"The Balamu Alliance... a new dark guild that the magic world has formed this year," Kira murmured to himself, his thoughts drifting back to memories of the past.
It wouldn't be long before they would face the Six Demon Generals. Kira recalled that this fight had been a collaborative effort involving Fairy Tail, Blue Pegasus, Snake Princess Scale, and Cat's Inn.
But this world... this world was undeniably strange.
As far as Kira had gathered, Aslant—this magical world—was comprised of several continents, with Ishgar as the southernmost. Yet everything significant always seemed to happen here, in the Kingdom of Fiore, one small coastal nation.
Even Uru, Gray's mentor, was only vaguely mentioned as being "far to the north," with no clear sense of the distance or location.
The Council, a governing body overseeing guilds across the entire continent, also seemed strangely centered around Fiore. Both the original and new Councils operated as though Fiore was their primary base, despite representing the broader Ishgar region.
The most perplexing aspect was the concentration of magic-related phenomena.
Fiore, with a population of less than 17 million and a modestly sized territory, remained a neutral player among nations. Yet it hosted the most renowned guilds: Fairy Tail, Blue Pegasus, Snake Princess Scale, Mermaid Heel, and Tiger Bite, among others.
It didn't stop there. The twelve Golden Zodiac Keys, allegedly unique in the world, were somehow all clustered in this small country.
The Ten Holy Wizards, proclaimed the continent's strongest by the Council, were also based in Fiore.
"Why does everything revolve around this one kingdom?" Kira muttered under his breath, thoroughly frustrated. After over 20 years in this world, the pattern still puzzled him. He couldn't help but blame the original author.
"What's wrong? Do you want us to act?" Kira snapped out of his musings at Markov's question.
"Yes," Markov continued, "After discussions among the guilds, we decided that Fairy Tail, Blue Pegasus, Snake Princess Scale, Phantom Lord, and Cat's Inn will form an alliance to fight the Dark Guild."
Kira froze. Phantom Lord?
"President," he asked cautiously, "are you sure you didn't misspeak?"
Phantom Lord, based in Woku City in northeastern Fiore, had been Fairy Tail's rival for over a century. Founded by the same group that Mavis had defeated long ago, the guild was often at odds with Fairy Tail.
Six years ago, Markov had bested Joseph, the current Phantom Lord master, in a drunken duel at a regular meeting. Joseph hadn't attended a meeting since, and tensions between the guilds remained high.
Could this strange twist be my fault? Kira wondered, unsettled.
"Did Joseph attend this meeting?" Kira asked, glancing around the room.
"No," Markov replied. "The Council decided to contact him directly. We need Phantom Lord's strength to face the Dark Guilds. Despite our differences, their combat capabilities are second only to ours."
Markov's warm smile made Kira uneasy.
"Perhaps," Markov added, "facing a common enemy will resolve years of conflict."
Kira could only sigh at the relentless optimism of Fairy Tail. He couldn't deny Markov's logic, though—after all, Phantom Lord's Gajeel and Juvia would eventually become allies in the future.
"I understand," Kira said finally. "I'll prepare for the operation."
"Good," Markov said, patting his shoulder. "I'll leave the intelligence gathering to you!"
While the others enjoyed the banquet that evening, Kira found himself preoccupied with the task ahead. As Fairy Tail's resident strategist, he often took on the burden of intelligence work. It wasn't just his vast network of contacts—it was also because, compared to his impulsive companions, Kira was often the only one thinking ahead.
At least this time, he could skip redundant investigations. Thanks to his knowledge of future events, Kira already knew everything relevant about the Six Demon Generals, Phantom Lord, and the Balamu Alliance.
Time saved is time earned, he thought, imagining the reward he'd treat himself to later.
Meanwhile, in Kunuki...
The train station had been cleaned up overnight, and traffic resumed by the next day. At noon, Kageyama, clutching the wooden flute Larabai, finally arrived, only to be met by the tearful remnants of the Iron Forest.
"Brother Kageyama!" a subordinate wailed. "The boss has been captured by the Council!"
"You're our only hope now!" cried another.
Kageyama stared at them, his grip tightening around the flute. "What happened? I was only asleep for a short while!"
That evening, Kageyama arrived in Clover Town under the cover of darkness. Hiding in the bushes outside the villa where the guild leaders were gathered, he clenched the cursed flute.
"The time for revenge has come," he muttered, his voice shaking with anticipation.
The villa glowed warmly in the night, the laughter and scent of food wafting through the air. Every sound felt like a taunt to Kageyama, fueling his resolve.
Raising Larabai to his lips, he took a deep breath. The moment I play this cursed song, they will all die!
But just as the flute touched his lips, a voice from behind startled him.
"Young man, why are you hiding here so late instead of going home to sleep?"
!!!!!!!
Kageyama spun around, his heart pounding. Behind him stood none other than Markov, Fairy Tail's master. The old man's kindly expression seemed oblivious to the malice radiating from Kageyama.
Caught off guard, Kageyama started coughing uncontrollably, almost dropping the flute in his panic.
"Ahem...ahem...!"
When he finally managed to catch his breath, Kageyama looked back at Markov, who regarded him with a calm, almost fatherly gaze.
Markov's voice was gentle, but his presence was overpowering.
"So, young man," Markov said again, "what brings you here tonight?"
Kageyama's knees buckled slightly. The flute slipped from his hand and fell to the ground.
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Fairy Tail again? Why is my luck so rotten today?!
Kageyama was utterly panicked, especially with Fairy Tail's master, Markov, standing before him. The elder had an air of both wisdom and strength that made it impossible to simply blow him off.
Thinking quickly, Kageyama plastered on a forced smile. "Well, uh…would you like to hear me play a tune?"
Markov squinted at the flute in Kageyama's hand. His voice carried a mix of curiosity and caution. "That flute… it doesn't look like something I'd enjoy listening to. Are you sure you want to play it?"
Kageyama's nerves were frazzled, but he pressed on. "Don't judge it by appearances. The sound is where it truly shines!"
Markov crossed his arms. "You seem awfully determined. Fine, I'll listen. But only one song—I'm busy."
"Of course! Just one song!"
Kageyama stroked the wooden flute in his hands. Its eerie design, carved with three ghastly skulls, didn't unnerve him anymore. Instead, it gave him a twisted sense of hope. This is it. Everything will change after this song.
With a deep breath, Kageyama prepared to play. Thoughts of vengeance, of proving himself, and of escaping the miserable darkness that defined his life filled his mind.
I will no longer be a lowly member of the Iron Forest. I'll become powerful and respected. No one will look down on me ever again.
Just as he raised the flute to his lips, Markov's voice cut through his thoughts.
"Nothing will change," Markov said calmly, his eyes filled with a wisdom that came from years of experience.
Kageyama froze.
Markov took a step closer, his voice growing gentler yet somehow more commanding. "Weakness is not something to be ashamed of. We are all weak, inherently so. But that's precisely why we need others. Companions, guilds, friendships—they're what help us grow stronger."
Kageyama felt his grip on the flute loosen slightly.
Markov continued, "You don't have to rely on something like that flute. You can achieve true strength by taking steps forward, little by little, with the help of those around you. Believe in tomorrow, and you'll find a way."
For a moment, Kageyama wavered. Markov's words were like sunlight breaking through the darkness he'd known his whole life. But as quickly as that light came, the shadows returned, fueled by years of bitterness and frustration.
"Damn it! What do you know, old man?!" Kageyama snapped.
Markov didn't flinch, his calm gaze never leaving Kageyama.
"What companions?! What guild?! All high-sounding nonsense! Do you think believing in tomorrow will magically make things better? That it will make me stronger? I've tried—over and over—but nothing changes!"
Kageyama's voice cracked as he unleashed years of pent-up anger.
"The strong crush the weak. That's the way the world works! You talk about guilds and camaraderie, but aren't regular guilds and dark guilds just labels created by those in power? Why should I have to cower in the shadows like a rat?!"
The fury in his voice crescendoed. He raised the flute again and blew into it with all his might.
But instead of a soul-crushing curse song, an odd moaning sound filled the air.
"Ahhh… aahhhh…"
Markov blinked, utterly confused. "What in the world…?"
Even Kageyama froze, his face turning bright red. "What the hell is this?! What's going on?!"
The sound grew louder, more embarrassing with every passing second.
Markov rubbed his temple, both amused and slightly annoyed. "It seems your cursed flute has a… peculiar tune."
From behind a tree, Kira emerged, unable to contain his laughter. "It's not the flute's fault, President. This is a result of… a little modification I made."
Kageyama's face twisted in realization. "You switched the flutes! It was you!"
Kira gave a nonchalant shrug. "I even apologized for bumping into you. You forgave me, remember?"
Kageyama's eye twitched. His rage bubbled over as the humiliating sound continued to play.
Nearby, Natsu, Gray, Erza, and Lucy were frozen in place, their faces flushed with secondhand embarrassment.
"This… is something else," Gray muttered, averting his eyes.
"Why… why won't it stop?" Lucy whimpered, hiding her face in her hands.
Even Erza, usually composed, looked like she didn't know where to look.
Kira noticed their reactions and grinned inwardly. Ah, the innocence of youth.
Finally, Kageyama couldn't take it anymore. He hurled the flute to the ground and stomped on it, smashing it into pieces. The humiliating noise ceased immediately.
Markov let out a sigh of relief. "Well, that's one way to solve the problem."
….
Meanwhile, at the Magical Council headquarters, ERA, the aftermath of the Iron Forest incident was being discussed.
"The Iron Forest was wiped out by a single Fairy Tail wizard," one councilor remarked, his tone both impressed and frustrated.
"And Kunuki Station was nearly destroyed in the process," another added, throwing a report onto the table.
"But they prevented a disaster," interjected Zekelein, his arms crossed. "Had Larabai been activated, the consequences would have been catastrophic."
Another councilor chimed in, "That's all well and good, but Fairy Tail's destructive tendencies can't be ignored. They're almost as much trouble as the dark guilds!"
"Don't forget," someone else added, "they haven't handed over Larabai yet. That cursed artifact can't remain in the hands of a guild."
"I think we can rely on Kira," said one councilor.
"Kira?"
"Yes, that young man from Fairy Tail. He's sharp, responsible, and one of the few in that guild with a proper sense of judgment."
Even as the council debated Fairy Tail's actions, one name seemed to rise above the chaos: Kira.
But not everyone was impressed.
Sitting quietly at the edge of the table, Urrutia smirked. "Kira… 'Sage,' huh? I haven't forgotten about Karna Island."
Her fingers curled into a fist. "One day, we'll settle that score."
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