Chapter 96: What Is a Young Prodigy Anyway? (Please Subscribe!)

“So Itachi really landed one hit on Joseph Bola, forcing him to flee in disgrace right during the regular meeting, right?”

Laxus asked, his face filled with shock.

“Well, that does seem accurate.”

It sounded strange, but that was exactly how things had gone.

Master Makarov had never actually landed a hit on Joseph Bola, yet that man had indeed retreated in humiliation after taking just one blow from him.

“How did Itachi do it?”

Laxus blinked, then asked dumbly.

That was a Saint Ten Wizard Sage! A mage on the same level as our own grandfather! How could Mo En possibly defeat him?!

“Uh… who’s Joseph Bola? Is he that strong?”

Mirajane asked curiously from the side; she wasn’t joking—she genuinely had no idea who “Joseph Bola” was.

She spent all day running jobs to earn money and paid no attention to such things; she didn’t even know Makarov was a Saint Ten Wizard Sage, let alone what a Saint Ten Wizard Sage was—she had a kind of pure, innocent ignorance.

“He’s the president of Phantom Lord, a mage as powerful as Master Makarov, one of the strongest on the entire Ishgaria continent.”

Erza spoke slowly, answering Mirajane; she too was stunned. Normally, she’d have mocked Mirajane for knowing nothing—but right now, she had no such mood.

“That strong?!”

Hearing Erza’s words, Mirajane’s eyes widened.

Mirajane stared at Mo En in shock; she knew he was strong, but was this just a little too much?!

Isn’t Mo En the same age as her and Erza?!

Mirajane stared blankly at Mo En, feeling as if a mystical aura surrounded him, making it impossible to see how many secrets he truly held.

“That’s exaggerated, way too exaggerated—listen to me, I’ll explain.”

Mo En quickly explained the events; if things kept going like this, everyone would start looking at him like some kind of god.

After Mo En carefully explained Makarov’s crucial role in the battle, everyone’s expressions finally calmed down a bit—they realized Mo En had done it under the Master’s protection.

But they were still stunned; even so, the fact that Mo En’s single Jixumoli strike had severely wounded Joseph Bola was insane!

“Do Itachi know what everyone outside is calling Itachi now?”

Laxus looked at Mo En with a complex expression, but as he mentioned this topic, his face twisted oddly, as if he was barely holding back laughter—Mo En instantly felt something was wrong.

“Calling me what? Not some weird nickname, right?”

Mo En frowned; the magic world was like a “jianghu”—those who excelled, stood out, or became famous usually had a “courtesy name,” something like “known in the jianghu as XXX.”

Such nicknames were never chosen by the person themselves—they spread naturally, based on traits or deeds.

If others call Itachi “Wu Yanzu,” Itachi’re probably handsome; if Itachi call yourself “Wu Yanzu,” Itachi’re just confident.

“Rose Star God.”

Laxus said it, struggling to keep a straight face—it sounded too feminine, like a woman’s nickname.

“Hmm.”

Mo En relaxed his brow; while not exactly to his taste, it was far better than some ridiculous alternatives.

‘Rose is because I used Royal Magic Palace Rose… and Star God… because of my line about “all stars’ spirits shine for me”? ’

Mo En thought to himself, exhaling slightly; the title was fine otherwise—it just made him sound like some strange being ruling over the “Path of Roses.”

“Rose Star God?!”

Hearing Laxus’s nickname, the kids erupted in excitement; they didn’t find it strange—only envious that Mo En had already become famous. Such a nickname wasn’t something anyone could earn!

They all wanted one too, but they had no idea when that might happen—even a mediocre, unflattering nickname was beyond most people’s reach.

So everyone was envious, their gazes toward Mo En growing more reverent.

“They say Itachi’re the true prodigy, a celestial star spirit incarnate—twelve or thirteen years old, yet Itachi defeated a Saint Ten Wizard Sage. No one in history ever dared imagine such a thing.”

Laxus continued; he’d just returned from a mission and had gathered all these rumors along the way.

“It’s getting more absurd by the minute.”

Mo En rubbed his forehead; what the hell? Why are the Masters so loose-lipped?!

“Wait—what did Grandpa say during the meeting?”

Mo En suddenly realized—if this rumor had spread so far, then what Grandpa Makarov had blurted out during the meeting…

“What did he say? The old man talked? I didn’t hear anything.”

Laxus looked puzzled; he’d been thorough in his Dating and hadn’t heard a single word about Makarov’s remarks—no one had even mentioned it.

“...”

Mo En fell silent.

So the old man’s mouth was tight after all?!

Then why did the fight rumor spread so fast?! Everyone loves a good spectacle, right?! Everyone’s just hoping Joseph Bola drops dead, right?!

The rumor had spread this quickly, this wildly—Mo En couldn’t imagine how furious Joseph Bola must be right now.

Joseph Bola had just made a single misstep and lost everything forever—Mo En’s name had stepped right over his head onto the stage of history.

And he’d debuted not just as famous, but as an invincible Shaoniantianjiao —this kind of fame surge was absurdly excessive.

“Hahahaha! Perfect! Perfect! Joseph Bola must be furious enough to die!”

Makarov shuffled over—he’d been listening to the kids’ conversation the whole time.

The thought of Mo En truly rising to fame by stepping on Joseph Bola made him laugh uncontrollably—he’d won big this time!

It wasn’t even a double win—it was a multi-win! “Fairy Tail” won multiple times! The losers? Joseph Bola and Phantom Lord.

At this moment, Joseph Bola wasn’t angry at the rumors—because he hadn’t even heard them yet.

After fleeing in disgrace from Croba “through the night,” he’d rushed back to Phantom Lord and immediately entered seclusion to heal.

He’d remained in seclusion ever since—until the rumors had fully fermented. In a way, his seclusion had actually fueled the spread, because he never stepped forward to deny it!

People were spreading this outrageous story, and it had already made front-page headlines across newspapers, magazines, and journals—but Joseph Bola hadn’t come out to refute it!

Why? Need Itachi ask? Of course because he was truly severely wounded!

Besides, who were the ones spreading this? The presidents of major guilds! Could it possibly be false?!

The newspapers and magazines dared print it as front-page news precisely because their sources were incredibly reliable!

Even the official newspaper of the Fiore Kingdom had specifically mentioned it. Elsewhere on Ishgaria, the rumor might not have spread so wildly—but in Fiore, Mo En had become a household name, a legendary Shaoniantian � Jiao .

Mo En had expected to gain fame from this, but not to this extent—it had surpassed even his wildest expectations.

“The Masters really went all out to annoy Joseph Bola...”

Mo En sighed; fame wasn’t bad, but too much fame might attract unnecessary trouble.

‘I need to lie low for a while—cool this down a bit.’

Mo En made his decision; he didn’t think people were exaggerating about him—because his future would be even greater, far beyond what they could imagine.

But before that future arrived, he needed caution—“I am not yet strong; when I am strong, change will come.” That saying should wait until he truly became strong. Mo En hoped he could reach that strength safely.

But his hope was unlikely to come true—first, Phantom Lord would never let him have peace.

When a tree towers above the forest, the wind will surely break it—especially when this tree had grown right on top of their president Joseph Bola’s grave.

It was impossible for Phantom Lord to tolerate this. While Joseph Bola remained in seclusion, Phantom Lord’s members had grown restless—and his continued absence only deepened their fears.

If they hadn’t been able to sense their president’s evil-infused magic still flowing, they’d have already feared he was dead.

“We can’t let this continue!”

Inside Phantom Lord’s guild hall, members gathered to discuss Duice —they all knew they couldn’t wait any longer.

If President Joseph wouldn’t emerge, they had to act themselves—the public opinion had already damaged the entire guild.

(End of Chapter)