Fairy Tail: Collapsing Stars

Chapter 437: Of Course We Deal with the Magic Council People First, Then Handle Lullaby

Inside the Fairy Tail Guild.

”Well then, Lucy!”

”First, let me introduce the members of our squad for the next mission!”

Erza stood before Lucy with her arms crossed in front of her chest, looking both heroic and beautiful.

”O-Okay!”

Lucy nodded gently after hearing Erza. After all, she had only just joined Fairy Tail and wasnʼt very familiar with the guild members yet. Furthermore, she had gone on a week-long job with Natsu as soon as she joined, leaving her with very little time to interact with and get to know the guildʼs Mages.

For example, among the Fairy Tail Mages Erza had just named, who would be forming a team to recover the Magic Lullaby created by Zeref, Lucy only recognized Natsu and Gray...

To be honest, Lucy was still a little nervous. She was afraid she would end up teaming up with some strange people for the mission. After all, there were quite a lot of oddballs in Fairy Tail.

No, more accurately speaking, Lucy had yet to meet a single normal person in Fairy Tail...

”Natsu, Gray, Gajeel, Wendy, gather here!”

With her arms crossed, Erza called to the squad members she had just selected.

”Aye!”

As soon as Erza finished speaking, Natsu, Gray, Gajeel, and Wendy immediately ran over to her. Their speed and efficiency amazed Lucy, and it was also the first time she truly realized Erzaʼs status within Fairy Tail.

”I wonʼt spend much time introducing Natsu and Gray. Lucy, you already know them!”

”Iʼll just briefly explain their Magic. Natsu is a Fire Dragon Slayer Mage, while Gray is an Ice Molding Mage...”

Erza first gave Lucy a simple introduction to Natsu and Gray.

”Aye!”

After hearing Erzaʼs introduction, Natsu and Gray both nodded in agreement, even imitating Happyʼs mannerism as they did so.

”I donʼt need any more introduction to Natsu, and I already have quite a deep impression of Gray...”

Lucy pursed her lips as she looked at the two of them, seeming like she wanted to say something but hesitated.

After all, she had already spent a week with Natsu and knew him well. As for Gray...

Gray wandering around the guild in nothing but his underwear had left quite a lasting impression on Lucy.

”But what Iʼm curious about is... why are you two imitating Happy? Is there some special meaning behind it?”

After hesitating several times, Lucy finally couldnʼt hold herself back and asked Natsu and Gray.

Lucyʼs soul of making sarcastic remarks was burning at this moment!

”Perhaps itʼs because, in Natsu and Grayʼs eyes, Happy is the most harmless and least threatening member of the guild! To show that they bear no hostility toward each other and are actually on good terms, theyʼre clumsily imitating Happy.”

After Lucy asked her question, Mirajane, who was standing beside everyone else, thought for a moment before answering.

”Huh?”

”Then why do they need to pretend to be on good terms?”

Even after hearing Mirajaneʼs explanation, Lucy was still confused. She couldnʼt understand why Natsu and Gray had to pretend they got along.

”Haha...”

Mirajane chuckled softly.

”Actually, Erza once served as the guildʼs disciplinary committee member. Her main job was making sure Gray and Natsu got along peacefully. Of course, in the end, Erza chose the Fairy Tail way of making Gray and Natsu get along~”

”As for exactly what method Erza used... Lucy, do you really want to know?”

After speaking, Mirajane narrowed her phoenix-like eyes, which flashed with a fierce light as she softly asked Lucy.

”N-No thanks...”

”I get it!”

Lucy instantly understood. She had already imagined Erza beating Natsu and Gray into getting along through brute force.

”Alright, Lucy, look over here...”

At the same time, Erza reached out and turned Lucyʼs head so that she was looking at her.

”Oh!”

Unable to resist, Lucy was forced to face Erza and nodded lightly.

”Next is this young man here, who looks rather punk and dresses in a rock style...”

After making sure Lucy was paying attention, Erza continued her introductions.

Naturally, she was introducing Gajeel.

”Giheh~”

At this moment, Gajeel, dressed in heavy punk metal clothing with his wild long hair, gave Lucy a bright smile in cooperation with Erzaʼs introduction.

”Umm...”

Gajeel already had a naturally fierce appearance. With the forced smile on his face, he looked even more intimidating, causing Lucyʼs heart to thump wildly.

”This guy definitely looks like someone you shouldnʼt mess with!”

Lucy silently stuck a label on Gajeel in her mind.

”Lucy, donʼt let his fierce appearance fool you. Heʼs actually not a bad person! He only does things like murder and arson in his spare time...”

Seeing the awe in Lucyʼs eyes toward Gajeel, Erza explained.

”I can tell!”

”By the way, if someone who commits murder and arson isnʼt considered a bad person, Fairy Tailʼs definition of a bad person is pretty strange...”

After hearing Erzaʼs explanation, Lucy became even more afraid of Gajeel while silently complaining in her heart.

”After all, heʼs my exclusive dragon-slaying weapon, the Dragon Slayer Holy Sword Gajeel, who learned Iron Dragon Slayer Magic!”

Erza continued introducing Gajeel.

”Thatʼs right, thatʼs right. Iʼm Erzaʼs exclusive weapon, Gajeel...”

”...My ass! Iʼm Gajeel, the Iron Dragon Slayer Mage! Get it right!”

Gajeel crossed his arms and first nodded lightly, acknowledging his identity as a Holy Sword. Then he realized something was wrong and immediately protested to Erza.

”Huh?!”

”What exactly is the relationship between these two?”

”I-I remember now! This guy named Gajeel was once used by Erza as a weapon and thrown at a dragon, instantly taking it down! So is Gajeel really some kind of super weapon?!”

”Ah! Fairy Tailʼs relationships are so confusing! My head hurts...”

Lucy widened her big sparkling eyes as she carefully examined Gajeel. Then she suddenly remembered something and silently complained in her heart.

”As for the final member of our squad, sheʼs the cutest member of Fairy Tail—Wendy Marvell! Donʼt let Wendyʼs young appearance fool you. Sheʼs exceptionally powerful, capable of completing S-Class Jobs alone, and sheʼs also a Sky Dragon Slayer Mage.”

Without giving Lucy time to sort out Gajeelʼs identity, Erza continued introducing Wendy.

”H-Hello, my name is Wendy. F-From today onward, p-please take care of me!”

Holding a cute white cat in her arms, Wendy blushed after hearing Erzaʼs introduction, especially when Erza called her Fairy Tailʼs cutest member.

At the same time, after Erza finished speaking, Wendy timidly looked at Lucy and politely greeted her. Wendyʼs politeness was so remarkable that she hardly seemed like a Fairy Tail member at all.

”So! So cute~”

”And this girl definitely isnʼt mistaken!”

”Sheʼs a normal person~”

Lucy looked Wendy up and down. Seeing Wendyʼs adorable face, long blue hair, and slender figure, Lucyʼs eyes lit up.

She knew it.

She had finally met a normal person in Fairy Tail!

Perhaps the only normal person in Fairy Tail!

”Umm...”

Feeling Lucyʼs burning gaze, Wendy awkwardly turned slightly to the side while blushing shyly.

”Anyway, letʼs all get along happily, the five of us~”

Erza smiled happily as she looked at her squad.

”Aye~”

As Fairy Tailʼs number one fence-sitter, Happy immediately responded the moment Erza finished speaking.

”The five people Erza mentioned definitely donʼt include you, you dumb cat, right, Happy?”

”Besides, Natsu, Gray, Erza, Gajeel, Wendy, and me...”

”No matter how I count, thatʼs six people!”

Lucy first complained about Happy agreeing with Erza, then counted the members of her team and complained in confusion. Although she found the number Erza mentioned rather strange, she didnʼt dwell on it too much...

Just as Lucy and the others reached an agreement...

Deep inside Fairy Tail, a pair of eyes was staring pitifully in Lucyʼs direction.

”Waaah! Juvia wants to go too! Juvia wants to go on a Job with Gray-sama too!”

Juvia, with her short blue hair, bit her lip as she stared longingly at Gray while letting out low growls.

”Damn Lucy... sheʼs definitely the other woman~”

In Juviaʼs heart, Lucy had already been completely labeled as a homewrecker.

”No! Wait... maybe Erza could also be Juviaʼs love rival...”

”Wendy isnʼt impossible either!”

”If thatʼs the case, then maybe Natsu and Gajeel are also after Gray-sama!”

”No! If weʼre talking about cuteness, then Happy and Charle canʼt be underestimated either!”

”Damn it! Itʼs all because Gray-sama is too outstanding! Juvia has far too many enemies!”

Juvia bit her lip and said angrily.

”No, you donʼt have that many love rivals...”

At some point, Cana had climbed onto a table in the guild hall while holding a barrel of alcohol in both arms. After hearing Juviaʼs words, she quietly complained.

”Hmph! Erza invited Gray but not me! Damn it! Doesnʼt that mean she thinks Iʼm inferior to Gray and Natsu? How exactly am I inferior to them? What a joke...”

Elsewhere, Lyon, standing completely naked except for Kurokoʼs Basketball covering his crotch, was feeling rather annoyed that Erza hadnʼt invited him on the Job.

It wasnʼt because he wanted to work with Erza.

He simply felt that since Erza had invited Natsu and Gray but not him, he had lost face...

”Umm...”

”Lyon, donʼt you have even the slightest self-awareness?”

”If you went on a Job with Erza and the others, forget completing the mission. The town guards alone would be enough to give all of you a hard time! Do you think every townʼs guards are as friendly to you as Magnoliaʼs?”

”You standing there alone is already a crime, you idiot!”

Cana looked at Lyon with twitching eyes and couldnʼt stop complaining.

Although Lyon and Gray werenʼt especially famous throughout the Kingdom of Fiore, mentioning Fairy Tailʼs Naked Pervert Duo was enough for everyone to know who they were.

They were practically urban legends...

”Juvia, even though Erza didnʼt invite us, that doesnʼt mean we canʼt secretly follow them~”

Lyon stared at Gray in the distance for a while before suddenly thinking of something. He looked at Juvia beside him and quietly said.

”Hmm?!”

As soon as Lyon finished speaking, Juvia, who had been silently drawing circles to curse Lucy, immediately brightened up.

Just like that, Lyon and Juvia reached an understanding...

”Umm...”

”Why does the guild suddenly feel so much colder?”

”My skin is crawling... I feel like something dangerous is staring at me.”

Lucy suddenly shivered, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

She suddenly had a premonition.

She had a feeling that this trip with Erza and the others to recover and seal Lullaby would definitely not be peaceful...

Still, Lucy didnʼt think too much about it.

After all, any journey with Natsu had never been peaceful.

Even the easiest Job would become an SS-Class Job once Natsu got involved.

”Anyway, everyone, letʼs depart~”

As the captain of the squad, Erza finally announced.

”Oh!!”

Natsu, Gray, and Gajeel, who no longer wanted to be treated as a weapon, shouted excitedly.

”O-Oh~”

Lucy and Wendy responded weakly.

Then...

On the train heading toward the distant town.

”Ahhh, I feel awful!”

Natsu sat inside the train carriage with his eyes rolled back, white foam continuously coming out of his mouth.

”Damn it! Why do we have to take a train?! Isnʼt there any other way to travel?”

Gajeelʼs condition was slightly better than Natsuʼs, but only slightly.

”Natsu-brother... Gajeel-brother... donʼt worry...”

”Iʼll immediately use Magic to remove your negative status... Blech!”

”Thatʼs strange... why am I also...”

Wendy wanted to use Enchantment Magic to remove the abnormal condition from Natsu and Gajeel.

However, just as she was about to cast her Magic, dizziness flooded her mind, preventing her from using Magic normally.

After all, if even she was dizzy, there was no way she could remove someone elseʼs dizziness...

”Huh? Not just Natsu—even Gajeel and Wendy get motion sickness too?”

Looking at the scene before her, Lucy said in surprise.

Because she had spent a week with Natsu, Lucy already knew he couldnʼt ride vehicles due to motion sickness.

What she hadnʼt expected was that Gajeel and Wendy suffered from exactly the same condition.

She had thought it was something unique to Natsu.

”Hmph~ Whatʼs so surprising about that? Dragon Slayer Mages all get motion sickness. Thatʼs why they need Exceeds like us to support them!”

The snow-white Charle, sitting in Wendyʼs lap, snorted proudly after hearing Lucyʼs words.

”Charle... donʼt be so overbearing... Blech!”

Even while listening to Charle, Wendy still remembered to remind her about her tone.

Unfortunately, before Wendy could finish speaking, something unknown came out of her mouth...

At this moment, Wendyʼs adorable image was completely ruined!

”The cat talks! I see... are you the same race as Happy?”

Only now did Lucy realize that the little white cat Wendy had been carrying all along could also speak.

”You only noticed now?! As a Mage, you should be more observant. Thatʼs how you avoid danger!”

”Those Dark Guild Mages are impossible to guard against. You have to be careful, careful, and even more careful!”

After hearing Lucyʼs words, Charle rolled her eyes and proudly lectured her.

”Umm...”

Lucy stuck out her tongue without arguing, while silently complaining in her heart.

”So sheʼs the tsundere type? A textbook tsundere cat! And the way she talks... sheʼs just like an arrogant young lady villain whose engagement was broken off~ Could she be some noble lady cat from somewhere?”

”Aye~”

”Charle and I are the same race~”

”Sheʼs a cute kitty~”

Only then did Happy react to Lucyʼs question. He nodded vigorously before speaking with a blushing face and a somewhat bashful expression.

”Hmph! Foolish tomcat...”

Charle glanced at Happy and snorted proudly.

”Hehe~”

Happy merely laughed without taking it to heart.

Years of relentless effort had already allowed Happy to reach the point where he could simply ignore everything.

”By the way... do all Dragon Slayer Mages get motion sickness?”

After Happy finished speaking, Lucy returned to the topic and asked Erza.

Honestly, as a complete beginner in the magical world, Lucy always had countless questions she wanted to ask others...

”No. Not every Dragon Slayer Mage gets motion sickness. Based on my understanding of Dragon Slayer Magic, only Mages who have reached the beginner level of Dragon Slayer Magic will develop motion sickness.”

”At the same time, once a Dragon Slayer Mage starts suffering from motion sickness, it also proves that their body has begun the initial stage of dragonification...”

”You could say that motion sickness is a sign that a Dragon Slayer Mage has entered the beginner stage. It can also be considered one of Dragon Slayer Magicʼs side effects.”

”After all, every power we gain in this world comes with a corresponding price. Dragon Slayer Magic is incredibly powerful—it can even be called the strongest Magic of its category. Naturally, it comes with some side effects. Thatʼs understandable...”

”Of course, not every Dragon Slayer Mage who reaches the beginner stage will necessarily suffer from motion sickness. There are always strange and miraculous things in this world that can eliminate Dragon Slayer Magicʼs side effects.”

Erza explained the side effects of Dragon Slayer Magic to Lucy.

”I see!”

Lucy nodded vigorously to show she understood.

”Speaking of which... do all Dragon Slayer Mages have their own cat?”

Then Lucy looked at Happy and Charle before suddenly asking Erza another question.

”To be more precise, thatʼs true for the first generation Dragon Slayer Mages who were raised by dragons and learned Dragon Slayer Magic directly from them...”

Erza nodded gently, confirming Lucyʼs question.

”Huh? So Wendy, like Natsu, was also raised by a dragon?”

”Haha, people raised by dragons really have completely different personalities~”

”Wendy is much more polite than Natsu!”

Lucy looked at Wendy in amazement.

She had assumed Natsu was so rough because he had been raised by a dragon.

Now it seemed that wasnʼt the case at all.

Natsu was simply naturally rough...

”Lucy, donʼt stereotype dragons! Dragons arenʼt beasts. Theyʼre intelligent lifeforms, no different from humans.”

”So even among dragons, their personalities vary. Some dragons are so savage that communication with them is impossible! Others are full of wisdom and speak like scholars! Some dragons are even wiser than humans...”

Erza shook her head.

Lucyʼs understanding of dragons was still far too one-sided.

”Umm... is that so?”

Lucy recalled the dragons she had previously seen in the guild—those capable of shaking entire continents.

Savage? Absolutely.

Wise? She hadnʼt felt that at all.

”But then... Gajeel wasnʼt raised by a dragon, right?”

After thinking for a moment, Lucy immediately changed the subject.

”No. Gajeel was raised by a dragon.”

Erza directly refuted Lucy.

”Huh?”

”If Gajeel is also a first generation Dragon Slayer Mage raised by a dragon, then why doesnʼt he have a cat?”

Lucy asked a question that stabbed Gajeel right in the heart.

”W-Waaah...”

Gajeel opened his mouth to say something, but he was too dizzy to speak.

”Hehe...”

”Lucy, youʼre being too one-sided again!”

”The answer is simple. Gajeel isnʼt a Dragon Slayer Mage. Heʼs merely the exclusive dragon-slaying weapon that learned Dragon Slayer Magic...”

”Lucy, remember this well. Not everyone raised by dragons is a Dragon Slayer Mage!”

Erza smiled gently while explaining.

”I-I see...”

”Iʼll remember that!”

Although Lucy still couldnʼt fully understand Erzaʼs explanation, she firmly engraved every single word into her memory.

”...”

Gajeel fell silent.

He knew there was no escaping his identity as an exclusive weapon.

”Rumble...”

Just as Gajeel was on the verge of tears while Lucy was memorizing Erzaʼs teachings...

The train they were riding suddenly rumbled.

It was as though something had landed on top of it!

”Ouch...”

”What happened?”

Caught completely off guard, Lucy was thrown out of her seat by the sudden jolt, and her head slammed directly into Erzaʼs... armor covering her ample chest.

A large bump instantly appeared on Lucyʼs forehead, causing her to cry out in pain as she asked Erza and Gray.

”Shh!!”

Just as Lucy was about to say something else, Erza immediately covered Lucyʼs mouth and shot Gray, who was sitting beside her, a meaningful glance.

”Mm!”

Gray instantly understood Erzaʼs intentions.

A burst of freezing air erupted from his body.

”Now!”

After adjusting his rhythm, Gray suddenly raised his arm toward the carriage ceiling.

”Ice Holy Sword!”

As Gray finished speaking, a Holy Sword radiating freezing air shot out of his hand, pierced straight through the train ceiling, and blasted a hole through it!

”Huh?”

Lucy was startled by Grayʼs sudden attack.

She knew something serious had happened.

”So the Dark Guild Mages are nearby...”

Lucy frowned as she looked up through the large hole in the ceiling.

”Crash!”

At that very moment, several Mages wearing blue coats jumped down through the hole Gray had created and landed before the Fairy Tail members.

”So theyʼre the Dark Guild Mages?!”

”S-Such powerful Magic Power! Not a single one of them is weak...”

”As expected of a Dark Guild!”

Looking at the group of Mages in blue coats, Lucyʼs eyes trembled.

Even someone as inexperienced as her could clearly sense the immense Magic Power contained within each of them...

Especially the handsome man standing at the front of the group, with his short blue hair and facial tattoo.

His Magic Power was by far the most terrifying.

Its overwhelming pressure distorted the atmosphere inside the carriage itself...

”Heh, you really did come!”

Erza looked at the blue-haired man before her, raising her crimson brows slightly as she sneered.

”For Evanʼs sake! Evanʼs little sister! Stop now! This train has already been completely surrounded by our people...”

After hearing Erzaʼs contemptuous laugh, the blue-haired man frowned deeply.

He realized this mission probably wouldnʼt be easy.

”Erza, do you know the people over there?”

After hearing the exchange between Erza and the handsome blue-haired man, Lucy was stunned.

From the conversation, it was obvious the two already knew each other.

And they clearly didnʼt get along...

”Lucy, do you remember what I told you before I invited you on this Job?”

”I told you weʼd encounter extremely dangerous enemies...”

”And powerful opponents!”

Erza turned slightly and spoke softly to Lucy.

”I remember. Our target is the extremely dangerous and evil Magic recorded in the Book of Zeref!”

”And powerful Dark Guild members would try to stop us.”

Lucy nodded firmly.

”Thatʼs right! They are the greatest obstacle to our mission—the Magic Councilʼs Anti-Dark Guild Special Operations Unit...”

”Damn it! I didnʼt expect to run into them this early. Looks like weʼll have to eliminate them right here!”

Erza nodded slightly.

Her eyes remained locked firmly on the blue-haired man while speaking to Lucy beside her.

”I see... so theyʼre the evil members of the Magic Council?! Theyʼre really haunting us like ghosts...”

After hearing Erzaʼs explanation, Lucy immediately understood and was instantly alarmed.

She assumed a battle stance.

Only after a long pause did she suddenly realize something and twitch the corner of her eye.

”Huh? Wait... isnʼt the Magic Council supposed to be our allies? At least our objectives should be the same, right? Shouldnʼt we deal with Lullaby first before arguing over who gets credit for completing the mission? Ignoring the dangerous Lullaby to deal with our competition first... isnʼt that putting the cart before the horse?”

”Heh! Lucy, youʼre still too naïve!”

”Itʼs only Lullaby. How dangerous could it possibly be? The truly dangerous ones are the Magic Council!”

”Especially the man standing before you! Heʼs the most dangerous of all...”

”The man standing before you is the one I once told you about—the current Ten Wizard Saints of Ishgar, one of the ERA Councilors of the Magic Council, the shameless bastard who is always competing with me for Big Brother Evanʼs affection, Big Brotherʼs honorary disciple, Jellal Fernandes!”

Erza frowned as she solemnly introduced him to Lucy.

”What?! That man is a Councilor?”

”Is it really okay for us to attack a Councilor?”

Lucy panicked.

She had never imagined that the handsome young man before her was actually a Councilor of the Magic Council.

Thatʼs right.

The handsome blue-haired young man in the blue coat with the hood was none other than Jellal himself...

”Lucy, youʼre still too young. You were actually frightened by nothing more than the title of Councilor!”

”Relax! As long as we do it cleanly, no one will know we were the ones who killed him...”

Erza smiled confidently.

”S-So scary! Erza is so scary...”

Lucy muttered repeatedly after hearing Erzaʼs words.

”Heh...”

Erza merely smiled.

Lucy was still far too young.

As long as someone from the Magic Council was present, no matter who actually completed the mission, part of the credit would always go to the Magic Council!

Even if the Magic Council members merely witnessed the mission, it would still be recorded as having been completed with the Magic Councilʼs assistance.

Therefore, to prevent the Magic Council from stealing the credit, the only solution was to eliminate the Magic Council members before completing the mission...

In truth, Warrod originally established this rule so the Magic Council could restrain the other Mage Guilds...

Yet, unexpectedly—but somehow inevitably...

The Magic Council and Fairy Tail became the first to clash with each other.

As a result, not only did Warrodʼs reputation fail to decline, but his popularity across Ishgar actually skyrocketed.

Everyone believed Warrod had put justice above family.

They regarded him as a fair and impartial Chairman of the Magic Council...

”Thatʼs right! Lucy, youʼre young. Erza is absolutely right~”

Black markings suddenly spread across Grayʼs body as his hair stood straight up into a slicked-back style.

Facing the Magic Council—his own allies—Gray immediately chose to strike with full force!

Fairy Tail truly excelled at only one thing: internal conflict.

From Grimoire Heart, founded by the Second Guild Master Precht...

To Tartaros, created by Fire Demon ENDʼs little brother, Mard Geer...

To the Alvarez Empire built by Zeref, husband of Fairy Tailʼs First Guild Master Mavis...

And now the Magic Council ERA led by Warrod, one of Fairy Tailʼs founders...

The facts proved that Fairy Tailʼs greatest specialty was fighting among themselves~

”Huh?!”

Although Lucy was completely bewildered, since both Gray and Erza said so, she reluctantly assumed a battle stance.

Even so, the thought of fighting a Councilor still filled her with fear.

After all, throughout Ishgar, the most powerful figures in the magical world were undoubtedly the Councilors and Chairman of the Magic Council.

Attacking a Councilor was an unforgivable crime.

Not to mention Erza intended to bury Jellal alive...

That would mean life imprisonment! No... probably the death penalty!

Lucy thought anxiously.

At this moment, she could only pray that the Councilor before her was a normal person who wouldnʼt hold Fairy Tailʼs behavior against them...

”Heh...”

”So, Erza, youʼve decided to oppose us to the very end!”

”Let me tell you the truth! We already know what these Dark Guild Mages are planning...”

”Thatʼs right. Theyʼre planning to use the Magic Lullaby created by the Black Wizard Zeref to attack the gathering place of the Kingdom of Fioreʼs Mage Guild Masters! And Lord Evan is currently attending the Guild Mastersʼ conference! These Dark Mages actually dare target Lord Evan! Absolutely unforgivable!”

”So Iʼm sorry. I wonʼt hand over the privilege of punishing these unforgivable criminals to you. Even if youʼre Lord Evanʼs beloved little sister, it changes nothing...”

Jellalʼs attitude was resolute.

He would personally erase every being in this world that dared oppose Evan or threaten him.

Only then, in Jellalʼs eyes, could he repay the life-saving kindness Evan had shown him at the Tower of Heaven.

”Unforgivable! The one who should punish those Dark Guild Mages daring to harm Big Brother Evan is me!”

”It seems we have no choice but to fight!”

Erza frowned, displeasure flashing across her face.

She thought Jellal had absolutely no sense.

Knowing how close she was to Evan, he still insisted on ruining the mood.

He was simply brain-dead!

”If you wish to fight, then fight!”

Jellal clasped his hands behind his back like a grandmaster.

His handsome face remained as calm as ever.

His handsome appearance remained unmoved by Erzaʼs words.

At this moment, Jellal was cold and elegant.

Like a noble orchid—pure, graceful, and slightly aloof.

He truly deserved his place near the top of Sorcerer Magazine Sorcererʼs rankings of the Mages girls most wanted as boyfriends across Ishgar.

The atmosphere between Erza and Jellal became increasingly icy...

”This is bad! Even this Councilor has something wrong with his head! Weʼre doomed...”

”I should never have expected anyone connected to Fairy Tail to be normal!”

Looking at the handsome Jellal, Lucy felt absolutely nothing except the urge to complain.

”Umm...”

At the same time, Lucy felt the cold Magic Power filling the air, cold sweat pouring from her forehead.

”What do we do now?”

Lucy looked at Gray beside her.

”Wait! Until the train arrives. The current situation isnʼt favorable for us! They outnumber us...”

Gray whispered after hearing Lucyʼs question.

”Gasp~”

”Right! Three of our people are still incapacitated!”

After hearing Grayʼs explanation, Lucy immediately understood.

She had been wondering why Erza hadnʼt attacked immediately.

It turned out she was waiting for the train to arrive so their Dragon Slayer Mages could join the battle.

”Hmph~”

”Erza, only three of you can fight, while we have six! Admit defeat. Youʼre no match for us...”

Unfortunately, Jellalʼs hearing was exceptional.

He had overheard Gray and Lucyʼs conversation.

Thus, Jellal smiled smugly at Erza.

”Three of us are more than enough to deal with all six of you!”

Erza merely sneered.

”Is that so?”

Jellal frowned and looked toward Lucy.

”Donʼt look at me... Iʼm actually just an innocent bystander who got dragged into this...”

Feeling the pressure in Jellalʼs eyes, Lucy immediately shrank back.

”Crash~”

”Gray-sama, donʼt be afraid! Juvia is here~”

”Junior brother, donʼt panic! Your senior brother is here!”

Just as Lucyʼs legs were about to give out from Jellalʼs gaze, the carriage door behind Jellalʼs group suddenly opened.

Juvia and Lyon rushed in from behind, instantly surrounding Jellalʼs group.

”Juvia? Lyon? Why are you here?”

Gray was first surprised, then relaxed and smiled.

”I donʼt know how you got here, but perfect timing! The situation has completely turned around!”

”Ridiculous...”

”So what if two more of your companions arrived?”

”There are still six of us, while you...”

”Even with two more, you only have five!”

”Six against five! The advantage is ours!”

Jellal frowned, though he remained firm.

”I... I canʼt hold it anymore!”

However, the instant Jellal finished speaking, one of the five people behind him suddenly collapsed to the floor, repeatedly slapping Jellal in the face with loud smack smack sounds.

”Oh no! Erik is also a Dragon Slayer Mage!”

The moment he collapsed, Jellalʼs teammates cried out in alarm.

”Sorry, Jellal...”

Lying on the floor with his eyes rolled back, Erik wasnʼt trying to sabotage Jellal.

He was genuinely too dizzy!

Besides, since Kinana was a Fairy Tail member...

Everything was for his wife~

”Hehe, now itʼs five against five! Weʼre finally even~”

Looking at the collapsed Erik, a breathtaking smile appeared on Erzaʼs beautiful face.

”...”

Jellal remained silent.

Magic Power continuously surged and boiled around him.

”Buzz~”

Just as both Erza and Jellal prepared to make their move...

The train finally arrived.

It reached the very city where Erza had previously discovered the Dark Mages.

”Hmm?”

As the train doors opened, a Mage holding a flute with a pineapple hairstyle, cosplaying Shikamaru, stepped aboard.

”Umm...”

The Shikamaru-cosplaying Mage narrowed his eyes as he looked at the two opposing groups inside the carriage.

He first noticed the Fairy Tail Guild Marks on Erza, Lucy, and Gray.

Then he noticed the Holy Cross emblems representing the Magic Council on Jellalʼs group.

He instantly froze.

”Um... excuse me, I think Iʼve interrupted something! How about... you all continue?!”

The face of the Shikamaru-cosplaying Mage turned deathly pale.

No matter how he looked at it, he had accidentally walked into a war he absolutely shouldnʼt have been involved in.