to her feet. Lucy had woken up from her nap at the tea table, stretching and letting out a relaxed sigh.
"Ah~ Lying like that is tiring."
She turned and saw Nate sitting on the bed and Erza standing stiffly beside him. Blinking, she asked, "Erza, were you two about to fight?"
'No, we were about to kiss. If you'd stayed asleep just a bit longer…' Nate sighed internally, having forgotten Lucy was even there.
Erza, acting as though nothing had happened, said, "We've agreed to spar tomorrow. Lucy, I'll head back to the guild dorm now. See you!"
'It would've been so embarrassing if Lucy had seen us kissing!' Erza thought as she quickly left, mentally preparing to pick up a copy of 'How to Be a Good Girlfriend' on her way back.
Lucy watched Erza flee and tilted her head. "You guys are going to spar again?"
"Do you want to join?" Nate asked.
"No thanks. Even if I teamed up with Erza, we still wouldn't be able to beat you."
Suddenly, Lucy remembered something and ran over to Nate, clutching his arm while pleading, "Nate-sama, please teach me magic! I'm begging you!"
"Oh, right! You owe me a wish! I wish for you to teach me some powerful super magic!"
"Please, Nate-sama~ You're all-powerful!"
'This shameless girl! Do you think I'm some kind of magic vending machine?' Nate sighed. "A powerful super magic, huh?"
The softness of her touch was hard to ignore, and he couldn't help but feel a little troubled. Lucy had clearly mastered the art of using her charm to sway him.
'Am I really that easily swayed?' Nate thought.
'Yes, yes, I am,' he admitted internally.
After thinking for a moment, Nate said, "Actually, there is a super magic that might suit you."
"Super magic?" Lucy's eyes sparkled, and she hugged his arm tighter.
"Teach me, teach me!"
"Calm down." Nate smiled and continued, "It's called 'Urano Metria,' a celestial magic. It's a high-level spell from ancient times, using the power of the eighty-eight constellations for a full-area attack."
Lucy's face lit up with excitement. "Really? There's such a powerful magic that's perfect for me? Please teach me, I'll work really hard!"
"Don't get too excited. I don't know how to use it."
Lucy's joy faded instantly, and she puffed her cheeks in frustration. "Ugh! I fell for it again!"
'Lucy, how many times are you going to fall for this?' Nate thought.
With tears welling in her eyes, Lucy swore she'd put extra salt in Nate's food tonight.
"I don't know it, but I know someone who does," Nate said, enjoying teasing her. "You can ask the Celestial Spirit King. He'll definitely know."
"The Celestial Spirit King?" Lucy's jaw dropped. "That's the most powerful spirit in the Celestial Spirit World! How do you even know him?"
'That old guy's good friends with your mom. In fact, your whole Heartfilia family has deep connections with him,' Nate thought but simply said, "The Spirit King added me as a friend. I'll ask him about it for you."
"Oh, right! The Celestial Spirit World has Magic Net access now!"
Lucy finally remembered, though the idea of the Spirit King adding Nate as a friend still seemed surreal to her.
"Okay, it's a promise then. Don't back out!" Lucy said, staring at him intently.
"Got it. Now go, I'm busy."
"Thank you, Nate~" Lucy left happily.
Finally, the room was peaceful once more.
~~~
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