Chapter 115

["This is a village isolated from the world. Most of us rely on self-sufficiency, with only a small portion coming from the tourists who occasionally pass through."]

["We have posted requests before, but the pay was too low. Those who were interested... couldn't solve the problem here."]

["As for powerful mages... they weren't interested in that little bit of money, so it has just dragged on until now."]

["To the point where it was released by that orphan."]

[The two people behind nodded lightly.]

[But they didn't express a stance.]

[Helping is fine, but it is limited to what is within their power, such as things done in passing, and only if they are interested in the first place.]

[If anyone could rely on playing the victim to get help, wouldn't Black Natsu be worked to death?]

[There is too much suffering in the world; he can't help everyone.]

[Soon, the group of three arrived at the church.]

[The sacred radiance was long gone; all that remained in the church was a sky full of demonic energy.]

["I can't go any further ahead. I don't know why, but ever since we discovered the demon was unsealed this morning, we haven't been able to get close to this church."]

["Once we get close, we feel nauseous, want to vomit, and experience other discomforts. It might even drive people mad."]

[The young man stopped his steps in front of the church.]

["If you want to go in, you have to be careful. Just this morning, someone went in and went crazy."]

["Crazy??" Black Natsu looked at the young man.]

["Then, what about the person you mentioned who snuck into the church last night to release the demon? Didn't she go crazy?"]

[The young man pondered for a moment and said:]

["No, it's just that her arm has already turned into a demon's arm. Who knows when she will completely turn into a demon? So this can also be considered a request from our town."]

["If you are able, we really hope you can help. If you can truly resolve the demon, we will do our best to repay you."]

[Watching the young man bow to them, Black Natsu and Erza looked at each other.]

["We'll see. I'm just passing through and came here to take a look; I'm not necessarily going to be able to help you."]

[After saying this, Black Natsu turned his head to look at Erza.]

["I also want to go take a look, so don't think about leaving me here."]

[Seeming to have had her thoughts guessed, Black Natsu shook his head helplessly.]

["Then follow me, but be careful. If there's any discomfort, we'll pull out."]

[Soon, the two entered the church together.]

[The sky-high demonic energy did indeed make Black Natsu feel somewhat uncomfortable, and even... for some reason, his heart rate began to speed up.]

[However, strangely, Black Natsu did not experience any nausea or dizziness.]

[On the contrary, this feeling of his heart speeding up felt more like... excitement?]

[This made Black Natsu feel a bit strange.]

[Upon entering the church, Black Natsu could feel that the symptoms the villagers spoke of were likely caused by the lingering demonic energy.]

[But why would he feel excited?]

[Thinking of this, Black Natsu couldn't help but turn his head to look at Erza.]

[His pupils shrank slightly!]

["Eh? What's wrong??"]

[Erza looked at Black Natsu in confusion.]

["Don't you feel nauseous or anything?"]

[Black Natsu couldn't help but ask.]

["No. Maybe it's because our Dragon Slayer constitutions are stronger."]

[Erza said, then turned her gaze toward the direction of the church statue.]

[It was a god statue several meters tall, with its two palms pressed together and a large hole in its chest, seemingly a hole meant to hold something.]

[But now, it was empty.]

[Black Natsu also walked over, looking around, his main focus being the statue.]

["This should be where the demon was sealed before, right?"]

["The residual magic power is not small. This demon shouldn't be simple."]

["It's indeed not simple." Black Natsu turned around and walked toward the outside of the church.]

["Where are you going?"]

[Erza quickly followed.]

["To meet the person who broke the demon's seal. The demon might actually be on her."]

["I want to have close contact with the demon and see what happens."]

[After saying this, Black Natsu stepped out of the church.]

[He found the young man and asked him to lead the way to find the person who released the demon.]

[Outside the sky screen.]

[Zeref, who was watching the screen, also frowned slightly.]

[The scene just now clearly aroused Zeref's suspicion.]

[He could understand Black Natsu feeling excited when facing demonic energy.]

[After all, the strongest demonic power was hidden within Black Natsu's body.]

[Black Natsu's strength was accompanied by a certain degree of awakening of demonic power.]

[Therefore, it was not strange to have such a reaction.]

[But... what about Erza?]

[What was going on with her?]

[Why was she also able to be immune to the effects of the demonic energy?]

[Zeref stroked his chin with one hand, his gaze lost in thought.]

[The screen fast-forwarded.]

[Soon, led by the young man, Black Natsu and Erza arrived in front of a lonely house.]

[Unexpectedly, the area around this house was already surrounded by a dense crowd of people.]

[Some were carrying hoes, others holding shovels.]

[They were roaring angrily at the house.]

["Damn it! Get out!!"]

["Cursed family!"]

["Get out of our village!"]

["You guys possessed by demons, how long do you intend to linger in the village?"]

["It's because of you that there are constant disasters!"]

[Some even picked up stones from the ground and threw them at the house's windows.]

[Bang————]

[The sound of shattering glass echoed.]

[Inside the Fairy Tail guild.]

[The members all frowned at this moment.]

["This... is this Mirajane and the others when they were little?"]

["How can those people be like that? I remember it was clearly Mirajane who helped them accept the demon, right?"]

["And yet they are treated as demons. How hateful."]

[The people in the guild spoke up one after another to defend them.]

[And as Mirajane and her siblings in the crowd saw this scene,]

[Bad memories also flooded their minds.]

[One by one, they couldn't help but lower their heads.]

[Their expressions were somewhat lonely.]

[At the window shattered by the stones.]

[A small white-haired figure could no longer hold back and came to the window.]

A small figure with white hair could no longer hold back and came to the window.