While speaking, Tike picked another tomato that looked particularly plump and handed it to Wendy.
Wendy hesitated for a moment but still reached out her small hand to take it, biting a small piece carefully.
"Mmph..."
Just that little bit entered her mouth, and Wendy's brows furrowed tightly instantly. Her whole small face wrinkled into a bun, revealing an obviously sour expression.
"So sour..."
"Don't force yourself if you don't like it."
Tike took the remaining tomato from her hand, finished it in a few bites, and then picked up another one to eat.
Seeing him eat sweetly, Wendy lowered her eyelids somewhat uneasily, muttering softly: "Brother Tike, am I a bad child for being picky?"
"What's the big deal? Everyone has things they don't like to eat." Tike waved his hand dismissively. "Like me, I hate eating bitter things super much."
Hearing this, Wendy immediately found resonance and nodded vigorously: "Mm! I don't like bitter things either! I like sweet things!"
The old village chief beside them, listening to their conversation, chimed in cheerfully: "Speaking of sweet, now that the monster is defeated, I reckon the watermelons in the neighboring village should be back to normal. The watermelons there are famously big, each and every one, and sweet too!"
Tike's heart moved. Just as he wanted to say that was perfect to go buy a few to taste, Wendy beside him already beat him to it, announcing with glowing eyes: "Brother Tike! Let's go buy watermelons!"
---
"So, you guys spent all the commission fee from this request buying watermelons?"
Looking at the watermelons almost piling up the entire living room in front of her, Ur couldn't help holding her forehead, her face full of helplessness.
Wendy stood by the pile of melons, her small head slightly lowered, twisting her fingers somewhat embarrassedly, defending with a voice as faint as a mosquito's hum: "Because... because they are really delicious..."
"Yeah, yeah! Super delicious!"
Tike also nodded repeatedly in agreement, watermelon juice still remaining at the corner of his mouth.
Ur sighed, her gaze falling back on that astonishing quantity: "Even if they are delicious, no need to buy so many, right? Do you know how many there are exactly?"
"Um... one, two..."
Wendy extended her small hand seriously, starting to count by bending her fingers one by one, but soon got confused due to the sheer number.
"Three... thirty thousand?"
"How did you jump directly to thirty thousand? Impossible to have that many." Tike corrected, "Only about five hundred. Plus some temporarily stored in the village for them to help keep; I can go get them anytime."
"Five hundred..." Ur pressed her temples gently. "Although I can use Ice Magic to extend their shelf life slightly, with just these few people at home, we definitely can't finish so many watermelons."
"I can send some to Big Sis Ultear, and also share with Gray and Lyon." Tike began to actively offer ideas.
Ur raised her eyebrows slightly, a helpless smile on the corner of her mouth: "Even including them, I'm afraid we still can't finish them, right?"
Wendy also thought seriously, adding softly: "We can also give some to Big Sis Erza and Big Sis Kagura."
"Right! Take some more to the guild and share with everyone; we can definitely finish them!"
The more Tike spoke, the more feasible he felt this idea was, revealing an expectant smile on his face.
Watching the two children's enthusiastic discussion, Ur just smiled gently and said no more.
---
The next day, almost every guild member had a big watermelon in hand. The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of melons and refreshing coolness, dispelling the summer heat and adding a cheerful atmosphere unique to summer to the guild.
During the few short days Tike and Wendy were out on the request, the guild also welcomed some fresh faces.
Tike sat leisurely at the bar counter, sipping chilled watermelon juice comfortably while observing the new members in the guild with interest—a white-haired girl playing a "you take a bite, I take a bite" feeding game with Natsu.
The girl's name was Lisanna. She joined the guild a few days ago with her older brother and sister.
She and her brother Elfman had already integrated into the liveliness of the guild, mingling with the children in the guild.
(Little sister character with short white hair... basically the same type as Yukino.)
But better than Yukino was that her older sister also joined here.
In the past two years, Tike had destroyed quite a few dark magic cult strongholds but still failed to find any valid clues about Sorano.
Tike downed a large mouthful of cold watermelon juice, placed the empty glass gently on the bar counter, and shifted his gaze to the white-haired girl sitting alone in the corner—Lisanna's older sister, Mirajane.
Mirajane wrapped herself in a large cloak, emitting a gloomy and alienated aura all over her body, like an invisible wall isolating her from the surrounding liveliness.
Erza also noticed the white-haired girl in the corner. She walked up to Mirajane and greeted her with a hearty smile: "Hello, I'm Erza. Heard from the Master that your magic is very special. If you have time, wanna spar?"
Facing Erza's invitation, the white-haired girl under the cloak not only didn't respond but shrank her right hand deeper into the cloak. Immediately after, she stood up abruptly, rushed out of the guild door without a word, and disappeared from everyone's sight.
Watching Mirajane's hurriedly running back, Erza had obvious confusion on her face. She walked to Tike's side and asked somewhat distressfully: "Did I say something I shouldn't have?"
"Well..." Tike moved his nose tip slightly, responding to Erza's doubt, "She seems to dislike you mentioning her magic."
"Ah?" Erza frowned slightly, appearing even more puzzled. "She doesn't like her own magic? Why?"
"Don't know. I haven't even greeted her."
Tike looked around, walked to Elfman's side, lowered his voice slightly, and asked inquiringly: "Elfman, Big Sis Mira seems not very happy. Did something happen before?"
Elfman also noticed his sister leaving, his eyes dimming a bit.
"Back when we were still in the village, Big Sis used magic to Take Over a demon that appeared in the church to protect me and Lisanna. As a result, people in the village treated her as a monster and drove our family out."
He clenched his fist subconsciously.
"We wandered for a long time before coming here. The Master told us the truth about Big Sis's magic and was willing to accept us. But... Big Sis still hasn't walked out of the shadow from before..."
After listening to Elfman's account, Tike nodded thoughtfully, uttering a soft "Oh... so that's how it is."
He finally understood where the lingering gloomy aura on Mirajane came from and understood why she resisted her own magic so much.
(Chat with her?)
Just as Tike planned to get up to look for Mirajane who ran out alone, Elfman's next words stopped him.
"Lisanna and I are also working hard to learn Take Over Magic. We think, when we learn it and show it to Big Sis, maybe she won't be so sad anymore."
Although Elfman's voice was low, it carried a firm strength.
Smelling the scent of family affection floating in the air due to his words, Tike curled the corner of his mouth slightly.
"Then you guys must do your best. I believe Big Sis Mira will be very happy seeing your efforts."