Although Cana was already tipsy, Kira had no doubt that she would continue drinking well into the evening. With her mind clouded by alcohol, it was the perfect moment for business. Perhaps she might agree to something on impulse.
Like Erza, Cana was one of Kira's regular customers. While she wasn't classified as a VIP, Kira, as the owner of Hope Hut, prided himself on being unbiased. Every customer deserved enthusiasm and opportunities to purchase—even if there weren't any, Kira was skilled at creating them.
It wasn't just Erza's armor. Nearly every magical item used by the members of Fairy Tail—from enchanted crystals to weapons, wands, and even magic pens—had been crafted by Kira.
Perhaps it was the benefit of being a time traveler, or maybe it was sheer talent, but Kira had discovered his knack for crafting magic items a few years ago. His unique combination of advanced forging techniques and Word Magic allowed him to create extraordinary tools.
His inventory ranged from minor items like Swift Boots, Telekinetic Throwing Knives, Prophecy Cards, and Lucky Dice, to more sophisticated creations such as armor, staffs, and rings. The Hope Hut had become the magical department store of Magnolia.
Cana, who wielded card magic, required a steady supply of enchanted cards for battle. For someone like Kira, crafting a custom set of cards was practically effortless.
Cana slammed her drinking barrel onto the bar, her voice slurred as she complained, "The thing is... your prices are way too high! I can't afford them!"
Kira replied confidently, "What are you saying? You get what you pay for. You've seen my cards—they last a long time. Besides, the money isn't leaving you; it's just changing form. My cards are far more valuable than those two barrels of wine you're holding."
"But... it's still too expensive. I'm not S-class like you and Erza," Cana said hesitantly. She knew firsthand the power and quality of Kira's magical creations.
"Possessing magic demands powerful items. If you want to grow stronger, you have to invest. Once you reach S-class and take on high-paying missions, you'll make that money back in no time," Kira reasoned.
In the magical world, magic was divided into two main types: Possessing Magic and Ability Magic.
Possessing Magic referred to magic that relied on magical tools. The pinnacle of this category was Celestial Spirit Magic. Celestial Spirits, powerful beings from another dimension, were summoned through corresponding keys by Celestial Spirit Mages.
The most powerful spirits, the Zodiac Spirits, were summoned using rare golden keys, while lesser spirits were summoned with silver keys. Kira didn't know if there were other types of keys beyond this.
Since most of their combat power came from the spirits, Celestial Spirit Mages were generally the weakest in terms of personal combat ability—unless they wore specialized Celestial Spirit battle suits.
Conversely, Ability Magic required wizards to rely on their own physical strength or specialized equipment, such as Erza's armor or the firearms used by Bisca and Alzack in the guild.
Card magic, like Cana's, fell under Possessing Magic. However, it was considered mediocre for three main reasons:
First, card wizards were less powerful than Celestial Spirit Mages and lacked the physical prowess of Ability Mages. This left them stuck in the middle—not particularly strong in any one area.
Second, the creation of magic cards was a major hurdle. Card wizards couldn't imbue magic into their own cards, nor could they make them from scratch. This forced them to purchase cards, which was both costly and unreliable. High-quality cards were rare because powerful wizards rarely chose to become card makers.
Finally, the third issue was their lack of specialization. Card magic's versatility came at the cost of having no unique strengths, leaving it vulnerable unless enhanced by powerful items—or outright cheats, like Kira himself.
This lack of competitive edge was the reason why Cana was later given the Fairy Glitter spell in the original timeline. Without it, her card magic alone would not have qualified her for Team B. In terms of raw power, both Lucy and Levy outclassed her.
At this point, Cana had not yet been overshadowed by the guild's more exceptional members, like Natsu or Gray. Kira estimated her current strength to be comparable to Loki's.
But Loki wasn't just any wizard—he was the Celestial Spirit Leo of the Zodiac, and his time spent in the human world had greatly diminished his powers. Once he regained his status as a Celestial Spirit, his strength would peak again, leaving Cana far behind.
At the bar, Cana sat in silence, her hesitation evident. Kira, sensing an opportunity, continued his sales pitch with fervor, though Gray, sitting nearby, muttered to himself, Swindler...
Noticing Cana's slight interest, Kira pressed on. "This new deck took me an entire week to craft. It's incredibly powerful. If you don't want it, I'll have to sell it to someone else."
Switching tactics, he added an emotional appeal, "Honestly, how many card wizards do I know? Aren't these cards made specifically for you?"
Kira tapped the bar to grab Cana's attention, then gestured toward Gray. "Think about it—how long have we known each other? Over ten years, longer than I've known Gray. And have you ever heard anyone in the guild complain about my magic props? My work is always top-notch."
He continued with practiced ease, layering praise and motivation into his words. "Since you joined Fairy Tail, you've worked tirelessly to become an S-class wizard. I've seen it all. But look—five S-class wizards have been promoted in the past twelve years, and it still isn't your turn. Is it because you lack talent? No. Is it because you're not hardworking? Absolutely not."
"You have immense magic power, excellent combat skills, and an IQ leagues above Natsu and Gray. All you're missing is a set of powerful magic cards!"
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" Gray interjected, clearly offended, but Kira ignored him entirely.
Kira's impassioned words rang in Cana's ears, each one landing like a thunderclap. His arguments were compelling, almost devilishly so.
Become S-class. Become S-class. Become S-class. The thought consumed her.
"A set of 10 cards for 500,000 J," Kira concluded confidently.
"That's outrageous!" Gray exclaimed, visibly shocked.
Cana clenched her fists, her emotions warring within her. Finally, she snapped. "I want... I want... a ghost! You damned profiteer, go to hell!"
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