This was the real reason Zeref was so desperate to either die or kill Acnologia.
He did not age and could not die. If that were all, he could have simply found some remote mountain and lived in seclusion.
But Acnologia would come toy with him from time to time, and Zeref could do absolutely nothing to him.
Irene had never imagined that one day, Raizel and Selene would sit in her suite and speak so boldly about the curse of Ankhseram.
Selene even brought up another point.
"Then there is the existence of God Slayer Magic. It is merely a Slayer-type Magic humans created based on Dragon Slayer Magic. 'God Slayer Magic' is only a name. 'Slaying gods' sounds far stronger than 'slaying humans,' just like people always want to give their techniques powerful-sounding names."
Raizel agreed with Selene's view and nodded before adding,
"God Slayer Magic is also a Slayer-type Magic. Its power is simply relatively strong. Leaving aside whether God Slayer Magic can truly kill gods, if gods really exist, would humans calling it God Slayer Magic not be a form of blasphemy against those gods?"
As for whether gods truly existed, Irene neither confirmed nor denied it.
Still, it had to be said that Irene's mind remained very clear.
Even while facing these two people who spoke so brazenly, she could still keep her thoughts in order.
"Even so, the curse of Ankhseram on Zeref's body still exists, and he truly does not age or die."
Selene answered without changing expression,
"I don't know why that curse exists, but so far, I have only heard of Zeref and that little guild master girl being affected by it."
Selene had already met Mavis.
In front of Selene, Mavis was indeed a little girl in every sense, whether in body or in age.
Irene had only heard of Mavis.
Since she had not received the guild mark, she had not seen Mavis in person.
"But I know an existence similar to this curse. Gold Dragon God Viernes. That fellow can now be said to be a dragon who both exists and does not exist. He is more like a will."
Raizel had roughly heard Selene talk about Gold Dragon God Viernes before.
To put it simply, he was somewhat like Schrödinger's Gold Dragon God.
However, Viernes was still somewhat different from the curse.
The difference was that he had once possessed a physical body.
Finally, Selene folded her arms and leaned back against the sofa with an unshaken expression.
"So, in my view, if this so-called Ankhseram exists, then at most, it is only a will-like existence. It cannot be called a god."
Gold Dragon God Viernes was troublesome for Selene, but only troublesome.
Viernes could not do anything to Selene either, because if she could not win, she could run.
Igneel and Acnologia had also proved the same point.
As long as one was powerful enough, something like the curse of Ankhseram was only that much.
No matter what others believed, Selene herself did not believe there were gods in Earth Land, Edolas, or Elentear.
If she believed in gods, she would have wanted to become a god long ago, rather than wanting to become human.
Raizel slowly revealed another piece of information.
"I tested the curse of Ankhseram on Zeref's body once, back in December of X784."
Irene could not help raising an eyebrow. Selene also pricked up her ears.
"And Zeref's answer at the time was that it worked, but not much. However, my strength back then cannot be compared to my strength now. Based on that, I became even less convinced that the god Ankhseram truly exists. After Selene told me about Gold Dragon God Viernes, I became even more certain of this."
Raizel looked into Irene's eyes.
"In truth, logically speaking, we are not standing on opposite sides. I have always wanted to help Zeref remove the curse. I simply did not expect that because of the Black Dragon's reappearance, his mental state would become abnormal. That guy is probably thinking only about traveling through time now, going back to before Acnologia transformed into a dragon, and killing him."
Selene nodded thoughtfully.
"He is quite the genius, then. To be able to research something like a gate that travels through time, he is impressive."
Seeing Selene's expression, Raizel hurriedly said,
"Don't start thinking about traveling through time. Who knows whether the other side of the gate will be full of dragons?"
Selene shook her head immediately.
"I have no interest. I only think he is quite impressive, a rare scholar-type genius."
"Since you're here to then its perfect, I was originally planning to find you afterward. After I bring Erza and the others to the western continent, please look after the guild."
"Even without you telling me, I would do so. I am someone who bears the guild mark as well."
Raizel lowered his head and admitted his mistake very straightforwardly.
"My fault."
Seeing Raizel take that attitude, the corners of Selene's lips lifted slightly.
Clearly, she found it quite pleasing.
...
Outside the castle, after leaving, Raizel rubbed his chin in thought.
"It's mid-July now. Fairy Tail's hundred-year Harvest Festival is at the end of September or the beginning of October... The timing should be fine."
April of X686 had been when Mavis, Precht, and the other first-generation members founded Fairy Tail.
This April, they had held a hundred-year celebration, but because not everyone was present, especially with Natsu and Gray missing, it had not been particularly lively.
The true highlight would still be the Harvest Festival ceremony in early October.
...
At the same time—
In the Alvarez Empire on the western continent, the citizens were cheering their emperor's return.
When Zeref returned previously, he had gone directly back to the palace, and only the Spriggan 12 and Minister Yajeel had known about it.
This time, however, he walked openly through the streets, declaring his return for all to see.
Invel stood in the great hall. He had long blue hair tied into a braid, wore glasses, and possessed a handsome appearance.
With his hands behind his back, he spoke with deep respect.
"Welcome back to the capital, Your Majesty."
"I have returned, Invel. There is an urgent matter I need you to handle. Can you summon all members of the Spriggan 12 immediately?"
"Immediately may be difficult, but I will begin at once."
Along with Zeref's return, the War Princess, Dimaria Yesta, arrived at the great hall.
She had uneven short golden hair, dressed in a revealing outfit, wore a golden arm guard on her right arm, and had her coat tied around her waist.
Also present was Ajeel Raml, grandson of Minister Yajeel and likewise one of the Spriggan 12.
Known as the Desert King, he had spiral-shaped brown hair, dark skin, and a white headscarf.
He wore large red earrings shaped like prayer beads on both ears, left his upper body bare, had bracelets around both wrists, and wore loose trousers on his lower body.
Then came the Magic King—August.
With long, wavy, white hair, a thick beard, and a gentle-looking face, he wore a black cloak marked with the Alvarez Empire's emblem over a white robe.
Holding his magic staff, he slowly entered the hall.
"It seems you are in a good mood, Your Majesty."
August's words were actually the opposite of what he meant.
He had noticed the smile on Zeref's face, and beneath that smile, the unusually indifferent and calm look in his eyes.
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