Bonfires flickered. Under the cold moonlight, the village was filled with a lively, joyful banquet atmosphere.
To express their gratitude to Chase and the others, the demon chief brought out various specialty foods, drinks, and alcohol to entertain them.
Natsu quickly bonded with the villagers, their grotesque appearances notwithstanding. The way he devoured the bonfire with his bare hands left the villagers utterly amazed.
Happy was equally satisfied, having tasted many sea fish he'd never eaten before. His face wore an expression of pure bliss.
After talking with the simple villagers, Lucy finally shed her instinctive fear of demons and successfully integrated into the festivities.
As for Chase, Gray, and Lyon, they found themselves being approached by several "beautiful demon" villagers who tried to strike up conversations and feed them food.
Likewise, Ur and Ultear were surrounded by quite a few young demons.
What could one say? It seemed that in the Fairy Tail world, perverts—ahem, gentlemen—were produced in astonishing quantities. And they appeared regardless of species, popping up in every corner you could think of!
Lucy looked at the incredibly popular mother-daughter duo, then at Natsu and Happy beside her.
Suddenly, the roasted meat in her hand didn't taste so good anymore...
Aside from Chase and the others, the villagers also graciously received Yuka's group and the other followers, who had come to apologize.
Upon learning that their loved ones had all been killed by Deliora, the demon villagers expressed their sympathy.
As for Natsu, a few flames down the hatch, and all grudges were forgotten. He draped his arms around Yuka, Toby, and Sherry—who were still burdened with guilt—and started laughing and joking with them.
Multiple factions that had been enemies or temporary allies, different races—all coexisted harmoniously at the same banquet.
The celebration continued late into the night before gradually winding down.
Natsu, Lucy, and Happy, exhausted after a long day, had all fallen fast asleep.
On the village's wooden fence wall, Chase found Ultear, who was alone, letting the sea breeze blow over her.
"Chase...sir?"
Startled by the sound, Ultear quickly hid the ending, dejected expression on her face.
Learning that her mother Ur had always loved her was undoubtedly an immense blessing.
But whenever she thought of Jellal and Meredy—of the innocent people who had suffered because of her madness, of the dark guild Grimoire Heart—she didn't know what to do.
Having realized how terribly wrong she had been, Ultear simply didn't know how she could ever cleanse the sins staining her hands.
These were crimes that could not be forgiven—not even with her life.
Someone burdened with such sin and darkness had no right to remain in this world, let alone to stay by her great mother's side.
Even spending this one night together, enjoying the banquet, was already the height of selfishness.
That was why Ultear had, for once in her life, imitated Ur's stripping habit, joined Ur in casting Ice-Make Magic, witnessed the dancing demons alongside Ur...
All of it was merely to leave behind as many memories with her mother as possible before their inevitable parting.
Ultear had already decided: after persuading Jellal to return to the right path, and after confessing the truth to Meredy...
She would go to hell to repent and atone before the souls of those who had died!
"Speaking of which, this really is unexpected. A Magic Council councilor having such a connection with our guild."
Chase remarked as he handed Ultear a mug of demon beer, which gave off a purple mist.
"Fate can be so unpredictable sometimes."
Ultear accepted the beer politely but didn't drink.
Just days ago, she had been sitting high upon the judgment seat of the Magic Council. How could she have imagined that the rude man who should have been undergoing a solemn trial but instead looked around the Council branch as if on a sightseeing tour would become the one to bring her redemption and rebirth?!
Setting aside her tangled thoughts, Ultear glanced sideways at Chase, who was casually leaning against the fence.
"Mr. Chase, you didn't come all this way just to make small talk, did you?"
"If I'm not mistaken, the magic you used earlier to restore the village was a type of Lost Magic called Arc of Time, correct?" Chase asked.
Hearing this, Ultear was visibly surprised. She nodded slightly.
"I didn't expect you to recognize that magic, Mr. Chase."
Arc of Time had been personally taught to her by Hades, the master of Grimoire Heart.
Even among older mages, few could identify it at a glance—let alone someone as young as Chase!
"I heard a bit about it while traveling on the Guiltina Continent."
Chase pulled out his go-to explanation of adventures in Guiltina, then moved to the main topic. "I don't know if you've heard about it, but there's said to be another power hidden within the human body. Something called Second Origin."
"Second Origin?" Ultear frowned.
So at this point in the timeline, research on Second Origin hasn't started yet...
Chase noted her puzzled expression.
He remembered that in the original story, Ultear herself had mentioned that the concept of Second Origin only gradually developed and was perfected during the seven years the main cast was sealed on Tenrou Island.
The idea of using this "power-up" to get stronger was a non-starter for now.
But perhaps by introducing the concept to Ultear now, her talent and understanding might accelerate its development—instead of waiting seven years.
"They say it's separate from a mage's existing magic power reserves—like a second container."
"That's something I've never heard before. You really are quite knowledgeable, Mr. Chase..."
Ultear murmured in surprise, her astonishment fleeting.
If this were before, she would have been very interested in Second Origin. But now, her heart was consumed only by the desire for atonement.
The topic ended there.
Chase withdrew his gaze from the nightscape of Galuna Island and turned to Ultear. "This should be a happy time—a mother and daughter reunited. Yet you look so sad."
"How... how do you know?" Ultear seemed flustered.
Chase raised a finger and pointed to the side of her face, calmly saying, "Because your face is swollen."
"Huh? Ah!"
At his reminder, Ultear belatedly realized that her left cheek was indeed throbbing with pain—swollen into a large, exaggerated bump.
It was leftover damage from taking one of Natsu's Fire Dragon Iron Fists back in the underground ruins!
Having always maintained an elegant image, Ultear was a bit overwhelmed. Flustered, she quickly used magic to erase the unsightly bump.
"Hahaha!"
Chase couldn't help but laugh at this rare display of contrasting cuteness.
Ultear's face grew even hotter...
Returning to her normal appearance, she looked up at the night sky. After a brief silence, her expression darkened as she asked quietly:
"Mr. Chase... if—and I mean if—you had committed sins that couldn't be washed away even with your life... what would you do?"
***
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