Fairy Tail: Collapsing Stars

Chapter 378: Four Hundred Years, Do You Know How I Spent These Four Hundred Years?

”You are…”

Makarov nervously asked as he looked at the flaxen-haired young girl before him.

”My name is Animus. No need to be polite, just call me Amu…”

Animus looked at Makarov before him with a smile on his face. After all, he was an old hand who had mingled in human society for four hundred years. He knew that Makarov was the Guild Master of the Mage Guild Fairy Tail. In human terms, he was someone with extremely high social status.

At the same time, Animus also knew that if he wanted to get by in this Mage Guild called Fairy Tail, he had to curry favor with the old man before him to some extent. As for this old manʼs preferences, Animus had more or less already understood them clearly before coming to Fairy Tail Guild. Thus, while Animus greeted Makarov with a smile, he handed Makarov a small black-gray pouch.

”This is…”

Makarov looked at the pouch Animus handed over, his eyes narrowing slightly.

In the end, Makarov had already sat in the position of Fairy Tail Guild Master for several decades.

During Makarovʼs career as Fairy Tail Guild Master, as long as he weighed the pouch someone handed him, he would know how much the contents of that pouch were worth, and whether the other party could join Fairy Tail Guild. Cough cough…

In truth, as long as they were good children, they could join Fairy Tail Guild. It was just that good children with money were even rarer.

After all, the Mage Guild Fairy Tail could be called the orphanage of the continent of Ishgar. Those talented children inside truly found it very difficult to gather even one pair of parents, and before these children grew up, all expenses were borne by the guild, by Makarov finding ways to shoulder them.

”What do you mean by this?!”

Makarov softly asked as he looked at Animus before him. He had originally thought Animus was here to settle accounts with him, but looking at this posture, that did not seem to be the case~

”You are the Guild Master of Fairy Tail Guild, Lord Makarov, correct? I am the king of the Kingdom of Stella, Animus! To be honest, as you can see, I am also a Mage, and a Mage who wholeheartedly pursues the path! Unfortunately, there are not many Mages in our Kingdom of Stella, so I thought of Fairy Tail, known as the number one Mage Guild on the continent of Ishgar, namely your esteemed guild. I hope to become a member of your esteemed guild and become an honorable Fairy Tail Mage…”

Animus had clearly prepared his speech long ago. He smiled slightly at Makarov while telling Makarov his identity and thoughts.

”Uh, I do not think our Fairy Tail Guild is worthy of such an honorable king like you joining.”

Makarov froze for a moment, countless beads of sweat appearing on his forehead. Although Fairy Tail did not intend to get involved in the political issues of the continent of Ishgar, their guild was still located within the territory of the Kingdom of Fiore. In other words, Makarov more or less considered himself a citizen of the Kingdom of Fiore, so he had no intention of becoming involved with the upper levels of other countries, especially kings. Sometimes many problems could not be clearly explained just because he wanted to explain them.

Furthermore, if Animus really joined Fairy Tail, what if the kingdom Animus belonged to, the Kingdom of Stella, went to war with surrounding countries?!

Would Fairy Tail have to go to the battlefield to help? The moment Makarov thought about letting the children in the guild go to war, his expression became somewhat ugly. A place like the battlefield was far too dangerous for the vast majority of children in the guild.

As for Evan, Irene, Selene, and these monsters, then just pretend he had said nothing…

If Evan, Irene, Selene, including Gildarts, these monsters who were already inhuman or had surpassed humans, were placed on the battlefield, that would be somewhat too unfair to the people from other countries participating in the war. In short, Makarov did not intend to get involved in matters between countries.

”No, no, no, Mr. Makarov, what you said is incorrect. I have already truly witnessed the power of your esteemed guild. Whether it is Mr. Evan, Goddess Selene, or Queen Irene, they are all existences far surpassing us.”

”And I will use the identity of an ordinary apprentice to study hard in Fairy Tail Guild, work hard to improve, and work hard to catch up with Mr. Evan and Queen Ireneʼs footsteps…”

After hearing Makarovʼs words, Animus repeatedly waved his hands. His expression was serious, and his demeanor solemn and grave, like a minister, a knight, speaking solemnly to Makarov.

”Wait, Your Majesty Animus, what did you just say? What did you call Irene?!”

Makarovʼs eyes narrowed slightly. He seemed to have noticed something. He thought he had heard wrongly, or that Animus had addressed her wrongly. In short, a faint bad premonition suddenly rose in Makarovʼs heart.

After all, Animus had just addressed Irene as queen…

”Oh! Right, my explanation just now was a little insufficient! Please allow me to introduce my identity to you again. My name is Animus, and I am the acting king of the Kingdom of Stella. In fact, just yesterday, I had already stepped down from my original throne, and the true king of the Kingdom of Stella had already been changed yesterday to Her Majesty Irene Belserion. That is why I addressed Irene as Queen.”

Animus looked at Makarov, the corners of his mouth slightly rising as he explained his situation.

”Hah?!”

After hearing Animusʼs words, Makarov was completely stunned. He could not have heard wrong, could he?!

Irene became queen?!

”No, no, no…”

”Wait, could it be that the reason Evan and the others suddenly went to the Kingdom of Stella was to occupy a country?”

Thinking of this, Makarovʼs expression abruptly changed. He had already imagined the scene of Irene and the others forcing Animus to abdicate.

”If you do not abdicate, then just die directly! After all, after you die, this country will also belong to Fairy Tail.”

”Hehehe… Animus, you do not want to die young, right?!”

Makarov imagined the scene of Evan and the others threatening Animus, and his expression changed abruptly.

”Your Majesty Animus, if you have been kidnapped, blink!”

Makarov took a deep breath and softly asked while looking at Animus.

”Hmm?!”

In response, Animus froze for a moment, not knowing what Makarov meant.

”Could it be that if I blink, you will agree to let me join Fairy Tail? Or is it that I have not given enough?!”

As Animus spoke, he took out another burlap pouch, and that pouch was completely filled with diamonds and crystals.

”Hiss~”

Makarov sucked in a breath of cold air as he looked at the diamonds Animus offered. He also wanted to refuse! But unfortunately, Animus was truly giving too much.

However, even so, Makarov still adjusted his breathing. Although he was very reluctant to return these diamonds to Animus, he, Makarov, had not fallen so low as to make a fortune through kidnapping, threats, extortion, and collecting protection fees…

He, Makarov, was a good person. He was the Guild Master of the light Mage Guild Fairy Tail!!

”T-Take them away! What do you take our Fairy Tail Guild for?!”

”I mean, if you were threatened by Evan and the others, then tell me. I will definitely uphold justice for you and at least make Irene return the country to you…”

Makarovʼs eyes seemed to be flowing with tears of blood. No one knew just how much determination he had needed to decide to return these diamonds and jewels that had already reached his hands back to Animus.

”No, no, no, you have misunderstood!”

”I did all of this voluntarily!”

”For those of us who pursue the path of magic, how could worldly things be more charming than supreme personal mighty power? Master Makarov, I hope you can fulfill my wish. I truly love magic!!”

Animus spoke to Makarov while trembling.

He could not imagine how Evan would treat him if he could not even pass the first hurdle of joining Fairy Tail…

Their dragon race had always spoken with fists, even between father and son, mother and son. At the same time…

Anything that hindered them or was useless to them could not escape being eliminated, even if they were of the same race.

”This…”

Makarov looked at Animus, his expression slightly stunned.

Makarov could see pure light flickering in Animusʼs eyes. That was an incomparably pure desire to survive.

”O-Okay then!!”

”Actually, in Fairy Tail Guild, there are not that many messy rules. As long as you want to join the guild, you only need to say so, then stamp this emblem, and you will be a Mage of Fairy Tail Guild.”

Looking at Animusʼs persistent gaze, Makarov finally nodded and agreed.

Makarov had a premonition that if he did not agree, Animus might be finished…

As for what kind of finished, Makarov did not want to think about it.

After Makarov agreed to Animusʼs request to join Fairy Tail Guild, this cowardly dragon, who had been scared out of his wits by the Black Dragon King Acnologia and then had no choice but to surrender under the oppressive might of Evan, Selene, and Irene, finally slowly let out a breath. His expression gradually calmed down.

”Your Majesty Evan, I have finally fulfilled the mission without dishonoring it.”

Animus clenched his fists, the corners of his mouth filled with a happy smile.

Who knew how great a price he had paid to join Fairy Tail?

Not only had he given the kingdom he had managed for four hundred years to Irene as a gift, he had even established the Moon Viewing Festival. On the fifteenth day of every month, the entire country would have a holiday, and everyone had to come out at night to admire the moon…

It was precisely because of Animusʼs efforts that Irene and Seleneʼs war was finally calmed. And now, the greatest obstacle standing before Animus was the matter of joining Fairy Tail. Fortunately, under his unremitting efforts, he finally succeeded in becoming a member of the Mage Guild Fairy Tail.

”Idiot! Actually, you only needed to directly tell the Master, then go directly stamp the emblem…”

Evan looked at Animus, who was smiling foolishly at him, his expression filled with helplessness.

The way Evan looked at Animus was filled with care for mentally challenged children. Although Animus had already lived for four hundred years, he still had not improved his intelligence…

Yes, in Evanʼs eyes, Animus was mentally challenged. If Animus were not mentally challenged, four hundred years ago, he would have followed Selene and the others to fly to the northern continent of Guiltina for refuge. How could he possibly have teamed up with other dragons to challenge Little Black Acnologia?!

Was that going to carry the banner for the dragon race and prove that dragons were not weaker than Dragon Slayer Mages? That was clearly running over to seek death…

”Speaking of which, Animus, do you have a place to stay?”

As Animus stamped the Fairy Tail Guild emblem on his shoulder, which was also Sonyaʼs shoulder, he officially became a member of Fairy Tail Guild.

The kind-hearted Mages of Fairy Tail Guild looked at Animus, or rather, Sonyaʼs beautiful appearance, and immediately one by one ran forward, trying to draw Animus over.

”You perverts! Get away…”

”Animus is this cute, so of course he should move into the girlsʼ dormitory!”

Just as a group of old perverts surrounded Animus, the disciplinary committee members of the Fairy Tail Womenʼs Association directly separated the perverts and protected Animus.

”Speaking of which, Animus seems to be a male dragon, but the body Animus is using is Sonyaʼs body…”

”In that case, what gender does Animus actually count as?!”

Evan, standing to the side, suddenly found himself troubled while looking at the scene before him. After all, he was now in the fantasy world of Earth-land, which was different from the world he had lived in during his previous life. Fantasy worlds still had to follow some basic logic, but the world Evan had been in before did not need logic…

If Evan, in this magical world of Earth-land, told others that human gender was actually not only divided into male and female, but could be divided into fifty-six kinds, then the people of this world would definitely think Evan had gone mad.

”If Animus bathes, should he go to the menʼs bath or the womenʼs bath?!”

”Ah, how troublesome!”

Evan looked at Animus and fell into deep thought.

”It seems necessary to separate Animus and Sonya! There is a way…”

After a moment, Evan finally thought of something, and his eyes slowly lit up.

”Animus, come here for a moment!”

Just as Animus was surrounded by the female Mages of Fairy Tail Guild and discussing the matter of joining the Fairy Tail Womenʼs Mage Association, Evan spoke.

”Everyone, I will go over for a moment.”

Animus expressed his apologies to the female Mages around him. Because dragons and humans had different aesthetics, he did not feel anything toward this group of chattering female Mages around him and only found them somewhat noisy.

However, due to Evanʼs face, he had no choice but to listen and go along with the female Mages around him. Especially after hearing that the president and vice president of this Womenʼs Mage Association were Irene and Selene, he dared even less to say much. Only when he heard Evan call him did he finally breathe a sigh of relief, find an excuse, and walk toward Evan.

”Your Maj—cough cough, Mr. Evan, you were looking for me?!”

Animus subconsciously addressed Evan as Your Majesty. Immediately afterward, he reacted, realizing this was inside Fairy Tail Guild and there were many eyes and ears around, so he instantly changed his address.

”Mm, come outside with me…”

Evan nodded. With his hands behind his back, he walked toward the outside of Fairy Tail Guild.

”Okay.”

Animus lightly nodded and closely followed behind Evan.

”What is going on with those two?”

”So suspicious…”

As Animus followed Evan out of the guild, the female Mages inside the guild all frowned one after another.

”Erza, your brother is about to be stolen away, so why are you still standing here? Hurry and go cause trouble!”

Mirajane raised her eyebrows as she looked at Animusʼs back. Seeing Animusʼs curvaceous figure, she had not expected him to also be a vixen. Thus, she poked Erza beside her and softly spoke.

”Hah?”

Erza froze for a moment. She always felt that Mirajane had been led astray by the scumbags in the guild headed by Gildarts and was starting to develop in an unpredictable direction.

Especially because inside the guild, Mirajane was not dressed like the delinquent girl she looked like outside the guild. She wore a beige long dress and combed her bangs high up into a small brush, revealing her delicate cheeks.

Her pair of large eyes were as pure as could be, blinking and blinking! Those sapphire-blue eyes were as clear as could be, rippling like water. Her aura exuded a pure yet seductive style, worthy of being called the ceiling of pure seduction in the world of Earth-land, the first love in countless boysʼ dreams…

And yet, it was precisely such a beautiful young girl exuding the aura of a gentle girl next door who looked at Erza and uttered scumbag remarks comparable to Gildarts.

”Although Mirajaneʼs words can be used as reference opinions, the fact that Mirajane has been led astray still has to be discussed with Mother. It must have been taught by Gildarts…”

Erzaʼs gaze was serious. She decided to later make a small report to Irene. As long as someone in the guild became bad, it had to be Gildartsʼs fault. It was all Gildartsʼs fault.

”Your Majesty…”

At Fairy Tailʼs back mountain, Animus respectfully looked at Evan before him, his gaze toward Evan filled with endless reverence.

”Alright, do not call me Your Majesty anymore…”

”Just call me Evan. After all, you can now be considered a member of Fairy Tail Guild.”

After hearing Animusʼs words, Evan lightly waved his hand, indicating that Animus should call him Evan like the other members of the guild.

”T-This, how is that appropriate?”

Animusʼs expression changed. He believed this was very improper. Just like how Igneel was addressed as the Fire Dragon King and Acnologia was addressed as the Black Dragon King, when ordinary dragons faced Dragon King-level existences, they all had to add the title of such-and-such Dragon King. He believed that his way of addressing Evan should also include an honorific.

At the same time, since they were now both appearing on this continent in human form, hiding among humans, they had to follow human customs and address Evan as Your Majesty.

”Are you planning to expose our plan?”

Evan looked at Animus, his eyes narrowing slightly.

”I would not dare…”

Hearing this, Animus immediately shook his head.

At the same time, he was shocked in his heart! So all of this was Evanʼs plan! As expected of an existence who could reach Dragon King-level even in this era where dragons had disappeared. This scheming was far above his!

”Then, Your Maj—Mr. Evan, why did you call me out here?”

Animus was still somewhat unused to addressing Evan. His lips moved slightly, his tongue trembling once, then he looked at Evan and asked.

”Animus, do you want to be freed from this body?”

Evan smiled slightly as he looked at Animus.

”Freed?!”

”You mean, could it be…”

”I do, of course I do!”

Hearing this, Animus became wildly delighted and repeatedly nodded while looking at Evan.

”Separation!”

Evan looked at Animus, who was nodding, the corners of his mouth slightly rising. Then he directly used Separation Magic on Animus.

”Boom!!”

Accompanied by a wave of violent magic power!

Animusʼs consciousness was instantly stripped out of Sonyaʼs body!

”I am out! I finally came out! Four hundred years, do you know how I spent these four hundred years?”

Animus finally obtained liberation. He had already imagined himself flying into the sky again.

He spread his wings and soared between heaven and earth…

”Clap clap clap…”

”Congratulations, Animus, you finally came out~”

However, just as Animus was excited, Evan, standing in front of Animus, began clapping excitedly and smiled slightly at Animus, who was flying in midair before him.

Evan was sincerely happy for Animus, who had obtained liberation.

”Hmm?!”

Animus, who had originally been extremely excited, froze directly after hearing Evanʼs clapping, because he realized that his field of vision compared to Evanʼs was wrong…

He should clearly have spread his wings and flown up, but why, after flying up, was he still at the same height as Evan?!

Thinking this, Animusʼs eyebrows tightly furrowed into a knot…

Alarm bells rang wildly in his heart, and his heart was filled with an ominous feeling. He spread his wings and directly flew to the nearby riverbank, then looked toward the river water.

Those fluffy ears, long whiskers, adorable face, limbs with pink paw pads, a curved tail, and a pair of cute snow-white wings…

”Who is this?!”

Animus looked in terror at the entirely purple cat reflected in the river water.

Where exactly had his, Animusʼs, burly and majestic dragon body gone?! How had he become a stupid cat?