Chapter 9: Gray: I Want to Be Strong Enough to Protect Ulu

Gray and Lyon looked at Ulu, their hearts trembling. They had never heard of Ulu's past before, and they didn't expect it to be like this. So Ulu once had a daughter.... Was it because she lost her daughter that she placed her emotional reliance on them?

But now Ulu's daughter wasn't dead. Watching Ulu's face, overcome with joy and tears, she resolutely said she was going to find her daughter. Then what about them...? What should they do? For a moment, the two were at a loss, and the meat in their mouths no longer tasted good.

The long-held knot in Ulu's heart dispersed, and her Magic power fluctuations involuntarily spread out, actually increasing significantly. Ulu also noticed this and quickly reined in her aura. A smile appeared on her face as she looked at Gael: "Thank you, Gael."

Gael opened his mouth and said: "It was just a small favor. Speaking of which, do you have any clothes of your daughter's? Are there things like hair on them? You could look for some. I'll help you make a tool. It can guide you in the direction."

When Ulu heard this, her eyes immediately lit up: "Yes! Wait a moment!" Ulu ran into the small house next door and opened the long-sealed wardrobe. She carefully searched for her daughter's hair strands on the preserved clothes. Soon, she found a few thin strands of hair and ran out excitedly, handing them to Gael: "Is this enough? I can look for more!" She looked at Gael expectantly.

Gael smiled and nodded, saying: "These are enough." As he spoke, he picked up the few strands of hair with his right hand. With a flip of his left hand, a square paper slip slightly larger than a thumb appeared. The drop of Ulu's blood that had just fallen onto the table floated up again and merged with the hair strands in Gael's right hand, emitting a faint bloody light, integrating them onto the paper slip in his left hand.

Subsequently, the thumb-sized square paper slip floated down onto the table. It trembled slightly towards the East, almost imperceptibly if not looked at closely. But in such a quiet environment, Ulu and the others were all nervously staring at the paper slip on the table, so it wasn't hard to notice this. They were still a bit confused.

Then they saw Gael point his hand, and the square-sized paper slip floated up and landed in Ulu's hand. Ulu spread her hands and carefully received it. Looking at the paper slip landing in her palm, Gael explained: "This thing is called a Life Card. It's integrated with your daughter's hair and your blood. Through the connection between your bloodlines, it can guide you in the direction where your daughter is."

"The direction of the trembling is your daughter's location. The Life Card is trembling towards the East, but it's almost imperceptible. This indicates that you are currently far away. The closer you are, the stronger the card trembles."

Hearing Gael's explanation, Ulu looked excited, staring at the card in her hand as if it were everything to her. Gray and Lyon also widened their eyes. This kind of thing.... How outrageous?! Can Magic be used like this?

Ulu carefully put away the card, feeling full of fighting spirit, and said solemnly to Gael: "Thank you." Besides thanking him, Ulu didn't know what else to say.

Gael smiled: "It's nothing. However, since you personally saw your daughter die back then, someone who dares to deceive a Magician like you, the strength of the person behind it should not be underestimated. Although the Curse just now was only for an instant, it was almost discovered by a powerful Magician over there. It should be the gathering place of a powerful Dark Guild."

Ulu's expression was solemn, and she nodded. Here in the northern part of Ishgar, her strength was considered quite high. But to be so easily deceived. Evidently, there was some conspiracy. However, there wasn't time to investigate now; finding her daughter was the priority: "After I find her, I will definitely find out."

Then Ulu looked at Lyon and Gray, saying apologetically: "I might have to break my promise, Lyon, Gray. I can't continue teaching you here."

Lyon and Gray panicked: "Ulu...."

Seeing the two of them panicking and at a loss, Ulu's lips suddenly curved slightly: "I can only teach you on the road. Do you want to go East with me?"

Lyon and Gray didn't expect Ulu to be talking about this. They breathed a sigh of relief, realizing they had been teased by Ulu. Lyon said, blushing: "Damn it! Not saying it all at once, that's too despicable! Then I'll reluctantly agree. Gray, what about you?"

Gray looked at Ulu and Lyon, opened his mouth, wanting to go with them. But when he thought about how he had almost killed Ulu and Lyon by foolishly challenging Deliola, Gray felt so ashamed that he didn't dare to face Ulu and Lyon anymore. His hands under the table clenched and unclenched, and he slowly lowered his head.

Lyon noticed something was wrong: "Gray?"

Ulu looked at Gray, her eyes softening a little. Knowing exactly what Gray was thinking, she said: "Gray, there's no need to blame yourself. You are my disciple, how could I just stand by and watch my disciple get hurt without doing anything? That was my choice. I believe that one day in the future, if you become a master, you will also make this choice. Besides, aren't we sitting here perfectly fine now? So, lift your head."

Gray's body trembled, and he slowly raised his head, looking at Lyon and Ulu: "I..." But he still couldn't speak. The guilt of almost killing Ulu and Lyon couldn't be erased with just a few words. Even if Ulu and Lyon didn't mind, Gray still couldn't get over it himself.

The room fell silent for a moment, with only the sound of water boiling in the pot. Seeing this, Gael spoke: "Ulu's journey to find her daughter will not be smooth sailing. When I cast the Curse just now, I could feel the powerful Dark Magic aura there. Since you are ashamed of your weakness, which almost killed your master and senior brother, then why not strive to become stronger. Until one day in the future, you can stand up and protect your master and senior brother."

Gray's heart trembled, and he looked at Gael: "Really?"

Gael shrugged: "Of course."

Lyon, who was next to Gray, widened his eyes and looked at Gray: "Huh? I need him to protect me?! I am Ulu's strongest disciple! Gray, you should be the one I protect!"

Ulu's lips twitched slightly. Slap! She slapped Lyon on the head. Honestly, this foolish disciple. Couldn't he see that Gael was trying to guide Gray?! And Gael's words also had an effect. Hearing Lyon say this, Gray took a deep breath: "No, Ulu's strongest disciple will definitely be me. When we meet next time, I will be the one to protect Ulu."

Lyon was stunned: "You're not coming with us?"

Gray's mind flashed with the strong people in the West countries that Ulu had mentioned, and the scene of Gael easily defeating Deliola. His eyes became much firmer: "I want to go West. Ulu said that there are many strong people on the continent, especially in the countries in the West. I want to go there and become stronger. Strong enough to protect Ulu."

Gray's resolute voice rang out. No one doubted the firm will behind that voice.

Ulu looked at Gray, her lips curving slightly: "Alright. I look forward to that day. As for getting stronger, there's no more suitable place in the West than Fairy Tail. That guy Gildarts, and Gael too, they are both from that Guild."

Gray's eyes were firm: "My goal is there." Then he looked at Gael, and Gray said: "Mr. Gael. What are the requirements to join Fairy Tail?"

Gael rubbed his chin and said: "There are no requirements. You just go to the Fairy Tail Guild, push open the door, and go in and say you want to join the Guild. Someone will put the Fairy Tail stamp on you."

Gray's determined expression froze: "Ah... Ah???" This.... Why does it feel so casual?