Bring Payment

Lucy frowned. "Demon Slayer magic… is that really what froze the village?"

Erza shook her head. "I've never encountered it before—this is new even to me."

Su Yan, watching the fading embers of the Eternal Flame's altar, frowned in thought.

A booming voice rang out as Atlas Flame's visage faded from the fire. "I recall now… the fiercest demon bound in Zeref's Book—END. Four hundred years ago I failed to destroy him…" His words trailed off, and the last of his consciousness vanished.

Immediately, the altar's heat surged outward. Every ice seal shattered: frozen buildings thawed, the great ice statues of the giants cracked, and life returned to the village at last.

A towering giant blinked, dazed. "What… where am I?"

Another giant peered down at Su Yan and the others. "Humans—here?"

The newcomers stepped forward respectfully. Erza bowed. "We are mages of Fairy Tail Guild. We came to lift the curse."

The giants exchanged astonished glances, then relief. "You saved us… thank you."

Su Yan smiled. "It was our magic that restored your home."

The giants clapped once, and soon a great banquet was prepared in the village square. Su Yan, Natsu, Gray, Erza, Lucy, and Happy—all gratefully accepted, for the long journey had left them famished.

High above, concealed among the trees, Minerva gritted her teeth. "That fool—entrusting this to Fairy Tail's best!"

She'd staked her reputation on Dream Demon Eye's mission and hidden as Deliatei and Kyôka engaged the guild. Yet in the end, that hulking Su Yan and his allies had overwhelmed them without difficulty.

With the village freed, Minerva saw no point staying. She slipped away toward the forest's edge.

That evening, Minerva returned to Dream Demon Eye's headquarters… only to find the guild in ruins. Doors torn from their hinges, walls splintered, corridors empty.

"What happened?!" she whispered, fear pricking her voice.

Scattered on the floor lay dozens of small paper dolls—each bearing the mark of a missing guildmate. Minerva's hand trembled as she picked one up.

A calm voice spoke behind her. "Those unworthy of power… we reduce to powerless forms."

She whirled—before her stood a pale woman whose eyes shone with cruel amusement.

"This is Kyôka," the woman said. "One of Tartaros's Nine Demon Gates."

Minerva staggered. Tartaros's name chilled her blood. "Why… why destroy your own guild?"

Kyôka's lips curved in a cold smile. "Strength requires merit. The weak deserve no power."

Minerva's heart pounded. "No… you can't—"

Kyôka lifted a hand, and the paper dolls rustled on the floor like dying whispers.

Back in the village square, the giants raised their goblets to Su Yan and his companions.

Warod Sequen, observing from the sidelines, applauded heartily. "Excellent work, all of you!"

Natsu puffed out his chest. "It was nothing—we're just glad to help."

Gray elbowed him. "Stop bragging."

Lucy rolled her eyes. "You two are insufferable."

Erza smiled softly. "It's remarkable how it all connected to Tartaros's machinations."

Warod turned serious. "We'll report the incident to the Magic Council. As for your reward…"

Happy's eyes lit up. "Yes—payment!"

Warod held out a single, freshly dug potato. "From my family's fields."

Lucy stared. "…A potato?"

Warod winked. "Or maybe it's a gift from the villagers. Either way—"

He grinned broadly. "Bring the money next time!"

Natsu and Gray groaned, collapsing onto a nearby bench—hungry heroes still waiting for their proper reward.