Chapter 131: Asking Mystogan
The two of them walked out of the cave together.
One of the benefits of Erza's Requip magic was that, after they were done, she could simply call out "Requip" to change into a new set of clothes. Now, she had swapped the revealing bunny outfit for her more modest "Farewell Armor." However, as they walked, there was still a small hint of discomfort.
"Does it hurt?" Nate asked, holding her hand, their fingers intertwined as couples often do.
Erza smiled softly. "At first, it did a little, but it doesn't hurt anymore."
'You're even tougher than Ultear and Juvia!' Nate thought, remembering how unexpected it was to share such an intimate moment outdoors with Erza. His original intention had been to spar with her on the island, but when they were transported to the cave, one thing led to another.
"Shall we spar by the beach? The same place where you fought Laxus last time?" Erza still seemed eager for a duel.
Nate led her to the western shore of the island. The last time he had fought Laxus there, the beach had been left in a battered state. But over time, the tides had restored it to its former beauty.
Finding a rock where they could sit, Nate held her hand as the sea breeze cooled the air, offering refreshing comfort.
"Let's postpone the sparring for a few days. You might aggravate your injury," Nate said, gently kissing Erza's cheek. "Don't push yourself. We can spar anytime; I'll always be here for you."
"Alright, I'll listen to you," Erza smiled warmly, touched by his concern. She rested her head on his shoulder. While she had always felt that her guildmates were like family, being with Nate brought her a different kind of warmth and comfort.
Erza was in high spirits. The deep emotional and physical connection she now shared with Nate left her feeling both relaxed and fulfilled.
The two sat in silence for a while, enjoying the gentle sea breeze and the vast beauty of the ocean before them.
"Nate," Erza said quietly.
"What is it?"
"Do you like me?" Erza had sensed Nate's affection for her, but she still longed to hear him say it aloud.
'Is she feeling insecure?' Nate thought. Unlike Juvia, who was always confident in his feelings for her, Erza, despite her strength, seemed to carry a hidden vulnerability. It was as if her armor served as a shield for her emotions.
Nate responded with a firm and reassuring tone, "Yes, I like you."
Erza turned to face him, her eyes locking onto his. "When did you start liking me? Was it at the resort?"
"Earlier than that."
"Earlier? Was it when we were imprisoned together by the council?"
"Even earlier."
"Really?" Erza raised her eyebrows, half-smiling in amusement. "When we first met at the guild?"
'Was it love at first sight?' Erza's heart fluttered at the thought.
But Nate shook his head. "Even earlier than that."
"I don't understand…" Erza laughed softly. "When could you have seen me before?"
"From the moment you were born, I liked you," Nate said with a playful grin.
Erza's cheeks flushed at the sudden romantic gesture.
'Insecure?' She felt anything but. Now, she was both embarrassed and happy.
"You really know how to charm a girl!" Erza pretended to scold him, though the smile on her lips betrayed her. "Have you dated a lot of girls before?"
'Not just before, even now, there are three,' Nate thought. But this wasn't something he could confess. Not now, at least. He chose not to answer the question, understanding that it wasn't really a question she wanted answered.
Instead, he asked, "And do you like me?"
"Mm, I do," Erza nodded earnestly.
"When did you start liking me?"
"When we were imprisoned by the council together."
Erza's eyes softened. "I admired you back then, especially when you told me about Siegrain being a Thought Projection."
"Then, after we went to the Tower of Heaven together, and you helped me free myself from my childhood trauma…"
"I think that's when I truly started liking you."
That was why, when Nate kissed her for the first time, she hadn't resisted.
They gazed into each other's eyes, and before long, they were kissing again.
Later, as evening fell, Nate didn't teleport them back to Magnolia but took them to the nearest port town, Hargeon. There, they enjoyed a lavish seafood dinner and spent some time shopping, buying new clothes for Erza. The bunny outfit from earlier was no longer wearable, so Nate bought her a new one.
Afterward, they headed to a hotel.
"Erza," Nate began.
"Yes?"
"Some of your armors are a bit revealing. Maybe you could wear something a little less... attention-grabbing?"
Hearing this, Erza chuckled. "Are you jealous?"
"I am," Nate admitted openly. "I don't want other people ogling my girlfriend."
"Alright, I'll be more careful!" Erza, clearly pleased, stood on her toes to kiss Nate on the cheek right there in the street. "I'll listen to you from now on!"
They returned to the hotel for a second round. Erza had many different outfits to wear—bunny girl was just one of them. Nate thought it might take a while to try them all. Tonight, it would be Nurse Erza.
…
The next morning, after spending a wonderful night with Erza, Nate used his 'Flying Thunder God' magic to teleport back to Magnolia. He dropped Erza off at the girls' dorm to rest before heading to the guild.
By the time he arrived, it was already half-past nine.
At the construction site, many people had gathered.
"Thank you for taking care of me. I'll be leaving now," Wendy said with a polite bow, her hands clasped in front of her.
Happy offered her a fish. "Carla, do you want some fish?"
"Hmph." Carla turned her head away, still her usual proud self.
"You're just shy, how cute!" Happy's eyes sparkled with hearts.
Lucy didn't tease him this time. Instead, she tried to convince Wendy. "Are you sure you don't want to stay a little longer?"
"I've already been away from the guild for a while now. The master will start worrying," Wendy replied with a sweet smile. "But Lucy, you should come visit our guild sometime too!"
"Leaving already?" Nate approached them.
"Thank you, Nate, for inviting me to visit Fairy Tail," Wendy said gratefully. "Just like the rumors say, it's a really wonderful guild."
Nate smiled, thinking, 'It won't be long before you join us for good.'
"Did you get to see the person you wanted to see?" Nate asked.
Wendy froze for a moment. "The person I wanted to see… Jellal?"
Seeing her confusion, Nate quickly realized that Mystogan hadn't revealed his identity to her. Deciding not to press the issue, he simply said, "You'll see him again one day. Take care, Wendy, Carla."
"Goodbye, Nate, Lucy, and everyone in Fairy Tail," Wendy said, waving.
Once Wendy had left, everyone returned to their work.
…
At Magnolia's train station, Wendy and Carla boarded the train. As it started moving, Wendy immediately felt a wave of dizziness.
"What's wrong?" Carla asked, concerned.
"I feel sick…"
Wendy slumped onto the table, her eyes swirling in confusion. "It's just like Grandeeney said. I've ended up just like Natsu…"
After learning 'Dragon Force,' Wendy's power had significantly increased, but she had also inherited the unique weakness of Dragon Slayers—motion sickness.
Outside the train, a man watching from afar noticed her condition.
"Mystogan," Nate called out.
Mystogan looked surprised, turning to see Nate approaching him.
"You don't have to call me Mystogan, Nate."
Nate smiled and nodded. "I wanted to ask you something."
"What is it?" Mystogan asked, puzzled. "How did you know I was here?"
Nate pointed to his eyes. "You've been closing small Anima portals recently, haven't you? Can you tell me where the next one will appear? I want to go to Edolas."
Mystogan was instantly stunned. 'How did he know about my identity?'
Chapter 132: River of Stars of the Eridanus Constellation
Mystogan had no idea how his identity had been exposed.
This was only his second time meeting Nate, and very few people in the guild had ever seen his face. Could it have been Laxus?
Mystogan pondered carefully.
He had read the forum posts and hadn't missed the astonishing claims made by "Voldemort."
He then asked, "You want to go to the world of Edolas to find Mirajane's sister?"
"But how do you know about 'Anima'?"
It made sense that Nate had learned about the parallel world from the forum and had figured out Mystogan's true identity from Laxus. But where had he learned about 'Anima'?
Nate smiled slightly and pointed to his eyes again. "It's called the 'Six Eyes.' I can see the flow of magic in everything."
"For example, right now, I can tell there is no magic inside your body."
"In fact, I knew something was off the first time we met at the guild, when you hypnotized everyone and took a request from the notice board."
Mystogan's expression reflected his shock. It seemed this eye magic was incredibly powerful.
Nate continued, "In this world, there are 'magic particles' in everything—circulating through nature and all living beings."
"The magic of mages comes from this. They control the magic within themselves to perform magic."
"But you're different, Mystogan. You have no magic particles inside you."
Hearing this, Mystogan finally understood. To someone like Nate, who could see magic so clearly, Mystogan must have stood out like a firefly in the night, impossible to miss.
Mystogan's face showed realization. "So, that's why your magic wasn't affected by my hypnosis magic?"
"Exactly."
"But how do you know about 'Anima'?"
"When I went with Mira to where Lisanna disappeared, I saw residual traces of 'Anima' magic."
Nate smiled. "Before asking you, I consulted 'Voldemort,' who kindly told me about the existence of this magic."
"Voldemort… that person seems to know everything." Mystogan couldn't help but feel curious about who this was.
"Let's find a quieter place to talk."
…
The crowded train station wasn't an ideal spot for such a conversation.
Nate and Mystogan walked to the Eastern Forest.
Under the shade of a tree, Mystogan removed his mask, revealing a face identical to Jellal's.
"I apologize for hiding my identity from the guild, but with this face, moving around in this world would cause a lot of trouble."
Siegrain, Jellal, Mystogan—if he didn't cover his face, he would be constantly plagued by complications.
Nate understood completely. He would have done the same thing in Mystogan's position.
"You've had it rough," Nate commented sympathetically.
"Nate, you want to go to Edolas…" Mystogan shook his head. "I hope you'll reconsider."
Nate had anticipated this response and had even guessed the reasoning behind it.
Sure enough, Mystogan's next words were exactly what Nate expected.
"You can indeed travel to Edolas through 'Anima,' but if you find Lisanna, how will you return?"
'Anima' was a one-way magic that only absorbed magic from Aslan. While people could travel to Edolas through it, the magic couldn't be used to bring anyone back.
"You're right. I've considered that, which is why…"
Nate reached out, and with a flick of his hand, a glowing magic card engraved with the 'Flying Thunder God' magic appeared. He casually tossed it to Mystogan.
"I'd like you to place this card in Edolas the next time you close a small 'Anima'."
Mystogan was stunned and asked in a shocked tone, "Your spatial magic can penetrate the parallel world like 'Anima'?"
"I'm not sure, so I want to test it," Nate explained calmly. "My magic, 'Flying Thunder God,' creates permanent teleportation markers. Unless someone deliberately destroys it, the magic circle will remain."
Mystogan finally understood. Nate planned to use his spatial magic to cross into the parallel world. If successful, he could also use the same method to bring people back.
"It seems my worries were unnecessary," Mystogan nodded, agreeing to help. "I'll try it next time I encounter an 'Anima'."
"Thank you, Mystogan."
"No need to thank me. We're guildmates, after all, and you've already given me that magic ring."
Hearing the mention of the ring, Nate thought to himself that he'd have to take a 'Magic Net' ring with him to Edolas if everything went well and complete the mission too.
Afterward, the two exchanged friend requests.
…
After parting ways with Mystogan, Nate returned to the guild.
He opened his friend list, which had grown considerably.
Among the names, Mystogan's nickname stood out: [Mystogan].
'Another fool using his real name online.'
Wait a second, Mystogan's real name was actually Jellal.
"Speaking of friends… where's Loke?"
Nate suddenly remembered that he had added Loke as a friend while studying celestial spirits. But there had been no response from Loke since then.
Using his developer privileges, Nate pulled up Loke's profile.
The results showed that Loke had last logged in ten days ago.
"He hasn't been around the guild, and he hasn't logged into the 'Magic Net' in ten days. Did he die?" Nate wondered, surprised.
Loke was a celestial spirit, one of the Zodiac—the Lion, Leo.
Under normal circumstances, celestial spirits couldn't die. But Loke had been living in the human world for three years, relying solely on his own magic, and his life force had been slowly draining away.
Thinking it over, Nate opened his friend list and sent a private message to the Celestial Spirit King.
Sigma Male: "Hey, Celestial Spirit King, did the Lion of the Zodiac die?"
He didn't mince words and asked directly.
The Celestial Spirit King responded immediately.
Celestial Spirit King: "Leo? He committed an unforgivable crime in the Celestial Spirit World, and I banished him to the human world."
Celestial Spirit King: "He isn't dead yet, but he's close."
Not dead yet. That's good.
Nate shifted to another topic.
Sigma Male: "I need a favor."
Celestial Spirit King: "Even if it's your request, I can't pardon Leo's crime. It's an ancient pact."
Sigma Male: "Not him. It's about the current generation of the Heartfilia family—Lucy Heartfilia."
Sigma Male: "She wants to learn 'Urano Metria.'"
Celestial Spirit King: "Ah, the daughter of an old friend…"
As expected, the moment Nate mentioned Lucy's full name, the Celestial Spirit King immediately understood.
Nate suddenly recalled that time passed differently in the Celestial Spirit World. One day there equaled one month in the human world. Lucy's mother, Layla Heartfilia, had died seven years ago, but for the Celestial Spirit King, it would have only been three months.
Sigma Male: "Yes, Lucy is Layla's daughter."
Sigma Male: "So, can you give her a magic book? If not 'Urano Metria,' maybe something like the 'Complete Guide to Celestial Magic.'"
Celestial Spirit King: "..."
Apparently overwhelmed by Nate's boldness, the Celestial Spirit King took a moment before replying.
Celestial Spirit King: "How about this?"
Celestial Spirit King: "You and Lucy should come visit the Celestial Spirit World."
Another invitation to the Celestial Spirit World?
Nate considered it. It didn't seem like a bad idea, but he had other tasks like developing magic apps and livestreaming to focus on right now.
Sigma Male: "Give me some time, and I'll bring her to visit."
Celestial Spirit King: "I look forward to your arrival, young friend."
Nate couldn't shake the feeling that the Celestial Spirit King regarded him as an equal.
Just then, a notification popped up.
[Your friend, 'Celestial Spirit King,' has sent you a 'Magic Net' delivery. Do you want to receive it?]
Celestial Spirit King: "Since it's your request, I'm sending this gift for Lucy."
Celestial Spirit King: "It might be useful, or it might not."
Wow, the old guy's learning fast! He even knows how to send packages now.
Curious, Nate accepted the delivery.
A flash of golden light revealed a magic sigil, and the package appeared before him.
Nate grabbed it, inspecting the item.
It was a simple cylindrical wooden handle with a dark brown center and gold edges. A yellow star-shaped pendant hung from the end.
'What is this thing?'
Before Nate could ask, the Celestial Spirit King provided an explanation.
Celestial Spirit King: "It's the River of Stars of the Eridanus Constellation. A celestial whip that can extend and retract at will."
Celestial Spirit King: "It's a magic item from the Celestial Spirit World, and only celestial spirit mages can use it."
'The Eridanus constellation?' Nate was familiar with the basics of astronomy and knew it was a southern constellation—one of the 88.
He tried channeling his magic into the item but got no response.
Then, he tried using celestial magic.
Immediately, the 'Fleuve d'étoiles' activated, and a flowing stream of water emerged from the handle, twisting and turning like a real whip.
"I can use it too?"
Nate was stunned. "Does this mean I'm a celestial spirit mage now?"
(Author's Note: A small error earlier—Mystogan doesn't have magic and doesn't need magic recovery potions, as his magic relies on several staves. Thanks to the comments for the correction!)
(Bleam: Hopefully correct by now?)
/Bleam
— read 70 chapters ahead of others
Chapter 133: Giving Loke an Admin Job
Nate toyed with the 'Fleuve d'étoiles' in his hand.
The Celestial Spirit King wasn't wrong—it seemed somewhat useful, though not particularly so.
"This looks like Lucy's weapon…" Nate thought, recalling that Lucy would indeed possess this weapon in the future. The details of when and how she acquired it were hazy in his memory, but it didn't matter much.
What surprised Nate more was that he could activate the 'Fleuve d'étoiles'. The energy from the Celestial Spirit World was unique, something Nate referred to as "Celestial Spirit Power." He had drawn a bit of this energy from his Deep Web's magic reserves and injected it into the 'Fleuve d'étoiles', which immediately activated the weapon.
"Does this make me a sort of celestial spirit mage?" Nate mused, shaking his head as he stored the 'Fleuve d'étoiles' away.
He opened the magic web's library and searched for the name "Karen."
The results were too numerous. He narrowed them down with the keywords "celestial spirit mage" and "Blue Pegasus."
Soon, information about a woman appeared.
Karen Lilica, a celestial spirit mage of Blue Pegasus, died in the year X781. Her grave was located…
Nate found the location of Karen's tomb.
"She should be there."
In a flash of golden light, Nate soared through the sky, leaving Magnolia behind in an instant.
The townspeople looked up, astonished.
"Fireworks during the day?"
"Maybe a shooting star?"
"It's so fast, and now it's gone!"
…
At Karen's grave, located near a roaring waterfall, the water cascaded down, creating a misty spray.
Loke knelt before the tombstone, his spirit fading.
Suddenly, a flash of golden light descended from the sky.
With a thud, Nate landed.
"As I thought, you're here."
Loke looked up, startled to see Nate.
"Nate!"
"Good morning… or, well, almost noon now," Nate greeted as he examined Loke. His body had become semi-transparent, with glowing, firefly-like particles drifting from him.
Loke gave a weak smile. "I'm about to disappear. I'm sorry to cause you all this trouble, but…"
"I know you're a celestial spirit," Nate said, nodding. "I knew the first time I saw you."
"Ah, I forgot about your Six Eyes."
Loke paused, then added, "But how did you know I was here?"
"I asked the Celestial Spirit King. He said you were dying, so I looked into it on the Magic Net."
A straightforward answer that left Loke stunned.
'You asked the Celestial Spirit King…?'
As strange as it sounded, considering Nate's mysterious and powerful nature, it wasn't all that surprising.
"I need your help with something," Nate said with a smile.
Loke shook his head weakly. "I'm about to disappear in a few hours. I doubt I'll be able to…"
Before he could finish, Nate raised his hand and shot a burst of Celestial Spirit Power into Loke's body.
Instantly, the fading transparency of Loke's form reversed, restoring his solid appearance.
Loke was dumbfounded.
"This is Celestial Spirit Power!" he exclaimed in shock.
Nate nodded. "The [Magic Arena] is in need of an administrator. Since you can't return to the Celestial Spirit World, how about helping me manage it?"
Celestial spirits could be summoned into the [Arena, so naturally, Loke would be able to enter it as well.
"The [Magic Arena]?" Loke asked, confused.
"You've been offline for a while. Once you get inside, you'll understand."
Nate placed a hand on Loke's shoulder, and in the next moment, Loke vanished.
At the same time, Nate closed his eyes and entered the [Arena].
…
Inside the [Magic Arena, Nate and Loke appeared high above [Sky Island].
This wasn't part of the game map but a void-like space in the Deep Web, infinite and empty.
"What is this place?" Loke asked, astonished.
"The game world," Nate replied, giving a brief explanation of the [Magic Arena] and pointing to the five maps below: [Sky Island, [Volcano, [Desert, [Beach, and [Forest].
Each map had two players currently engaged in battle. Whenever someone lost, they would be booted from the game, and new players would take their place almost instantly.
Loke watched, stunned by what he saw. "You're a God, Nate!"
Nate smiled. "I just brought my imagination to life in the form of a game."
"Just like the forum needs moderators, the game needs an administrator too."
It took Loke a while to process what was happening. He had been preparing himself for death, but now Nate had saved him. Alive again, Loke wondered how he could repay such a debt.
"Nate—no, Nate-sama—what do you want me to do for you?" Loke asked earnestly.
'Are you a samurai? Why the formalities?' Nate thought, amused.
"There's no need for that. We're guildmates," he replied casually. After a moment, he added, "But there is something you can help with. See those five maps? There are thousands of players waiting to join, but with only five maps, the queue times are getting ridiculous."
Waiting all day just to play a single game? This game wouldn't last long like that.
"So, your task is simple: create more maps for the game."
With the current player base, at least 50, maybe even 100 maps would be necessary to keep the queue times manageable. Nate didn't want to spend time creating them himself, so it was the perfect job for Loke.
That way, Nate could be lazy again!
"Create more maps?" Loke nodded. "It's nothing compared to the life debt I owe you."
'Wait until you start making maps; it's a tedious job,' Nate thought. Then, in a low voice, he added:
"There's actually something else, something more important I'd like your advice on."
Loke straightened, his face serious. "I will help with anything in my power, even at the cost of my life!"
"There's no need to be so dramatic," Nate chuckled. "It's just… I have a friend who's a bit of a playboy. He's currently dating three girls at once."
"And there might be more in the future, but none of the girls know about each other."
"You, Loke, have juggled multiple girlfriends before. Do you have any tips for my… friend?"
'You mean you, right?' Loke thought, resisting the urge to roll his eyes.
He replied, "Your friend's three girlfriends—what are they like? There's no one-size-fits-all solution. It depends on each girl's personality, and your friend will need different approaches for each."
Nate fell silent for a moment.
'Forget it. Might as well be honest.'
"One of them is Ultear, a member of the Magic Council," Nate began.
"The other two are Erza Scarlet and Juvia."
He paused before adding, "And in the future, it might include Mira and Lucy as well."
Loke froze in place.
'What kind of nightmare difficulty is this?'
Forget Ultear from the Magic Council, whom Loke wasn't familiar with. But the other four were all members of 'Fairy Tail'!
If a massive conflict broke out, it wouldn't be surprising if Nate ended up being chased down.
Still, despite the danger, Loke couldn't help but admire Nate. Loke had always juggled his relationships with women outside the guild.
"Nate, you're the real hero here!"
Chapter 134: Cana's Fortune Telling, Nate's Difficulties in Love?
After talking with Loke, Nate felt like he had learned a lot.
As expected from someone ranked highly as a potential boyfriend in [Sorcerer Weekly, Loke's experience juggling multiple relationships was extensive. His personal record was dating nine women at the same time, all while keeping everything in order and avoiding drama.
"Incredible," Nate couldn't help but praise, thinking, 'Nine girlfriends at once? Are you the protagonist of some dating sim?'
Loke humbly shook his head. "Nate, I should be admiring you. Daring to date Erza and actually making her your girlfriend? That's something else."
"Just make sure she never finds out, or you're definitely getting beaten up. Besides, unlike me, your girlfriends are all part of the guild, which makes it way riskier."
Nate quickly corrected, "It's not me; it's my friend…"
Loke gave him a deadpan look. "Sure… well, good luck! I mean, good luck to your 'friend'!"
'Why does that sound like I'm being sent to the battlefield?' Nate thought, grumbling inwardly. 'It's just three relationships. After all, it's common knowledge that triangles are the most stable shape!'
"Let's get out of here," Nate said, placing a hand on Loke's shoulder. With a thought, the two were instantly transported out of the Arena.
...
Back at Karen's grave.
Nate held out his hand. "Hand me your Magic Net ring."
Loke obediently removed the ring and handed it over. Nate held it briefly before returning it.
"I've added access for you to freely enter and exit the Magic Arena. When you have time, help me make some more maps."
"I'll do my best to help!" Loke nodded seriously, placing the ring back on his finger.
"Alright, I'll be off now," Nate said, glancing at Karen's tombstone before vanishing in a flash of golden light, shooting off into the sky.
The speed of his flight was incredible, and before long, Nate descended back onto the construction site at the guild.
He was planning to find a shady spot to sit down and work on programming 'Fairy Law' into a magic app when Cana rushed over with a copy of [Sorcerer Weekly] in hand.
"Nate, look at this!"
"What's this?" he asked.
"The ranking for 'I'd Like Him to Be My Boyfriend'!" Cana pointed to a page with an excited grin. "You're number one, and you've got way more votes than the second-place guy!"
Raising an eyebrow, Nate curiously glanced at the page.
There was a half-body photo of him, followed by a brief introduction:
[Nate, a mage from Fairy Tail, creator of the Internet Magic, and one of the Ten Wizard Saints.]
It included personal details like age, height, and weight, along with his vote count, which was nearly triple that of the second-place candidate.
"Well?" Cana teased, "Care to give a speech? What's it like being the most popular guy of the week? By the way, I voted for you too~."
Nate smirked. "I don't care about this kind of superficial fame."
Cana burst out laughing. "Yeah, right! Try saying that without grinning so much."
"So, what did you come to me for?" Nate asked, giving her a playful glare.
Sure, being popular with women felt nice, but that wasn't the point.
"Can't I just stop by to chat?" Cana sat down on a pile of lumber and pulled out a bottle of alcohol from seemingly nowhere.
Nate thought, 'You really are inseparable from booze. The fact that you didn't pull out a barrel is a bit surprising, though.'
Noticing his stare, Cana paused while opening the bottle. "You want a drink?"
"No, thanks."
"Life without booze is boring." She began drinking straight from the bottle.
Nate had to admit he was impressed by her drinking capacity—truly a heroine among women.
"Actually…"
After a few sips, Cana seemed a little shy. "I wanted to ask…"
"You want to learn my spatial card magic?"
Cana blinked in surprise. "Wait, how did you know? Oh, you saw the group chat!"
"Yeah, I saw it."
"So, will you teach me?" Cana set the bottle aside and clasped her hands in front of her in a pleading gesture. "I'll treat you to drinks for a month!"
"Can we trade for something else?"
Nate sighed. 'You love alcohol, but I really don't care for it.'
"So, you agree?" Cana's face lit up with excitement.
"That's not the point! The point is, trade for something else!"
"Hmm…" Cana thought for a moment, then her eyes sparkled. "How about we go on a date?"
"How about you give me a fortune reading?" Nate remembered Cana had fortune-telling magic, a branch of card magic.
"Eh? You don't want to go on a date with me? I'm hurt!"
Cana pulled out her deck of cards from her pocket. "Alright, fine. I'm good at fortune-telling. What do you want to know? Love?"
"How long will I live?" Nate asked, genuinely curious.
"Oh, that's boring," Cana commented as she shuffled the cards and performed a series of ritualistic gestures that Nate didn't really follow.
After a moment, she asked him to draw a card. He did so, revealing it with a flip.
Cana stared at the card for a long time, staying silent.
"Is it that you can't predict my lifespan?" Nate asked, half-jokingly thinking maybe it was because his lifespan was so long.
Cana chuckled softly. "It's weird. I was supposed to read how long you'll live, but the result shows you have the 'trouble with women' fate."
"What does that mean?"
"It means you're too popular with girls! Makes sense, huh? Nate, you must be the type who flirts with every girl you meet."
Nate sighed internally. 'Am I doomed to be caught in a love triangle, or worse?' No way! That's just superstition!
"Let me just teach you the spatial card magic already…"
"You don't believe in fortune-telling? My readings are accurate, you know."
"Do you still want to learn or not?"
"Sorry, Nate-sensei! The reading was wrong! You must be the most devoted and faithful man alive!" Cana laughed, quickly changing her tone.
Nate was speechless. 'These girls sure know how to adapt…'
"Pay attention. I'm only going to show you this once. It's simple if you get the trick."
"Got it, Sensei!"
...
Meanwhile, at the Magic Council headquarters.
Ultear had just finished attending a council meeting. The primary topic had been selecting a new member for the Ten Wizard Saints.
According to the chairman, one of the current members had recommended her… and it turned out to be her boyfriend!
'That brother of mine! What do I need the title of Wizard Saint for? And he hasn't even come to see me! If he doesn't come soon, I'll have to go find him!' Ultear thought with a smile.
Returning to her luxurious home, she paused upon entering her living room.
On the sofa sat a girl with short pink hair.
"Ul…"
The girl started to say her name but quickly corrected herself, realizing her mistake. "Sorry, I forgot you don't like being called that."
"Meredy?"
Ultear smiled warmly, her lips parting slightly. "It's fine. You can call me whatever you like."
She used to dislike being called "Ul" because of misunderstandings with her mother, but now it didn't bother her anymore.
Meredy blinked in surprise. It felt like Ultear had changed in the time they hadn't seen each other. She no longer had that gloomy aura. Instead, it was more like…
A woman in love?
Meredy couldn't shake the odd feeling.
"Ultear, the master sent me to see you. It's about the 'key'…"
(Author's Note: Let me clarify in advance: I won't be writing any complicated harem plots or intrigues. The tone of this book is very lighthearted, and even the minor dramatic moments will bring a smile to your face, so no need to worry. By the way, I'd appreciate monthly votes, full subscriptions, and flowers~.)
(Bleam: Phew~ Thank God! Love you Author! Also, you can tip me by purchasing the coffee in the shop.)
Chapter 135: *Spoiler Title*
For Nate, mastering magic was something he could do instantly. However, even under his personal guidance, it took Cana an entire afternoon just to grasp the basics.
By this time, the sky had turned a warm hue of dusk.
Cana cast her magic, sealing a wooden post inside a card. She squealed with excitement immediately.
"This is awesome! I finally did it!"
Nate breathed a sigh of relief. "From here on out, you'll just need to practice more. I've taught you all the key points."
As he stood up, ready to leave, Cana leaned in, bending her left leg back and lifting herself up on tiptoe to plant a loud kiss on Nate's cheek.
"Mua~ Thank you, Nate~"
Afterward, she threw him a flirtatious wink and added, "Whenever you want to go on a date, just let me know~"
Nate watched her skip away, unable to suppress a sarcastic thought: 'Am I the one flirting around? No, clearly, it's just that when flowers bloom, butterflies come on their own.'
Still, he didn't have the energy for a date with Cana right now. There were more pressing tasks, like completing his internet development work.
Back at his apartment, which cost him 70,000 J per month, Nate remembered there was something he had yet to give to Lucy. So, he headed next door.
Using his Six Eyes ability, he saw that Lucy wasn't inside.
"Not home? Out shopping for groceries?"
He tried the door handle, but it was locked. With a quick thought, Nate teleported inside.
Lucy's apartment had a layout nearly identical to his, except for one clear distinction: it was undeniably a girl's room.
Without hesitation, Nate made himself some tea, sat down, and started writing code while waiting for Lucy to come home and cook dinner.
A short while later, a notification for a private message popped up.
Witch of Pain: "Sweetheart, your sister has run into a little trouble."
Witch of Pain: "Couch "
As always, messages from Ultear were accompanied by a picture.
Nate opened the image and, instead of seeing Ultear, there was a girl wearing headphones with wing-like attachments. Nate recognized her instantly. Though she was still a small loli now, in seven years, she would grow into an impressive woman.
Sigma Male: "Cute."
Witch of Pain: "She's one of the Seven Kin of Purgatory from Grimoire Heart, Meredy. White-eye emoji."
Sigma Male: "What's going on?"
Witch of Pain: "When I brainwashed Jellal as a child, my real goal wasn't the R-System. That was just a distraction for the Magic Council."
Witch of Pain: "The Council was supposed to use Etherion to destroy the Tower of Heaven, and during the chaos, I'd grab one of the three keys needed to unlock Zeref's seal."
Witch of Pain: "The key to awakening Zeref's true power!"
This was Ultear's original mission and objective.
By obtaining the three keys, she could unleash Zeref's full strength and create a world dominated by magic—a world where her magic, the Arc of Time, would be immensely powerful.
With that magic, she could reverse time, going back to when she and her mother had a loving relationship.
Witch of Pain: "Of course, I don't need that anymore. Your sister has no interest in the keys now."
Sigma Male: "That's good. Those keys only lead to Zeref losing his sense of the value of life, which would bring about destruction."
Witch of Pain: "Tilted-head emoji?"
Sigma Male: "Basically, a black dragon will show up."
Witch of Pain: "A black dragon!?"
Witch of Pain: "Anyway, while I don't care about the keys anymore, Hades has already sent people to find me."
Nate understood what her "trouble" was.
Sigma Male: "Why not just quit Grimoire Heart?"
Witch of Pain: "That's exactly what I'm thinking!"
Witch of Pain: "I'll resign from the Council too, and then I'll come find you. Shy-face emoji."
Witch of Pain: "Bathroom "
Nate clicked on the image, finding a fully nude Ultear posing seductively in front of the bathroom mirror, deliberately flaunting her beauty.
This wicked witch, trying to tempt him again at night! Who could possibly resist this?
Nate closed the private chat immediately and activated his Flying Thunder God time-space magic.
A golden magic circle appeared beneath his feet, and in the next instant, he vanished from Lucy's apartment.
...
At Ultear's mansion, in the bathroom.
Ultear stood in front of the full-length mirror, taking more bold and intimate photos.
"Hmph, not coming to see your sister? I'll just make you crave me! Let's see how you sleep tonight!" she smirked to herself.
Suddenly, in a flash of gold, Nate appeared in the mirror's reflection. Simultaneously, two arms wrapped around her from behind.
"Ah!?"
Ultear gasped in surprise, her face turning a deep shade of red.
"Not happy to see me?" Nate teased.
Her heart raced, like a deer caught off guard. 'He actually came!' She was both thrilled and embarrassed. 'You scared me, little brother!'
Just then, a voice called out from the living room with concern.
"Ultear! Are you okay?"
"I'm fine! Don't come in!" Ultear quickly shouted back, turning to glare at Nate.
"There's someone here," she whispered angrily.
'Someone being here doesn't mean I can't do what I want, does it?' Nate thought, amused, as he picked her up and pressed her against the tiled wall.
Being his girlfriend, Ultear knew exactly what Nate had in mind, and immediately, she shyly tapped his shoulder in protest.
"No, stop! Sister was wrong~"
...
In the living room, Meredy sat on the couch, sipping coffee and playing a Magic Net game, [Mahjong].
From time to time, stifled sounds echoed from the bathroom, causing her to frown slightly.
"Ultear? Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine… just twisted my ankle!"
"Do you need help?"
"No, I'm good!"
Unaware of the truth, the 13-year-old Meredy remained clueless and continued playing her game.
Her opponent's username was "Like an Angel."
'Ugh, this person has the luck of the gods! They've won seven times in a row!'
As she became absorbed in the game, she lost track of time.
Eventually, Ultear emerged from the bathroom, her face flushed. She wore a white towel wrapped around her body, and her hair was pinned up neatly.
She sat across from Meredy and drank a glass of water to moisten her throat.
"Ah, lost again," Meredy muttered in frustration, staring at her account's balance of zero coins. She glanced up and noticed Ultear was out of the bath.
"Ultear, I'm going to take a bath now."
"Wait."
Ultear stopped her just as Meredy stood up. "About the key…"
Meredy obediently sat back down to listen.
"I'm quitting. I'm leaving Grimoire Heart. Do you want to come with me?"
Meredy sat there in stunned silence.
/Bleam
—Currently, you can read 70 chapters ahead of others!
Title: Chapter 135: I'm Quitting Grimoire Heart, wanna join?
Chapter 136: Welcome to the Dark Side…
"Ultear, you're planning to leave Grimoire Heart... but why?" Meredy asked, her voice laced with confusion.
"I've done a lot of bad things in the past, and now I want to atone for who I once was," Ultear said softly, letting out a sigh.
"Atonement?" Meredy whispered. "Ultear, you've changed."
Ultear smiled, crossing her long legs under her towel, looking relaxed and at ease. "And what about you? Will you come with me?"
"Go where?" Meredy asked.
"Hmm... let me think. How about Magnolia? We could join the Fairy Tail guild—how does that sound?"
"Ah?"
Meredy was completely stunned. They had come from a dark guild, and now Ultear was suggesting they join a legal guild like Fairy Tail?
"Hades won't just let us leave that easily."
"True," Ultear acknowledged, resting her chin on her hand, a hint of concern showing. "You're the only one in Grimoire Heart that I really worry about."
If Ultear was going to atone, she would start by helping Meredy—the girl she had raised but also deeply hurt in the past.
Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Nate lay soaking in a stone bathtub, enjoying his bath. He could easily overhear their conversation from outside.
'So Ultear plans to leave Grimoire Heart and even join Fairy Tail?'
"Ultear, Erza, Juvia... and me—we could all play a game of mahjong together," Nate mused, wondering if he should come clean to Ultear about everything.
Juvia knew that Ultear had been his first girlfriend, but Ultear didn't know about Juvia. If Ultear was serious about joining Fairy Tail, Nate knew he would need to tell her about the situation beforehand.
Otherwise, it could lead to a serious conflict. Ultear, feeling deceived, might end up fighting Juvia.
'But I need to pick the right moment to reveal everything.'
Nate turned his attention elsewhere and accessed the Magic Net, using his developer privileges to look up information on a certain user: "Precht"—Hades' Magic Net username.
Meredy had mentioned it to Ultear, and now Ultear had informed him as well.
"Hmm?"
Nate was surprised to find Hades online and currently in the [Magic Arena] matchmaking queue.
[Magic Net Username: Precht]
[Rank: Bronze Mage]
[Match History: 1 Win / 0 Losses]
Nate raised an eyebrow, digging deeper and discovering that Hades' only ranked match had been against Makarov—and Hades had won.
'Interesting. The second guild master of Fairy Tail facing the third guild master in a game world.'
After some thought, Nate sent a friend request from his alternate account, attaching a message with no words—just a small image.
...
Meanwhile, aboard the 'Grimoire Heart' magic airship, Hades was deep in thought. His recent match in the [Magic Arena] had left him shaken. Yesterday, he had faced Makarov and defeated him with ease.
No—more accurately, he had 'killed' him.
It all felt so real, but Hades knew Makarov wasn't truly dead.
How? After the match, he had added Makarov as a friend.
Makarov's status showed that he was still online, meaning he was very much alive.
"A battleground this real isn't something that can be achieved through illusions alone!" Hades muttered. "It has surpassed conventional magic, even forbidden and lost magic. I, who have delved into the deepest mysteries of magic, cannot understand this power…"
"It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it the 'Realm of Gods.'"
Hades couldn't help but speculate. No known mage could achieve this level of magic—not even his former teacher, the legendary dark mage Zeref.
Naturally, Hades began to wonder if Nate might actually be some sort of deity.
"The only problem is the queue time. If I could enter more matches, I might be able to uncover some secrets."
Hades frowned. He had been waiting in the queue since yesterday, but still hadn't been matched for a second game.
Suddenly, a notification popped up in the corner of his Magic Net interface—a friend request.
Friend Request: [Voldemort]
Message: "[Zeref's Black Magic ]"
Hades was taken aback. Voldemort was a well-known figure on the Magic Net forums, and Hades, who frequented them, was certainly aware of his presence.
What intrigued him the most, however, was the attached image.
It was a small picture, barely visible without enlarging it. But the name of the image—[Zeref's Black Magic Tavern]—immediately grabbed his attention.
Hades clicked on the image to enlarge it for a closer look.
The moment he did, his consciousness separated from his body.
...
After a brief wave of dizziness, Hades found himself standing in front of a dark, damp castle.
"This... this is the Magic Net game world!"
Hades was astonished. He had entered the [Magic Arena] once before, and the sensation was eerily similar—his consciousness forcibly separated from his body.
'There's someone inside the castle!'
Sensing a presence within, Hades narrowed his eyes.
"Is it Voldemort?"
To pull someone into a place like this with just a picture—that was impressive.
Based on what he knew from the forums, Voldemort had been active on the net for a long time, but no one knew his true identity.
Hades approached the castle, realizing he could leave at any moment, which suggested there was no hostile intent.
He pushed open the heavy stone door and walked down a long corridor, eventually reaching the castle's interior.
Inside, a vast tavern stretched out before him.
By a glowing hearth sat a pale young man with white hair, wearing white clothes. He sat at the bar, his back to Hades, staring blankly into a glass of wine.
"Are you Voldemort?"
Hades stepped into the tavern, walking closer.
The man mumbled quietly, "Voldemort..." before turning around.
Hades froze. The man's face was startlingly familiar.
"Jellal?"
How could this be Jellal? He should be locked up in the Magic Council's prison!
The pale man grimaced, clutching his forehead in pain. "Yes, I'm Jellal... no... I'm Voldemort?"
Hades frowned, confused by this apparent memory conflict.
Suddenly, Jellal stopped struggling and began to chuckle softly. Slowly, he lifted his head.
"I am Voldemort. Welcome to [Zeref's Black Magic Tavern]!"
Hades' face darkened.
'Possession? Control?'
Chapter 137: The Magic World Runs Deeper than I Imagined
Hades' eyes were sharp as he stared at the pale version of Jellal, instantly considering several possible magics.
"Inviting me to a place like this, hiding behind masks and shadows? Who are you, really?"
The pale Jellal leaned against the bar, holding a wine glass. He took a small sip before responding:
"This is the [Dark Web, a world I created."
"Dark Web?" Hades furrowed his brow at the vague response, waiting for more explanation.
"You can think of it as something similar to the Magic Net forums," the pale Jellal continued.
Hades asked bluntly, "What's your purpose in inviting me here?"
"It's just an experiment. You're the first visitor." The pale Jellal smiled elegantly, maintaining an air of sophistication.
"In the forums, dark guild mages are hunted and despised. But where there is light, darkness follows like a shadow."
"As for my purpose..."
'This guy can't be the real Jellal!' Hades thought. 'Is he being possessed? Controlled by some magic? Where is the real Voldemort?'
"Possession-type magic usually plants a magic seed inside the target," Hades said. "If I find that seed, I'll find you."
With that, he raised his hand, summoning a magic circle.
'Grimoire Chains!'
"Impatient, aren't you, old man?" the pale Jellal said calmly, lifting a single finger.
'Silencio!'
A white pulse of light emanated from Jellal's fingertip, expanding in an instant. The grimoire chains froze in midair, unable to reach their target.
"What... what kind of magic is this?!" Hades gasped, his pupils shrinking in shock.
Before he could finish speaking, his voice disappeared.
"It's just to quiet you down," the pale Jellal said nonchalantly. "Why so hot-tempered at your age?"
He set his wine glass down and walked toward Hades.
"I know what you're after—using Zeref's power to create a world of grand magic."
"In such a world, those without magic would die, and even those who survive will live in a harsh environment."
"Those without magic make up about 90% of the population."
Hades' mind reeled. This Voldemort knew even this detail.
And he was right. The population of mages in the world made up only 10%. To create a world of grand magic, the sacrifice of the other 90% was a necessary evil.
"To be honest, your plan will never succeed."
"But… feel free to use this tavern however you like. I'm providing you with a platform. I hope you can bring some excitement to my long, boring life."
"Until next time, Precht."
With that, the pale Jellal dissolved before Hades' eyes like flowing water.
As he vanished, the 'Silencio' dissipated as well.
"What was that magic just now? I've never seen anything like it..."
Hades dismissed the dark chains and stood there, deep in thought as he stared at the now-empty tavern.
'Dark Web'? 'Voldemort'? 'Tavern'? A pale Jellal?
Even at over a hundred years old, Hades had only one thought: 'The depths of the magic world are unfathomable!'
...
In Ultear's mansion, in the second-floor bedroom, Nate slowly opened his eyes.
'Hades can use the tavern however he wants,' Nate thought. 'I don't care.'
He had simply created the platform. The order of the [Dark Web] would establish itself naturally.
All Nate needed to do was observe from the shadows.
"I should send an invite to Brain too. Maybe he and Hades will meet in the tavern."
"It's a shame I don't know where Tartaros is. If I could reach them, I'd have the entire Balam Alliance together."
Nate opened his friend list and sent a picture to [Leader].
Afterward, he opened his programming tools and continued coding.
A short while later, the bedroom door creaked open, and Ultear entered, dressed in her nightgown. She slipped into Nate's arms like a serpent, clinging to him.
Nate sighed and closed the Magic Net, embracing the warmth of her body.
"Does it feel good to hold me?" Ultear asked playfully, a teasing smile on her lips.
Nate felt a delicate hand grasp at his future, and with a swift move, he turned the tables.
Ultear's face turned red as she whispered urgently, "Not so loud, Meredy's just in the next room."
'You can't tease me and expect me not to respond!'
Nate smirked internally and snapped his fingers with a sharp 'snap'.
"Silencio."
Suddenly, all sound in the room was completely silenced, unable to escape into the outside world.
"Now, no one can hear us."
Ultear blinked curiously. "What kind of magic is this?"
"Reverse Magic, a reverse application of Tremor Magic."
It worked by eliminating all tremors in a designated area, which naturally included sound.
As he explained, Nate continued to undress Ultear like a gift, and she shyly cooperated.
Soon, the room was filled with the sounds of pleasure, continuing late into the night. The couple only fell into a peaceful sleep after they were both thoroughly satisfied.
...
The next morning, Nate awoke to find Ultear gazing at him with a smile.
"Would you like a good morning kiss from me?" she asked sweetly.
Nate gave her a kiss on the spot. "Are you really planning to join Fairy Tail?"
"Of course. I want to be with you all the time, wake up with you every morning, fall asleep together every night, and see you every day," Ultear confessed, her voice soft and filled with emotion.
She missed Nate terribly. Even at work, she would find herself daydreaming about him.
She couldn't endure it any longer. She wanted to be with Nate, sharing their life together.
Feeling her intense affection, Nate could only hug her tightly. "I'll talk to the Guild Master. Don't worry."
"Love you, dear~" Ultear said happily, burying her face in his shoulder.
Nate gave her a comforting pat on the back. "We need to get up."
"No, I want to stay like this~"
"Meredy's already awake…"
"!?"
Ultear jolted out of her sweet mood and quickly came to her senses.
A gentle knock came from the door.
Nate quickly got out of bed, cast a spell to change his clothes, and turned to Ultear.
"I'll be leaving. Let me know when you arrive."
With that, he disappeared from the bedroom.
Ultear reluctantly got up, dressed herself, and opened the door to find Meredy standing outside.
"Ultear."
"Meredy, I'll be heading to the Magic Council to resign today. After that, we'll head to Magnolia!"
...
Back at his apartment, Nate made his way to the guild.
The first thing he did was find the Guild Master, Makarov, and explain the situation with Ultear and Meredy.
"Seven Kin of Purgatory?" Makarov was stunned. Nate had recruited two more new members?
And this time, it wasn't just like when Juvia joined.
These two were Dark Guild mages!
"Yes, they're my close friends. They've grown tired of Hades and want to leave their dark past behind," Nate said earnestly. "Guild master, can you give them a chance?"
Makarov was at a loss. He never expected Ultear, a Magic Council member, to actually be the leader of the Seven Kin of Purgatory!
She had been undercover at the Council for so long without ever being discovered!
'The magic world truly runs deeper than I imagined!'
Chapter 138: Arc of Time
Makarov eventually agreed to let Ultear and Meredy join the guild.
"Thank you, Master," Nate said.
"If they truly wish to turn over a new leaf, the guild will not turn them away," Makarov replied with a smile. His trust in Nate was evident. If anyone else had made such a request, Makarov might not have been so confident.
Nate was grateful for the guild master's trust. "Rest assured, if they cause any trouble, I'll take full responsibility."
At that moment, Mirajane approached with two glasses of juice.
"Master, Nate, would you like some juice? I just made it," she offered cheerfully.
Makarov sighed. "If possible, I'd prefer some wine…"
"Nope, Master, you should cut back on the alcohol," Mirajane smiled, gently refusing him.
"Want some, Nate?" she asked, turning to him.
"Thanks, Mira," Nate replied, taking a sip. The juice tasted good—something like coconut milk with a hint of creaminess.
Mirajane smiled and handed the other glass to Makarov.
"What were you two discussing?" she asked curiously, noticing that they had been in a private conversation.
"Two new members will be joining the guild soon," Nate said briefly, though he left out the detail about their past as members of the Seven Kin of Purgatory. Only Makarov needed to know about that.
"Really? Even Ultear from the Magic Council?" Mirajane said, shocked. Was she really leaving her position as a council member to join the guild? After all, being on the council offered much higher status and income than being a guild mage.
Mirajane seemed intrigued. "Why would she do that?"
Nate felt himself sweating. "Maybe she's tired of all those endless meetings?"
"Is that so?"
Makarov chuckled, watching the two of them interact. 'They actually make a pretty good couple,' he thought.
...
That morning, Nate took it easy, writing code. Around noon, Juvia arrived with a lunchbox filled with homemade food.
Nate accepted it graciously. This wasn't the first time Juvia had made him lunch, and the guild members were already used to it. Everyone knew Juvia liked Nate—even Lucy's spirit, Plue, knew it. Plue was a small, white spirit with a yellow nose, mostly good for nothing besides being cute. Officially, he was known as Canis Minor, Nikora.
After finishing Juvia's meal, Erza appeared at the worksite. Today, she wasn't wearing her usual armor and blue skirt. Instead, she was dressed like an ordinary girl in casual clothes—a refreshing change from her usual battle gear or speed-oriented outfits like the bunny girl one.
Mirajane was surprised and curious. Erza explained, "I want to start dressing like a regular girl more often. I'll leave my armor for battle."
Mirajane was astonished, but Nate knew the real reason. 'Love changes people,' he thought. Even the Fairy Queen wasn't immune to its effects.
However, when Erza walked toward him, Nate began to sweat again. 'I can't stay here much longer!'
Before she could reveal their relationship, Nate quickly grabbed her hand.
"Here for a spar? Let's go!" he said and hurriedly led her away.
The two left the city and had an intense duel in the countryside. After Nate summoned a vast ocean, the match ended in a draw.
"Don't hold back, Nate. I want a real fight," Erza said, a bit frustrated.
'I can only spank you!' Nate thought. 'How could I go all out against my girlfriend?'
"Let's do it in the arena next time," he suggested.
"Alright," Erza agreed, though she seemed a little disappointed. Still, she was happy that her boyfriend cared for her.
"But the arena's too crowded lately. We should wait a few days," Nate added, remembering all the complaints in the forum about the long queues. Ultear had mentioned it as well. They just needed to wait until Loke created more maps. He could produce two sets of maps per day, so soon the queues would ease.
"Also, Erza, let's keep our relationship a secret from the others for now," Nate said.
"Why?" she asked, puzzled.
"Think about it. Most of the guild members are single. If we flaunt our relationship, it might make them feel bad."
Whether or not others would feel pressured, Nate didn't know. But he certainly felt the pressure himself.
Erza thought for a moment and nodded. "You're right. That makes sense."
With that crisis averted, Nate let out a sigh of relief.
...
After escorting Erza back to the guild, Nate returned to his apartment, intent on writing code. 'Girlfriends are great, but code is even better!'
He wrote until late into the night, only stopping when Lucy brought him dinner.
"Nate, you haven't been home much lately. I've been eating all the dinner I make by myself," Lucy said, a little disappointed.
"I've been out seeking inspiration," Nate replied. "Developing new features requires it."
"You work so hard," Lucy said, feeling sorry for him.
'Yes, it's very hard!' Nate thought, recalling Cana's prediction of "woman trouble."
Suddenly remembering something, he pulled out the Fleuve d'étoiles whip and handed it to Lucy.
"This is from the Celestial Spirit King," he said.
"Huh?"
"I asked him for Urano Metria, but he invited us to visit the Celestial Spirit World. We'll go there in a few days," he explained and then taught her how to use the whip. It was a simple weapon to learn.
Lucy eagerly swung the whip, clearly excited. "Thank you, Nate!"
"Thank the Spirit King," Nate replied.
"I don't know him, so of course, I'll thank you!"
...
Two days later, Ultear and Meredy arrived in Magnolia.
"This is my boyfriend, Nate," Ultear introduced.
Meredy was stunned. As an avid user of the Magic Net and a Mahjong addict, she was well aware of Nate's name. So Ultear was really in love; no wonder she had changed so much lately.
She discreetly observed Nate, noting that he looked even more handsome in person than in photos.
"Hello, I'm Meredy," she greeted politely, though her expression was mostly blank, giving off a "three-no" vibe—no emotion, no reaction, no unnecessary words.
"Hello, I'm Nate," he replied simply.
After introductions, Nate took Ultear to find a place to live. Ultear, being wealthy, had no interest in staying in the guild's dormitory. It wasn't ideal for spending time with Nate. She even considered moving in with him, but since Meredy was with her, she decided against it for now.
In the end, she rented a large house close to the guild, paying a hefty 300,000J a month in rent.
"The guild has been under construction recently. It's already late tonight, so I'll take you there tomorrow," Nate suggested, planning to maybe tell her about Juvia soon.
Ultear smiled mischievously. "Did you forget my magic?"
"My magic can complete the guild's reconstruction in an instant!"
Her 'Arc of Time' could restore anything to its former state or even push it forward in time.
Nate realized she was right. "You're right. You'll save us a fortune on repairs!"
"Consider it a gift from the new member. Let's go, dear brother—I want to see everyone's shocked faces tomorrow!"
Ultear smiled sweetly.
The next morning, the members of Fairy Tail stood outside the newly reconstructed guild hall, completely dumbfounded.
"What just happened?!"
"Did the guild get rebuilt overnight?"
Chapter 139: Magic Council ERA Got Attacked?!
The new guild was several times larger than the old one.
Upon entering through the main gate, the first thing that greeted them was an open-air café, with tables and chairs neatly arranged. Next to the café was a general store, though its shelves were currently empty.
Behind the guild building was an outdoor swimming pool. The underground warehouse, which had recently served as a temporary bar, had now been restored to its original state. In the basement, there was an entertainment area equipped with magic pool tables, dartboards, and roulette wheels.
"Wow, it's exactly like the design plans!"
"It's way more luxurious than the old Fairy Tail!"
"So, how did this even get built?"
"Judging by the previous pace, it should've taken at least another month to finish."
Early in the morning, those who arrived at the guild were stunned by the sight before them. The once messy construction site had turned into a luxurious guild overnight.
As they stepped inside the new tavern, they found several people already there—Makarov, Nate, Mirajane, and two new faces. Or rather, not so new; wasn't one of them Ultear, a former member of the Magic Council?
"Oh my, is everyone here?" Mirajane smiled and greeted them.
"Surprised? I was just as shocked earlier."
"Mirajane, what's going on here?" Wakaba asked the question on everyone's mind.
Makarov cleared his throat and began introducing the new members.
"These two are the newest members of our guild, Ultear and Meredy."
"And the overnight construction of the guild is thanks to Ultear."
At this, everyone turned to the newcomers, most of their gazes focused on Ultear.
Ultear smiled warmly and greeted them, "Good morning, everyone. I'm the new member, Ultear. I look forward to working with you all."
"Working with us? Weren't you a Magic Council member?" Erza asked, confused.
"Erza, I've resigned from that position. From now on, I'm just a new member of Fairy Tail."
Ultear raised her left hand, showing the guild emblem on the back of her hand. It was in the same spot as Nate's, but hers was white, just like Mirajane's.
"Because of the events surrounding the Tower of Heaven, Jellal committed a grave crime. Since I joined the Magic Council along with Siegrain, Jellal's Thought Projection, I received a lot of criticism."
"A few days ago, I submitted my resignation, and the council quickly accepted it."
"If you check the Magic Council's ERA section of the Magic Net, you'll probably see my name has already been removed from the list of council members."
Was she implicated because of Jellal?
Erza, feeling sympathy for her, spoke kindly. "Anyway, welcome to Fairy Tail. Let's reintroduce ourselves—I'm Erza. If you ever run into any difficulties, feel free to ask me for help."
"Ultear, and…" Erza turned to the other newcomer.
"Meredy," Meredy softly whispered.
Then came the welcoming of the new members.
Having a former council member join the guild was quite novel for everyone, and they quickly gathered around Ultear, chatting and asking questions.
"Ultear, did you really build the guild overnight?" Levy asked, full of curiosity.
"As a new member, I wanted to help out in some way."
Ultear pulled out a crystal ball and began to demonstrate her magic for everyone. The ball dropped to the floor, shattering, but then reformed instantly. It floated in the air and split into multiple crystal balls from alternate futures, all at once.
"In short, this is my magic, Lost Magic: Arc of Time."
The crowd was amazed.
"That's incredible! As expected of a former council member!"
"The new members are getting more and more impressive!"
Lucy pointed at herself and joked, "What about me? I'm still a newbie too, right?"
"Eh, Lucy doesn't count," Happy teased.
"Stupid cat, cut it out!" Lucy cried, tears forming in her eyes, feeling overshadowed.
Seeing that everyone was crowding around Ultear, Levy approached Meredy, who seemed a bit left out.
"Hello, Meredy, I'm Levy McGarden. I specialize in Solid Script Magic."
Her two teammates followed suit.
"I'm Jet."
"And I'm Droy."
The three struck poses and proudly announced together, "We're the Shadow Gear team!"
Meredy stared at them blankly.
Levy, Jet, and Droy were stunned by the lack of response, an awkward silence stretching for about three seconds before Meredy finally spoke in a flat tone:
"Hello, I'm Meredy. My magic is Lost Magic: Maguilty Sense."
"Huh?!"
The trio was shocked.
"You also use Lost Magic? Like Ultear!" Levy exclaimed.
Meredy nodded, "We're…"
Before she could finish saying, "We're the Seven Kin of Purgatory," Nate quickly cut her off. "Meredy's magic is really interesting. Maybe she'll show you all sometime."
He then gently pulled her aside and whispered, "Are you stupid? Don't reveal your past identity."
"Oh, sorry," Meredy whispered back.
Nate sighed, feeling exasperated. He lowered his voice again, "Does Hades know you two are leaving?"
"I sent him a message," Meredy replied, showing Nate the message on the Magic Net.
Nate was Ultear's boyfriend, so Meredy trusted him.
Nate glanced at the message.
Meredy's Magic Net nickname was [Maguilty Sense, and she had sent the message to Hades two days ago.
Maguilty Sense: "Hades, I'm leaving the guild."
Maguilty Sense: "I'm going with Ultear."
Precht: "…?"
That was it.
Nate figured Hades must've been confused when he read the message. Nate himself felt a bit puzzled now, wondering how Hades would react.
…
At the Magic Council headquarters, high in the sky, a magic airship belonging to Grimoire Heart sailed through the clouds.
Hades held a staff in his hand, his gaze seemingly piercing through the clouds, watching the Magic Council ERA far below.
"Go, Capricorn. Bring me the key and Jellal," Hades ordered.
"Yes, Hades-sama."
The man with the sunglasses nodded, clapping his hands together. In an instant, the remaining four members of the Seven Kin of Purgatory disappeared from the deck.
Moments later, a magic propulsion device appeared on Capricorn's back, flames shooting out as he dove down from the thousands of meters above.
Boom!
Soon after, a massive explosion rocked the headquarters of the Magic Council ERA.
/Bleam
—Currently, you can read 70 chapters ahead of others!
Chapter 140: Two Dark Guilds Acting! Let's go Live!
Ultear's first official day as a member of the Fairy Tail guild passed smoothly.
With the guild's rebuilding complete, Fairy Tail returned to its usual lively atmosphere. Members were fighting, drinking, and causing their usual chaos. Now, with Ultear onboard, the guild members were even more carefree in their brawls—after all, even if they destroyed the guild, it could easily be restored thanks to her magic.
Perhaps for this reason, Ultear quickly became popular among the guild members.
It's worth noting that, in the past, the second floor of the guild was off-limits to anyone who wasn't an S-Class mage. But now, Makarov had lifted this restriction, allowing anyone to access it. However, only S-Class mages could still take on S-Class jobs.
Of course, this didn't matter to Nate. He had no interest in taking on requests, except maybe one—the '100-Year Quest,' a century-old task that no one had completed in 100 years. Below that were the '10-Year Quests,' followed by 'SS-Class' and 'S-Class' jobs.
…
That evening, back at his apartment, Nate couldn't shake his unease. Being in the same guild as his three girlfriends made things tense, but thankfully, the first day had passed without any major issues.
As soon as he got home, Ultear messaged him.
Witch of Pain: "Back when I was with the Magic Council, my impression of Fairy Tail was that it was a bunch of troublemakers. "
Witch of Pain: "But after joining, I realized it's such a lively guild. Everyone is so friendly, completely different from Grimoire Heart."
Nate smiled at the message.
Sigma Male: "Isn't the guild fun?"
Witch of Pain: "Very fun. I really like it~"
Witch of Pain: "I even had a little chat with Juvia today."
Sigma Male: "…What did you talk about?"
Nate had already come clean to Juvia the night before while they worked on rebuilding the guild together.
Sigma Male: "What did you and Juvia talk about?"
Witch of Pain: "Just some casual chatting. She seemed nervous, such a cute girl."
Witch of Pain: "Besides Juvia, I think Erza likes you too. White "
'Wait, what? She's only been here for one day, and she's already figured out Erza's feelings too?'
Nate realized he hadn't mentioned Erza to Ultear yet.
Sigma Male: "How did you figure that out?"
Witch of Pain: "A woman's intuition!"
Witch of Pain: "Not just Erza, I talked to all the pretty girls in the guild."
Witch of Pain: "Mirajane, Lucy—they all seem to like you a lot. Even Levy and Cana…"
Witch of Pain: "Having such a popular boyfriend is really a headache for me."
Nate was impressed. Ultear had already gathered so much information about the guild's dynamics after just one day.
Sigma Male: "Well, it shows you have good taste."
Witch of Pain: "Flirt! You're such a bad man! Annoying little brother! White "
Ultear wasn't surprised that Nate was so popular. After all, if someone like her—a "bad" woman—could fall for him, it made sense that others would too.
Witch of Pain: "But even so, I still love you~ "
The two of them chatted for another half hour, and Nate felt relieved. Ultear was easy to deal with, and she seemed to accept the fact that he had multiple girlfriends. Juvia was a bit jealous but obedient, and Erza, for now, would keep their relationship private.
Handling three relationships didn't seem too bad after all!
…
After finishing his conversation with Ultear, Nate sat at his desk and resumed working on his Magic App. Just as he was settling in, he received feedback from one of his proxies.
"The live-streaming feature is ready…?"
Raising an eyebrow, Nate immediately opened the live-streaming program his Thought Projection had sent. He thoroughly reviewed the code and found no major issues.
The feature was relatively simple and relied on [Lacrima, which transmitted images and sound, commonly used to create communication crystals. The [Magic Net Library] even had a book detailing this magic.
"The feature is easy to develop, but it will require a lot of magic power to sustain on the Magic Net."
Nate thought it would be wise to test the magic consumption rate.
At that moment, a system prompt appeared:
[Mission: Host a live broadcast and achieve simultaneous viewership from 80% of all registered Magic Net users.]
[Reward: Based on completion rate.]
A new task?
Nate checked the Magic Net's current stats:
[Total registered users: 36,661.]
Eighty percent meant he needed about 30,000 people to watch the stream at the same time.
Nate sighed. This was going to be tough.
The challenge lay in getting 30,000 people to watch simultaneously.
What kind of content could attract that many viewers?
Streaming his coding process? That would only appeal to a niche audience.
Broadcasting magic knowledge? While he was one of the Ten Wizard Saints and his expertise would draw interest, a large portion of the Magic Net's users were not mages and wouldn't understand.
A live broadcast of a ranking battle? That could work, but it would require two very famous and powerful mages to participate.
"This first live broadcast will definitely attract attention. It's my best chance to complete the mission in one go."
However, even a popular first stream wouldn't be enough.
The current number of registered users was 36,661, and the peak online time was in the evening, with just over 20,000 people online.
Even if every one of them tuned in, it wouldn't be enough.
…
The next day, when Nate arrived at the guild, he sensed a tense atmosphere.
"What's going on today?"
"Nate, you're here."
Mirajane, who was usually cheerful, was unusually serious.
Ultear, standing with one hand on her hip and the other holding a crystal ball, explained:
"Grimoire Heart attacked the Magic Council's ERA headquarters yesterday."
'Why would Hades attack the Council?'
Nate quickly deduced that it had to do with the key to Zeref's seal.
He glanced at Ultear, who nodded in confirmation.
"I thought the guild master had fallen ill…" Nate joked.
"That's not funny, Nate," Happy retorted. "It's Grimoire Heart, the strongest dark guild!"
'Two of the Seven Kin of Purgatory are standing right beside you, Happy,' Nate thought with amusement.
At that moment, Makarov entered the guild, his tone heavy.
"I've just received word that Grimoire Heart broke Jellal out of the magic prison."
Nate was momentarily stunned. Hades didn't go for the key—he broke Jellal out?
Ultear was also puzzled.
"Master Makarov, what would they want with Jellal?"
"We're not sure yet."
Makarov scanned the guild hall, deep in thought.
"For now, we'll leave Grimoire Heart alone. Their actions are unrelated to us."
"However, yesterday, before the Council was attacked, they detected activity from the Oración Seis in the Worth Woodsea..."
Upon hearing this, the guild members couldn't help but draw connections.
Gray was shocked. "Two dark guilds acting on the same day?"
Mirajane nodded. "It's suspicious—it doesn't seem like a coincidence."
Makarov's voice grew solemn. "As for the Oración Seis, the guild alliance discussed it in the regional guild chat last night."
He paused before continuing.
"It's been decided that Fairy Tail will lead the mission to take them down!"
Nate's eyes lit up.
Taking down the Oración Seis?
If he live-streamed that, it would surely attract a massive audience!
Talk about a perfect opportunity falling right into his lap.
"Master, I'll go!" Nate volunteered enthusiastically. "Leave it to me!"
His declaration left everyone, except for Ultear and Meredy, stunned. They stared at Nate in disbelief.
Was the world ending tomorrow?
Nate actually wanted to work!?
/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 70 Chapters Ahead of Others!