章 25: Heading North

The day after the whole invasion mess, things seemed to settle down in the village. We got in touch with the Rune Knights, and together we dealt with the aftermath, taking care of the fallen folks from Rosemary and giving them a proper send-off. This time, I figured I wouldn't keep my involvement on the down-low with the inquisitors. Building a bit of a name for myself seemed like a good move, especially given my age, if I wanted to kickstart a guild.

Gramps threw in his two cents, pointing out that if I were starting a run-of-the-mill hunter's or treasure guild, the process would be a walk in the park. But magic guilds? They're a whole different ball game, apparently. Super picky about who they let in. Anyway, the Rune Knights weren't exactly sold on the idea of a 9-year-old taking on a cult. So, I did a quick 'demonstration,' which may or may not have accidentally set a nearby hill on fire—much to Gramps' annoyance. Surprisingly, it worked, and they were all in.

They even went ahead and invited me to join some magic academy. In another life, that might've been tempting, but right now, I've got other plans—or maybe I should say, a plan that got kinda forced on me. Ain't got time to be sitting in a classroom. Gotta deal with what's in front of me, you know?

The Rune Knights were getting all worked up because they couldn't grab anyone from the cult, hoping to squeeze out the Tower's location from them. Now, about the guy I managed to snag – I decided to keep that nugget of info under wraps. Didn't spill the beans to the knights, the village, or even Gramps. Sure, he knows I used to be in the military, but I don't reckon he'd be thrilled to find out his grandson was on the brink of torturing a dude. Plus, if he catches wind that I've got the Tower's whereabouts, he'd probably shoot off a letter to his buddy Makarov, throwing in some tidbits about this Rob character and Councilman Yajima.

Gramps talks a big game about Fairy Tail being this tight-knit crew. If he's right, they'd likely whip up a rescue party for the Tower. Now, I'm cool with that, but there's a hitch—I'm not sure if the main quest is down with outsiders barging in or if it's gotta be a solo gig. Then there's the magic council. If they're as spineless as Gamgee describes them, drawing on my share of run-ins with cowardly governments in my past life, they might skip the whole rescue squad business and go straight for the big guns—Etherion, their version of a magical nuke.

So, my lips must stay sealed on the location. Or, well, they will be once I wring it out of that guard. Gotta keep this intel on the down-low if I want any shot at handling things my way.

There's this other thing on my mind, and it's that girl Kagura. She keeps buzzing around, asking me to teach her magic so she can rescue her brother and some redhead she keeps bringing up. At first, I couldn't care less. I don't even know if I can teach magic since I use mana and not ethernano—Gamgee would probably make a way better instructor. But then it hit me; Kagura's no random NPC. With a backstory like hers, she's likely got some serious talent. So, we made a deal. I agreed to teach her magic (starting tomorrow), and in return, she'll join my guild. She was all for it, no hesitation. As for schooling Kagura in magic, I figure I can just hit up Gamgee for advice when I need it. If she's as skilled as I suspect, I might play the mysterious card, drop some profound-sounding lines, and let her connect the dots herself. Sometimes, a bit of enigmatic guidance does the trick.

Now, most folks wouldn't put much stock in the promises of an 8-year-old, but I can tell Kagura's not the type to backtrack on her word. It should all work out fine. But for now, I'm just chilling in my room, sitting on the bed, with a bunch of other stuff on my plate. To catch you up, let me flash you back a bit.

About 5 Minutes Ago:

Lounging on my bed after an early morning meal, I found myself unable to catch some shut eye, perhaps due to the lingering adrenaline from the previous day's events. Gramps was catching some Zs in his room, and Kagura had taken up residence in one of the guest bedrooms. According to Gramps, she's now my responsibility, so, being the dutiful master, I offered my dear disciple a place under my roof.

"Hey, Light," I initiated my internal dialogue with my partner, "Is the coverless grimoire what I think it is?"

DING! "As the host has likely guessed, the coverless grimoire lacks a template and will bond with the host, enabling the awakening of their innate magical attribute. When the host first activated the system, he chose the beginner's pack instead of forging his unique path, even against my advice. The odds of getting another shot at this opportunity were slim, but the host earned it by steering clear of reliance on the system."

"You do throw in some compliments now and then, don't you? Anyway, I'm guessing the other reward is pretty self-explanatory."

DING! "Indeed, the early completion mission allows the host to undertake a completion mission for any template at any time, regardless of the current progress—whether it's 0% or 98%. However, there are some distinctions from the standard completion mission. Would the host like to know them?"

"Sure thing," I responded.

DING! "To start, unlike the regular completion missions tied to your template, the early completion mission will unfold in Earthland. That means your consciousness and physical body will be transported to the mission location. The difficulty level will be notably higher. To accommodate for that, although the host will once again be barred from accessing other templates, they will have the liberty to utilize other functions of the system, including applicable tickets and the inventory. Lastly, just like before, the host won't be clued in on the mission details until they find themselves warped to the location."

"Light, let's cut the crap. You're just winging it, aren't you?"

"...." No response, huh? Figures.

"All right, let's kick it up a notch. Light, show me Vetto's template," I commanded.

-Name: Vetto

-Alias: Vetto the Despair

-Race: Elf

-Magic: Beast Magic

-Age: 27

-Height: 195 cm

-Blood Type: O

-Eyes: Purple

-Hair: Blond

-Country: Neutral Zone (Elysia)

-Occupation: Village Protector

-Affiliation: Ten Apostles of Sephirah (Formerly)

-Progress: 45%

45%, huh? Looks like I made some headway during my scrap with Marx. Now, I'm gearing up for a tougher mission, and I'm not even halfway to Vetto's strength. But, hey, I don't have much time. I've got about a year before the whole eunuch fate comes knocking, and I'm not keen on cutting it that close. That's why, within the next six months, I'm storming that tower to save everyone. And if I'm gonna face Marx, I need to ramp up my strength in a hurry.

Back to the present:

I gave a decisive nod: "Alright, decision made. Light, kick off the early completion mission!"

DING! "Redeeming 'Early Completion Mission' (Legendary) x1 for Vetto. Initiating transfer in 3....2....1. Best of luck!"

A sense of space folding engulfed me, bathed in a soft glow as I was swiftly transported from my current location.

------

Ur:

"Hahh...Hahh..."

Blood and sweat traced down my countenance as I assumed a kneeling position to steady myself, my gaze fixed upon that formidable entity. A colossal beast, a demonic force wreaking unbridled havoc— the very object of my cherished student's animosity and fury.

The entity, Deliora, manifested as a massive humanoid Demon, adorned in dark blue. Its substantial torso boasted two formidable arms terminating in scaly hands. A profusion of spikes adorned its torso, neck, and ominous presence. The creature's lower extremities comprised two massive legs, avian in resemblance with additional spikes embellishing the rear. A flowing, mane-like arrangement of hair descended to the nape of its neck. Prominent upward-pointing horns adorned its forehead, accentuating a visage characterized by large, pointed teeth and hollow eyes.

Deliora cast its menacing gaze upon me, treating my existence with the disdain reserved for a slightly stronger ant, potentially registering as a mere cockroach within its purview. This hollow, despair-inducing gaze underscored a truth I had long acknowledged—I wasn't the mightiest. Contrary to the assertions of many, including my student, I remained humble, cognizant of the superior beings inhabiting the Western territories, Gildarts being a prime example. Nonetheless, my pride in my magical prowess persisted. I considered myself a proficient mage, on par with the esteemed Wizard Saints. Yet, this monstrous behemoth served as a brutal reckoning, stripping away a limb and leaving me bereft of a retort. There was one recourse available, though I admit, hesitation lingered for understandable reasons.

"I don't know what to do...I never thought he'd be this strong..." I uttered, my voice quivering.

My eyes widened as a beam of ice began to materialize magically within the beast's jaw, its trajectory set toward... my two students! Lyon and Gray lay defenseless, sprawled on the ground amidst the ruins of Brago, now reduced to rubble.

"Shit!" I cursed under my breath, my body moving on instinct as I lunged with every ounce of strength to shield my two cherished students from harm. We narrowly evaded the icy assault, albeit witnessing further devastation inflicted upon the already beleaguered town.

"Hahh...Hahh...Hahh...Hahh..." I panted wearily, holding my two students close in my embrace. At that moment, I could sense Gray stirring from beneath my chest.

Panic and fear seized him as he attempted to break free and flee, his cries echoing through the air: "Waaahh!!!!" His terrified screams tugged at my heart, witnessing the typically confident young boy overcome with such profound fear.

"Gray!!!" I exclaimed, propelling myself towards him to envelop him in another tight embrace. Drawing him back into the shelter of my arms, I endeavored to reassure him: "It's alright!! It's all right now!!!" I held him even tighter as he shivered, a rather ironic display for an ice mage, but I understood it wasn't due to the cold.

As he regained his composure, he uttered in incredulous fear: "Ur...?!!! What...? Why...?!!!"

You know why, you idiot, I thought. I'd never leave you alone. But now wasn't the time for words.

Instead, I issued a directive: "Listen to me!! Take Lyon and get away from here...I can't fight him and protect you guys at the same time!!"

"Lyon...?" He queried, perhaps the urgency in my voice preventing him from discerning the slight untruth.

"He's out cold, but..." Before I could complete my sentence, I swiftly propelled Gray and the unconscious Lyon to the side, a necessary action as Deliora advanced closer, eliciting an alarmed "EEE!!" from my distressed student.

I shifted my gaze to the side, observing his struggle to hoist Lyon onto his back, and urged him, "Hurry up and go!!! I'll take care of this thing!!!"

However, he continued to tremble, his head bowed in a mix of shame and frustration as he stammered, "Wh-Why... did you come...? Y-You and I... were through... right?"

A gentle smile graced my countenance as I turned to address him, blood trailing down my right eye and a light blush playing across my cheeks. "A little while ago, an old friend advised me to consider my own happiness. I never thought I was particularly unhappy, though... I mean, why should I be? I've got two cute little disciples. And I've watched them grow in their own noisy way day after day. I'd call that happy!"

I then turned by toward, him and slowly limped towards the demon: "I came here to get that happiness back." That must have been a bad move because he saw it.

"U-Ur....No...Y-your...Your leg....," he tearfully stuttered.

Yeah, that's right. Deliora took my right leg. I pivoted back to face him, offering a smile with my right arm resting on my respective hip: "I lost it, but it's really nothing to worry about. Now, do you see how wonderful maker magic is?"

Tears streamed down like rivers from Gray's eyes as I carried on speaking: "If that monster is your darkness... it means that I have a good reason to fight it."

"Go!!" I commanded. "I'll take that thing down!!"

He shook his head in denial, his tears mingling with his snot. "N-no... I can't go...It's all my fault that this happened..."

A gentle smile graced my face: "It's nobody's fault." My dear Gray. "It's just one of the trials we have to go through to be happy again."

The tears persisted as he met my gaze once more, and on his right shoulder, I observed Lyon awakening, his gaze now shadowed.

Hoh boy, here we go, I thought.

"Ur... Are you seriously going to do this?" Lyon uttered in a dark tone, causing me to momentarily pause in shock.

"Lyo-" Gray attempted to intervene but was rebuffed by him. "You talk about happiness... What's that about?!" Lyon demanded of me.

"...," I found no immediate response, allowing him to press on.

And press on he did as he approached me with a palpable sense of desperation, sweat rolling down the side of his face. "Ur, you're the strongest wizard I know... You should have no problem beating a monster like that," he asserted, while Gray remained stationary behind him, observing the unfolding scene with tears in his eyes.

Knowing that an urgent response wouldn't satisfy Lyon, as he was among those few who worshipped my strength, I tried to calmly talk to him. "We talked about this before, Lyon! There's always someone more powerful out there. If you go into the Western nations, there are loads of wizards who are better than I am!"

"No, there aren't... No, you're the best!" He retorted before continuing, "If you aren't... then... what have I been doing all this training for?!!"

Oh, that's right. His goal was to surpass me. I attempted to soothe him, saying, "Once you've surpassed me, you can find a higher target to aim at, right?" I reasoned with him.

Instead, he shot me an ugly expression, his eyes beginning to water as he stammered a response. "I only became your disciple because I thought you were the best... You can't let that monster beat you! Don't betray me like that..."

"Lyon..." I sighed, realizing he admired me, but I hadn't anticipated it reaching such an obsessive extent.

He then positioned himself in front of me, squarely facing Deliora. His stance widened, and he bent down, crossing his arms outward like an X. "If you don't intend to give your all, then I will!!"

"! That position..." I regarded him with a mix of shock and horror, comprehending his intentions.

Magical energy began to envelop him, steadily growing more potent. I dashed towards him, demanding, "Where did you learn that magic?!!!"

"Huh?" I could discern Gray's questioning tone in the background, intensifying my anxiety.

Reaching for Lyon's back, he remained resolute, facing the demon as his magical power continued to surge. "It takes you forever to teach me any of the really strong magic!! So I decided to read the magic books you had in storage on my own! This is really strong magic, and you've been hiding it... Iced Shell!!"

I seized the back of his jacket, attempting to pull him away and abort the spell before it was too late. "Lyon!!! You didn't read the book all the way to the end, did you?!! Anybody who uses that magic will-"

"Waa!" I was abruptly cut off as Lyon's magical power manifested, creating an icy blue dome around him that blew me backward.

"Ur!!!" Gray's anxious cries reached my ears. "Wh-What terrifying magic power..." he exclaimed, clearly shocked.

It appeared my unruly student wasn't the only one who sensed it, as the beast turned towards us. "Tsk!! He's noticed us!!" I gritted out.

"No magic affects Deliora directly. So what I must do is trap him forever in magical ice!!" Lyon grimly shouted.

Damn it, Lyon! I attempted to resolve this without resorting to force, but you forced my hand. "You can't use that magic!!!" I exclaimed, stretching my right palm out and freezing my disobedient student in a series of crystalline icicles.

"Ur!! What did..." Gray attempted to question my actions.

"He can't do that!! When a wizard uses Iced Shell... the body of that wizard is destroyed!" I weakly responded, causing him to remain in a state of shock and horror.

I painfully rose to my feet, clenching my fists, and mused aloud about the coincidence. "But, he was right. That is the only way to bring that monster down... I never imagined... that Lyon would try what I was planning to do..."

I lightly smirked, "That's a disciple for you, huh?"

From behind me, I could hear the pain in Gray's voice, "Y-you say you were planning..."

"Get back!!!" I cut him off and lunged forward, adopting the same stance as my misguided student.

"Ur!!!" Gray cried, but I paid him no heed.

I locked my gaze with the demon, which responded with a furious roar. I spoke my own two cents, "I will not let you anywhere near my disciples!!! This is the end, creature!!!!"

My magic surged as I prepared to unleash the spell at the demon. However, something unexpected occurred next.

A brilliant, blinding glow materialized amid the rubble, capturing everyone's attention and breaking my concentration, thus dispelling the spell.

Whether it was Deliora, Gray, or myself, we all shielded our gaze from the intense light, only lifting our eyes when it subsided. My pupils constricted as, out of nowhere, a boy of my student's age, clad in light clothes unfit for the frigid north, with obsidian black hair akin to Gray's and golden pupils, emerged from the source of the light.

Instead of freezing in terror at the beast before him, he moved forward, surveying the ruined town with his gaze as his expression darkened. He then casually stepped in front of me, prompting an urge to lecture him to step back.

However, before I could speak, he pointed crudely to the demon in front of him: "S'up, motherfucker!"