The Island of the Demon Ruins.
A slowly pulsating magic circle illuminated the coastline, its gentle glow dispelling the lingering darkness.
Three Council-issued magic warships were docked along the shore. The banners of the Magic Council and the Allied Guilds fluttered together in the salty sea breeze.
After receiving urgent reports, the Council had quickly deemed the awakening of the Eighteen Demon Gods a top-priority crisis and swiftly organized a punitive expedition.
However, due to various delays during deployment, the strike force had only just arrived.
"…What in the world happened here?"
Standing atop a ridge, the mages of the expedition force stared in stunned silence at the battlefield laid before them.
The entire island bore the marks of devastation scorched earth, shattered terrain, and the gruesome remnants of powerful evil beings strewn across the ruins. The once-beautiful tourist haven had become an eerie wasteland.
They had prepared themselves mentally for a desperate clash, possibly even a one-way mission. But what they found instead left them both shocked and strangely relieved.
According to accounts from the rescued tourists, it was Fairy Tail's own Chase who had confronted the revived Demon God and not only that, he had apparently defeated it single-handedly.
The soldiers exchanged bewildered glances.
The surprise was understandable. After all, the ancient war god they had come to suppress had already been annihilated.
And the relief? That came from the fact that they were no longer walking into certain death.
"Everyone, listen up!" the captain barked, suppressing his awe. "Stay sharp. Sweep the battlefield. Identify the bodies of the demon minions. Search the island for any remaining survivors!"
With orders given, the unit began moving efficiently through the wreckage.
Only after confirming that the perimeter was secure did the captain pull aside his adjutant.
"You mentioned that during the evacuation, one of the tourists awakened a magic resembling that of the Demon Gods? There was almost a panic onboard what exactly happened?"
The adjutant nodded gravely. "Yes, sir. It was a young girl. We're still unclear on the exact cause of her awakening. According to witnesses, she seemed to grasp it instinctively after witnessing the evil demon's magic."
"A born prodigy…? Is her background clean? Could she be carrying some hidden curse or a fragment left behind by the demons?"
"I don't believe so," the adjutant replied after a pause. "Based on initial checks, there's no indication of possession or implanted magic. It looks more like a natural affinity or resonance."
The captain frowned, clearly still concerned.
"Hmm. Keep her under observation for now. Report everything back to headquarters. If her power stems from the ancient magic of the Eighteen Demon Gods… we'll need more than just hope to handle it."
The adjutant's tone grew solemn as he delivered his report.
"The girl in question… she's the daughter of the guild master from the newly registered regular guild, Saber Tooth. Her name, if I recall correctly, is…"
The captain's eyes narrowed. "Minerva… Minerva Orlando?"
Meanwhile, Chase and Mira had safely arrived in the port town of Hargeon.
After weaving their way through the half-reconstructed docks, they made it into the quieter central district.
It was already deep into the night. The last train to Magnolia had long since departed, and both of them still carrying the weight of their battle were utterly drained.
Rather than pushing on, they decided to stay the night in town and return to the guild the next morning to report to Master Makarov about the defeat of the Eighteen Demon Gods.
Given the gravity of the event, the Magic Council would undoubtedly launch a full-scale investigation. The situation was far from over.
Neither of them knew whether the townsfolk had heard about the Demon God incident, or if this was just the usual nighttime atmosphere of Hargeon.
But the streets were strangely empty.
Shops had shut their doors. Even the taverns, which usually thrived after dark, had closed early. The silence was almost eerie.
After wandering for a while through the hushed city, the two finally spotted an inn that still had its sign lit.
Relieved, they pushed the door open only to be greeted by the apologetic voice of a middle-aged man behind the counter. He had an unkempt look and a faint smell of liquor on him.
"Ah, sorry folks," the man scratched his head awkwardly. "We're all full. I was just about to take the sign down…"
Mira frowned slightly. "That's strange. Hargeon's inns rarely run out of rooms, even during busy seasons."
The innkeeper sighed and leaned over the counter. "You must not've heard, huh? Something serious went down on the nearby Demon Ruins Island. Since then, refugees have been pouring in nonstop. Most of the inns are full it's the same all over town."
"…So that's why," Mira murmured, finally understanding.
"It's such a huge hotel, come on… can't you squeeze us in somewhere?" Chase asked, his voice low with exhaustion.
Right now, all he wanted was a warm bath and a soft bed. There was no strength left in him to wander the streets any longer.
Without waiting for a response, he casually pulled a fat stack of bills from his pocket, placed it on the counter, and slid it forward.
The stack was easily worth several times the average cost of a room and the innkeeper's eyes immediately gleamed with interest.
After a beat of feigned reluctance, the man cleared his throat and muttered, "Well… it's late, and you two do look like you've had a rough night. I suppose I could… temporarily vacate the room reserved for one of our VIPs and let you take it instead."
His words sounded hesitant, but his hands moved like lightning, sweeping the money into the drawer without a trace.
Just like that, Chase and Mira secured a room.
The space wasn't overly large, but it was cozy and well-equipped: a clean bathroom, a tidy TV cabinet, and a small balcony that overlooked the moonlit sea.
Since they were close friends, and Mira wasn't particularly fussy about such things, she simply set down her bag, stretched a little, and made her way straight into the bathroom.
A proper bath after a mission no matter how chaotic was sacred.
Meanwhile, Chase remained on the balcony, purposely turning his back to the sound of running water. Not that he was a pervert, but after everything they'd been through, his imagination could definitely run wild if he wasn't careful.
To distract himself, he flipped his wrist, and a brand-new magic card floated up before him in a soft glimmer of light.
[Brainwash] a magic card that manipulates the target's mind and consciousness. The lower the target's magic power or mental resistance, the greater the chance of success.
It was a drop from the Void Drum the demon god they'd defeated.
"Mind control, huh? Not bad. Could come in handy if things go sideways."
Satisfied, Chase gave the card a flick, and it vanished into his deck with a shimmer.
With the power of [Brainwash], encountering unexpected events like the "Eighteen Demon Gods" of the Dark could now be handled with far more ease.
Chase imagined how simple it would be to turn the tide of chaos just by manipulating a pirate underling or even a dark guild leader like Clooney. One silent card play, and the enemy could become an unwitting pawn. Just the thought made him grin.
And getting two new cards in a single day?
That wasn't just rare. It directly expanded his magic capacity just by a few points, but enough to feel the shift.
A completely unexpected bonus.
Before he could muse further, the sound of water in the room faded and the bathroom door opened with a soft creak.
Mira stepped out, wrapped snugly in a towel.
Drops of water still clung to her fair skin, glistening faintly under the warm room lights. Her long white hair hung loose and damp, cascading past her shoulders and down her chest. The usually defiant tuft of hair atop her head the signature aho strand had relaxed into smooth bangs, giving her an unusually soft and elegant look.
Chase blinked.
He wasn't stunned because of her beauty. He had just seen Lucy wearing the same outfit yesterday.
No, it was simply because… this was the first time he had ever seen Mira like this.
A different side of her.
"Chase, it's your turn," Mira said with a gentle smile, as calm as ever on the outside.
Chase gave a small nod, pulling his gaze away as he walked past her and into the bathroom.
The door closed behind him.
As soon as she was alone, Mira's calm mask cracked. Her cheeks flushed bright pink, and she hurried to sit on the edge of the bed, burying her face in her hands.
Her heart was racing.
She could face a demon god without blinking… but sharing a hotel room with Chase like this?
That was an entirely different kind of battle.
Chase naturally gave the only bed to Mira and settled in a corner of the room, spreading out a spare blanket on the floor.
For someone who had spent years taking requests in rain-soaked forests and monster-infested ruins, this was practically luxury.
After exchanging quiet goodnights, the room dimmed into darkness.
Mira lay on the soft mattress, her back to the wall, eyes wide open. Her thoughts wandered restlessly through the events of the day.
The cheerful photo shoot under the sun. The sudden attack on the tourist island. Chase's timely arrival like a scene from a dream. Her own long-dormant power awakening once more, not out of rage, but to protect. Fighting side by side with Chase, syncing their magic… breathing in the same rhythm.
So much had happened in a single day.
It felt like she had lived through weeks in just a few hours.
But what truly stirred her heart wasn't the battles or the demons. It was something quieter. The realization that somewhere in the heat of it all, the shadow Lisanna left behind had started to lift. She was no longer afraid of the memory.
Everyone had tried to tell her she didn't need to blame herself. The guild master, Elfman, even Erza.
But somehow… it only started to make sense when Chase said it.
Lying there, she turned her head slightly, peeking toward the quiet shape in the corner of the room. Chase, already curled up and fast asleep on the floor.
Idiot.
The word formed silently on her lips as warmth stirred in her chest. She tugged the blanket closer, then hesitated.
He was sleeping on the cold floor, wasn't he?
Biting her lip, Mira poked her head out from the quilt, stared at the ceiling for a moment, then whispered softly into the darkness.
"Chase… why don't you come up here?"
The words floated gently across the room.
But silence answered her.
Nothing moved. No response came.
He had already fallen into deep sleep, completely unaware.
Mira blinked once. Then sighed.
What an idiot…
Quietly, she slid out of bed, walked over barefoot, and crouched beside him. Her white hair fell across her shoulders as she gently draped a quilt over his resting body, tucking it in at the corners.
Her fingers lingered at the edge of the fabric for a second, then withdrew.
With one last glance, she whispered, "Good night."
Then she padded back to bed, curled up under the covers, and closed her eyes, a tiny smile finally forming at the corners of her lips.
Tonight, at last, felt warm.
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