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The Royal Palace dining hall.
The midday sun pierced through the diamond-shaped windowpanes, casting geometric patterns of light and shadow diagonally across the dark gray floor, with varying shades arranged like piano keys.
On a set of ivory, gilded, and carved tables, exquisite utensils held ordinary home-cooked dishes arranged in a circle, looking somewhat modest, but no one minded.
Because this was a family feast.
The dining table was exceptionally lively, but most of the conversation came from one person.
"Big Sister, I remember these dishes are all your favorites. I specifically asked the kitchen to make them."
"Come, come, Wendy, Grandpa will get you a big chicken leg."
"Erza and Mira, good girls, don't be shy. Just treat this place like your own home."
"Jellal, don't just stand there—eat your food."
"Hahahaha, Brother Makarov, thank you for taking care of my sister and my two sons. I toast you."
Since becoming the King of the Human Kingdom, Faust had not been this happy in a long time.
His eldest sister, Porlyusica, who had been missing for decades—he had given up hope of ever seeing her again—had now returned safely with his two sons, and even brought an adorable little girl.
Although she was a sister adopted by his son, Faust still had Wendy call him Grandpa. As for the confused family hierarchy, they could just address each other however they pleased.
What surprised Faust the most was that Noah, after his long journey, actually brought back two girlfriends.
This made the old King overjoyed, and he immediately gifted Noah's palace and private treasury to them. His affectionate attitude was as if Erza and Mira were his own daughters.
Watching Faust and Makarov clinking glasses, and seeing the harmonious atmosphere at the table, Noah suddenly felt out of place.
Am I even his son? He really forgot about me after getting everyone else...
Noah could actually understand his old father's excitement. After all, he had been separated from his sister and eldest son for too many years, so Noah was just complaining internally.
The harmonious lunch quickly ended, with a few teacups exuding a delicate tea fragrance.
After eating and drinking his fill, Faust finally remembered he had a younger son. He then shifted his gaze to Noah, who was silently sipping tea. "You rascal, you've worked hard."
Noah smiled. He hadn't put much effort into finding Mystogan and Porlyusica—it was simply fate unfolding naturally after he joined Fairy Tail.
"Let's get down to business, Dad."
Noah put down his teacup and met his old father's gaze. "I've already heard from Lily. Ever since I sent over the Lacrima Tower and the Magic Power Generator, those cats in the sky have been secretly instigating ambitious individuals to cause trouble."
"That's true."
Faust nodded. "After all, the world's Magic Power depletion has been alleviated. If things continue this way, more and more people will possess magic."
"The Exceeds have been high and mighty for a long time. What if someone recklessly flies up to the sky and discovers that the so-called 'gods' and 'angels' are actually powerless cats, and that the lies were woven to disguise themselves..."
"Hehe, so those cats are scared."
Noah's smile gradually became twisted. From his old father's tone, he could hear confidence. It seemed his old father didn't take the Exceeds' little schemes seriously at all.
Listening to the content of the father and son's conversation, the others couldn't help but perk up their ears, especially Wendy, whose best friend, the white cat Carla, was an Exceed.
Wendy had always thought the Exceed Kingdom was very powerful.
But now it sounded like being an "Exceed" wasn't so great...
The little girl's thoughts were written all over her face. Mira, knowing she was worried about Carla, looked at Noah curiously. "I saw Lily before, and he seemed to dislike his homeland. What kind of place is the Exceed Kingdom in this world?"
Noah immediately began to explain.
In Edolas, the "magic" used by humans is actually magical tools made from Lacrima, because human bodies do not possess Magic Power, so they can only rely on external objects.
However, there is a race that is born with Magic Power.
They are a group of talking cats that can use magic to grow wings and live on floating islands high in the sky. Because they can fly, they are worshipped by humans and called "Exceeds."
But the cats didn't seem satisfied. They considered themselves superior, so they claimed to be "angels," and the queen who ruled the Exceeds was the "god."
It was clearly easy to expose, but some idiots in the Human Kingdom, under the Exceeds' propaganda, believed that they were truly high and mighty gods and obeyed these self-important Exceeds without question.
And the Exceeds took human offerings for granted, believing that humans were an inferior species who should obey the Exceeds' commands and willingly offer up resources and honor with both hands.
Lily was branded a "Fallen Angel" and expelled from the Exceed Kingdom because he violated the ban on "helping humans."
Overall, the Exceed Kingdom is a deformed country that has neither strength nor contribution, and only knows how to enjoy power and benefits.
"How can it be like this..."
Wendy hadn't expected Carla's homeland to be like this. How sad Carla, Happy, and the others would be if they found out.
For a moment, the kind-hearted little girl felt a sense of empathy.
Seeing this, Erza hugged Wendy and comforted her. "Don't worry, Carla is Carla, not those guys who only know how to lord over others."
Mira also acted like a caring older sister at this time. "That's right, Wendy. Whether it's Carla or Happy, or even Cheese, they're all important companions to us, members of Fairy Tail, and have nothing to do with the Exceed Kingdom of another world."
With their reassurance, Wendy quickly understood.
Looking at Erza gently comforting Wendy, Faust sighed and said, "Your Erza is really gentle, unlike our Erza, who is a very strict general."
Makarov took a deep breath. What did he just hear? His parallel self actually praised his Erza as gentle?
That was Erza, who, to some extent, commanded more respect than he, the Guild Master, did! It was all thanks to her strict demeanor that no one dared disobey.
So both versions of Erza are like this...
Makarov suddenly yearned to know what the members of Fairy Tail in Edolas were like. "Brother Faust, can you tell me who the members of your Fairy Tail are?"
Faust was silent for a moment, then replied somewhat sheepishly. "They're all troublemakers. If it weren't for our Erza keeping them in line... sigh, never mind. I'm sure your side must have well-behaved members."
Makarov awkwardly twitched the corner of his mouth.
Well-behaved they are, but that doesn't stop them from causing trouble...
But if his parallel self is the King of the Human Kingdom, then who is the Guild Master of Fairy Tail here?
"Oh, you mean that."
Hearing Makarov's question and feeling the curious gazes of Noah and the others, Faust slowly said, "The Guild Master of Fairy Tail on our side is a powerful young woman who can go toe-to-toe with General Erza. Her name is Lucy Ashley."
"Eh—!"