Mirajane's small face instantly drooped, and she shook her head listlessly, saying, "I've found a quest I like, but I haven't accepted it yet."
Ankh's heart stirred, and he asked, "What quest?"
Mirajane and Ankh went up to the second floor, which was exclusively for quests of S-Class and above, and only S-Class Mages were allowed up there.
Arriving at the quest board on the second floor, Mirajane pulled down a quest sheet and said, "It's this one, the Beast King hunting quest."
Beast King?
The Beast King's Soul that Elfman absorbed was from this very quest!
It seems there's no mistake; this was the quest that 'killed' Lisanna.
Mirajane looked at the reward on the quest sheet with delight and laughed, "I plan to call Lisanna and Elfman, and let them experience an S-Class quest too."
Ankh was a little worried, thinking, 'You're just making them die faster.'
"I don't think that's a good idea; they don't have experience after all," Ankh objected.
Mirajane frowned slightly and said, "But I'm an S-Class Mage now; I'm confident I can handle this quest by myself!"
Hearing this, Ankh grew anxious, staring at Mirajane and quickly saying, "No, you can't protect them!"
This was Ankh's heartfelt statement, based on the facts that occurred in the original story.
However, these words were clearly harsh, and Mirajane's heart ached slightly.
She bit her lip and whispered, "I think my strength is already enough..."
Ankh frowned, pondered for a long time, and finally, slowly spoke, "Then... you go."
He had spoken too harshly... But Mira still didn't know that there were always people stronger and things beyond one's comprehension... It seemed that the Fairy Tail Guild's development had been too smooth these past few years, and everyone in the Fairy Tail Guild had unknowingly developed a sense of arrogance.
It was a good thing to build everyone's confidence and will towards the Fairy Tail Guild.
However, if they faced enemies with a mindset of 'I am the number one guild, I am invincible, do as you please,' it would be an even worse thing.
The Little Fairies of Fairy Tail's golden generation were exceptionally talented, but now, deep down, Mirajane and all her companions had more or less developed a sense of arrogance.
This was not a good sign.
This was a good opportunity to give them a wake-up call.
Mirajane received Ankh's permission, nodded glumly, and silently walked downstairs.
Watching Mirajane's dejected back, Ankh sighed silently.
Actually, Ankh could have been more decisive, directly keeping Lisanna at the Fairy Tail Guild, or Ankh himself could have taken on this quest first.
But he worried that events like the convergence of world lines might occur, or that another companion might take on this death quest, replacing Lisanna and falling into danger... Forget it, the most practical solution now was for Ankh to go with them.
At most, it would be a bit of a hassle, secretly protecting the three siblings; with him there, nothing would go wrong.
Two days later, in South Park behind the Fairy Tail Guild.
Mirajane was leading Elfman and Lisanna, bidding farewell to their Fairy Tail Guild companions.
Natsu looked at the three with some envy, and the playful Lisanna, seeing this, immediately teased in a sweet voice:
"Bye, Natsu, don't miss me!"
Natsu angrily turned his head away, burying his chin and mouth in his white scarf, and mumbled, "Less chatter!"
Lisanna stood on her tiptoes and patted Natsu's head, smiling and comforting him, "Don't be jealous. Mira is an S-Class Mage, so as her teammates, of course we can go on S-Class quests."
Natsu shook his head and said urgently, "Who said I'm jealous of you guys? One day, I'll become an S-Class Mage all by myself!"
Lisanna patted Natsu's head as if coaxing a child: "Yes, yes, yes..."
Over there, a pair of childhood sweethearts were reluctantly parting, while over here, the atmosphere between the childhood sweethearts, Mirajane and Ankh, was a bit strange.
Mirajane looked somewhat downcast, clearly still bothered by Ankh's words from a few days ago.
For her, the incomprehension or ridicule of others meant nothing; as long as Ankh believed in her, she would be satisfied.
However, Ankh's firm demeanor that day, convinced that Mirajane's strength was insufficient, made her feel a sense of loss.
And a feeling of powerlessness deep down.
She worked hard to become stronger, to master the power of Satan Soul, not only to protect her family but also for another important reason.
That was to gain Ankh's recognition and become someone who could stand beside him.
But why did this goal seem to have no end in sight... Ankh looked at the conflicted girl in front of him and couldn't help but say, "Be careful."
Mirajane's body trembled, then she looked up, her beautiful eyes filled with determination, staring straight at him:
"I will definitely complete this quest, and I'll do it to show you."
To show me, it's not important at all... Ankh sighed inwardly.
Protecting her family, that was what Mira should be doing most right now.
Watching Mirajane and the two others depart for the quest location, Ankh also packed his bags and quietly followed... Mirajane's destination this time was the Beast King Forest, quite far from Magnolia.
The objective of the quest was to hunt down the ferocious Beast King that reigned supreme in this forest.
Seeing Mirajane set up camp and rest in the forest, Ankh, who was following behind, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Judging from the current progress, this S-Class quest was not as difficult as he had imagined; in fact, it seemed quite simple.
The wild beasts they encountered along the way were fragile and easily defeated, posing no trouble at all.
Excluding these factors, the only thing that could hinder Mirajane and her companions from completing the quest should be the so-called Beast King.
It's just that... Ankh had been constantly thinking about a question on the way here: what was the true strength of this giant monster, the Beast King, that annihilated Mirajane and her two siblings?
If one were to say it wasn't strong, yet it went head-to-head and defeated Mirajane, who possessed Satan Soul and also specialized in violent output, even with the assistance of her two younger siblings.
But if one were to say it was strong enough, after Elfman absorbed it, it didn't display much power, and its best record was merely defeating one of the Element Four of Phantom Lord... Even if a portion of the absorbed power is influenced by the Mage, it shouldn't be that bad, right?
Ankh was puzzled, and then a voice in his mind suddenly spoke:
"Ankh, there's a familiar magic fluctuation nearby; it's the White Devil Cult."
Hearing Seram's reminder, Ankh's expression immediately turned grim.
This White Devil Cult had been opposing him for four whole years, and he had been chasing their tails, killing them for four years.
Ankh hunted down members of the White Devil Cult everywhere, capturing every one he found, and immediately slaying those who resisted.
Under his frenzied pursuit, the White Devil Cult suffered extremely heavy losses. Later, the Council finally gathered forces and aggressively attacked their headquarters.
The outcome was naturally a great victory; the White Devil Cult was almost completely destroyed, with only the White Devil's leader and other high-ranking members escaping.
In the following years, the remnants of the White Devil Cult still existed but became increasingly low-key, rarely engaging in terrorist activities, and Ankh was unable to find their traces.
But today, he actually found traces of the White Devil Cult in the Kingdom of Fiore, in this very forest!
Ankh's eyes slightly narrowed, 'There's a road to heaven, but you refuse to take it; there's no gate to hell, yet you barge right in!'