"I hope you are enjoying our services here…" Prince Nova said as he came in front of Fiore's king; the soft glow of chandeliers was reflecting off his attire, while gentle music echoed through the grand hall.
King Toma put a smile on his face and answered, "Yes, Prince Nova Steensen. I have heard that the Iceberg Kingdom is well known for being good at taking care of others, and now I have finally gotten to experience it myself. I especially love your food… It really deserves its reputation."
"I am happy to hear that. Please, feel free to have as much as you want…don't feel embarrassed," Prince Nova said with a bow before turning his gaze toward the princess.
"Princess, I really like your dress. It suits you quite well," he added politely, as his gaze was dancing around her dress. "What do you think of the Iceberg Kingdom so far?"
The princess stood behind the king when the prince arrived, and although the king's small frame couldn't hide her much, she tried to remain composed.
"It's great," she replied politely. "I was a bit worried about the weather before coming here… but inside the castle, the temperature seems perfect."
"Haha, yes. We always have much more snow here than other parts of Ishgar," Prince Nova said with a helpless laugh. "The castle usually isn't this warm, but a lot of council members added rune magic all around it for both defense and temperature control."
"I see…" the princess replied quietly, her eyes briefly shifting outside the huge window, as if she was more interested in runes than the prince himself.
"By the way, Princess, how about you—?"
Before he could finish, a voice suddenly echoed throughout the hall, amplified by magic.
"Ladies and gentlemen… it seems that all of our guests are ready to enter now…Let us give them the warmest welcome. Let us begin with the introductions…"
The surrounding nobles slowly turned their attention toward the center of the hall, where a young man in a top hat was talking loudly with a microphone…
"You were saying something?" the princess asked, looking back at Prince Nova.
"No, don't worry about it," Prince Nova replied calmly. "Just look forward to the gala. There will be some exciting news tonight. You'll be glad you came here… trust me."
With that, the prince waved his hand lightly and walked toward the crowd, his figure gradually blending among the nobles beneath the golden lights.
Astro, who was standing behind the princess, watched the prince's back as he left. His gaze lingered on the shadow trailing behind Prince Nova for a brief moment before he casually looked away.
"Let us welcome one of the newest kingdoms on the Ishgar continent…" the announcer's voice echoed through the grand hall, amplified by magic.
"The royal family that managed to gather the seven territories and unite them under one flag, leading all of them together toward prosperity and riches… the royal family of the Seven Kingdoms, represented by His Majesty, King Theron Sakdall the Third, and the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, Ruby Irphine…"
As if on cue, the huge doors slowly opened.
A middle-aged, chubby man stepped inside first, his presence immediately drawing attention. King Theron was wearing extremely colorful and luxurious clothes, layered in rich fabrics that shimmered under the chandelier light. Gold embroidery ran across his long coat, mixed with deep reds, blues, and emerald tones, making his outfit look heavy and extravagant. Rings adorned almost every finger, and jeweled ornaments decorated his collar and belt, making it obvious that he was a king who did not shy away from displaying his wealth and authority.
Beside him walked a very gorgeous woman.
It was none other than Queen Ruby Irphine who had long, dark hair flowing freely down her back, contrasting sharply with her pale skin. Her dress hugged her figure closely, made of shimmering silver fabric that reflected the light with every step she took. The neckline was bold, revealing just enough to draw attention without looking improper, and a wide transparent belt cinched her waist, decorated with metallic patterns and small gem-like ornaments. Long earrings swayed gently as she walked, and her bright red eyes seemed almost unnatural—eyes that felt as if they could pull in anyone who dared to look at them for too long.
Astro's gaze lingered on the king and queen only long enough to memorize their faces before shifting to the three people walking behind them.
The three of them looked very similar to each other—fair-skinned, black-haired, and dark-eyed. They looked average, but what stood out the most was their bodies. Even through their clothes, their massive builds were impossible to miss. In Astro's estimation, each of them was just as buff as Elfman.
The one on the left wore a sleeveless formal outfit made from dark crimson fabric, reinforced around the shoulders and chest with metallic linings. The open sleeves made his thick arms impossible to ignore, and heavy gauntlets rested around his wrists, clearly more functional than decorative.
The one in the middle wore a long black-and-gold coat designed specifically to fit his muscular frame, the fabric tight around his upper body before flowing down. A wide belt was wrapped around his waist.
The last one wore deep navy-blue formal attire, his outfit simpler than the others but no less imposing. The sleeves were rolled just enough to reveal thick forearms wrapped with leather bands, and a high collar framed his neck, giving him a disciplined and almost knight-like appearance.
All three of them carried themselves with the same heavy presence, the kind that made people instinctively give them space.
"Seems like they are going to be strength types…" Astro muttered quietly as he saw the king and queen already taking their seats. After whispering something to the princess, He and Laxus moved away from the crowd and leaned against a marble pillar nearby to get a better view of the guest.
"Well, they're the most boring type to fight," Laxus said with a disappointed sigh.
"Well, it's only boring for us… if they're really only strength types, then it would be really hard for them to beat us," Astro replied with a helpless smile. It couldn't be helped. Both Astro and Laxus had slayer magic-type bodies—naturally strong and durable on top of their magic—making pure brute force far less threatening to them than it would be to others.
"Well, the next guests should be interesting…" Astro said with a small smile.
Laxus glanced at him, looking a little confused as to why Astro suddenly seemed a bit happier than before.
"Even with all the odds stacked against them, this kingdom managed to survive through countless hardships and trials," the announcer's voice echoed across the hall. "A kingdom that became a great inspiration to all of us—that even after the darkest night, light will eventually come. Please welcome the royal family of Joya… His Majesty, King Sylvain von Rosenwacht… and his partner, Lisa von Wienfeld…"
The moment the name was announced, the doors opened once more.
Sylvain stepped inside first.
He still had his long jade-green hair, neatly tied back, its color reminding Astro faintly of Princess Hisui. His attire was far more refined than the last time Astro had seen him. He wore a long black formal coat fitted perfectly to his frame, with intricate silver embroidery running along the collar, shoulders, and sleeves.
Behind him walked Lisa. She looked more energetic than the last time Astro saw her.
Her long, emerald-green hair flowed freely down her back, contrasting softly with her outfit. She wore an elegant off-shoulder dress made of layered cream and brown fabric; the sleeves were loose and flowing, while the bodice was held firmly by a dark corset that accentuated her waist. A high slit ran along one side of the skirt, revealing her legs as she walked. The dress was modest in coverage on the top side, yet it showed off her curves perfectly, striking a balance between elegance and confidence.
Behind the two of them came three more figures.
All three wore long dark green robes, with their hoods pulled low to cover their faces. Still, it was easy to tell by their figures that two women were walking on either side, led by a man in the middle.
Lisa was the first to notice Astro among the crowd.
Her eyes briefly met his, and she gave him a small nod with a smile. Right after that, she hooked her arm tightly around Sylvain's and leaned against him naturally.
Murmurs immediately began to spread through the hall. They were low enough that the people from Joya kingdom were not able to hear…but Astro, with his heightened senses, could easily hear it.
"It seems the situation in Joya has calmed down if the king himself can attend…"
"Are we sure they're not just pretending?"
"I heard that the woman behind Sylvain was a traitor. Was there a mistake, or…?"
"Seeing that body, it's not surprising the new king forgave her so quickly…hehe."
With his heightened hearing, Astro caught every word.
His brows furrowed slightly, but his expression soon returned to normal. He could be considered friends with Sylvain, but unfortunately, this wasn't something he could help him with. And honestly, he didn't think Sylvain needed his help anymore.
Sylvain had grown a lot within a very short time.
Astro still remembered the first time he met him. Back when Sylvain was chained and shackled, yet still showed no fear toward Astro. Back when he even dared to threaten him despite his situation.
Looking at the mature aura he carried now, it was clear that Sylvain had learned to mask his emotions and perfectly hide that reckless side of him. At least to the outside world.
Sylvain finally noticed Astro as well.
For a brief moment, his stoic expression softened, and a small smile appeared on his face as he nodded in the same way Lisa had earlier. Then, without lingering, he hugged Lisa's waist and guided Lisa and the participants behind him toward the section reserved for the people of Joya.
"Truly a sight to behold…" The announcer's voice echoed again. "Now, moving on to our next distinguished guest… a newcomer to the Western Ishgar Summit, and perhaps the youngest monarch in attendance. Please welcome the guests from the Stella Kingdom… His Majesty, King Animus!"
Astro slowly shifted his gaze from Sylvain's retreat toward the entrance.
A young man stepped into the light. He was blonde, with sharp features and a crown of gold points resting on his head. His attire was a blend of armor and regality—a structured golden chest piece gleaming under the chandeliers, draped in a heavy white cloak with high, flared collars that gave him an air of absolute arrogance.
"Is this some kind of joke?" Astro murmured, his brow furrowing instantly.
"What is? You mean the crown?" Laxus asked, noticing that he was the only guest who wore a crown at this event. It was rude, but not that unreasonable. Astro shook his head and glanced at the girl walking a step behind him.
She had soft, light brown hair adorned with a yellow flower accessory. She wore a white blouse layered under a yellow cardigan, and unlike the combat-ready attire of the others, she wore a long, flowing yellow skirt that dragged slightly against the marble floor. She looked a little timid with her hands clasped nervously in front of her.
Behind them trailed three distinct figures—likely the participants for the event. One was a burly, dark-skinned man built like a tank; another was a teenager with wild, spiky blue hair; and the last was a dark-skinned woman with a revealing white gown who walked confidently on the red carpet.
"So, what's the problem? Are they too weak?" Laxus asked, noticing the speechless expression plastered on Astro's face.
"Well, not really. It's just that their King…" Astro paused. His eyes narrowed as he glanced toward the table of the Joya delegations. As expected, Lisa was also looking at King Animus speechlessly.
Right. Astro recalled Hibiki's theory that Lisa might be a descendant of the Sin Kingdom royalty due to her proficiency in Mind Magic. And Astro already had experience with how sensitive the senses of the sin kingdom's people are.
Astro lowered his voice. "He isn't actually here. I mean the king. King Animus is not physically here."
"You mean a thought projection? There's nothing special about that. Even I can do that," Laxus scoffed.
"Could be that … but thought projections create an intangible psychic body," Astro analyzed, his eyes glowing faintly purple as he analyzed the figure. "That thing… It's tangible. It's like a magic item acting as a vessel."
Astro watched the 'King' wave to the crowd.
"He is not taking any ethernano. He isn't even breathing air..." Astro whispered. "The magic fueling his movements… It's pouring out of the girl standing next to him."
"Well, I heard the new King took the throne after a violent rebellion very recently," Laxus said, swirling the red liquid in his glass. "It's possible he's just being paranoid and sent a dummy in his place."
"I guess so…" Astro murmured, although his instincts were telling him that it was not that simple, but he did not dwell on it for much longer.
"Now…. From the youngest monarch to the most enduring legacy…" The announcer's voice softened with reverence, though the magical amplification ensured it reached every corner of the hall. "Please welcome the representative of a lineage that has ruled the Kingdom of Veronica for nearly four hundred years… The Crown Prince himself, Cream Zenreich!"
The heavy doors parted again, and this time a single figure strutted into the room.
Unlike the other delegations,, the Prince of Veronica walked entirely alone.
From Astro's perspective, Prince Cream was… distinct.
He had a sharp, blonde bowl cut that framed a face permanently stuck in a smug, self-satisfied sneer. His attire was less "clothing" and more "treasure chest." He wore a white military-style tunic choked with golden ropes and oversized epaulets, paired with gold trousers and a heavy blue cape that swept dramatically behind him.
"Hm? Is Veronica not participating in the combat event?"
"He really brought no wizards?"
"It seems so… I didn't see anyone in his welcome ceremony either….I thought every kingdom here was going to participate, but perhaps Veronica is not that interested…"
Astro could hear a lot of murmurs around him; they were quite loud this time. But the young man walking down the carpet seemed entirely deaf to them. In fact, he looked as if the mere presence of others was a mild inconvenience.
The announcer, sensing the slight dip in the room's energy after Veronica Prince's lackluster entrance, wasted no time in recapturing the crowd's attention.
"Now, let us turn our eyes to one of the Iceberg Kingdom's oldest and most steadfast allies!"
The announcer's voice swelled, rolling through the hall and pressing down on the silence.
"The representative from the Kingdom of Bosco is none other than the King himself! Please give a warm welcome to His Majesty—King Brandon Franzoni!"
An old man entered at an unhurried pace, the steady thud–tap, thud–tap of his cane echoing across the marble floor beneath the carpet. His beard was enormous, cascading down to his stomach like a frozen waterfall, yet there was nothing frail about him. Even leaning on his cane, he carried himself with an air of absolute superiority, as though the hall itself bent around his presence.
Trailing behind him were three figures cloaked in heavy black fabric.
The moment they crossed the threshold, they reached up in perfect unison and pulled back their hoods.
The figure in the center was a woman. Her sharp, short golden hair was slicked back and held in place by a thick golden headband. Flanking her were two burly men—one with silver hair bound by a matching silver band, the other with copper hair restrained by a copper one.
The woman in the middle slowly raised her head.
Her dark eyes swept across the hall… then locked directly onto Astro.
Before he could even react, she snapped her gaze forward again and resumed following her King, her expression sealing itself behind a mask of cold indifference.
"Do you know her?" Laxus asked casually; he, of course, also noticed her gaze.
"I… I don't think so?" Astro frowned, searching his memory.
"Maybe she has sensory abilities too," Astro added with a shrug. "Probably just scouting out the strongest opponent in the room."
"If that were the case," Laxus shot him a sideways glance, "she'd have been looking at me."
Astro stared at him, speechless, as Laxus handed his empty glass to a passing waiter and immediately snatched a fresh one from the tray with ease.
"Get your own," Laxus grunted, catching the look. "I'm not sharing."
"I don't want it," Astro sighed. "Why are you drinking so much already? The gala hasn't even officially started."
"Relax. I won't get drunk," Laxus said, swirling the dark red liquid in his glass. "Dragon Slayers have high metabolisms. It takes a hell of a lot more than this to put me down."
"So… you can still get drunk?"
For the first time that evening, Astro felt a faint twinge of envy.
He had never experienced intoxication. His Sky Devil Slayer magic automatically identified alcohol as a toxin and purified it the instant it entered his system. It was the same reason he had survived his fight against the Poison Devil Slayer in Bosco despite having very little combat experience at the time.
His body simply refused to be corrupted by poisons.
But it also meant he could never enjoy a drink.
…Wait.
Astro's eyes narrowed as the realization clicked.
Bosco.
He turned his gaze back toward the woman with the golden headband, now standing near the front of the hall.
She's from Bosco, too. Does she know about what happened in Lunaris City?
Astro watched her for a moment longer… then slowly shifted his attention back toward the entrance gate. Anyway, it hardly mattered now.
"And now, we welcome the final kingdom of Western Ishgar…"
The announcer's voice softened, reverent, deliberately coaxing the crowd's attention.
"Magazines across the continent have hailed him as the crown jewel of his generation—the most desirable bachelor in Ishgar. Please give a warm welcome to the representative of the Isvan Kingdom… Prince Avon Hawkins!"
A young man stepped onto the red carpet.
He was striking—silver hair falling effortlessly around a sharp, chiseled face, eyes molten silver that seemed to pierce straight through the soul. His hands remained buried deep in the pockets of a luxurious, knee-length golden coat.
Astro's gaze traced the contrast instantly. If the gold worn by Prince Cream had seemed a desperate cry for attention, Avon's looked entirely natural, as if the metal itself had been forged just to drape over him.
But it was the stunning woman walking a step behind him who stole the attention of the men. She had beautiful features, but the most notable part was her hair, which had a mix of red, green, and blue. They somehow blended perfectly without making it look obnoxious.
The girl, however, did not care about anyone's gaze. She was walking behind Prince Avon, with a smile that was equal parts innocent and equal parts predatory. She wore a short, thigh-length dress of liquid silver that hugged her body like a second skin. A high collar choked her neck, and a violent slit ran up the entire right side, fully baring the curve of her right hip to everyone. The fragile clasps holding the fabric together looked one deep breath from giving way.
Whispers rippled instantly, a mixture of shock and awe.
"Fiore only brought two people, which was weird enough. But Isvan? Only one? Just how confident are they?"
"Confident, or stupid. Fiore probably doesn't care about the trade deal; they don't even share a border with Iceberg. But Isvan's different…"
"Haven't you heard? The Prince and King are in a cold war over succession. The people support the Prince, but the King supports the children from the second queen."
"Ah… so he only gave the tone wizard to humiliate the prince? Poor Prince Avon… and he's so gorgeous. If things go wrong, maybe I'll send him a marriage proposal. Do you think he'd accept?"
Astro's mouth twitched. Is this a diplomatic summit or a matchmaking service?
"Is that girl strong, Astro?" Laxus asked, eyes tracking the silver-clad woman. Unlike others, he wasn't captivated by her looks or her bold dress….his focus was mainly on the fact that she alone was probably going to participate in the event.
Astro didn't answer. His focus was still locked on Prince Avon.
A strange sensation washed over him, but he could not pinpoint what it was.
As if sensing his gaze among hundreds of eyes, Avon stopped scanning the crowd and looked at Astro as well. His silver eyes met Astro's purple eyes.t.
For a split second, the Prince's composure cracked. His eyes widened in genuine shock, but just as quickly, the mask slammed back into place. Avon tore his gaze away, continuing toward the Isvan Kingdom's corner—a desolate, almost abandoned section, occupied by a handful of pitiful attendants.
The girl in silver did not notice Avon's gaze; she simply followed her prince with a bright and unwavering smile.
The announcer sensed the energy in the room beginning to wane and wasted no time.
"And now, to bring this grand introduction to a close… This year, we are honored by a rare visit from the lands of East Ishgar. Please, open your arms to the ruler of the Sin Kingdom… Her Majesty, Queen Aurora Synaris!"
"The Sin Kingdom? Did she ever make a public appearance?"
"I have heard she ascended the throne twelve years ago."
"Yeah, nothing gets out from there, unless the royal family wants to."
The whispers died the instant a tall woman stepped onto the red carpet.
She moved with slow, hypnotic grace; each of her steps was deliberate, commanding attention from men and women alike. Her attire was a gown of sheer emerald-green mesh that clung to her voluptuous, hourglass frame like a second skin.
The backless design plunged low, exposing the elegant curve of her spine. Violent slits ran along both sides, baring her legs entirely with each stride. Even with all the provocations, the crowd struggled to tear their eyes away from her perfect face.
Her long emerald-green hair shimmered like spun glass under the chandeliers. Her dark, calm eyes looked straight ahead, completely emotionless yet captivating every onlooker.
She wasn't alone, though. Hooked onto her arm was a man taller even than she was; the man had jet-black hair framing a mature, strikingly handsome face. His eyes glowed with an unnatural, piercing purple light. He wore an elaborate, textured long coat of deep purple, the raised, floral-like patterns giving him a regal, imposing silhouette.
As they walked, the man gently slid his arm from hers, wrapping his hand around her waist in a possessive embrace. The Queen looked up at him, and for the first time, a soft, genuine smile graced her lips before she refocused on the path ahead. Side by side, they moved as a single, overwhelming presence toward their designated table.
Only after they had passed did the hall snap out of its collective trance.
"I have never seen such a beautiful woman…" a young noble murmured in a dazed voice. "And that dress too… Who is the man? I didn't hear she'd married."
"The Sin Kingdom is closed off. Nothing leaks out, you idiot."
"I heard they're masters of Mind Magic. Do you think she is, too?"
"Honestly… I wouldn't mind being hypnotized by a woman like that."
"You idiot! Did you see the man beside her? I've never seen someone with that kind of aura. I couldn't even look at him for more than a second."
"Those glowing purple eyes…were kind of familiar."
Laxus said as he looked down at his hand, realizing his glass was gone. He glanced to the side and caught Astro taking a small sip from the glass.
Laxus did not mind; his gaze again returned to the retreating couple, lingering on the tall man with the purple eyes.
"That guy…" Laxus murmured. "He… kind of looks like you, Astro. Don't you think so?"
Astro took another sip of the wine and rolled his eyes at Laxus.
"There are dozens of people with blonde hair in this room, Laxus. Oh, and one with a blonde bowl cut too… do you think they are related to you?"
"Well… I guess you have a point." Laxus blinked, letting it go. He didn't want to be associated with someone with a bowl cut. Especially to him, Prince Cream's bowl cut was a crime against every blonde person out there. He quickly snagged another glass from a passing waiter and dropped the subject.
Meanwhile, across the hall, a pair of molten silver eyes was looking straight at Astro.
Prince Avon studied the dark-haired wizard, noting his complete lack of reaction to the Sin Queen's entrance. Astro wasn't just indifferent—he was joking with his friend, entirely unconcerned with the dazzling couple that just entered. That seemed completely different to the boy of his memory.
The girl sitting next to Avon also noticed his distraction this time. Following his gaze, she saw him staring at the two handsome young men far away.
"Am I not enough for you?" she pouted. "You're looking at other men right in front of me?"
Avon didn't answer immediately. After a few more glances at Astro, he turned back to the girl, a faint, melancholy smile crossing his face.
"Sorry. He just looked like someone I knew."
Her pout faltered—but then, suddenly, she felt a sharp pinch on her thigh under the table.
"Ouch!"
"Also, don't talk like that here… remember, you are representing me," Avon said coldly.
"Sorry…"
He glanced at her, noting her downcast eyes, and lightly patted the spot he had pinched.
"Did I overdo it? Does it hurt?"
"If I say yes… are you going to go under the table and—ouch!" Another merciless pinch. Clearly, this girl had no sense of situational awareness.
Astro wasn't focusing on the people there. Well, he wasn't focusing on anything in particular. He felt… absentminded. Another sip of the stolen red wine did nothing to settle the strange tension curling in his chest.
"Now that all our esteemed guests have arrived…"
The announcer's voice boomed again, drawing everyone's attention back to center stage.
"Let the main event commence! As you know, Prince Nova Steensen has organized something truly spectacular for this year's summit—a Battle Royale featuring the greatest wizards from each kingdom!"
He paused, letting murmurs ripple through the hall.
"He will provide the details at the end of the gala. But let me tell you this—not all prizes were listed in your invitation letters. Trust me… the entire continent will shake when you realize what your wizards are going to fight for. Now, with all due ceremony… let the gala begin!"