Fairy Tail: This Healing Mage's hits hurt so much!

Chapter 220 The Amazing House

Gray pushed open the door and entered the manor, but before he could even speak, he was stunned by the sight before him.

A copper hot pot was bubbling away on a long table under the sycamore tree, steam rising and filling the air with a sweet and fresh aroma.

Sunny was simmering fish slices in the pot, Mirajane was elegantly picking up food for him, Wendy was holding her bowl with both hands, her cheeks bulging, and Charlotte was leaning on the edge of the table, taking small bites of fish.

Even Lisana and Elfman were there. Lisana sat opposite Sunrise, smiling as she waited for the meat in the pot to cook.

Elfman's mouth was already glistening with oil, and as he chewed, he mumbled something like, "This is how a real man eats."

"Weren't you guys back to prepare medicine?! What are you doing eating hot pot?!"

Gray pointed at the steaming hot pot, his expression shifting between shock and speechlessness.

Riyao blinked, his chopsticks still holding a piece of translucent fish meat, and slowly dipped it into the pot.

He turned to look at Gray at the door and Juvia, who was sneaking behind him, trying to hide herself.

"Oh, don't worry about the details. The medicine isn't urgent; food is the most important thing. Since we're already here, sit down and have something to eat. We can also get some ice and make some cold drinks."

As he spoke, he pushed a pair of empty bowls and chopsticks in front of Gray and then waved to Juvia.

"Juvia, sit down too. Don't hide by the door. There's a 99% chance you'll spawn wherever Gray is."

Juvia blushed, took small steps out from behind the door frame, and sat down at the dining table.

Gray stared blankly at Juvia, who had appeared out of nowhere, his chopsticks dangling in mid-air.

"Huh? When did Juvia arrive?"

He turned his head to look at it, then turned back, looking blank.

Juvia had her hands folded on her knees, her head slightly bowed, and her cheeks flushed.

"Juvia has been following Lord Gray the whole time, right after we came out of the guild."

Gray's eye twitched, and he opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately gave up.

Silently, he picked up a piece of fish and put it in his mouth, chewing it twice.

But his mind was clearly not on the food. He stirred the food in his bowl unconsciously with his chopsticks, and his gaze would occasionally drift toward Riyao before quickly looking away.

Lisana happily ate a piece of fish, touched her face with one hand, squinted her eyes, and beamed with a blissful smile, radiating happiness.

"This dreamy pearl fish is so delicious! The meat is so tender and fresh. My brother-in-law really loves me!"

Mirajane reached out and gently poked Lisana's forehead, a smile playing on her lips.

"Don't I care about you, your sister?"

Lisana stuck out her tongue, leaned closer to Mirajane, and rubbed against her arm.

"Hehe, sister is good too, sister is the best."

Mirajane's lips curled up slightly as he reached out and ruffled Lisana's hair, his eyes softening.

Elfman slammed his hand on the table, making the dishes clang, and shouted in a booming voice, "This is the love between family members! A real man should protect this warmth!"

Xia Lulu rolled her eyes, put her little hands on her hips, and mumbled a complaint while holding half a piece of fish in her mouth.

"He rushed back just to feed his younger siblings... This healing mage is really a misnomer; he's clearly a feeding mage."

Riyao shrugged, his tone flippant, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"These few fish aren't enough for everyone in the guild to have a taste. If they're divided among everyone, they'll just leave you with a taste. So, let's... let's let our own people enjoy them first."

Wendy, her mouth full of fish, nodded vaguely.

"Yes, Brother Riyao is right!"

Xia Lulu rolled her eyes again.

"You've been assimilated, you're being fed."

Gray ate absentmindedly, picking up fish with his chopsticks, bringing them to his mouth, then putting them down, then picking them up again, his eyes darting around, his chewing movements all carrying a perfunctory air of inattentiveness.

This bizarre scene piqued Riyao's interest.

While chewing on peanuts, Riyao glanced at Gray out of the corner of his eye.

Then he moved closer to Juvia and secretly handed her two childhood photos of Grey, his actions so discreet they seemed like some kind of clandestine transaction.

Jubia took the photo, looked down at it, and his eyes lit up instantly, his cheeks turned red, and his mouth almost stretched to his ears.

The little hand quickly stuffed the photo into the inside pocket of the clothes, the movement so practiced it seemed like she had practiced it a thousand times, and she even patted the pocket to make sure the photo was safe.

Riyao nodded in satisfaction and asked in a low voice.

"What's wrong with Gray? He looks so distracted."

Juvia tilted her head slightly, glanced at Gray, and lowered her voice.

"Lord Gray wants to learn magic from Lord Sunrise, but he's probably too embarrassed to ask. He asked Lord Uru at the guild today, and Lord Uru told him to come and find Lord Sunrise."

Riyao raised an eyebrow and paused his peanut-chewing motion.

"You want to learn magic from me? Isn't Uru in the guild? Can't she teach you?"

"It was Lord Uru who suggested it. Lord Uru said that Lord Sunshine's magical theories are better than hers."

Riyao chewed on the peanut in his mouth, swallowed it, leaned back in his chair, and unconsciously tapped the table with his fingers. His mind started racing, thinking about how to mess with Gray.

This can't be done like feeding fire to Natsu or ice to Gray.

Natsu is a Dragon Slayer Mage, so eating fire is instinctive for him, but Gray is a Shapeshifter Mage, so eating ice cubes doesn't really serve any purpose other than being refreshing.

And Gray's cheat is still in Tartaros.

The power of the devil—that is where Gray's true potential lies.

I wanted to get it for Gray ahead of time, but I couldn't find the Gates of Tartaros. That thing was floating somewhere high in the sky, and even the Council of Magistrates couldn't track its location.

How about getting an Ice Dragon Magic Crystal?

No, that won't work either. The technique for implanting Dragon Slayer Crystals has long been lost on the continent of Ishgar. Forcibly implanting them would only cause Gray's body to collapse, which would be a losing proposition.

Riyao stopped tapping, a lightbulb went off in his head—he'd got it!

He sat up abruptly, staring intently at Gray. His gaze shifted from nonchalant to a menacing, predatory intensity, like a hunter eyeing its prey. A dangerous smile slowly crept onto his lips.

Gray felt a chill run down his spine, shuddered, and instinctively shrank his neck.

But he quickly dismissed it, already used to such intense, furious stares, and continued to absentmindedly stir the soup in his bowl without even turning his head.

Seeing Sunshine's blatant gaze, Juvia was about to call out to her love rival when the words were already on the tip of her tongue.

Suddenly, I remembered that Mirajane was in Sunrise, and Mirajane was sitting right next to me, smiling and watching us.

Feeling relieved, she swallowed the "love rival" that was about to be eaten and obediently lowered her head to eat the fish.

Riyao put down his chopsticks, turned around, placed his hands on the edge of the table, leaned forward, and approached Gray, speaking in an extremely irritating tone with a drawn-out ending.

"Gray~ Do you want to improve?"

That sleazy voice slithered into Gray's ears like a slippery snake. Gray shuddered at the disgusting tone, but the desire to become stronger made him respond subconsciously.

"I want to... uh, I mean..."

Gray snapped back to reality, realizing what he had said. His ears turned red instantly, and he quickly straightened his face, clearing his throat in a pretentious manner.

"If you insist on giving me guidance, that's fine, I'll reluctantly give you a chance."

Sunlight smirked, stood up, and slapped Gray on the shoulder with a force that sent Gray stumbling forward.

"Come with me, to my magical house!"

Gray steadied himself and looked at Sunrise with a suspicious expression, his brows furrowing into a question mark.

"What the hell?"

"This is my experimental hut; I gave it a name."

Riyao gave a smug thumbs-up.

"I guarantee you'll feel wonderful all over when you come out of there."

Gray's lips twitched; he felt that this "wonderful" sounded rather unreliable.

Before he could refuse, Riyao had already pulled him by the arm and led him toward the backyard of the manor, their steps light as if they were going on a picnic.

"Hey, I haven't finished eating yet!"

"What are you eating? We can just reheat the hot pot if it gets cold. Your youth can't get cold! Let's go!"

Juvia watched the two figures disappear into the distance, cupping her face in her hands, her expression full of worry.

"Good luck, Lord Gray..."

Mirajane called out from behind.

Are you still eating?

Riyao waved without turning his head.

"I'm not eating anymore, you guys finish yours! Oh, and make me a few small cakes, I'll eat them when I get back!"

Mirajane tilted her head slightly, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"Then strawberry and durian will do."

"Mmm, put in plenty of durian!"

Wendy asked Charlotte in a low voice.