Chapter 224

【But...】

【Today seemed different.】

【"Master? Really?"】

【Cana asked with some worry.】

【"Of course it's true! I am the Master, listen to me! Hehe~ hiccup~ there's so much alcohol in the guild, it's a waste not to drink it..."】

【"Then..."】

【Cana, holding the wine barrel, raised her little head and glanced at Black Natsu beside her.】

【"Don't look at me; I have no interest in alcohol."】

【Black Natsu waved his hand.】

【"You'd better not drink it; this stuff is bad for your health."】

【"I'll just taste the flavor."】

【Cana swallowed a mouthful of saliva and said.】

【Hearing this, Black Natsu shook his head helplessly: "Believe me, this stuff tastes terrible; you won't be able to stand it."】

【"Have you tasted it?"】

【"I tasted a kingdom's imperial wine before, but it didn't feel like much."】

【"A kingdom's imperial wine? Were you from a kingdom before?"】

【Seemingly hooked, Cana looked at Black Natsu with wide eyes.】

【"Hmm... not really; it was a... person I was very, very close to who was from that kingdom; I just know her."】

【Cana nodded slightly upon hearing this.】

【Just at this moment, the tightly closed door was slowly pushed open.】

【A man wearing a golden yellow t-shirt and having golden yellow spiky hair walked in.】

【He looked at the guild members who were drunk like mud with a disgusted look.】

【Then his gaze locked onto the bar, where Black Natsu and Cana were still keeping sober.】

【"Laxus?" Cana frowned slightly.】

【"Yo, are you better?" Black Natsu greeted Laxus.】

【Laxus took a deep breath and walked straight towards Black Natsu.】

【Looking at Cana, Laxus said in a deep voice.】

【"Can you come out for a moment? I have something I want to talk to you about."】

【"Alone?"】

【Black Natsu jumped off the stool, staring at Laxus.】

【"Of course, it's best not to let others know."】

【"I'll wait for you in the backyard."】

【As the words fell, Laxus walked straight towards the back door.】

【"Could he be wanting to take revenge on you?"】

【Looking at Laxus's back, Cana said with some worry.】

【"Do you want me to accompany you?"】

【"No need, it's fine." Black Natsu waved his hand, then stepped forward and walked towards the guild backyard together.】

【...】

【The sea breeze whistled past.】

【It stirred up the fine sand on the ground and also brought the salty dampness of the sea.】

【Black Natsu's footsteps stepped on the soft beach, making a low rustling sound.】

【All around, there was only the faint light spilled down by the starry sky, making the vision a bit dim.】

【But Black Natsu still easily found Laxus, who had come out first.】

【At this moment, he was facing the sea.】

【His eyes were slightly closed, but from the fists that were clenched from time to time, it was clear that his heart was not calm.】

【Yes, as the pride of heaven since he was small.】

【Since he was small, no, or rather, from the day the magic crystal was implanted in his body.】

【Strength was his synonym.】

【He was able to catch up to most of the older generation of mages in the guild at the age of ten or so.】

【Able to complete all tasks below S-Class in a crushing manner at this age.】

【These all proved Laxus's strength.】

【But, such a person was treated as a matter of course.】

【Yes, a matter of course, just because his grandfather's name was Makarov!】

【That high-and-mighty Saint Ten Mage.】

【Just because of this, Laxus was considered to have achieved everything he had because it was expected.】

【Thereby denying all his efforts.】

【Even, this time.】

【He also lost to Black Natsu, who was much younger than him, in an extremely shameful way.】

【Laxus didn't even dare to think about how others would view him in their eyes?】

【Clearly possessing Makarov's bloodline, yet he couldn't even beat a newcomer who had just joined the guild?】

【And even couldn't touch the other party?】

【Then Laxus would be too pathetic, wasting the huge magic power inherited from Makarov and so on.】

【Laxus could know that those people must be thinking of him like that, even with his butt.】

【Definitely!】

【The inner humiliation almost drove Laxus crazy!】

【But! He eventually endured it.】

【Beside him, Black Natsu had already arrived here and was standing side by side with him.】

【Facing the sea, eyes tightly closed.】

【Is he waiting for me to speak?】

【Such a thought popped up in Laxus's mind.】

【However, there was nothing to struggle with.】

【Laxus spoke first: "Did you see something today?"】

【This is the thing that confuses Laxus the most.】

【He wasn't sure if Black Natsu was bluffing him or if he really saw something; this relates to his chances of winning when he takes revenge on Black Natsu later.】

【Therefore, Laxus was so anxious to figure out the problem.】

【"Of course."】

【Under Laxus's gaze, Black Natsu spoke.】

【"You are also a Dragon Slayer Mage, right?"】

【Laxus narrowed his eyes.】

【"Although you hid it very deeply, after I felt your lightning, I confirmed this matter, a lightning Dragon Slayer Mage."】

【"I know this power very well."】

【Laxus seemed to understand something and nodded slightly: "So, you are also a Dragon Slayer Mage."】

【Black Natsu was noncommittal.】

【Laxus spoke again: "You are indeed very strong, even stronger than I imagined, which is beyond anyone's expectation at your age."】

【"But!"】

【Speaking of this, Laxus's tone changed!】

【Turning around, his gaze stared fixedly at Black Natsu.】

【"This doesn't mean I will admit defeat to you! Natsu!"】

【"You also know that I didn't use my full strength today; your strength indeed surprised me, but if there were another time, I would never be defeated by you so easily because of underestimating the enemy."】

【Black Natsu also turned around, and the two's gazes met at this moment.】