Northern Continent. A small town covered in snow and ice year round.
Ur sat in front of a fruit stall in the central square, holding an apple in her hand.
"When I first arrived, it really started me. I never imagined this place would become so bustling."
Looking at the dense cluster of buildings and the lively scene of people coming and going, Ur took a bite of her apple and couldn't help but sigh.
"Yes. A couple of years ago, the town got a railway. Transportation became convenient, so naturally a lot more tourists and adventurers came."
The freckled fruit stall owner's smile was very sweet. All her attention was fixed on her old friend before her.
"More than that, Ur—I'm so glad you were able to break free from that frozen state!" She wiped away tears of joy from the corners of her eyes.
Ur fully understood what a shocking thing "resurrection" was, and how much trouble—even mortal danger—it could bring Chase.
Therefore, her public explanation was that she had spent ten years undoing the side effects of Iced Shell and regaining a physical body.
She had originally been a master of Ice-Make Magic. This explanation could barely hold up.
And more importantly, the ten-year time limit would also deter any wizards who might attempt to use Iced Shell themselves.
"Haha, I guess I just got incredibly lucky. My time hadn't come yet."
Ur chuckled and scratched her head, gratitude flickered deep in her eyes.
She really was lucky. She had met Chase. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to see Gray and Lyon all grown up, let alone be reunited with her daughter, who had "come back from the dead"!
The only pity was that she couldn't get revenge on Brain—the man who had deceived her and used Ultear for experiments. The Magic Development Research Institute from back then had long since become ruins.
"By the way, Ur, you said you've already seen those two little ones, Gray and Lyon. How are they doing now?" The fruit stall owner asked with a smile.
Because transportation was much more convenient, even though she lived in the Northern Continent, she had seen some news about Fairy Tail from time to time.
She just wasn't sure whether the Gray who often caused trouble was the same "little one" she knew.
As for Lyon, she had heard nothing at all.
"Gray is in Fairy Tail now. Lyon, on the other hand—I think he's planning to join the Lamia Scale guild?"
Ur rested her elbow on the counter, propped half her face up with her palm, and complained with visible annoyance, "Gray is fine. But Lyon... that guy has completely forgotten everything I taught him!"
"By 'taught him,' you mean—?"
"Take off your clothes. Let your body better feel the natural environment and the magical particles in the air."
"Uh..." The fruit stall owner felt a bit embarrassed.
That doesn't sound like a proper good habit, does it?
She didn't understand the world of wizards, so she could only change the subject with an awkward smile. "Well, they're both very famous guilds. So what about you, Ur? What are your plans from here?"
"Unless something unexpected happens, I'll be heading back to Ishgar in a few days. After all, the kids are there."
Ur's eyes flickered as she looked at the half-eaten fruit in her hand. Her voice grew heavy. "Besides, the level of magic over there is much stronger than here in Isban."
She had always been utterly fascinated by magical research—the type of fanatic who forgot to eat and sleep.
Now that a ten-year blank period had occurred, surely a richer system of magic and knowledge had developed. She would need to spend a lot of time studying and exploring.
Even setting aside personal reasons, Ur had to do this.
Because if she didn't keep up with the times, she wouldn't be able to protect Gray, Lyon, and Ultear anymore!
This old mother's heart was completely worn out with worry.
"I see..." The fruit stall owner looked a bit frustrated and reluctant.
But since her good friend had made this decision, she naturally supported it unconditionally.
"Then I wish you success. Make sure to stay in touch!"
"Of course. And if I have time, I'd like to bring those two brats back here for some training."
"Really? When you do, make sure to bring them by for some fruit!"
"You got it!"
Magnolia.
The gentle morning sunlight pierced through the thin clouds, shining down on the bustling Fairy Tail construction site.
In the area separated by fences, in front of the temporary counter, a request board and several neatly arranged tables and chairs had been added.
After all, this was a wizard guild. The Fairy Tail members couldn't stay at the construction site working forever.
So after a few days of adjustment, starting today, the guild's requests had reopened. Everyone could work normally in this temporary area, just like before.
At the counter, Lucy and Mira were chatting.
"Mira-nee, won't this affect the progress of building the new guild hall?"
Lucy turned around and looked at her guildmates sitting over there, radiating a sense of relaxation:
Macao and Wakaba were
raunchily discussing the gravure magazines in their hands;
Cana was simultaneously using the Book of Secret Arts Chase had given her while chugging from a barrel of alcohol (according to her, this was also training);
Jet and Troy were fighting over who would get Levy to eat the breakfast they'd brought...
"Lucy, if you're concerned, I can apply to the master for you to go carry bricks over at the construction site."
With that, Mira pulled out a Magic Communication Crystal and prepared to contact Makarov.
"W-Wait! Mira-nee, that's not what I meant!"
Lucy immediately panicked and hurriedly stopped her.
She had just been talking casually. If she actually got "exiled" to carry bricks at the construction site, she'd be completely ruined!
"Ara~ That's a shame. The daily wage is 10,000 Jewels, you know." Mira said with a smile.
"10,000 Jewels? Why haven't I heard about this before?!" The impoverished Lucy's eyes immediately sparkled.
For a moment, she was genuinely tempted.
"That's a benefit reserved for guild members."
Mira rested her cheek on one hand. "I heard from the master that someone anonymously donated 1 billion Jewels to the guild for reconstruction. Right now, he's negotiating with the construction contractor to use the best materials and the finest workers."
"NANI? One billion?!"
Lucy's reaction was even more exaggerated than Makarov's had been. Her eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
"Even I was shocked when I heard that good news."
With that, Mira's eyes darted playfully. She deliberately wore a puzzled expression and stared intently at Lucy. "Before this, we only ever got complaint letters and notices of complaints. I'm really curious who could have such great ability."
There weren't many people in the Kingdom of Fiore who could single-handedly donate such a huge sum of money—especially to a guild, without expecting anything in return or even credit.
Within the guild, if anyone knew such a wealthy tycoon, it could only be Lucy, coming from the Heartfilia Konzern.
Combined with what Natsu, Gray, and the others had mentioned yesterday about "Jude being a very approachable person," the donor of this mysterious anonymous donation naturally surfaced. There was no other possibility.
Hearing this, Lucy lowered her eyes and stared at the counter, deep in thought.
Could it be that person? No... that can't be right.
But... if it's now...
Even Lucy, slow as she could be, couldn't miss such an obvious clue.
***
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