That Day When Suzuki-kun Wasn't the Mob-B!

”Who are they?”

Sting glared across the arena at the tall man leading Heavenly Blue. Just looking at the guild that had brutally knocked them off their pedestal and forced Sabertooth to settle for second place made Sting’s blood boil.

”It doesn’t matter,” Rogue muttered, his dark eyes fixed on the new guild. ”They might have taken the preliminaries, but the Grand Magic Games is a marathon, not a sprint. The guild with the most points at the end of the week wins. And that victor will be Sabertooth.”

Across the field, the playboys of Blue Pegasus were having a slightly different reaction.

”Those women flanking him... they have incredible figures.”

”Hmm... I’d love to see what they look like under those masks.”

”Does anyone actually know who they are?”

Naturally, seeing four stunning women, the Blue Pegasus mages felt an overwhelming urge to go flirt. Yet, every time they took a step forward, a suffocating, lethal pressure radiated from the leader of Heavenly Blue, freezing them in their tracks. Finn merely glanced at the group of perverts. His message was clear: Try it, and I will break every bone in your bodies.

Regardless of the tension, the sheer fact that Heavenly Blue had secured first place made them the center of attention. But what unnerved the crowd the most was their attire.

”They’re all wearing masks?”

”Is that even allowed?”

”Well, one of the guys on Fairy Tail Team B is wearing a mask, too. So unless the committee forces him to take his off, Heavenly Blue should be fine, right?”

”...”

Up in the stands and down in the arena, the members of Fairy Tail suddenly broke into a cold sweat.

It had been bad enough when Finn caught them on the beach. But what would happen if the entire continent suddenly realized that the masked ’Mystogan’ was actually Jellal Fernandes?! If the public discovered a convicted terrorist was operating on their roster, Fairy Tail would instantly be reclassified as a Dark Guild!

”There’s also a masked guy on Raven Tail, too!” someone in the crowd pointed out.

”Well, if they just make all the masked competitors reveal their faces, it’ll solve everything, right?”

”Yeah, it’s not fair if some guilds get to hide their identities while everyone else fights openly!”

The crowd’s curiosity rapidly mutated into a unified demand. They wanted to see the faces of the mages who had dethroned Sabertooth. Even masked, Finn, Ultear, Meredy, Flare, and Sorano exuded a sharp, elegant, and dangerously unique aura that completely separated them from the rest of the competitors.

”REMOVE YOUR MASKS, YOU COWARDS! IF YOU’RE TRULY NUMBER ONE, YOU SHOULDN’T BE HIDING YOUR FACES!”

The furious roar echoed through the massive arena, cutting through the murmurs of the crowd.

It was Jiemma Orland, the ruthless Guild Master of Sabertooth. If anyone was absolutely enraged by Heavenly Blue’s sudden appearance, it was him. To Jiemma, Sabertooth was supreme. Anything less than first place was absolute, unforgivable trash.

”You’re all cowards! You must have cheated to beat Sabertooth! If you have any actual pride, remove your masks!” Jiemma bellowed from the VIP balcony.

The entire arena fell dead silent. Tens of thousands of eyes shifted to Finn.

Behind their masks, Ultear, Meredy, Flare, and Sorano remained perfectly calm. Frankly, even if they were forced to remove their masks right now, it wouldn’t matter. Finn had already mapped advanced transformation magic into their minds via Archive Magic; they could easily alter their facial structures to avoid being recognized.

But Finn had no intention of playing by Jiemma’s rules.

”I don’t mind removing mine,” Finn’s voice carried smoothly across the silent arena. ”But we aren’t the only ones wearing masks, are we? If the other guilds are allowed to keep theirs, forcing us to remove ours is a blatant double standard. Furthermore, there are absolutely no rules in the official guidebook prohibiting facial coverings, correct?”

Finn tilted his head, looking directly up at the commentator’s booth.

”Y-Yes, that is completely correct!” Chapati Lola stammered into his microphone, desperately trying to maintain control of the broadcast. ”There is no rule regarding masks! And to address Master Jiemma’s concerns—the Royal Family has reviewed the footage of the preliminaries and officially certified that Heavenly Blue secured first place through a fair, overwhelming display of power! No cheats were used!”

Chapati had personally seen the horrifying playback of the Sky Labyrinth. He knew for a fact that Finn’s team hadn’t cheated; they had just brutally vaporized the competition.

”However,” Chapati continued nervously, ”the crowd is curious. But as the leader of Heavenly Blue stated, it would be unfair to single them out. So, if Heavenly Blue is to unmask... would the masked competitor from Fairy Tail Team B and the masked competitor from Raven Tail please agree to do the same?”

”....” Fairy Tail.

”.....” Raven Tail.

Both guilds were instantly paralyzed with sheer panic.

They couldn’t blame Heavenly Blue. Finn had merely used pure logic to deflect the heat. The one who had screwed them all over was Jiemma.

”THEN HURRY UP AND REMOVE YOUR MASKS, YOU WEAKLINGS! STOP WASTING MY TIME!” Jiemma roared at Fairy Tail and Raven Tail, not caring in the slightest about their internal politics.

”W-What do we do?!” Lucy panicked, grabbing Erza’s arm. They all knew exactly who was under ’Mystogan’s’ mask. If Jellal was exposed, they were completely finished.

Across the arena, Raven Tail was in a similar state of absolute crisis. The masked man on their roster was none other than Ivan Dreyar himself. Guild Masters were strictly forbidden from participating in the Games. If he unmasked, his entire guild would be instantly disqualified and likely arrested for fraud.

Up in the stands, Makarov began to hyperventilate. He shot a desperate, pleading look toward Mavis.

”I made a mistake...” Mavis whispered, rubbing her temples. She realized now that allowing Jellal onto the roster was a massive tactical liability. If he was unmasked, Fairy Tail would be branded a Dark Guild. And exactly as Finn had warned her on the beach—if that happened, the Magic Council would eradicate them without hesitation.

As both guilds braced for absolute disaster, Finn smoothly shifted the crosshairs back to Sabertooth.

”Are you afraid, Master Jiemma?”

”Hah?!” Jiemma leaned over the balcony railing, his eyes bulging with rage.

”You are the reigning champions of Fiore. We are merely a new guild, created just a few weeks ago,” Finn stated calmly, his voice laced with mocking respect. ”If the supposedly ’undefeated champions’ are terrified to face us simply because we cover our faces... can you truly call yourselves the strongest? Are a few pieces of cloth really enough to make you cower, Jiemma-san?”

”DON’T MESS WITH US!”

Sting Eucliffe snapped, stepping furiously toward Heavenly Blue. ”You think you’ve already won?! The Grand Magic Games belong to Sabertooth! Mask or no mask, we are going to crush you into the dirt!”

Rogue, Orga, Rufus, and Yukino immediately stepped up behind Sting, their magical auras flaring aggressively.

”My, my. Your guild members certainly seem brave, Master Jiemma,” Finn chuckled. ”So why is their Guild Master such a coward?”

”Fine. Keep your masks,” Jiemma growled, his voice dropping into a lethal, freezing register. ”That way, you’ll have something to hide your shameful tears behind when my guild breaks you.”

Because Finn’s mask only covered the upper half of his face, the entire arena could clearly see his lips curve into a gentle, entirely unbothered smile. Despite the crushing, murderous intent being directed at him by the strongest guild in the kingdom, he looked utterly relaxed.

”How thoughtful,” Finn replied smoothly. ”In return, when your guild inevitably loses to this group of ’cowards,’ I’ll make sure to send you a spare mask as a souvenir. That way, you can hide your own face in shame, Master Jiemma.”

”YOU BASTARD!” Jiemma roared, the stone railing cracking under his grip.

Finn remained perfectly calm.

The sheer audacity of the exchange sent the crowd into absolute delirium! The tension was electric!

Sabertooth vs. Heavenly Blue!

This was the blood feud the continent had been waiting for!

And amidst the deafening roar of the crowd, both Fairy Tail and Raven Tail quietly exhaled massive, shuddering sighs of relief.

W-We’re safe...