Perhaps it was the Fairy Tail emblems on everyone's bodies, or perhaps it was simply the identical faces—either way, the people of Edolas quickly accepted Charles and his companions, and in no time, the two sides were bonding like old friends.
"Put it on!"
"Take it off!"
That was shirtless Gray and the over-dressed Edolas Gray.
"The Gray-sama of this world is like this? I'm so jealous!"
"H-Hey! Don't call me something so embarrassing like '-sama'!"
That was the two Juvias.
"A real man wouldn't act like this!"
"I'm terribly sorry!"
The two Elfmans.
"You're the me from another world? You look so weak!"
Edolas Lucy wrapped her arm around Earthland Lucy, giving off delinquent vibes. The timid Earthland Lucy could only offer a stiff smile—clearly, she had no idea how to handle her otherworldly self.
Wendy stared with wide eyes at Edolas Wendy, who was several sizes more "developed." Her gaze was full of admiration, and realizing that she herself might grow into that someday filled her with hope.
Natsu grabbed Edolas Natsu by the shoulders, his tone solemn: "I'm being serious. Please teach me how not to get motion sick!"
Edolas Natsu was the opposite of Earthland Natsu: extremely confident in vehicles, yet timid once off them.
In Earthland, Natsu tormented Lucy endlessly. But in Edolas, Edolas Natsu was bullied mercilessly by Edolas Lucy.
The two Mirajanes walked hand in hand. After the accident that had changed her personality, Earthland Mirajane now resembled her Edolas counterpart in both temperament and demeanor.
Freed and the others, not seeing their Edolas counterparts, asked, "So… are these all the members of this world's Fairy Tail?"
Edolas Mirajane suddenly fell silent. After a moment, she revealed a sorrowful expression. "This is… probably everyone."
The rest of the Edolas Fairy Tail members showed the same somber faces.
Charles and the others also quieted. No one said a word.
After all, Earthland's Fairy Tail had many members. Even accounting for the differences between worlds, the number here was clearly far fewer.
Those who didn't appear… most likely didn't survive the kingdom's purges.
Sensing the heavy mood, Mirajane quickly said, "Come to think of it, it's hard to imagine Erza being our enemy in this world!"
Edolas Lucy replied, "It's the same for us! Seeing Erza as a friend was shocking. She's the one who's always hunted us!"
Erza said with determination, "Let me handle this world's Erza. I'd like to see just how strong the me of Edolas is."
Then Edolas Mirajane looked toward Charles and said, "But the most surprising thing was learning that Charles is a member of Fairy Tail in your world."
Everyone from Edolas nodded. It was clear that their version of Charles was no ordinary person—they simply couldn't imagine him being part of a guild like Fairy Tail.
Charles himself was just as curious. After all, his Edolas counterpart didn't exist in the original timeline. What kind of person could he be?
Natsu asked eagerly, "So what's Charles like in this world?"
Edolas Lucy cleared her throat and said, "Let me explain. Our Charles is a very impressive person.
Charles Alcolau. He first appeared before the public as a genius mage. He quickly earned the king's favor and became the commander of the Magic Warfare Division.
From the kingdom's rising star, he rose to become its sword and shield. But just a few years ago, he suddenly launched a rebellion. He led the Revolutionary Army and even seized half the kingdom.
But later, he was betrayed. His trusted subordinates stole his magic, and he was captured by the Magic Warfare Division and locked away in the most secure prison in the kingdom. No one knows if he's alive or dead. All information about him has since been banned by the king.
Of course, we're a dark guild—we don't really care about that."
Charles was stunned. His Edolas self had gone all out. A Revolutionary Army? The name alone said it all.
It sounded like Edolas Charles tried to raise a red flag in another world, but failed due to lack of experience.
But judging from this story, it didn't seem like the Edolas Charles was a transmigrator. A real transmigrator with a dark heart wouldn't launch such a crude rebellion.
With how primitive Edolas's political system was, if he had been a transmigrator, he could've easily taken over as head of state while still serving as commander.
While Charles was lamenting the downfall of his Edolas self, the others were already staring at him with complicated expressions.
He quickly raised his hands and said, "Come on, guys. You've seen it yourselves. Just because we look alike doesn't mean we're the same.
What that Charles did has nothing to do with me."
Everyone nodded in agreement. Like Gray, who absolutely refused to believe that the other version of himself wore that many layers of clothes—or chased after Juvia so shamelessly.
At that moment, the guild's front door creaked open from outside.
"We're back from shopping!"
Mirajane, Elfman, and Natsu immediately jumped up in shock. That voice—they had heard it countless times over the past two years in their dreams.
Though the rest of the group wasn't quite as shaken, they were still visibly startled. Lucy, Wendy, and Carla simply looked confused.
Charles turned toward the white-haired girl walking through the door and immediately understood their reaction.
Three years ago, Mirajane had taken her brother Elfman and little sister Lisanna on a mission.
The target was a monster called the Beast King. It was so powerful that even Mirajane was defeated.
Elfman had no choice but to use his Beast Soul Take Over magic to absorb the Beast King's soul. But the overwhelming power caused him to lose control. In his rampage, he attacked Lisanna.
Afterward, the short-tempered S-Class mage Mirajane, also known as the "She-Devil," was no more. In her place stood the gentle, soft-spoken barmaid of today.
Elfman, burdened by guilt, was never able to fully master Full Body Take Over.
And all of it stemmed from the disappearance of Lisanna—whose body had never been found.
Lisanna had also been Natsu's childhood friend, and the one who helped hatch Happy with him.
Now, this person who had been "dead" for two years stood before them. How could they possibly remain calm?
"LISANNA!!!!"
Mirajane, sobbing uncontrollably, rushed over and wrapped Lisanna in a tight hug. Elfman followed and scooped both of them up.
"Big Sis Mira? Elfman? What's going on?"
Lisanna's shopping bag fell to the floor. She was about to speak when she noticed something strange inside the guild.
She wasn't hallucinating. There really were multiple identical people standing before her.
Tears soaked her hair and clothes as she looked up at the smiling Edolas Mirajane and Edolas Elfman in the distance—and suddenly, it all started to make sense.
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Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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