Chapter 119: Emily: Uncle Laxus is a Good Person

Happy seemed dispirited and clearly didn't want to talk about this topic, but since Lucy asked, she didn't mean any harm.

So Happy explained, "Once, Natsu, Gray, and the others were in great danger and almost died, but luckily they were saved by Gildarts. Then Lisanna asked Laxus and Jehfrit if they would always protect them from then on. So the three of them made a promise."

A man's promise wasn't just empty words spoken and forgotten.

But Lisanna, who had prompted the three to make that promise, was no longer here.

Lucy looked at Jehfrit, with Horologium standing beside him.

She suddenly understood why Jehfrit wanted to study Horologium's abilities.

Of course, he was strong enough, but—

Emily approached Jehfrit, her white hair shining brightly.

Lucy had seen old photos; Lisanna also had striking white hair.

Jehfrit certainly wouldn't mistake Emily for Lisanna, but this matter would inevitably become a scar in his heart.

Jehfrit was a gentle person, as was Laxus, even though they both appeared to have negative personalities.

At this moment,

Lucy noticed Cana. Her expression showed more confusion than sadness.

"Cana, what's wrong?" Lucy asked.

"Uh." Cana forced a smile, then shook her head and said, "I'm fine."

Everyone's mood wasn't good, so Lucy remained silent, and Wendy shrank into herself like an ostrich.

By evening,

Natsu, who had already adjusted his emotions, came to Gildarts' house.

"Natsu," Gildarts said with a somber face, "I saw a dragon."

Upon hearing this, Natsu's pupils contracted.

"However, it's not the one you're looking for," Gildarts added.

"Where is it?" Natsu immediately asked.

"What are you going to do?" Gildarts countered.

"What else? Of course, I'll ask about Igneel's whereabouts!" Natsu replied.

"Forget it, he definitely won't be there anymore," Gildarts said. "And he's not an easy dragon to deal with."

Gildarts stood up and lifted his cloak.

Natsu froze.

Gildarts' body bore stitching marks on one side, and his left arm and leg were missing, replaced by prosthetics.

"In an instant, without any resistance, I lost half my body," Gildarts bitterly smiled. "I barely survived."

"...," Happy fell from mid-air in shock.

"Even someone as strong as you..." Natsu was also very shocked.

Gildarts said, "I'm telling you all this not so you can recklessly go to your death."

"Natsu, perhaps, he will be the fate of the Dragon Slayer Mages."

"You must train hard. Perhaps all the mysteries will be unraveled when you're strong enough to defeat him."

Natsu was silent for a few seconds.

Then he turned and ran out.

"Natsu!"

"Happy!"

As Happy was about to chase after him, Gildarts stopped him and said, "You must help Natsu properly. He's not something humans can defeat. Not me, not Master, not even Jehfrit. But maybe a dragon could defeat him."

"This is a promise between men," Gildarts said seriously.

"Aye!" Happy solemnly responded.

Then Happy chased after Natsu.

*Thump*

Gildarts collapsed back into his chair.

That fight which wasn't really a fight—just a slight show of hostility from the other side—had crushed his will.

That terrifying dragon was absolutely no friend to humans!

Jehfrit was strong. In Gildarts' eyes, he might go further than him on the path to the truth of magic, even reaching the ultimate level.

But the harsh reality was that his magic absolutely couldn't handle that dragon.

"Heh..."

Gildarts let out a bitter laugh. He was truly beaten down, in every sense.

Jehfrit borrowed Horologium for not too long.

Less than a week.

When he emerged from his seclusion,

Horologium couldn't help but praise, "Mr. Jehfrit, you are undoubtedly the smartest, most talented, and most incredible mage I've ever seen!"

"You flatter me. It was tough on you during this time," Jehfrit said, his face full of fatigue.

"No," Horologium replied. "I witnessed a great mage create a magnificent spell. It was an honor."

"Well, that's enough. I need to rest," Jehfrit said.

Then he turned and went to sleep.

Horologium returned as well.

Jehfrit slept for an entire day.

The next noon,

He refreshed himself with a bath and went downstairs.

"Mr. Jehfrit, when you were researching, you felt very different from usual," Ikuto couldn't help but say, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

Usually, Jehfrit was always very lazy.

But when researching new things, he became extremely focused.

Not only was he studying Lucy's magic and spells recently, but he was also very serious about making magical tools.

Honestly—very cool, Ikuto was captivated.

Jehfrit's attention wasn't on her. He asked, "Where's Emily?"

"She's with Mr. Laxus," Ikuto replied.

Few people could get along with Laxus, but Emily wasn't afraid of him.

"Laxus? What's fun about that guy?" Jehfrit couldn't help but say.

"I don't know," Ikuto shook her head.

"Never mind, call her to see me when she comes back," Jehfrit said.

"Yes."

At the dessert shop,

"One children's meal."

Laxus coldly stated.

"Yes," the staff were startled by this guy's demeanor, thinking he was some difficult customer.

"Uncle Laxus, I don't want the children's meal. I want this cake," Emily pointed to a cake.

"Then this one," Laxus said.

"Thank you, Uncle Laxus!" Emily happily laughed.

Laxus was about to crack a smile but quickly turned serious again.

Emily blinked her big eyes. She was a very clever child and, having learned Deception Magic, was naturally very sensitive to emotions.

She knew Laxus was happy, but he wasn't good at expressing it. The books said this was called "tsundere."

Soon, the cake arrived.

Laxus scooped away more than half.

"Ugh—" Emily puffed up her cheeks, cutely glaring at Laxus.

Laxus slightly shifted his gaze, avoiding eye contact, and stiffly said, "Children shouldn't eat too many sweets; it causes cavities."

"Not true, I brush my teeth properly," Emily grinned, showing off her white teeth.

"That's final," Laxus didn't allow any rebuttal.

"Alright," Emily didn't stubbornly insist and happily started eating her cake.

Laxus glanced over; her chubby little face was smeared with cream. He took out a napkin and said, "Cream on your face."

"Help me wipe it. Thank you," Emily smiled.

"…" Laxus silently reached out.

In the distance,

"Hey, isn't that Laxus?" Evergreen was shocked by this scene,

"It's him. This isn't strange," Elfman sighed, his eyes complex.

"Yeah, Laxus does have moments like these," Evergreen also sighed.

"Ikuto-nee, I'm back!" Emily ran into the store with bags in hand.

"Emily? These things…" Ikuto was surprised and looked outside; Laxus was still holding more bags.

"Ah, Mr. Laxus, did Emily make you spend money?!" Ikuto was shocked. How could Emily let Laxus buy her so many things?

"Not at all," Emily said. "It's my own mission money. Uncle Laxus just treated me to cake."

"Is that so?" Ikuto relaxed.

"Of course, a lady should buy things with her own money. People who gain without effort aren't good," Emily said.

*Thud*

Laxus put the things down and said, "I've delivered her."

Without another word, he left.

"Mr. Laxus, why don't you stay for dinner," Ikuto quickly said.

But Laxus didn't respond.

"By the way, when did you start taking missions?" Ikuto looked at the numerous bags. Though none were luxury items or big purchases, only things kids were interested in—fairy tale books, small toys, etc.—buying so many things still required some money.

"During this period, I've been asking Uncle Laxus to take me on missions. Today was one too," Emily counted on her fingers. "We helped Grandma Mary find her cat today, and we helped Uncle Ian catch a thief."

"You've been troubling Mr. Laxus a lot. Isn't that a bit inappropriate?" Ikuto said.

"Since he's free anyway," Jehfrit walked in and said.

"Master, you're out!" Emily happily rushed over.

"Mm."

Jehfrit laughed and patted Emily's head, saying, "By the way, how did you come up with this brilliant idea?"

Forget Ikuto being surprised.

Even Jehfrit himself was astonished.

Laxus being dragged into such minor missions gave the impression of a tsundere completely conquered.

Emily proudly said, "It didn't take much effort at all. I just went to the guild, found a mission, tore it down, then found Uncle Laxus. He didn't refuse, although at first, he very tsunderely said—"

Emily cast her magic and transformed into a child version of Laxus. This Laxus sternly turned his head and said, "I won't do such third-rate missions. Only kids do these."

"Exactly the same!" Jehfrit gave a thumbs-up; she truly captured the essence!

Emily immediately dispelled the magic and proudly continued, "Then I went to do the mission myself, a task to drive away stray dogs."

"Uncle Laxus ended up following."

"You were practically threatening him," Ikuto facepalmed.

"It's nothing bad. Since he's free anyway," Jehfrit said, 'During this period, he should be properly exploited.'

"Not exploitation at all," Emily said. "Uncle Laxus is a good person. I wouldn't bully him."

"Haha," Jehfrit burst out laughing.

This was the fourth time someone said they wouldn't bully Laxus.

The first was Gildarts, who beat Laxus black and blue during a sparring session right after saying it.

The second was Lisanna, who drew turtles on Laxus's sleeping face after saying it.

The third was Jehfrit, of course, whose "glorious deeds" were plenty.

The fourth was Emily, who, after saying this, pulled Laxus into tasks like finding cats and driving away dogs these days.

"Perhaps Mr. Laxus isn't that hard to approach," Ikuto couldn't help but say.

She looked at Jehfrit. According to her guess,

Their relationship was like Natsu and Gray's.

But for some reason, it now seemed, or rather, vaguely, Ikuto felt there was still some rift between them.

Maybe

Emily could mend it.

Emily sweetly smiled at Ikuto, her innocent smile irresistibly evoking a sense of fondness.

"Come here," Jehfrit lightly patted Emily's head.

"Master, you're making me dumb!" Emily pouted.

"Haha."

In the yard, Jehfrit took out a card and said, "Emily, I plan to give you a demon."

"Eh? Is it Mi—" Emily was startled, about to say something, but quickly closed her mouth.

"Not as powerful as a strong demon," Jehfrit said. "I've just started researching and can't create a comprehensive and powerful demon yet."

"But, Master, why suddenly think of giving me a demon contract?" Emily said.

"After all, we're squishy—" Jehfrit started, but Ikuto interrupted, "Mr. Jehfrit, Emily won't be. She's practicing Moonless Style Swordsmanship. Her physical strength won't be low."

Ikuto wasn't a squishy character.

Her HP was nearly as thick as Erza's.

Emily had high talent, surpassing her.

In the future, Emily would possess Erza-level physical strength + swordsmanship surpassing Ikuto's + Jehfrit's Deception Magic.

This would be a powerful and formidable mage.

"Better safe than sorry," Jehfrit laughed. "Some enemies won't wait for you to grow up safely."

"Enemies…" Ikuto was startled and said, "Is there some danger coming?"

"Precaution is better," Jehfrit didn't elaborate.

He vaguely remembered that in the anime, there was an entire town transported to another world.

There was also the seven years on Tenrou Island.

And Grimoire Heart, and later on, the brother-complex rampage…

Crisis wouldn't wait for anyone to grow.

Even Natsu's speed of gaining strength was somewhat struggling to keep up with the arrival of crises.

Let alone Emily.

He was used to making multiple preparations.

"What kind of demon is it? An invisible one?" Emily curiously asked.

Jehfrit threw the card.

A large magic circle formed.

Then a gigantic creature—fat, with a somewhat strange appearance resembling a toad—slowly emerged from the magic circle, as if riding an elevator.

"Wah, so cute!" Emily's eyes lit up.

"Cute…" Ikuto wanted to comment. Such a two-meter-tall giant toad was hardly "cute."