The Magic Merchant in Fairy Tail

1: Hope House

Boom!

The sharp sting of pain jolted Kira from his sleep, the throb too strong to ignore.

"It hurts! Who in the world dares to disturb my precious nap? I will definitely..." he grumbled, still half-asleep.

"It's me!"

Kira opened his sky-blue eyes, blinking a few times to adjust his vision. Before him stood a woman with long, flowing hair the same color as his. When she was angry, she bore an uncanny resemblance to the fiery pepper plant from the neighboring garden. Her eyes, though, were what really got to him—an expression so sharp that it practically screamed, "If you don't get up now, I will burn this place down."

Kira's mind cleared instantly, and his tone shifted dramatically: "...I should really thank her for waking me up on time for work."

"Oh, isn't this Erza?" He leaped to his feet, wiping the drool from the corner of his mouth with haste. "Sit down, sit down! What can I get for you today?"

At that moment, Kira looked less like the owner of a renowned magic shop and more like a nervous waiter at a bustling tavern.

"Oh... I heard you bought all the strawberry cakes from the new shop next door yesterday?"

"I see. I'll get them ready for you right away!" Kira sprang into action, moving with urgency.

It wasn't out of fear of Erza's raw power, although many would be terrified of her. Kira's attentiveness stemmed from something else...

"Dear VIP customer, please enjoy your meal! If anything about the taste disappoints you, I'll personally help you smash the entire cake shop to the ground!" he declared, half-joking, half-serious.

The "Hope Hut" that Kira ran was the best magic shop in all of Magnolia, famous for its variety of magical items. From enchanted tools to powerful weapons and armor, the store was a hotspot for wizards of all kinds.

Naturally, someone like Erza—an S-class wizard known for her Requip and knight magic—had become one of the shop's most valued customers. More importantly, she was loaded with money, which made her the perfect VIP.

One minute later...

Erza sat down elegantly on a plush leather sofa, savoring the strawberry cake with slow, deliberate bites. "Hmm... The flavor is delightful, and the texture is just right. But the service speed was a little on the slow side."

Slow? You've got to be kidding, right? Kira thought, suppressing a laugh.

After the cake was gone, Erza finally got down to business: "I'm here to pick up the armor I ordered the day before yesterday."

"Right, of course! Just give me a moment." Kira nodded, and with swift movements, he disappeared into a small room in the back of the shop. After a short wait, he emerged, carrying a dazzling set of armor that shimmered in the light.

The armor was snow-white and flawless, seamless but as tough as steel. Every part, from the helmet to the breastplate, arm guards, leotard, boots, and gloves, looked like it had been forged as one unified piece. The round shield that accompanied the set completed the look, perfectly highlighting a combination of elegance and raw power that seemed custom-built for someone like Erza.

"This set of diamond armor was designed specifically for you, using the finest materials and the most advanced techniques from the H-K store's design specs," Kira explained enthusiastically. "It's made from the scales of a giant snake, rhino horns, jackal claws, and even crocodile teeth. I also added a defensive spell I've been using for over twelve years, so you can be sure the defense is absolutely top-notch."

He took a breath before continuing, "This technique is something I picked up from the most famous magic shop owner in the royal capital. It's an impressive selling point, trust me."

Unfortunately, this time, Kira was pitching his masterpiece to Erza.

Erza, though polite, wasn't paying much attention to his lengthy explanation. She was more interested in the armor's practicality. "Let's try it out now," she said, standing up.

"Ah? But I haven't even finished explaining!" Kira protested.

This armor was his finest creation! Even for a VIP like Erza, this was too much. Letting him finish his speech would be common courtesy, right? Not being able to go on felt as uncomfortable as wearing silk robes to bed with no one to admire them.

"It's fine. I don't need to hear all that."

"Okay, okay... but just so you know, I also added our store's logo, so—"

"Yeah, sure," Erza replied indifferently, clearly uninterested. As long as the armor worked as promised, she had no issues with logos. "Hurry up, Kira!!"

"Yes!!!"

Kira quickly set the armor in front of a specially designed wall made of energy-absorbing stone.

Energy-absorbing stone was a rare, expensive mineral that neutralized almost any magic or physical energy that struck it, ensuring no collateral damage. It was often used in places like city walls or high-security vaults.

In Ishgar, another mineral called Magic Sealing Stone existed. While less expensive, it was mostly used for making anti-magic restraints like handcuffs, preventing wizards from casting spells when bound.

As a magic shop owner, Kira knew it was crucial to demonstrate the strength of his wares, which is why he invested in the energy-absorbing wall. It was a mark of quality for high-end magic shops.

Kira pulled out a short, metallic wand from his sleeve. It was about 30 cm long, silver, and engraved with mysterious symbols.

Though it appeared ordinary, experienced magicians would recognize it for what it was: a wand containing a powerful, carefully crafted magic circle.

"Watch out!" Kira said, gently pressing the wand against the armor and softly chanting, "Energy Shock."

A red magic circle formed in the air as magic surged out of the wand. The power built up quickly, gathering into a massive energy blast. Amplified by the wand, the force was enough to destroy the entire shop, if not contained properly, and it shot out with incredible speed!

The resulting shockwave sent gusts of wind tearing through the room, blowing Erza's hair and skirt around wildly, though she remained firmly planted.

Kira shot a glance at Erza, thinking: As expected of Erza—solid as a rock, even in the face of such power!

Erza, in turn, observed Kira: As expected of Kira, casually casting such high-level magic like it's nothing!

Their eyes met briefly before they both looked away, thinking the same thing: I need to spar with her/him sometime!

Erza mused: "Kira's been slacking off for so long, I thought his skills had dulled. But his Word Magic has gotten really strong."

With the force of the blast, the armor was hurled against the wall, but the expected crash never came. The energy-absorbing stone had neutralized the impact, minimizing any vibrations.

As long as this wall stood, no attack could harm Kira's shop.

Kira quickly retrieved the armor, inspecting it closely before presenting it proudly to Erza. "See? The defense is incredible. Not a scratch."

Erza stepped forward and examined the armor. She had felt how powerful that magic attack was.

The armor remained unscathed, clearly far superior to her previous sets. Satisfied, Erza nodded approvingly.