Leaving the Card Space, Chase lay on his large bed, his head resting on his arms, staring silently at the ceiling.
Although giving the "Heart" magic to all his comrades would allow the entire guild's combat power to achieve a qualitative leap in a short time, he couldn't do that.
The reason was simple. The more powerful the effect of an Ultra-Magic, the more dangerous its potential side effects.
For example, "Fairy Law," which consumes magic power and even life force; or summoning the Celestial Spirit King, which required breaking a key; or Dragon Slayer Magic, which could turn a person into a mindless dragon-killing monster... the "Heart" magic was no exception.
Without tenacity and deep magic power as support, the user would suffer severe backlash. In mild cases, they would become invalid, permanently falling into slumber. In severe cases, they would instantly turn to dust and vanish!
This was another reason, besides the expenditure of significant time and resources, that Hades hadn't equipped the Seven Kin with this magic.
These people's "capacity" was far from sufficient. The minimum requirement started at the level of a Ten Wizard Saint!
So, for now, only three people in the entire guild could safely use the "Heart" without risk.
Namely, Chase, Makarov, and Gildarts.
"Just after such a short time, I can already clearly feel the powerful force stored in my heart," Chase said, raising his hand to his chest, carefully feeling the strong, vigorous beating. "Hades really was blind. With talent like this, why did he need to pursue someone like Zeref?"
Just moments ago, after detailed and thorough testing, Dark Magician had engraved the magical circuit, containing various complex formulas, inside his heart.
That's right. With their improvements, this Ultra-Magic no longer requires the swollen, giant heart to be soaked in nutrient fluid like Hades's to produce its effects.
The price was a slightly lower maximum storage capacity, roughly only fifty years' worth.
And that was precisely the reason Dark Magician and the others had taken so long to contact Chase. Perfectionist great mages simply couldn't bring themselves to settle for a flawed magic.
Chase, however, didn't have such excellence standards.
As a transmigrator, if he couldn't become unbeatable in the Fairy Tail world within fifty years with the help of his cheats, he might as well just go and smash his head against Erza's steel chest!
The next morning, the early morning sunlight spread across the land, awakening the sleeping city of Magnolia.
The residents began their new day of work.
Fairy Tail Guild.
"Good morning, Chase."
"Good morning, Mira."
Chase walked through the quiet guild hallway, arrived at the bar, and sat across from Mira. He naturally took the nutritious breakfast the girl handed him.
This had become an unspoken understanding between them—aside from a few days ago, after Chase had declared "I want both," when she had given him that dark cuisine.
"Huh? Dark Magician Girl is here too?" Mira suddenly noticed the robed girl trailing behind Chase.
"Boo hoo, you've changed, Mira-nee. Just a few days ago, you used to notice me before that stupid master did!" Dark Magician Girl lay on the counter, puffing out her cheeks in mock anger.
After working through the night, the research of Hades's magic library had finally come to a pause. She had earned some free time to come out.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. It's Chase's fault for blocking you," Mira said, smiling as she patted Dark Magician Girl's head. Then she turned and brought out another breakfast, placing it in front of her. "As compensation, you can have my breakfast~"
Chase, who had been buried in eating, suddenly felt a weight on his back.
What a heavy burden to bear, my dear Mira!
"Hehe, I'll dig in~" Dark Magician Girl grabbed a steaming bun and stuffed it into her mouth.
After working intensively for an entire day and night, she had no resistance to such simple, delicious food.
Given her sister-like relationship with Mira, she certainly didn't need to stand on ceremony.
Mira propped her cheek on her hand, smiling warmly as she watched Chase and Dark Magician Girl wolf down their food.
"Come to think of it, even though I expected it, the guild is even quieter than I imagined today," Chase said, finishing his warm milk in one gulp. He turned to look around the guild hall. It was empty, without a single person in sight. "Forget Natsu and the others, but even Macao and Wakaba aren't here?"
He didn't think that pair of slackers would work hard just because the S-Class Trial was approaching.
"Them? Apparently, they were out of money to drink. They took a request and left before you got here," Mira said, clearing away the breakfast dishes. "As for Éclair and the others, I applied for a day of paid leave for them."
"If that's the case, won't you be working hard all alone, Mira-nee?" Dark Magician Girl said, licking the breadcrumbs from the corner of her mouth.
"It's fine. Everyone's out working, so there's not much to do at the guild," Mira said with a smile.
"Don't worry. Stupid master is free today. He can do the dirty, tiring work like sweeping and window washing," Dark Magician Girl said, waving her hand generously.
No sooner had she finished speaking than a crisp thwack rang out.
Chase, who had taken the dishes from Mira and returned them to the cabinet by the bar, walked back and raised his hand for a loving karate chop.
"Stupid master, you—"
"Stay and help clean the guild, or be sent back to the Card Space right now. Choose one."
"Oh, master, you really are something. Can't you take a joke? What's with pulling out a card?"
Dark Magician Girl immediately backed down, forcing a smile as she gently pushed down the card between Chase's fingers.
Little girl, I can still handle you.
"Oh my, oh my." Mira laughed happily.
Forced by the card nerd's overwhelming tyranny, the genius magical girl reluctantly picked up a rag, sat on her pink magic staff, and flew off to clean the guild's high windows.
The utility of flight magic was on full display here.
Chase withdrew his gaze with satisfaction and turned to look at Mira. "Speaking of which, Mira, where's the master?"
Gildarts had taken Cana out on a quest and probably wouldn't be back until the S-Class Trial candidate list was announced. Chase wanted to take advantage of the time to get the old man's Heart magic done.
The sooner this took effect, the more magic power would be stored, and the greater the advantage.
"The master? He's in his office on the second floor, replying to greeting letters from other guilds," Mira said. Remembering this, she found it a bit strange. "Since this morning, guilds have been sending us friendly gestures. Most of them are guilds we've had little contact with, or even had minor scuffles with in the past."
"Those guys have probably finally realized how strong we are," Chase said, shaking his head with a smile. "At yesterday's special meeting, when they found out how terrifying Grimoire Heart was, the look of fear on their faces was priceless."
"Haha, that sounds quite amusing." Mira was intrigued, trying to imagine the scene.
"So, Chase, did you need something from the master? Just know that borrowing his gravure magazines to sneak a peek isn't allowed."
"Do I look like the type of person who's interested in that stuff?"
"Before, no. But now... who knows!"
"You'll see when we get there."
The two chatted as they walked, soon reaching Makarov's office on the second floor.
Just as Chase was about to kick open the closed door, Mira quickly stopped him.
But after hearing the hee-hee-hee sound of lewd laughter coming from inside, the white-haired girl frowned and violently shoved the door open with her palm.
"Master! What are you doing?!"
The sudden commotion nearly scared Makarov out of his wits.
He hurriedly shuffled to shove the latest edition of a beach beauty gravure magazine into his desk. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. His eyes darted, his expression panicked. "M-M-Mira! W-what's the matter?"
When it came to lifestyle conduct, Mira's relationship with the old man was much like Erza's with Natsu and Gray. The moment she appeared, he was done for—a classic case of bloodline suppression.
Just as Mira, her face full of perfectly kind smiles, was approaching step by step, Makarov noticed Chase behind her, like a saving grace.
"Oh, Chase! You're—you're here to discuss that thing we talked about last night, aren't you? My, I've been waiting for you!" He randomly grabbed a topic, blinking wildly to suggest Chase, his eyes filled with a desperate desire to protect his beloved magazine.
This limited edition had only arrived today. If Mira confiscated it, all his fun for the next week would be gone.
"Yeah, that's right. But you're mistaken. It wasn't last night. It was that thing we talked about on the train yesterday morning."
"Exactly, exactly! This matter is of great importance. Mira, why don't you go wait—wait a minute!" Makarov suddenly became alert. What had he talked about with Chase on the train yesterday morning?
The Ultra-Magic... the "Heart"?
Already?!
"It seems you've remembered."
A card's magical array flashed. Dark Magician, holding his staff, appeared from within.
"W-wait! I-I'm not ready!" Makarov completely panicked. He backed up until he was huddled in the corner, even forgetting about his precious magazine.
He was genuinely somewhat afraid of the concepts of unlimited magic power and extended lifespan.
It wasn't that he worried about side effects from Dark Magician's improved magic. It was that this would probably mean saying goodbye to his wonderful retirement plans.
Even his oft-repeated phrase, "I'll work as master until the day I die," would become a distant, unattainable dream.
It would be hard even to die!
His abnormal behavior left Mira completely confused. Summoning Dark Magician... just what is Chase planning to do to the master?!
Downstairs, Dark Magician Girl, sensing her master's magic power, also jumped in surprise. She immediately put in 200% effort, furiously scrubbing the window in frontt of her, pretending to be super busy.
"Don't worry, old man. I've already experienced it. It'll be over quickly. It doesn't hurt at all."
"That's not the issue at all! D-don't come any closer!!"
Half an hour later.
Makarov sat blankly at his desk, his gaze vacant.
A surging vitality, mixed with magic power, continuously flowed from his heart, spreading throughout his body, bringing an unparalleled sense of comfort.
The heart condition that had plagued him for years was gone. The old wounds from countless battles no longer ached. He felt as relaxed and carefree as if he had been ten or twenty years younger.
An unprecedented, wonderful sensation!
"Master... how do you feel?" Mira asked tentatively, her expression somewhat worried.
Having witnessed the entire process, she now thoroughly understood the purpose of Chase's visit.
Makarov exhaled a stale breath. After a few seconds of thought, he slowly opened his mouth.
"How delicious."
***
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