X774.
Ever since Arlen's conversation with Cana, she had become noticeably more cheerful. She talked more, laughed more—either whispering secrets with Ultear or sticking close to Arlen, asking him endless questions.
After a long journey, the three finally arrived at Rosemary Village.
"Wow! Ultear, look—it's the sea!" Cana exclaimed excitedly, grabbing her hand. "Arlen, can we go play by the beach later?"
It wasn't just her—even Ultear was quietly amazed. Having grown up in the cold northern regions, this was her first time seeing the ocean.
Compared to Cana's liveliness, Ultear's excitement was softer, more reserved.
"Let's go to the village chief first," Arlen said calmly.
—
After asking a few villagers for directions, they arrived at the chief's house.
The village chief, an elderly man in his sixties, looked at them with confusion.
"Who are you? What business do you have with me?"
Arlen showed the Fairy Tail guild mark on his hand.
"Hello, we're mages from Fairy Tail. My name is Arlen. These are my companions, Ultear and Cana."
"Oh—welcome, welcome…" the old man replied politely, though still puzzled.
"Did someone in the village submit a request?"
"That's not it," Arlen said directly. "We're here to investigate the Black Magic Cult."
"…What?!"
The chief's face turned pale instantly.
"B-Black Magic Cult? There's no such thing here! We're just a small village!"
"Please don't worry," Arlen said calmly. "Let me explain."
He briefly outlined the situation—the kidnappings, destroyed villages, and their suspicion that Rosemary Village could be the next target.
The chief's expression shifted from panic to fear.
He had heard rumors—villages disappearing overnight.
Just like theirs.
Remote. Unprotected.
He grabbed Arlen's hand tightly.
"Please, Mage-sama… you must save us. An old man like me doesn't matter—but the children… the young ones… they're our future…"
Arlen gently patted his hand.
"We're here for that exact reason."
"Please inform the villagers: no one goes out at night."
"And if anything happens—find them."
He gestured to Ultear and Cana.
The two immediately understood and released a small display of their magic.
The chief's eyes widened.
His doubt vanished.
"Alright, alright! I'll inform everyone immediately. We'll be counting on you!"
—
Soon after, the three were led to an empty house near the village entrance—Arlen's request, for quick response if needed.
He also gave the chief 500,000 J.
The old man tried to refuse, but Arlen simply said:
"Think of it as rent. And use it for the children."
That… he couldn't refuse.
With deep gratitude, the chief left to gather the villagers.
—
And so, they settled in.
While walking through the village, Arlen noticed something interesting—
Three children.
All with magic power.
One girl with scarlet hair, delicate like a porcelain doll.
Another girl with short black hair.
And a boy.
Curious, Arlen asked the chief about them.
Their stories were… unfortunate.
The red-haired girl—
Erza, 9 years old. Same age as Ultear.
Abandoned as a baby, found and raised by the villagers.
The black-haired girl—
Kagura Mikazuchi, 6 years old.
The boy—
Simon Mikazuchi, 13. Kagura's older brother.
Their parents had died when they were very young.
All three had grown up relying on the kindness of the village.
Though their clothes were patched—
Their spirits were bright.
This was a good village.
—
After some thought, Arlen made a proposal.
"Chief… would it be alright if I taught them magic?"
"And… brought them into our guild?"
The chief was stunned.
Then—
Overjoyed.
Children from their village… becoming mages?
That was beyond anything he had imagined.
Of course, he agreed.
—
In truth, he had already sent someone to inquire about Arlen at the Magic Council branch in a nearby city.
The result shocked him.
A powerful mage.
A noble.
The son of a duke.
Someone like that—
There was no way he would harm their village.
From that moment on—
The villagers treated them with even greater respect.