Yuri caught every word from the onlookers and secretly rolled his eyes.
"Man who'll conquer the seas"? Really?
Have these kids ever attended a language class?
Still, their chatter reminded me of something important.
People are already doubting my 'sea-merchant' cover. If this drags on and even Weston starts suspecting me, I'm done… I've more or less gauged Weston's strength, so why not call it here?
While Yuri was thinking…
"You're distracted!"
Weston whispered, spotted the opening, and drove a fist straight in.
"Crap—"
Yuri yelped inwardly and tried to block, but he was a heartbeat too late.
Bang!!
The punch landed square on his chest with a dull thud.
The force sent him flying several meters before he crashed into the crowd with a boom.
"The winner is decided!"
Precht shot Weston a warning glance, confirmed he wouldn't pursue, and finally announced the match over.
The moment the fight ended, Warrod hurried over and helped Yuri up.
"You okay, Yuri?"
"Fine… cough… doesn't hurt one bit!"
Rubbing his stomach with a grimace, Yuri climbed to his feet.
You look like it hurts plenty!
Total bravado.
Everyone thought the same but kindly kept their mouths shut, sparing his pride.
"Alright, sparring's over, everyone scatter."
Weston clapped his hands, shooing the kids away.
The moment he said it, the children burst into protest.
"Huh?? We haven't seen enough!"
"One more round, pleeease!!"
"The Guild Master hogged all the fun; we haven't fought Big Bro Yuri yet."
Weston clicked his tongue, feigning annoyance.
"You noisy brats, can't you read the room?"
"Can't you see Big Bro Yuri took internal damage and can't fight any longer?"
"Sigh… all those years of character-building wasted on you lot."
Everyone: "…"
Master, wipe that smirk off your face already!
"If Big Bro Yuri can't fight, Big Bro Precht could—"
All eyes turned to Precht.
He merely looked away, pretending he couldn't see them, clearly ignoring the rowdy kids.
Weston rescued him: "Precht has to look after Yuri, so he's busy too."
"If you're itching for a fight, pair up and beat each other senseless over there!"
The crowd grumbled but drifted off.
A few rubbed their fists, eyes gleaming, already plotting a match of their own.
Only then did Weston stroll to Yuri, grinning. "I let you keep face in front of the kids, how's that for loyalty?"
You call that 'saving face'?
Telling everyone I'm mortally wounded is 'saving face'?
Yuri almost choked. "You really didn't hold back."
"Relax. That punch only looked nasty; no organs hit. A bruise at worst—couple days and you're fine."
"In a duel you don't pull punches until the victor's clear."
Fair enough.
A clean fight—he'd lost fair and square, and Yuri accepted it.
"Didn't expect a Wizard two years younger to be such a brawler."
"Honestly, I've never lost a single fight in my life."
Weston pointed to the other two. "Not even to Precht or Warrod?"
"Of course not!"
Yuri puffed out his chest proudly.
The next second Precht's voice floated over: "We only ever drew; quit acting like you won."
So it was just a draw… almost fell for his bluster.
After a short rest they split up.
The three excused themselves, claiming they wanted to 'tour the village and the island'.
Weston knew "sightseeing" meant hunting for the Tenrou Jade.
He wasn't worried, after all, the jade was long gone; even if they reached the Altar they'd find nothing.
He, meanwhile, had his own task today.
Weston wasn't the Village chief of Tenrou—not because he lacked the credentials, but because running Fairy Tail left him no time for local chores.
When Tenrou Village was founded he'd voluntarily stepped aside during the election.
Yet every anniversary he still addressed the villagers, mapping out the coming year.
In the following twelve months the village would follow his blueprint to the letter.
To the residents, the chief was a replaceable errand-runner; Weston was their guiding star.
His status and role far outshone any village headman.
This year's "plan and development" theme was simple: the Relocation Project.
Only minor details remained; he'd head back and finish them.
Night fell in the blink of an eye.
The entire village gathered in the plaza, a huge open space of nearly three hundred square meters.
A giant bonfire blazed at its center; along each cardinal side stretched a ten-metre-long, metre-wide banquet table.
They brimmed with meat, vegetables, fruit, desserts, an aromatic feast for the eyes.
Adults and children lounged by the crackling fire, chatting about daily life and future dreams, or weaving between tables, stuffing themselves until their lips glistened.
Firelight painted every face with warm smiles.
Yuri's trio arrived too, huddled in a corner, trading the day's intel.
"Nothing suspicious in the village."
"I found a ruined hamlet on the east side—must be the island's old settlement from the stories."
All day the three had split the island between them, combing every inch.
"Heh… leave it to me!"
Yuri grinned, cocky. "I cozied up to a guild kid and found out, there's an Altar on the north shore."
If I'm right, the Tenrou Jade is enshrined there!