Seeing Lucy's head continuously emitting steam, the elderly demon village chief asked with concern, "Lady Lucy, are you alright?"
"Ah? I'm fine, I'm fine. I was just thinking of something amusing." Lucy scratched her head with an embarrassed smile.
"Probably something with no nutritional value," Chase said, glancing casually at her.
He didn't know if it was because she was writing a novel, but this little sister of his always seemed to have all sorts of strange things popping into her head.
He supposed it counted as a vivid imagination?
"Come to think of it, Village Chief... wouldn't it be too dangerous to live alongside villagers who've lost their minds?" Lucy, having calmed down, returned to the main issue.
The fully demonized villagers were emotionless, brutal monsters—she had experienced that firsthand and didn't think they could coexist peacefully with everyone else.
And an even more important question arose from this: Would the village chief, the guard, and the others continue to demonize until they became full-blooded demons?
And if so, would they still be able to retain their sanity like this?
Hearing this, the old village chief let out a deep sigh. His wrinkled fists clenched, and his eyes blazed with determination.
"No matter what risks we have to take, even if it costs this old man his life... I will absolutely find a way to restore their sanity!"
Having come this far, there was no way he was going to abandon his family who had turned into monsters.
The other villagers wore equally serious expressions, prepared to sacrifice everything to save their loved ones.
This sight made Lucy involuntarily think of her own guild, which was like a family.
Moved deeply, she pumped her fist with enthusiasm. "Don't worry, Village Chief! Chase and I will definitely help you!"
"Really? Thank you so much, Lady Lucy!" The old village chief was overwhelmed with gratitude, tears streaming down his wrinkled face.
They were just ordinary people who barely understood magic. If experienced, powerful mages like Lady Lucy and Mr. Chase were willing to help, the chances of success would increase dramatically!
Watching Lucy make such a promise, Chase—who had somehow been roped in with her—shook his head helplessly. Hageshi... you really are a soft-hearted fool.
Sure, it was a bit stupid, but then again, that was also one of Lucy's strengths.
"Um, sorry to interrupt."
Chase stepped forward, inserting himself into the heartwarming scene between the enthusiastic young lady and the grateful village chief. "Is it possible that... even without our help... the fully demonized villagers might regain their sanity on their own?"
Huh?!
Lucy and the old village chief both froze, their eyes going wide as they struggled to process what he meant.
Nearby, Ultear—arms crossed—glanced at Chase and murmured with a hint of admiration, "As expected... there's no hiding something like this from you, is there?"
"Wait, why would you say that too, Ultear?" The oblivious Lucy scratched her head even harder, more confused than ever.
Though this quest was mostly meant to train Lucy, Chase couldn't bear to watch any longer. "Isn't the answer to something you've already seen? Think about the demons on Galuna Island."
Reminded of this, Lucy suddenly understood. "That's right! Affected by the Demon King's power as well, the demons on Galuna Island were just like normal humans—no signs of rage at all!"
"But... the completely demonized people in this village really did lose their minds..."
Soon enough, Lucy was troubled by a new question.
"If I'm not mistaken... it's the Magic Barrier Particles—the black mist you mentioned in your conversation. In other words, the Demon King's presence."
Ultear revealed the truth directly. "In areas where the Demon King's presence is concentrated, reason is suppressed by demonic nature. That's why the so-called 'abnormality' occurs."
"And that's also the fundamental reason these monsters stayed in the village the whole time, never running outside to attack others."
"Or, to be more precise... the very concept of 'complete demonization' is flawed. Once demonic symptoms appear on the body, that person has already become a demon."
After this detailed explanation, the slow-reacting Lucy finally sorted out the reasoning.
"So that means... the ones who were like that before..." She looked expectantly at Chase.
The Demon King, having reverted to his stone egg form, had returned to his original state. There was no way he could release the evil presence that affected minds anytime soon.
Chase nodded. He pulled out the card containing the demonized villagers.
A dazzling light traced a magic circle on the nearby open ground. One by one, demonic figures emerged from it.
"I'm back... I'm finally back!"
"Grandpa Village Chief! I'm sorry for worrying you all this time!"
"Damn it... how many stupid things did I do while I was unconscious?"
Chase hadn't restricted sound transmission within the card's separate space,
so they had heard everything—the entire conversation just now.
The reason he hadn't released them immediately was that, having just regained their sanity, they were still in a stunned state, not yet fully adjusted.
"Hao, Taft, Samul, Lake..."
"Thank goodness... thank goodness!!"
The old village chief and the villagers wept tears of joy, tightly embracing the ones who came running toward them as they recounted everything that had happened.
The sun hung low in the west. The last rays of sunset filtered through the forest, scattering across the chaotic, littered battlefield and illuminating the streaming tears on the "demons'" faces—forming a moving, beautiful scene.
Lucy, Chase, and Ultear all wore smiles, happy for the villagers who had been reunited after so long apart.
In a corner untouched by the sunset's light, a brown-haired girl stood alone. Her melancholy, sorrowful expression felt out of place.
"I... I didn't become a demon... like everyone else..."
Éclair looked ruefully at her hands, which still looked human, her eyes dim.
With Phoenix blood—a magical creature on par with the Demon King himself—flowing through her veins, she naturally hadn't been affected by the Demon King's presence.
From the moment the villagers decided to start their new lives as demons—perhaps even earlier, when she learned that the Phoenix Stone she carried had caused the village's abnormalities—she was destined not to stay.
Even though the village chief and the others wouldn't have minded at all.
"Éclair..." Momon, also a product of the Phoenix's power, felt the same.
It had lived in the village with Éclair for years. It understood exactly how she felt right now, but didn't know how to comfort her.
"If you don't know where to go, Éclair... come to our guild. Come to Fairy Tail!"
A gentle voice called out. Éclair's head snapped up to find Lucy standing before her, smiling, with her hand extended.
After a flicker in her eyes, she turned her face away, avoiding Lucy's gaze.
The fingers at her side twitched slightly, but ultimately, she made no move.
"Lucy's right. It might not be what you'd call a respectable guild, but the atmosphere is very warm and welcoming." Chase walked over slowly.
Warm and welcoming...
"Ah ha... ahahaha." Lucy didn't reply, merely keeping her hand outstretched as she awkwardly laughed.
Hearing this, Momon's eyes lit up. It was clearly tempted.
But Éclair remained unmoved. After several seconds of silence, she refused. "Thank you for your kindness, but I'm sorry... I hate mages who bring misfortune... and I hate mage guilds even more."
Though their time together had been short, she knew very well that Lucy and Chase standing before her were not the kind of people she despised. She was full of curiosity and longing for the guild they belonged to.
She wanted, so badly, to accept Lucy's offer. But after everything that had happened in the village, she had lost the courage to be around others.
More importantly, stimulated by the Demon King's presence, Éclair had remembered many things from her past. She remembered the mission she still carried—to destroy the Phoenix!
A person like her had no reason, no right, to experience the kindness of a mage guild.
"Hey! Éclair! What are you waiting for?!"
A sharp shout interrupted Éclair's thoughts.
Not far away, the old village chief had his face taut, staring in their direction with eyes full of indignation.
"If you're not going with them, are you planning to stay shamelessly here? Do you know how much trouble your arrival has caused us?! If it weren't for you, the village crisis wouldn't have erupted so quickly!"
"Get out! I don't want to see you—the root cause of all this—ever again! Don't come back to disturb our peaceful lives!!"
The cruel words stung Éclair's very soul.
Seeing the usually gentle village chief so aggressively angry, she vaguely guessed what was really going on. Her pale lips moved, but in the end, she wisely chose to remain silent. She reached out and clasped Lucy's hand.
There were no tearful goodbyes, no dramatic outbursts. Having agreed, she simply left with Lucy and Chase, boarding the Magic Boat that Ultear had brought.
Only when the large magic circle activated and the Magic Boat drifted farther away did the Guard Berret step forward and ask, "Village Chief... was that really the right thing to do?"
"Staying with us—who have already become demons—would only plunge Éclair into endless self-blame. The more inclusive and indifferent we acted, the stronger that self-blame would become for her."
"That child has an unyielding will and a heart that loves life. She deserves a wider sky."
"Lady Lucy and Mr. Chase's guild... must be a good guild. Surely, it's a good guild..."
The old village chief's eyes were filled with tears. He stood on tiptoes, staring straight at the direction the Magic Boat had gone, refusing to look away.
"Damn it! Why is this damn wind so strong... blowing my eyes wide open!"
"Berret, don't look at me like that! I'm not crying!!"
***
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