Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Gildarts Defeated in Seconds?! The Sudden Arrival of Selene
"This woman is beautiful, isn't she?"
"Who is she, anyway? And when did she show up here?"
"Hey, does anyone else think she looks a lot like Erza?"
As Irene suddenly appeared on the scene...
Everyone instinctively turned their eyes toward her, captivated by her stunning beauty and even more shocked by her uncanny resemblance to Erza. They shared the same crimson hair, similar facial features, a like aura, and even a comparable magical energy.
"Erza, who is this?"
Makarov and Gildarts, intrigued and curious, glanced at young Erza and quietly asked.
"She's Irene Belserion, my mother."
Erza responded truthfully.
"What?!"
In an instant, every mage in the guild was stunned, their mouths agape in disbelief. Their gazes darted between Erza, Irene, and Ian, trying to process this revelation.
"I'd like to introduce everyone," Ian finally stood up and announced, "This is my wife, Irene Belserion. And yes, as you may have guessed, Erza is our daughter."
"Well, that's a surprise..."
"Never thought you'd secretly get married behind our backs, Ian, and to such a beautiful wife and a daughter so adorable. Unbelievable!"
"Ian, how could you keep this from us? Are we even family to you?"
After Ian's announcement, Gildarts slung an arm around Ian's neck, pulling him into a playful hold, and shouted in mock anger.
"Not bad yourself," Ian smirked at Gildarts, glancing briefly at Cana in the crowd before adding a cryptic remark that left Gildarts scratching his head.
But before Gildarts could ponder further, Ian leaned closer. "By the way, Gildarts, there's something you need to know—it concerns your life. I'm only telling you because I think of you as family..."
"And that's why," Ian continued, "I wasn't planning to introduce you to my wife, Irene."
"Why not?" Gildarts asked, a bit puzzled.
Honestly, based on Gildarts' experience with women...
If Irene looked this stunning, her friends were probably quite attractive too.
Considering his deep brotherly bond with Ian...
Would it really hurt for Irene to introduce him to a friend or two?
Just the thought sent Gildarts into a daydream.
"Because..." Ian paused, not because he didn't want to explain but because he felt no further explanation was needed.
"You must be Gildarts?"
"Ian has spoken of you often."
Irene, knowing exactly who Gildarts was, looked at him with a gentle smile and asked.
"Uh, yes…" Gildarts, caught off guard, blinked before breaking into a wide grin. "It seems Ian talks about me quite a bit! If he ever gives you any trouble, just come to me—I'll set him straight."
"Oh, my, no need for you to interfere in our relationship," Irene laughed sweetly. "The reason I asked your name... was simply to ensure that I don't mistakenly punish the wrong person later."
"Huh?"
Gildarts was momentarily stunned, unable to grasp what Irene meant.
What did she mean by "punish"?
Boom!
Before Gildarts could react, a powerful surge of magical energy struck him.
"Didn't expect the missus here to be a mage too," he muttered. "And she's using gravity magic, just like Ian..."
"But gravity magic doesn't work on me," Gildarts sneered. He sensed Irene's intent to attack and, with his finely honed mage instincts, immediately recognized her magic and prepared to counter with his crushing magic.
However, just as a magic circle began to glow at his fingertips, Irene gently pursed her red lips and murmured, "No crushing magic."
Buzz...
The moment she finished speaking, Gildarts' crushing magic instantly fizzled, vanishing like a spent firecracker.
"What?"
Gildarts was utterly astonished. This was the first time his crushing magic had failed him.
Honestly, he couldn't fathom how Irene's magic worked—it was as if her words held an authority that transcended typical magic.
Her magic was beyond anything Gildarts could comprehend.
Unfortunately for him, Irene didn't give him time to dwell on it.
"Goodbye~"
With a playful wave, Irene sent Gildarts flying across the guild hall with a wave of lateral gravity, smashing him through the ceiling and out of sight.
In that instant, Gildarts experienced the same fate that Natsu often endured—a close encounter with the ceiling of the guild hall. His scalp and the ceiling shared an all-too-intimate moment...
It faintly reminded him of his first days at Fairy Tail when he'd once foolishly challenged Makarov and was knocked out in a single punch.
"Ah..."
For a moment, the entire guild hall was stunned into silence. The mages of Fairy Tail, curious onlookers drawn by rumors of a beauty contest, even Makarov and Ur, who was one of the Ten Wizard Saints—all watched in disbelief.
"The legendary Gildarts, known to rival the Ten Wizard Saints…"
"The man rumored to be the most powerful mage on Ishgar's western continent?"
"He got one-shotted?!"
"Is this some kind of dream?"
No one could believe what they had just witnessed.
"Gildarts, defeated?"
"By Erza's mother?"
"And Erza is Ian's daughter?"
"What the...?"
Natsu's eyes widened in disbelief. He felt as if he'd received too much information in half an hour, his brain spinning in confusion.
"If you didn't know about the others, fine," Gray said, exasperated, "but not knowing Erza is Ian's daughter? Are you seriously that dense?"
"Hasn't Erza always called Ian 'Father'?"
Gray sighed, glancing at Natsu with a helpless expression.
Just how thickheaded was he?
As thick as steel beams, probably.
"I... had no idea..." Natsu mumbled, clearly lost.
"Aye!" Happy chirped, sitting atop Natsu's head.
"What's 'aye' about that?"
"What do you mean 'aye'?" Gray sighed, shaking his head. "Like owner, like cat."
"Apologies, my wife has zero tolerance for playboys," Ian remarked, shaking his head as he looked at the airborne Gildarts.
"Ian, it's time we talked about our matters," Irene's voice, cold and distant as glacial ice, sounded behind him.
"Irene, let me explain—no, wait, hear me out."
Ian turned, his forehead beading with sweat, looking at Irene's beautiful yet intimidating face.
"Enough talking…"
Before Ian could say more, Irene pulled him close, cupping his face and kissing him passionately.
Ian's eyes widened before he wrapped his arms around her waist, returning her kiss with fervor.
In that instant, the two were lost in each other.
"Whoa~"
Everyone in the guild covered their mouths in awe, not daring to interrupt the couple's heartfelt moment.
The younger members, including Erza, watched intently, wide-eyed.
This was the world of grown-ups?
Intimidating indeed.
"Hah~"
Ian and Irene finally separated, Ian's legs trembling as Irene released him. With a proud, victorious smile, she glanced at Ur and, in a not-so-subtle voice, declared, "See that? He's mine."
"This woman really gets on my nerves," Ur growled, veins pulsing in her forehead.
"Mother, calm down; we can't beat her."
Ultear quickly stepped onto the stage, pulling Ur back and soothing her.
"Ian, I missed you so much," Irene said tenderly, caressing Ian's face, her voice filled with love and longing.
"I missed you too, Irene," Ian's reply was heartfelt. He truly had missed her, even during the times he'd thought his journey was a hopeless dream.
He'd promised himself that one day he'd be strong enough to stand beside her.
And he had finally reached that point… though Irene's power was still formidable enough to force him by her side.
"Ahem… What about me?!"
At that tender moment, Erza quietly approached her parents, feeling very much like an afterthought.
So, her parents were true soulmates, and she, Erza, was simply a byproduct?
If Irene and Ian had heard her thoughts, they would have surely embraced her lovingly and said, "Of course we love you! But remember, it's because of our love that we have you, our precious daughter."
"Oh my~"
"Isn't this a beauty contest?"
"Why are you all just standing there?"
"Or is there only one contestant, that woman just now?"
"If that's the case, what's the point of having a contest?"
As everyone stood motionless, touched by the family reunion, a frivolous voice, dripping with mischief, shattered the serene moment.
"Um..."
"Excuse me, Miss, are you a contestant in this beauty contest?"
"I don't seem to have your information here."
Macao snapped back to his senses and looked towards the speaker, his face paling in shock.
The newcomer had long, bright golden hair like moonlight, a captivating face with a touch of allure, and narrow, fox-like eyes. Combined with her seemingly nonchalant expression, she was truly a devastating beauty.
"So if I'm not registered, I can't compete?"
"Then any beauty crowned without my presence wouldn't deserve the title of the best."
The woman chuckled, her voice as silky as her smile. She cast her gaze upon Ian, who was visibly trembling, and laughed. "Long time no see, Ian. Did you miss me in all those endless nights? If it weren't for that old hag, Irene, I would have taken you to my world to live a carefree life long ago~"
"Selene."
Irene shot her a piercing, frosty glare.
"Oh my, it's Irene."
"Apologies! I didn't notice you…"
"After all, I, Selene, never take notice of women who aren't even a tenth as beautiful as I am."
Selene laughed coquettishly, casting Irene a provocative look.
"Ian, you're amazing,"
Hearing the exchange, every mage in the guild pieced together Selene's relationship with Ian.
One by one, they silently admired him. To live as Ian did—what a feat!
"Haha, isn't today a celebration?"
"Since it's a celebration, we should have a feast!"
"Alright, let the banquet begin!"
Just as the atmosphere started to become tense, Selene was the first to break the awkwardness, clapping her hands together and speaking cheerfully.
"Right, right, right..."
"Today is a banquet."
"Everyone, let's get this party started! Don't let the mood die."
Hearing this, Makarov and the others immediately followed Selene's lead and continued speaking.
"So, Ian, come and be the judge!"
"Who is more beautiful? Me, or Irene?"
However, in the next second, Selene posed a deadly question, placing Ian on the precipice of disaster.
"Haha..."
Ian chuckled, eyes glinting with a mix of defiance, calm, despair, and resolve—a colorful pie chart of emotions.
Just kill him. Really...
Just obliterate him from existence. He was truly tired.
"So, all this time, I've been constantly striving to save others, but who will save me now?"
Ian looked up at the guild's ceiling. He saw the hole that Gildarts had made when Irene transformed him into a meteor, and he couldn't help but smile.
He was tired. It might be best if the world just ended.
---
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