Chapter 268

【Although this was very subtle, both Hei Black Nazi and Makarov noticed it in the first instance.】

【Just now!】

【Invisible magic power erupted from the body of the one named Juvia.】

【And, in a very short time, it rushed straight into the sky.】

【The next moment, the entire sky was shrouded in dark clouds, and immediately after... rain began to fall.】

【Logically speaking, rain is a very common thing.】

【But, once associated with the magic power that just erupted from Juvia's body, things... were not simple!】

【"This rain... should have something to do with you, right?" Staring at the somewhat timid Juvia, Makarov tried to make his tone as kind as possible.】

【Juvia, who was asked, trembled slightly.】

【To be honest, this is something Juvia really didn't want to mention, but...】

【Stared at fixedly by Makarov and Hei Black Nazi, she even bit her lip until it bled.】

【She nodded silently.】

【"Yes... the rain exists because of Juvia."】

【As soon as these words were spoken! Makarov's heart couldn't help but jump!】

【He clearly knew what this meant.】

【This is simply a natural-born genius seedling!】

【It also indicates that Juvia possesses the ability to easily change the world.】

【You have to know, nowadays, only Wizard Saint-level mages can change the weather.】

【In other words... as long as Juvia develops steadily, becoming a Wizard Saint is a sure thing.】

【The current situation is more because Juvia fundamentally cannot control this power, and cannot master this power.】

【Only then did it lead to the unconscious creation of rainy weather.】

【But it was regarded by people as a disaster? And a nuisance?】

【Even Jose didn't care about this phenomenon?】

【This is simply wasting a heavenly treasure!】

【Makarov, who has always loved talent, felt his heart jump violently!】

【A buried genius... was thus revealed before Makarov.】

【Heart-pounding! There was simply no way not to be moved by this!】

【But... just at this moment.】

【A familiar sense of agitation made Makarov instantly sober up, and he looked at the Black Natsu beside him with a face full of shock.】

【He hurriedly reached out his hand and pressed down the right hand that Black Natsu had not yet raised.】

【"You brat, what do you think you're doing??"】

【Makarov was so shocked he nearly lost his voice.】

【This guy... is channeling magic! And, the direction he's aiming at... is actually Juvia, whom he had just been speaking so highly of?】

【Moreover, in this instant, Makarov truly felt it.】

【The killing intent coming from Black Natsu—the kind that makes one's spine go cold.】

【This guy... really wants to kill Juvia!】

【Black Natsu frowned deeply.】

【He spoke in a low voice: "Master, you know this woman's potential too, right?"】

【"Being able to trigger changes in the weather unconsciously—this potential is absolutely no weaker than someone like Mirajane."】

【"Given time, even the Ten Wizard Saints wouldn't be able to contain someone like this."】

【Makarov naturally knew all this, so he nodded slightly.】

【"But don't forget, that woman is one of Phantom Lord's people!"】

【"She is an enemy."】

【"With an enemy of such potential, who knows if she'll come back to take revenge on us in the future?"】

【"After all, Fairy Tail is not just you and me."】

【"I know everything you've said, but..." Makarov looked at Juvia, who was keeping her head lowered.】

【He said helplessly: "Our war with Phantom Lord is already over; to make a move now would be truly inciting a war."】

【"Besides... I can tell that this young girl doesn't have any real feelings for Phantom Lord. Like that guy named Gajeel, she mostly just shows a sense of confusion about the future now that Phantom Lord is gone."】

【"For people like this, I don't think they could seek revenge on us for the sake of Phantom Lord."】

【Makarov said.】

【Gazing at Black Natsu with his aged eyes, Makarov let out a long sigh.】

【"I also know what you've been doing lately, and I know the benefits of doing so, and so on. Therefore, I will not blame you, nor will I make any judgments."】

【"In fact, if it were me in my younger days, I probably would have made the same choice as you."】

【"After all, I was just as hot-headed when I was young, ahahaha..."】

【Makarov laughed at himself.】

【He took a deep breath: "But, at the end of the day, the main source of this matter stems from Jose's narrow-mindedness."】

【"That guy... led a group of young people into the abyss."】

【"If I can help it... I cannot turn a blind eye to these young people who are falling into darkness."】

【"I can tell that whether it's Juvia or Gajeel, they were just following orders. They have no opinions of their own, no thoughts of their own; they only know how to execute Jose's commands, like puppets."】

【"This is all just because of the environment in which they grew up..."】

【"Therefore, this matter cannot be blamed entirely on them."】

【Black Natsu's restless magic gradually returned to calm.】

【He cast a deep look at Makarov.】

【Then he turned his gaze toward Juvia: "So, does the Master think they can still be saved?"】

【"They are just a group of people who don't know the future and are groping their way forward in the darkness alone. If conditions allow, I hope to guide them onto the right path!" Makarov replied seriously.】

【"I understand what you mean." Black Natsu nodded.】

【"However... since we aren't going to cut the weeds and eliminate the roots, we'll just have to forcibly pull them over."】

【"Eh?" Makarov blinked.】

【"Seriously, having a Master like you is really troublesome."】

【Black Natsu shook his head.】

【Then he stepped toward Juvia.】

【Watching the man who destroyed the guild walking slowly toward her.】

【The rain poured down incessantly, soaking his cherry-blossom-colored short hair.】

【Juvia took two steps back in fear.】

【Then, as if thinking of something, she gave a self-deprecating smile.】

【"Sure enough, the rain is still so annoying..."】

【"That depends on the situation." Black Natsu came to a stop in front of Juvia.】

【His eyes fixed on Juvia: "At certain times, a rainy day can actually become one of the most exquisite sights."】

【Juvia stared blankly at the man before her.】

【Her mouth kept muttering his words.】

【"Therefore, there is never any such thing as 'annoying.' No matter what kind of weather it is, if it continues for too long, it will make people feel troubled."】

【"So, don't you want to see the blue sky?"】

【Facing Black Natsu's question, Juvia's heart suddenly began to beat faster.】

【Those words felt as if they had been spoken directly into her heart.】

【She nodded without hesitation.】

【"I want to! Juvia... Juvia wants to see the blue sky very much, but..."】

【At this point, she lowered her head in self-abasement.】

【"Since I was born, Juvia has always been favored by the rain. It has been like this for so many years..."】

【Speaking of this, she seemed to look at Black Natsu with some excitement.】

【"Of course, just before, when you appeared on the battlefield and shattered the dark clouds in the sky, that was the first time Juvia truly saw the sun, although... I fainted very quickly."】

【Black Natsu crossed his arms, his mouth twitching slightly.】

【Then he shook his head: "Do you want your life to return to normal?"】

【Juvia clenched her fists against her chest and nodded hurriedly.】

【"After the trial is over in a while, come find us."】

【Saying this, Black Natsu turned around: "Oh right, call that guy over too when the time comes."】

【As he spoke, Black Natsu pointed at Gajeel not far away, then walked forward and returned to Makarov's side.】

【Juvia couldn't stop nodding her head.】

【Her gaze was fixed firmly on Black Natsu's back.】

【Her mouth couldn't stop murmuring.】

【"Finally... finally Juvia has met someone who doesn't hate the rain, someone who doesn't hate Juvia..."】

【"And... his back, it seems a bit too cool, doesn't it?!"】

【On the other side.】

【Seeing Black Natsu return, Makarov leaned in curiously.】

【"Tell me, what exactly did you go over there to say just now?"】

【Hearing this, Black Natsu rolled his eyes: "Didn't I just say it?"】

【"Since we can't cut the weeds and eliminate the roots, we have to find a way to turn them into our own people. For that reason, I went over to lay the groundwork for recruiting them."】

【"Lay the groundwork for recruiting them?!" Makarov became interested.】

【"Tell me more about it."】

【"There's nothing much to say. I just built up some favorability so she would have a reason to ask us for help. After the trial is over in a bit, it'll be up to your eloquence."】

【"Pull them over to prevent future trouble; otherwise, the only way to prevent future trouble is in the physical sense."】

【Black Natsu's words were calm, but the coldness within them made even Makarov feel a bit startled.】

【But he still nodded with confidence: "Don't worry, when I, old man Makarov, make a move, what kind of person can't I recruit?"】