At the foot of the Black Bone Mountain Range, the Council's temporary camp was currently in a state of orderly chaos. Off-white medical tents were lined up along the mountain path, and soldiers in silver-gray runic uniforms shuttled back and forth carrying supplies. The scent of disinfectant mixed with the fragrance of herbs wafted far away. The patients being carried on stretchers were all plague victims just sent from nearby towns, and the dark aura on their faces had already faded considerably.
Riyao dragged Nirdo Longla along by a Magic Sealing Rope like a tattered sack and tossed him at the feet of Captain Raymond, the captain of the Rune Force, right at the entrance of the main tent. This captain, famous for being serious and rigid, was currently frowning over a disaster report. He was momentarily stunned to see the person at his feet, and then his pupils dilated in shock. This person, whose hair was matted into clumps, whose face was covered in bloodstains and mud prints, and whose eyes were as empty as if a Magic Beast had just stepped on his head—this was the leader of the Black Light Society they had been hunting for three years, the man with hundreds of lives on his hands? If not for that iconic half-face of cold metal, he would have thought Riyao had just dragged some random vagrant over to make up the numbers.
Nirdo let out a grunt when he hit the ground but didn't struggle; he just stared straight at the sky in a daze, his eyes as clear as a college student's. Captain Raymond called his name three times without a response; the man only giggled foolishly. Standing nearby with his hands in his pockets, Riyao added a cutting remark: "Oh, he got a slight concussion from being swung around too much on the way. It won't affect the interrogation. If he really can't remember anything, call me. I'll just give him a couple of needle treatments. The treatment fee is per session, put it on the Council's tab."
Captain Raymond's mouth twitched. Just as he was about to turn his head to say thanks, he saw that the blonde youth standing behind Riyao had no intention of staying, not even offering a greeting. Riyao had long since grown used to his tsundere personality.
With the destruction of the Black Light Society's main base, the virulent plague that had raged for half a month lost its source of magic, and its toxicity receded at a visible rate.
Riyao was in no hurry to leave. He stayed for three days to join the research and development of a specific medicine for the plague. There were simply too many people; if he used Healing Magic to treat them one by one, those at the back of the line might not hold out.
In less than a week, the plague in several disaster-stricken towns was completely eradicated. The residents, who had been at death's door, were out of danger. Even the lingering lung injuries from before were slowly repaired by the trace amounts of life force Riyao dispersed into the air. All that remained was to drink herbal soup for half a month to recuperate and achieve a full recovery.
When Captain Raymond personally handed the pouch containing the bounty to Riyao, the rigid expression on his face softened significantly. Previously, his impression of Fairy Tail had been entirely composed of "troublemakers" and "rule-breakers."
At the same time, he handed over a document stamped with the Council's vermilion seal. The cover was specially marked with gold-leafed characters for "Special Approval": "This is a certificate for permanent tax exemption. It is limited to the land you use for cultivating medicinal crops. No matter how many acres you expand to in the future, property taxes and crop transaction taxes are all waived. This is a special exception approved by the Kingdom specifically for your contributions to this disaster relief."
Riyao's eyes lit up for a moment, then he scratched the back of his head, his mind quickly calculating the accounts. Over the past two years, he had treated many chronic magic injuries for the old-money nobles of Fiore and had also treated old ailments for several high-ranking officials of the Council. Those employers were very generous, and the bounty he saved had already allowed him to acquire five acres on the sunniest part of the southern slope of Magnolia.
The fruits and medicinal herbs he grew were enough for his own use, and he was too lazy to sell them.
After thinking it over, Riyao waved his hand. "The land I have is enough. Any more and I won't be able to manage it; I still have to go out and do requests."
"How about you help me convert this tax exemption into rare seeds from the Council's inventory? Grandma Porlyusica has been nagging for nearly half a year about the Snowy Plains Edelweiss. She says she needs it for a new antidote and it can't be bought outside. Your Council's medicinal storehouse must have stock, right?"
Captain Raymond was stunned. He had seen many Mages break their necks trying to get the Kingdom's preferential policies to hoard land for profit, but it was his first time seeing someone turn down the benefit of permanent tax exemption for just a few bags of seeds.
"Fine. I'll go back and file an application. Next week, I'll have someone deliver the Edelweiss seeds to the Fairy Tail Guild."
Riyao's eyes curved with joy. He tucked the heavy bounty bag into his shirt, waved, and ran toward the town's train station.
Sitting on the train, Riyao thought about how to make up for his lack of offensive capabilities. In his mind, a mini-Riyao was crawling around frantically, skittering gloomily, and rolling all over the floor.
He wanted to learn Enchantment Magic, but he found that current Enchantment Magic books were all incomplete. Riyao guessed it might be the work of Irene Belserion. After all, she was the founder of Enchantment Magic and was still alive today. Best not to provoke her.
Little Wendy also hadn't traveled through time with all her might... bah, hadn't traveled over yet. It still had to wait until July 7th, X777. He only knew it was near the Worth Woodsea, so there was no way to go looking for her.
Take Over Magic was also pretty good, but ordinary Take Over Souls weren't as good as his original physique. If all else failed, he could only go find a weapon to play with.
After thinking the whole way, he finally returned to Magnolia. He didn't go to the guild, preparing instead to go home and sleep.
The entire garden was situated on the sunniest gentle slope of Magnolia's southern side, backed by a lush green oak forest. Looking forward, one could see the town's rows of red roofs. In the distance, the gilded spire of the Fairy Tail Guild's clock tower shimmered. When the wind blew, one could faintly hear the sounds of brawling coming from the guild.
Five square plots of farmland spread out along the gentle slope. The edges were surrounded by a woven vine fence that Riyao had grown using Life Magic. It was covered in small light-blue flowers and could automatically block wild animals. It would also spray itching powder at intruding strangers; previously, a small thief who tried to steal herbs was tied to the fence laughing for three hours before finally being carried away by Council members.
Three two-story cottages were built side-by-side on the high ground at the northern end of the garden. The roofs were tiled, and the base of the walls was covered in yellow-flowered Star Jasmine, which smelled so sweet when the wind blew that the scent wafted for half a mile.
The one in the middle was the house where Riyao lived. The second-floor balcony was covered by a trellis of lush grapevines. It was furnished with much of Riyao's favorite furniture, making it very cozy.
The building on the left was specifically reserved for receiving guests. The first floor had a long oak table that could seat fifteen people—enough for half the guild to come over for a meal—and several guest rooms.
The one on the far right was the laboratory cottage. The windows were all made of special magic glass to prevent magic leakage. On the shelves inside were rows of clay pots planted with various experimental magic crops. The walls were covered with crooked growth records. In the corner sat medical scales and a magic detector gifted by Porlyusica. On the windowsill was a small cage housing medicinal green butterflies, also from Porlyusica; the scales fanned from their wings could accelerate wound healing.
Next to the laboratory cottage was a dusty solid-wood warehouse. The door was made of thickened magic planks, making it insect-proof, moisture-proof, and fireproof. Half of it was filled with farming tools, fertilizers, and various seeds.
The evening sunlight spread out diagonally, casting long shadows of the three cottages. A pungent smell drifted from the chimney of the owner's house—it was Riyao cooking River Snail Rice Noodles. Occasionally, the guild's bell rang in the distance. The wind rolled through the waves of grain, and even the air carried a sweet scent.