After August left,
Ian's figure gradually appeared above the ruins of the marquis's estate.
"August is still too merciful."
Ian sighed. Although August was only five years old, as a genius "born knowing all," his mind was already extremely mature—so much so that he surpassed even someone like Laxus, who, well past his teenage years, still behaved childishly.
This was the primary reason Ian felt completely at ease entrusting the problem of the marquis to August.
In fact, from Ian's five years of observation in this era, he found that the world's situation was far from stable. The boundaries between light and darkness were still unclear.
Especially in the eyes of many common folk, a mage guild was just a mage guild—there was no distinction between light or dark. All were symbols of power and fear.
At the same time, these mages often colluded with the powerful and wealthy.
This was a side effect of mages directly participating in the commercial wars of the nobility. Once power and authority became entangled, it was difficult to separate them again.
Although two major commercial wars had consumed a great deal of strength from both the mage guilds and the nobles, forcing everyone to sit down and negotiate peacefully at the table...
It was obvious to anyone with keen insight that this peace was illusory. The major nobles were still stockpiling strength and stirring up trouble behind the scenes. Cases like this marquis—who, relying on noble privilege, bullied the townsfolk—were all too common in this country.
Also, although the Magic Council ERA had intervened and moderated conflicts—making the sort of massacres common when Mavis was young (when she worked as a servant in the Red Lizard guild) much rarer—it did not mean such incidents never occurred now.
Therefore, in this era, taking up arms to protect oneself was necessary!
Ian, as a father, selfishly speaking, would rather August be ruthless and hurt others than have August, his child, be used or hurt one day because he was too kind.
Ian had only one request for August: "Repay kindness with kindness, and deal with resentment straightforwardly."
As long as August's actions were done with a clear conscience, that was enough.
No matter what happened, Ian, as a father, would be there to support him.
Although, at the rate August was growing, it wouldn't be long before August no longer needed Ian's support—indeed, August might become Ian's own greatest backing.
Rustle, rustle…
As Ian pondered these thoughts…
Accompanied by shifting stones and soil, a pair of hands broke through the rubble of the former marquis's mansion, followed by a second pair, then a third and fourth.
Just as Ian said, August was still too merciful. He had perfectly inherited the kindness of the First Guild Master Mavis! August, though enraged beyond measure by the greed of these nobles, and even resorting to True Celestial Magic intending to raze the entire marquis's mansion to the ground, still at the very end allowed kindness to prevail over his fury. Using gravity magic, he reduced the meteor's impact so its explosion was perfectly calibrated, avoiding harming too many innocents and also…
"My legs, my legs!"
The extremely obese marquis, after being pulled out of the rubble, screamed in panic and rage. His entire lower body had been blown apart by the explosion! In Ian's previous world, this would be certain death…
But in this magical world, there were many ways to prolong life. Of course, this exalted marquis would never again rely on certain body parts to do evil, as those were gone now.
"M-Marquis, my lord."
Compared to the marquis, the knights were slightly better off, but still in a wretched state…
Even though August held back at the critical moment,
Even though they had activated defensive magic tools at the last moment,
It was still a deadly meteor. Very few of them remained conscious now.
"Useless! A bunch of useless trash!"
"Go, and bring that brat back to me! I want him torn to pieces!"
The marquis continued to roar arrogantly, seemingly unable to understand the disparity in strength between him and his enemies.
"Us?!"
The knights knelt on one knee before the marquis, exchanging helpless glances.
Asking ordinary knights like them to capture that little monster who could casually summon meteors? Was this a joke?
Truth be told, these knights, relying on the marquis's name, could bully ordinary folks, harass innocent women—that was easy enough.
But to capture a powerful mage? Forget it!
"Trash! Absolute trash!"
"If by tomorrow morning I still don't see that damn brat's corpse, I'll show you all what's what!!"
The marquis continued to rant, demonstrating his remarkable vitality.
"This bastard…"
For a moment, the knights, being cursed out like that, grew angry.
They exchanged glances, looking at the swords at their waists. The swords were in their hands; did they really have to obey the orders of a dead-fat-pig-like master?
But in the end, the knights relaxed their grips on their sword hilts. A knight's honor and strength all came from the lord they served! Though swords hung at their belts, their honor and power belonged entirely to their lord.
"What's this? Are you planning to rebel?!"
"You worthless trash! Do you truly have the guts?!"
At this moment, that half-destroyed marquis seemed to sense something amiss. His eyes narrowed as he glared angrily at the knights.
"Of course not…"
The knights lowered their heads, not one daring to meet his gaze.
"Hmph."
The marquis snorted coldly, not speaking further.
In fact, he didn't have the strength to argue anymore.
"Tsk, how disappointing!"
"I thought you'd slaughter this dead pig yourselves."
Just as the marquis fell silent, Ian, who'd been hidden in the sky, suddenly spoke.
"You? Who are you?"
The marquis looked up at the figure standing in the air, silhouetted against the dazzling sun like a god, radiating infinite brilliance that concealed his face. Squinting, he asked.
"I am the father of that child you wanted to kill," Ian answered calmly, his words like a bell echoing in every heart below.
"Uh…" The marquis seemed to realize something. His face paled, cold sweat dripping from his forehead. His fat face contorted with terror and despair. He looked up at Ian, panicking: "This is all a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding! What I said just now was just talk in the heat of the moment. How could I have the ability to deal with your esteemed son?!"
"You indeed don't have the ability, you worthless thing. I know that…"
"But aren't there the Magic Council ERA and the various mage guilds?"
Ian's expression remained indifferent, as if unsurprised by the marquis's claim.
"Uh…"
Hearing Ian call him worthless, the marquis's facial fat twitched in fury, but he still maintained a fake smile, flattering like an ugly wild boar: "Sir Mage, please rest assured, I will never report this to the council, nor will I ask any mage guild to take action! Let's just let this matter drop, and we'll both let bygones be bygones."
"But I'm afraid you won't keep your word..."
Ian looked at the marquis's old face and sighed.
"Then tell me, what will put your mind at ease?!"
The marquis looked up at Ian and asked anxiously.
"Only if you die will I be at ease."
The moment Ian finished speaking, dark clouds suddenly gathered in the sky.
Thunder and lightning flashed continuously!
"Sir Mage, please believe me!"
"I truly won't seek revenge. I'm telling the truth…"
The marquis panicked, looking up at Ian in terror.
"Heh…"
Ian merely sneered at his words. The marquis wouldn't retaliate only because he lacked the ability. If it had been anyone weaker, they'd have been finished long ago.
Over the years, how many townsfolk had suffered under the marquis and his knights? By any measure, he deserved to die!
"Boom!"
This time, no one slowed the meteor.
Amid the marquis's and knights' terrified, despairing gazes, a meteor more than ten times larger than the previous one fell from the sky, completely penetrating the marquis's residence!
It created a giant crater.
That was not all. The tremendous force reached deep underground, tapping into abundant groundwater beneath the marquis's estate.
A fountain of spring water erupted, and before their eyes, the marquis's estate transformed into a vast freshwater lake!
Now that the marquis was dead, at least his estate had become a lake that could benefit the surrounding towns, a final accumulation of merit, so to speak.
After accomplishing all this, Ian vanished into the sky.
When Ian returned to the town's back mountain, he saw August with furrowed brows, deep in thought.
"August, what are you thinking about?"
Ian approached August and asked.
"Father, I read many reports the marquis wrote in his youth. He devoted countless efforts to the people of his lands when he was younger!"
"I'm wondering—did that marquis have his own hardships that turned him from a loving lord who cared for his people into what he became?"
August frowned. Kind-hearted people tend to empathize strongly with others, always putting themselves in another's shoes. As a result, they often find life painful.
"It doesn't matter what he did when he was young. Once rotten, it's rotten."
Ian smiled, gently stroking August's head and teaching him, "I once witnessed the greatest magical genius in this world fall and become a Black Mage who wanted to destroy everything."
"I also saw a hero who once fought dragons for humanity, becoming the Black Dragon King that sought humanity's destruction. No matter how brilliant they were in their youth, no matter how many achievements they had, a wrong is a wrong. While merit can offset some faults, once a true transgression is committed, it can't be undone." (These are the words Precht told Natsu and the others.)
Ian shook his head. Even in this world, "the dragon slayer eventually becomes the evil dragon" incidents keep occurring. The same was true in Ian's previous life, where history was full of figures who shone brilliantly in the first half but then did something insane in the latter half, making people wish they'd died decades earlier.
"I understand now."
August's eyes lit up, as if he'd had an epiphany.
"All these rotten people must be corrected by me."
August clenched his fists, radiating a righteous aura.
Yet no matter how Ian looked at it, he felt that the "righteousness" around August was strangely sinister.
"Haha…"
"Those things are still too early for you, August!"
"If it weren't for today's sudden incident, I'd prefer you have a happy childhood."
Ian said, picking August up off the ground.
"Father, what are you doing?"
August asked, puzzled.
"Today's training ends here. Have a bath and rest early."
"Speaking of which, it's been a long time since I told you a bedtime story…"
"Today, I'll tell you your favorite one: the tale of the 'Pirate King' Luffy battling 'Hokage' Naruto, eventually causing a time-space anomaly that forced a high school boy who didn't want to become a 'Shinigami,' Kurosaki Ichigo, to inherit the Wandenreich and become the successor chosen by Yhwach, joining forces with Sosuke Aizen to unify the Three Realms."
Ian held August and headed toward the artificial hot spring he had blasted out with his super magic.
"Great!"
Hearing his father's words, the young August cheered excitedly.
And so…
In these peaceful and warm days,
Time passed second by second.
Three years flew by in the blink of an eye.
The year was now X706.
Over these three years, since Ian had already made enough money, he closed the magic item store in Violet Town!
On the closing day, some wept and some laughed.
Those who wept were those who had made a living by reselling Ian's magic tools. Their good days were over.
Those who laughed were naturally Ian's competitors.
Although Ian had never really considered those people as serious competitors anyway.
Ian instead opened a bakery in the town, not caring how much money it earned. As long as income and expenses balanced out, it was enough.
In reality, Ian's bakery had decent business. Many customers were those who had once gotten rich by reselling Ian's magic tools…
In fact, the bakery's business was pretty good. Many old customers who originally got rich by reselling Ian's magic items still visited. Under the guise of buying bread, they'd ask Asuna and the others if Ian might return to his old business.
"Alright, alright…"
"Take your bread and go!"
Asuna always chased them out impatiently.
"My dear, beautiful, gentle, and kind Miss Asuna…"
"If there's any news about magic tools, please inform me right away~"
Even after being chased out, those customers remained good-natured, winking and flattering Asuna shamelessly.
Well, what can you do…
Who would refuse more money?
"There won't be any more! Don't ask again!"
Asuna would angrily wave her arms at these inquiries, shouting angrily.
"How strange, isn't August home?"
At the same time, after finishing his training, Ian yawned as he returned to the bakery. Looking inside at Asuna, Tifa, and Amelia in the back kitchen, he asked with doubt.
Ever since August turned five, Ian had given him more freedom—he could wander the city as he pleased, as long as he didn't go too far.
"Huh?!"
"Young Master August went out three hours ago."
"Based on past experience, he should be back by now."
"Master, should I go look for him?"
Amelia exclaimed in surprise. Ever since August went out after lunch, three hours had unknowingly passed.
"No need…"
"Maybe August got distracted by something interesting."
Ian wasn't worried about August's safety. The boy's strength improved at a rate that was simply astonishing…
After August stepped into the "Ten Wizard Saints" threshold at age five…
At age six, his strength stabilized at the level of a seasoned "Saint Ten"—the human limit.
At age seven, he finally broke through the human limit, reaching the "Inhuman" realm where the Ishgar "Heavenly Kings" stood.
Now at eight, even if he hadn't reached the "Shield Level" yet, he was close. According to Ian's calculations, August would break through the "Shield Level" by age nine.
With August's strength, Ian couldn't imagine anything in the current era that could threaten him.
"I'll go find him myself."
But on second thought, Ian decided to personally look for August.
He wasn't worried about August's safety, he just didn't want his child to be hungry when it was dinnertime!
This devoted father really spared no effort for his son's well-being.
Meanwhile—
In the back mountain of Violet Town,
A young man with short black hair, dressed in strange foreign clothing, just by standing there seemed to represent an entire era. Seeing August playing alone, he murmured, "Sorry, I thought no one would be here! I heard that at night, meteors often fall in this place."
This visitor was the Black Mage, Zeref.
"And you are…?"
August looked at the newcomer, his pupils contracting slightly as he seemed to guess something.
"You look very much like a certain young girl I met in August(the month). You two have a similar presence. Although I once swore never again to become involved with anyone on this Ishgar continent…"
"But I happened to found a country on the western continent and currently have no one to manage it. Your strength is incredible, beyond what people on this continent should have. Are you interested in coming with me?"
Zeref didn't know why, but the moment he met August, he felt compelled to recruit him. He had sworn never to get entangled with anyone from this continent again after that girl, as such connections would only bring him misery and pain!
Yet it was as if a mysterious voice told him that if he didn't bring this boy under his command, he would regret it.
"My name is August."
August first bowed slightly to Zeref, introducing himself gracefully. Then he looked up at Zeref seriously and said, "Father told me that when meeting a stranger, I must introduce myself first, or it would be very impolite."
"Ah, sorry…"
Zeref, never expecting to be schooled by a seven or eight-year-old, found this child increasingly interesting. It seemed that anyone resembling that girl turned out to be fascinating.
"My name is Zeref."
"Full name: Zeref Dragneel."
"Pleased to meet you, August…"
Zeref murmured August's name.
Zeref murmured the name 'August.'
August—just like the month he met that girl. Maybe this was fate.
Zeref couldn't help thinking so.
"Zeref Dragneel?!"
"Could you be the legendary Black Mage?"
August widened his eyes, pretending to be astonished.
In truth, the moment he saw Zeref, he knew who he was and their relationship. He just didn't want to acknowledge it, so he pretended ignorance.
"Uh…"
"You've heard of me?"
Zeref looked at August sadly.
"I have!"
"My father said you're one of those 'rotten oranges.'"
August smiled.
"Rotten oranges? What does that mean?"
Zeref blinked, utterly confused. He had no idea what August meant by "rotten orange."
"It means spoiled fruit."
August's eyes shone calmly.
"I know what spoiled fruit is, but what does that have to do with me?"
Zeref was still perplexed.
"My father loves oranges…"
"So when one goes bad, it pains him greatly."
"No matter how much he loves oranges, a spoiled orange cannot be eaten. So it must be… removed!"
As August spoke, his magic power erupted.
In fact, August had concealed his true strength from Ian. He had long since reached 'Shield Level.'
"Hmm?"
Zeref still hadn't figured out the situation.
"God Slayer's Ultimate Art: Heavenly Cloud!"
"God Slayer's Ultimate Art: Earthly Fury!"
"God Slayer's Ultimate Art: Flame Ashes!"
"God Slayer's Ultimate Art: Water Vortex!"
Without giving Zeref any time to think, August unleashed the highest-level God Slayer arts of wind, earth, fire, and water elements onto Zeref…
This level of God Slayer magic would be enough to make the Time God's descendant, "Warrior Queen" Dimaria Yesta of the future Spriggan 12, weep. The terrifying power sent Zeref flying into the sky, coughing blood.
"What?!"
Zeref found himself airborne, mind blank.
"You can't be killed?"
"As expected of the curse placed by Anksheram…"
August squinted at the constantly regenerating Zeref in the sky.
God Slayer magic could indeed harm gods, but his current level of God Slayer magic wasn't enough to destroy the curse of Anksheram.
"I'm still too weak…"
"I can't help Father eradicate all the rotten oranges in this world. I'm truly sorry! I must work even harder!"
August sighed. He was still too weak.
If those who struggled so hard just to reach Shield Level heard his lament, they'd probably faint from anger.
"Boom!"
Just then, a terrifying power erupted from Zeref's body, heading straight for August.
"Hmm?!"
August frowned.
"I can't control it…"
Zeref clutched his head in agony, his body trembling…
Because of August's attack, the long-suppressed Anksheram's curse within Zeref threatened to explode.
"Boom!"
At this critical moment!
Ian suddenly descended from the sky, placing himself between August and Zeref.
"Father!"
August's eyes lit up upon seeing Ian.
But August's expression quickly turned tense as he shouted anxiously, "Father, hurry and leave! The curse on him is about to erupt!"
"Don't worry, I know."
"Second Generation's Secret Technique—Highest Defense Magic: 24 Pillar Gods!"
"And let's show you the power of Dragon God Scales."
As Ian spoke, he moved swiftly. With a wave of his hand, he summoned twenty-four pillars inscribed with mysterious runes, encircling Zeref to block the curse's power!
He also took out two white Divine Dragon cloaks, brimming with strong life force—collected from Yuri and others after Mavis's death—and draped them over himself and August…
Not done yet, Ian activated his Dragon Force, greatly boosting his magic, and then shouted: "World Reconstruction Magic: Universe One!"
Yes, this was the world rearranging magic he'd learned from Irene.
Although Ian's magic wasn't enough to cover all of Fiore or reshuffle the entire map, he could at least send Zeref far away.
"Boom!"
With a resounding explosion, Zeref vanished from Ian and August's sight.
The crisis was over.
"Phew."
Ian wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked helplessly at August, who watched him with adoring eyes.
Just one moment of inattention, and he caught August beating up his own father.
Such filial piety! Truly admirable.
But this indirectly proved that Ian's method of education was quite successful.
"Father, I can explain,"
August said, lowering his head like a child who had done something wrong, sneaking glances at Ian's expression.