Chapter 139

【At this moment, Black Natsu felt as if he had seen... a fairy!】

【"Um... I was just curious and wanted to come take a look..."】

【Being stared at by Black Natsu, Mavis panicked and took two steps back.】

【Heaven knows, Mavis really only intended to watch from afar.】

【However, who could have known that upon arriving here, the loose sand and gravel on the ground would cause some noise, startling that seemingly powerful Black Mage.】

【She didn't even know if the other party was a friend or a foe, and having rashly entered their line of sight, even Mavis couldn't predict what would happen next.】

【The wing-like ornaments on both sides of her hair drooped down at this moment.】

【Right now, Mavis was just like a frightened rabbit.】

【If the other party made any bad moves, Mavis planned to run immediately.】

【Whether she could outrun them or not, she at least had to struggle a bit, right?】

【Black Natsu stared at the girl who looked like a sprite, his gaze somewhat dazed.】

【Golden curly hair reaching her ankles, wing-like ornaments, an exquisitely delicate face, and that most iconic ahoge.】

【These features were exactly the same as the descriptions of Mavis in Black Natsu's memory!】

【His gaze shifted downward.】

【Barefoot?】

【That was almost certainly it; one had to know that according to records, the first guild master of Fairy Tail, Mavis, always walked barefoot.】

【According to her, walking barefoot was more comfortable.】

【Although Black Natsu didn't know what kind of reason that was.】

【But perhaps that was why Mavis seemed like a sprite, or perhaps a fairy.】

【However, meeting Mavis here was not a good thing.】

【Black Natsu was well aware of the paradoxes regarding time.】

【He did not belong to this era, so if he caused any impact here, would it change the world over a hundred years later?】

【Black Natsu didn't know, and therefore, he dared not act rashly now.】

【And he was lost in thought, contemplating the pros and cons of the situation.】

【His brow furrowed accordingly.】

【"Excuse me... may I ask if you are a Black Mage?"】

【Just as Black Natsu was frowning in thought, Mavis's voice came again.】

【He raised his head and looked at Mavis.】

【At this moment, the girl didn't seem to have lowered her guard against him.】

【Her small body was hidden behind a tree.】

【Only her head poked out as she cautiously asked.】

【But, seeing that Black Natsu still didn't reply, Mavis's curiosity was piqued even further.】

【"You... are you unable to speak?"】

【"How pitiful, but it's okay, I once learned sign language from a book, I can use sign language to communicate with you."】

【As she spoke, Mavis began to raise her hands to gesture.】

【The general meaning was also very simple.】

【"Hello, I hope I haven't disturbed you? I need water, I wanted to come here to fetch some."】

【While gesturing, Mavis looked toward the lotus pond at the edge of Black Natsu's location.】

【Black Natsu bit his lip, and in the end, he sighed helplessly.】

【Although he really wanted to say nothing, do nothing, and leave directly to avoid causing any impact on this era.】

【But... as things stood, the impact had indeed already occurred.】

【Mavis had indeed seen him in the forest.】

【That legendary Black Black Mage Zeref had indeed engaged in a long discussion with him, and they had even fought.】

【The development of events had completely exceeded expectations; in other words, he had already left his mark on this era.】

【Then, since he was here, he might as well settle in.】

【The internal conflict vanished completely, and Black Natsu finally spoke.】

【"Of course you can, but... the water might be a bit scalding."】

【"Eh? So you can speak!"】

【Mavis looked at Black Natsu in surprise.】

【Black Natsu crossed his arms and nodded gently: "It's just that I was lost in thought about some things just now."】

【As he spoke, he looked at Mavis: "By the way, how dare you walk alone in this forest?"】

【"It's very dangerous here."】

【What Black Natsu was referring to wasn't just the monsters and other threats hidden in the forest.】

【More importantly, it was Zeref!】

【That power capable of stripping away others' lives was extremely dangerous.】

【Once touched, even one's life would perish along with it.】

【"I'm not alone, I have my companions."】

【Mavis replied, her expression dimming slightly as she mentioned this.】

【"It's just that because of me, they got hurt, so I had to come out to fetch water."】

【It seemed that Black Natsu's act of crossing his arms and his relatively kind attitude made Mavis feel a little more at ease.】

【Carrying the water jug, Mavis walked out from behind the tree, then came to the edge of the lotus pond and began to fetch water.】

【The water was very hot, as if it had just reached its boiling point.】

【In fact, that was indeed the case, and it was precisely this that made Mavis incredibly shocked.】

【Her emerald eyes looked around.】

【The lotus pond was vast; a rough estimate put its diameter at definitely over a hundred meters.】

【And now, the entire lotus pond was steaming, like a natural hot spring.】

【However, Mavis, who had been here before, knew that there were no hot springs here.】

【The only explanation must be the young man behind her.】

【Shifting her gaze again, the trees near the lotus pond had completely vanished, and there was a huge gully not far away.】

【These all served as proof of how intense the battle that took place here earlier had been.】

【This young man... is very strong!!!】

【Such a thought involuntarily popped into her mind.】

【Connecting this to the encounter in Magnolia town earlier.】

【And the two companions covered in bandages.】

【And the oppressed residents of Magnolia town.】

【Mavis took a deep breath, put the lid on the water jug, and seemed to have made a decision in her heart.】

【She stood up and looked at Black Natsu.】

【"What's wrong? Aren't you leaving?"】

【Black Natsu, who originally didn't want to have too much entanglement with this era, asked curiously.】

【"Um... I know this might be presumptuous."】

【Mavis lowered her head, her voice hesitant.】

【"But, we really have no other way."】

【"I think... that I could meet you here at this juncture might be fate."】

【As she spoke, Mavis seemed to become more and more determined.】

【She raised her head and looked straight at Black Natsu.】

【The 15-year-old Black Natsu was a head taller than Mavis, who was around the same age.】

【"I think you must be a very remarkable Black Mage, right?"】

【"Hmm?"】