Fairy Tail: Collapsing Stars

Chapter 355: World’s Number One? I Don’t Care!

As the list of the Ten Wizard Saints spread rapidly across the continent of Ishgar…

It stirred up a storm in the entire magical world of the continent!

”Whoaa! So these are the strongest people on the continent?”

”One, two, three… thereʼs ten of them in total!”

”Thatʼs seriously godlike! Super god!”

”Someday Iʼll become super god too, and be one of the Ten Wizard Saints!”

A rather perverse young man with long orange hair tied into twin-tails looked at the list in his hand and shouted loudly, seemingly thrilled by the names and itching for a challenge.

”But before I fight them, I better godlike-ly finish collecting all the Dragon Lacrima first…”

The eccentric youth tucked away the list and rushed toward a certain mountain. He felt something there was calling out to him. Convinced he was blessed by the Dragon Gods, the young man believed he would eventually obtain everything he desired.

In Magnolia Town, inside Fairy Tail Guild.

”Congratulations, Master! Youʼre now ranked sixth among the Ten Wizard Saints, above even Master Makarov~!”

In the guild, Gray and Lyon had surrounded Ul, their faces full of excitement as they relayed the news.

”Itʼs just sixth place among the Ten Wizard Saints. Not a big deal. Donʼt make such a fuss.”

Ul waved it off indifferently. After staying in Fairy Tail for so long, who still cared about rankings like that? Honestly, she was more interested in being ranked sixth within the Fairy Tail guild itself. Sadly, that spot was still a long way off for her...

”Even so, itʼs something worth celebrating, isnʼt it?”

”Yeah! Totally!”

”Come on, Ul, cheer up!”

Before they even finished speaking, both Gray and Lyon had somehow stripped down to just their underwear.

”These two idiots…”

Ultear looked at her two junior brothers with a face full of exasperation.

In her eyes, Lyon was already a lost cause, he always dreamed of convincing the world to strip with him, even going so far as to prove that nudity was innocent. Gray, on the other hand, still had some shred of shame left… so maybe there was still hope for him.

But this wasnʼt the time for Ultear to worry about that, she had something more important to do.

”Mom! Congratulations on becoming the sixth-ranked Ten Wizard Saint~”

Ultear walked up to her mother, Ul. As she spoke, a chill burst from her palms. The next moment, a bouquet of frost-formed roses appeared in her hands.

”How beautiful~”

”A gift from Ultear? Thank you, I really love it~ Iʼll accept it gratefully.”

Ul smiled softly as she looked at the ice bouquet and reached out to take it, expressing her gratitude to her daughter.

”Mm~”

Ultear blushed. It was the first time she had ever given her mother a gift, and she felt overjoyed.

”Ugh, what a pain…”

”Really, did Warrod have to do something like this? This is going to be such a hassle…”

Sitting in the guild, Evan was also holding the Magic Councilʼs official list of the Ten Wizard Saints.

Looking at the ranking, Evan looked helpless. Back when everyone was simply listed equally under the title, it wasnʼt so bad, while the title was flashy, it wasnʼt too conspicuous since many others held it too.

So if they stood out, at least they stood out together.

But now that Warrod had ranked them all, Evan could no longer stay low-profile, because he had been placed at number one. That made him, officially, the strongest mage on the continent of Ishgar.

As for the title that so many desired, ”Ishgarʼs Number One Mage”, Evan honestly didnʼt care in the slightest.

Worldʼs number one? He didnʼt care! He didnʼt even care about being one of the Ten Wizard Saints.

In fact, Evan only became a Saint to fulfill a mission.

If people on the continent knew that Evanʼs attitude toward being a Wizard Saint was so nonchalant, just something he faked to complete a task, theyʼd probably go mad.

The so-called strongest man in the world didnʼt care about being a Ten Wizard Saint…

”So now the Four Heavenly Kings of Ishgar are me, Precht, Hyberion, and Wolfheim? Serenaʼs not on the list? Is it because he hasnʼt collected all the Dragon Lacrima yet?”

Evan stared at the ranking list with a baffled expression.

Honestly, while his presence mightʼve raised the quality of the ”Four Heavenly Kings,” the group was still kind of lame…

They didnʼt even compare to the Four Heavenly Kings of Fairy Tail.

If Fairy Tail were to pick their own top four, itʼd be, Irene, Selene, Evan, and the Magic King August.

That lineup could run roughshod across the world of Earth Land…

”Big Brother Evan~”

Just as Evan was yawning while holding the list, a cute girl with long crimson hair came running up to him.

It was his younger sister, Erza! She held the Councilʼs ranking list in her hands, her face filled with excitement. Clearly, sheʼd seen the rankings, especially Evanʼs.

”Big Brother Evan! Congratulations, youʼre ranked number one among the Ten Wizard Saints!”

”That means… youʼre the strongest mage in all of Ishgar!”

Erza beamed with pride. Her expression was practically shouting to the world,

”Look, everyone! Thatʼs my big brother, the number one Wizard Saint in Ishgar!”

”Oh~”

Evan just gave a small smile in response. To be honest, he didnʼt care about the title at all…

”Youʼre… not happy, Big Brother Evan?”

Erza looked confused at his calm demeanor.

”Of course Iʼm happy~”

”Iʼll make your favorite food for dinner tonight.”

Evan smiled at her, gently patting her on the head.

Even though Evan had earned the title of number one Wizard Saint, it felt more like he was cheering up Erza, not the other way around. He didnʼt seem to care at all.

[Mission complete: Ranked first among the Ten Wizard Saints, recognized as Ishgarʼs strongest mage. Reward: One Ten-Year Mission Medal…]

Suddenly, a voice echoed in Evanʼs mind, and his expression changed instantly.

”Now thatʼs more like it!”

His eyes lit up and he nodded happily. Becoming Ishgarʼs top mage without lifting a finger and earning a Ten-Year Mission Medal in the process, what could be better?

”Evan! Letʼs fight!!”

Just as Evan was admiring his system panel, the doors to the Fairy Tail guild were kicked open. Natsu, with his trademark scarf and short pink hair, strode in with a grin.

”Letʼs settle this once and for all!”

Happy followed behind him, chiming in cheerfully.

”Huh?”

Evan raised an eyebrow in annoyance at the loud voice. Turning around, he saw Natsu charging at him, flames coiling around his fist.

”Sorry, Natsu!”

”Iʼm not in the mood to play with you right now!”

Evan activated Observation Haki, sidestepped Natsuʼs punch, grabbed him by the ankle, and hurled him toward the open third-floor window of the guild.

”Aaaah!!”

Natsu flew straight out of the Fairy Tail guild, letting out a wail as he vanished into the distance.

”Natsu!”

Happy looked up at Natsu, who had just been hurled into the sky by Evan. He immediately spread his white wings and flew off in the direction Natsu had vanished, frantically calling out his name as he went.

”Haha, Natsu lost again, huh?”

”Well, his opponent was Evan~”

”He got insta-defeated…”

Inside the guild, the drunkards who had had too much to drink burst into laughter as they watched Natsu disappear into the sky.

”Evan…”

Shortly after Evan had effortlessly dealt with Natsu, Laxus arrived, holding the Magic Councilʼs newly released Wizard Saints ranking list.

”Seriously? You too, Laxus?”

”Donʼt tell me Natsu possessed you or something…”

Evan let out a helpless sigh as he looked at the approaching Laxus. This was exactly why he was frustrated with Warrod ranking him as number one, being the strongest on the continent drew too much attention. And if just within the Fairy Tail guild this many people were already coming for him, how bad would it be outside? People wanting to challenge him for the top spot could probably line up from Ishgar all the way to the Western Continent.

”No, I just wanted to test for myself… to see how big the gap really is between me and the man currently standing at the very peak of this continent, the number one Wizard Saint of Ishgar.”

Laxus shook his head. He wasnʼt here to challenge Evan. Ever since Irene and Selene had appeared, his rebellious phase had ended for good. Heʼd faced the reality of his own weakness and realized he wasnʼt strong, he needed his comrades. He was maturing, becoming more like his future self.

He came to Evan not for a fight, but to measure his distance from the top, to motivate himself to keep improving.

”Heh, why are you buying into that meaningless title too?”

”The strongest mage on Ishgar? Donʼt make me laugh…”

”With Irene and Selene still around, Iʼm not even the strongest in Fairy Tail, let alone the continent.”

”As for the ʼman who stands at the peak of Ishgar,ʼ sure, that title sounds cool…”

”But strictly speaking, isnʼt that title supposed to describe Acnologia? Whatʼs that got to do with me?”

Evan leaned back in his chair, visibly annoyed.

Those titles sounded great, but they didnʼt suit him at all. They were completely inaccurate!

”Well… youʼre not wrong…”

Laxus fell silent after hearing Evanʼs words. Indeed, as Evan said, never mind being the strongest on the continent, with Irene and Selene around, he wasnʼt even the strongest mage in his own guild.

”So yeah, itʼs just an empty title. Believing in it just makes you a fool…”

”Alright, Laxus, donʼt stir up trouble. If you really want to understand the difference between yourself and the top-tier powerhouses of the world, just go learn from Gildarts. Be a charming scoundrel like him. Then youʼll experience ʼtop-tier strengthʼ every single day!”

Evan waved dismissively at Laxus, urging him to leave and not get in the way. At the same time, he even offered Laxus a ”path to enlightenment”, one that would let him feel what it meant to live among the elite.

”Uh… yeah, I think Iʼll pass~”

”Heh…”

Laxusʼs face twisted with a subtle, hard-to-describe expression.

He firmly rejected the idea of becoming someone like Gildarts.

As a member of Fairy Tail, Laxus knew exactly what kind of chaotic lifestyle Gildarts lived every single day.

”Looks like you finally get it, huh, Laxus~”

”Alright, I wonʼt say more. Youʼve got a job to do, right? Go on then~”

Evan smiled faintly as he noticed Laxus twitching slightly at the corners of his eyes. He waved goodbye lightly.

”...”

Laxus said nothing and quietly left. Knowing when to retreat was wisdom, Laxus was just being smart.

Of course, for every wise man in the world, thereʼs always someone… less wise.

In a certain kingdom town on the continent of Ishgar…

”Hahaha! That Evan kidʼs not bad at all~”

”He actually made it to the top of the Wizard Saints ranking~”

”Looks like, as a senior member of the guild, I should lead by example!”

Outside a nightclub, a scruffy man with short, reddish-orange hair grinned broadly as he looked at the Councilʼs ranking list. Then, full of determination, he strode inside.

Not long after…

The same man, with slicked-back orange-red hair, walked out of the club with a voluptuous woman on each arm. As he flirted and fondled the ladies, his eyes scanned the nearby streets.

”Good! No red-haired woman in sight! Irene must not be around here…”

”Excellent, Iʼm finally free. Tonight Iʼm gonna be a total scumbag, ten girls, minimum!!”

The man was none other than Gildarts. His eyes darted left and right, nervously searching for a certain crimson-haired beauty. Once he was sure she wasnʼt around, he breathed a sigh of relief. A wicked grin spread across his face, it was going to be a good night.

”Vwoooom~”

Just as Gildarts was savoring the thought of his newfound freedom…

With a rumble, a shimmering gate of water suddenly opened in front of him.

From within it emerged a curvy, sensual beauty.

Gildarts froze in place, going cold like a corpse. Not a single twitch of movement.

The woman had no crimson hair, hers was a soft, silvery white like moonlight. She wore traditional sandals and a modified kimono. Her full, snow-white figure swayed provocatively beneath the fabric, as if threatening to spill out at any moment.

It wasnʼt Irene.

It was Selene.

”Hehe~”

As Selene smiled sweetly, Gildartsʼ lip twitched. A trace of disdain flickered in his eyes. After one last inappropriate squeeze of the two women on his arms…

He faced despair head-on.

”Aaaaaagh!!”

Gildarts didnʼt even get a chance to dodge. His pitiful scream echoed across the entire town.

At the Magic Council…

”Warrod! You bastard…”

”You actually dared to name me a Wizard Saint without permission?!”

Precht was currently glaring daggers at Warrod. He had absolutely no interest in being one of the Ten Wizard Saints. All he wanted was to quietly protect Mavis.

But once again, his plans were ruined, and this time, not by Evan, but by that damn Warrod…

”Relax, I did it for your own good, Precht!”

”Think about it! With the title of Wizard Saint, your life will be easier. More mages will want to join your guild, and lots of people will want you as their mentor. You could make a fortune just collecting tuition fees! Isnʼt that great?”

Warrod chuckled as he tried to placate Precht, who was radiating murderous intent.

”Go to hell!”

Precht didnʼt waste time arguing, he immediately unleashed Amaterasu Formula 100.

”Youʼre insane, Precht!”

Warrodʼs smile vanished in an instant. He knew Precht was dead serious, he actually wanted to kill him.

”BOOM!!”

With a surge of terrifying magical energy, a mushroom cloud began rising above the Magic Council.

Just another peaceful day.