"Is that so?"
Zeref still wore a smile, but his tone was extremely calm.
August and Zeref had argued once before.
August believed they should not start a war with Ishgar, but Zeref seemed to have already made up his mind and had ordered Governor Invel to carry it out.
However, that quarrel had only been a disagreement between the two of them. The other members of the Spriggan 12 knew nothing about it.
Because the young August had somewhat resembled Mavis when he was little, Zeref treated August rather differently.
All Magic from the western continent, including Zeref's own, had been taught to August without reservation.
Even when August went against his will, Zeref did not punish him.
For four hundred years, Zeref had continued searching for the meaning of living in this world.
During those four hundred years, he had also continued preparing for what the western continent called the Twilight of the Gods, and what Ishgar called the Dragon King Festival.
Several hundred years ago, Zeref had established a small nation on the western continent.
As he swallowed up various guilds, and with August's assistance over the past few decades, it had unknowingly grown into a massive organization known as an empire.
His ultimate goal was the hidden grand Magic, a secret Magic even higher in rank than Fairy Tail's Three Great Magics—Fairy Heart.
In the battle between Acnologia and Igneel, even with the Fire Dragon King four hundred years later joining forces with four other dragons against an Acnologia who was no longer at his peak, they had still not been his match.
Zeref had watched from afar.
He did not want to keep waiting anymore.
He wanted to rely on himself!
If he provoked the Dragon King Festival, the final result was easy to imagine.
Either he would die, Acnologia would die, or both sides would die.
But no matter which outcome came to pass, it would be a form of release for him.
...
Fairy Tail's tavern, second-floor meeting room—
Basically every named member in the guild had gathered together.
Makarov slammed the table and said excitedly,
"What? You want to take them to negotiate with Zeref?!"
Raizel shrugged indifferently.
"To put it nicely, it's called negotiation. To put it bluntly, it's a fight. His goal is Fairy Heart, and what he relies on is nothing more than the Spriggan 12. The two strongest among them have already been dealt with, so there's nothing to worry about."
As for the existence of Fairy Heart, Mavis was also present.
Just now, Mavis had already explained it to all the members in the room, although Natsu had not understood.
In broad terms, over the course of more than thirty years, Precht had continued researching how to revive Mavis.
But things had developed in an unpredictable direction.
Precht's extraordinary knowledge and talent, combined with the semi-permanent life support brought about by Mavis's immortality, fused together and gave birth to an indescribable Magic.
It could be called a Magic that completely overturned the Magic world's understanding—the perpetual Magic, Fairy Heart.
Just as its name suggested, Fairy Heart possessed Magic Power that would never run dry.
It contained enough Magic Power to release Etherion, one of the Council's superweapons, infinitely.
Although the members were shocked by this secret, one that only the guild master was supposed to know, they had already witnessed the existence of Precht's Grimoire Heart.
Because of that, Fairy Heart was not something they could not accept.
Makarov added in a low voice, "Ivan once wanted to obtain it as well. I don't know where the information leaked from, but even the Alvarez Empire knows about it..."
"Um... I want to ask something." Happy raised his paw.
"If it's such a powerful Magic, can't we use it to deal with the Black Dragon and Zeref together?"
"That does make sense. Even if it truly can be used that way, no one can guarantee whether Fairy Heart is controllable. Just imagine what would happen if infinitely released Etherion became uncontrollable..."
Makarov's words made Happy's fur stand on end. He immediately drooped his head and apologized.
"Gomenasai!"
"So we can't fight poison with poison?" Lily nodded.
"What poison? That is technically the First Master's body," Carla retorted with black lines practically forming over her head.
Immediately afterward, Mavis stood up full of apology and bowed to Makarov.
"Here, I must also apologize to the Third Master. Your mother, Rita... her life was taken by the curse of Ankhseram on my body."
Makarov hurriedly stood up and waved his hands.
"In truth, when the Second Master told me your secret, I had already realized it. This cannot be blamed on you. Besides, so many years have already passed. You don't need to feel sorry."
"First Master, please do not blame yourself anymore!"
"It was merely an unfortunate accident where several things happened to come together."
"If you had not been here, Fairy Tail would never have been born."
"Which means we would never have met here, right?"
The members comforted Mavis one after another in their own words.
"Aye, sir!" Happy raised his paw.
...
Makarov still could not help frowning with worry.
"But... that is the Black Wizard Zeref."
After all, Zeref was the Black Wizard recorded in apocalyptic texts as being equal in name to the Black Dragon Acnologia.
It was only natural for Makarov to worry. In Ishgar, the Black Dragon and the Black Wizard were enough to stop children from crying at night.
Laxus leaned back in his chair with his arms folded, looking very casual.
"Old man, you're old! Just rest in the guild peacefully."
Makarov clenched his fists and protested,
"If you keep talking like that, I'll retire!"
Laxus yawned with the expression of a truly filial grandson.
"Then forget it. You should stay guild master until you die."
Several angry marks instantly appeared on Makarov's head.
There was no helping it.
This grandson of his really was filial enough to make the whole room burst into laughter. He was far too good at talking.
It had to be said, the serious atmosphere eased slightly.
Raizel looked at Makarov very seriously and said,
"I promise you, however I take them there, that is how I will bring them back. We will even make it in time for the hundred-year Harvest Festival. You know me. I never do anything I have no confidence in."
Natsu clenched his fist hard, flames blazing over it.
"That's right! For the First Master, for Fairy Tail, and for Magnolia! We have to stand up and fight!"
Ultear gave a soft laugh.
"I'm quite interested in that so-called descendant of the God of Time."
"I also want to show the results of my training," Mira said with a smile, her eyes narrowing.
Kagura did not speak.
She only placed the dragon-slaying sword Astron and Cursed Blade: Archenemy on the table, declaring her resolve through action.
"I absolutely will not lose this battle." Erza stood ready for battle.
She also had a reason she could not afford to lose.
The members present all smiled sincerely.
Laxus looked toward Makarov again and chuckled.
"Looks like everyone's made up their minds."
"I'm all fired up!"