Chapter 224

[What he was thinking in his heart.]

[It's not the first in the younger generation, nor is it the first in Fiore, and certainly not the first in Ishgar!]

[He is...]

[The best in the world!]

[Yes, Black Natsu has enough confidence that he is the best in the world!]

[But at the same time, he clearly understands his own weakness!]

[Thinking this way might be contradictory, but it is indeed the fact.]

[Gildarts once had a famous saying: only when one realizes one's own weakness can a person become gentle and strong.]

[This sentence might explain Black Natsu's current state well.]

[He is the strongest, but also the weakest, and this does not conflict.]

[Because strength and weakness have never been just the superficial surface of power.]

[Laxus can't see through this, so he thinks Black Natsu has lost his edge.]

[And precisely because of this, Black Natsu finds it funny.]

[How can someone who doesn't understand his own heart talk about seeing through someone else's heart?]

[He shook his head.]

[Black Natsu didn't continue to dwell on it.]

[Instead, he turned to look at the S-class mission request board behind him.]

[In his mind, he recalled Gray's request to him not long ago.]

[Gray had been coveting S-class missions for a long time, but due to his own strength, he had never been able to achieve it.]

[Since he's already here, might as well take Gray to see the world.]

[With this thought, Black Natsu walked toward the S-class mission request board.]

[He casually tore one off and stuffed it into his pocket.]

[Hargeon Port.]

["Speaking of which, why are you guys here too?"]

[Looking at Erza, Lucy, and Mirajane following behind.]

[Black Natsu's expression was a bit stunned.]

["Well, it's not just you who wants to take Gray to see the world, we also want to take Lucy to see the world, right?"]

[Mirajane stepped forward and said, also blinking playfully.]

[Black Natsu looked at Lucy behind Erza and Mirajane upon hearing this.]

[Lucy, who was being watched by Black Natsu, had a complicated expression.]

[Uh... how should I put this.]

[I actually didn't want to come.]

[But...]

[Early this morning, when Mirajane learned that Black Natsu was actually going to take Gray to perform an S-class mission, she immediately became unhappy.]

[After all, she hadn't teamed up with Black Natsu for a long time. It was clearly something agreed upon before Black Natsu went to perform the 100-year quest.]

[After returning from the 100-year quest, they would continue to team up, but Black Natsu was actually going to take Gray to perform the mission first?]

[So, Mirajane had a flash of inspiration and thought of a way, which was to pull in Lucy, the newcomer.]

[Under the pretext of taking her to see the world, she could just happen to participate in the mission Black Natsu was responsible for.]

[Everything was planned well, but I don't know who leaked the news.]

[So, Erza also joined in.]

[After all, according to her words.]

["Don't think I don't know what you're thinking, bastard Mira. As long as I'm here, you will never succeed!"]

[So, Erza also came along.]

[As for Lucy, she became the victim.]

[How should I put it, forced to perform a mission?]

["But, Erza, plus Mira, and Natsu, three S-classes... this mission has no difficulty at all, right?"]

[Looking at the few people in front of him, Happy said with some worry.]

[Gray was the same, originally thinking this was a good opportunity to train himself.]

[As a result, one mission, three S-classes??]

[What's the point of this?]

[These three could just wipe out that so-called Cursed Island, right?]

[That's right, the mission target this time is an island, a cursed island, Galuna Island.]

[Now the problem facing this island is no longer whether it's cursed or not.]

[But three S-classes, and Fairy Tail S-classes at that!]

[What challenge is there? They could just steamroll over it, right?]

[Mirajane: "Don't worry, regarding this point, I just thought about it, so I decided that we won't make a move this time."]

[Lucy was shocked upon hearing this!]

[She stared fixedly at Mirajane with an incredible look: "Big sister, are you kidding me??"]

[She was originally someone who was inexplicably dragged in, and she didn't want to perform any S-class mission to challenge herself.]

[Before, it was said that they would join Black Natsu's team under Lucy's name.]

[But Lucy always thought that the actual mission execution had nothing to do with her, and she would just treat it as a trip.]

[Anyway, with so many S-class mages around, this mission probably won't be dangerous.]

[As a result... after all that, you tell me that you guys, the strong ones, won't make a move at all???]

[Let me do it??]

[Is this... disaster falling from the sky while sitting at home?]

[Erza also nodded: "Yes, Lucy's belief in becoming stronger made me marvel, so I was moved and decided to bring Lucy to experience an S-class mission."]

[Erza's seriousness made Lucy collapse again!]

[She looked at Erza and screamed crazily in her heart.]

[Are you kidding me?! When did I say I wanted to become stronger??]

[I was still eating breakfast early in the morning, enjoying the beautiful morning time, and suddenly I was dragged here and forced to take on a terrifying S-class mission??]

[Lucy opened her mouth, wanting to throw all these words out, but...]

[After seeing the extremely dangerous gazes of Erza and Mirajane, Lucy chickened out.]

[Her whole momentum withered rapidly.]

[Her heart... was full of despair!]

[No, despair shouldn't be the word, it was more like the shock and fear of being used as a shield, only to end up blocking bullets.]

[But, overall, it was okay.]

[After all, Black Natsu is here. This guy's strength is said to be very amazing. Last time when dealing with Lullaby, just one kick caused such great destruction.]

[He must be terrifyingly strong. With him around, she could just mix experience behind him, which could be considered completing the mission.]

[Gray: "Then, in that case... the main executors of this mission are me and Lucy?"]

[Lucy looked up at Gray and blinked: "What about Natsu? Is he not making a move either?"]

[Black Natsu was a bit helpless about this: "This guy thinks he should be able to handle it, so he told me not to interfere."]

[Gray nodded violently and patted his chest confidently.]

["I've improved a lot recently, so this will be an excellent opportunity to test my strength!"]

["Say, if the old man knew that this S-class mission was completed by the two of us alone, I wonder what expression he would have?"]

[Gray fantasized excitedly.]

[Lucy's expression gradually distorted.]

["Are you retarded??"]

[After a long while, Lucy finally couldn't help but scold angrily.]