With the target of this mission being a book, Roy and Lucy headed straight for Aibar's library after defeating the maid squad.
In the library, Roy quickly subdued Aibar and his two comedic mercenary lackeys, securing the mission objective, the book *Sunrise*, as well as the key of Baluge, one of the Zodiac Twelve Keys.
Finally, they returned the mission item to the client, Kabi, and in doing so triggered the revelation hidden within the keepsake left behind by Kabi's father. This act contributed to Roy's Justice Progress, completing another step in his journey toward fulfilling his inner sense of justice.
After this mission, Roy gained three increases in his Justice Progress:
1. Defeating the Evil Duke Aibar, who oppressed commoners: Justice Progress +5%.
2. Helping Kabi recover his father's keepsake: Justice Progress +0.5%.
3. Revealing the truth of his father's struggles: Justice Progress +0.5%.
This increased Roy's Justice Progress to 18%, giving him a boost in strength.
Roy categorized these justice points into two types based on what the system had explained. The 5% gained from defeating Aibar was earned through vanquishing evil, clearly rewarding him more for taking down someone who had done considerable harm. Aibar must have been particularly vile, for defeating him alone had added a substantial amount to Roy's progress.
The remaining justice points, on the other hand, came from Roy's own moral actions that aligned with his personal sense of justice—helping Kabi and revealing the truth about his father's endurance and sacrifices.
After completing the mission, the only tangible reward Roy and Lucy received was a Zodiac Key found among Aibar's possessions. Since Kabi was financially strapped, having borrowed both his house and clothing, Roy had declined to take any payment to avoid burdening him further.
This led Lucy to approach Roy, feeling perfectly justified in her request.
"Senpai, do you have any money? Lend me a little." She stood with one hand on her hip, her other hand extended to Roy, her slender, fair fingers catching the sunlight like jade.
Despite her refined demeanor, Lucy's demand had the air of a roadside bandit. Roy couldn't help but marvel—Lucy, you're one of a kind.
"Uh… what do you need the money for?" He almost replied with, "I don't have any to lend," but changed his words at the last second. Lucy was a noblewoman, even if she'd run away from home, she shouldn't be short of cash… So why ask him?
"Because I want to move out of the dorm and rent my own place!" Lucy replied confidently. "I thought the reward would be enough, but since you didn't accept payment from the client, my plan to get my own place went down the drain. So, it's your responsibility, Senpai!"
"That sounds like I did something to you," Roy chuckled, shaking his head. "Don't say things that can be so easily misunderstood."
"So, are you lending me the money or not?" Lucy pressed.
"I joined the guild just a day before you; what makes you think I have any money?"
"Then why didn't you accept the reward? Are you planning to starve?"
"Kabi's family has no money. His house and clothes are borrowed. If we took his payment, it would add a heavy burden to his family," Roy explained.
Lucy's eyes widened in surprise. "What? How did I not notice?" she gasped, covering her mouth.
"Because you're a fool!"
"How rude, Senpai! Calling someone a fool!" Although his explanation made Roy seem even more honorable in her eyes, his insult shrank that admiration to the size of a grain of rice. With her cheeks puffed out, Lucy glared at Roy like an irate hamster, fists clenched at her sides.
Three days had passed since Roy and Lucy's first mission. In that time, Roy had taken Lucy on two more missions—a Grade-A mission to capture mountain bandits and a Grade-B mission to exterminate a monster—earning them a reward of over 300,000 Jewels and another 6% in Justice Progress.
On this particular day, as Roy was eyeing his next mission, Erza returned to the guild.
Just as Natsu and Gray were locked in their daily brawl and Cana was gulping down liquor, the guild's doors flew open as an unnamed guild member burst in, breathless and in a panic.
"Bad news! Erza's back!"
The bustling guild hall fell into absolute silence at the mention of her name.
Natsu and Gray instantly stopped fighting, draping an arm over each other's shoulders. Despite being an Ice Mage, Gray was sweating profusely, a river of cold sweat flowing down his forehead. Natsu, meanwhile, looked even more exaggerated, practically transformed into a second Happy, unable to utter a single word.
Cana buried her face in her barrel of ale, hoping to avoid notice.
Seeing everyone's dramatic reactions, Lucy nervously swallowed, her face going pale as she tugged on Roy's sleeve. "Erza… who is she? Why is everyone so terrified?"
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(Author's Note: So you think I'm the Dragon King, huh? Well, then I won't hold back! Watch as the story unfolds!)