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The next morning.
As expected, Noah was once again woken by Erza's "wake-up service," but this time, she wasn't alone in her "tyranny."
Rubbing his sleepy eyes, Noah looked at the two girls with red and white hair by his bed and sighed helplessly. "Mira, why are you learning from Erza too..."
Before he could finish speaking, the sharp tip of a longsword was pressed against Noah's neck. Erza smiled, but her unfriendly gaze made Noah swallow hard and quickly change his words.
"Mira, you learned well!"
"Thank you, two beauties, for not forgetting to personally remind me to wake up on time, even amidst your busy schedules."
Noah's quick change of expression made Mira inadvertently laugh out loud. For a habitually lazy fellow like Noah, only an Erza could rein him in.
After breakfast, Noah took two Dragon's Nest Ores, said goodbye to Cheese and Snow, and left.
Because they were friends, Noah wouldn't force the two little ones. The last trip to the Tower of Heaven was only because Snow and Cheese, who'd never been on a boat before, wanted to experience it once, that they were willing to travel far with Noah.
Most of the time, Snow and Cheese preferred to stay and play in the Guild.
Cheese loved to "explore" the Guild, especially now that it had been expanded—there was even more for him to play with. Snow, on the other hand, relied on her cute appearance to freeload food and drinks from the Guild's big sisters every day.
Outside the Guild hall, Noah originally came to tell Makarov that he was going out with Erza and Mira, but he didn't expect to see two guys with bruised faces at the main entrance.
"Natsu, what happened to your and Gajeel's faces?"
In fact, even if Natsu didn't say anything, Noah knew. With Natsu's warlike personality, facing Gajeel, who had an equally strong personality, and both of them being Mages who used Dragon Slayer Magic, it would be strange if they didn't get into a fight.
Natsu rubbed his face, his tone excited. "Noah, you don't know, this ironhead is like me, also adopted by a Dragon and taught Dragon Slayer Magic."
This surprised Noah.
Ever since he met Natsu, Noah knew that Natsu had always been searching for his adoptive father, a Fire Dragon named Igneel.
But the Dragon race had been extinct for about four hundred years, so how could a Dragon personally teach a little kid the Dragon Slayer Magic that wiped out the Dragon race? Noah suspected it was an illusion Natsu experienced while practicing Fire Dragon Slayer Magic.
But now, another similar case had appeared. Gajeel also claimed to have been raised by a Dragon and taught Iron Dragon Slayer Magic.
Before Noah could ask Gajeel what the Dragon he was looking for was called, Gajeel suddenly sniffed hard, then looked at Noah in surprise.
"You smell of Metalicana!"
"You've seen him, where is he?!"
Gajeel was agitated. If he hadn't been wary of Noah's powerful strength, he would've started demanding answers right then.
Noah frowned. The name "Metalicana" was precisely the name of the Iron Dragon that Master Doran's clan worshipped and awaited.
With a puzzled mind, Noah took out the two ores he'd brought from the Iron Dragon's lair from his bag.
Gajeel's eyes immediately lit up. "These are Metalicana's collected stones, you really have seen him!"
"Unfortunately, I've never seen any Dragon, living or dead."
Noah put away the ores, and his words extinguished the expectation in Gajeel's heart, but at the same time, Noah could also be certain that Gajeel's relationship with the Iron Dragon, Metalicana, was absolutely real.
Why would a Dragon that disappeared nearly four hundred years ago be connected to Gajeel?
Looking at the disappointed Gajeel, and Natsu who seemed to empathize, Noah could only continue, "The ores were found in a Dragon's lair. If you're interested, you can come with me."
Gajeel naturally accepted with pleasure.
Natsu also wanted to join the fun, but he, Lucy, and Happy had taken on a job to retrieve a book from a wealthy man's home. His curiosity couldn't outweigh his commitment to his companions.
Iron Furnace Ridge was as hot as ever.
Two men and two women left the train station and walked toward the Mage market.
Noah easily found Master Doran's shop. Even through the walls, he could hear the powerful clanging sounds inside the shop.
But these heavy metal hammering sounds didn't drown out Erza's knocking.
A minute later, the shop door opened, and Doran's hearty voice came through, full of vigor, not at all like an elderly man. Of course, his muscular physique also wasn't something an ordinary elderly man could possess.
"Hahaha, Erza, and Noah, you two actually came together. It seems Cana's plan to attract customers is out of the question."
"Master Doran, we're bothering you again."
Erza didn't stand on ceremony. At Doran's invitation, she led her companions into the shop.
Summoning her damaged equipment, Doran knew Erza's intention without her needing to say much. "It seems you've been through a tough battle, Erza."
"What about you? Noah, do you need to buy new Magical Tools? I have plenty of good stuff here."
"No need, Master Doran. I really like the Blast Gauntlets. I came this time to ask if you could strengthen them further."
Seeing Noah place the gauntlets and two ores on the table, Doran was surprised. "Are you sure you want to use the Iron Dragon Lord's ores? That's too extravagant."
"Do you know where Metalicana is?"
Hearing the familiar name, Gajeel couldn't help but interject. To him, Metalicana wasn't a Dragon, but his adoptive father.
"If you've come for the Iron Dragon Lord, then I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. Our clan has waited for a hundred years and still hasn't seen the Iron Dragon Lord return."
Doran's tone was regretful, but then a little displeased. After all, Gajeel's face full of steel piercings didn't look like a good person, so why was he saying so much to him?
But Gajeel was persistent, wanting to see the location where Noah's two ores were collected.
This touched Doran's bottom line. The Iron Dragon's lair absolutely couldn't be exposed, otherwise, those precious ores would attract the covetous gaze of dark forces. The Black Magic Cult team last time was an example.
"Noah, you brat, don't talk nonsense either, or our Redfox clan's efforts to live in anonymity will be in vain."
As soon as Doran said this, Mira, who'd been silently observing the shop, suddenly turned around. "Redfox? I remember your surname, Gajeel, was also Redfox, wasn't it?"
Four gazes immediately locked onto Gajeel.
The latter nodded, puzzled, and said indifferently, "Metalicana told me to use this surname. I don't know why."
"No wonder you've been asking about the Iron Dragon Lord's whereabouts, you're one of us." Doran clapped Gajeel's shoulder heartily. Their clan had only reunited a hundred years ago, and there were still many scattered clansmen they hadn't found yet.