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"Whoa! It's the Celestial Spirit King!"
"Look at that size... He really is the legendary ruler of the Celestial Spirit World."
"Are we even as big as his toe?"
"How dare you assume the Celestial Spirit King even has toes?"
"Huh? But he's humanoid. Look at how majestic the Celestial Spirit King's beard is."
"That's nose hair, you idiot."
"Who're you calling an idiot, you bastard Gray!"
"You, obviously! You single-celled organism!"
"..."
Noah tried to suppress the twitching at the corner of his mouth. Natsu was truly a disaster, arguing with Gray about whether those two sword-like hairs beneath the Celestial Spirit King's nostrils were a beard or nose hairs.
And most importantly, he was doing it right in front of the Celestial Spirit King!
I only dared to think about it in my head!
The awe that the Celestial Spirit King's majestic entrance had brought to everyone gradually faded as those two clueless guys bickered.
However, Loki and Lucy couldn't calm their extremely tense emotions.
Before being expelled from the Celestial Spirit World, Loki had been the leader of the twelve zodiacs. His strength was above all other Celestial Spirits, second only to the Celestial Spirit King himself.
However, Loki knew that his existence meant nothing to the Celestial Spirit King. The gap in strength between them was like the difference between a firefly and a star—utterly insignificant.
Looking up at that towering figure, Loki couldn't understand why the Celestial Spirit King would personally appear.
Just as Loki stood there astonished and puzzled by the Celestial Spirit King's appearance, the giant Spirit completely ignored everyone else and focused his gaze solely on Lucy.
With just one look, Lucy immediately felt a chill down her spine and her legs went a little weak. It was the fear of a guilty conscience.
At this moment, Lucy deeply regretted her earlier bold declaration about wanting to change the Celestial Spirit World's rules. That was an entire world—how could a novice Mage like her speak so presumptuously?
Now she'd really done it. After offending the Celestial Spirit King, still hoping to leave alive...
"My old friend, we meet again."
A gentle voice came from the Celestial Spirit King's mouth. It wasn't a question or a reprimand, but a soft tone tinged with nostalgia.
So gentle that Lucy found it unbelievable.
The blonde girl looked left and right, only realizing the "old friend" the Celestial Spirit King spoke of was herself when she saw his gaze consistently fixed on her.
But she'd never seen the Celestial Spirit King before today. How could a sixteen-year-old girl be the Celestial Spirit King's "old friend"?
Watching this scene, a glint flashed in Noah's eyes.
Just as I thought—Lucy and the Celestial Spirit King have some kind of connection. Those Gold Keys that others desperately searched for were piling up within the Kingdom of Fiore, and it was likely the Celestial Spirit King secretly guiding them to her.
With every mention of "old friend," their connection was obvious!
Noah realized the Celestial Spirit King had come because of Lucy, not for Loke the Lion.
"My old friend, the Celestial Spirit World has long held a contract with humans, stating we must not harm Key holders."
After gazing at Lucy, the Celestial Spirit King then redirected his attention to Loki and slowly said, "Leo did not directly kill his previous contractor, but he indirectly caused her death through his willful actions, which is why he was expelled from the Celestial Spirit World."
The Celestial Spirit King's words jolted Lucy out of her daze, and she quickly shouted back, "Wait, that's not fair!"
"It's not Loki's fault! Why should he be held responsible for it? And why does he have to pay with his life to atone?!"
"A rule like that is completely unreasonable!"
Lucy's aggressive attitude startled Loki.
That was the ruler of the Celestial Spirit World—the King's authority was absolute. Lucy's current behavior was undoubtedly an offense to the Celestial Spirit King.
"Enough, Lucy."
"I accept my punishment. I'm not asking for anyone's forgiveness..."
"I can't just watch an innocent life die!" Lucy didn't know where she got the courage, but she stared directly into the Celestial Spirit King's eyes.
The image of this strong-willed girl overlapped with a figure from his memory, and a faint, almost imperceptible hint of nostalgia flashed in the Celestial Spirit King's eyes.
He wasn't angry at Lucy's "offense." Instead, he gently told her, "The rules of the Celestial Spirit World cannot be changed on a whim, but if my old friend criticizes them like this, then perhaps they truly are flawed."
"Huh?!!"
Lucy hadn't expected the Celestial Spirit King's attitude to change so quickly. She still had a whole list of arguments she hadn't even used yet.
Loki and Aries looked incredulous. As Leo and Aries, they understood the King to some degree. Although he was usually very gentle, he would severely punish any Celestial Spirit who violated the Celestial Spirit World's rules.
But now, that great being had actually admitted the rules were wrong.
Since when was the Celestial Spirit King so easy to talk to...
The Celestial Spirit King looked at Loki, whose face still showed astonishment. Unlike the gentleness he'd shown Lucy, his voice now carried full authority.
"Leo, you violated the rules to help Aries and indirectly caused a contractor's death, but there were extenuating circumstances."
"Now, with an old friend and so many companions coming to your aid, in light of this beautiful bond, I will make an exception in this matter. You may return to the Celestial Spirit World."
"However..."
The Celestial Spirit King's tone suddenly shifted, making Lucy's joyful mood tighten with worry, fearing another unexpected twist.
"Death may be avoided, but punishment cannot."
"Leo, if you wish to atone for your sins, then live on as this friend's strength and protect her with your life."
"She is a friend worth doing that for, isn't she?"
The Celestial Spirit King's words brought tears of joy to Leo's eyes.
Someone willing to confront the Celestial Spirit King for a Celestial Spirit's sake—to become this Celestial Spirit Mage's strength, Leo couldn't ask for more. Especially since Lucy was also his guildmate.
"Thank you, Lucy."
Loki extended his hand to Lucy, and a ball of starlight fell into the girl's palm, then transformed into a Key. His body returned to the Celestial Spirit World—he was too weak and needed to recover.
Lucy looked at the Leo Key that had appeared in her hand, grinning from ear to ear. With this, she now held eight Gold Keys.
Noah, who'd observed the entire process, now had only one thought about this incident: connections really could do anything.
One sentence, and the Celestial Spirit King changed the rules for her.
That was an entire world, with rules that had operated for thousands of years, and the Celestial Spirit King revoked Loki's punishment just because of a few words from a human.
If he didn't know Lucy's parents, Noah would even suspect Lucy was the Celestial Spirit King's illegitimate daughter...
The matter was perfectly resolved. Loki lived, Lucy gained the Leo Key, and the onlookers got a good show. A world where no one was hurt had been achieved.
The Celestial Spirit King waved his hand, starlight scattered, and everyone's figures gradually disappeared from the temporarily constructed space, sent back to their original places.
Only Noah remained, looking bewildered at being left alone, and awkwardly addressed the Celestial Spirit King. "Um, Senior Celestial Spirit King, I think I missed the ride back!"
"Powerful human, I have something to discuss with you."
The Celestial Spirit King's tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable weight.