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Bang!
A figure shot backward like a cannonball, crashing into the tavern building.
Looking at Natsu, who had slammed into the floor with smoke rising from his body, the 'Fairies' on both sides tensed. This was a slap in Fairy Tail's face!
Gray, already shirtless, immediately abandoned his attempt to strip his counterpart and checked on Natsu's injuries with a concerned expression, his voice full of worry. "Who is it? Who's the bastard that beat my good brother half to death, like a... ahem... like a stray dog in the street?"
"Don't worry, Natsu. Your big brother will definitely get revenge for you."
Who's your little brother?! Who's a stray dog in the street?!
He's still trying to take advantage of me at a time like this, that Gray!
Natsu looked at the half-naked man who was feigning concern while actually mocking him, and fury burned in his chest. But then he thought of the person who had sent him flying... Hehe, I want to see you get beaten up too, Gray!
Sitting up from the ground, Natsu put on an expression of extreme gratitude and looked at Gray. "Then Gray, you should go quickly. Just for me, use Ice-Make on the person outside!"
Gray realized that whoever had beaten Natsu back might be very strong. Otherwise, why would this guy even try to redirect trouble his way?
But he'd already promised to get revenge for Natsu, and both Fairy Tail groups had heard it. It would be too embarrassing to back down now.
Damn it, I've been cornered.
Was this also part of your plan, Natsu?!
Gray hadn't expected to be outmaneuvered by a single sentence from Natsu. This brute Natsu, after being mocked, wasn't impulsive—instead, he used strategy.
Sure enough, even single-celled organisms can evolve.
Seeing Gray make up his mind, Natsu patted his shoulder with a mischievous grin. "Do well, Gray. Don't disgrace yourself."
Gray unhappily shook off Natsu's hand. This guy's words sounded like he was setting him up for failure. "Natsu, just wait for my good news."
With that, Gray strode out of the guild.
At the same time, Erza and Mira, who were sitting at the main table, noticed that Noah had activated the timer he'd just borrowed from Levy the Mechanic.
Five seconds... fifteen seconds... When the timer reached thirty seconds, Noah decisively pressed the stop button.
At that exact moment, a figure entered the guild, dragging a bruised and swollen Gray behind her. Who would have thought that the proud and confident Gray would be beaten into such a state in less than half a minute?
Gray stared at Natsu resentfully. Bastard! Why didn't you tell me it was her?!
Natsu chuckled, responding with his eyes. We share difficulties, don't we?
Gray gritted his teeth in anger but didn't dare make any move.
When everyone saw who the newcomer was, they all agreed that Natsu and Gray getting beaten was perfectly reasonable. Even Gray's obsessive fan, Juvia, thought so.
Because it was Erza, after all.
Sure enough, Erza from any world is terrifying...
General Erza, upon entering the guild, immediately understood why the two cowards, Natsu and Gray, had inexplicably challenged her.
Natsu wasn't bullied by President Lucy until his personality changed drastically, nor did Gray fail to win over the aloof Juvia and suddenly become a perverted exhibitionist.
It turned out those two guys were their parallel world counterparts.
No wonder Natsu and Gray were particularly tough today. Usually, one hit would knock them down, but today it took three. Still, those two were quite satisfying to beat up.
Perhaps I should make my own Natsu and Gray train more in the future...
Timid Natsu and Clothes-loving Gray suddenly felt a chill. Thanks to their counterparts, they didn't know yet that they'd become General Erza's reserve punching bag candidates.
General Erza expressionlessly threw Gray onto Natsu and then looked at the white-haired man who had suddenly bounced over to her side. "My subordinates reported it. It really is you, Prince Noah."
Noah's lips curved slightly. "Long time no see, Erza."
"Less than a year—that's not very long."
General Erza replied indifferently. She didn't even pay much attention to the Second Prince who traveled between worlds, her gaze entirely focused on the red-haired girl holding his hand beside Noah.
Noah knew what General Erza was thinking, so he introduced her. "This is Erza Scarlet from Earth Land. Her nickname is Titania, and she's a very powerful Mage."
Looking at her counterpart, dressed in a red cocktail dress, General Erza extended her arm-guarded hand. "Erza Knightwalker, Commander of the Second Magic War Division of Edolas."
"Hello, Knightwalker."
"You too, Scarlet."
The two Erzas only shook hands once, and their mutual forms of address were tacitly established. However, the atmosphere between them made Noah feel uneasy.
There was a sense of sharp contention, like needle against wheat.
Both were strong-willed, powerful women. They wouldn't start fighting, would they? Fortunately, Noah's worries were unnecessary. In the current friendly situation, the two Erzas were just chatting, but their topic of discussion was Noah.
General Erza: "Scarlet, your relationship with Prince Noah..."
"We're a couple," Titania answered decisively.
General Erza's disappointment was palpable, and her tone carried a hint of disapproval. "You actually fell for him? What were you thinking?"
Titania gave her a reproachful look. "Although Noah is lecherous, a bit of a scoundrel, and always uses various excuses to be lazy—one could say he's full of flaws—even so, Noah is the person I can entrust my life to."
Having been inexplicably stabbed a few times, then openly defended by Erza, Noah didn't know whether to feel sad or touched.
Also, is it really okay for Erza, as a General, to openly dislike me like that? I'm a Prince, after all. Don't I deserve any respect?
General Erza found it a bit hard to accept her counterpart's taste. She preferred a more stable choice for a partner, and Noah's personality and conduct were indeed a bit too erratic.
She didn't understand, but she respected it.
General Erza decisively ended the topic she'd started and turned to Levy the Mechanic. "What's the repair progress on the Transfer Magic Circle?"
The Transfer Magic Circle was a magic device jointly developed by the Second Magic War Division and Levy the Mechanic. It had only one function: to perform teleportation over a certain distance.
Border Town relied on this magic device to move the city and its floating island together.
However, the immense load after activation meant that the transfer device required a period of maintenance every time it was used, and this task was entrusted to Fairy Tail by General Erza.
Levy the Mechanic twirled a small wrench. "Sixty percent of the repair progress is complete. Are you in a hurry to use it?"
General Erza nodded, then shook her head, a worried expression appearing. "As you know, the Exceed have become increasingly restless lately, always using their influence to incite ignorant people and ambitious individuals to disrupt the Kingdom."
"So you want to move Border Town near the Exceed Kingdom to put some pressure on those arrogant cats?"
Looking at Noah, who had suddenly interjected, General Erza admitted her idea, but she was hesitant about whether to execute the plan.
The image and prestige cultivated by the Exceed were simply too great. Even King Faust would have to think twice before acting against them, let alone Erza, who had grown up hearing "Exceed are supreme."
"Moving Border Town, a fortress like that, to intimidate those cats is indeed inappropriate."
Noah stroked his chin. "So, it's better if I go myself."