Chapter 181: Prisoner? No, NPC 1!
Kain Hikaru had been using the Magic Net to set up an "online matchmaking service"...
Nate genuinely had no idea about this, as he usually left forum monitoring to Ur. But from what Kain was saying, Nate realized one crucial detail: Kain's "Ushi no Koku Mairi" magic could even affect people remotely—reaching them through the internet. Lost magic really was something else.
At that moment, Kain Hikaru pulled a strand of his own hair and placed it on his second cursed doll, shouting:
"Light Doll!"
In an instant, Doll #2 emitted a brilliant, golden light.
"His magic attribute just changed," Mirajane observed immediately.
Kain Hikaru raised his hand, unleashing a beam of light magic—a laser blast—straight at Nate.
Mirajane darted in front of Nate, blocking the attack with her hand.
'Boom!'
Flames and smoke erupted, but in the next moment, the Black-Winged Demon emerged from the blast and charged at her target, her right hand surrounded by the Reversal Magic of Ice and Fire.
She threw a punch straight at Kain Hikaru's head.
"Iron Doll!"
Once again, Kain Hikaru altered the material of his doll. His skin shifted from pale white to a metallic silver-black, and he countered with a heated punch.
In an instant, their fists collided—like a burning sun smashing into a sphere of blazing ice.
'Boom!'
The impact shattered the ground around them, and the scorching air surged toward Nate.
'How many attributes can this guy use?' Mirajane wondered in surprise as she backed off, hovering to observe him from above. The incident with her feather being used against her had raised her alertness to its peak.
Realizing that close-range combat wasn't ideal, Mirajane decided on another tactic. She raised her hand, forming a spear of dark green magic in her palm.
"Luz de la Luna!"
In her demonic form, Mirajane's demeanor was far from her usual gentle self. She was all out:
"The Kin of Purgatory may be strong, but I'm sorry—I must defeat you here!"
With that, she hurled the spear of magic power at Kain.
Nate teleported out of the way immediately.
Kain Hikaru, however, didn't panic. Recognizing the power packed into Mira's attack, he quickly reacted.
"Mist Doll!"
His body transformed into a misty form, translucent and drifting, as he tried to evade.
With a sharp whoosh, Luz de la Luna struck the ground and burrowed deep, followed by a massive underground explosion. The blast tore the ground apart, engulfing hundreds of meters in all directions.
When Kain Hikaru turned back, his eyes widened in shock as he was swallowed by the blinding light. The entire grove on the southern outskirts was obliterated by the force of the strike.
Hovering above, Mirajane's piercing gaze surveyed the aftermath. Her magic ring flashed—no doubt others were asking about what had happened. Ignoring it, she focused on locating Kain Hikaru's presence.
The landscape was scarred and cratered, but there was no sign of her target.
"He dodged that? How did he manage it?" Mirajane wondered, puzzled.
Suddenly, she sensed a faint magic pulse coming from a mound of dirt. She quickly looked over, spotting a figure half-buried under the earth. But it wasn't Kain Hikaru.
A flash of gold appeared beside Mirajane, and Nate emerged, slowly descending toward the mound.
The man partially buried in the earth wore the insignia of Grimoire Heart, confirming he was one of their mages.
"Did he get away?"
"He must have used a decoy-type magic just before your attack hit," Nate replied with a smile. "I marked him with my Flying Thunder God symbol, though. You stay here; I'll go after him."
For most, he wouldn't bother chasing them. But Kain Hikaru's magic was far too valuable to pass up.
With that, Nate vanished in an instant.
Mirajane looked around at the devastation, canceling her transformation. "…Looks like I went a bit overboard. Master will probably have to write another apology."
Right—she'd better ask Ultear to help restore this place. Thinking this, she opened her Magic Net.
…
Meanwhile, about ten kilometers from the grove, by the river.
A small group of Grimoire Heart mages had gathered, looking at each other in confusion.
Just a moment ago, one of their members had disappeared, and now a bizarre, underdressed man had suddenly appeared in his place.
Upon closer inspection…
Oh, it was Kain Hikaru!
"Kain-sama!" one of them called cautiously.
"That Mirajane… she almost killed me!" Kain Hikaru muttered, scratching his now rock-hard hair.
"What happened to you, Kain-sama?"
"Was it time for the attack yet? We were supposed to be waiting here."
The Grimoire Heart mages murmured in confusion, each adding their own remarks. Kain glared at them, then looked down at Doll #2, which now had two strands of hair embedded in it—one his own, and the other… who knows?
"Luckily, I was prepared and used decoy magic to escape. Otherwise, that last attack would've really hurt."
Kain Hikaru muttered quietly to himself, growing angrier as he spoke.
"Damn Mirajane—she's not only beautiful but so powerful too! The gods above are so unfair! If I knew which god controls human beauty, I'd snatch a hair from them and curse them properly!"
One of his subordinates interrupted, "Kain-sama? You haven't forgotten our mission, right?"
"We're not here to enjoy the Harvest Festival; we're supposed to retrieve Ultear-sama and Meredy-sama!"
The subordinates exchanged dark looks. Having such an unreliable superior was a nightmare. They couldn't afford to mess up this mission—Master Hades would be furious.
Still, if they could stir up trouble with Fairy Tail while they were here, that wouldn't hurt.
"Ultear and Meredy... they're no longer part of the Seven Kin of Purgatory," Kain Hikaru corrected. "No need for formal titles."
Just as he finished speaking, a flash of golden light appeared behind him.
In a swift, silent move, Nate materialized and drove his blade, Kyōka Suigetsu, straight through Kain's chest.
"Hello there, Grimoire Heart mages," Nate greeted with a smile, pulling out his now-bloodied blade.
The team stared in horror, unable to speak.
With a thud, Kain Hikaru dropped to his knees, the ground trembling as his weight struck the earth. Clutching his chest, he gasped and spat blood.
"Nate...! How did you catch up to me?"
Nate smirked, "Just 'zoomed' over in an instant."
He wiped the blood off his blade casually. "Don't worry—I'm not sending you to the underworld. You're headed for my 'Soul Cage.'"
'Prisoner count 1?'
No, 'valuable employee' 1!
Chapter 182: Amazon? Magic Net Livestream…
Kain Hikaru knelt on the ground, one hand clutching his bleeding wound, while gripping Doll #2 tightly with the other.
"Iron Doll!" he commanded internally, and Doll #2's material quickly shifted from rubber to steel. At the same time, his own body hardened.
"Stop bleeding!"
With another magic, the bleeding ceased, and the muscles around his wound forced themselves closed. Seeing this, Nate couldn't help but look a bit surprised.
"Can you heal yourself like that?"
"This isn't healing—just suppressing the injury temporarily!" Kain wiped the cold sweat from his brow. 'This teleportation magic is totally unfair! Impossible to defend against!'
'How honest of you to explain… Don't you know honesty just gets you in trouble?' Nate thought to himself, suppressing a smirk. "I avoided your vitals with that last strike and left a magic within you."
"What?" Kain froze, realizing something felt wrong inside him.
'Soul Magic: Soul Extraction!'
A magic within him suddenly activated. Even his steel-like skin couldn't resist an attack from within. Kain's whole body convulsed as he felt his soul forcibly pulled from his body, like a black hole tearing it out.
He arched backward with a scream, eyes rolling back, and collapsed.
"Kain-sama?!"
The Grimoire Heart mages stared, horrified. One of the Seven Kin of Purgatory… dead?
"He's not dead," Nate replied calmly, sheathing his blade as it returned to his storage space. "I have no grudge against him, no need to kill. I've just… extracted his soul."
His strike had been precise, embedding the soul extraction magic within.
"You… You're the Master of the Internet Magic! The Wizard Saint, Nate!"
"Good, so you know who I am. Why aren't you running yet? Want a ticket to the underworld?" Nate shook his head at their reaction. If he were in their shoes, he would've bolted the moment he saw a Wizard Saint.
At his words, the group breathed a sigh of relief and scattered.
"Wait. Take your Kain-sama with you. And pass on a message to your Master, Hades."
They hesitated, then turned back, forcing smiles. "Of course, Nate-san. What message would you like us to convey?"
"Tell him… thanks for sending such fine recruits, Second Master."
…
Before long, Kain Hikaru's body was carried away by the small squad of Grimoire Heart mages.
More precisely, they had to carry him—and due to his size, it took six people to lift him, making for a somewhat comical scene.
Nate watched them leave, then turned and headed back toward Magnolia, his mind splitting off a trace of awareness to enter the Deep Web Space.
[Soul Cage]
This empty, endless void held nothing but cells.
Kain stood in one of the cells, shaking his head in confusion. "Where is this? Is anyone here?"
"Shut up! You're making a racket!" a voice came from the adjacent cell.
Kain recognized the voice, shuffling over to press his large face against the bars to see who it was. However, his head was far too big to fit through the gaps.
"Don't bother. This prison can't be broken out of," the voice snapped again. "Can you keep it down? I'm trying to study magic here."
"Oh, now I remember! You're Brain, the leader of the Oración Seis," Kain exclaimed, clapping a hand to his forehead. "You're still alive?"
Brain wasn't interested in continuing the conversation. While he would have appreciated some company—especially from one of the Seven Kin of Purgatory—Kain was far too talkative.
After a pause, Brain stopped scratching notes on the damp floor. "When's Hades getting in here?" If his cellmate was Hades, he might actually be glad. This place was unbelievably boring.
Just then, golden light flashed, and Nate appeared outside the cells.
"Play nice, you three," Nate said with a smirk. "From now on, consider yourselves coworkers." He looked at Kain. "Kain, want to go out?"
"You're going to let me out?" Kain sat down heavily on the floor, crossing his arms. "Don't take me for a fool. I don't believe you'd actually let me leave."
'Well, you're not exactly a fool—but a bit of a weirdo,' Nate thought to himself, bemused. "Your body's already been sent back to Grimoire Heart. Your soul, though, can stay here and do some work for me."
"All right then, what's the job?" Kain asked.
'So much for not being a fool.' Nate resisted the urge to sigh. Kain's curse magic, 'Ushi no Koku Mairi,' was actually a powerful magic but clearly wasn't suited for direct combat. His attempt to pick a fight with both Nate and Mirajane had been a poor choice.
Nate decided to keep things simple. "My Magic Net recently gained over 50,000 regular users. Previously, the majority of users were mages, but now, regular people are quickly becoming the largest group."
"In the near future, that gap will only widen. Mages may eventually make up as little as 10% of Magic Net users." In other words, ordinary people would dominate the platform—a foreseeable reality. But right now, the Magic Net was too focused on niche, magic-based activities. It needed more entertainment for average users.
'For instance,' he thought, 'Can regular folks play [Magic Arena]? Not a chance! They don't have the magic to handle it.'
"So I want to make [Magic Arena] accessible to everyone, and that's where your magic, 'Ushi no Koku Mairi,' comes in…"
Kain blinked in confusion, failing to follow most of what Nate was saying.
Nate could tell he'd lost him. "Long story short, I'm planning a limited-time event called 'Magic Arena: ... Oración Seis', where regular people can become powerful mages and experience the thrill of fighting evil."
Brain's face darkened. He didn't know exactly what Nate intended, but it was bound to be trouble. Unfortunately, as a prisoner, he didn't have much say.
"Anyway," Nate said with a shrug, "for now, you all can stay here. Get comfortable—this sentence might take a while."
…
Returning to reality, Nate reopened the temporary chat group, [Harvest Festival Patrol Alert Group].
Skimming through the chat history, he saw that Mirajane had already reported on the situation. Nate then briefly updated everyone on his encounter with Kain Hikaru and confirmed that he had been repelled.
Next, he checked the Magic Net forum. He hadn't been following it closely, but now that he took a look, he was amazed by how lively it had become. New posts flooded in constantly.
One post in particular caught his eye—a [Points Trading Post] with over 100,000 replies from a user with an unfamiliar handle.
"Transactions are happening this frequently?" Nate was surprised to see so many threads like it. Some posts were specifically dedicated to selling points, which was even more striking.
"It's a bit chaotic… people are getting scammed, losing points, and even money," Nate thought, considering a more structured solution. "Maybe I should develop an official trading feature. Let's call it the [Magic Net Marketplace]."
In this marketplace, users could list their points for sale. Naturally, Nate would implement a small transaction fee as the developer—a dual-sided fee for both buyers and sellers.
"It would also allow some points to be recirculated while earning a little extra through fees," he reasoned. "But that would require coordination with the banks. We can't just rely on cash transfers every time."
Nate thought about asking Jude to discuss integration with the banks, ideally connecting directly to Magic Net.
"Actually, if we're going to launch a marketplace, why not expand it further?" Nate mused. "Allow users to open their own online stores… and maybe even feature the Magic Net rings produced by Jude as a main product."
(Amazon!)
Satisfied with his ideas, Nate set his Thought Projection assistant to start coding.
Afterwards, he closed the forum and opened [Magic Net Live].
In a short time, Magic Net Live had really taken off, and the most popular stream was, predictably, from the host next door.
Instead of clicking into Jenny's stream, Nate scrolled further down the list, his expression becoming increasingly perplexed.
Many of the stream titles had veered far beyond any gray area.
'Some of these streamers are really pushing the limits,' Nate thought, shocked.
'Come on, everyone—this isn't what Magic Net Live was made for!'
Chapter 183: Getting cozy with Ultear when suddenly—
"This girl's legs are… oh, wait, I mean, that's a very cute panda!"
Nate opened one livestream after another.
It had to be said—these girls from the parallel world were full of energy, with long legs, slim waists, and swimsuits.
And all this content was free?
As he admired the swimsuit streams, Nate found himself deep in thought. In his previous life, live streaming had leaned into slightly provocative content as it developed. It seemed this world wasn't so different.
It really confirmed that, across realities, certain types of content drive the biggest numbers.
But this also brought up a dilemma… should he step in and moderate some of this content?
Honestly, it was still under control for now—at least they hadn't gone as far as offering anything scandalous.
Wait, he'd better not get too comfortable! It was still broad daylight, but what about the late-night streams? Would they get even racier?
That would need some personal verification when the time came.
Next, Nate checked out some other streams.
Finally, he returned to the most popular one:
Guiding You Through Magnolia's Harvest Festival! Tonight's Highlight: Fairy Tail's Magic Parade!*
The title seemed completely fine.
When Nate entered, he found Jenny Realight on screen, navigating the lively festival streets and occasionally stopping at various stalls.
He also noticed the leaderboard, where "Sigma Male" held the top spot with a whopping 10,000-point gift.
Nate chuckled. "Looks like I'll be the top gifter for a while."
With the stream playing, he continued his patrol of the East District.
...
Meanwhile, aboard the Grimoire Heart's floating ship, in the dining area:
Hades sipped leisurely from a wine glass, savoring his red wine.
On the floor nearby lay Kain Hikaru, motionless.
"His soul is missing…" Deputy Commander Bluenote Stinger, who had been examining him, stood up and stated.
"Likely the Soul Magic—Soul Extraction."
Hades smiled. "Makarov's kids are quite capable, aren't they?"
Despite Kain's significant strength, the fact that they managed to extract his soul without killing him showed that the Ten Wizard Saint, Nate, was indeed impressive.
"Maybe I should handle this myself," Bluenote grinned. "I doubt any of the other Seven Kin could stand a chance against that man."
"No, once you're involved, the situation's bound to escalate," Hades declined Bluenote's offer. "Our objective is Ultear and Meredy—not the destruction of Fairy Tail."
Bringing these two back wasn't to have them rejoin the Kin of Purgatory; it was to administer punishment.
Did they really think they could just say, "I want to leave Grimoire Heart," and be done with it?
Did they take his dark guild for a mere inn, where one could come and go at will?
"Why don't we sit back and wait for the news? There's no rush," Hades continued with a wry smile. "After all, Bluenote, the festival's only just begun."
Bluenote sank back into his chair across from Hades, grabbing his fork to cut into another piece of steak.
Through a mouthful of food, he muttered, "Alright, but if night falls and we haven't heard anything, I'll head down there myself."
...
Eastern Forest
While everyone else enjoyed the festival, Nate lay back on a tree branch, leisurely watching a livestream.
He figured he could consider it celebrating with Jenny.
Two hours passed without incident. Then, as noon approached, he heard a familiar voice beneath the tree.
"There you are."
Looking down, he saw Ultear holding a lunchbox. She called up to him, smiling playfully. "Hungry? I brought lunch—don't forget to thank your sister."
Nate leapt down, taking the lunchbox from her. Opening it, he found a perfectly balanced meal with all his favorites.
"You made this?"
"Yes, I did. Aren't you lucky?" she teased. "Now, eat up! But if you say it's not good, I'll have to punish you."
Nate leaned against the tree and took a bite. The taste surprised him; it was delicious.
"Good?" she asked with a hint of expectation.
"Very." Nate nodded, thinking privately that while Mirajane's cooking might be his favorite, followed by Lucy's, Ultear's was wonderful in its own way. It wasn't about skill—it was her thoughtfulness.
Ultear leaned against him, laughing softly. She knew her cooking wasn't anything amazing but loved hearing the compliment.
Unexpectedly, Nate's hand found its way to her thigh.
She laughed and teased, "Can't you even eat without mischief?"
"There's a phrase in my homeland—'beauty so appetizing, a man could be satisfied just by touch.'"
She laughed, doubting the phrase truly meant that, yet she let him continue. She took the lunchbox and chopsticks, saying, "Open up. Let me feed you—your hands are better off elsewhere, aren't they?"
Nate chuckled, enjoying her doting attention as she fed him. Her legs were long, toned, and smooth, with just enough shape for a perfect balance.
Half an hour later, with the meal finished, Nate lay down, resting his head on her lap.
"You smell amazing," he murmured, getting comfortable.
Ultear stroked his hair, but as his hands began creeping under her skirt, she gave him a light pinch.
"What are you doing?"
"Exactly that."
"…No way." She blushed, realizing what he meant. The thought alone had her face turning crimson.
"There's no need to be so shy. It's not like anyone is going to… huh?"
Nate suddenly sat up, his gaze shifting toward a large tree nearby.
Noticing his reaction, Ultear also went serious, following his line of sight.
A face gradually emerged from the trunk, formed by the bark itself.
"Azuma…" Ultear's voice was cold, her demeanor completely different from earlier.
"Long time no see, Ultear." The face in the tree spoke with a flat tone. "Leaving Grimoire Heart so suddenly, you gave us all quite the shock. So this is what you left for… following a boyfriend."
Azuma's gaze shifted toward Nate, ignoring Ultear. "I'm only here for one reason. I seek the thrill of fighting someone strong—and you, you are strong!"
Chapter 184: Three Seconds to end the Fight
"So, just a battle fanatic," Nate murmured, slowly standing as he studied the face within the tree.
Azuma, one of the Seven Kin of Purgatory, specialized in the Lost Magic 'Great Tree Arc'. Through his Six Eyes, Nate could clearly see Azuma's body concealed within the tree, his magic level hovering around five and a half stars.
The unique strength of 'Great Tree Arc' lay in its ability to channel the stored magic within the earth itself.
At that moment, Azuma stepped out of the tree—a towering figure with a peculiar hairstyle, his hair resembling layers of brown leaves.
Noticing Nate's slightly disdainful expression, he couldn't help but ask, "You don't seem to enjoy fighting?"
"Quite the opposite. But why would you enjoy challenging others?" Nate shook his head.
"You're mistaken. Those with powerful magic naturally enjoy battle. Anyone who doesn't like fighting could never cultivate the kind of magic you have!"
"Still wrong," Nate chuckled. "Most people first learn magic out of curiosity about the unknown—like a child learning to walk. It's about exploring, reaching for the unknown."
"Not wrong," Azuma remained adamant, his expression unyielding. "A child learns to walk out of instinct. The desire to fight powerful foes is equally instinctual—a primal drive, a survival instinct rooted in human genes! Don't you have it?"
Nate was momentarily speechless; it seemed there'd be no persuading Azuma out of this with words alone.
"What a hassle... I'm not one for unnecessary trouble." He noticed the Magic Net ring on Azuma's finger. "Isn't that what [Magic Arena] is for? Isn't the game enough?"
At the mention of [Magic Arena, Azuma's lips curved slightly. "It's true—I've faced all kinds of mages in that game. I've had an 80-win streak and reached the Master rank. Right now, I'm the top player in ranked!"
"Eighty wins... Do you do anything but play games all day?"
Nate thought that, at this rate, Azuma might soon be the first to reach the top rank. But then again, Azuma was exactly the kind of "goldmine" the Magic Net needed, constantly contributing energy to the network.
"In that case, just keep playing your game."
"But it's because of the game that I became curious about you!" Azuma replied, clenching his fists as his magic flared around him. "So now, I challenge you, the Creator!"
Why do you have to make things difficult... Nate thought, deciding he'd go easy on Azuma, given his "loyal contributor" status.
"I'll fight you myself!"
Ultear stepped forward, positioning herself in front of Nate. Raising a magic crystal in her hand, she continued, "Azuma, if your task is to bring me back, then it's only fair I'm the one to—"
Nate quickly pulled her back.
Men are handling this fight—why are you getting involved?
Ultear met his gaze, catching his drift, and her eyes sparkled with laughter.
"Aren't you the one who dislikes trouble?"
"I do—but taking care of him isn't much trouble."
Mostly, he didn't want his girlfriend fighting some other guy.
Ultear knew him well, chuckling as she stepped back to let him take the lead.
Azuma waited patiently for Nate to settle things with his girlfriend before preparing for their fight. Truthfully, he was stunned that Ultear had actually fallen for someone. After all, this was 'the' "Witch," formerly the leader among the Seven Kin of Purgatory and someone Hades deeply trusted. It was hard to picture her in a romantic relationship. But the evidence was right before his eyes, so he couldn't deny it.
Azuma didn't care about romance; in his view, people were neither men nor women—only strong or weak. Strength was what he respected.
"Tower Burst!"
Boom!
A fiery tower erupted beneath Nate's feet, creating a massive explosion that roared skyward. Yet Azuma didn't show any excitement or satisfaction, even though he had hit his target.
As the flames cleared, Nate stood unharmed. A milky-white magic shield surrounded him, warding off all flames and heat. When the fire pillar dispersed, only scorched earth remained around him. Nate himself stood calmly, hands held together, a small white sphere forming between his palms.
"Three seconds. If you can stop me, you win."
That magic... Wasn't it Hades' magic, 'Grimoire Law'?!
Azuma's expression shifted slightly, recognizing the familiar casting stance. No—this was 'Fairy Law.'
"I won't give you the chance to cast it!" Azuma roared, launching another wave of attacks.
"One," Nate intoned calmly.
Azuma swung his hands, causing thick roots to rise from the ground like monstrous tentacles, reaching out to ensnare Nate. But each root was repelled by the magic shield, unable to get near him.
"Two."
"Chain Burst!" Azuma called out. He loved powerful opponents and loved explosions just as much. To him, explosions were art.
The explosive force traveled down each root, detonating as it reached Nate.
Boom!
Fire once again engulfed Nate, yet he remained untouched, his magic shield proving nearly impenetrable, withstanding every blast.
"Not yet!" Azuma raised his hands to the sky and shouted, "Terra Clamare!"
From deep within the ground, he drew forth the stored magic, compressing it into glowing green orbs that floated around Nate. In the next instant, a blazing sun seemed to rise in the eastern forest.
Boom!
The colossal explosion's roar reverberated for nearly a kilometer, creating a violent gust that uprooted trees far and wide.
And yet, from the heart of the blast, Nate's voice emerged.
"Three seconds… time's up, Azuma."
With a clap of his hands, the small white sphere of magic ignited.
"Fairy Law, activate!"
A vast golden magic circle formed in the sky, releasing a holy beam of judgment, as though heaven itself had sent down its divine decree. Azuma's vision was engulfed in sacred light. He stood rooted to the spot, bathed in the glow.
Dodge? There was no evading such wide-range magic.
As 'Fairy Law' activated, every citizen and visitor enjoying the festival raised their heads to look at the soothing light overhead, feeling a gentle warmth wash over them, like a mother's touch.
"Feels so peaceful…"
On top of Fairy Tail's guild building, Makarov, sipping his drink while seated next to the great bell, grinned as he looked toward the eastern forest.
"Nate? Getting more proficient, I see."
The old man chuckled. "What kind of opponent calls for a grand magic? Just a little entertainment for the celebration?"
Makarov felt no concern for Nate; unless Hades himself showed up, no one would stand a chance.
…
When the white light finally faded, the flames in the forest were gone too. Due to the immense explosion, every tree within a kilometer radius of Nate had been reduced to ash.
Nate walked over the scorched earth toward Azuma, who lay flat on his back, arms and legs spread, his face peaceful, as though in deep sleep.
"Sorry, guess I didn't give you much of a fight…"
This super magic must have held back, or Azuma wouldn't even be conscious.
Chapter 185: Fairy Law App Activates?
"It doesn't matter if I enjoyed it; it's enough that you did." Nate chuckled softly, crossing his legs as he sat beside Azuma.
"Honestly, I have plenty of ways to beat you, but since you came all this way for a challenge, I thought it was only right to return the favor with a grand spell. Satisfied?"
Azuma was speechless. Lasting only three seconds against Nate's casting felt less exhilarating and more… humbling.
After a long pause, he finally spoke. "Why didn't you kill me?"
"Why should I?" Nate countered.
Azuma was silent for another moment before saying, "I owe you a life."
Oh? Sticking to principles, are we? Nate found himself slightly amused; this was exactly the sort of thing a battle enthusiast would say. People like this, once committed, would pursue their goals stubbornly to the end.
"I'll do anything you ask, except kill Master Hades." Azuma emphasized the word 'anything', underscoring his resolve. Hades wasn't just his guild master but also the mentor who had taught him magic. Betraying him was a line Azuma could never cross.
"Loyalty's a rare quality, even in people like you. Seems there's a glimmer of something worthwhile in all of you." Nate shook his head. "I don't need you to do anything. Just don't come after me again, that's all."
"That's not good enough!" Azuma gritted his teeth, struggling to sit up. After some thought, he continued, "Our mission this time was to capture Ultear and Meredy. I'll help you drive off the rest of the Seven Kin."
Nate almost wanted to laugh—did this guy even realize how worn out he looked? His magic reserves were nearly drained; he was pushing himself purely on willpower. Still, Nate decided not to object. Let him try if he wanted to; just as long as it didn't involve him.
After watching Azuma stagger off, Ultear approached, finally joining Nate's side.
"You men have some truly strange friendships," she remarked.
"Friendship?" Nate blinked, not quite following her line of thought.
"Isn't it?" Ultear chuckled lightly. "You beat him down, and he still insists on helping you. That's just the kind of person Azuma is."
She began counting on her fingers playfully. "Meredy and I are out; Kain was taken out by you, and now Azuma's off the table too. That leaves only three of them."
Nate sifted through his memory. Out of the remaining three, he only remembered Zancrow by name, though he still recalled the others.
One was a glasses-wearing guy with the lost magic 'Arc of Embodiment'. The other, a ram-headed figure, wielded 'Human Subordination'.
"Let's just hope they're not coming for me…" Nate sighed inwardly. 'Do I have some kind of siren call for these people?'
Turning to Ultear, Nate said, "Their target is you and Meredy; it's best if you go protect her."
"Got it. You be careful too, dear," Ultear replied, her expression softening as she leaned in to kiss him before heading off.
Nate surveyed the scorched earth around him with a sigh. Porlyusica-sama would definitely be upset...
He was about to call Ultear back to ask her to help restore the forest when his ring started flashing repeatedly.
Mystogan: "East Forest is your patrol area. Need backup?"
Sigma Male: "No need, it's taken care of."
Laxus: "How come you're the one finding all the action? I'm bored waiting at the church!"
Sigma Male: "Want to trade places?"
Laxus didn't reply, making Nate suspect he was already on his way over.
Erza: "Nate, are you alright?"
Sigma Male: "I'm fine. How's it going on the west side?"
Erza: "Glad to hear it! Nothing here so far; I haven't seen any Dark Guild activity."
Grimoire Heart's many Dark Guild affiliates had everyone worried they'd face not just Grimoire Heart but other Dark Guild mages sneaking into the city. But Nate thought it was just Grimoire Heart.
Afterward, he chatted briefly with Erza about the Harvest Festival. Both were on duty, unable to enjoy the festivities, but at least they could talk.
Suddenly, Nate sensed someone approaching. He immediately split off a Thought Projection to stay behind while he himself quickly left the area.
Good timing—if he didn't leave now, he'd get a scolding!
Sure enough, not long after he left, Porlyusica arrived at the scene of the battle.
She immediately spotted Nate's Thought Projection sitting calmly and stormed over, furious.
"Nate! I knew it was you!"
"Hello, Porlyusica-sama. Master Makarov talks about you all the time," the Thought Projection greeted her with a friendly smile. "He often says you were quite the beauty in your younger years!"
"That old fool would never say that!" Porlyusica huffed, rolling her eyes. 'Kid, do you think I don't know how long I've known Makarov?'
"Flattery won't get you anywhere," she scolded. "Look at what you did to the forest… This is why I can't stand humans—they're so drawn to fighting!"
The Thought Projection played along, nodding with mild exasperation. He wanted to explain that it was Azuma, the battle maniac, who'd caused all the damage.
"My apologies. I'll ask Ultear to help restore the forest soon."
"That new girl?"
Porlyusica snorted but then softened a little. "Reversing time will restore the forest, yes, but let me say a few things first."
Go ahead. I'm here to listen.
The Thought Projection sighed inwardly. His true self had made the escape, leaving him to endure the lecture.
And so it went for a solid fifteen minutes until Porlyusica finally shifted her tone.
"Well, I suppose it's not entirely your fault. Follow me to the treehouse."
"I prepared some healing potions. Take them with you; they'll be useful if anyone gets hurt in Grimoire Heart's attacks."
Hearing this, Nate's Thought Projection chuckled inwardly. 'Tough words, but a kind heart.'
Porlyusica must have been an interesting character in her younger days.
…
After leaving the Eastern Forest, Nate soon crossed paths with Laxus in the eastern part of town.
"So, you really wanted to trade spots?" Nate joked as they met.
"Where are the enemies?" Laxus asked, eager to find a fight. If he couldn't beat Nate, maybe he'd at least take on the Seven Kin of Purgatory.
"I drove them off, but if you head to the Eastern Forest, you might find reinforcements coming in."
"Alright, I'll check it out, and you go cover the church!"
The two were just about to go their separate ways when suddenly, a massive golden magic circle appeared in the sky above them.
Laxus looked up, stunned. "Fairy Law? Again?"
"Wait—was that from the magic app you developed?"
"Seems like it."
Nate was also surprised, preparing to check the backend to see who had activated it.
Just then—boom! Another golden magic circle appeared in the sky.
Laxus stared up, dumbfounded. "Is this some kind of light show?"
The city was bathed in holy light once again, and citizens and tourists alike felt the warmth of its glow.
"It's quite the spectacle… we haven't even reached evening, and the fireworks are already starting."
Chapter 186: Capricorn Key's Obtained, Lucy's Debt Piled up Again
Two consecutive casts of the powerful magic, Fairy Law, activated within three seconds of each other. As the holy light once again bathed Magnolia, its warm glow comforted hearts, adding a touch of radiance to the ongoing festival.
To the ordinary citizens, it looked like a type of firework—perhaps some special event hosted by Fairy Tail.
But to those in the know, it was a signal of an impending assault.
Among Magnolia's visitors, Jenny Realight was equally puzzled. Her livestream chat exploded with messages:
[That's Fairy Tail's legendary magic, Fairy Law!]
[Again! And this time, two blasts in a row!]
[What's happening? Is Grimoire Heart really here?]
[Jenny, forget the festival! Go check out the action!]
[Who cast this magic? Was it Master Makarov?]
[Could Makarov really cast it twice at the same time?]
[What about Nate? Doesn't he also know this legendary magic?]
The comments buzzed with excitement. For most mages, witnessing any super magic even once in a lifetime was rare. But today, they'd seen not one, not two, but three casts of Fairy Law in a single day! Did these spells come at no cost?
...
"I'll go check it out; Laxus, keep patrolling the east side."
As the holy light faded, Nate immediately checked the app's backend to see who had activated Fairy Law.
It was Elfman and Lisanna.
With a quick thought, he transformed into a streak of golden light, heading toward the source of the magic surge.
In the outskirts of the western district, far from the city center, Nate arrived at the site where the super magic had been cast. Along a small path, he noticed a signpost reading "Natsu & Happy" with an arrow pointing the way—a sign that Natsu and Happy's house was nearby.
When he arrived, the battle was already over.
From above, Nate spotted four figures: Elfman, Lisanna, Edolas Mirajane...and an enemy, a member of the Seven Kin of Purgatory, Capricorn.
The Edolas Mirajane, lacking combat ability, was being protected by Elfman and Lisanna.
Nate could guess what had happened.
"Nate!" Elfman, breathing heavily, called out as he spotted him.
Lisanna also looked up immediately.
Nate descended to join them. "Looks like you're all safe."
"Thanks to your magic app, Nate—things could've been bad otherwise!" Lisanna said gratefully, before pointing angrily at their opponent. "This demonic goat tried to kidnap me and Mira!"
Her tone was almost like she was reporting to a parent, clearly frustrated. Nate turned his gaze toward the goat with a steely look.
At that moment, after taking two super magics head-on, the goat-like figure swayed slightly, its upper body leaning back, completely motionless. Black wisps of smoke trailed from its slightly open mouth, dispersing into the natural surroundings as magic particles.
Using his Six Eyes, Nate could see clearly—it was a human soul dissolving.
"Are you a Celestial Spirit?" Nate stepped closer, observing the figure.
The goat figure, Capricorn, moved a finger, then slowly straightened up. In a grateful tone, he replied, "Thank you. Seventeen years... it's been such a long time. Finally, I'm freed from that 'traitor.'"
"It's Capricorn, the Celestial Spirit," he continued, bowing politely like a seasoned butler. "The one you defeated was named Zoldeo. Due to the side effects of his Lost Magic, 'Human Subordination', he merged with me. But now, with his soul dispersed, I can finally return to the Celestial Spirit World."
"Congratulations," Nate nodded in acknowledgment.
Capricorn then extended his hand, where a golden key materialized. "Please give this to Lucy-sama; she's my true master."
Nate couldn't help but think how convenient it must be to have such good connections—Celestial Spirits literally coming to him on their own.
He accepted the key and replied, "I'll make sure it reaches her. But aren't you putting a lot of trust in me? We just met."
Exhausted, Capricorn barely managed to respond as he began fading back to the Celestial Spirit World. "I've been watching... for quite some time…"
And with that, he vanished before he could finish.
Nate examined the golden key thoughtfully, already planning how he'd surprise Lucy with it.
Nearby, Elfman and Lisanna looked completely lost.
"What just happened?" Elfman asked in confusion. "Nate, do you know that Purgatory member?"
"Nope. Besides..." Nate thought for a moment before explaining, "The real member of the Seven Kin wasn't the goat—it was the person inside the goat."
He briefly explained 'Human Subordination', a Lost Magic that weakens human magic and power while allowing the user to control them like a puppet. However, if used on a non-human, the caster would merge with their target.
Lisanna nodded in understanding, holding up one finger. "So, the real member of the Seven Kin was this Zoldeo guy, while the goat was actually a Celestial Spirit."
"That explains why the fight felt so strange before."
Zoldeo was truly gone now, his soul entirely dispersed after two super magics—a rare fate, to say the least.
Just then, Erza arrived from her patrol in the western district.
"Nate, Elfman, Lisanna, Mira—are you all okay?" she asked, concerned.
"We're fine, Erza. The fight's over," Lisanna replied with a smile.
Nate considered their situation. "You two have used up your [Magic App] charge. It's not exactly safe out here right now, so Erza, could you escort them back to the city?"
Erza nodded. "Take care, Nate."
"See you later, Nate!" Lisanna and the others waved goodbye as they left with Erza.
Once they were gone, Nate turned his gaze toward Natsu's house, scanning it with his Six Eyes but finding no trace of Natsu or Happy.
"They're probably enjoying the festival too," he thought with a sigh. The more power he had, the greater his responsibilities. He still had to patrol near the church.
In truth, the only reason Grimoire Heart was causing trouble here was because of Ultear. Protecting his girlfriend felt like his responsibility, so he couldn't complain.
"All that's left are a few of the Seven Kin… though I bet those super magics spooked them enough to keep them away for now."
Pocketing Capricorn's key, he transformed into a golden streak, heading back toward the church while sending Lucy a picture message.
Gotta Earn Money: "Capricorn's Key "
Moments later, a call notification popped up: [Your friend "Gotta Earn Money" wants to start a voice chat.]
Nate chuckled. She was so excited she initiated the call herself. He accepted it with amusement.
Lucy: "Nate~~!"
Nate: "Heartfilia-san, you know there's no such thing as a free lunch."
Lucy: "I knew it! Fine, I'll owe you another 8 million jewels!"
Lucy: "But seriously, why is my debt piling up so much? "
Nate: "Well, why do you think? It's because you're not working hard enough."
Nate: "Now, come over here—I need to get my hands on that panda bear of yours. "
Lucy: "Pervert! You're awful! "
Chapter 187: Scene in the Confessional Room
Near Nanko Park, the festival was bustling with energy. Booths lined the streets, and performers entertained the crowd.
Wendy noticed Lucy's flushed cheeks and asked, "Lucy, are you okay? Your face is really red."
"It's... it's nothing! Maybe it's just too hot out here," Lucy replied, trying to suppress her embarrassment. That troublesome Nate! Why did he have another golden key? And why did he keep wanting to touch her "panda bear"? Just recalling the incident on the ship made her cheeks burn. Thinking about it was one thing, but saying it out loud to make her flustered?
Nate: "I'm waiting for you at the church."
Lucy: "I'm not coming~ Hmph! "
Lucy: "And why the church? Is that even the kind of place for... that?!"
Nate: "I'm on duty; the church is the busiest place during the festival. If something happens, it'll be a problem ' ' "
Lucy: "Oh, so you're aware of how crowded it is? "
Lucy: "If someone saw us, I'd die of embarrassment!"
Nate: "Saw what? "
Nate: "Just messing with you. Capricorn himself gave me this key to pass on to you."
Nate: "Free of charge. Hurry up and come."
Was that really true? Lucy was skeptical; she wouldn't fall for it this time. Even if it was just about the key, he'd probably pull her into some secluded corner of the church and tease her again. It's not like she hated the idea, but she'd rather not risk being seen.
Lucy: "I'm here with Wendy and Levy, enjoying the festival. I'm not coming~"
Nate: "Alright, then I'll just toss the key away, yeah?"
Lucy: "Go ahead and toss it!"
Lucy's lips curved into a slight smile. She knew Nate wouldn't really throw the key away. This time, she wouldn't let herself be tricked.
...
Kardia Cathedral
Nate arrived at the top of the cathedral by the clock tower, chuckling when he realized Lucy hadn't taken the bait. 'So the princess is learning,' he thought. The key really was given to him by Capricorn as a gift for her, so it wouldn't be right to add it to her "debt." But he couldn't deny that if she had come to the church, he'd been looking forward to a little teasing.
After all, a church was an ideal "fortified structure," perfect for close encounters. But no luck this time. He'd just give her the key when they were home later.
Looking out over the church vicinity, he saw the area packed with people, citizens, and tourists alike.
"Huh? Juvia?" he suddenly noticed his second girlfriend heading into the church.
Even during the festival, there were still nuns on duty. One of them smiled warmly as Juvia entered.
"Oh, dear, are you here to pray?" the nun asked kindly.
"Nun-san, Juvia wishes to pray for the one she loves, hoping that he is blessed and protected," Juvia said earnestly.
"I see," the nun replied with a hint of regret. "But today is the Harvest Festival, and even the priest is out enjoying the celebration. So for today, I'm afraid prayer services are..."
"Oh, they're not allowed?" Juvia, who rarely visited churches, wasn't familiar with the customs, and she knew different churches often had different rules.
"Well, how about this, Juvia-san," the nun suggested with a gentle smile. "We've organized a festival activity today that lets people experience the role of an apprentice nun."
"An apprentice nun?" Juvia repeated, her eyes widening in confusion.
"Yes," the nun explained. "In the confessional, you could act as an apprentice nun, listening to the confessions of others and, on behalf of the divine, offer forgiveness for their sins."
The nun smiled as she explained the activity. Though the church had prepared it for the festival, nobody had shown up to try it—everyone else was out enjoying the celebrations. As it turned out, Juvia was their very first visitor of the day.
"This work will also accumulate blessings for your loved one; God will surely protect him," the nun assured.
Hearing this, Juvia was instantly swayed. "I'll do it! Where should I go?" She nodded eagerly.
The nun was delighted, already envisioning herself slipping out to enjoy the festivities. "Please follow me."
She led Juvia to the church's confessional and briefly explained the basics of being a "novice nun." In essence, her task was to listen to people's confessions, guide them to reflect, and say things like, "God will forgive you," or "God will guide you."
'That's simple enough!'
"Juvia understands!"
"Then, Juvia-san, I'll leave the church to you." With that, the nun happily slipped away.
The confessional was divided by a wooden wall with a small opening. Juvia took her seat inside, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness as she waited for a penitent.
"Will anyone actually come?" she wondered. "Everyone's busy with the festival. But I'll do my best—for Nate-sama!"
With renewed determination, she sat up, her mind focused.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
'Knock, knock.'
Juvia straightened up, took a deep breath, and, mimicking the nun's voice, said, "Come in."
The door opened, and a man stepped inside. Juvia couldn't see his face—the church's way of protecting the privacy of those confessing their sins. Likewise, he couldn't see her, just a shadow through the small opening in the wall.
"Sister," the man began with a solemn tone, "I have sinned."
Nate took a seat and lowered his voice, making it sound older and more serious.
The voice sounded vaguely familiar, but Juvia still followed protocol. "Troubled soul, this is a place of peace. You may speak freely. Ju... ahem, I will listen quietly to your confession."
She nearly slipped up, patting her chest with relief. 'That was close.'
Nate nearly laughed but managed to suppress it, taking a deep breath to keep his composure.
"The truth is, I'm a bit of a flirt," he began. "I'm seeing several women at once. I love each of them, but I'm afraid if they find out about one another, they'll all leave me. Every night, I'm tormented by this."
'A romantic problem?' Juvia blinked, unsure how to advise. But then she thought of Nate, who loved both her and Ultear—'and also Erza.' Nate probably thought she didn't know, but Juvia was quite aware.
"Ah... troubled one, this isn't entirely your fault," she said, clearing her throat.
"Falling for one person—or several—isn't something we can always control." After all, she thought, she adored Nate, even knowing about the others.
Juvia looked down, wondering if she was suited for this role after all.
"Really? Do you think they'd forgive me?" Nate asked.
"Yes, I think they would," she replied.
"If I give them gifts, will that help make them happier?"
"G...girls love receiving gifts. It'll make them happy, for sure."
"In fact, I have a girlfriend named Juvia," Nate continued. "And lately, I've been struggling with what to get her. Sister, do you have any suggestions?"
"Huh? Wait..." Juvia was momentarily stunned. 'Did she know this man? Why would he call Juvia his girlfriend?' Then she wondered if it could be someone with the same name.
Then, like a flash of lightning, it hit her.
Juvia jumped up, opened the confessional's small door, and stepped out from behind the wall. "Nate-sama?" Her eyes sparkled with delight.
"Juvia?" Nate feigned surprise, taking two steps forward and opening his arms wide.
Juvia instantly threw herself into his embrace. "Nate-sama! I can't believe it's you—I'm so happy~"
"I came to confess my sins; I never expected to run into you."
Juvia didn't believe him for a second, grinning as she wrapped her arms around him, wiggling in his embrace, delighted.
"Juvia forgives you, Nate-sama. Juvia loves you so much~"
Nate held Juvia close, running his hands through her silky hair before leaning down to kiss her.
Blushing, Juvia returned his kiss passionately. Something about the small, private space of the confessional gave her a boldness she hadn't known she had.
As they embraced, Nate slipped his hand behind her to lock the confessional door.
/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 70 Chapters Ahead of Others!
Chapter 188: Hades was Shaken, Ivan looking for 'Lumen Histoire'
A peaceful afternoon passed with Juvia at the church. No further attacks came from Grimoire Heart. Perhaps they had been stopped by Azuma, or maybe they were simply deterred by the repeated use of Fairy Law. Either way, the festival continued without interruption.
Evening soon arrived, marking the start of Fairy Tail's famous magic parade.
The parade floats began at the guild's main entrance, making a loop around the city before eventually returning to the guild. Crowds eagerly awaited the grand spectacle.
In front of the guild:
Master Makarov, wearing a T-shirt with the Fairy Tail emblem, stood atop one of the floats, dancing in an exaggerated, comical style.
"The Master looks like he's in high spirits," Mirajane commented with a warm smile.
Wearing her usual armor, Erza watched the floats move off. "It seems Grimoire Heart won't be showing up after all."
…
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Forest:
Laxus had waited all afternoon and well into the evening, but no enemies appeared.
"What a waste of time!" he muttered irritably, preparing to leave.
Suddenly, darkness enveloped him, swallowing his surroundings.
It was as though he'd been ripped from the world, isolated from reality.
"If you're here, stop hiding," Laxus growled.
A paper doll materialized in the darkness, floating lightly in midair.
A voice, dripping with mockery, came from the doll. "Still so rude—no respect for your father."
"Long time no see, son," it continued. "I'm glad to see you looking so well. Makes me proud as a father."
"...Ivan." Laxus narrowed his eyes. "What do you want?"
"Still no manners. Fine," the doll sighed, feigning disappointment. "I didn't expect Fairy Tail to have something like that magic app. Anyone in danger can just trigger Fairy Law."
"Nate's really something. A dangerous young man!"
The app had prevented him from acting recklessly, and Grimoire Heart was useless as well—they were also too afraid to make a move. Ivan had planned to sneak into Fairy Tail amid the chaos, but that plan was clearly out.
With no distraction to cover his tracks, he couldn't risk it. Instead, he decided to see his son.
"What are you here for?" Laxus's tone was cold. "As someone expelled from Fairy Tail, you shouldn't come near this city."
"Watch your tone, Laxus! Who do you think put that Dragon Slayer Lacrima in you?" Ivan's voice came through the doll, displeased.
As a father, his son's coldness stung his pride.
Laxus muttered, "When you were kicked out, I argued with the old man for you. But now I understand why he did it. If you're done, I'm leaving."
He turned to go.
"Wait," the doll said. "I only have one question."
Laxus stopped, willing to listen—if only because this was his father.
"Where is Fairy Tail's ultimate weapon... Lumen Histoire?"
"What?" Laxus frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb. I'm sure Makarov told you about it. It's a closely guarded secret, known only to the guild masters."
Ivan continued, "As his grandson and the future Fourth Master, he's bound to have told you."
At this, Laxus laughed. "The Fourth Master? You'd be better off asking Nate."
…
Grimoire Heart, Magic Airship
Azuma and the remaining members of the Seven Kin of Purgatory had returned to the ship. Inside the lounge, Hades sat back on the sofa, watching the livestream with a scowl. The broadcast was following the Fairy Tail magic parade, and watching Makarov dance on the float in his comical way only deepened Hades' irritation.
"Bluenote, it's night now—your turn to act," Hades ordered, glaring at his Deputy Commander.
Bluenote remained silent, a bead of cold sweat forming on his brow as his earlier arrogance waned. Though he loved battle, he wasn't foolish. At noon, Fairy Law had been cast three times in a row, each instance by a different person. Who would dare to go up against that? He'd have to be out of his mind to test the power of that magic.
"It doesn't make sense! I can understand the Magic Net's creator, Nate, using it; he's known to have that ability. But the ones who killed Zoldeo were a pair of siblings, just regular guild members. How did they know Fairy Law?"
He couldn't believe the whole guild knew how to cast it; it was too absurd.
Hades was equally unsettled. Although Fairy Law alone posed no threat to him, if ten people were to cast it at once... even he couldn't withstand that.
After a pause, he issued an order: "Bring me Jellal."
"Yes, Master."
A moment later, "White Jellal" entered the lounge. "Is there something you need?"
"It's not you I need." Hades removed his right eyepatch, revealing a Demon's Eye. "Voldemort."
Triggered by the keyword, White Jellal gritted his teeth in pain as his consciousness shifted. Used to this torment, he'd grown somewhat accustomed to it by now.
"I told you not to bother me unless it was urgent," the voice of Voldemort sounded, his tone cold and annoyed.
Hades scrutinized him carefully, still unable to discern how Voldemort's consciousness so swiftly took control of Jellal. "About multiple members of Fairy Tail being able to use Fairy Law… you must know something."
Voldemort chuckled dryly. "You think I'm some kind of question-and-answer machine? Precht, you disappoint me."
"Disappoint?"
"Got a little scared, didn't you?" Voldemort taunted.
Hades gave a small laugh. "I do intend to punish Ultear, but it's not a necessity."
In other words, he admitted he was, indeed, shaken.
Voldemort casually explained, "It's a feature of the Magic Net, something called a [Magic App]." He then provided a brief explanation of the app concept.
Hades listened, astonished. "Is this some kind of joke? Nate must be a god to create something like this."
"Who knows? Maybe he really is a human vessel for some god," Voldemort replied with a hint of amusement. "The Great Magic World you're after is a joke compared to the Magic Net."
Hades's expression turned grim. The idea that any Fairy Tail member, when in mortal danger, could activate a magic as powerful as Fairy Law was outrageous.
Bluenote, standing nearby, was equally stunned. "Is this true? Or are you just making things up?"
Voldemort shot him a glare. "Why don't you test it yourself? See if I'm lying."
Bluenote immediately fell silent. Testing it would be a death wish.
"All gifts of fate come with hidden costs, Precht," Voldemort continued. "One day, I'll collect my payment for this answer. I'll be watching you…"
As his voice faded, White Jellal's head slumped forward.
Hades fell into deep thought. The Magic App... an impossible magic. And Voldemort was just as unfathomable. If Nate was indeed a vessel of some god, then Voldemort might well be something similar.
Chapter 189: Scene in Lucy's Bathroom
The Magic Parade
The magic parade circled the city and concluded without a hitch.
This year, there was something new—Magic Net Live. Jenny Realight's livestream peaked at over 100,000 viewers, turning it into a true online spectacle! Now, even those who couldn't make it to Magnolia could join in on the lively festivities online.
...
[Ah, it's over.]
[Fairy Tail really is such a lively guild. Maybe I should leave Quatro Cerberus and join Fairy Tail instead?]
[You better watch out—the Guild Master of Quatro Cerberus is probably watching this too!]
[ GuildMasterGoldmine]
[What a fun festival! Too bad I couldn't be there in person.]
[Too bad we didn't see Nate perform!]
[Wasn't Grimoire Heart going to come teach Fairy Tail a lesson at the Harvest Festival?]
[The forum posts are still up!]
[Dark guilds are a joke!]
Jenny read the endless stream of comments with a smile. "Well, that's it for today's stream, everyone. Bye-bye, see you next time!"
...
Fairy Tail Guild Building, Rooftop
Nate sat at the edge of the roof, closing Jenny's livestream with a smirk. So, Grimoire Heart had backed down. Were they really that intimidated?
From Hades's perspective, he could see why: Fairy Tail with a super magic app that enabled 'Fairy Law' for every member—anyone would think twice about challenging that.
He opened the friend search on his Magic Net and sent a friend request to "Precht," leaving a message: "Second Master, come back and visit sometime."
Suddenly, he heard Mavis's voice from behind him.
"Thanks for all your hard work today, Fourth Master~"
Nate jumped slightly and turned to see Mavis floating beside him. "Geez, First Master, you nearly scared me to death!"
"I am a ghost, you know~" she replied with a sweet smile.
Cute—alright, forgiven!
"Did you enjoy the day, First Master?"
The little founder had been around for nearly a week, though most members didn't know. Only Makarov and Erza were aware. Mavis, like a true spirit, observed everything quietly—because she was, indeed, a ghost.
"I had a wonderful time! The Third Master has turned Fairy Tail into such a joyful guild. Keep up the good work, Fourth Master, okay?"
"Alright, I'll do my best," Nate replied, resigning himself to being called the Fourth Master. Mavis's little ahoge swayed back and forth like a puppy's tail.
Stop wagging—are you a little dog? Nate thought, amused.
"But the Second Master's actions make me sad," Mavis said, her ahoge going still. "I don't understand why he's fallen into darkness…"
Probably due to his obsession with Zeref's dark magic, Nate thought. "Why not ask him directly?" he suggested. "His Magic Net username is 'Precht.'"
Mavis's eyes brightened. "Good idea, Fourth Master! Thanks!" She then noticed the parade floats returning to the guild and quickly disappeared, leaving him with a cheerful, "Goodnight, Fourth Master."
"Goodnight," Nate replied, chuckling. He wondered where Mavis had been staying these past few days. In a park somewhere? That would be sad. Then again, as a ghost, she wouldn't need much.
Watching the parade floats make their way back, Nate hopped down and headed to his apartment. With Grimoire Heart out of the picture, his guard duty was over.
...
After 10 p.m., Lucy's Apartment
Lucy returned home, tired after a full day of festivities. She unlocked the door, switched on the magic crystal lamp, and gasped in surprise.
"Ah! A ghost!"
"No, wait—Nate?! And my novel!"
Her emotions whirled as she saw Nate sitting at her desk, reading her novel. She dashed over, snatching it from him, her cheeks flushed.
"Reading my novel without permission?" she snapped, embarrassed. "How much did you see?"
"Oh, I just reached the part where the heroine 'Iris' starts dating the hero, and during their kiss, he reaches up and…" Nate grinned. "Nicely done, Author-san. No one could write a scene like that without personal experience."
"Stop teasing me!" Lucy protested, her face turning red. "Sneaking into my apartment and reading my book in the dark—unbelievable!"
"Didn't you break into my place last time?" Nate countered. "We're even."
"Not even close! And you peeked at my book!"
"How about this, then? I'll write something for you—where the heroine is saddled with the hero's massive debt and has to… you know, work it off."
"Shut up, you jerk!" Lucy yelled, swatting him with her book. Nate laughed, catching her wrist, then produced a golden key.
"Relax—I came to give you this," he said with a grin.
Lucy's eyes sparkled as she accepted the key, her annoyance fading. With a shy smile, she muttered, "Fine, I'll forgive you this time. But no more peeking!"
"The key's yours," he replied, patting his knee. "Now, for repayment. Sit here, let me hold you, let me kiss you."
"No way!" she replied, cheeks burning. Showing up at her place this late, he was clearly up to something.
"Don't you want to repay your debt?" he teased.
"... Fine! But I'm taking a bath first—I'm all sweaty!"
"Let's go together, then!" he said, pulling her toward the bathroom.
"Wait, what? Who said we're bathing together?" she protested, but he wouldn't listen.
"Don't be shy," he teased. "It's not like we haven't seen each other. This time, you can see me too—we'll be even."
"I don't want to see—who wants to see you!"
...
Later, in the Bathroom
The tub in her apartment was small, and Lucy had to sit with her legs tucked up. She sank low, her whole body hidden except for the top of her head. Her heart raced, mortified by the situation. This was her first time bathing with a guy.
"Still shy?" Nate asked, lounging against the tub's edge.
Of course, she was! Frustrated, she stole a glance through her fingers. He had a good physique, with defined abs… She felt an odd urge to touch them…
"One million," she muttered.
"Huh?"
"For this bath," she said, "one million!"
"You know robbing a bank is illegal, right?" he teased.
"Fine, fifty thousand…" she sighed, and he burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" she snapped, feeling foolish being the only embarrassed one. She lowered her hands, deciding to be bold. If he wasn't flustered, why should she be?
Catching her staring, Nate smirked. "Wanna feel?"
"Wha—can I?" she asked, startled.
"Little fox," he teased, dodging her splash. "You're the flirt here."
"You're the big flirt!" she retorted, splashing him back.
"Nothing wrong with a man liking what he likes," he replied, pulling her close until she stumbled into his arms. Her hands found his abs for support.
"Well, feel free," he said playfully. "No charge for me. Now it's my turn."
"Ah! Nate, you big jerk! Pervert!" she cried, laughing, and the two continued playfully splashing each other in the bath.
Chapter 190: Flirting with Lucy and Precht Message
Nate usually finished his baths in just ten minutes.
For Lucy, with her preference for a good soak, it took at least an hour. But when the two of them bathed together, it somehow stretched to over two hours.
Nate was convinced Lucy wasn't being entirely honest. She kept saying "no" and "I don't want to bathe with you," but once they were in the bath, she seemed to enjoy it even more than he did.
So, he thought, why not keep the momentum going?
After their bath, Nate was ready to join Lucy in bed, looking forward to holding her close.
"No way! Out, now! I'm not sharing a bed with you," she insisted, wrapped in a bath towel, pushing him out of her room.
With a resounding "slam," the door shut, leaving Nate outside, slightly exasperated.
Something didn't add up. Wasn't this supposed to happen naturally? Had the moment not been right? They'd already bathed together!
Maybe she just wasn't comfortable enough with him yet. But then again, she wouldn't have agreed to the bath if she didn't like him.
Lost in thought, Nate made his way back to his apartment, where he received a message.
Gotta Earn Money: "Here's your bill!"
- Kiss: 200,000 J.
- Touching (you-know-what): 200,000 J.
- Bathing together: 500,000 J.
- Cooking, five times: 15,000 J.
- Laundry, seven items: 7,000 J.
Remaining debt: 37,797,000 J 36,875,000 J.
Nate chuckled, a little amused and a bit at a loss.
Sigma Male: "Classic rich girl—charging me for touching you but letting you touch me for free. "
Gotta Earn Money: "You're the one who said that! Hmph. "
Sigma Male: "Then why kick me out? We could've just slept together."
Gotta Earn Money: "You perv! I know you'd try something. "
Sigma Male: "You misunderstand. I only wanted to hold you. ️"
Gotta Earn Money: "I don't buy it! I know exactly what you're thinking... Anyway, the answer is no!"
Sigma Male: "Thinking about what?"
Gotta Earn Money: ""
Gotta Earn Money: "I'm going to sleep now. You're so annoying. "
"Yeah, right. Like you're actually sleeping," Nate thought, smiling to himself. If Lucy didn't want him over, he could always visit one of his official girlfriends.
He sent a quick message to Ultear.
Witch of Pain: "Meredy's asleep, my love. Come on over~~ "
The witch really was the best! Nate prepared to teleport over, but then something dawned on him.
Maybe... maybe Lucy had been waiting for a confession. That could explain why she hadn't wanted him to stay.
Pausing, he sent her another message.
Sigma Male: "Now that you've seen all of me, I'm no longer pure. You have to take responsibility!"
Gotta Earn Money: ""
Gotta Earn Money: "If you say one more dumb thing, I'll smack you! "
Sigma Male: "Lucy, what do you think our relationship is?"
Gotta Earn Money: "Debtor and creditor..."
Sigma Male: "I see you as my girlfriend. Do you see me as your boyfriend?"
Lucy lay on her bed, staring at the message. A joyful feeling bubbled up inside her, and she couldn't help but roll around with her pillow, nearly falling off the bed.
How should she respond?
She tried to calm herself down and started typing, her face flushed.
"I don't know. I'm going to bed!" she wrote, then deleted it.
No, that wouldn't do. He might misunderstand.
"After what you've done, you better not abandon me, or I'll tell my dad!"
No, that was too embarrassing.
"I'd like that..."
No, that sounded strange in response to his question.
She sighed, wishing Nate would just be straightforward and confess, like in her favorite romance novels.
After a while, she finally sent her answer.
Gotta Earn Money: "Yes!"
Just one word.
Nate rubbed his chin, chuckling to himself. "Guess I've ended up with another girlfriend. This is bound to backfire on me someday."
Sigma Male: "Just because you're my girlfriend doesn't mean you're off the hook for your debt. "
Gotta Earn Money: ""
They continued chatting a while longer until she drifted off. Then Nate, freshly changed, headed to Ultear's place for their date.
…
The Next Day
On his way to the guild, Nate received a notification.
[User "Precht" has accepted your friend request.]
Precht: "Nate, your [Magic App] is truly astonishing. I'm thoroughly impressed."
Sigma Male: "I've always admired your mastery of magic as well, Second Master."
Precht: "Haha, why not leave Fairy Tail and join my guild instead?"
Sigma Male: "But didn't I already 'steal' Ultear from your guild? What purpose would I have there now?"
Precht: "…"
Precht: "Ah, young people... makes me think of my younger days."
Sigma Male: "Actually, the Third Master told me you used to be quite the 'lone wolf' back in the day."
Precht: "Regarding Ultear, I won't pursue the matter further—consider it on your behalf."
That was an abrupt subject change, Nate thought, amused. Just then, another message popped up.
….
Precht: "You've taken Kain Hikaru's soul, haven't you? Could you consider releasing him?"
Sigma Male: "Speaking of which, I appreciate you sending him my way. His magic, 'Ushi no Koku Mairi', has been incredibly useful."
Precht: "Ah, interested in learning it, are you? Haha… Let me send you a Magic Book on the subject."
[Your friend "Precht" has sent you a Magic Net Delivery. Would you like to accept it?]
Nate clicked "Confirm," and in a flash of golden light, a magic book materialized.
"Lost Magic: Ushi no Koku Mairi!"
Nate was genuinely surprised. "Precht is surprisingly generous."
He flipped through the book briefly, finding nothing immediately suspicious. Still, Nate knew better than to let his guard down. 'With his depth of knowledge,' Nate thought, 'Precht is an incredibly skilled mage, possibly stronger than some of the Council's elite. Even Makarov couldn't contend with him.'
Not entirely sure if the book held hidden traps, he planned to let Mavis inspect it later.
Sigma Male: "Thank you, Second Master, for the Magic Book."
Sigma Male: "But I can't release him just yet—I still need his magic to develop a new feature."
Nate felt he was being fairly straightforward with Precht, not concealing his intentions.
Precht: "It wasn't easy for me to cultivate loyal followers like the Kin of Purgatory. Please consider releasing him afterward."
Sigma Male: "Of course, absolutely. Next time, for sure."
Soon, Nate arrived at the guild's tavern. With the Harvest Festival behind them, the guild members had returned to their usual routines. As he stepped into the lively, bustling atmosphere, the familiar noise hit him like a wave.
/Bleam
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