The next morning, Arlen opened his eyes after a night of meditation. Far from feeling tired, he was completely refreshed.
After washing up, he changed back into his original outfit.
A black cross-collared top embroidered with blue-violet cloud patterns, the collar and sleeves bearing the golden crest of the Viviamilio family. Slim black trousers, long black boots with white soles, and a leather belt at his waist engraved with the Fairy Tail emblem. His Tang blade, Araya Shiki, rested at his left side.
Over it all, he wore a loose gray cloak, the back embroidered with a large golden Fairy Tail insignia.
His silver-white hair flowed freely, parted bangs revealing the crescent mark on his forehead.
Looking at himself in the mirror, his gaze shifted toward the mayor's estate.
A cold glint flashed in his eyes.
—
After breakfast, Arlen arrived at the city's tallest clock tower.
Sitting cross-legged at the top, he closed his eyes and waited.
For nightfall.
—
As the sun set and the moon rose, a thin mist veiled the night—an omen of unrest.
Standing atop the tower, Arlen looked down.
A convoy moved through the streets—
Ten knights, and two steel-reinforced carriages.
Atop one carriage sat the mayor, his bloated body swaying lazily.
The night wind lifted Arlen's cloak and hair—
But not the killing intent in his eyes.
Then—
He vanished.
—
Under the cover of darkness, Arlen followed silently.
He waited.
Waited for the black-robed figure to appear.
—
Eventually, the convoy stopped deep within a forest outside the city.
The mayor, assisted by his guards, stepped down and stood respectfully facing the darkness.
"They're here," Arlen muttered from his perch in a tree.
Several presences approached.
Moments later—
A figure cloaked entirely in black emerged.
The mayor hurried forward, bowing deeply.
"My lord, you've arrived. You must be tired."
The black-robed man nodded, then glanced at the carriages.
"The goods?"
"Yes, all prepared. Would you like to inspect them?"
"No need," the man replied hoarsely. "We're short on manpower for constructing the R-System. I won't stay long."
"Tonight, I'll transport them to the ship."
"Of course, of course! Everything is for the great Zeref!" the mayor said, eyes filled with fanaticism.
The robed man clapped.
Four more figures emerged from the darkness.
Without a word, they moved to the carriages—two taking control and preparing to depart.
—
At that moment—
Arlen moved.
He dropped from above, landing silently among them.
Before anyone could react—
Silver flashes cut through the air.
Several guards fell instantly.
He chose not to use gravity magic.
Because of the children.
A wide-area spell would endanger them.
So—
He chose the simplest method.
One blade.
One life.
—
Chaos erupted.
"Who is this?!"
Weapons and magic flew toward Arlen.
But none could touch him.
Every strike missed.
Every counterattack killed.
The mayor's face twisted in horror.
"That crest… that aura… you're—Fairy Tail's Noble Young Master?! The Trembling Noble—Arlen?!"
"Kill him! All of you! I don't care how—just kill him!" the mayor screamed, fear and desperation overtaking him.
The black-robed leader's expression darkened.
But he remained composed.
"This isn't the first time we've been discovered," he said coldly. "And it won't be the last."
"Kill him."
—
Magic flooded the battlefield.
Flames, wind, water, earth—
All surged toward Arlen.
He smiled faintly.
Now—
There was no need to hold back.
Golden energy ignited along Araya Shiki, like flames dancing across the blade.
A magic circle lit the forest.
"Wind Scar."
With a single swing—
Three blazing arcs tore through the night.
They shattered spells.
Destroyed magic circles.
And cut through the battlefield.
When the dust settled—
Only two remained.
The mayor.
And the black-robed leader.
Both barely alive.
—
Arlen didn't even glance at the mayor.
Instead, he looked at the black-robed man—his mask shattered, revealing a terrified face.
"I'll talk! I'll tell you everything!" the man cried.
Arlen paused.
"…Go on."
—
Like a broken dam, the man spilled everything.
The kidnappings.
The destinations.
The purpose.
Arlen listened silently.
Then—
He ended both their lives.
Even in death, the mayor proved useful—revealing the location of his treasury and evidence of his crimes.
After disposing of the bodies, Arlen opened the steel cages.
Inside—
The children slept, likely drugged.
After confirming they were unharmed, he turned the carriages back toward the city.
—
As dawn approached, Arlen reflected on what he had learned.
The black-robed group called themselves the Black Magic Cult.
They abducted people—children, adults, anyone.
Their goal—
To construct the R-System.
Revive System.
A forbidden magic capable of resurrecting the dead—
At the cost of a living sacrifice.
Their target—
Zeref.
To bring him back.
To usher in a new age of dark magic.
Villages had already been destroyed.
Countless lives taken.
And yet—
Even the cult members didn't know the exact location of the construction site.
Only that victims were transported through several ports to a remote island.
—
The sun rose.
Warm light bathed the world.
And Arlen, guiding the carriage of rescued children, murmured softly:
"Even in darkness… we must walk toward the light."