Nighttime, on the edge of a rooftop in Magnolia.
A figure was looking up, admiring the moonlight. Hearing footsteps behind him, Doranbalt turned to face the newcomer.
"You're here."
"I'm here."
"You came after all."
"I came after all."
"You didn't have to come."
"...I'm leaving now."
"You can't leave!"
Hope's deviation from the script instantly broke Doranbalt's composure, and the oppressive aura of a superior he had painstakingly cultivated vanished without a trace.
Coming to the edge of the rooftop, Hope felt the evening breeze and chuckled, "You undercover agents are really interesting; you always like to meet on rooftops."
Doranbalt glared at Hope, annoyed. "I'm not in the mood for your nonsense. Do you even remember your identity? Why are you helping Fairy Tail?"
Hope sighed. "Sir, give me a chance. I didn't have a choice before, but now I just want to be a Fairy Tail mage."
"Oh really?"
Doranbalt's expression turned cold, and a dagger pressed against Hope's back. "Go tell that to the internal court of the Council. See if the judge agrees."
Hope's expression changed. "That means I'll go to jail."
Doranbalt's gaze didn't waver. "I'm not like you; I'm wholeheartedly dedicated to the Council."
Hope, however, suddenly sneered. "Who knows?"
As a seasoned agent, the attitude of the person before him made Doranbalt instinctively feel that something was wrong. His past experience told him to take down Hope immediately.
The dagger plunged into the body. Although it wasn't a vital spot, it was enough for Doranbalt to control Hope.
However, the sensation from the dagger made Doranbalt's face change drastically. The "Hope" in front of him instantly transformed into a large patch of frost-covered vines that climbed onto his body.
In just a breath or two, the frost vines solidified into a thick, ornate chain that connected to the ground, binding him tightly.
Numerous sharp thorns extended from the chains, pressing against various parts and joints of Doranbalt's body. Even a slight movement would cause the thorns to pierce his skin, bringing cold into his blood.
In this situation, 'Teleportation' was completely unusable.
He had been careless; this was a meticulously crafted trap specifically for him!
Doranbalt realized why Hope would actively arrange to meet him. On the surface, it was to admit his mistakes, but in reality, it was to deal with him.
After all, among the Council, the only one who knew Hope's true identity was himself, who had erased his identity records.
He had truly shot himself in the foot this time.
"Oh~"
"Isn't this Doranbalt? Why aren't you moving?"
Just as Doranbalt was regretting his actions, accompanied by a teasing voice, Hope reappeared, but this time he wasn't alone.
Seeing the short old man and the red-haired girl beside Hope, Doranbalt inwardly thought, 'This is bad,' but still spoke defiantly, "Master Makarov, I am the Vice-Captain of the Fourth Supervision Unit of the Council!"
"Don't think you'll get anything from me!"
Looking at Doranbalt, who seemed ready to die, Makarov's expression was strange, tinged with a hint of helplessness, and even the usually serious Erza couldn't help but almost laugh.
Hope, even more so, couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.
"What are you laughing at?! Traitor!"
Doranbalt glared fiercely at Hope. If looks could kill, he would have killed Hope a hundred times over.
Hope patted Doranbalt's shoulder, the thorny chains pricking him and making him wince. "I hope you'll still be this tough in a moment, sir."
"Enough, kid, get out of the way." Makarov stretched out his arm, pushed Hope aside, and placed his palm on Doranbalt's head.
Doranbalt felt a powerful external magical force rush down towards his crown, and then something in his mind seemed to subtly loosen.
Memories he had never possessed suddenly surfaced in his mind.
It was a tavern-like building. In the scene, he was with his companions, laughing joyfully. Many fragments of growth and adventure kept pouring out... In most of the fragments, a flying fairy emblem would appear, sometimes on a person's body, sometimes on a flag, sometimes on himself.
Looking at the guild emblem slowly appearing on his right shoulder until it was complete, Doranbalt's eyes widened. He finally remembered.
So my true identity is Mest.
A Fairy Tail mage!
"Hiss—"
Thinking of his loyal remarks to the Council just now, Mest gasped, unable to hide the embarrassment on his face. He could only force a polite yet elegant smile.
But that smile was even uglier than crying.
"M-Master... that... I... haha..."
Looking at the awkwardly laughing Mest, Makarov also felt like laughing, but his elder's composure kept him in check. "Hope, undo your magic."
Hope snapped his fingers, and the thorny chains binding Mest instantly dissipated into points of light. He then teased, "Oh dear, isn't this the Vice-Captain of the Council's Fourth Supervision Unit? I still prefer your defiant look from earlier. Please resume it."
Don't bring up old wounds!
Mest roared inwardly. He truly hadn't expected to get so entangled in his undercover work. With this embarrassing lesson, he would never tamper with his own memories again... It was truly too humiliating.
With Mest's memory restored, the last loophole in Hope's identity was resolved. Now he could finally be a Fairy Tail mage without any worries.
Makarov and Mest chatted for a while, with Makarov suggesting he find an opportunity to leave the Council, but Mest decided to continue his undercover work within the Council to gather intelligence for him.
Having someone on the inside of the Council was, after all, much more reassuring.
Hope asked Mest to copy his 'Teleportation' and 'Memory' magic, and then asked him to help acquire some more magic crystals from the Council.
Although his current position allowed him to easily approve large quantities of magic crystals, Mest couldn't help but ask out of curiosity, "What do you need so many magic crystals for?"
"To cultivate magic."
Hope answered straightforwardly. He had said the same thing when he confessed to Makarov: he needed pure magic power to cultivate copied magic.
Mest didn't ask further, as some powerful magic itself came with various restrictions. He promised Hope he would send him 1000 magic crystals in the next few days.
Hope shook his head. "Not in the next few days. Erza, Natsu, Lucy, and I are going on a beach vacation. Loke gave us some complimentary passes to a resort hotel."
"What?!"
Mest didn't react much, but Makarov jumped up.
The sea, the beach... doesn't that mean there will be many lightly dressed young ladies!
----------------------------------
I've already uploaded over 40 new chapters on Patreon!
If you're enjoying the story and want to read ahead, feel free to check it out.
Your support truly means a lot to me!
patreon.com/Kazenova223
Thank you so much for being here!
And if you're having fun with the story, don't forget to drop a Power Stone for me!