"So then, let's continue our meeting happily~"
August smiled cheerfully as he spoke to the guild masters before him.
"At a time like this, who would still be in the mood to continue the meeting?!"
As soon as August finished speaking, what answered him was the furious roar of the guild masters.
"There really is no helping it! Since that's the case, we'll end today's meeting here! I hereby declare the X784 Fiore Kingdom Guild Masters' Conference officially adjourned!"
After hearing the angry shouts of the guild masters, August let out a helpless sigh and announced the end of the meeting.
"Haa..."
As August's words fell, the guild masters of Fiore Kingdom—figures who commanded great influence across Ishgar and enjoyed extremely high social status—finally let out sighs of relief. At this point, all those crazy kids from Fairy Tail had already arrived at the venue.
On top of that, the cursed song, Lullaby, the Black Magic created by the Black Wizard Zeref, had also been summoned. Who knew what terrifying things would happen if the meeting continued? Ending it now was undoubtedly the best choice.
"So it's over already?!"
Lucy sighed emotionally. She hadn't expected that after going through so much trouble to reach the highest-level meeting in Fiore's magic world, it would end so hastily.
Then again, it was understandable. After all, whenever Fairy Tail got involved, something always went wrong. Perhaps ending the meeting now really was the best outcome.
In the end, with the appearance of Lullaby, the Black Magic created by the Black Wizard Zeref, the X784 Fiore Kingdom Guild Masters' Conference came to a hasty conclusion.
"So where are we going next?!"
Watching the guild masters disperse one after another after the meeting ended, Lucy thought for a moment before asking Natsu and the others.
"Lucy, that's a strange question..."
"Now that the meeting's over, of course we're heading back to the guild~"
Flapping his wings, Happy answered Lucy's question on Natsu's behalf.
"Huh? Going back to the guild now? But it's already getting late. Are we going to travel through the night? I really want to get some rest!"
After hearing Happy's answer, Lucy froze for a moment before looking at the darkening sky and frowning.
Honestly, after such a busy day, Lucy was already exhausted and had no desire to keep traveling.
"Lucy, with Guild Master August here, it won't take us long at all to return to Fairy Tail..."
"In fact, we'll be back at the guild in an instant."
Happy secretly smiled at Lucy before speaking in a deliberately mysterious tone.
"In an instant? We can return to the guild?"
Lucy blinked and repeated Happy's words.
"That's right..."
Happy nodded gently without explaining further, simply turning his gaze toward August, who held his staff.
"Everyone, get ready. We're returning to the guild~"
Sensing Happy's gaze, August smiled faintly. With a wave of his hand toward the sky, a magic staff instantly appeared before him. He grasped it and pointed it toward Lucy and the others...
Of course, August didn't actually need a staff to cast magic. He simply felt that using one made him appear more profound and mysterious.
"Buzz!"
The instant August grasped the staff, dazzling blue light erupted across heaven and earth.
In an instant, the mysterious blue radiance summoned by August enveloped every Fairy Tail Mage present—Natsu, Gray, Lyon, Wendy, Charle, Happy, Juvia, Gajeel, and everyone else!
"Ugh..."
The sudden flash stung Lucy's eyes, causing her to instinctively raise an arm to shield them. She didn't even notice that she herself had been enveloped by the strange light.
When the blinding light finally disappeared and Lucy lowered her arm, she was completely stunned by what she saw.
The guild masters of Fiore, who had all gone their separate ways moments earlier, had vanished without a trace.
In their place stood the familiar Fairy Tail Mages, each bearing the Fairy Tail guild mark.
As for Lucy's location, she was no longer at Bob's villa of Blue Pegasus, but back inside the Fairy Tail Guild Hall in Magnolia Town.
"No way... In just a single instant, we crossed the entire distance we spent all day traveling?!"
Lucy found everything before her utterly unbelievable.
"Aye~"
"Guild Master August has mastered ultra-long-range Teleportation Magic. He can cross hundreds of kilometers in an instant. Even thousands—or tens of thousands—of kilometers are no problem. There are even rumors that Guild Master August can travel between Ishgar and the Western Continent instantly..."
Seeing Lucy's astonishment, Happy felt deeply satisfied as he introduced August's abilities.
"Cross an entire continent in an instant? That's way too exaggerated!"
Lucy raised an eyebrow after hearing Happy's explanation.
Since she had grown up together with Brandish, Lucy had often heard stories about the Western Continent, so she understood just how vast the distance between Ishgar and the Western Continent truly was.
It was a distance that ordinary people could never cross in a lifetime. Even Mages with flying vehicles would need days, or even months, to make the journey.
"Still... somehow, if it's Fairy Tail, it doesn't even feel that unbelievable anymore. After all, I've already seen someone instantly transport an entire town between two different worlds."
After remaining stunned for a while, Lucy gently shook her head and forced herself to calm down.
Although August's magic had indeed shocked her, it was only a great shock...
After all, during her time in Fairy Tail, Lucy had already witnessed far too many unbelievable things.
Dragons, demons, traveling between different worlds, meteors crashing into continents...
Compared to all that, August's magic, while incredibly powerful, simply didn't shock her nearly as much as those previous experiences.
Simply put, after spending time in Fairy Tail, Lucy had developed complete immunity to Fairy Tail-style shocks.
While Lucy and Happy were chatting...
Inside the Fairy Tail Guild Hall—
"Natsu, let me take a look at the Lullaby you're holding!"
"Hah? Why should I let you look at Lullaby?"
"You looking for a fight?"
"Bring it on! Who's afraid of you?!"
Holding the now-restored Lullaby, which had reverted into an ordinary flute, Natsu glared face-to-face with Gray.
Gray wanted to study Lullaby more carefully. Besides being an Ice-Make Mage, he was also an Ice Devil Slayer Mage, so researching demons could only benefit him.
Unfortunately, Natsu still hadn't finished playing with Lullaby.
Naturally, the two immediately started arguing.
"Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!"
As for the troublemakers inside Fairy Tail, the moment they saw Natsu and Gray about to fight, they immediately surrounded them, cheering enthusiastically and encouraging the two to settle things through battle.
As for anyone trying to stop them...
There was no one in Fairy Tail foolish enough to do that.
"Um... maybe you shouldn't..."
The only one intending to stop Natsu and Gray was Wendy, but because of her social anxiety, she merely crouched alone in a corner, quietly contemplating life.
"Boom!!"
Thus, under the enthusiastic encouragement of the Fairy Tail members, Natsu and Gray finally erupted into an all-out brawl.
Freezing ice collided violently with blazing flames as overwhelming Magic Power exploded throughout the guild hall!
Today's Fairy Tail was just as lively as ever!
"So this is the world of magic?!"
"I feel like... something's seriously wrong with my version of the magical world."
Lucy forced out a bitter smile as she watched everything before her.
This was the very world she had always dreamed of joining.
Yet now that she had truly stepped into it, a tiny trace of regret surfaced within her heart.
Still, Lucy understood that once she had entered this world, there was almost no returning to the life of an ordinary person.
"Sigh..."
Thinking of that, Lucy let out a long sigh.
After all, this was the path she herself had chosen.
Even if she had to crawl, she would walk it to the end.
"I should head home~"
With that thought, Lucy turned around and walked alone toward the house she rented in Magnolia Town.
Fairy Tail did provide free dormitories, but Lucy was terrified that she'd go to sleep one night and wake up to find the dormitory gone.
So she firmly chose to rent a house in town instead.
Fortunately, many people had left Magnolia in recent years, leaving plenty of vacant houses, so rent wasn't expensive.
After returning home, Lucy immediately headed to the shower and happily enjoyed a hot bath.
Then, wrapping her graceful body tightly in a white bath towel and another towel around her hair, she sat down at her writing desk.
"To my beloved parents..."
Putting on her glasses, Lucy picked up her pen and began writing.
Today, however, she wasn't continuing her novel or writing in her diary.
Instead, for the first time in a long while, she intended to write a letter to her parents.
After all, she had been away from home—from the Heartfilia family—for far too long.
It was finally time to send a letter to her father, Jude, and her mother, Layla, telling them she was safe.
The reason Lucy had never written before was because she felt she hadn't yet met her own expectations.
Back when she hadn't even joined a Mage Guild, she couldn't truly say she had established herself or gained the ability to support herself independently.
But now things were different.
Now Lucy truly possessed the ability to stand on her own.
She had completely established herself within the Fiore Kingdom as an outstanding Mage.
Well... probably.
So Lucy believed the time had finally come to reassure her parents.
"..."
However, after writing the seven words, 'To my beloved parents,' Lucy froze.
She suddenly realized she had absolutely no idea what to write next.
She couldn't exactly write that every day she struggled desperately just to survive in this town, could she?
Layla and Jude would definitely worry.
Nor did Lucy want to lie to her parents.
She disliked lying, especially to her own family.
At the same time, she couldn't simply write:
"I joined Fairy Tail..."
...followed by an ellipsis before ending with:
"Don't worry about me!"
That would look exactly like a letter forced upon someone after being kidnapped.
After thinking for a long time, Lucy decided to tell the truth—but with a little embellishment.
"Dear Lady Layla and Mr. Jude~
Your wonderful daughter, Lucy—that's me!—has successfully joined the strongest Mage Guild in the Fiore Kingdom, Fairy Tail.
Although I'm still a newcomer, sooner or later I'll become an outstanding Mage just like everyone else in the guild, famous far and wide...
Everyone in the guild is very friendly. Occasionally, there are small misunderstandings caused by communication problems, but they're quickly resolved.
Speaking of which, our guild sometimes experiences certain... structural quality issues...
But they're nothing serious!
So please don't worry. Your daughter isn't being bullied, and life here is perfectly safe!
Besides our guild, the town where I live—Magnolia—is also extremely safe.
I've lived here for quite a while and haven't encountered a single thief or bandit.
The local customs are truly wonderful.
There's even a famous tourist attraction here.
For some special geographical reason, meteors often fall near the town.
But don't worry—every time a meteor falls, I always make a wish!
Besides meteors, your daughter has witnessed even more amazing sights.
A beautiful full moon and a blazing sun shining together in the sky!
The natural scenery of both sun and moon illuminating the heavens at once is breathtaking.
Sometimes the moon even playfully pushes the sun aside before strolling toward our town to give everyone a little surprise.
It's just another bit of excitement that spices up everyday life~
Speaking of which, ever since joining Fairy Tail, your daughter has not only traveled abroad...
She's even traveled beyond our world.
It turns out the world we live in, Earth Land, isn't the only one.
There's another world called Elentear, where Magic Power is even more abundant.
Your wonderful daughter has successfully visited it.
I don't even know whether that world exists within the same star system as ours...
Haha...
Ahem, I think I've rambled enough.
Anyway, Lady Layla and Mr. Jude, please don't worry.
Your daughter has finally become independent!"
After writing those words, Lucy put down her pen.
She read the letter over once, nodded in satisfaction, then placed it inside an envelope.
Next, she would send it to the Heartfilia family.
After finishing the letter, Lucy entered her bedroom.
She stretched lazily before slipping into her blanket and turning off the light.
Then...
Her expression changed.
Lucy's eyes flew open.
She immediately turned the light back on and cautiously stared at her bed.
She was certain of it.
Just now, she'd clearly felt someone else inside her blanket.
"Who's there?!"
Shouting loudly, Lucy yanked the blanket open.
The next moment, clutching a Celestial Spirit Key in one hand and a feather duster in the other while staring fixedly at the bed...
Lucy froze.
Lying inside her blanket was a pink-haired boy...
...and a blue cat.
"Yo, Lucy, you're awake~"
"Good morning~"
The pink-haired boy, noticing the light, casually greeted Lucy.
"Good morning my foot!"
"Natsu, why are you two inside my bed?!"
Lucy angrily shouted at the boy before her.
Yes.
The pink-haired boy was none other than Natsu.
"Hahaha! Lucy, that's such a strange question!"
"Why else would I climb into your bed?"
"To sleep, of course!"
Natsu burst into laughter before giving his perfectly reasonable explanation.
"No, no, no! I understand you climbed into bed to sleep!"
"But if you want to sleep, go back to your own house and sleep in your own bed!"
"Don't sleep in mine, you idiot!"
Lucy shouted furiously.
"But my house got destroyed."
"So I don't have anywhere else to go."
Natsu frowned helplessly.
"Aye!"
"Natsu's house was destroyed while he was sleeping!"
"He dreamed he was fighting Gildarts and unconsciously used a Dragon Slayer Secret Art!"
Happy immediately explained why Natsu's house had been destroyed.
"No... I don't actually care why your house was destroyed."
"In fact, I'm not interested at all!"
"I just want you two to go back to your own room, you idiots..."
Lucy twitched violently after hearing Happy's explanation before roaring at Natsu.
"Lucy, don't be so stingy."
"We're teammates. What's wrong with letting us stay for one night?"
Natsu shamelessly guilt-tripped her.
"That's right, Lucy!"
"Don't be stingy!"
Happy immediately chimed in.
"You two are absolutely impossible..."
Lucy shouted in exasperation.
"Sigh..."
"Fine."
"You can stay for just one night!"
"Just one night!"
In the end, Lucy was simply too kind and reluctantly allowed Natsu and Happy to stay.
As a result...
Natsu and Happy returned to Lucy's house every single night to sleep.
They never left again.
Many years later...
Whenever Lucy remembered this incident, tears of regret would stream down her face.
She should never have kindly taken Natsu and Happy in.
And just like that...
A week passed in the blink of an eye.
"So annoying..."
Lucy lay limply across a wooden table inside the Fairy Tail Guild Hall, her eyes completely lifeless.
"Lucy, you look exhausted..."
"What happened? Do you need my help?"
Returning to the guild after completing a job, Erza noticed Lucy slumped alone in the corner and walked over with concern.
"Erza~"
Seeing Erza approach, Lucy's eyes filled with emotion.
"It's all because of Natsu."
"He keeps staying in my room every single night without leaving..."
"My whole body aches because of him every day..."
Lucy held Erza's hand as she complained nonstop.
"Uh..."
"Every night?"
"Your whole body aches?"
Erza's face gradually turned bright red as certain indescribable thoughts filled her mind.
"Lucy..."
"Even though you're still young, you should exercise moderation."
"And make sure to take proper precautions..."
Blushing like a ripe apple, Erza earnestly reminded her.
"Ah..."
"I think you've seriously misunderstood something."
Lucy stared blankly at Erza's expression and words.
She wanted to explain...
But ultimately stopped herself.
"Anyway... I can't help you with this."
Erza gently patted Lucy's shoulder before immediately walking toward the guild's job request board.
"Young people these days..."
"They're even bolder than we are."
"Mira and I haven't even..."
Erza muttered to herself as she walked away.
"Ah..."
"So Erza definitely misunderstood, right?!"
"She definitely misunderstood, didn't she?!"
Still sitting in her chair, Lucy watched Erza's unsteady steps as she muttered repeatedly.
"Damn you, Lucy..."
"How shameless..."
"You're already in that kind of relationship with Natsu..."
"And you still want to steal my Gray-sama..."
"Ah, my poor Gray-sama!"
"To be targeted by such a woman!"
Juvia hid in a corner, staring daggers at Lucy.
She had heard every single word of the conversation between Lucy and Erza.
"Uh..."
Feeling Juvia's overwhelming resentment, countless beads of sweat appeared on Lucy's forehead.
Lucy truly had no way of dealing with Juvia.
After all, Juvia was such an extreme woman that even Gray—the resident weirdo—thought she was too much.
Just as Lucy trembled in fear...
An unexpected visitor arrived outside Fairy Tail's front gate.
"Oh~"
"So this is the famous Fairy Tail Guild?"
"It doesn't seem particularly special..."
Standing before Fairy Tail's ancient gate bearing the words FAIRY TAIL, a young woman with short emerald-green hair leisurely examined the building.
She wore revealing clothes with sandals, casually draped in a loose coat.
Although dressed rather lightly, her full figure gave off no vulgar impression.
Instead, she radiated a refreshing sense of confidence and competence.
This capable-looking young woman quietly observed Fairy Tail's entrance while muttering to herself.
"So this is Fairy Tail..."
"Then Lucy should be here."
As she spoke, she lifted her left foot...
...and kicked the guild doors wide open.
Bang!
With a loud crash, the doors engraved with FAIRY TAIL flew open, revealing the guild hall within.
"Where's Lucy?!"
The moment she entered Fairy Tail, she immediately asked for the person she was looking for.
"Lucy, someone's here for you~"
Kind-hearted Mirajane immediately led the visitor toward Lucy.
"Lucy, long time no see."
"Aren't you happy to see me?"
The young woman first smiled politely at Mirajane in thanks before turning toward Lucy.
"Huh?!"
"You're... Brandish?!"
"How did you find this place?!"
Still depressed because of Natsu, Lucy froze when she heard the familiar voice.
Looking up and seeing that familiar face and green hair, she exclaimed in shock.
"What?"
"Are you surprised to see me?"
"Am I not allowed to come?"
Brandish pursed her lips and asked curiously.
"No..."
"It's just... well..."
Lucy shook her head, wanting to explain, yet unable to find the words.
Boom!
At that very moment...
Another civil war erupted inside Fairy Tail.
Magic circles of every imaginable kind lit up throughout the guild hall.
"Oh~"
"Lucy..."
"So this is the peaceful Fairy Tail Guild that Aunt Layla and Uncle Jude told me about?"
"The one where everyone gets along wonderfully, and where you're perfectly safe?"
Brandish narrowed her eyes as she watched Fairy Tail's Mages laughing wildly while battling one another.
"No, that's not..."
Lucy opened her mouth, wanting to explain.
But in the end...
She couldn't say a single word.
"Forget it."
"You don't have to explain."
"Just leave Fairy Tail and come home with me."
"You've spent enough time playing outside."
"It's time to return to the family."
"Uncle Jude and Aunt Layla have both been very worried about you."
Brandish couldn't be bothered listening to Lucy's explanation and bluntly stated her intentions.
"Leave Fairy Tail?"
"Go back to the family?"
Lucy froze.
She had never expected Brandish to be so direct.
"I'm sorry, Brandish..."
"But I can't go back with you."
"Whether I join Fairy Tail or stay here, it's my own decision! I will never change the path I've chosen in life because of you, or because of Father and Mother..."
Lucy stood up from her seat and looked straight at Brandish, speaking with absolute seriousness.
"..."
Brandish was stunned. After knowing Lucy for so many years, this was the first time she had ever seen such a serious expression on her face.
Normally, no matter what happened, Lucy was always carefree and smiling...
But today...
"Hehe! Looks like you really have grown while you've been away, Lucy!"
Brandish smiled as she looked Lucy over and spoke softly.
"O-Of course!"
"So, Brandish, I won't..."
Hearing Brandish's words, Lucy nodded lightly and let out a sigh of relief. In her eyes, Brandish must have understood her, or she wouldn't have noticed how much she had grown.
"Unfortunately, this isn't a question. It's an order!"
"I'm not asking for your opinion, Lucy~"
"I'm ordering you to come back with me!"
The moment Brandish finished speaking, Lucy felt her body suddenly stiffen.
The next second, her body began shrinking, becoming smaller and smaller until, in the blink of an eye, she was the size of a figurine.
"Eh?! My body's gotten smaller? Brandish used magic on me?"
Looking at her tiny body, the smile immediately vanished from Lucy's face.
"Lucy got smaller..."
"I really want to see what she tastes like..."
Happy flew over after catching Lucy's scent.
"Go away! You stupid cat! Don't come near me..."
Startled by Happy's approach, Lucy shouted angrily.
"Anyway, you're coming with me, Lucy..."
Without another word, Brandish picked up the tiny Lucy from the ground and headed toward the guild entrance.
Since Brandish had only shrunk Lucy and not her Celestial Spirit Keys, Lucy was unfortunately unable to summon any Celestial Spirits. Simply put, she didn't even have the strength to resist.
"Hey! Where are you taking Lucy?!"
Just as Brandish was about to leave with Lucy, an angry voice rang out beside her ears. A figure engulfed in blazing flames stepped directly in front of her.
"Natsu!"
Seeing who it was, Lucy cried out excitedly.
"This is Fairy Tail! Not a place where you can do whatever you want..."
At the same time, Gray, Lyon, and Gajeel stepped forward as well, blocking Brandish's path.
"Don't underestimate Fairy Tail's strongest team!"
Even Erza, with her beautiful scarlet hair, put down the task she had been reviewing. She walked from the S-Class Quest Board on the second floor to the balcony railing and coldly called out to Brandish, who was preparing to leave.
"Gray, Lyon, Gajeel... and Erza! Everyone came to help me!"
Lucy looked at Erza and the others with gratitude.
Then...
"Move. I don't have time to deal with you."
Having her path blocked immediately put Brandish in a foul mood. She looked coldly at Natsu and the others before making her declaration.
"You...!"
Natsu and the others' expressions changed as they prepared to charge at Brandish.
Buzz!
Before they could even take a step, Natsu, Gray, Lyon, and Gajeel all disappeared from Fairy Tail's guild hall.
No, they hadn't disappeared.
They had been shrunk by Brandish as well.
"Hmph~"
Looking at the now tiny Natsu and the others, Brandish snorted before striding toward the guild entrance on her long, graceful legs.
She looked as though she had already decided that she was taking Lucy today, and wanted to see who in Fairy Tail could possibly stop her.
"Ah! I shrank!"
"Damn it..."
"Let's get her together!"
Unfortunately, Brandish had underestimated Natsu and the others' determination. Even after shrinking, Natsu still charged toward her with his fists raised.
"..."
Speechless, Brandish simply lifted one jade foot with its black-painted toenails and kicked Natsu.
"Oww~"
Natsu immediately felt an overwhelming force send him flying.
"Natsu!!"
Still trapped in Brandish's hand, Lucy cried out anxiously as she watched him fly away.
"Hehe, how embarrassing~"
Just as Lucy didn't know what to do, the flying Natsu was suddenly caught by someone with one hand.
The man casually looked down at Natsu before speaking.
"Ignia..."
Looking at the person who had saved him, Natsu spoke calmly.
Yes.
The one who caught him was none other than Natsu's older brother—the Fire Dragon God, Ignia.
"You should call me Big Brother, idiot!"
After hearing Natsu call him by name, Ignia twitched at the corner of his eye before angrily tossing Natsu into the sky.
"Aye~"
Already prepared, Happy spread his white wings and instantly caught the airborne Natsu in his arms.
Meanwhile...
Ignia rolled his neck before looking toward Brandish.
"..."
Brandish still wore an annoyed expression as she immediately cast her magic on Ignia.
Buzz!
To Brandish's astonishment, Ignia remained standing exactly where he was, completely unmoving despite her magic.
He looked as though he were enjoying a spring breeze, feeling absolutely nothing. His body showed no change whatsoever.
"Uh..."
The sight left Brandish utterly shocked.
"What? Did you use some kind of magic?"
Ignia looked at Brandish with a ferocious grin.
Brandish wasn't even sure whether that expression could be called a smile. Panic rose in her heart, and her composure wavered.
"Since you attacked me, I suppose it's my turn to return the favor~"
"Take this well, little girl..."
Ignia sneered as endless Magic Power suddenly erupted from his body.
"Ugh..."
Facing Ignia's Magic Power head-on, Brandish instantly broke into a cold sweat, her expression filled with panic.
"This is different! This guy is completely different!"
Brandish stared at Ignia with wide eyes.
She could clearly sense that Ignia was fundamentally different from everyone else in the guild—including Natsu and the others.
The Ignia before her was a genuine monster.
The Magic Power within him far exceeded the upper limit of what Brandish's magic could compress. Unless Ignia himself allowed it, her magic was completely meaningless against him.
"ROAR!!"
Just as Brandish was still overwhelmed by Ignia's terrifying strength—
An enraged dragon's roar exploded from Ignia's body as the phantom of a gigantic Fire Dragon gathered behind him.
"A dragon?!"
Brandish stared at the scene in utter disbelief.
"Goodbye~"
Ignia smiled faintly at Brandish before throwing a punch.
"ROAR!!"
Accompanied by another dragon's roar, Ignia's fist shot straight toward Brandish.
"This...!"
To everyone else, it was nothing more than an ordinary punch.
But in Brandish's eyes, a savage, roaring dragon was charging straight at her.
Danger!
Brandish knew she was in mortal danger.
If that punch landed, there was absolutely no way she would survive.
"I'm finished..."
Just as Brandish believed she was about to die, a figure suddenly appeared in front of her.
BOOM!!
At the same time, a transparent barrier unfolded before her.
The next instant, Ignia's fist collided with the barrier.
The violent shockwave caused the entire Fairy Tail guild hall to shake violently.
As for Brandish...
Without question, she survived Ignia's punch.
"August..."
Ignia spoke the name of the one who had blocked his attack with clear dissatisfaction.
Yes.
The one who had suddenly appeared between Ignia and Brandish to stop his punch was none other than Fairy Tail's Guild Master—August.
"G-Grandpa!"
Looking at the elderly figure before her, Brandish's body trembled as she excitedly called out to him.
"It's been a long time, Brandish..."
"But before this grandfather and granddaughter catch up, I should deal with the matter in front of us first."
After hearing her call him Grandpa, August turned around and smiled warmly at Brandish before immediately facing Ignia again with a serious expression.
It couldn't be helped.
Ignia was absolutely not an opponent August could defeat while casually chatting with someone else.
Even if August fought with everything he had, victory was far from guaranteed.
This was a Dragon King-class powerhouse standing at the absolute peak of the world's food chain.
"Hehe! So you know that brat, August~"
"That makes things much easier!"
"Clearly, you've betrayed Fairy Tail!"
"So I'll just have to defeat you here!"
As Ignia spoke, overwhelming and violent Magic Power erupted from his body.
"Heh..."
August let out a cold laugh as equally boundless Magic Power burst forth from him.
For a moment...
The Magic Power of August and Ignia violently collided!
The world itself seemed to change color.
Even the skies above Magnolia transformed completely.
The previously clear sky became covered with dark storm clouds.
Thunder and lightning flashed across the heavens.
Every living creature in the town instinctively felt fear deep within their hearts.
All of them knew...
Something terrifying was about to happen.
"Looks like something terrible is about to happen..."
An old man in town gazed toward Fairy Tail with an unusually solemn expression.
Though that solemnity only lasted for a moment...
Meanwhile...
Inside Fairy Tail's guild hall.
Ignia and August, two powerhouses standing at the pinnacle of the world, continued facing each other.
The atmosphere inside the guild had dropped to its freezing point.
Just as their battle was about to erupt—
A figure stepped between them.
"Both of you, calm down. Rather than fighting here over a misunderstanding, why not hear me out first?"
The newcomer was none other than Evan.
With the demeanor of a peacemaker, he looked at both men and asked.
"Hmph..."
After seeing Evan step in, Ignia knew there was no way today's battle would happen.
Even if it did, the one who would end up getting beaten would be him.
So he could only give up and withdraw his Magic Power.
"Very well."
After seeing Ignia back down, August also withdrew his Magic Power.
Immediately, the frozen atmosphere inside the guild gradually relaxed.
"Phew!"
The guild hall's mages all let out sighs of relief.
A battle between August and Ignia...
Even the biggest troublemakers didn't dare cheer for something like that.
"So the issue is obvious."
"This conflict began because Brandish tried to take one of Fairy Tail's members away~"
"In other words, Brandish is the one at fault."
First, Evan established the cause of the conflict.
There was no doubt about it.
This entire incident had begun because of Brandish.
"..."
After Evan finished speaking, August nodded gently in agreement.
Even he couldn't come up with any excuse.
After all, Brandish had tried to forcibly take Lucy away from Fairy Tail.
No matter how anyone looked at it, she was in the wrong.
"So the solution is very simple~"
"Since Brandish wanted to take one of Fairy Tail's members away..."
"She just needs to recruit a few new members for Fairy Tail in return, doesn't she?"
Evan smiled lightly at August and Brandish as he spoke.
"Uh..."
After hearing Evan's words, both August and Brandish froze.
For a moment...
They both felt as though they had somehow fallen into a trap.
"I don't know any mages who could join Fairy Tail..."
Brandish answered softly.
"Oh, don't say that."
"I think the Spriggan 12 of the Alvarez Empire are pretty capable."
"How about disbanding all of them and having everyone join Fairy Tail instead~"
Evan said with a cheerful smile.
"Uh..."
The moment Evan finished speaking, both Brandish and August stood frozen in place.
Only then did they understand what Evan was really after.
He intended to completely dismantle the Alvarez Empire's military power.
Though...
The Alvarez Empire's strength no longer meant anything to the current Fairy Tail anyway.
"Evan, the Spriggan 12 was established to protect His Majesty Zeref..."
August explained.
Truthfully, he still had some affection for the elite force he had personally founded.
"But Zeref isn't even in the Alvarez Empire anymore."
"So what exactly are you still protecting?"
"Joining Fairy Tail is the future!"
Evan immediately refuted him.
Gasp...
"That... actually makes sense!"
After hearing Evan's reasoning, August inhaled sharply before nodding vigorously.
"Eh?!"
Although everything Evan said sounded perfectly logical...
Brandish still felt something was terribly wrong.
"Anyway, it's settled!"
Without giving Brandish or August any more time to think, Evan made the decision himself.
"Huh?!"
Brandish blinked blankly.
Wait...
Why had she come to Fairy Tail in the first place?
Right.
She had come here to make Lucy quit Fairy Tail.
So...
What exactly was happening now?
Not only had Lucy failed to leave Fairy Tail...
She herself had somehow been half-forced into joining Fairy Tail instead?!
What kind of situation was this?!
"Good!"
Just as Brandish was about to protest, August answered on her behalf.
"Uh..."
Hearing August make the decision for her, Brandish stood there in a daze.
For the first time, August felt strangely unfamiliar.
He no longer seemed like the kind, grandfatherly old man she had always known.
In that instant...
Brandish finally understood everything.
From the very beginning...
August, Evan, and Ignia had all been on the same side!
One played the villain.
One played the hero.
One played the peacemaker.
And before she even realized what had happened...
They had dragged her into Fairy Tail.
"Fairy Tail's tricks are way too deep!"
"If I'd known earlier, I never would've come looking for Lucy..."
Brandish silently mourned her fate.
"Hehe~"
"Brandish, we're guildmates from now on~"
"Please take care of me!"
"Oh, and I never told everyone in the guild my real identity~"
"So please keep it a secret for me, okay?"
Still being held in Brandish's palm, the tiny Lucy smiled brightly as she whispered.
"..."
Looking at the tiny Lucy in her hand with an expression full of suffering, Brandish remained silent for several seconds before raising her head and looking at everyone inside Fairy Tail.
"Come to think of it, none of you know this yet~"
"Lucy is actually the young lady of the Hartfilia family—the richest family in the kingdom~"
Brandish immediately sold Lucy out.
After all...
That's what sisters are for!
"EH?!"
In an instant, shocked cries echoed throughout the Fairy Tail guild hall.
Among them, Makarov simply narrowed his eyes with a smile.
As for Lucy...
Her eyes widened in complete disbelief.