Chapter 337: Zeref’s Warning, Hades is here!
When Nate received Zeref’s message, he had just returned to Magnolia.
The Sky Tree in South Gate Park had become his regular teleportation point. In the evening, the park was bustling with children engaged in Pokémon battles. Upon spotting Nate, the kids excitedly ran up to him.
“Wow! It’s Nate-niisan!”
“Hello there,” Nate replied with a warm smile, greeting the children.
“Nate-niisan, when is the next Pokémon competition? I want to win the championship too!”
“The next one, huh?” Nate thought to himself, Even I don’t know if there will be another one.
This year’s competition had gone smoothly and earned a hefty profit, so Princess Hisui likely intended to hold another one.
“There might be one next year.”
After chatting with the children for a while, Nate left the park and returned to his apartment. On his way back, he opened his private messages. When he saw Zeref’s message, he paused in surprise.
The second guild master has set his sights on the guild?
Sigma Male: “What’s going on?”
I Want To Live and Die Naturally: “Precht wants to take the Fairy Heart.”
I Want To Live and Die Naturally: “This has nothing to do with me. I’m keeping my promise not to go near Magnolia.”
From these brief messages, Nate pieced together the situation. Precht, the second guild master, had finally met Zeref, someone he had long idolized, and had revealed the existence of the Fairy Heart to him.
But that thing had already been extracted and was now quietly resting within the Deep Web.
Sigma Male: “Thanks for the intel.”
I Want To Live and Die Naturally: “No problem. I just wanted to avoid any misunderstandings.”
Their conversation ended there. While Nate appreciated the warning, he didn’t fully trust Zeref’s words. He considered reaching out to Precht but ultimately decided against it. Even if he explained that the Fairy Heart had been extracted and that Mavis had already been revived, Precht probably wouldn’t believe him.
“Looks like I’ll have to fight him,” Nate sighed.
He didn’t harbor any ill feelings toward Hades—quite the opposite. Hades had been an old friend who had gifted him many magic books. To ensure safety, Nate decided to inform not the third master, but the fifth master—Makarov.
Fairy Tail Grandpa: “Hades has his eyes on the Fairy Heart?”
Sigma Male: “That’s the intel I received, but it’s unverified.”
Fairy Tail Grandpa: “Got it. I’ll stay at the guild for the time being.”
Are the two of you going to fight? Nate felt skeptical. The little old man was no match for the second master.
Sigma Male: “Master, if I remember correctly, you fought him in the [Magic Arena] once… and lost.”
Fairy Tail Grandpa: “That time, I was just caught off guard!”
Sigma Male: “If you fight this time, can you win?”
Fairy Tail Grandpa: “I will win!”
Hearing that didn’t fill Nate with confidence. He couldn’t help but feel exasperated. It seemed he would have to handle this matter himself.
…
That night, the girls returned home on the magic train, each heading back to their own places. Nate only realized that Lucy and Future Lucy had returned when he heard noise from the apartment next door. He listened closely and heard their conversation outside the door. He got up and went out to greet them.
“Lucy…”
Before he could say more, one of the Lucys let out a startled “Ah!” and, blushing furiously, dashed inside.
“What’s going on?”
The “main” Lucy, her cheeks also tinged pink, glared at him and scolded, “Are you an idiot?”
“Don’t tell me she’s still embarrassed?” Nate rolled his eyes. During the game, none of you seemed that shy.
Lucy sighed, exasperated. “Why aren’t you embarrassed?”
How infuriating! After all, Nate had also been seen naked by all the girls, yet he acted as if nothing had happened.
“It’s just being seen naked,” Nate shrugged. “What’s the big deal?”@@novelbin@@
“Thick-skinned!” Lucy huffed. “I’m not talking to you anymore! Cook your own dinner!”
With that, she slammed the door shut.
Nate chuckled and thought about how cramped it must be for two Lucys to share one apartment. Maybe I should get them a bigger place… But given how shy Future Lucy was, avoiding even seeing him, that plan would have to wait.
Back inside, Nate sent a message to Irene.
Sigma Male: “Come to my place.”
Shortly after, Irene knocked on his door. Nate invited her in and handed her a space card.
“This contains one million Magic Net rings. I’m entrusting them to you,” he said. “When you return to the Alvarez Empire, sell them as soon as possible. And make sure they’re activated!”
If the rings weren’t activated, they wouldn’t count as new users. Accounting for some inevitable losses, one million wouldn’t be enough; more would be needed later.
Irene took the card, her eyes soft with reluctance. “Then I’ll be off. But before I go, can I have a hug, Kami-sama?”
Nate obliged, hugging her and giving her a kiss. Only then did Irene smile. “Then… I’ll leave Erza in your care!”
With that, she departed.
Irene possessed flight magic and could take to the skies with ease. Though her speed wasn’t exceptional, once she reached a high enough altitude, she transformed into her dragon form, spread her wings, and disappeared into the clouds.
Nate watched her leave and murmured, “…If all goes well, by next month—no later than the month after—I’ll complete the mission.”
The western continent wasn’t a concern, not with Irene handling it. The problem was the northern continent. But that can wait. I’ll address it once Irene confirms enough rings are ready.
…
Late that night, a Magic Airship hovered silently over Magnolia. On its deck, four of the Seven Kin of Purgatory stood behind Hades, gazing at the darkened city below. They were accompanied by a white-haired Jellal.
“Every member of Fairy Tail possesses the passive super magic Fairy Law. I doubt you’ll succeed,” the white-haired Jellal remarked coldly.
“Ho ho ho… I’m merely reclaiming what’s mine,” Hades replied, gripping his staff.
With a single step forward, he floated off the deck, hovering effortlessly in the air. As someone who had delved deeply into the abyss of magic, flight magic was child’s play for him.
His parting words echoed in the air: “Don’t let anyone approach the guild.”
Kain Hikaru trembled, his face pale. “I don’t want to run into Nate again. If he catches me, it’s back to jail!”
“Coward! Let me handle this first!” Zancrow sneered, sprinting a few steps before leaping off the airship.
“It’s a two-thousand-meter drop. Try not to splatter,” Rustyrose quipped, adjusting his glasses. “Skyhawk.”
A massive eagle materialized, and he leapt onto its back, soaring off into the night.
Azuma crossed his arms and warned, “Don’t go too far! Trigger their Super Magic, and you’ll be the one to die.” He then turned to the white-haired Jellal. “And you?”
White Jellal’s expression changed. With a sudden step forward, his demeanor shifted entirely, and a chilling smile spread across his face.
“Good news and bad news—what do you want to hear first?”
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