More than half a month passed quickly, and the handover ceremony of the Emperor of the Albares Empire came to an end.
Caesar and Mirajane immediately set off and returned to Fairy Tail.
After sending Mirajane back to the guild using teleportation, Caesar disappeared before he even had time to say hello to anyone.
"Welcome... huh? Running so fast?"
Ur looked at Caesar and Mirajane, who had just returned. Before she could say hello, Caesar vanished.
She looked at Mirajane, who smiled and said, "He has something to do."
"All right."
Ur nodded.
...
Sirius Island.
Caesar appeared instantly in front of Jellal.
Jellal sat up, looked at Caesar, and said, "You're back, which means they—"
"Stop talking nonsense and take my punch!"
Before Mavis could even react, Caesar took a big step forward and threw a powerful punch that landed squarely on Jellal's face.
Jellal was sent flying by the blow, crashing through several dead trees before rolling across the ground and slamming into a rock.
His face was sunken, blood dripping down, but he didn't die. Within moments, his wounds healed completely.
"They are no match for you," Jellal said, standing up and dusting himself off. "Looks like I'll have to use another plan."
"Caesar, what happened?"
Mavis finally reacted and approached.
"That empire—what are they planning?"
Caesar ignored her, grabbed Jellal by the collar, and lifted him up.
"Are you really going to abandon it all?" he demanded. "Just pawns, aren't they?"
Jellal smirked. "Just like me, in your eyes—am I not just a pawn too?"
Caesar frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Caesar, you gave me hope," Jellal said quietly. "But that hope is fragile. If you fail, I'll start again my own way."
"Are you going to give up everything in the past?" Caesar asked. "You're giving up Mavis too? Even your son with her?"
Jellal froze. Mavis looked stunned.
"Son? When did I ever have a child?" Mavis said in disbelief. "My body's still in a dead state—it's impossible."
"I can't have children," Jellal said firmly.
Mavis had died in his arms—a curse upon his love. Even if a child had existed, how could they survive under that curse?
Caesar punched Jellal in the face again.
"There may be despair and curses in this world," Caesar said coldly. "But love can still create miracles. Just like what you hid in that secret room."
Jellal's expression changed completely.
No one should have been able to open it—it had seventy-two magic seals.
Caesar sneered. "Never underestimate what a bored woman with too much free time can do."
Mavis looked between them, curiosity burning in her eyes.
"What's in that secret room?" she asked.
Jellal's wounds healed again, and he said in a low voice, "Who is my so-called son?"
"You guess," Caesar replied calmly. "Don't even think about attacking him. You kill him once, and I'll save him once. Let's see who's faster—your curse or my revival."
"You're provoking the god Anxelram," Jellal said.
"This isn't provocation," Caesar replied. "It's a declaration of war. I'll kill him. This world doesn't need curses."
Jellal sat back down, sighing. "Then I'll wait and see. Do it your way."
"If I succeed," Caesar said, looking him dead in the eyes, "you'd better go home and take care of your baby."
"If you can do it," Jellal murmured.
Love? He was no longer qualified for that. Love only brought death. Indifference was the only thing that kept him alive now.
"Caesar, wait!" Mavis called out as Caesar turned to leave.
"Oh, right. Let him stay here and reflect on his actions. Master, please come with me."
Caesar picked up Mavis.
While she was still stunned, they vanished from Sirius Island.
"Mavis... am I alone again?" Jellal whispered. "I'm used to it. Still, I hope he succeeds. Otherwise, I'll destroy this twisted world myself... even if I'm lonely."
...
In the guild hall, Caesar and Mavis appeared in a flash of light.
"Put me down! I'm not a child! Show some respect for your elders!"
Caesar quickly set her down. Mavis puffed out her cheeks and hit him lightly with her tiny fists.
"Ch–Ch–Ch–Chairman!"
Seeing Mavis appear, Makarov was so startled that his snot bubbled out.
The other guild members were shocked too.
"Can the First Master even leave Tenrou Island?" Erza asked in disbelief.
They had all seen Mavis during the S-Class trials and thought she could never leave the island. Yet here she was—carried in by Caesar.
"Caesar! What do you think you're doing?!"
Makarov grew in size, grabbed Caesar, and roared, "How dare you disturb the First Master's rest!"
"Master, please calm down!" Caesar said quickly. "I brought her here for something important."
Then he looked at Mavis. "Master, please explain!"
"Well," Mavis said with a mischievous grin, "tell me what's in the secret room first, and then I'll help you."
Caesar sighed. "Women..."