"What a grand mansion."
Instead of wasting their time, the two quickly went to the client's house.
Naturally, Lucy was amazed when she saw the client's home, which was a huge mansion, clearly showing the client's wealth.
"Are you okay with starting the job immediately?"
When Kira asked, he turned on all the record magic items on his body.
"Yup!" Lucy nodded with a bright smile. "I have slept enough and am full of energy now!"
"Oh, yes..."
Staring at the wet mark on the shoulder part of his shirt, Kira sighed helplessly before he called the client, ready to talk about the quest. Still, changing the state of his mind, while this was his first quest with Lucy, instead of thinking about how to be successful and get the reward money, his focus was to teach Lucy about the reality of the quest.
"Excuse us, we're the mages from Fairy Tail, who took the job requested by Kaby Melon."
As Lucy thought that they would be welcomed excitedly into the grand mansion, a voice from the side asked them to come in from behind. "Ah, yes, but I am sorry, can you please come in from the back door?"
"Eh?"
"What's wrong?" Kira looked at Lucy while asking.
It was weird, Lucy thought, but when she looked at Kira, thinking that she was the one who chose this job, she shook her head and said, "No, it's fine."
"Then, let's go."
"Okay."
As the two walked toward the back door, they were greeted by two middle-aged men and a woman, who seemed to be married.
"Are you from Fairy Tail? Thank you for accepting my request. I have been troubled by it since no one can complete it, but if it's the mages from the Fairy Tail, then they should be able to do it, right?"
The man knew that Fairy Tail was the strongest guild in this kingdom, the Kingdom of Fiore, and after watching how calm, collected, yet professional Kira appeared, somehow, he had that confidence.
"Yes, my name is Kira Olam, and this is my partner, Lucy."
"Hello." Lucy blushed, feeling happy being called Kira's partner.
"Once again, we're the mages of Fairy Tail, who have decided to take the job that you requested."
As Kira said, he showed the tattoo of Fairy Tail on his arm, and Lucy did the same.
"Ah, yes, thank you for accepting this quest."
Watching how professional and straightforward they were, Kaby also had confidence.
"Before we talk about the job, I am sorry, but can I confirm that you are Kaby Melon, the one who requested the job?"
"Ah, yes, I am really Kaby Melon. This is my citizenship."
Instead of being angry, Kaby somehow felt strangely confident about the two mages before him.
"Yes, thank you. I have confirmed that you are Kaby Melon, so can we talk about the details of our job?"
"Yes, please come in, but then again, your job is simple, and that is to take the one and only copy of 'Day Break" that the Duke of Everlue owns then incinerate it."
After leading the two inside and talking about the content of the job inside the luxurious room as if trying to show off, Kaby told them to burn the book that he had requested.
"Huh? Burn? Destroy?"
Yet, Lucy felt confused and startled. "Isn't it stealing before?" When she said those words, she realized how weird this quest was, and she even wondered whether it was really okay to choose this job.
"I am basically asking you to destroy someone else's possession without permission, so it's almost the same as stealing..."
As Kaby said, Lucy even hesitated to accept this job since what they did was a criminal act.
Even if Everlue had a bad reputation, stealing his book meant that they committed a crime, and if they were discovered, who would take responsibility?
While the man in front of him could take the responsibility, as they had accepted his money, to a certain extent, they couldn't escape the crime, and in the worst case, they would enter jail.
"I will pay you 2,000,000 jewels! Please erase the existence of that book from this world!"
"2,000,000 jewels..."
Was that a lot?
Of course, the average income of people around the world is just about 200,000 jewels a month or even lower, especially for those at the bottom.
If they could get 2,000,000 jewels in a single job, in this easy job, then wouldn't it be amazing?
Yet, the risk of this job was clear, which was that they would become a criminal.
"Kira..."
Watching Lucy's hesitation, Kira was glad that this girl had learned some common sense. "Before we accept this quest, can I confirm that you really have that 2,000,000 jewels of reward?"
"O-Of course, we have!" Strangely enough, this time, Kaby Melon got angry when Kira doubted him. "Can you see this mansion? Do you think I am someone who lacks money?!"
Still, Kira didn't flinch since, compared to the danger that he might encounter, Kaby's anger was nothing. "I am sorry for doubting you, but many of our mages are often deceived by a client and then receive nothing even after we do our job, according to the client's wish, so due to that, we wanted to confirm whether that reward exists or not, or else, if you really deceive us, then please be prepared for the anger of the mages of the Fairy Tail?"
As he said so, the aura around him changed without him realising it, probably due to his mastery over the Dangerous Games and his acceptance of the evil inside him. The powerful aura that came from his anger and many other negative emotions that came from his stress became an aura that could frighten the weak.
"I..."
At this moment, Kaby realised that the mage before him was different from those greedy mages, who were greedy for money and easily manipulated as long as money was involved.
"While the reward that you prepare for is huge, the danger that comes from your quest is also high as we will become a criminal when this matter is discovered and as we have accepted your quest, and the one who took the book, then we would be the one who took the risk from angering the Duke Everlue, and become a criminal, so I hope that you understand why we're being careful.
"If you can't reassure us that you have prepared our reward, then I am sorry, we won't accept this quest. Let's go, Lucy."
"Yes."
As Kira stood up, Lucy also followed, but a plop sound was heard.
"Dear!"
"I beg you! Please! Help me to destroy that "Daybreak" book! As for the reward... I don't have it now, but I will do my best to repay you! Mage-sama, please!"
As Kaby said so, his eyes were filled with an intense sadness, showing how much he needed their help, causing Lucy to flinch, but Kira hated this type of person the most.
"If you really hate that book, instead of asking us for a quest, why don't you do it yourselves? If you ask for help from others, then doesn't that mean your feelings aren't as strong as you thought they were?"
Kaby was stunned when he heard those words, then just sat on the ground in a daze.
Still, Kira ignored Kaby and just left, but as expected, Lucy appeared awkward, following him from behind, so he asked, "Do you think I am cold, Lucy?"
"Ah, no, you did the right thing."
"Is it?"
"Yes." While Kira might appear cold, Lucy knew that he just cared about their well-being and safety. "As you have said before, this job is nothing but a crime, and when everything is discovered, we will be the ones who have to take the responsibility."
"You are right, especially when he asked us to burn the book, so it can erase the client's responsibility, so if the Duke Everlue asks for a responsibility, then he will come to us, then blackmail us, asking for a money, in the worst case, he might work us like slaves."
"T-That's..."
"That might be a bit too much, right?" Kira sighed and said, "I also hope so, and frankly, if possible, I want to help, but that guy is lying about his situation, after all."
"As expected, huh?"
"Yes, he doesn't have money, and he should be poor. As for that house, he is probably borrowing it from someone, and to do that, he might use all of his money. He might appear like a sad person, but when we finish our quest, he will show his true face."
Kaby's face reminded Kira of someone who had wanted to borrow money from him in his previous life. When they asked for money, they would show the most pitiful face, trying to show him how much they needed the money, but when he asked for a repayment, they would put on the coldest face despite the money being his.
Facing Lucy, Kira said, "This is a quest, Lucy. It isn't all bright and happy, so the next time, I hope that you are being careful instead of tempted just because of the reward. I hope that you understand this lesson well. That said, not everything is like this, especially for those who are tasked to hunt down dangerous beasts or criminals. Next time, choose your quest wisely, Lucy."
"Thank you, Kira."
"It's fine. Just be careful next time."
Feeling his gentle touch on her head, Lucy closed her eyes, enjoying this warm moment that he gave her.
Now, Lucy understood why Kira had come with her, and he understood why he hadn't said anything about this quest until they met the client.
It was because he wanted to teach her the truth of this quest!
Yet, a question also emerged in her mind.
Why did he do so much for her?
Did... did he like her too?
As she thought so, her face grew red, full of expectation, and showed a happy puppy smile.
"...."
Watching the silly expression that appeared once again on Lucy's face, Kira could only take a hopeless breath.
"That said, it would be wasteful to just go home like this."
"Don't tell me!"
"Yes, how about we see how evil this Everlue is?" Kira looked at Lucy and asked, "Are you up, Lucy?"
"Yes!"
This is what Lucy sought when she became a member of the Fairy Tail!
Fighting the bad guy and becoming a hero!
Yet, at the same time, Lucy laughed, thinking that this guy was a tsundere.
While Kira wasn't sure what this silly girl was thinking, he was sure that she must be thinking something silly again. "Let's go!"
"Yes!" Lucy was full of fighting spirit, then asked with full expectation, "Should I change into my maid uniform?"
"..."
"...no, but I have another idea."
Yes, to take down an evil, they had to be smart.