"B-boss… maybe we should just run. We can't beat this guy," one of the bandits said, swallowing nervously.
"Run? Where to?" the scar-faced leader snapped, though cold sweat ran down his face. "Don't forget—we're mages too. I refuse to believe he's stronger than us in magic as well. But before that… we can try talking. Maybe there's still a way out."
"Not fighting anymore?" Arlen asked coldly, his gaze indifferent.
"Young man, you look like a noble. Our Kardia Bandit Group has never targeted nobles. Why go so far as to wipe us out?" the scar-faced man shouted.
Arlen let out a faint scoff.
"I am a mage of Fairy Tail. I was commissioned by the mayor of Gonobagu Town to capture you. If you wish to live, kneel and surrender—I'll only cripple your hands. Otherwise… you die."
"…So there's no room for negotiation." The man's expression darkened.
"Attack! Use magic! Kill him!" he roared. "He's from an official guild—he won't spare us. If you want to live, fight!"
A brown magic circle appeared in his hand.
"Earth Magic—Ground Splitter!"
"Take this—Wind Blade!"
"Water Shot!"
All at once, the remaining bandits unleashed their magic—ranged attacks, melee spells, everything they had.
Arlen watched them like one would watch clowns.
A dark purple magic circle spread beneath his feet.
The next instant—
Boom.
An overwhelming pressure descended.
Every single bandit—without exception—was slammed to the ground.
They couldn't even move a finger.
"G-gravity magic…?! Such overwhelming power… You're an S-Class mage?! How is that possible… at your age…" the scar-faced leader struggled to speak.
Arlen didn't even spare him a glance.
He simply increased the pressure.
Crack. Crack. Crack.
The ground shattered layer by layer as their bodies sank into it.
Moments later—
Silence.
All of them had lost consciousness.
—
After confirming they were still alive, Arlen withdrew his magic.
He searched the bandits' storage, taking valuables and supplies into his Requip space. Then he tied up the unconscious bandits with ropes and dragged them all the way back to town.
The sight caused a huge uproar.
Anyone dragging over a dozen battered criminals through the streets would.
The mayor quickly rushed over with soldiers.
Arlen handed the rope over.
"These are the Kardia Bandit Group. The rest are dead. The scar-faced one is their leader."
"…That's it? Already done?!" The mayor was dumbfounded.
He had originally doubted sending such a young noble mage—and was even preparing to send troops if Arlen didn't return.
Yet here he was—
Completely unharmed.
Dragging the entire gang behind him.
"Mayor?" Arlen called.
No response.
A slight increase in gravity snapped the man back to reality.
"Ah—sorry! Ahem… Well done, truly worthy of Fairy Tail." The mayor awkwardly handed over a card. "Here is your reward—2,000,000 J."
"Thank you."
With that, Arlen left the town and headed toward his next mission before nightfall.
—
Over the next few days, Arlen completed the remaining bandit extermination requests one after another.
His efficiency, combined with his striking appearance and noble aura, quickly earned him a reputation.
"Fairy Tail's Noble Young Master."
Among bandits and weaker dark guilds, however, he gained another name—
"The Trembling Noble."
Arlen himself remained unaware.
Because he was already heading toward his final request.
—
South of Magnolia lay the city of Chicago.
Following the address on the request form, Arlen arrived at a rather rundown orphanage.
Inside the director's office—
He sat across from the orphanage's headmistress.
"Thank you for accepting this request, Lord Arlen," she said, offering him tea.
"You know me?" Arlen paused.
She smiled gently.
"You may not know this, but your name has already begun to spread. People call you Fairy Tail's Noble Young Master."
"…I see."
Arlen took a sip of tea.
"I don't pay attention to such things. Fame matters less than actually accomplishing something."
The headmistress's eyes showed admiration.
"If only more people thought like you."
"Let's focus on the matter at hand," Arlen said. "Tell me everything—when the children went missing, where, and any details."
The woman's expression darkened.
"It happened a week ago. Our orphanage is old—the walls had partially collapsed. We had been taking turns guarding the damaged area every night…"
"But that night, it rained heavily. No patrol was assigned."
"Instead, staff stayed inside the children's dormitory."
Her voice trembled.
"In the middle of the night, five intruders broke in. They used magic to knock out the staff… and took ten children."
Arlen frowned.
"Why wasn't the wall repaired?"
She gave a bitter smile.
"We barely survive as it is. The staff work outside jobs just to maintain this place and feed the children. With so many mouths to feed… repairs kept getting delayed."
"We never imagined something like this would happen."
Arlen had already seen the condition of the orphanage.
It was… terrible.
And yet—
He couldn't help but respect these people.
Without them, these children might have died unnoticed somewhere.
"Did you report this to the military? What about the city's mayor?" Arlen asked, his tone turning colder.
"They came," she said. "The next day. But after searching for a few days with no results… they gave up."
"As for the mayor…" Her voice filled with anger. "He's a man obsessed with luxury. We asked for help—he had us thrown out."
"In the end… we sold everything we could and gathered 500,000 J to hire a mage."
"We sent requests to many guilds… but no one responded."
Her voice cracked.
"Until Fairy Tail did… and then you came."
Arlen listened quietly.
Then—
"I understand."
His voice was calm, but cold.
"I'll have a 'talk' with that mayor."
"He won't be your mayor much longer."
The headmistress froze, not fully understanding.
"Now, take me to the dormitory where the children disappeared."
"…Yes. Please follow me."
As she led the way—
Arlen's eyes had already turned icy.
Some people—
Needed to be removed.