"My lord Arlen, someone has posted a request at the guild—specifically asking for you."
By the lakeside in the eastern forest of Magnolia, Arlen sat cross-legged atop a large rock, quietly meditating. Ultear's slightly hurried voice broke the calm.
Arlen opened his eyes and looked at her. She was leaning forward, hands on her knees, her breathing a little uneven.
"There's no need to rush," he said gently. "You could've taken your time."
Ultear smiled sheepishly. "My lord, here—this is the request. The Master asked me to bring it to you."
Arlen took the request form. As he read through it, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
This was the first time he had encountered a personally designated request.
Mission: Expel or eliminate a girl possessed by a demon
Details: A girl has been taken over by a demon from the church. Requesting Mage Arlen to either exorcise or eliminate her.
Reward: 500,000J
"My lord Arlen, should we accept it?" Ultear asked, brushing her slightly messy hair aside.
"Of course," Arlen replied calmly, storing the request in his Requip space as he picked up Alaya-vijnana. "The client went out of their way to name me specifically. I can't very well refuse."
"Let's go, Ultear."
"Yes, my lord."
The two returned briefly to the guild, then hired a carriage and set off toward the mission's location.
Ur, Erza, Kagura, and Cana were already out on their own missions. As for Mavis—ever since accompanying them once, she had made it a habit to appear whenever they went out.
"This mission is pretty far…" Ultear murmured as she reviewed the request again. "It mentions a demon… could it be one of Zeref's creations?"
"Who knows?" Arlen replied as he carefully maintained his blade. "This world is quite interesting. Besides Zeref's demons… there are other kinds as well."
"Other kinds?" Ultear's eyes widened. "I've never heard of that."
"They exist in another world," Arlen said lightly. "Just not many people know about them."
Of course, Arlen knew this because he had once slain beings from the other side using Alaya-vijnana.
After four to five days of travel along rough, uneven roads, they finally arrived at a remote mountain village.
"…Strange," Ultear said, looking around. "Why is it so quiet? There's not a single person in sight."
It was nearly noon, yet there was no smoke from cooking fires, no farmers working the fields—nothing.
"Let's head further in," Arlen said, frowning slightly. "If we still don't find anyone, we'll check the church."
Walking from one end of the village to the other, they finally found people—
A large crowd gathered at a fork in the road, surrounding a lone house.
The villagers held hoes, sickles, poles, and sticks, forming a tight blockade.
"What's going on?" Ultear said, standing on her toes to look ahead. "Let's go check."
She grabbed Arlen's hand and pulled him forward.
"Get out!"
"Leave our village!"
"You're possessed by a demon—just leave already!"
"If you don't go, we won't be polite anymore!"
The villagers shouted angrily, their faces filled with fear and hostility. Some even picked up stones and smashed the house's windows.
Ultear frowned. "What's wrong with them? Why are they doing this… Could this be the 'demon-possessed girl' from the request?"
Arlen watched silently, his expression indifferent, a trace of understanding flashing in his eyes.
"Do you really think it's a demon?" he said calmly. "If it were, would they dare act like this?"
"…You mean…" Ultear hesitated.
"The farmer and the snake."
Ultear's mind was sharp. With just a little thought, she grasped the implication.
But she didn't want to believe it.
Could such a story really play out in reality?
Just then—
A shattered window was pushed open from inside.
A small girl with short white hair and a pink top leaned out. Tears streamed down her face as she shouted angrily at the villagers:
"It was Sister Mira who drove away the demon in the church!"
"She saved this village!"
"She was possessed because she fought that demon!"
"She didn't do anything wrong—nothing at all!"
"So why?! Why are you treating her like this?!"
"…Just as I thought," Arlen said with a faint cold smile.
Ultear stood frozen.
From the fragments of conversation alone, she could piece together the story.
A demon had appeared in the church.
The villagers were terrified.
A girl named Mira had defeated it—
But became possessed in the process.
And instead of gratitude…
They responded with fear, ignorance—
And rejection.
Driving her out.
Even going so far as to hire mages to deal with her.
No matter what, the mission still had to be completed.
Fairy Tail's reputation could not be tarnished.
"Everyone, please calm down!" Ultear stepped forward and raised her voice. "We are mages from Fairy Tail. This is Lord Arlen—the one you requested."
The villagers turned toward them.
"It's Fairy Tail!"
"The mages are here!"
"Our village is saved!"
Their faces lit up with excitement and relief.
Arlen watched them silently.
His feelings were… complicated.
Fear was natural for ordinary people.
But—
Was it right to let a hero bleed, and then cast them aside?
She had risked her life to save them.
And in return—
They treated her like a monster.
"Everyone, please disperse for now," Ultear said firmly, noticing Arlen's cold expression. "Since Fairy Tail has accepted this request, we will handle it."
An elderly man, likely the village chief, stepped forward with a cane. "Then we leave it in your hands."
Ultear simply nodded.
Soon, the crowd dispersed.
She turned and knocked gently on the door.
"Hello. We're mages from Fairy Tail. May we come in and talk?"
Inside the house were three children:
A small white-haired girl,
A cloaked older girl,
And a boy in a small suit.
From their similar hair, it was clear—they were siblings.
"Sister Mira… should we open the door?" the little girl asked, her voice trembling.
"Open it," the cloaked girl replied softly. "They're mages. Even if we don't, they can come in anyway…"
"…I'm sorry, Lisanna. Elfman. I've dragged you into this."
She pulled them both into her arms.
In the silent, empty room—
The three siblings clung tightly to each other.
The air was heavy.
Filled with fear…
And despair.