Chapter 171: Murciélago
South Gate Park
When Nate met Mirajane, her beautiful white hair was still damp, and a hint of nervousness marked her expression. It was the first time he'd seen her look so hesitant.
"Don't worry, we'll find her."
"Mm…" Mirajane nodded softly. After a pause, she spoke in a low voice:
"It's been two years since everything happened, and now the chance to see Lisanna again has come so suddenly… It's a little overwhelming."
Nate reached out, trying to distract her with small talk. "By the way, how old is Lisanna?"
"She was fifteen when she disappeared two years ago," Mirajane answered, placing her hand in his. Her spirits lifted as she added with a smile, "She should be seventeen now. If I see her again, maybe even I, her older sister, won't recognize her."
Mirajane was nineteen, her brother Elfman eighteen, and her sister Lisanna seventeen.
Nate chuckled. "Keep that smile. You wouldn't want your sister's first sight of you to be all gloomy, would you?"
"Of course not," Mirajane replied with a pout.
"Let's get going. Hold on tight."
Nate took her small, delicate hand and reminded her, "The teleportation might be a bit rough—I don't want us to get separated in transit. I'd end up with another person to find."
"Got it!"
Mirajane took a deep breath and held tightly onto Nate's hand. His hand was large and warm, and she felt herself calming down.
The Flying Thunder God magic circle activated beneath them, casting them in a golden glow for over ten seconds. In the next instant, Nate and Mirajane vanished from the park.
...
Parallel World: Edolas
A streak of golden light tore across the night sky as Nate and Mirajane appeared. As Nate expected, the teleportation coordinates were slightly off.
"Ah!"
Mirajane let out a scream as she lost her grip on Nate's hand and began to fall. Instinctively, she attempted to transform.
"Full-Body Takeover: Satan Soul!"
But the magic wouldn't respond. Her Takeover magic failed.
"Magic doesn't work?" Mirajane was stunned. Before she could process it, Nate caught up and cradled her in his arms.
"I forgot to give you this," he said, producing a vial from Mystogan. "Open wide."
Blinking, Mirajane opened her mouth slightly, and Nate placed a small red pill inside. As she swallowed, she felt her magic return to her control.
She didn't question it; she trusted Nate entirely. Looking around, her eyes widened in amazement.
"This is the parallel world… Edolas?"
In the night sky, a vast Milky Way stretched across the heavens, with massive planets suspended overhead. It was a magical sight unseen in their world of Earth Land.
It was also Nate's first time in Edolas, where he saw floating islands scattered across the sky and streams winding between them, appearing out of nowhere.
"Let's enjoy the scenery later. For now, we need to find Lisanna."
Nate carried Mirajane to the nearest floating island and set her down. They gazed toward the distant ground, where a sprawling, disk-shaped city glowed with lights, looking more like a capital than a small town.
"That might be the new royal capital of Edolas…" Nate guessed.
Mirajane surveyed the unfamiliar world before glancing at him. "How do we go about searching?"
After a moment, she suggested, "For now, let's head to the nearest city and gather information."
"Good idea."
Mirajane chuckled. "Some idea—it's just the most basic approach."
"Well, I gathered some information before coming," Nate explained. "There are people here with the same names and appearances as those in our world."
"So there's another Mirajane in this world?" Mirajane asked, intrigued by the idea of her counterpart.
"Not only that—there's a guild here called Fairy Tail, too. But in Edolas, Fairy Tail is a dark guild."
"A dark guild?" Mirajane was surprised, struggling to imagine Fairy Tail as a dark guild.
Then again, she supposed it wasn't that far-fetched.
After all, the Fairy Tail of Earth Land was far more destructive than most dark guilds—tearing up streets, demolishing ports, burning fields, destroying forests…
Mirajane covered her face with her hand.
Now that she thought about it, their guild really was remarkable, capable of things most dark guilds wouldn't even attempt, and all they had to do afterward was submit a report from their guild master.
"So, do we need to find the dark guild Fairy Tail? Could Lisanna be with them?" Mirajane took a deep breath, her gaze growing determined. "Then let's go, Nate! Let's get information about Fairy Tail!"
From her look, it seemed she was ready to use force if necessary.
Never underestimate the urgency of a sister searching for her sibling…
Nate summoned a sword into his hand. "Wait a second, Mirajane, take this."
"What is it?"
Mirajane grasped the sword hilt, and as soon as she touched it, her TakeOver magic activated, gathering information at once.
Her eyes widened. "This is… a demon?"
"It's a powerful magic item called 'Murciélago'. You should be able to use it."
Unlike Senbonzakura or Sode no Shirayuki, it wasn't strictly a Zanpakuto; it channeled Hollow energy. Its release wasn't a Shikai or Bankai but rather a transformation called 'Resurrección'.
Nate shared the release command with Mirajane.
"Want to give it a try?"
Mirajane stared at him, sensing the weapon's immense power. Thinking of how he had joined her in her search for Lisanna and even offered her such a gift, she nodded gratefully.
"I'll try… 'Confine, Murciélago!'"
Boom!
A surge of dark green magic engulfed her, surrounding her entire body like a storm, as if the sky itself was raining magic power.
Nate sensed her magic power rapidly increasing, now nearing six stars—surpassing even Laxus's.
Previously, Mirajane's magic had been in recovery, not at her former 'Demon Mirajane' peak. But now, using the Ulquiorra Cifer's Resurrección, she had instantly surpassed her former self.
After a moment, the dark green energy receded.
Black-Winged Demon—or rather, Black-Winged Lady Demon.
(Note: Murciélago is Japanese for Black-Winged Demon)
Now Mirajane bore black wings, her white hair cascading down her back. Her once-gentle face now carried a striking, queenly allure.
The sword had vanished with the transformation. Nate admired Mirajane's new look, so different from her usual self.
"How does it feel?"
"Incredible! My magic feels so much stronger, and I've even learned some demonic magics."
Mirajane was stunned by her own power.
Nate chuckled. "Come on, let's find that information. Follow me."
He soared toward the distant capital, and Mirajane quickly flapped her wings to fly beside him.
"Nate, thank you," she said with a sultry smile.
"Maybe next time we can go camping together?"
"…Sure," Nate replied, his face slightly red as he recalled their last outing. She moved closer, holding his hand, then whispered:
"But, tell me—who is your girlfriend?"
"!?"
Nate's eye twitched.
Girlfriend? Which one is she asking about?
...
Royal Palace
In the audience chamber, King Faust looked grim as he addressed his second magic warfare captain, kneeling before him.
"Investigate that unusual burst of magic outside the city… Erza Knightwalker!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Just then—Boom!
The ceiling shattered as a man and woman descended, instantly putting the soldiers on high alert.
Nate hovered calmly in mid-air.
"No need, King. We're already here."
Chapter 172: Erza Knightwalker
In response to the unexpected intruders, King Faust's eyes bulged, bloodshot and filled with fury, as though he were about to devour them.
"Assassins! Protect His Majesty!"
Erza Knightwalker shouted, stepping forward immediately to shield the king. The surrounding soldiers quickly gathered, forming ranks on either side of him, their spears aimed at the intruders.
"Erza?"
Mirajane was momentarily taken aback, utterly surprised to see Erza here. She quickly realized that this was the Erza from the parallel world. Though her hairstyle was slightly different, she was otherwise almost identical to the Erza Mirajane knew—even her voice was the same.
While Mirajane was startled, Nate was able to distinguish the difference immediately. As Erza's close companion, he knew her inside and out. First, there was a difference in their aura; second, this Erza had a much colder expression and a more chilling gaze.
"There's no need to be so tense, everyone," Nate said, glancing briefly at Knightwalker before turning his attention to the king. "We're only here to ask about something."
"Who are you?" Erza Knightwalker demanded coldly, trying to keep her tone calm. She had already guessed part of the answer, seeing Nate hovering effortlessly in mid-air.
King Faust trembled as he rose from his throne, his voice rough as he barked out an order:
"Magic power... they possess magic power within them! They're mages from Earth Land!"
"Seize them, Erza!"
So they're from the other world… but how did they get here? Erza Knightwalker wondered, thinking of the Anima. But without hesitation, she transformed the weapon in her hand.
"Mel Force, Vacuum Spear!"
In an instant, she launched forward at incredible speed, thrusting her spear toward Nate, who floated several meters above. Her burst speed was astonishing, almost on par with the speed of Erza's Flight Armor from Earth Land.
But fast as she was, she couldn't surpass the reflexes of Nate's Six Eyes.
With a resounding snap, Nate caught the spear's tip with his bare hand, as if anchored in space, completely unmoving.
"What?!"
Erza Knightwalker was stunned. She had been moving at high speed, yet Nate had stopped her cold, leaving her leaning forward uncontrollably due to her momentum.
The soldiers below were similarly shocked, each wearing an expression of disbelief.
"He caught the Mel Force with his bare hands?"
"Is this a joke? That's the Mel Force! The pinnacle weapon of the kingdom's magic arsenal!"
"Who is this man?"
The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances, but Erza Knightwalker reacted immediately.
"Explosion!"
The spear's shaft glowed white as it transformed again, and in an instant, a powerful explosion erupted from the tip.
'Boom!'
Flames and smoke engulfed Nate, and in the brief opening, Knightwalker broke free of his grip. She flipped nimbly backward, landing firmly on the ground with her eyes locked on the center of the blaze.
She shot a quick glance at the white-haired, black-winged woman hovering nearby. Despite her attack on Nate, the woman had shown no reaction.
Then, in the blink of an eye, Erza Knightwalker's pupils shrank as her target vanished from sight.
Gone?
Just as the thought crossed her mind, she felt a hand grasp her right wrist from behind, twisting her arm firmly behind her back.
"When did...?" Erza Knightwalker was shaken as she glanced back to find the black-winged woman standing behind her, holding her tightly.
What strength!
With a smile laced with charm, Mirajane whispered, "No sudden moves, Miss Erza of this world. We don't mean any harm; we're just here to ask about Fairy Tail."
This woman... Mirajane!?
Erza Knightwalker's mind reeled. She often hunted down the dark guild Fairy Tail and was familiar with some of its members. That voice… it was unmistakably Mirajane!
But why did the Mirajane from Earth Land have such frightening power? And who was that man? Another mage from Fairy Tail?
Suppressing her impulse to struggle, Knightwalker glanced up at the burning smoke in the air.
Within the smoke, Nate emerged, protected by a faint white glow forming a magic shield around him.
"Not a scratch?!"
Erza Knightwalker's heart sank. Just who were these two? Their strength was absurd!
"Let's go, Mirajane. She likely has the information we need," Nate said quietly, then addressed the bewildered king below: "We'll borrow her for a bit. Rest assured, we'll return her safely."
He gave a polite nod before disappearing in a streak of golden light through the gap in the ceiling.
Following his lead, Mirajane took hold of Knightwalker and, with a flap of her wings, flew after Nate.
It wasn't until they were gone that the soldiers snapped back to attention, turning to the king and kneeling.
"Your Majesty..."
"Alert the other Magic War Division and pursue them immediately! They must not escape!" the king commanded coldly.
...
Under the Night Sky
Nate had already left the bounds of the capital. Behind him, Erza Knightwalker was attempting to break free from Mirajane's hold, but the power of the Black-Winged Demon form was overwhelming.
"Why is Erza in the palace?" Mirajane asked curiously. "What happened to Fairy Tail?"
"I don't know what you're talking about. Let me go!" Knightwalker thought bitterly to herself, 'Why is this woman so strong?'
"It's useless," Mirajane replied with a smile. "People in this world don't have magic within them. You can't break free with just brute force." Having often sparred with Erza as a child, Mirajane found it amusing to be "bullying" another Erza in this way.
'You've got a bit of a mischievous side, don't you, Mira?' Nate thought with amusement, then turned to Knightwalker. "Tell me, where is the dark guild Fairy Tail located?"
After a pause, he added, "Don't worry, we won't harm you. We just need directions."
"What exactly are you Earth Landers here for?" Realizing she couldn't escape for the time being, Knightwalker decided to cooperate and find out their purpose first. If this affected the Infinite Magic Power plan... she couldn't afford to let that fail.
Nate halted and reached out, placing a card on Knightwalker's forehead.
In an instant, her parallel-world counterpart was sealed inside the card.
With a flick of the card, Nate said casually, "Carrying her around was getting tiresome; this is much easier."
"I didn't mind carrying her," Mirajane replied, a bit disappointed she couldn't tease Knightwalker further.
Inside the card, Knightwalker looked bewildered.
"Is this Earth Land magic?"
"Indeed," Nate nodded, addressing her through the card. "We have no hidden agenda. We're only here to find a missing friend."
After a pause, he added bluntly, "So just tell us where Fairy Tail is."
Chapter 173: Edolas Fairy Tail
Dawn broke gently, casting soft rays of light across the sky as the world awoke in quiet.
In a forest filled with massive mushrooms, the Fairy Tail guild lay hidden silently within. The guild hall was shrouded by a thick vine; in fact, it would be more accurate to say that the hall was built into this enormous vine. Above the wooden door, the words "FAIRY TAIL" were inscribed.
Nate noticed various unique structures around the guild, such as pumpkin houses and treehouses. As Mirajane landed, she returned to her normal form and asked, "Do you think Lisanna will be here?"
"Let's go in and see."
Nate approached the wooden door and pushed it open. The guild's tavern was relatively quiet in the early morning, with only a few people present.
When the two appeared in the doorway, everyone inside turned to look. They seemed puzzled upon seeing Nate, as he was a stranger—perhaps a client? But when they saw Mirajane, they were stunned.
"Welcome! What can I—wait, what!?"
A warm greeting came from behind the bar, but the welcome quickly turned into shock. Edolas Mirajane's eyes widened as she saw a mirror image of herself.
The tavern erupted with exclamations.
"Mirajane… there are two of you?!"
"What's going on? Am I still dreaming?"
"Who are you people?"
Everyone in the tavern looked back and forth between the two Mirajanes, identical in every way.
"Hello, everyone! I'm Nate, and this is Mirajane Strauss," Nate greeted with a smile, having expected this reaction. "We're from a parallel world, Earth Land, and we've come to Edolas to look for…"
He scanned the crowd and stopped when his gaze landed on a young girl with short white hair. Although it was his first time seeing her in person, he knew she was the one they were looking for.
"…a sister who's been missing for two years."
The tray in Lisanna's hands clattered to the floor. She stared at Mirajane with wide eyes, her mouth open in shock.
"Mi… Mirajane?" Her voice trembled with emotion and joy.
Mirajane instantly recognized her sister and ran to her, embracing her tightly. "Lisanna, it's really you! I'm so sorry; it's all my fault!" Tears filled Mirajane's eyes as she laughed and cried, overwhelmed with sorrow and joy from their reunion.
Lisanna, however, remained dry-eyed, still processing it all as she clung to her sister. Was Mirajane really here? Had she come all this way to find her?
The others in the tavern exchanged confused glances, unsure of what they were witnessing.
Another world? Another Mirajane?
Edolas Mirajane stood in shock before offering a gentle smile. She had known for a long time that this Lisanna wasn't her real sister—their true Lisanna had passed away years ago. Two years ago, this Lisanna had arrived at the guild alone. While others believed she was their own Lisanna, only she and Elfman knew this was another world's Lisanna.
Now, with Lisanna's real sister here, Edolas Mirajane felt genuinely happy for her.
"I'll explain the situation to everyone," Nate said, sitting down at a large mushroom-shaped table and helping himself to a cup of tea. The others turned their attention to him as he began to explain slowly and calmly:
"It all started two years ago…"
…
The story of Lisanna wasn't complex, and in ten minutes, everyone understood the situation.
"So, you crossed worlds just to find Lisanna?" asked Edolas Lucy, whose demeanor was completely different from the Lucy Nate knew. This Lucy, whose full name was Lucy Ashley, had the look of a gang leader, with a black outfit, thigh-high boots, a fierce gaze, and a tough tone.
She was sitting on the mushroom table with one foot on a mushroom stool, her arms crossed as she raised an eyebrow and remarked, "Sounds pretty romantic! Fine, I'll believe your story for now!"
It was strange for Nate to see Lucy acting so high and mighty. He stifled his thoughts and looked at the other members of this alternate guild, both familiar and unfamiliar.
He noticed Juvia, who looked identical to his girlfriend, though her personality was quite different—no trace of her romantic obsession. Here, it was Gray Surge who wore thick layers of clothing and a scarf, as if he were afraid of the cold.
Noticing Nate's gaze, Edolas Juvia touched her face and asked calmly, "Is there something on my face? What's the other world's me like?"
"The Juvia in our world is very sweet," Nate replied with a smile, secretly wondering if this Juvia, like his girlfriend, had a tiny birthmark.
Seeing her face, identical to his girlfriend's, filled him with a surprising sense of familiarity and curiosity.
"If you want to know, why not ask her directly?" Nate suggested.
"Ask her directly… did the Earth Land Juvia come along?" Edolas Juvia asked, intrigued. The others leaned forward, just as interested, all curious about what their otherworldly selves might be like.
"She didn't come, but with these, we can video chat." Nate summoned several second-generation rings and laid them on the table, explaining their functions as he distributed one to each Fairy Tail member.
Once they had each received a ring, everyone felt a much warmer connection to Nate.
Edolas Juvia slipped the ring onto her right middle finger, marveling at Earth Land's magic. Could they truly communicate face-to-face across worlds? This was beyond imagination in Edolas.
As she activated the ring, she set her username as "The Real Juvia" and asked Nate, "So, Nate, you're a member of Fairy Tail in your world. But here… no one has ever heard of you."
Well, of course not! Nate thought, amused. As a transmigrator, it would be strange if an Edolas counterpart of himself existed here.
"Maybe I just never joined the guild here. Before finding you, we actually ran into Erza," he explained.
"Erza? Erza Knightwalker?" The group was startled.
Nate held up a card, revealing that Erza Knightwalker was sealed inside.
Knightwalker pounded on the inside of the card, her voice muffled: "Now that you've found Fairy Tail, let me out already!"
"I know you're in a hurry, but hold on a bit longer," Nate said, sending a ring into the card's space with a grin. "Do you want to chat with the other world's Erza? Consider this ring a gift."
Knightwalker fell silent, though she could hear everything happening outside the card. The concept of a Magic Net was astonishing to her—such a thing existed in Earth Land? As the 2nd Captain of the Kingdom's Magic War Division, she felt it was her duty to gather intelligence on such unusual magic.
By now, Edolas Juvia had already sent a friend request to "Sunshine Doll." When the video call connected, everyone gasped in amazement.
"We can actually see across worlds?"
"This magic is incredible!"
"This is… divine power!"
On screen, Earth Land Juvia appeared, standing in a luxurious villa on the outskirts of Magnolia. It was her and Nate's meeting place, and though she didn't stay there often, she liked to keep it clean.
This morning, she had gone there as usual—until a person named "The Real Juvia" sent her a friend request, which she accepted with a sense of annoyance.
"You—you—who are you?" Juvia stammered when she saw her own double on the screen.
"Hello, Juvia of Earth Land, I'm Juvia of Edolas," her double greeted warmly.
In response, the Earth Land Juvia burst into tears.
"Nate-sama! Are you abandoning Juvia? This imposter isn't the real Juvia!"
Wait… are you even jealous of yourself? Nate sighed inwardly.
Strictly speaking, the two Juvias were different people—they just happened to look identical.
Chapter 174: Total Hypnosis
After a brief explanation, Juvia finally understood the situation.
"So that's it—an alternate-world Juvia," she murmured, wiping away her tears as her face turned a bit red with embarrassment.
Edolas Juvia quickly grasped it as well: the other version of herself liked this young man and seemed to be quite a romantic. She couldn't help but look at Nate a little closer. He was indeed handsome, with a dependable air about him. She found herself intrigued by the other Juvia's relationship with him.
Why did her other self like him? What interesting stories had they shared? Were they actually dating, or was it unrequited love?
"Talking to another version of myself across worlds is such a novel experience," Edolas Juvia said with a smile. "I'm going to have a private conversation with myself—no peeking!" With that, she retreated to a corner to chat with Juvia alone.
Seeing this, the others eagerly began using the rings to chat with their alternate selves as well.
Sitting atop a table as she opened her friend search, Edolas Lucy asked, "Nate, what's the other version of me called?"
"Gotta Earn Money," Nate replied.
"Huh? Am I poor? Wait, is she broke?" Edolas Lucy asked in surprise.
"In a way, she's up to her ears in debt," Nate said with a chuckle.
Edolas Lucy frowned sympathetically. "Maybe I should lend her some money, then?"
Nate held back a laugh. 'Money wouldn't work across worlds, would it?'
Meanwhile, the guild members were fully engrossed in exploring the internet through their new rings. Observing everyone, Nate noted that this Edolas Fairy Tail had far fewer members—only about twenty to thirty people.
At that moment, the two Mirajanes approached, accompanied by Lisanna and Edolas Elfman.
"Guess which one is me?" one of the Mirajanes asked playfully, with a teasing smile. "Nate, if you guess wrong, there'll be a penalty!"
You're kidding, right? Nate thought. With his Six Eyes, he could see each person's unique flow of magic energy. It would be impossible for him to get it wrong.
'Then again… maybe I should pretend to guess wrong?'
"You're the Edolas Mirajane, right?" he said confidently.
Edolas Mirajane blinked in surprise. "You got it right!"
As she glanced at her other self, Mirajane laughed, "Nate has Six Eyes, so he can see the magic energy in each person. There's no way he'd get it wrong."
Even so, she was pleased that he had recognized her.
Lisanna looked at Nate curiously. "Hello, Nate. I'm Lisanna. Mirajane told me how much you've helped, and I hear it's thanks to you that we made it to Edolas."
"No need for thanks—it's what I should do."
Lisanna smiled thoughtfully, wondering if Nate might be her sister's boyfriend, given the close bond between him and Mirajane.
"Are you and Mirajane planning to return soon? I can send you back anytime," Nate offered, then turned to Edolas Mirajane, adding, "Would you and Elfman like to visit our guild?"
"Really? Us?" Edolas Mirajane was taken aback.
"Yes. Lisanna has lived with you both for two years. Parting so suddenly could be hard."
Feeling tempted, Edolas Mirajane looked to her brother for his opinion.
"Sis, I… I'd like to see the other world's Fairy Tail!" Edolas Elfman whispered shyly.
"Is that okay?" Edolas Mirajane asked.
"Of course. The guild will be shocked to meet you," Mirajane said with a smile.
"Please take us back, Nate. And if we ever want to return, could you help us again?" Edolas Mirajane asked, growing comfortable with relying on Nate.
Nate didn't mind, so he held out his hands. "If you're ready, just hold onto my hand."
The four of them placed their hands in Nate's, and a golden teleportation array appeared beneath their feet.
"Nate, aren't you coming back?" Mirajane asked.
"There's a small matter I need to take care of here. You go ahead," Nate replied. With that, the four of them vanished from the guild hall.
Learning from the slight teleportation error he'd encountered last time, Nate was confident this time the coordinates would be accurate.
"Going to Earth Land? Why didn't you invite me to something so interesting!" Edolas Lucy's voice rang out.
Nate turned in surprise. "You want to go too?"
"Of course! I've had a great chat with myself and want to meet 'poor Lucy' too!"
The Lucy from his world was anything but poor, Nate thought with amusement. She was set to inherit a massive fortune one day. He wondered what they'd been discussing.
"What did you two talk about?" he asked.
"Not telling you!" Edolas Lucy replied, abandoning her chat window and slinging an arm around Nate's shoulders like a close friend. "Come on, let me tag along!"
Close friend… No, not exactly—'do you have to hold on so tight, Miss Strong-Armed Lucy?'
"Fine," Nate said, giving in. "Anyone who wants to go is welcome."
"Awesome! Thanks, Nate! Let's go right now!"
"Before that, I have something to handle first."
"What is it? Need any help? Don't let this look fool you—I'm well-connected in the underworld!" Edolas Lucy boasted.
The underworld? Nate held back a laugh—classic Edolas Lucy. He glanced at a system notification that had appeared.
[Mission: Expand the Internet to a Parallel World]
[Reward: Based on Completion Level]
[Mission Ready to Submit? Yes / No]
Unlike previous tasks, this one could be submitted at any time. With rewards based on completion, Nate decided to wait—so far, only twenty or thirty rings had been distributed, far too few.
He'd brought 30,000 rings, so he'd need to spread them all out to maximize his rewards. But how could he sell them quickly and ensure they'd be activated?
Just then, someone burst into the room.
'Bam!'
The guild doors flew open, and Edolas Jet and Droy shouted in unison, "Bad news! The king's forces are coming!"
"What?" Edolas Lucy's face darkened, and she yelled, "Get the transport array ready, 'Skinny Tech Freak'!"
Skinny Tech Freak? Nate glanced over, curious, to see that she was referring to Levy, who was waving a machine around as she looked back, irritated.
"Who are you calling a tech freak, Gorilla Woman?" Levy retorted.
"Enough bickering! Set up the array—it's the king's troops!"
Edolas Lucy, fully in her gang-leader mode, began organizing the group.
"I think I drew them here, but don't worry—I'll handle it," Nate said calmly as he stepped outside.
The others exchanged worried glances and followed him out. Above, a squad of soldiers descended on mechanical dragon mounts—clearly, not actual dragons, but rather mechanical magic devices.
"The kingdom's First and Fourth Magic War Division Captains!" exclaimed Gray Surge, his voice muffled under layers of clothing.
The two captains at the head of the army were indeed unusual. One was a large black panther wielding a huge sword—Captain Panther Lily of the First Magic War Division. The other, a double-chinned man with a slick, blond pompadour, wore pink magic armor and black briefs—Captain Sugar Boy of the Fourth Squad.
Nate recognized Panther Lily, though the other captain was unfamiliar. He floated up, positioning himself between the guild and the incoming forces.
Spotting his target, Panther Lily called out, "Mage from Earth Land! Release Erza Knightwalker!"
Nate's hand glowed, and his sword, Kyōka Suigetsu, appeared in his grasp. He raised it, pointing the blade toward the approaching forces before flipping it into a reverse grip.
The simple motion drew everyone's attention.
A moment later, he chanted softly, "Shatter, Kyōka Suigetsu."
With this release, all present—soldiers and Fairy Tail members alike—fell under the illusion of total hypnosis.
"Well, then. I suggest you all put down your weapons and surrender."
Murciélago Bleach is in Wiki. I know there's whole story of that and translation accuracy is fuck. Kubo just want to make it cool, Kanji, Katakana ,anyway. I took a look, write it. Didn't research. My bad, I guess... Anyway we cool Spanish speaking people.
Chapter 175: Another Money Grabber
Under the influence of Total Hypnosis, the kingdom's First and Fourth Magic War Divisions began fighting each other.
In each soldier's mind, they believed they were battling the dark guild, Fairy Tail. Panther Lily clashed with Sugar Boy, soldiers fought one another, and a fierce battle unfolded in the sky.
Below, Fairy Tail's members watched in stunned silence.
Lady Cana murmured anxiously, "What's going on? Are they fighting among themselves?"
"It's Nate's magic, isn't it?" Edolas Juvia exclaimed in amazement.
From within the guild hall, Levy's shout echoed, "The teleportation magic is ready! We can activate it anytime. Everyone, get back!"
"It looks like we don't need it…" Edolas Lucy stood with her hands on her hips, awestruck. "Such powerful magic—does it come from that sword?"
In the sky above, Nate calmly watched as the soldiers exhausted themselves. Under the spell of Total Hypnosis, they had no chance of seeing through the illusion. Generally, only three methods could counter such a powerful ability: gripping Kyoka Suigetsu's blade before it activated, being immune to magic, or being blind. Clearly, none of these soldiers met those criteria.
After waiting for half an hour, until the soldiers had drained much of their strength, Nate tossed a handful of cards into the air. Each card, formed from condensed magic, flew precisely toward a soldier. As soon as each card struck, it activated, pulling the soldier into its card space.
A series of bright flashes erupted in the sky as, one by one, the soldiers were sealed into the cards, leaving hundreds of cards drifting down to the ground—including two that contained the Division captains.
Only then did the hypnosis end.
Panther Lily, realizing what had happened, shouted, "What's going on?!"
Nate caught the two cards holding the captains and smirked at the black cat inside one of them. "Don't call me underhanded—your kingdom of Edolas has been trying to drain Earth Land of its magic, which isn't exactly noble."
"An illusion?" Panther Lily's face registered shock. A large-scale illusion of such intensity and duration was unimaginable.
"Not merely an illusion," Nate replied. "But if that's how you understand it, that's fine."
He snapped his fingers, sending a pulse of energy out. The cards floated into his hand, neatly stacking as they came together. Inside, the soldiers' frantic voices grew muffled.
Finding their shouts annoying, Nate cast a Silence spell to quiet them.
Having handled the situation, he descended to rejoin the members of Fairy Tail.
"That was amazing, Nate!" Edolas Lucy looked up at him, her face lit with admiration. "We're the only mage guild left in this world, and for years we've been hunted by the king's army!"
"Yeah, he outlawed magic, calling anyone with magic a criminal." She sighed, impressed by how effortlessly Nate had outwitted such powerful forces.
Nate chuckled, "Do you want to say, 'Teach me, coach?'"
"Could I learn it?" Edolas Lucy's eyes sparkled. "Could I use that sword of yours?"
"Nope."
"Oh… fine!" She gave him a mock glare. If they'd been closer, she'd have used her "48 Lucy Torture Techniques" on him.
Nate thought for a moment and then had an idea.
"Didn't you just offer to help?" he asked.
"Of course! And I would have helped even if you hadn't taken down the king's forces," Lucy replied eagerly. Fairy Tail had already received the gift of the rings, and she felt it was only right to return the favor.
Nate retrieved a small pouch from his inventory and handed it to her. "This contains 10,000 Magic Net rings. I need you to sell them on the black market as quickly as possible."
"10,000?" Edolas Lucy exclaimed, shocked. That was worth a fortune! Each ring contained a lacrima, and in Edolas, where magic was scarce, these were extremely valuable—especially with the king's recent ban on magic driving up prices on the black market.
"Are lacrimas cheap in your world?" Lucy's eyes lit up as she thought of a new scheme. "Nate, if you can travel between worlds, why not bring more lacrimas? I'd buy them from you!"
Great, he thought. Another Lucy with money-making schemes. Interdimensional smuggling, huh?
Nate didn't need money but wouldn't mind more, though his priority now was to complete his task. "First, try selling this batch of rings," he instructed. "Consider it a trial."
"Got it! Just wait and see what I can do!" Lucy replied confidently.
Nate felt she seemed much more reliable than the Lucy he knew back in Earth Land. He added a quick reminder, "Make sure each ring is activated in person."
"Ah, that'll be a bit of extra work… but I understand. I'll make sure each ring is activated!"
While slightly more time-consuming, Lucy knew she could manage.
"As for the sales profit," Nate continued, "you'll get a quarter share." Half the profit would go to Jude to fund further ring production. Of the remaining half, half would go to Lucy—a fair deal.
Lucy felt a bit embarrassed, thinking she might be getting too much, but Nate was more focused on getting the rings distributed.
"Do you use J-currency here too?" Edolas Lucy asked.
Nate shook his head. "The currency is also called J-currency, but it's issued by a different bank. Converting it to gold might be easier for us."
The guild's bulletin board indeed listed J-currency for rewards, though it seemed strange for a "dark guild" to be so involved in public requests. Requests ranged from 500 J to find a lost cat, all the way to 650,000 J for high-level tasks.
"Anyway, I'll leave the rings to you," Nate said. "Add me as a contact on the Magic Net, and I'll come back once they're all sold."
After exchanging friend requests, Nate released Erza Knightwalker, giving her another pouch with 10,000 rings.
"I've sealed your division in these cards," he told her. "Sell these rings, and I'll release them."
Knightwalker readily agreed. She'd already explored the Magic Net and had tried the [Magic Arena] game, finding herself impressed by Earth Land's advanced magic technology. She started to see this approach as a better alternative to the king's Infinite Magic plan.
Without realizing it, she began to admire Nate's incredible magic abilities, thinking it would be great if he were an Edolas native.
"I'll follow your instructions. Just make sure you keep your promise," she replied.
"I don't want to hold them indefinitely. They're the ones who came looking for a fight," Nate replied, offering her a quick handshake. They added each other as contacts, and she set her username as "Fairy Hunter."
As Knightwalker left, Edolas Lucy remarked, "She used to bully us a lot."
"Not anymore," Nate replied. With the Magic Net, Erza would likely realize the importance of trade with Earth Land. Even Lucy had already thought about importing lacrimas; surely, Knightwalker would come to similar conclusions.
The king, though, might not give up his Anima plans so easily. But for now, Nate put those thoughts aside; perhaps the king would soon find himself isolated.
With that, Nate turned to bid farewell to everyone.
"Well then, I'll be heading back to Earth Land now. Goodbye for now, everyone from Edolas."
"Hey, wait—you promised to take me to your world!" Edolas Lucy protested, grabbing his arm.
Nate smiled, "Finish selling those rings, then we'll talk. Sound good?"
"Deal!"
As Fairy Tail's members waved him off, a teleportation circle appeared beneath Nate's feet, and he disappeared in an instant.
…
Nate didn't return directly to Earth Land. Instead, he reappeared on the floating island where he had first arrived in Edolas. He looked out toward the distant royal capital and summoned Ur from the Deep Web.
"Nate, where are we?" Ur asked, immediately sensing the difference in this world.
Nate pulled her into an embrace, planting a kiss on her cheek.
"What are you doing?" Ur laughed, raising an eyebrow. "Did you miss me?"
"There's something I need your help with," Nate said, handing her a stack of cards containing the sealed soldiers and a pouch with his last 10,000 rings. After explaining the situation, Ur understood.
"So, you want me to stay here for a while and make sure these rings get sold?" she teased him with a grin. "And here I thought you just missed me!"
"Of course I missed you—in every way possible," Nate replied earnestly, then took her hand and led her into the nearby forest.
Blushing, Ur knew immediately what he had in mind. "Here? Out in the open?"
"Don't worry, no one will see us," Nate assured her as he wrapped his arms around her, his hand slipping beneath her top.
Chapter 176: Mavis the Sweet Tooth Fairy
Thirty thousand second-generation Magic Net rings.
Ten thousand entrusted to Edolas Lucy.
Ten thousand to Erza Knightwalker.
The last ten thousand to Ur.
With his tasks distributed, Nate felt unburdened. After reassuring Ur, he used the Flying Thunder God technique to return from Edolas to Magnolia.
Despite traveling between two worlds, aside from occasional coordinate deviations, the magic consumption wasn't significant. This made Nate wonder if, in terms of space-time, the "distance" between parallel worlds was actually quite short.
…
Magnolia, an apartment with a rent of 70,000J per month.
A golden magic circle appeared on the wooden floor, and Nate instantly returned home. He immediately sensed another magical presence in the room.
"Well, well, we meet again, Fourth Master~"
Nate turned to see a small figure at the tea table. The first master, Mavis, was sitting there, sipping on a cup of chamomile tea that had been his.
"Mavis? What are you doing in my home?" Nate asked in surprise. He couldn't help but think that the chamomile tea the Former Council Chairman had given him was being consumed far too quickly. Not that it mattered now—after the attack on the council headquarters by Grimoire Heart, Crawford Seam had been demoted to a regular council member.
Nate felt a bit sorry for him—it was truly an unfortunate situation. Yet, it was better than the fate he suffered in the original story, where he was forced into retirement due to the Tower of Heaven incident.
Mavis sat relaxed, her small feet dangling under the table, her toes wiggling playfully.
"I got bored staying on Tenrou Island."
"So, why come to my place?" Nate asked, taking a seat across from her and pouring himself a cup of chamomile tea—probably the last one left.
"How did you even know I live here?" He took a sip and looked at her.
"I've got a sharp nose. I memorized your magical aura last time," the petite first master said proudly, her expression beaming with self-satisfaction.
After leaving Tenrou Island, Mavis had wandered into Magnolia, a city she hadn't seen in years and barely recognized. Following Nate's familiar magic aura, she had found his apartment.
"Fourth Master, I saw a post on the Magic Net—Grimoire Heart plans to attack Fairy Tail during the Harvest Festival."
I'm not the Fourth… Nate thought, too tired to correct her again. "So, is that why you're here, Mavis?"
"That's one reason," she admitted hesitantly. In truth, she had just been too bored. Before discovering the Magic Net, she had been content being alone—or rather, being a ghost—on Tenrou Island. But once she got hooked on the internet, she couldn't resist leaving the island.
You're just lonely, aren't you? Nate thought with an inward chuckle.
"It's perfect timing, actually. The Harvest Festival is just a few days away, Mavis."
"A festival, huh? That brings back memories. It'll surely be lively," Mavis said with a gleam in her eye, clearly interested. As she traveled through the city, she'd seen the decorations going up and sensed the festive atmosphere.
"Fourth Master!" Mavis, now floating with excitement, looked at Nate with an expectant gaze. "I saw that some of the dessert shops are having discounts! Amazing festival deals!"
Nate: "..."
"If we miss these few days, we'll have to wait a whole year."
Nate: "..."
"Come on, let's go together~"
You just want cake, don't you? Nate thought, feeling exasperated. Forget the discounts—you just have a sweet tooth.
"Is it the strawberry cake you want again? Mavis, are you craving it?" he asked.
"Yes!" Mavis nodded eagerly, then shook her head. "But the key is the discount! Buying during the festival is practically a win! As a Fairy Tail wizard, you should seize every opportunity in life!"
Yeah, right, it's all about the cake! Nate thought as he got up. "Fine, let's go."
"Great! Hurry, hurry! If we're late, they'll sell out!" Mavis floated along happily as they left the apartment together.
Though it was still just after 9 a.m., the streets were already bustling in anticipation of the festival. The Harvest Festival, as its name suggests, is Magnolia's annual celebration of the harvest. It takes place every year on October 6th and is a grand celebration for the entire town, marking the year's harvest and hoping for good fortune in the year to come.
Of course, that's not what matters most.
What really matters is the food, fun, and festivities! Shops take the chance to offer festival-themed products and discounts, and on the festival night, there's the grand "Magic Parade." Even those not interested in the parade can join the large bonfire party under the Sky Tree at South Park.
Nate suddenly wondered if he'd be expected to perform in the parade. No one had told him anything yet, but if he was needed, what would he do? Cause an earthquake with a single punch?
Turn the festival into a disaster!
Then again, what might be even scarier than the festival itself was the question of how he'd spend it with his girlfriend. Holidays are a cheater's worst nightmare!
Hades, Former Guild Master—please, I'm counting on you to show up!
As he mulled over thoughts about the festival, Nate guided Mavis to the dessert shop. The last time he had given her a strawberry cake, it was actually one that Erza had bought. Erza loved those cakes so much that she'd buy them in batches of a hundred and would sometimes share a few with him. Not being one for sweets, Nate had stored them in his inventory. When he visited Mavis on Tenrou Island, he had remembered that she loved sweets and decided to give one to her.
"We're here, this is the place."
When they arrived outside the shop, they found a line forming. Nate was a little surprised—business must be booming as the festival approaches.
But then he realized that the line wasn't for the dessert shop.
It was for a new shop next door, with the line spilling over.
"Fourth Master, what's that store selling?" Mavis asked curiously, drawn to the crowd.
"Rings," Nate replied thoughtfully. Impressive—Jude's efficiency is really high! He only mentioned opening a Magic Net ring shop in Magnolia last night, and it's already open today.
"Rings? Like this one?" Mavis held out her hand, showing off the silver ring on her finger.
"Exactly."
Nate nodded, then said, "But let's focus on getting your cake."
They entered the shop, where the owner, a plump woman, greeted them warmly. She couldn't see Mavis but immediately recognized Nate.
"Oh, Nate-san! Erza-san is here too."
"Huh?" Nate turned to see Erza sitting at a window-side table, happily enjoying a strawberry cake. When she heard his name, she looked up and saw her boyfriend—with Mavis following behind him.
In that moment, Erza's expression shifted to something peculiar.
"..."
Wait, let me explain! I swear, this is Mavis, the first master—I'm not some kind of lolicon!
Nate could see the odd suspicion in his girlfriend's eyes.
"Morning, Erza…" he said sheepishly.
Chapter 177: Gildarts whereabouts, Raven Tail?
"Good morning, Nate."
Erza responded with a warm smile, though a bit of whipped cream still lingered on her lips. Nate walked over, wiped the cream off with his finger, and gently offered it back to her.
Erza's cheeks flushed as she felt shy. This was one of the romantic gestures she'd read about in her "Girlfriend's Guide to Love." Instinctively, she held his finger in her mouth for a moment, nearly forgetting that Mavis was there.
Nate leaned in close, whispering telepathically into her ear, "That's our first guild master, Mavis Vermillion… and she has a bit of a sweet tooth."
'Who are you calling a sweet tooth? I can hear you!'
Mavis's ahoge wobbled as she floated closer like a ghost. Erza's gaze shifted to her in surprise. Still holding Nate's finger, she couldn't speak but worried she might startle him, so she responded telepathically:
'The first master?'
'She's a ghost. No one outside the guild can see her. She's just here because she was craving sweets and decided to leave Tenrou Island,' Nate explained.
Erza had, of course, heard of the first master. As an S-class mage, she was familiar with the history of Fairy Tail and had visited Tenrou Island multiple times as an examiner. But seeing the spirit of the first master in person was a first.
'Should I… invite her to join us?' Erza asked, a bit flustered.
Before Nate could answer, a third voice echoed in both their minds.
'I can hear you!'
Erza: "!"
Nate: "?!"
Telepathy overheard? Nate watched as Mavis took a seat at their table, looking at both of them with a mischievous smile.
"Fourth Master, telepathic magic is quite easy to intercept if you haven't mastered it," she teased.
Caught, Nate gave an embarrassed laugh. He hadn't trained much in telepathy, only enough to implement it in the Magic Net's voice chat function. For someone with Mavis's magic expertise, listening in was no big challenge.
Erza quickly pulled Nate's finger from her mouth, making sure to lick off any remaining cream. 'Fourth Master? When did Nate become the Fourth Master?' she wondered silently.
"Mavis, I've seen you on Tenrou Island five times, but it's your first time seeing me, isn't it, Erza?"
"Yes, Master Mavis! I didn't expect to meet you… Oh, I mean, it's an honor to meet you—I'm Erza!"
"Don't be so nervous—I'm just a ghost." Mavis smiled before turning to Nate. "So, Fourth Master, Erza is your girlfriend?"
"Please keep that a secret!"
'Shhh~~!' Mavis's large eyes sparkled with keen interest. She had guessed their relationship from their closeness and was intrigued. Although Mavis herself had never dated, it didn't stop her from wanting to "see the show."
Hearing Nate confirm their relationship again brought a happy smile to Erza's face. She pushed an untouched strawberry cake toward Mavis, saying earnestly, "Master Mavis, if you don't mind, please enjoy it!"
"Wouldn't it be better if we headed back to Fairy Tail to eat? It's been so long since I visited," Mavis suggested, looking nostalgic. "And remember, don't reveal my identity just yet."
If she ate here, from an outsider's perspective, it would look like a cake disappearing bite by bite out of thin air.
…
Erza asked the shopkeeper to pack everything up, and after buying an additional hundred cakes, the trio—two people and one ghost—headed toward the north side of Magnolia.
Standing before the guild's grand entrance, Mavis exclaimed, "Wow, Fairy Tail has become so impressive!"
Nate noticed someone approaching from behind.
"Warren?"
"Good morning, Nate, Erza, and… this young lady…" Warren, carrying a bag over his shoulder, paused upon seeing Mavis.
Who is this? Someone's kid from the guild? A newcomer?
Nate quickly changed the subject. "It's been a while, Warren. Just returned from a mission?"
"Yes, with the Harvest Festival approaching, everyone's coming back early. This time of year always ends up being a bit of a holiday for the guild."
Distracted by the conversation, Warren seemed to forget about Mavis.
"I'll head in first and give Mira the mission report."
Inside, he shouted out in surprise, "Mira? Two of you?! What's going on? Is someone using transformation magic? Reedus, did you draw another Mira?"
A round of laughter followed from the guild hall.
"Hahaha! Another one! Another one!"
"Guess, Warren! Which Mira is the real one?"
"If you guess wrong, you have to drink!" Cana called out.
Nate suddenly remembered—he had sent back Edolas's Mira and Elfman with Lisanna.
"Seems like there's something interesting going on in there!"
Mavis's eyes lit up, and she floated into the guild.
Nate wanted to call her out on it. 'Can't you walk? Now everyone will know you're a ghost.'
When he and Erza entered the hall, Warren was still shouting in astonishment.
"Two Elfmans!?"
"Wait… Lisanna, is that you?!"
"What is going on? Did I walk into the wrong guild? Or am I still dreaming?"
Behind the bar, the two Miras smiled, identical down to their outfits and expressions. When they noticed Nate at the door, they greeted him in unison:
"Nate, welcome back!"
Nate could tell them apart at a glance, but Erza was clearly confused.
"Two Miras, two Elfmans, and… Lisanna?"
"It's a long story," Levy said with a smirk, beginning to fill in the details for everyone.
Mavis mingled among the crowd, listening intently with curiosity. Her presence went unnoticed for a while as everyone's attention was on the new arrivals.
Nate found a quiet corner to sit in, but as soon as he did, Cana joined him with two mugs of beer. She slid one over to him, saying with a grin, "This one's on me!"
"Do I have to drink it?"
"How can you celebrate without drinking?"
Isn't it six days until the festival? Nate thought but took the beer, sipping it lightly.
He suddenly thought of something. 'With the festival coming up, everyone's returning… I wonder if Gildarts will be here?'
"Cana, Gildarts is your father, right?"
"Pfft!"
Cana, who had just taken a sip, suddenly sprayed her drink, narrowly missing Nate, who dodged in time.
"Sorry!" she said quickly, then leaned in, lowering her voice, "Nate, how… how did you know?"
"Take a guess."
"Mind reading? Ugh, that's creepy!"
Bit harsh, isn't it? Nate thought.
Cana sighed and shrugged it off. "I was actually just thinking about Gildarts myself. It's been three years… Who knows where he is now? Do you think he'll make it back for the festival?"
Your dad's off in another continent dragon hunting, probably about to face Acnologia and come back with a serious injury, Nate thought. But he decided to keep that part to himself to avoid worrying her.
"Maybe he's already become one of the Four Emperors of the New World. Don't worry about him."
"Huh?"
(To Be Continued)
…
Eastern Forest
Under a tree, Gajeel handed a folded paper to Makarov.
"Master, I've managed to gather some preliminary information on Master Ivan. These are some details about Raven Tail."
"Thank you, Gajeel."
After a moment's hesitation, Gajeel added, "There's more—apparently, due to Grimoire Heart's threat posted on the forums, Ivan may also be planning something during the Harvest Festival with his dark guild, Raven Tail."
Makarov's brow furrowed.
Raven Tail was an independent dark guild outside the Balam Alliance. In recent years, its power had grown so much that it could rival the "Oración Seis," "Grimoire Heart," and "Tartaros," effectively becoming the fourth major dark guild.
And, crucially…
Its leader, Ivan, was his son and a former member of Fairy Tail.
Chapter 178: 7 Stars Magic Power, Festival!
Guildmaster Ivan of Raven Tail, full name Ivan Dreyar, is Makarov's son and Laxus's father.
He was the one who implanted a Lightning Dragon Lacrima into Laxus, transforming him into a second-generation Dragon Slayer. Ivan was expelled from Fairy Tail by Makarov due to actions harmful to the guild, though he left with sensitive information.
"Planning something during the Harvest Festival…" Makarov mused. He suspected he knew what his son was up to. Ivan's tendency to use underhanded tactics instead of following the right path had ultimately led him to form the dark guild Raven Tail after his expulsion from Fairy Tail.
"Master, should I keep investigating?" Gajeel asked, noticing Makarov's silence and grave expression.
Gajeel felt grateful to Makarov for accepting him into Fairy Tail and was willing to serve as a "double agent" if necessary.
"No need. Pressing too much might raise suspicion." Makarov shook his head, smiling as he said, "Go back to the guild and enjoy the festival."
With Makarov's reassurance, Gajeel didn't press the issue.
"Yes, sir," he replied, turning to leave.
Since joining Fairy Tail, Gajeel had undertaken his first mission. Along the way, he had encountered members of Raven Tail and managed to make contact with Ivan, who tried to recruit him as a spy. However, Ivan hadn't yet assigned any specific tasks, showing a lack of full trust.
'What could Ivan want from Fairy Tail? Information? Magic?'
...
October 6th – The Harvest Festival
In October, the weather had started to cool, but nothing could dampen the festive spirit. By early morning, Magnolia's streets, especially near the Cathedral in the city center, were bustling with people. Locals mingled with numerous visitors who had come to see Fairy Tail's famous Magic Parade.
8:00 AM – Apartment
Nate was woken by a knock on his door. Groggy, he sat up, feeling an increase in his magic power.
[Magic Power: ]
"Seven stars!" Nate glanced at his stats and grinned. He'd anticipated that reaching seven stars from six would take at least a month, yet it had happened faster. The reason was obvious—his 'filière', the Internet, had expanded again, thanks to Jude's magic ring shop in Magnolia.
[Internet Registered Users: 100,014]
"Already over a hundred thousand? In just six days?" Nate was stunned but not surprised. The Magic Net was well-known, and with enough rings on the market, user growth had accelerated, especially with the influx of festival tourists. Plus, in Edolas, he'd distributed 30,000 rings, and progress there was also promising.
"Once they're all activated, user numbers might jump another ten to thirty thousand." He was satisfied. "Seven-star magic power is on par with the average Ten Wizard Saint!"
Jellal, Makarov, and Jose Porla—fellow members of the Ten Wizard Saints—all had seven-star levels of power. Although their strength varied, their raw magic levels weren't far apart. Jura, on the other hand, was at the six-star level, at the lower end of the Ten Saints.
'In about three months, I've gone from one-and-a-half stars to seven stars,' Nate thought, pleased with his progress. But he knew that the higher he climbed, the slower each step would be.
'Eight stars would probably match the Four Emperors of Ishgar. Maybe another two to three months, or longer.'
He was lost in thought when another knock sounded. This time, he heard Lucy's voice from outside:
"Get up, sleepyhead! Are you still not awake?"
Nate changed clothes with Requip and went to open the door.
Lucy was dressed up and radiant, practically glowing with excitement.
"Nate, let's go explore! The cathedral area is buzzing!"
Here it was—what he'd been dreading. Lucy was the first to strike.
"I'm on patrol duty," Nate said, retreating to the bathroom to wash up. "Got to stay alert for any potential Grimoire Heart attacks."
Lucy blinked, amused. "Hard at work on a festival day, huh?"
"You go enjoy yourself," he said, not looking back. "Have fun for me, too."
"How about I join you on patrol, then?" Lucy chuckled, thinking he looked a bit pitiful.
Usually, Nate would have appreciated her company, but today, he'd rather avoid it. "Make sure to have fun for both of us."
"Alright, don't work too hard!"
Lucy left, and Nate went to brush his teeth. His ring flashed with a message from Cana.
Drink With Me: "Nate!"
Drink With Me: "Aren't Grimoire Heart folks coming to attack today?"
Drink With Me: "I did a reading for everyone in the guild—guess what yours said? "
Nate typed back with a smirk.
Sigma Male: "Good fortune? Maybe a nice chicken dinner tonight?"
Drink With Me: "Chicken dinner? "
Drink With Me: "Nope—major female trouble! Way worse than last time! Hope you survive! "
Nate: "…"
'Superstitions.' He'd patrol today and turn down any invitations. His girlfriends… would understand!
Thinking of his girlfriends, he had an idea of someone to share the pain with. He summoned Loke from the Deep Web.
"Nate, what's up?" Loke greeted him cheerfully, fully recovered after some rest in the place with celestial power.
"Work aside, you know what day it is?"
"Uh, no?"
"Harvest Festival."
Loke's smile froze, then he turned pale. "Oh no!"
He bolted for the door, "I've got to—uh, handle some things, Nate!"
Nate grabbed him by the shoulder, amused. "What things?"
"I've got to break up with all my girlfriends! Festivals like these are a nightmare!" Loke groaned.
"Man, I feel for you. Best of luck surviving." Nate gave him a stern pat on the back.
Loke shot him a look. "You're one to talk," he said, then patted Nate's shoulder in turn, "Good luck to you too!" And with that, he dashed out the door.
Looks like he's got some 'really' urgent business, Nate thought, chuckling. 'I just have to keep patrolling, refuse all invites, and I'll be safe.'
Another message arrived.
The Departing Traveler: "Nate, it's festival day."
Sigma Male: "On patrol!"
'Nice try, Mira—no tricks today!'
The Departing Traveler: "I'm on patrol too, covering the southern area "
The Departing Traveler: "By the way, thank you again for helping with Lisanna last time. I have a gift I'd like to give you. Can you meet me just outside the south city limits?"
Sigma Male: "On my way "
Chapter 179: Sudden Kiss and Sudden Enemy Arrival
Curious about what kind of gift Mira had in store for him, Nate eagerly set out after replying, "I'll be there soon."
However, along the way, he received a flurry of messages.
Levy: "Master, hope the patrol isn't too exhausting~"
Grateful for his apprentice's friendly check-in, Nate was glad she didn't suggest a stroll around town together.
Next, his second girlfriend messaged him.
Juvia: "Nate-sama, I saw an adorable Teru Teru Bozu doll at the cathedral!"
Juvia: "[Photo of the Teru Teru Bozu for sale]"
Sigma Male: "It's cute. Buy it!"
Juvia: "Yay! Juvia will buy it for you!"
Juvia: "It's just 10,000 J! [Photo of the Teru Teru Bozu doll with 'Juvia' written on it]"
Already bought it?! Nate stared, dumbfounded. Just for a name on it? Talk about a money-maker…
Sigma Male: "Why is it so expensive?"
Juvia: "Nate-sama likes it, right? So whenever you miss Juvia, you can look at it~ ️"
Fine, if it makes you happy, Nate chuckled to himself. He realized he hadn't prepared anything for Juvia lately, unlike Erza, to whom he'd given Senbonzakura, Ur, who'd received Sode no Shirayuki, and Mira, who'd received Murciélago.
Sigma Male: "I love it. I'll prepare a special surprise for you next time."
Juvia: "Really? Juvia can't wait~ "
After settling things with Juvia, his first girlfriend messaged him next.
Witch of Pain: "[breakfast photo]"
Nate opened the image, seeing Ultear having breakfast with Meredy.
Sigma Male: "I'm not used to you sending me breakfast pictures."
Witch of Pain: "[sexy nightwear photo] "Isn't your big sister beautiful? "
The photo showed Ultear looking seductive and alluring, definitely from her private collection.
'How sneaky, hoarding photos,' Nate thought, amused as he saved it.
Witch of Pain: "Darling~ would you like to join me for breakfast? I made it myself!"
Tempted—he hadn't actually tried Ultear's cooking before—but he had to decline for now.
Sigma Male: "I'm on patrol."
Witch of Pain: "I bet you're with someone else. Poor me, so unloved "
Seeing her pout, Nate promised he'd join her that evening, which appeased her.
Barely a few steps later, Erza's message arrived. Fortunately, it wasn't an invitation but an addition to a group chat.
[Harvest Festival Patrol Alert Group]
'Members: Nate, Erza, Mirajane, Mystogan, Laxus, and Guild Master Makarov. Aside from him, all were S-Class mages.'
Makarov: "Report any suspicious activity immediately to ensure the festival proceeds smoothly."
Nate replied with "Understood" and let it be for now. He knew most of Grimoire Heart's plan, so his patrol was more of a cover to avoid all the invitations.
Unlike him, everyone else seemed to be taking their duties seriously. Laxus covered the bustling cathedral area, Mirajane took the south, Erza the west, and Mystogan the north, where there was a risk of an attack from the lake. Nate's patrol area was the east, covering a large section of the eastern forest. Thanks to his Six Eyes, his coverage was far broader than the others combined.
Upon arriving at the meeting spot in the south, he found Mirajane already waiting beneath a maple tree, her smile warm as she stood among the scattered red leaves.
She spotted him and brightened, walking toward him with a small gift bag in her hand.
"Nate, you're here!"
Mira smiled and took out a knitted scarf from the bag, a bit shy as she spoke, "It'll be winter soon, and Magnolia's weather can get cold quickly. It'll even snow before long."
A scarf? Nate thought, looking it over with delight—this had to be handmade.
"This is the scarf I've been working on the past few days. Here, it's for you; keep warm, alright?"
Mirajane lifted the scarf to put it around his neck but found the height difference a bit challenging. She pouted playfully, "Bend down!"
Nate chuckled and knelt down, letting her wrap the scarf around him. As she finished, Mirajane beamed proudly, admiring her work.
"Looks great. You better not say you don't like it!"
"I love it, thank—"
But before he could finish, Mira pulled on the scarf to bring him closer, standing on her tiptoes to kiss him. While he could have reacted quickly, Nate knew it would be foolish to pull away.
A bit surprised, he realized she was being bold—it wasn't like their last time camping, where she'd kissed his cheek. This was different.
After the brief, feather-light kiss, Mirajane backed away, her cheeks flushed as she shyly clasped her hands behind her back.
"I should… go back to patrolling…"
Before she could finish, Nate pulled her back into his arms. "Not fair—you kissed me, but I didn't get to kiss you back!"
"Let me go, you big dummy—people might see!" Mirajane laughed, half-heartedly swatting at his chest.
'If you're worried about that, why did you kiss me in the first place?' Nate thought, smiling to himself. Last time, she'd caught him off guard, and he wasn't going to miss his chance this time.
Gently, he held her face and leaned down to kiss her. Mirajane's cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red, and although she considered pushing him away, his grip was firm. She felt rooted in place.
"Just… one kiss, okay?" she whispered, her last bit of defiance before she let herself sink into the moment.
Nate took his time, savoring the kiss he'd been waiting for. Compared to Mira's earlier brief kiss, this was a real kiss, one that left her breathless and dazed.
While Mira was utterly immersed in the moment, an annoyed voice broke the silence.
"Ugh, I hate when lovey-dovey couples act like this in front of me. Seriously, it's disgusting!"
Shocked, Mirajane snapped back to reality and pulled away, catching her breath. Nate felt a small sting as she accidentally bit his tongue.
They both looked toward the source of the voice. Sitting on a tree branch about thirty meters away was a burly man with pale skin and an expression of pure jealousy.
"Who is that? Such strong magic power!" Mirajane's face was still flushed, but her tone was serious as she eyed him.
Nate's muffled voice came out. "Meet… the Seven Kin of Purgatory."
"Huh?"
Mirajane blinked in confusion before catching on, her face turning even redder. 'Did… did it hurt?'
She didn't have time to ask, though, as the man in the distance clenched his fists, clearly incensed.
"I've decided. I'll kill you both right here!"
Chapter 180: Magic Net's Love Guru, Kain Hikaru
Kain Hikaru stood there in his bizarre, almost perverted attire—just black pants and a cape—his abnormally pale skin stark against his towering two-meter-tall frame. With a loud vow to "kill this disgraceful couple," he leaped down from the tree, landing with a heavy thud.
"One of the Seven Kin of Purgatory?" Mirajane's expression grew wary. Just sensing his magic, she could tell he was a formidable mage.
'Full Body Takeover: Black Winged Demon!'
With dark green magic swirling around her, Mirajane transformed into her demon form: white hair, black wings, a slender tail flicking behind her, and long, sharp devil horns crowning her head.
"What's this? Takeover magic?" Kain Hikaru looked stunned, clearly unprepared for the sight before him. 'Is Mirajane's takeover magic really this intense?' He hadn't anticipated a form and aura so reminiscent of the demons from Tartaros.
Suddenly, Mirajane's wings flared, and in an instant, she was right in front of him. Before he could react, her black-feathered hand gripped his round face, crushing his features together with sheer force.
"Ow! Ow! That hurts!"
Kain Hikaru cried out, but Mirajane flung him across the field, sending him crashing through a large tree.
In her demon form, Mirajane looked puzzled. 'He has strong magic power, but he doesn't seem as tough as I expected.'
Nearby, Nate observed and suddenly thought of a worrisome scenario: 'What if Mira and Erza find out I'm dating both of them? Would they team up on me?' He couldn't help but imagine the fierce duo in action, and a cold sweat ran down his back.
'Be careful; his magic is called 'Ushi no Koku Mairi,' a death curse magic,' Nate sent Mirajane a telepathic warning. 'Don't let him get a hold of your hair…'
But it was too late. Shakily, Kain Hikaru got back up, blood streaming from his nose, clutching a black feather in his hand.
"You violent woman! Even if you confessed to me right now, I wouldn't accept it!"
'What is he even talking about?' Mirajane thought, bewildered by his rambling. But Nate's warning echoed in her mind, making her tense.
Kain Hikaru held up a small doll, inserting Mirajane's feather into its head. "My magic is called 'Ushi no Koku Mairi,' one of the lost magics! It only takes a single strand of hair to make it work. Feathers work, too!"
Grinning wickedly, he grasped the doll's neck and shook it. Instantly, Mirajane felt her body lurch forward, claws outstretched toward Nate's chest.
"Watch out!" she shouted, unable to control her movements.
'See? I told you to be careful,' Nate telepathically teased as he sidestepped her attack effortlessly. Before she could regain control, Kain Hikaru jerked the doll again, sending Mirajane's arm twisting at an unnatural angle toward Nate's face.
"I'm sorry, Nate! Get out of the way!"
'This magic is actually quite amusing,' Nate thought, grinning as he dodged again. Then, in a blink, he vanished from Mirajane's sight.
"Wait, where did he go?" Kain Hikaru stopped, confused. 'Teleportation?' Realization hit him—'this man must be the master of the Magic Net, the Wizard Saint, Nate!'
While he was lost in thought, Nate appeared at his side, snatching the cursed doll right out of his hands. Amused, he sent Mirajane a message, 'This magic is too fun. Let me have a turn!'
"Give that back!" Kain Hikaru roared, launching a powerful, sumo-like shove at Nate.
But Nate's magic shield easily absorbed the hit. In return, Nate countered with a swift kick, sending Kain Hikaru flying.
'Alright, now it's my turn,' he communicated to Mirajane, who had a sudden, uneasy feeling.
'First, come over here and give me a kiss! That'll drive this single guy mad with jealousy!'
"No way!" Mirajane shouted in embarrassment, but her body betrayed her, drawing her close to Nate for a blushing kiss on his cheek.
"Quit messing around, Nate. I'm getting mad!" she pouted, though she wasn't truly angry—just a little annoyed.
Nate chuckled, feeling a little smug. "I'm just studying his magic," he teased. "This is purely for research purposes only. Watch, I have something even better."
In his palm, he summoned two flames—one orange, the other icy blue—twisting them onto the cursed doll's hands. To her amazement, Mirajane's own hands mirrored the fire magics: ordinary flame and the reverse magic of icefire.
"When magic is applied to the cursed doll, it affects the target as well. Lost magic really is fascinating!" Nate commented, admiring the intricate curse mechanics. He couldn't instantly copy the magic, but he was learning a lot.
By now, Kain Hikaru had gotten back on his feet, fuming. "Nate! You're Nate!"
"I used to like you, but now I'm furious!"
'Like me?' Nate recoiled, taking a step back.
Kain Hikaru pulled out another cursed doll and yanked a strand of his own hair. "You don't understand. I'm known as the 'Love Guru' on the Magic Net! With just a single strand of someone's hair, I can ensure they're blessed with love through the [Magic Net Express Delivery]!"
"More like cursed," Mirajane couldn't help but mutter, channeling her inner Lucy.
Nate was momentarily at a loss for words.
"What would you beautiful people know?" Kain Hikaru yelled, tears streaming down his face. "You've all had it easy, being so attractive and popular. You'll never understand what it's like for the rest of us!"
"I'm using my magic to help people get the love they deserve! But the more I help others, the more I understand…"
'Understand what exactly?' Nate thought, wondering if this self-styled "Love Guru" was actually finding meaning in his twisted work on the Magic Web.
"That a forced relationship may not be sweet, but at least it's… something!" Kain Hikaru looked utterly convinced. "Your Magic Net taught me life's wisdom, Nate. I was grateful for that—but now I'm angry! Give me back that doll!"
'Sure, sure, I get it…' Nate thought, thoroughly exasperated.
/Bleam
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