Chapter 81: Magic Potion Bank, Juvia in Magnolia
Jenny Realight: " , , "
As a top model, taking photos came naturally to Jenny. She quickly sent three selfies.
In the photos, the blonde model skillfully posed, highlighting her feminine charm and showcasing her best angles.
"Better than Ultear's pictures," Nate complimented genuinely, impressed by the professional quality. Though, of course, he still preferred his witch girlfriend, Ultear.
After a moment, he sent another message:
Sigma Male: "Do you want to get personal verification?"
Jenny: "What else do I need to do?"
Sigma Male: "Write 'I am Jenny Realight, applying for personal verification' on a piece of paper and take a photo with it."
Jenny: "Ugh, so troublesome... ' '."
Jenny: "Give me a moment."
A little later, she sent the requested photo.
Though she had complained, Jenny took the task seriously. In the photo, she held a sign in her left hand with the required sentence, smiling brightly while making a "V" sign with her right hand.
Sigma Male: "Good photo. I'll add the verification tag for you."
Back at the Blue Pegasus guild, Jenny soon noticed a small red "V" next to her name, signifying personal verification.
"Not bad at all," Jenny mused with satisfaction.
Jenny Realight: "Hey, Nate, I've sent you so many photos. How about sending me a few of yours? I bet you look really handsome~."
Jenny Realight: "?"
Jenny Realight: "Where'd you go?"
Her messages seemed to disappear into the void, and Jenny clenched her teeth in frustration.
"Finished what you needed and then ignored me, huh!"
…
Nate wasn't deliberately ignoring her; he was just busy making magic recovery potions. It was a complex process, and this was his first time attempting it. After more than six hours of work, he finally completed his first bottle.
"So, this is a magic recovery potion?" Ur looked on curiously as Nate poured the blue liquid into a smooth, rounded magic bottle.
Nate sealed it with an oak stopper, much like the ones used for wine bottles.
"This should restore about two stars' worth of magic," Nate explained, nodding. "Two stars would be around…"
As he spoke, his left palm emitted a bright white light.
"About this much magic."
"That much? Is it meant to be drunk?" Ur was still in disbelief.
She had closely observed Nate throughout the process, noting that he had only used ordinary herbs. The cost couldn't have exceeded 5,000J.
In battles between mages, where there isn't a significant power gap, the one with more magic often has the upper hand. This potion could change that dynamic entirely. Mages would pay top prices for it.
"Are you going to sell it?"
"No, too much hassle," Nate shook his head. "Do you know how it works?"
Simply put, the potion acts like a battery. It stores magic that isn't needed at the moment, which can later be consumed to quickly restore magic when necessary.
"So that's how it works! That's genius!" Ur exclaimed, genuinely amazed. "Nate, you're incredible! You actually invented something like this!"
She couldn't help but admire him, feeling the same awe she felt when she first encountered the Magic Net.
"But this thing has its drawbacks…"
Nate humbly downplayed his role, explaining that the system had created it; he was just the executor. "The magic stored in the potion slowly dissipates into the atmosphere. It'll retain full potency for about a month, and after three months, it'll lose all effectiveness."
"Also, this type of potion works best when created and consumed by the same person."
As a great mage, Ur immediately understood what he meant. Each mage's magic is unique, so consuming a potion made by someone else could lead to unexpected consequences. Of course, it wasn't impossible to drink someone else's potion—there was even a small chance that "magic fusion" could occur, resulting in explosive power!
Ur was filled with admiration. "Even with those limitations, it's still an amazing invention!"
"I'd love to crack open your head and see how you come up with these ideas."
Nate was left speechless.
"What's your plan? Are you going to publicly release it to the magic world?"
"No, I just made it for fun." Nate smiled. "Researching magic itself is enjoyable."
"Just for fun…"
Ur felt a bit deflated. She had once been called a genius mage, but compared to Nate, she felt like a mere student who only knew how to train.
"I need some time alone!"
With a playful glare, she quickly retreated back into the Deep Net.
Nate chuckled to himself. He then decided it was time to pass this knowledge on to Ultear. Though she was already powerful, having an extra method to recover magic wouldn't hurt.
He opened the Magic Net to invite her to Magnolia. Explaining such complex knowledge would be difficult online—it would be much easier to teach in person, perhaps in bed.
Just as he was about to send the message, Juvia's private message popped up first.
Juvia: "Nate-sama, I've arrived at Magnolia station."
"Hmm?"
Nate was a bit surprised. Had the Magic Council's investigation of Phantom Lord concluded so quickly?
Without overthinking, he replied immediately.
Sigma Male: "Wait there. I'll come to pick you up."
With that, he left his villa.
Unfortunately, his previous motorcycle had been destroyed, and he hadn't yet bought a new one, so he had to walk.
After spending the entire day buying a house, gathering herbs, and testing the magic recovery potion, by the time he stepped outside, it was already evening.
Before long, Nate arrived at the station entrance and saw Juvia.
"Nate-sama!"
Juvia's face lit up with joy as she ran toward him, her small steps quick and eager.
"I'm sorry, Juvia hasn't messaged you these past few days," she quickly apologized, her head bowed.
Why was she apologizing for that? Nate chuckled, ruffling her hair. "It's fine. Come on, I've just bought a new house. You're the first guest."
With that, he naturally took her hand.
Juvia's eyes widened as her face turned crimson, her heart racing wildly. Holding hands with Nate-sama! She was in bliss.
Juvia felt as though she could die happy in that moment.
"Let's buy some groceries. Do you know how to cook?"
Nate found Juvia quite likeable—obedient, capable, though her obsessive tendencies sometimes put a little pressure on him.
Juvia nodded enthusiastically. "Juvia can cook!"
"Then I'll leave dinner to you."
"Yes! Please leave it to Juvia!"
Determined, Juvia clenched her fists, as if preparing for the most important test of her life.
The two strolled hand in hand toward the market.
Suddenly, Nate thought of something and suggested, "Phantom Lord has been dissolved, right? Why don't you join Fairy Tail?"
"Yes!" Juvia, wrapped in happiness, nodded absentmindedly, barely hearing the words but agreeing anyway.
Nate found her behavior rather endearing.
After buying groceries, Nate took her back to his new home in the suburbs.
Chapter 82: Juvia's Love
Juvia's cooking wasn't bad, but it wasn't exceptional either. Compared to Mirajane's skills, it was clear who was more talented. In Nate's opinion, Mirajane could easily work as a top hotel chef.
Still, he didn't mind Juvia's cooking. The two of them worked together in the kitchen, but Juvia became so flustered that she almost caused a disaster. Nate had to step in and help, and eventually, they managed to prepare dinner.
Once all the food was on the table, Juvia lowered her head, looking downcast.
"I'm sorry, Nate-sama, Juvia is so clumsy~," she said, apologetically.
She was usually good at cooking on her own, but with Nate beside her, watching, she got so nervous that she nearly cut her own fingers.
"Next time, just do your best," Nate smiled, offering her some comfort as he picked up his utensils to taste the food. "It's actually quite good. Have a little more confidence."
"Yes!" Juvia immediately perked up, her eyes lighting up as she watched Nate eagerly.
"Juvia will do her best! Juvia is willing to do anything for Nate-sama~."
Nate noticed the pendant she was wearing around her neck—a golden emblem of the Fairy Tail guild.
"Where did you get that?"
"This?" Juvia held up the pendant in her palm. "I bought it in front of the station. Juvia wants to join Fairy Tail, but after what happened before, I'm afraid Guild Master Makarov won't agree."
Was she wearing the pendant for luck, hoping to be accepted into the guild? Nate couldn't help but smile. How adorable.
"Don't worry, I'll take you to see the Master tomorrow. He'll definitely agree."
The conflict between Fairy Tail and Phantom Lord had been instigated by Jose, and Juvia wasn't at fault. Besides, Makarov wasn't the type to hold grudges. As long as the situation was explained, he would certainly allow Juvia to join.
"Really? Juvia is so happy!"
Juvia had learned to express her feelings openly. Nate noticed her staring at him and commented, "Aren't you going to eat? Aren't you hungry?"
"Just watching Nate-sama eat makes Juvia feel full~."
You're a natural flirt, Nate thought to himself. The best part was knowing that this was genuinely how she felt—it wasn't an act.
"Do you like me, Juvia?" Nate asked directly.
"…!"
Juvia's face turned crimson, but with a boldness that matched her shyness, she responded, "Juvia likes Nate-sama very much."
"But I'm a bad guy."
"Bad guy?" Juvia looked at him in confusion. She hadn't heard the term before, but she could guess its meaning.
"I already have a girlfriend—her name is Ultear, and she's one of the Magic Council's members," Nate confessed, figuring it was better to be upfront. "Please keep it a secret."
Juvia was stunned, as if struck by lightning. She melted, almost literally, into a puddle.
Is the blow really that bad? Nate thought in surprise, marveling at how she seemed to turn into liquid.
"Are you okay?" he asked, quickly pulling her back into his arms.
"J-Juvia is so sad!"
Outside, thunder rumbled. A storm was brewing.
Looking down at the teary-eyed Juvia in his arms, Nate sighed.
"Listen, Juvia," he said gently, "I may already have a girlfriend, but I don't mind having one more."
"If you're willing, I'd be happy to be with you too."
Nate could have kept the truth hidden, using Juvia's feelings for him to take things further. But that would have created more problems later. Given her personality, Nate could already picture Juvia and Ultear getting into a fight.
It was better to be honest and let her make the decision.
To most people, what Nate said would sound selfish, but to Juvia, it felt like salvation.
Her form solidified again, and her big, bright eyes stared at him as her face flushed once more.
"Nate-sama, Juvia won't lose!"
Determined, Juvia buried her face in his chest. For the first time, Nate held her, realizing it felt like holding a warm pool of water.
"Just don't fight with Ultear, okay?"
Nate wasn't sure what Juvia was thinking. Was she willing or not?
"Juvia may be late to the game, but she won't lose!" Juvia clung tightly to Nate, her voice filled with determination.
"Juvia's love for Nate-sama is stronger than anyone's!"
Got it, Nate thought, finally understanding. She was willing to fight for his affection, hoping to become his primary partner.
"No fighting," Nate reiterated, knowing Juvia wouldn't stand a chance against Ultear. She'd only get hurt.
"Juvia will listen to Nate-sama. Nate-sama, do you like Juvia?"
Her eyes were full of hope, her cheeks flushed pink.
Nate thought for a moment before kissing her cheek and saying, "You're very sweet. Anyone who spends time with you would like you."
Who wouldn't like a girl so devoted to them? Besides, apart from her jealous tendencies, she was pretty easygoing.
Juvia was so flattered that she felt like she was melting again—this time from happiness. She hugged Nate tightly, her head pressed against his chest.
In Nate's arms, she felt like warm water, with steam practically rising from her head.
Seeing how things were going, Nate decided to take it further. He cupped Juvia's face and kissed her deeply.
Juvia's eyes shut tightly, too shy to look at him.
Carrying her, Nate made his way upstairs. Dinner? Forget dinner—Juvia was the priority now.
That night, the villa was silent and peaceful, while Juvia felt like a small boat adrift in the ocean, weathering a powerful storm.
...
The next morning, when Nate woke up, Juvia was lying on top of him, her face flushed as she gazed down at him.
"Good morning, Nate-sama~."
"Good morning." Nate couldn't help but kiss her again.
She's just too cute!
He found himself liking Juvia more and more.
"Time to get up. Can you walk? I'm taking you to meet the Master."
Juvia shyly shook her head, clinging to Nate without a word. She clearly didn't want to get up, preferring to stay like this forever.
Chapter 83: Juvia Joining Fairy Tail, Makarov's Shock
Juvia refused to get out of bed. In truth, she had woken up at dawn, feeling a bit physically uncomfortable, but she didn't move. Nate had a habit of holding her tightly while he slept, and she didn't want to disturb him. So, lying on her side with her head resting on his arm, she simply watched him sleep for a long time, feeling content.
Juvia thought she could stay like this forever, feeling happy just by looking at him.
"Let's stay in bed a little longer," Nate said, shifting his arm, which had gone slightly numb from being her pillow, and pulling her even closer.
Couples can release oxytocin by simply whispering to each other while lying together, making them feel happier and more connected.
Juvia let out a soft "Mm," adjusting her head to find a more comfortable spot, like she had found her safe harbor, and closed her eyes to enjoy the warmth of the morning.
The soft morning sunlight filtered through the window, lighting up a corner of the bedroom. Nate gazed at the girl in his arms, a gentle smile on his face. He was now very curious—what exactly was going through Juvia's mind? More specifically, what do girls think about after a night together?
"Juvia."
"Nate-sama?"
"Let's use the voice chat function."
Nate suddenly had an idea. He quickly activated the Internet Magic and sent Juvia a request for voice chat—using the advanced version, of course.
Juvia wouldn't refuse any of Nate's requests, so she quickly accepted. It was her first time using this feature, and she felt a bit puzzled.
Juvia: "Voice chat?"
Nate: "It's similar to telepathy magic; we can communicate directly through our thoughts."
Juvia: "I can hear Nate-sama's voice in my head... Telepathy! This is amazing!" (Excited)
Juvia: "Wait... does this mean my thoughts will be spoken out loud too?"
As Juvia used it for the first time, her eyes were filled with surprise and delight.
Nate: "Juvia, what are you thinking right now?"
Juvia: "What am I thinking?" (Confused)
Nate got his answer. There wasn't much going through Juvia's mind—she was simply enjoying the feeling of lying together, embracing him.
Nate smiled and kissed her on the cheek. "You're adorable."
The two of them continued whispering sweet nothings to each other through their thoughts until the sun had fully risen.
Afterward, they headed into the bathroom to wash up together. Considering Juvia's condition, Nate exercised restraint, though it was a bit torturous. Everyone knows that testosterone levels are highest in the morning, but Juvia's shy expressions only made it more amusing for him.
...
After breakfast—or rather, lunch—Nate finally took Juvia out of the house. The mansion, originally bought for Ultear, had ended up being Juvia's first experience instead.
Still, Nate didn't mind having another girlfriend. Ultear was far away, while Juvia could be with him every day from now on.
"Time to see the Master," Nate said, opening the Internet Magic and checking his contacts. Makarov was offline.
Sigma Male: "Master, have you finished your report? I need to talk to you."
Soon, Makarov came online and replied.
Fairy Tail's Grandpa: "Your delivery function has been a great help. It made sending my report much easier."
Nate chuckled. Poor Makarov—everyone caused trouble, but he was always the one writing reports. Normally, he'd ask Mirajane to help, but this time, with an entire mage guild destroyed, the Magic Council was furious and demanded that he write it personally. Mirajane had mentioned that he had to rewrite it seven or eight times.
Seeing Nate laugh, Juvia looked at him curiously.
"Nate-sama?"
"Nothing, just thought of something funny," Nate replied, shaking his head.
At that moment, Makarov sent another message.
Fairy Tail's Grandpa: "I'm in the Eastern Forest, where you fought the Oracion Seis."
Sigma Male: "Got it, I'm on my way. I'll bring someone with me—Juvia Lockser, formerly of Phantom Lord."
Fairy Tail's Grandpa: "A mage from Phantom Lord? Bring her along."
Without further questions, Makarov agreed.
"Let's go. Time to meet the Master," Nate said, turning off the Internet Magic and taking Juvia's hand, leading her toward the Eastern Forest.
Juvia became nervous, her palms sweating.
"Nate-sama, Juvia is so nervous."
"Don't worry, the Master is a kind old man."
"You call Master Makarov 'old man'?"
"Usually, I call him 'Master.' Natsu and Gray are the ones who call him 'old man.'"
As they walked, Nate told Juvia funny stories about the guild, helping to ease her nerves. Juvia couldn't help but feel envious. Compared to Fairy Tail, Phantom Lord had always been more serious. But the thought of soon joining Fairy Tail and being with Nate every day filled her with happiness.
Before long, they arrived at the Eastern Forest.
Nate saw Makarov planting trees—literally. The old man had used his giant magic, becoming a massive figure over ten meters tall, carefully replanting the trees that had fallen during the battle.
Nate noticed that the huge crater his "Tremor Ball" had created had also been filled in and smoothed over.
Turns out peace doesn't just happen—someone is always working behind the scenes to restore it.
"You caused Porlyusica a lot of trouble," Makarov said, shrinking back to his normal size after planting a tree. He turned and added, "Oh, you haven't met her yet. Porlyusica is an old friend of mine who lives in this forest."
I know, and I also know that Porlyusica is an alternate version of Grandeeney from another world, Nate thought. It hit him that Porlyusica might also be a traveler from another world—like him.
"Master, this is Juvia," Nate said, snapping out of his thoughts and introducing Juvia.
Juvia clasped her hands together nervously and bowed.
"Hello, Master Makarov. I am Juvia, formerly of Ph—now a free mage."
"Good afternoon, young lady." Makarov smiled warmly. "Are you looking to join our guild?"
"Eh? How did you know?"
"Fairy Tail welcomes you," Makarov said with a smile, not bothering to explain how he figured it out.
Juvia's face lit up with joy. Just like that, she was part of Fairy Tail! She turned to Nate, who smiled back, as if to say, "See? Told you it would be fine."
"Oh, by the way," Makarov said, "Nate, help me plant these trees. You can't leave until we're finished."
"Got it, Master," Nate said, helplessly agreeing.
Juvia quickly volunteered. "Juvia will help too!"
So, the three of them got to work.
While planting, Makarov mentioned, "The Magic Council asked me to write a report. I told them that I defeated Jose, but they didn't believe me and made me rewrite it, saying it didn't match the facts."
Of course, the council wasn't stupid. Jose's injuries clearly showed he had been hit by two super magic attacks—Nate's Tremor Magic first and then Fairy Law.
"So, Nate, how exactly did you defeat Jose?" Makarov asked curiously.
"That's my secret weapon, Master. But since you asked..."
Nate raised his right hand and muttered, "Reversal Magic—Flying Thunder God!"
A golden magic circle appeared instantly. In the next moment, a bottle of magic recovery potion was reverse-summoned from his mansion's storage, landing in his hand.
"I used this—my recently developed magic recovery potion."
Makarov stared, dumbfounded.
"A teleportation spell? No, it's a reverse summoning magic circle!"
How is that even possible? The old man was so shocked that he couldn't comprehend what had just happened.
"Wait... a magic recovery potion?" Makarov then noticed the blue liquid in Nate's hand, his jaw dropping even further.
Chapter 84: Learning the Super Magic "Law", New Mission
Nate explained the principles behind the blue potion for restoring magic power, along with the necessary knowledge of potion-making. For Makarov, understanding it wasn't difficult, but the concept was so simple that it left him stunned.
"Amazing, Nate-sama," Juvia said, looking up at him with wide, admiring eyes.
"This is a brilliant invention…" Makarov finally spoke, his gaze filled with awe, as if he were looking at something extraordinary.
It was no wonder Nate had been able to defeat Jose. With a few bottles of this magic recovery potion on hand, combined with Nate's mastery of advanced magic, Jose didn't stand much of a chance.
"Just some basic herbs, nothing expensive to make," Nate explained. "It stores unused magic power and can be used when necessary to restore it."
"It's a genius creation!" Makarov marveled. Though the principle was simple, it was clear that the amount of effort, time, and perhaps a stroke of inspiration needed to develop it was immense.
"Are there no other ways to recover magic power?" Nate asked. After seeing both Ur and Makarov so shocked by the blue potion, he wondered what the old mages of the world had been up to. Had no one thought to research something like this?
"There are," Makarov replied, "and many methods at that. But none quite like this…" He paused, unsure how to fully describe it.
After a moment of thought, he continued, "Take your Internet Magic, for example. Friends, no matter how far apart, can communicate without obstacles. Before the Internet Magic, the usual method for long-distance communication was the 'communication magic crystal.'"
Nate knew about communication magic crystals. The guild had some in storage. They were smooth crystal orbs that allowed long-distance communication, including video of the other party. However, both sides needed the same model, and the farther apart they were, the more magic power it consumed. Mirajane had once mentioned that if Nate's Internet Magic became widespread, it could make these crystals obsolete, much to the dismay of the merchants who made and sold them.
"I see... I think I understand now," Nate said, beginning to grasp the situation. Many things in the magic world existed but were not advanced or efficient enough. The Internet Magic, for example, had alternatives, but none as convenient.
"This could be another invention that earns you the title of a 'Wizard Saint,'" Makarov added with a chuckle. "If the Magic Council learns about it, they might want to discuss granting you further honors."
"Master, I made it for fun. Let's not bring the Magic Council into this," Nate said, waving it off. He didn't need the hassle. Besides, he was already a Wizard Saint. What good would another medal do him? It wasn't like collecting seven would summon the god Ankhseram.
Makarov smiled. "Your choice. But more importantly, how did you perform that teleportation magic just now?"
"The reverse summoning magic?"
Nate was quite proud of this. The magic recovery potion came from the system, but the reverse summoning magic, "Flying Thunder God," was his own creation.
In normal Flying Thunder God magic, the caster leaves a magic seal at a target location, allowing them to teleport to that spot later. However, with reverse summoning magic, the caster leaves an inverted magic seal at the target location, enabling them to summon the object or person back to their side.
Nate explained the principle and pointed to his Six Eyes.
"The reverse version is ten times more difficult than the normal one, requiring extremely precise control over magic power. I can only manage it thanks to these eyes."
Makarov was stunned again but quickly smiled. "A remarkable achievement. There could be even more applications for reverse summoning magic. You should explore it further."
Makarov thought about how Fairy Law, one of Fairy Tail's three great super magics, had been adapted from the black caster magic "Law," transforming it into a light-based caster magic.
"Understood, Master," Nate nodded, also realizing the potential of reverse magic. If he could reverse Flying Thunder God, why not other magic?
"Come here. I said I'd teach you Fairy Law, and now's as good a time as any."
Makarov was determined. He was getting older and needed to start grooming the next generation's Guild Master. He had several candidates: Laxus, Gildarts, and Erza. Now, Nate had been added to that list.
Laxus, his grandson, had personality issues and struggled to communicate with others, something Makarov often worried about. Gildarts was rarely around, and Erza, while excellent, was sometimes too serious. Nate, on the other hand, seemed like a good balance.
Seeing that Makarov finally had time to teach him Fairy Law, Nate eagerly stepped forward.
"Fairy Law is one of the three great super magics of Fairy Tail. Don't worry about the other two for now," Makarov began, still planting trees as he spoke.
"As a super magic, even if I personally teach you, whether you can master it depends on your own understanding."
"I'll give it my all," Nate replied enthusiastically.
"With your talent, I'm sure you'll manage," Makarov encouraged him with a smile. "First, understand that it's a 'law,' representing the caster's judgment. If your heart leans toward darkness, the magic will transform into dark judgment, and its nature will change."
"Moreover, if you try to use it without enough magic power, it can have severe side effects. Powerful magic often comes with such drawbacks. Fairy Law is no exception. The more enemies it judges, the more it shortens your lifespan, so it must be used with caution!"
Makarov paused and looked Nate in the eye.
"Now that you understand this, do you still want to learn it?"
"Of course," Nate answered without hesitation. Knowing multiple powerful magics was always a good thing, and when the time came to use them, the side effects wouldn't matter.
Besides, Nate didn't think his lifespan would be a problem. The stronger his magic became, the more he felt he could live for a long, long time.
"Very well, let's begin," Makarov said with a satisfied smile.
The rest of the day was spent learning. Of course, they also planted trees while doing so.
Fairy Law was much more challenging to learn than Thought Projection magic, but Nate was picking it up quickly and felt confident he could master it.
The day passed peacefully in this harmonious rhythm between man and nature.
By the time the sun set, the three of them had replanted all the trees in the forest.
"That should do it. Next time, don't upset Porlyusica. She gave me an earful," Makarov grumbled, his brows furrowed.
"I'll be more careful next time," Nate said with a small laugh.
Waving goodbye, Nate led Juvia back to his mansion on the outskirts of town.
Later that evening, Nate didn't push Juvia. Though she was made of water—soft and pliable—she was still a water mage, and her body needed time to recover. He decided to let her rest for a couple of days.
To avoid torturing himself, Nate returned to his apartment to sleep alone.
On his way back, a system task suddenly popped up.
[Mission: Increase registered users of the Internet Magic to 30,000.]
[Reward: Worms of Time.]
The mission came out of nowhere, without any warning.
While the mission itself was straightforward, what really caught Nate's attention was the reward.
"Worms of Time?"
/Bleam
— 70 Advance Chapters!
Chapter 85: Worms of Time, the Diligent Erza
"A Worms of Time?" Nate muttered to himself, glancing around the street as he walked. He hoped he wouldn't run into someone wearing a monocle—it would be too eerie.
"Is it magic? Time magic? Or maybe summoning some kind of bug?" He could only speculate what the reward entailed since the system only provided a name. He'd have to complete the mission to find out.
He checked the current number of registered users on the Magic Net.
[Total registered users: 9,119]
Not even 10,000 yet, and the mission goal was 30,000—still two-thirds to go.
"I'll need second-generation rings…"
As he pondered this, Nate continued walking toward his apartment and opened his contacts to message Lucy's father.
Sigma Male: "Good evening, Mr. Jude. How's the production of the first batch of rings coming along?"
Jude Heartfilia: "I've already prepared a batch of about 30,000. Do you need them now?"
What a coincidence.
Nate reached his apartment just as he saw Lucy approaching.
"Nate!"
"Good evening, Lucy," he greeted her with a smile, noticing she was carrying vegetables and meat, likely for dinner. Lucy seemed a bit flustered, as if she was about to run off again, just like that morning. Nate quickly grabbed her wrist before she could escape.
"Why are you running?" he asked, mildly exasperated.
"I—I wasn't running!" Lucy denied it, her face turning slightly red.
Nate glanced at the groceries she was holding and had an idea. "Let's go to your dad's place for dinner!"
"Huh?"
"Stop 'huh'-ing and come on."
Without giving her a chance to protest, Nate activated his space-time magic, Flying Thunder God. He had left a marker during his last visit to the Heartfilia mansion, making it easy to teleport there.
A golden magic circle appeared beneath their feet, and before Lucy could fully process what was happening, they disappeared in a flash of light.
Meanwhile, at the Heartfilia mansion…
A golden magic circle formed in front of the gilded statue by the entrance, and in the blink of an eye, Nate and Lucy appeared.
"This is my house!?" Lucy exclaimed, wide-eyed.
This teleportation magic was incredibly convenient! In just an instant, they had traveled such a long distance back home.
Nate released Lucy's hand and casually strolled toward the mansion. "Anyone home?"
Holding onto the groceries, Lucy quickly followed him inside, where she saw their familiar housekeeper, Mrs. Spetto, walking down the hallway into the foyer.
"Mrs. Spetto!"
The middle-aged woman looked surprised. "Lucy-ojou, Nate-sama."
Why are they calling me 'Nate-sama'? I didn't marry into this family, Nate thought with a smirk. "Is Mr. Jude home?"
"The master is in the dining room."
"Looks like we're just in time for dinner. Hope you don't mind if I join," Nate said, taking Lucy's hand again and heading toward the dining room.
The Heartfilia mansion was grand, with three different dining rooms: the main dining room, a casual dining room, and a guest dining room.
Nate confidently led the way to the main dining room, where Jude Heartfilia was already seated.
Seeing his daughter and Nate return together, Jude was delighted and immediately had the kitchen prepare more food for the unexpected guests.
The dinner was lively and pleasant.
Afterward, Nate and Jude retreated to the study. Jude had the prepared batch of 30,000 second-generation rings brought in.
"I've acquired a few magic item workshops and had these prototypes made by skilled artisans. Take a look and see if they meet your requirements," Jude explained.
Nate was impressed. No wonder Jude was so wealthy—a major financier. His "prototypes" consisted of 30,000 rings. Nate admired his financial capability as he examined a handful of the rings. After inspecting them, he nodded in approval.
"They'll do. Once I add the Internet Magic, they'll be ready for sale."
The only issue was the material. To cut costs, it seemed the quality wasn't as high as Nate would have preferred, but it would do for now.
"Great!"
Jude breathed a sigh of relief. He had been under a lot of pressure recently. After rejecting an arranged marriage proposal from the Treniar family, he had angered them. On top of that, his railway company had overextended itself, investing heavily in the south and straining the company's finances. If they couldn't capitalize on this new market with the rings, the Heartfilia Conglomerate could be in big trouble.
Of course, he didn't share any of this with Lucy but felt comfortable discussing it with Nate. The business was something he and Lucy's mother had built together, and he was determined to protect it.
"It seems you're facing quite a bit of trouble," Nate remarked while enchanting the rings with internet magic. "Is someone targeting the Heartfilia Conglomerate?"
In the original story, the company's sudden collapse and acquisition always seemed suspicious, as if someone had orchestrated it.
Jude nodded, a bit surprised by Nate's concern. "There are some difficulties, but don't worry, the rings won't be delayed."
"I'm more worried about your safety," Nate said. In the world of business, the battles could be far more dangerous than anything mages faced.
Jude was taken aback but smiled. He hadn't expected Nate to be concerned about his well-being. "Don't worry. Their goal is the company, not me."
Meanwhile, Jude was also thinking about Nate and Lucy. Were they a couple yet? Why hadn't they started dating already? If Nate were a bit more forward, Jude was sure Lucy would accept him. He had already started to think of Nate as a potential son-in-law, hoping the two would get along well.
Nate pondered for a moment and suggested, "I spoke with the chairman of the Magic Council recently. They need a large number of magic rings for the internet. You could add the chairman as a contact and establish a partnership with the council."
Selling the rings was one thing, but securing the title of official council supplier for Jude would be an even better move.
"The Magic Council?"
Jude was astonished. As a sharp businessman, he immediately grasped the significance of what Nate was suggesting. His admiration for Nate deepened. He was already considering how he could support Nate even further but decided against it, remembering his promise to Lucy not to interfere in her life.
"I understand. I'll visit them personally to discuss it," Jude decided. Though they could communicate through the Magic Net, he wanted to show sincerity by visiting the council in person.
Nate had no objections to that. After spending half an hour enchanting the 30,000 rings with Internet Magic, they were ready for distribution. Jude had a maid test one of the rings to ensure it worked properly, and after confirming there were no issues, he was visibly relieved.
Jude then warmly invited Nate to stay the night, which Nate accepted.
…
The next day, Nate and Lucy returned to Magnolia.
"Why does my dad seem closer to you than to me? Who's the real family member here?" Lucy grumbled as they arrived.
"We're all one big family," Nate teased.
"I'm not part of your family!" Lucy blushed furiously and hurried off to the guild.
Her reactions are always so cute, Nate thought with a smile.
As he watched her leave, Nate mused, "Once Jude starts selling those rings, the mission should be completed soon."
Afterward, Nate returned home, took a bath, and decided to put his Thought Projection clones to work again. Since they were idle, he figured they could help him develop a new game for the internet. With only three games available, the selection was still a bit limited.
The following days were peaceful and routine. In the mornings, Nate would enjoy the breakfast Mirajane made at the guild. At lunch, Juvia would prepare a bento for him. And in the evenings, Lucy was his personal chef.
Nate also made sure to continue learning Fairy Law from Makarov in his spare time.
One afternoon, at the guild's construction site, Erza approached him excitedly.
"Nate, look at this!" she said, showing him a post on her Magic Net forum.
"I finally got some information about the Tower of Heaven!"
Curious, Nate glanced at her post history. Erza had been quite diligent. Ever since they had returned from the council's headquarters, she had been posting persistently every day.
[OMG! The Tower of Heaven is actually…]
Chapter 86: One Day Resort Trip
Erza's forum posts all followed the classic "unbelievable" style of clickbait titles. At least ten of them began with "Unbelievable!" which caused Nate to chuckle.
"I think you're taking this a little too seriously…" he remarked.
He glanced at Erza, who stood beside him with a slightly furrowed brow. Even when she frowned, her beauty made the expression appear graceful. Since Nate was sitting and she was standing, Erza had to lower her head, her crimson hair framing her face. She brushed it back behind her ear, revealing the black crystal earrings Nate had given her. Her expression showed confusion.
"Isn't this what you taught me? You said it would attract more clicks."
"That's true, but it's not just about the 'unbelievable' part. It's what comes after that counts."
Nate thought Erza was being serious about the wrong thing. His words seemed to freeze her mid-motion, a hint of frustration flickering in her eyes as she continued brushing her hair back.
"This is harder than I thought…"
Even Erza had her struggles. Nate chuckled. "It's no big deal. Don't worry if you don't get it."
"Here, take a look at this."
Erza, feeling a bit tired of standing, sat next to Nate. They were both sitting on a stack of wooden planks meant for rebuilding the guild. Nate had been slacking off, using the planks as a bench instead of carrying them like he was supposed to.
Nate followed her gaze and clicked on her latest forum post. He then found a specific reply within it.
Samurai: "I know where it is. Add me as a friend."
"And then?" Nate asked, turning to her.
"So I added them as a friend."
Erza opened her private messages, casually showing Nate the conversation.
Knight: "Do you know about the Tower of Heaven?"
Samurai: "I've seen your posts asking about the Tower of Heaven for a while. Based on your username, 'Knight,' I can guess who you are."
Samurai: "You're Erza Scarlet of Fairy Tail, the 'Fairy Queen,' right?"
Knight: "Yes, I'm Erza."
Nate stared in disbelief.
That was so like Erza—someone guessed her identity, and she just confirmed it without hesitation.
"Knight" was the name of Erza's magic, specifically "Requip: The Knight." She was quite famous, having been interviewed multiple times by 'Sorcerer Weekly', and her magic abilities were essentially public knowledge. Still, it was impressive that someone had figured out her identity based on a username alone.
Nate continued reading.
Knight: "I'm looking for information about the Tower of Heaven. I'll pay you 2,000 points as compensation."
Samurai: "The Tower of Heaven, the R-System... the Cult of Black Magic. Heh."
Samurai: "I do know the exact location of one of the Towers of Heaven."
Samurai: "If you want to know, come to this location."
[Your friend "Samurai" has sent you a package. Would you like to accept it?]
Knight: "What is this?"
Knight: "Are you there?"
The conversation ended there.
"He sent me this!" Erza pulled out a shiny gold card from her pocket and handed it to Nate.
Nate examined it briefly. "A… voucher?"
The card had the words "Free Accommodation" written on it.
"Ah! That's… an Akane Resort voucher!" Levy exclaimed as she passed by, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Nate, how did you get your hands on something like that? It's super rare—you usually have to win it in a lottery."
"Akane Resort?" Nate echoed, the name vaguely familiar.
"Yes, Akane Paradise, the most famous seaside resort in Fiore," Levy explained, giving him a look that clearly said, 'How do you not know this?'
"They have a theme park, hotels, everything. With this voucher, you can enjoy all the facilities for free, including accommodations…"
At that point, Levy's eyes widened even more as she glanced back and forth between Nate and Erza.
Suddenly, she covered her mouth, realizing what she might have stumbled upon.
Nate sighed, already knowing what she was thinking. "It's Erza's, not mine," he clarified, shaking his head.
"Huh? Erza… you…"
Levy looked even more shocked now. Being a fan of romance novels, her mind instantly conjured a dramatic love triangle. Nate, Mirajane, and Erza?!
Oh no, this is juicy! she thought, giddy with excitement.
"Sorry for interrupting! Bye!" Levy said with a mischievous grin, quickly scurrying off before Nate could say anything.
"…"
Nate stared after her, unsure of what exactly Levy had misunderstood, but certain it was something.
Erza, meanwhile, didn't seem to notice the misunderstanding. She was deep in thought, seriously considering the situation.
"Could this be a trap?" she mused, then immediately began formulating a plan. "But if both you and I go, even if it is, we'll be fine. I'll meet with him in person, and you can hide in the shadows. If anything goes wrong, we'll fight together."
Wait, why am I automatically included in this? Nate was about to protest when Erza decisively grabbed his arm.
"What are we waiting for? If we leave now, we can still make it by tonight!"
Nate sighed internally. He had planned a date with Juvia tonight at the new mansion…
Well, that's canceled.
…
Nate found himself on a train bound for Akane Paradise, sending an apologetic message to Juvia. Opposite him sat Erza.
"Erza, are you aware of one small problem?" Nate decided to clarify something beforehand.
"What is it?"
"We only have one voucher," Nate said, holding up his hands in mock surrender.
Erza thought about it for a moment. "That's fine. We can share a room."
Isn't that a bit inappropriate? Nate thought, but only nodded. "Then why hasn't the train started yet? We'll be late!"
Erza smiled at him. "Why do you seem so excited about sharing a room with me?"
"Don't misunderstand—I'm just worried about you," Nate replied earnestly. "Think about it. We don't know if this 'Samurai' is male or female, or how many people might be involved. It could even be a dark mage lurking on the forum."
"How could I let you go alone? We're guildmates. We're family!"
Erza, who was usually serious, couldn't help but laugh at his sincerity.
She has such a beautiful smile, Nate thought. She should smile more often instead of always looking so serious—like the class president.
"Thank you, Nate."
Her smile faded into a serious expression as she sincerely thanked him.
Nate sighed. "If you really want to thank me, just smile more."
"Is that so?"
Erza touched the corner of her lips, feeling warmth inside as his words lightly touched her heart.
Sleeping right now. Bonus Chapters later...
/Bleam
— 70 Advance Chapters!
Chapter 87: Samurai's Identity, Erza's lap pillow
Sigma Male: "Sorry, Juvia, something came up. Our date tonight is canceled."
Sunny Doll: "Eh?! Juvia understands. [cute crying emoji]"
Sunny Doll: "Nate-sama, Juvia wants to help too!"
Sigma Male: "It's just a small matter. If all goes well, I'll be back tomorrow."
Sigma Male: "Be good, and I'll bring you a gift when I return."
Sunny Doll: "Juvia will be looking forward to it! [excited emoji]"
Sunny Doll: "Nate-sama, please stay safe!"
As the magic train began its slow journey with a steady "clack, clack" toward its destination, Nate reassured his second girlfriend before closing the private message interface.
'Akane Resort…'
The name sounded familiar, and after Levy's reminder, Nate finally recalled its significance. It appeared during the Tower of Heaven arc, meaning this "Samurai" was likely one of Jellal's people.
With that realization, Nate closed his eyes and entered the deep web—0s and 1s forming a frozen landscape. In a small wooden cabin, Ur leaned back in a relaxed pose, one hand supporting her chin while the other scrolled swiftly through streams of information.
"Ur, pull up the user data for the account named 'Samurai,'" Nate instructed.
Without asking any questions, Ur used the secondary permissions Nate had granted her, quickly retrieving all available information on the account.
'Registration date… Activity time… Message history… Friend list…'
Every detail Samurai had left behind in the system was now laid out before Nate.
"Is there something wrong with this person?" Ur asked.
"Just a minor issue, nothing to worry about," Nate replied, his eyes scanning quickly until they stopped at the friend list. Samurai only had five friends: "Siegrain," "Knight," "Cats Are Cute," "Round Wally," and "Card Master."
'As expected.' Nate nodded, then instructed, "Pull up Samurai's chat history."
Soon, the information he needed appeared.
...
Siegrain: "The time is right. Go and bring Erza back."
Samurai: "Understood, Jellal-sama."
...
Chat Group: The Family of the Tower
Samurai: " everyone, get ready. Find a way to bring Erza back."
Card Master: "Has it finally been completed? The Tower of Heaven!"
Card Master: "Erza-nee… We'll see her soon?"
Round Wally: "Just the few of us? Going to Magnolia sounds too risky."
Card Master: "She's been posting on the forum recently asking about the Tower of Heaven. Let's come up with a way to make her come to us."
Cats Are Cute: "I have a few free resort passes for Akane! 'Meow~'"
Round Wally: "Are we really discussing vacation right now, Milliana?"
Samurai: "Milliana, can you give me one of those?"
Cats Are Cute: "Sure, 'meow~'"
Round Wally: "Simon, can you focus? We're supposed to bring Erza back, not go on vacation."
Samurai: "That's why we need the pass."
...
'So it's Simon, huh?'
Nate vaguely recalled these names. 'Cats Are Cute' was Milliana, the cat girl. 'Card Master' was Sho. 'Round Wally' was just Wally. And 'Samurai' was Simon.' These were the people Erza had once been imprisoned with at the Tower of Heaven during her childhood, including Jellal.
However, Jellal had later been brainwashed by Ultear and had fallen into darkness, taking control of the Tower of Heaven in an attempt to revive the black mage, Zeref. Only Erza had managed to escape. The others had been deceived by Jellal into believing Erza had betrayed them.
'The Tower of Heaven really did produce some interesting people,' Nate mused, recalling that some members of the Oración Seis had also come from there.
...
Returning to reality, Nate opened his eyes and heard Erza's voice.
"Are you tired?"
Nate shook his head and, after a moment's thought, asked, "Erza, why are you looking for the Tower of Heaven? As far as I know, its real name is the R-System, a forbidden magic banned by the Magic Council."
"You know about the R-System…"
Erza looked surprised, then fell silent for a moment.
"If it's hard to talk about, forget I asked," Nate said. He knew the answer but was just passing time talking to Erza.
"No, it's not that," Erza said softly. "I should be the one apologizing for dragging you into this." She took a deep breath before beginning her story. "It happened when I was a child…"
Erza described her life in Rosemary Village. One day, the village was attacked by members of the Cult of Black Magic. She was captured and taken to the Tower of Heaven. From there, the events unfolded as Nate already knew.
"…In the end, Grandpa Rob sacrificed himself to save me, and it was then that I awakened my magic."
"After I escaped the Tower of Heaven, I joined Fairy Tail."
"All these years, I've been searching for the Tower of Heaven to find out if those friends are still alive…"
Erza paused as she realized Nate had fallen asleep.
...
'You're the one who asked me, but you're also the one who fell asleep…' A faint smile curved Erza's lips. She shifted her position, gently resting Nate's head on her shoulder.
"So hard…"
Nate cracked open an eye, feeling something pressing against him. "You're awake?"
"Even if I were asleep, your armor would wake me up…"
"Sorry…" Erza seemed a bit embarrassed. "If you're tired, I can offer you my lap as a pillow."
A lap pillow?
Without hesitation, Nate adjusted his position and rested his head on Erza's thighs. She was wearing her usual armor on top, but her skirt on the bottom provided a surprisingly soft and comfortable pillow. She smelled nice too.
'Erza is really treating me like a bro', Nate thought as he closed his eyes, deciding to enjoy the moment. He was genuinely tired.
It was the first time Erza had ever offered someone a lap pillow. She looked down at Nate's peaceful face, her heart filled with quiet contemplation.
After realizing that Siegrain was actually Jellal's Thought Projection, Erza understood that even if she found the Tower of Heaven, rescuing her old friends would be nearly impossible on her own—if they were even still alive.
She needed Nate's help.
He was the only one in the guild with the strength to support her.
Although she had dragged him along, Erza knew that if Nate hadn't wanted to come, she wouldn't have been able to make him.
With a gentle smile, she whispered, "Rest well, Nate. I'll wake you when we arrive."
Chapter 88: Card Magic
Akane Resort Paradise
As the most popular seaside tourist destination in the Kingdom of Fiore, it offers a full range of entertainment facilities. Unfortunately for Nate, he arrived at around 7 p.m., too late to enjoy the sunshine, beach, swimsuits, or beautiful women.
The two first checked into their hotel. Using a free accommodation voucher Erza had, they got a luxurious room. It was spacious, with a balcony that overlooked the beach. What pleased Nate the most was that the room only had one bed.
"Dear guests, I wish you a pleasant stay. I am Winnie, the hotel concierge, and I'm delighted to be at your service," said the hotel concierge, a polite woman in her thirties. She displayed no impatience despite the use of a free voucher.
"It's now 7:15 p.m., and we have a leisure and entertainment area on the first floor. If you're interested, you are welcome to visit at any time," she continued.
Nate had seen the so-called leisure and entertainment area while coming up to the second floor—it was, in fact, a casino. After sending the concierge away, Nate turned to Erza, noticing she was still wearing her usual armor.
"Why are you still in that?" Nate asked, guiding her to a full-length mirror. "Look at yourself. Does this look like you're here for a vacation?"
Erza blinked in confusion and replied, "Aren't we here to meet 'Samurai'?"
"We can handle that tomorrow. It's already late. This is time to relax. Now, change your outfit, and let's go downstairs to check out the entertainment area. Or do you want to try the food here first?" Nate urged, smiling.
Hearing this, Erza hesitated for a moment. She looked at herself in the mirror, reflecting on how she always felt uneasy without her armor.
"Change!"
With a flash of golden light, Erza switched into a formal gown.
"How about this?" she asked, turning in front of the mirror.
She now wore a purple evening gown paired with long white gloves and purple high heels.
"Your Requip Magic is really convenient," Nate remarked, nodding in appreciation. "You look stunning. Come on, let's relax. You deserve it."
With that, he grabbed Erza's hand and led her out.
Downstairs, they naturally attracted attention as they entered the opulent casino, gleaming with gold and luxury. The place was bustling with patrons enjoying various magic gambling devices, quite different from what Nate knew of traditional gambling. The only familiar sight was the card tables.
"What do you want to play?" Nate asked.
"Cards. I'm pretty good at that," Erza responded with a smile. "Nate, do you know how many beans I've won playing 'Poker' recently?"
"How many?"
"I turned 10,000 Happy Beans into 10 million!" Erza boasted.
Nate's jaw dropped. An S-Class mage spending her time playing online games instead of working? A gaming addict!
"Alright, let's see just how good you are," Nate laughed, and they joined a card game.
Erza played with surprising ease and skill, while Nate, despite his understanding of the game—which was similar to poker—found his chips dwindling. Meanwhile, Erza's pile of chips grew into a small mountain.
Nate was amazed. Was Erza some kind of gambling prodigy? She hadn't lost a single hand, and the royal flush seemed to gravitate toward her.
The dealer was starting to sweat profusely.
"Are you using magic to cheat?" Nate whispered to Erza.
But that wasn't possible—Nate's Six Eyes would have detected it.
Erza laughed softly. "Did I convince you?"
"You're just lucky, I guess," Nate conceded with a smile, marveling at her fortune.
Just then, Nate's attention shifted to the dealer, who had broken into a cold sweat.
"It's time to switch dealers," Nate remarked.
The new dealer had dark skin and golden hair. After the previous dealer left, the replacement swiftly organized the cards.
Erza, still confident, remarked, "It doesn't matter who deals. I don't feel like I can lose right now."
"Since you're so confident, how about we play a special game, Erza-neesan?" the dealer said coldly.
Erza froze for a moment, hearing herself called 'neesan.' Before she could react, five cards were laid face-up on the table, each with a letter on them.
D-E-A-T-H.
Death.
"You are…" Erza stared at the dealer in shock. "Sho?"
"Card Magic!" Sho, the dealer, ignored her, activating his magic. The five cards symbolizing death formed a magic formation. Nate could feel the magic was directed at him.
Space magic?
His Six Eyes easily saw through the magic, but Nate chose not to resist. In the blink of an eye, the magic pulled him into the card.
The onlookers screamed and fled the casino in panic.
"What are you doing?" Erza's face darkened.
Inside one of the cards, Erza could see a miniaturized version of Nate.
"What am I doing? The real question is, what are you doing, Erza-neesan?" Sho's tone was cold.
"While we were suffering at the Tower of Heaven, you're here playing with a man. That's not fair, is it?"
"No… that's not…" Erza was shocked to see her former friend here.
At that moment, three more people arrived, blocking her escape route.
"It's been a while, Erza."
"Erza-chan, you really came, meow."
"How long has it been? Eight years?"
Erza turned and gasped, "Simon, Wally, Milliana… You're all still alive?"
"Sorry, Erza," Simon said without expression. "Can we ask you to come back with us to the Tower?"
"You're 'Samurai'!" Erza exclaimed, finally putting the pieces together.
"Yes, I am 'Samurai.' I was the one who sent you that accommodation voucher. But I didn't expect…" Simon nodded but was interrupted by Nate's voice.
"You didn't expect me to tag along?"
Inside the card, Nate found himself in a confined, pale space with only a small "window" through which he could see the outside world.
"Shut up!" Sho snapped.
"I know you. I saw your picture in the 'Sorcerer Weekly' section," Sho said, sneering. "The new member of the Ten Wizard Saints!"
Holding the 'A' card with Nate trapped inside, Sho smirked. "If we fought you directly, we might not be able to take Erza. But now that you're trapped in my card magic, you can't do anything."
Nate raised his fist and punched the card.
Boom!
The force of the tremor reverberated through the card and into the real world. The entire hotel shook slightly, as if the ceiling might collapse.
Sho jumped in shock. "It's useless! My magic is…!?"
Before he could finish, cracks began to spread across the card like a shattered mirror.
"Impossible!" Sho gasped. "You broke the space?"
"It was just a small, fragile space," Nate replied casually, stepping out of the card and back to the table.
He picked up the 'D' card, twirling it between his fingers before flicking it back at Sho.
Sho instinctively caught the card, but a magic formation appeared beneath him, and in the next instant, he was sucked into the card.
Nate caught the falling card, grinning at the miniaturized Sho inside. "Your magic's interesting. But now it's mine!"
/Bleam
— 70 Advance Chapters!
Chapter 89: You're a Genius, Erza reports Jellal
"Sho!"
Simon was shocked, and Milliana blinked in confusion. "That's Sho's magic. How did he get caught in it?"
Wally, with his right arm transformed into a magic gun, looked equally incredulous. "Copycat? How's that possible? He couldn't have learned it instantly, right?"
A small red dot appeared on the back of Nate's head as Wally aimed his laser gun. Even Erza, still seated at the card table, was surprised. However, she knew Nate had mastered the space-time magic, 'Flying Thunder God', an incredibly powerful form of spatial magic. Sho's magic seemed impressive, but Nate's ability to manipulate space was on a whole other level. Maybe he really had learned it instantly... 'What an incredible man', Erza thought to herself.
Inside the D-card, Sho was frantically banging on the card's surface. "Let me out! You bastard! Using my own magic to seal me!"
Nate spun the D-card between his fingers, performing a card trick he'd learned back in his school days. He wasn't a magician, but he had picked up a few tricks while trying to impress a girl back then.
"You know, pointing a gun at me isn't a joke. Surrender now, and I won't have to hurt any of you," Nate said casually, turning around to face the others while still toying with the card.
Seeing this, Simon immediately made his move. "Dark Moment!"
With his face partially hidden by a scarf and a black eyepatch over his left eye, Simon activated his magic. His right eye glowed red as a dark purple magic circle appeared, and suddenly, the lights in the casino went out, plunging the area into darkness.
Erza was startled. 'Had Simon learned magic too?' She couldn't even see her hand in front of her face.
Simon quickly called out to his allies. "Milliana!"
"Got it, meow! Cat Bind!"
Milliana used her cat magic, throwing out a rope resembling a cat's tail, which quickly wrapped around Nate's wrist.
The darkness was brief, and as soon as the light returned, Erza stood up, hoping to stop the fight. "Wait… Nate, they're my old friends. Don't hurt them."
"Don't worry, Erza-chan," Milliana said, tilting her head like a cat. "With my Cat Bind, he can't use his magic anymore, meow."
Wally's right arm, now shaped like a blocky magic gun, was aimed directly at Nate's head, with a red laser targeting him precisely. "We have the upper hand now, Erza," he sneered. "Mr. Ten Wizard Saints, release our companion, or your head will go boom like a watermelon."
Nate glanced at the rope binding his wrist, feeling his magic flow slightly sluggish. "Why do you all assume I can't use magic because of this?"
Nate looked puzzled, a slight smile curling his lips. "It's just a rope. Something like this won't seal my magic. I can break it with sheer force."
With that, a surge of white magic burst from Nate, tearing the rope to pieces and forming a protective barrier around him.
'Such power...' Simon felt overwhelmed, like he was standing in the eye of a hurricane. Milliana was stunned. "My Cat Bind… It's the first time someone has broken free, meow!"
"Damn it, nobody told me this could happen!" Wally was terrified. 'What kind of monster is this?' Was this the strength of one of the Ten Wizard Saints?
Sho's card magic had been shattered with a punch, and now even Milliana's Cat Bind was useless.
"In a battle between mages, magic strength doesn't always determine the outcome," Nate said with a light chuckle, sweeping the remaining three cards—marked with the letters "E," "T," and "H"—into his hand. "But when the gap in magic power is this large, fancy tricks become meaningless."
He flicked the three cards toward Simon, Wally, and Milliana. His card-throwing technique was precise, and as each card struck them, a magic circle appeared, sealing each of them into the cards.
"Damn… I can't break out! This is exactly like Sho's magic!"
"I didn't expect the mission to fail like this!"
"Let me out, meow!"
The voices of the three trapped inside the cards echoed as the cards fluttered to the ground. Nate walked over, picking up the cards. "Card Magic, Cat Magic, Body-Splitting Magic, and Dark Magic... Your magic types are interesting, but you lack the power to fully master them."
The brief scuffle had ended as quickly as it had started. Erza still felt dazed. Her childhood friends had all learned magic and were trying to take her back to the Tower of Heaven.
"Wally, what did you mean by 'mission'? Did Jellal send you? Why are you following his orders?" Erza asked as she approached the card containing Wally.
"You betrayed us, Erza. How can you even ask that?" Wally retorted from within the card.
'Betrayal?' Erza flinched, remembering how she had been forced to flee the Tower of Heaven alone, leaving her friends behind.
"How could Erza have betrayed you?" Nate flicked the card, sending Wally spinning within it. "It sounds like Jellal has been lying to you."
"What?" Sho's voice wavered.
Simon took a deep breath. "He's right. Jellal did deceive us."
"What are you talking about, Simon?" Wally asked, confused.
"I pretended to go along with his deception to gain his trust," Simon explained.
On the day Erza escaped from the Tower of Heaven, Jellal had told the others that she had stolen a boat and abandoned them to flee on her own.
"The Tower of Heaven is now complete. Erza, Jellal intends to use you as a living sacrifice to resurrect the dark mage Zeref!" Simon continued. "And that's not all—the Magic Council member Siegrain is actually Jellal's Thought Projection!"
"I only discovered this after seeing his Magic Net username," Simon revealed. Siegrain had added him as a friend, and Simon realized Siegrain was just Jellal.
Erza's body trembled, her fists clenched in anger. So Siegrain really was Jellal all along!
She looked to Nate for reassurance.
Nate's heart skipped a beat, recognizing that look for the third time. He already knew what she was about to say, so he quickly interrupted.
"Erza, it's getting late. Why don't we go eat first and deal with this tomorrow?"
He stacked the cards containing the four of them and started pulling Erza toward the restaurant.
"But Jellal… If we don't stop him soon, who knows what he'll do next," Erza said, walking along without resistance but still worried.
'Are you even worried about being used as a living sacrifice?' Nate thought, stopping to face her. "You could report him to the Magic Council."
"Report him?" Erza blinked, confused.
"This is the Council's job. And if you report that Siegrain is Jellal's Thought Projection, they'll thank you for it."
Pulling her along, Nate continued toward the restaurant. "But for now, let's just go have dinner."
Nothing mattered more to Nate than his dinner date with Erza.
Erza's eyes lit up, a smile spreading across her face. "Nate, you're a genius!"
She immediately opened the Magic Net and began filing her report on Jellal to the Council. With the Magic Council's ERA section on the Magic Net, she could submit her report directly!
'Nate, you're brilliant!' she thought, happily completing her report as Nate led her toward the restaurant.
Chapter 90: Council's Shock! Strike Force!
[Magic Council ERA]
Four or five days had passed since the council's section had launched. Thanks to Chairman Crawford Seam's efforts, the section had been completely transformed, a stark contrast to the emptiness at its debut. The section now had many functions, and reporting violations was just one of them, handled by specific council mages.
The types of reports varied widely, such as accusations of certain accounts being dark mages hidden within the network, like "Shinigami" Erigor, or sightings of dark guild activities in various areas. Due to the high enthusiasm from users of the new section, there had been a flood of reports in recent days, and Crawford Seam was pleased with this development. The official section had greatly improved the council's efficiency and enhanced the management of the magic world.
It was just after 8 PM, and Crawford Seam was still at his desk working when a young mage suddenly rushed into the room.
"What's going on? Why are you in such a hurry?" he asked.
"Chairman, we just received an urgent report online. It's about Councilor Siegrain!" the mage explained seriously. "The report was filed by 'Knight,' who is none other than the Fairy Queen of Fairy Tail, Erza Scarlet!"
Crawford frowned. Erza reporting Siegrain? He immediately opened the council's official section and found the report filed by Erza in the complaint division. The report was long, and Crawford carefully read through it. The more he read, the more shocked he became.
Erza had revealed her identity and filed a real-name report. Crawford deemed the contents to be about 70% trustworthy. Jellal, the R-System, the eighth Tower of Heaven… Siegrain was actually a Thought Projection of Jellal Fernandes?!
"They aren't twins?!"
"This can't be true!" Crawford gasped, cold sweat soaking his back. According to the report, Siegrain had completed the construction of the eighth Tower of Heaven and was planning to use Erza as a sacrifice to revive the Dark Mage Zeref. If this was true, it would be a disaster—he could lose his position as chairman!
In the final part of the report, Erza mentioned that Nate had confirmed the Thought Projection issue. She offered to bring witnesses like Simon to confront Siegrain directly at the council headquarters.
Taking a deep breath, Crawford wiped the sweat from his brow. He believed about 70% of Erza's report but trusted Nate's word about 90%, especially since Nate was the creator of the network they were currently using.
"This needs to be handled discreetly before Siegrain realizes what's happening!"
Crawford quickly made up his mind. Even if the accusations turned out to be false, he needed to apprehend Siegrain immediately. And if they were true, Siegrain's presence in the council posed an enormous threat.
Crawford opened the council's chat group, intending to convene an urgent meeting to discuss the matter. But then he remembered that Siegrain was also in the group. He decided to create a new group and invited the remaining eight council members. When it came time to invite Ultear, he hesitated.
"She joined the council at the same time as Siegrain. Can she be trusted?"
To be cautious, he left Ultear out of the group.
Council Members: "Chairman, why did you create a new group?"
Council Members: "And why are two people missing?"
Council Members: "What's going on?"
As the other seven councilors joined the group, Crawford immediately started a voice call.
Crawford Seam: "Something major has happened, everyone!"
Crawford Seam: "Siegrain might be compromised—he's a Thought Projection!"
Crawford Seam: "He's completed construction of the eighth Tower of Heaven!"
For a moment, the entire group was silent, stunned by the revelation.
…
At the Akane Resort Hotel, Nate and Erza were enjoying their dinner. Erza seemed distracted, frequently glancing at her report submission.
Nate couldn't help but remark, "You filed a real-name report, and it's a big deal. As long as the council isn't completely incompetent, they'll take it seriously."
"Do you think so? They haven't replied yet," Erza muttered, chewing on her fork.
How little do you trust the council? Nate thought to himself, though he had to admit the council wasn't exactly reliable either.
Just then, Nate's ring flashed.
Crawford Seam: "Nate, about Siegrain... Is it true? Can you guarantee it?"
Why are you asking me and not Erza? Nate thought, then told Erza, "The chairman's asking me."
Erza quickly moved closer, peering over Nate's shoulder.
Sigma Male: "Regarding the Thought Projection, I vouch for it in the name of a Wizard Saint. Siegrain is indeed a Thought Projection."
Sigma Male: "As for Erza's report, I can vouch for its accuracy."
Crawford Seam: "Understood! This is terrifying! Thank you, Nate!"
Sigma Male: "You should really be thanking Erza."
Crawford Seam: "One more thing—Ultear joined the council at the same time as Siegrain. Is she also a Thought Projection?"
Seriously, you're asking me this? There's no way I'm betraying her! Nate thought, deciding to let Ultear keep her position for now.
Sigma Male: "Ultear isn't a Thought Projection."
After a brief pause, Crawford replied.
Crawford Seam: "We've discussed it, and we've decided the Tower of Heaven must be destroyed. It's too dangerous!"
Crawford Seam: "The council will organize a joint strike force with several guilds to deal with Siegrain."
Crawford Seam: "Do you know the exact location of the Tower?"
Nate didn't know the precise coordinates but knew it was on an island near the Sea of Caelum. He figured Simon, who was sealed in a card, could provide more details.
Sigma Male: "It's on a small island near the coast of Caelum."
Crawford Seam: "Got it! Thank Erza for me; she's done us a huge service."
The conversation ended, and Nate turned to Erza. "Feel better now?"
Erza, looking a bit embarrassed, responded, "Thanks again, Nate. I didn't expect the council to take it so seriously. Are they really going to form a strike force?"
"Are you planning to join them?" Nate asked, nodding. "For now, just focus on dinner. It's vacation time."
Seeing his expression, Erza couldn't help but laugh.
Is he annoyed by me? Sorry if I'm too much to deal with, she thought. But Nate was right—it was time to relax. They could deal with Siegrain after the strike force arrived.
Finally, she let go of her worries and focused on enjoying the rest of their meal. After finishing dinner around 10 PM, the two returned to their hotel room.
/Bleam
— 70 Advance Chapters!