Chapter 27: Mukuro and Erza (2)
Magic Council — Fiore Branch
With handcuffs still binding her wrists, Erza was being led down the corridor by Mukuro.
Even so, she didn't take her eyes off the man in front of her.
He was not Ciel Illusian.
But for some reason, she couldn't shake the suspicion surrounding him.
Unlike Ciel, who always wore black—from his concealed face under a mask to his disguised voice and all-black attire—this man wore the white uniform and gloves of a Magic Council official. His hair was white, too.
He was the complete opposite of the Ciel she knew.
Yet, the spear and spear techniques he used… Those were not something anyone but Ciel could wield.
If this man wasn't Ciel… then how could he use those?
The question had tormented Erza the entire trip to the council branch.
As they walked in silence, Mukuro suddenly stopped and bowed his head in greeting to someone ahead.
Erza's eyes widened when she saw who it was.
"...Jellal."
"It's been a while, Erza…"
Erza stood tense before Jellal—or rather, the man known here as Siegrain.
He raised both hands and shook his head with a faint smile.
Suddenly, his form flickered like a hologram, his image distorting and becoming semi-transparent.
"Relax. This is just a projection. My real body is in ERA."
Jellal gestured casually toward the massive doors at the end of the hallway.
"All the old men behind that door are projections too. They wouldn't show up in person for something as minor as this."
"So… this was all your doing, wasn't it?"
"Surprising, right? I actually defended Fairy Tail… but the elders feared the responsibility might fall on them. So they needed scapegoats. You… and the man standing next to you."
"...That man?"
Jellal gestured toward Mukuro.
At those words, Erza turned her gaze toward Mukuro, who remained silently looking down.
"That man—Mukuro—is Yajima's assistant. He only joined the Council a year ago. Even now, rumors about his identity run wild among the members. This whole trial is just for show. Erza, you're just a prop. The real subject of this investigation is him."
"…."
"So they ordered me to bring you along under the pretense of being a defendant… but truthfully, I came to see you before the trial."
Jellal gently stroked Erza's chin, leaning in to whisper in her ear.
But Erza responded with a blank expression and a cold glare.
"Don't mention that incident to the elders… for both our sakes."
"…."
"Well then… I'll see you on the other side of the door—as a member of the Council."
With that, Jellal's projection vanished.
Erza turned to Mukuro.
"Mukuro… Did you bring me here knowing this whole thing was just a trap to investigate you?"
Mukuro remained silent.
"Why? You could've refused. You could've said no."
The more she looked at him, the less she understood his intentions.
She was sure he'd heard everything Jellal said. He knew he was the one being targeted.
Yet Mukuro remained unfazed.
If anything, he seemed even calmer than before.
His actions were incomprehensible... and in that moment, he reminded her of Ciel.
"Just who... are you really?"
"...Say no more. Let's move."
But Mukuro ignored Erza's question and led her into the courtroom.
...
The trial, held under the auspices of the Magic Council, proceeded with strict order and efficiency.
"Defendants Erza Scarlet... and Mukuro, please step forward for testimony."
Nine Council members sat at the high bench. Below them were two clerks, and on either side stood enforcers of the Council, who watched as Mukuro and Erza stepped forward. The Council members began reading from their documents.
"Defendant Erza Scarlet. A few days ago, during the terrorist incident involving Eisenwald, you are accused of property damage at Oshibana Station, destruction of the Ryushika Gorge railway, destruction of the Clover estate... and several other acts of destruction. Do you acknowledge these charges?"
"...Yes."
"Defendant Mukuro. During the same incident, you are accused of abusing your authority by halting the train without official approval and evacuating civilians, which resulted in property damage. Do you acknowledge this?"
"Yes."
As both admitted to their actions, the Council members immediately turned their reproachful attention to Mukuro.
"Despite being the assistant to Elder Yajima, a position of great trust, you committed such acts?"
"It is improper for someone in your position to conceal their identity in a trial where guilt is being assessed."
"Regardless of your rank, hiding your face in a court of law is unacceptable. Remove your mask and reveal your identity immediately."
At their words, Mukuro slowly reached for the straps of his mask and began to loosen them.
Erza's heart raced more than ever as she watched him undo the mask beside her.
And the Council members weren't any different.
It had been a year since Yajima suddenly brought in a man, announcing him as his assistant.
His name was Mukuro—and he wielded the same kind of spear and magic as the late Ciel Illusian.
Naturally, suspicion grew.
Ciel Illusian was supposed to be dead.
He had died two years ago.
And now, a man using similar techniques had appeared and risen to the role of council assistant.
No one could look past such a coincidence.
"...."
As the knot on the mask was undone, Mukuro finally revealed the face hidden behind the veil.
And the moment they saw it, the Council members—and even Erza—instinctively recoiled in shock.
"W-What...?! That face...!"
"So grotesque...!"
"Mukuro... your face...?"
The face beneath the mask was horribly disfigured—covered in burn scars and deep gashes that made it nearly unrecognizable as human.
Something unidentifiable writhed beneath his skin, and a massive, swollen pustule on his face looked ready to burst at any moment.
The sight was so horrifying that Michello, one of the Council members, waved his hand and cried out,
"E-Enough! Please... put the mask back on!"
At his words, Mukuro quickly put his mask back on.
While Mukuro adjusted it silently, Yajima—who had been observing the scene quietly—finally spoke.
"You need not worry about his identity. He is a distant relative of my nephew... a wizard who once studied magical theory. Three years ago, an accident during an experiment left him with those horrific scars. He closed himself off from the world, and I took him in as my assistant to help him return to society."
"As for the spear and mist magic, he admired Ciel Illusian greatly and had a duplicate of the spear crafted at a forge and studied the same style of mist magic. Regarding his identity... I feared the council would oppose appointing a relative, so I kept it hidden. My apologies."
The elders of the Council nodded.
While Yajima's actions weren't exactly proper, Mukuro had quietly accomplished much behind the scenes during his time as assistant. To cast aside such talent would be wasteful, and the council saw no reason to object.
"Still, there was no need to hide it. With skills like his, he could've become an assistant openly."
"Hahaha... Well, perhaps."
"Anyway, let us continue with the trial. Erza Scarlet, according to witness testimony, the culprit was a woman in armor—"
But before the trial could continue—
BOOM!
The courtroom wall exploded, debris scattering into the witness stand.
Everyone jumped up in shock, murmuring in confusion and panic.
"What's going on?!"
"What now?!"
Before anyone could answer, a figure emerged from the dust and smoke.
Wearing a red wig and women's clothing... it was Natsu, spewing fire from his mouth.
"I'm the woman in armor! Come and catch me if you can!"
"Wha—?!"
"I'm Erza, you fools! Tell me what crimes I'm charged with!"
As Natsu screamed, Erza bowed her head in sheer embarrassment.
The council members could only gape at the absurd scene, wide-eyed as they glared at the fire-spewing lunatic.
And then, Erza caught a glimpse...
Behind a pale mask, Mukuro was smiling ever so faintly.
...
Thanks to Natsu's ridiculous interruption, the trial—meant to be mostly symbolic—dissolved into chaos.
Later, Natsu, along with Erza, was locked up briefly for property damage, and I returned to ERA, the Council's central headquarters.
"Hohoho, good work."
Back in Yajima's office, he greeted me with his usual kind smile.
I took off my mask and bowed politely.
"Kufufu... Still, I really wish you'd stop using that face. Even I find it hard to look at."
"Ah, my apologies. I forgot."
At his comment, I released the illusion magic and returned to my true form.
My silver hair turned into deep, dark blue.
The grotesque face dissolved into mist, revealing a smooth complexion and crimson eyes.
At the same time, the white council uniform shifted into deep black.
"Yes... this is the look that suits you best, Ciel."
"I go by Mukuro now, Sir Yajima."
With my real face restored, I sat on the couch to talk.
"Thanks to you, I was able to clear up suspicions about my identity and ease Erza's doubts. I'm grateful."
"Think nothing of it. If anything, your terrifying face helped reduce the punishment for abusing your authority to just three written apologies."
"Kufufufu..."
In truth, I should have written 197 reports.
But Master Makarov of Fairy Tail took that burden on my behalf...
I can only hope he forgives me someday.
The trial ended without real punishment, just as planned. From the beginning, it was a show—a formality.
As a result, both Erza and Natsu spent two days in detention to reflect, and the Lullaby Incident came to a close.
"Still... you need to be careful from now on. If you keep using your true power like that, you may never wake up again."
"...I understand."
"The more you use it, the closer you come to death."
"Yes... I'm barely holding onto physical form as it is. My recovery is slow. If I overexert, I may never return to consciousness... But I'm doing my best to regulate it. Please don't worry."
Hearing that, Yajima sighed and sipped his tea.
"If you say so, I'll believe you. But more than anything, I hope you can wake up soon and return to Fairy Tail... There are people there waiting for you."
"...."
"I know everything. That you go to the Cathedral every day, silently watching that girl speak in front of your grave..."
"...Let's stop there. I've already used too much energy today. I'll need to sleep again for a while."
Ending the conversation, I let my body slowly dissolve into mist.
I knew what Yajima was trying to say.
I understood the reason I needed to go back.
But not like this.
Not in this unstable, half-alive form.
There's not enough time...
If I return like this, it'll only bring them sorrow.
"While I'm asleep... please take care of Fairy Tail."
"You don't need to ask. I'll protect it with everything I have."
"Thank you."
"Then rest well... no, sleep deeply."
As his words faded, so did the light.
I returned to the darkness.
And as deep sleep pulled me under, one name rose in my thoughts—softly, unconsciously.
"Mira... Mirajane... I want to see you..."
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