"Ultear's Contact"
Drake sat in a chair, examining the resort hotel vouchers on the table.
They were a thank-you gift from Loki for his life coaching. It was a luxurious hotel—beachfront, with various beach activities, a casino, and restaurants.
Drake remembered in the original story, Loki gave these vouchers to Lucy. Erza, Natsu, Happy, and Gray went there.
That's where Erza encountered a childhood friend, triggering the Tower of Heaven arc!
But now, Drake had the vouchers, a warning that Jellal was likely acting.
Based on the timeline, the Tower of Heaven was probably complete. Jellal still needed two things: 2.7 billion jewels of magic power and a sacrifice to revive Zeref.
Drake knew the Tower of Heaven was Erza's biggest trauma, her weakest point.
So Drake wasn't deciding what to do with the vouchers, but what he could do about this event.
Erza was Jellal's chosen sacrifice; even without the hotel, Jellal might find a way to get her there.
And avoidance wasn't a solution; the shadow would haunt Erza.
Even with increased power, she wouldn't become the Fairy Queen who defeated all enemies without confronting her past.
Even without Drake's interference, Erza might overcome her trauma as she did in the original story.
But Drake remembered someone died saving Erza in the Tower of Heaven!
Simon, a childhood friend, harbored unrequited feelings for her. He was the only one who didn't believe Jellal's lies and believed in Erza.
Simon was a minor character, but his death affected many—Jellal, Erza, and his sister in the Grand Magic Games arc.
Honestly, Drake didn't like him in the original story.
Simon believed in Erza but didn't try to convince others.
Perhaps he feared his comrades being discovered by Jellal, or he wanted to be the only one who believed in Erza.
Or, more darkly, he sacrificed himself to create an insurmountable barrier between Erza and Jellal.
This way, Erza and Jellal, if they were to reconcile, would be burdened by guilt, a guilt they could never truly atone for.
And Erza would always remember him, the one who died for her.
Simon likely knew Erza liked Jellal, and even if Jellal went dark, Simon had no chance to replace him. Such a thought isn't unreasonable.
But maybe Drake was overthinking! Regardless, he planned to save Simon.
If Simon truly intended to create that barrier, saving him would foil his plan. But if he was genuinely a good person, saving his life would be a positive outcome.
Suddenly, Drake heard a noise from his luggage.
He took out a crystal ball; inputting magic revealed a bright-faced girl.
"Long time no see, you're prettier! Ultear."
It was Ultear.
After the Galuna Island mission, Drake found a communication crystal ball in his luggage.
He knew who'd placed it there. This was Ultear's first proactive contact.
Her background was unclear, but she seemed happy.
"I didn't contact you for compliments!" Ultear said, chin raised.
Drake, though thinking she was pleased, said, "What's so urgent?"
Ultear coughed. "I'm warning you—watch Fairy Tail's Fairy Queen. Someone's targeting her!"
Drake rubbed his temples. "Trouble keeps coming.
But aren't you partly responsible? Can't you do something besides warn me?"
Jellal's transformation from kind to fanatic was due to Ultear's manipulation.
Ultear, disguised as Zeref's spirit, gave Jellal a false goal when he was on the verge of collapse during his interrogation by the Dark Guild.
That's why Jellal became so cruel.
Ultear was ultimately responsible for everything.
Ultear smiled. "You know more than I thought!"
Only Ultear, the Oración Seis, and the Balam Alliance knew about her manipulation of Jellal. Even Jellal himself was unaware.
Ultear was genuinely curious about Drake's sources. This man was increasingly mysterious and intriguing!
Drake changed the subject. "This isn't the time. You need to take responsibility!"
Ultear wagged a finger. "Unfortunately, while I want to help, someone more dangerous than Jellal requires my continued disguise."
Drake narrowed his eyes, understanding who Ultear meant.
Ultear's dark guild, Grimoire Heart, possessed the information that "Zeref is still alive," naturally knowing Jellal's false dream was impossible.
Compared to Jellal, a pawn in their game, Grimoire Heart's master was far more dangerous.
After all, he was Fairy Tail's second master, Precht, Makarov's mentor.
Forty years ago, Precht entrusted the guild to Makarov and wandered the continent, seeking the "original magic."
He somehow concluded magic's origin was darkness, and Zeref was its culmination.
Like a certain Overlord, he wanted to "gaze into magic's abyss," ending up as Zeref's follower.
They both agreed humans are limited and destined to be excluded from the abyss, so they abandoned humanity.
Precht aimed to make Zeref the world king, ushering in a great magic age.
While Precht sounded dangerous, Drake knew this was a pipe dream.
Zeref could become world king himself; he didn't need Precht's help.
Regardless of Precht's delusions, his actions were dangerous.
In the original story, he attacked Tenrou Island during Fairy Tail's S-class mage exams.
Drake didn't know why destroying Fairy Tail was related to Zeref becoming world king, but Precht's actions were undeniable.
Drake said, "Be careful. We'll meet soon. Thanks for the warning."
Ultear rolled her eyes. "You know something! I did too much. Contact you later!"
The image vanished. Drake put the ball back.
"Precht can wait. Jellal's acting; I need to hurry!
I'll contact the guild and find Natsu and the others!"
Drake acted decisively!
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