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

Having just finished a commission, Riyao carried a bulging canvas bag, so full it looked like he was carrying a ruffled orange cat.

The canvas strap tickled the back of his neck, and the fire poker bracelet on his wrist gleamed, swaying softly with each step.

Just as they turned a corner on a sun-baked cobblestone street in Magnolia, they bumped into Mirajane and his two companions huddled at the alley entrance.

"Oh, what a coincidence! Did you come to visit me?"

At the alley entrance, piles of rotten apples lay unsold. The wind swirled fallen leaves around them. Three people, wrapped in tattered cloaks with three layers of patches, covered most of their faces except for the dusty ends of their hair, huddled together like thieves.

As soon as Riyao poked his head out, his eyes met theirs. Both sides froze in place, staring at each other. Even the calico stray cat that had been licking its paws by the wall suddenly stopped meowing and tucked its tail tightly between its legs.

Riyao patted the canvas bag on his shoulder, walked over on the rough pebbles, and shook off two pieces of grass stuck to the soles of his boots onto the road. The first thing he smelled was a sticky, dark magical energy wave mixed with a musty smell.

He tilted his head and circled the three of them halfway around, his fingertip lightly poking at the brim of Mirajane's cloak that had slipped down to her shoulder. A speck of dust clung to the corner of her eye peeking out from under the brim, and he raised an eyebrow with a sly grin.

"Why aren't you saying anything? Are you just naturally quiet?"

He glanced at the three figures huddled in their cloaks, knowing exactly what was going on.

I've been mooching meals there quite a bit this year. Last time I went, I sensed the strange magic of the church. I was even thinking of going to check it out after this assignment was finished.

It seems that he has successfully awakened and received the magic, and successfully accepted the demon, but he was still driven out and forced to wander by the villagers.

Riyao straightened up, crossed his arms, shook his head, and spoke with a teasing smile.

"Did you come to me because you couldn't make ends meet?"

Lisana, who had been clutching the hem of Elfman's cloak and huddled inside, suddenly let go and jumped up, the hood of her cloak flying off in the wind from the alleyway.

She revealed her soft, round face, with a few specks of dust on her forehead. Her eyes suddenly lit up like stars. She tiptoed over and hugged Riyao's arm tightly, her cheek rubbing against the canvas strap on his arm with a rustling sound.

"Brother Riyao!"

Elfman gripped the hem of his cloak so tightly his knuckles turned white, his head almost buried inside the cloak, his voice barely audible.

"...Brother Riyao."

Mirajane quickly pulled the dark hand that was sticking out of the cloak into her arms, clutching her arm and letting out a cold snort.

She deliberately slumped her shoulders, putting on a cocky, rebellious big sister act, her mouth as stubborn as a rock.

"We didn't come here to seek refuge with you! We're planning to go sightseeing!"

"Oh, Mira, don't be so polite with me, come on, come on."

Before she could hide the hand, Riyao swiftly grabbed it. The moment his fingertips touched the skin of the hand, he felt a burning black magic surge up from between his fingers, crawling up his arm and up to his shoulder.

He raised an eyebrow and lifted his arm, bringing the hand close to his eyes and squinting as he examined it closely. He even deliberately pinched the blackened fingertips lightly, the burning magic making his palm itch slightly.

"This means he's awakened and received magic...and received...a demon?"

Mirajane's eyes widened instantly. He panicked so much that he didn't know what to do with his hands and feet. His hand, which was gripping his cloak, trembled. He quickly and warily scanned the residents at the alley entrance.

Afraid that someone would notice her hands, she even pulled her cloak askew, revealing the faded collar of her worn-out uniform underneath, as if afraid of showing too much.

"Let go quickly, or I might accidentally hurt you."

Several residents who were shining shoes and selling bread at the alley entrance stopped what they were doing and looked over when they heard the commotion.

Mirajane tried desperately to pull her hand back but couldn't budge it. She could only glare fiercely at Riyao, her eyes red with anxiety, and her voice trembling slightly.

"What are you doing! Let go! My hand is cursed by a demon! Don't touch it!"

"It's a small problem, don't be afraid or shy. The residents of Magnolia are very accepting of it."

Riyao casually shook the hand he was holding, even deliberately rubbing his blackened fingertips with his fingertips, then turned and waved to the surrounding residents, grinning in a way that made him look like he wanted to punch someone.

He deliberately winked.

"Besides, those guys from the guild led us to see the Giant of Light last year, what's your half-demon hand compared to that?"

Lisana released her grip on Riyao's arm, tilted her round little head, her eyes shining like they were filled with starlight, poked the canvas bag hanging on Riyao's shoulder with her chubby fingers, and blinked curiously as she asked.

"Brother Sunshine, what is a Giant of Light?"

Sunrise raised his hand and ruffled Lisana's soft hair, making it messy. He winked mischievously and deliberately dragged out his words to keep her in suspense.

"I'll take you there when I have the chance; I guarantee you'll be amazed."

Mirajane was dragged towards the guild by Sunshine's arm. Her body was as stiff as a frozen loaf of bread, and her feet couldn't keep up with Sunshine's light steps. Her cloak was torn off in half, revealing the faded delinquent girl's uniform underneath.

She struggled and stamped her feet in frustration, her canvas shoes screeching against the stone pavement.

"No! What nonsense are you talking about! Why are you holding my hand like that?! Where are you taking us?! Let go! I'm going to call for help if you don't!"

Upon hearing this, Riyao raised an eyebrow, his smirk stretching almost to his ears, deliberately teasing her with a drawn-out tone.

"Call for help? No problem, I'll call for you."

He then shouted at the surrounding residents, deliberately pulling Mirajane closer to himself. His voice was so loud that even the copper wind chimes hanging at the guild entrance jingled and clanged, and could be heard throughout the entire street.

"In broad daylight, under the clear blue sky, I'm abducting teenagers! Come and save them!"

Mirajane, Lisanna, and Elfman froze on the spot, their faces showing the same expression: eyes wide open and mouths agape as if they could fit an entire baked apple.

I was completely stunned, I even forgot to breathe, and all I could think about was, "Am I doing this right?"

Mirajane's face instantly turned as red as a ripe tomato. She was so anxious that sweat beaded on her nose, and she looked like she was about to cry. She lowered her voice and yelled at Riyao, her previous arrogant tone completely gone.

"What are you doing! Let go of me!"

"Of course I'm holding a girl's hand. It's just that her nails are a bit dark. I'll get a manicure when I have time."

Elfman scratched the back of his head, standing there helplessly, his face even redder than Mirajane's. He didn't know what to do with the hem of his cloak, glancing between Mirajane and Sunrise, and muttering softly, "Sunrise-ge..."

Lisana quickly raised her chubby little hand, stood on tiptoe, and tried to explain to the residents who had gathered around her, her voice soft and gentle.

"No! It's a misunderstanding!"

Aya, leaning against the door of a women's clothing store, held a freshly made lace apron in her hand, smiled and waved, her cheerful laughter ringing out like a bell.

"Is Sunrise trying to emulate Chairman Makarov's child-luring tactics? Haha."

The surrounding residents watched this scene, but clearly didn't think much of it. The bread vendor smiled and shook his head, while the shoeshine man continued polishing his shoes.

After all, Sunburst is a well-known conscientious mage doctor in Magnolia. Whether it's a serious injury or an old lady's chronic leg pain that she's had for half her life, he can cure it quickly and cheaply. Who would care about his little prank?

In the eyes of the residents of Magnolia, Fairy Tail mages are all troublemakers, except for Sunburst.

He continued to drag Mirajane toward the guild. Mirajane's legs were stiff, her body was leaning back, and she was resisting with all her might, but she was stubborn as hell.

"Didn't you say you were a weak and powerless healing mage? How come you're so strong?"

Riyao casually shook his clenched hand, his tone incredibly irritating.

"Oh, it's not to prevent medical disputes, it's just that I'm a bit stronger, don't worry about that."

"What do you mean by 'don't focus on the important points'?!"

Mirajane's face flushed even more with anger.

Lisana's tense face relaxed instantly. She winked mischievously and whispered something in Riyao's ear.

"Sunshine Bro and Mirajane Sister are having an affair."

"Lisana!!!" Mirajane instantly bristled, her face turning so red it looked like it could bleed.

Sunlight joked, "Mira looks like a fluffy little cat."

Sunshine raised his hand and kicked open the guild's solid wood door with a loud "bang." The hinges creaked as he waved at Makarov, who was sitting on a bar stool, holding Mirajane's hand, and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Hey! Old man, see how much better I am than you? I brought back three at once!"

Makarov was squinting at the newspaper with a cigar in his mouth when he heard the sound. He looked up, the cigar still dangling from his lips, and looked completely bewildered.

"Huh?! What's that?"

Seeing three little guys wrapped in cloaks huddled around Riyao, he jumped down from the bar, his short legs moving swiftly as he approached and squinted at them.

The noisy crowd in the guild all turned to look, curiously examining the three little guys huddled behind Riyao.

Natsu, with a bone in his mouth, shoved and jostled with Gray as they squeezed together. Cana had just finished shuffling the cards and casually placed them on the table, glancing this way. Levy adjusted her glasses and leaned closer to Cana, looking curiously at her.

With so many people staring at him, Mirajane instinctively tried to pull his hand back, his shoulders hunched, and his eyes dimmed, as if he had returned to the day he was driven out of the village by the villagers.