Chapter 93: Guild Attack
"We're back!!"
"We're back!!"
The group stumbled back into Magnolia, their voices a mixture of relief and exhaustion. They had secretly snuck out at night, spent a day and a night traveling, and then another day on the cursed island. But this time, they had left Galuna Island in the morning and arrived back in Magnolia by the afternoon.
"I... I am never... ugh... riding on a boat made of fire ever again," Gray moaned, still shaken from the high-speed sea voyage.
"The boat... ugh...!" Natsu, who was being half-carried by Gray, heard the word 'boat' and felt dizzy again, his face turning a pale green.
Ren had driven the Striker at full speed, towing their ice boat behind him. The boat, due to its excessive, unnatural speed, was bouncing and slamming on the water, making even those who didn't usually get seasick, like Gray, Lucy, and Happy, feel like throwing up.
"Sigh! The quest was stolen for nothing; we didn't get anything," Natsu grumbled, his pride stung more than his stomach.
"Serves you right!" Ren said, not even looking back. He was the only one who seemed completely unaffected. "That's what you get for stealing a quest. Besides, it's not like I didn't give you a chance; you were frozen solid the moment you showed up. Otherwise, if you had defeated those three, I might have given you a little something."
"Who knew that guy would be so despicable, actually freezing me!" Natsu also got angry at the mention of this. If he hadn't been frozen, he could have not only defeated those three but also knocked out that arrogant Lyon.
Happy, who was perched on Lucy's head, then looked at Ren and said, "Ren... I've been thinking. That earthquake back in Magnolia... that was you, wasn't it?"
The others, hearing Happy's words, also stopped. They remembered that the earthquake a few days ago had indeed been very unusual and had happened at the exact time Ren was supposedly doing his "summoning."
"What are you talking about?" Ren said, his face the perfect picture of innocence. "I don't know what you're saying?"
"It must have been you!" Happy accused. "Magnolia hasn't had an earthquake in years, and that night there was a sudden one! It must have been caused by you receiving that giant Whitebeard old man!"
"Don't talk nonsense without evidence," Ren said, his voice dangerously smooth. "Be careful, or I'll sue you for defamation. Slander."
Happy flinched. "Give me a fish."
"I'll give you ten."
"Yay! That's great!! See, everyone? A completely natural and normal earthquake!"
Just then, the group's bickering died down as they noticed the soft whispers from the people on both sides of the street. The townsfolk were staring at them with expressions of pity and fear.
"Hmm? What's going on?" Lucy asked, unnerved. "The Guild... it looks very strange..."
The group looked ahead. They stopped.
The Fairy Tail guild hall was in ruins.
It was pierced, like an insect, by dozens of massive, black iron pillars. The Guild's sign was shattered on the ground. The walls were splintered, the roof had caved in, and the entire building was sagging, skewered and violated.
"Who...?" Natsu's voice was a low, trembling whisper.
"Who did this?!!" he suddenly roared, his voice echoing through the street.
Seeing their Guild, their home, destroyed like this, a surge of uncontrollable, murderous anger rose in their hearts.
"It's Phantom Lord."
A quiet, tired voice rang out. The group immediately looked in the direction of the sound, seeing Mira standing in the shadow of a nearby building, her face pale, her usual smile gone.
Ren was by her side in an instant, his hands on her shoulders, his eyes scanning her for injuries. "Mira, you're not hurt, are you?"
He had also panicked for a moment when he saw the Guild destroyed. His first thought wasn't of the building, but of her.
Mira felt a small warmth in her heart seeing Ren so genuinely concerned about her, and she shook her head. "No... I'm not hurt, Ren. I'm fine."
Lucy quickly came over, her eyes wide with shock. "Where is everyone? How is everyone in the Guild? Were they...?"
"Everyone is fine," Mira said, forcing a small, pained smile. "They attacked at night, when the guild was empty. Everyone is safe... they're all in the basement. Come with me."
The group followed Mira to the Guild's basement level. It was Fairy Tail's backup warehouse, a place primarily used to store supplies, spare tables, and barrels of ale on normal days. Now, it was a cramped, crowded, and furious makeshift guild hall.
"Oh! Ren, you're back!"
"Natsu and Gray are back too!"
Everyone in the Guild greeted the group upon their return, their voices a low growl.
"Did you see it? The state of the Guild. Damn it."
"Those Phantom Lord bastards!"
"They actually attacked our Guild! Next time, we'll go destroy their Guild!!"
"Calm down. Our opponent is Phantom Lord... this is different."
Everyone in the Guild was furious, their magic power leaking out, all clamoring to go fight Phantom Lord.
"Yo. Welcome back."
Makarov sat on a barrel, drinking beer. He looked as if nothing had happened, and he greeted the group.
"Old man, this isn't the time to drink!" Natsu, seeing Makarov's leisurely, almost bored demeanor, immediately got angry and shouted at him. "The Guild has been destroyed!"
"Oh, really?" Makarov said, his eyes narrowing. "And you guys... you went on an S-Class Quest without permission. That is the guild's most sacred, unbreakable rule."
"Punishment!! Receive your punishment now!! Be mentally prepared!!"
"This isn't the time for that!!" Natsu shouted.
Makarov raised his palm and lightly tapped Natsu and Happy on the head. Then, he slapped Lucy on the butt. "That's for the ringleader, the thief, and the accomplice!"
"Master! This is not right!" Mira said angrily, her face red.
Seeing Makarov acting like this, like a perverted old man, Natsu got even angrier. "Gramps! Do you even know what's going on right now?!!"
"Calm down. Calm down," Makarov said, taking another sip of beer. "It's not a big deal."
"What?!"
The faces of the entire group—Natsu, Gray, and Lucy—changed. The Guild was destroyed... and that wasn't a big deal? Then what was a big deal?
"Those Phantom Lord idiots only have that much ability," Makarov said, his voice low and dangerous, though his face was calm. "What's there to be proud of in smashing up an empty building when we're all not around? That's the act of cowards. There's no need to get angry at opponents who only know how to ambush. Just... ignore them."
"How can we just let it go like this?!" Natsu roared, his fists shaking. "I'm definitely going to beat them up!!"
"Natsu..." Mira explained softly, putting a hand on his arm. "The Master is also very unwilling. But the Magic Council strictly prohibits armed conflict between Guilds."
"Didn't they make the first move?!" Natsu argued.
"It's not about who started it," Mira said, her voice sad. "The Council won't care who started it. As long as there is a conflict, both sides will be punished."
Makarov nodded, his eyes closed. "This matter ends here. We'll work here, in the basement, until the upstairs is repaired. That is my final word."
"Who's in the mood to work!!" Natsu yelled, punching a barrel, which splintered.
Suddenly! A new, cold voice cut through the basement.
"Oh? You're not in the mood to work?"
"Eeeek----!!"
Natsu, Lucy, and Happy all screamed in fright.
Turning around, they saw Erza standing behind them, her arms crossed, a murderous look on her face. She had apparently just arrived.
"Erza--?!"
Natsu might not be afraid of the Master, but he was terrified of Erza. Since childhood, Erza had truly, brutally beaten him up.
"Er... Erza... the Guild... the Guild has been destroyed!" Natsu forced himself to suppress his fear, gesturing at the rubble above.
Erza said coldly, her eyes flashing, "That is still not a reason for you to steal an S-Class Quest, Natsu. You broke the guild's most important rule. You put your comrades, and a newcomer, in mortal danger."
"This isn't the time for that!" Natsu shouted, his anger at the situation finally overriding his fear of her. "What's important now is Phantom Lord! You can fight me or kill me later, whatever you want! But now... Phantom Lord has destroyed our home! Are you just going to stand by and watch, Erza? Are you really willing to accept this?!"
Erza's expression faltered at Natsu's question. She looked at the angry faces of her guildmates, then at Makarov's pained, silent expression.
She had also grown up in this Guild since she was a little girl. This Guild was her home. How could she possibly accept this?
However, she also understood one thing, perhaps better than anyone: the Magic Council prohibited conflicts between Mage Guilds. Fairy Tail already had a bad reputation with the Council. If they really fought Phantom Lord, Fairy Tail might be forcibly disbanded by the Magic Council.
And then, everyone... everyone might become homeless.
Furthermore, the Phantom Lord Guild itself was very powerful. If both sides fought, the possibility of both being severely wounded was very high.
The Master wasn't being a coward. He was trying to protect everyone in the Guild from harm. That was why he endured this humiliation.
Just as the guild was trapped in a frustrated, angry silence...
Ren's voice, calm and analytical, cut through the tension.
"Master. If there's a way... a way to teach Phantom Lord a lesson... a lesson they will never forget... but without the Magic Council being able to punish Fairy Tail... I wonder if you would agree to it."
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