Gray sympathized with Ultear's plight, but he didn't understand how things ended up that way: "Why do you hate Ul, isn't she your mother?"
Talking about this matter, Ultear still couldn't stay calm: "Because she abandoned me."
Gray reflexively retorted, "That's impossible!"
"But that's the truth! She personally sent me to the Magic Development Bureau as a subject for enhancing magic power experiments!"
Ultear said excitedly, "Do you know what that means?! Every day, injections, medication, electric shocks... I spent each day in pain, and only by missing her could I hold on!
"I thought she was also suffering like me, but when I secretly went back one day, I saw her happy expression—together with two other kids!
"She... abandoned her own daughter, yet lived with other children!"
This was the thing Ultear couldn't accept the most, plus the researchers also told her that Ul no longer wanted her, or else why had she never visited?
Gray understood clearly, those two kids were naturally him and Leon, so did Ultear secretly go back?
Melty glared harshly at Gray; it was this guy and another named Leon who took away Ul's mother.
Ultear placed her hand on Melty's head to stop her from being impulsive.
She continued: "So my love and longing for my mother turned into hatred. I lived every day in hatred, persevering through all kinds of cruel experiments, gaining powerful magic power.
"I wanted revenge on my mother. But... one day, I came in contact with the Dark Guild and gained a lot of knowledge. President Hades told me there is a magic that can even retrieve lost happiness.
"Then... I studied magic, pursued Zeref, deceived Jellal, deceived the Council, deceived Leon, deceived everyone... just hoping to enter the Great Magic Realm and return to who I was before hating my mother."
Ultear showed a bitter smile: "In the end, I was also deceived by the Great Magic Realm conjured by ancient people, which is probably my karma."
Gray tried to digest what Ultear was saying; he couldn't just ignore Ul's daughter. He had to do something.
Ultear didn't think much; she just needed one last chance to confess: "This is all I wanted to tell you, not for you or myself, but for Melty."
Melty looked at her confused: "Ultear?"
"I always thought everything could start over, so in this life, I made countless mistakes, hurt countless people. But in the end, Melty, at least I want to tell you..."
"Wait! What 'in this life,' what 'in the end'?" Melty hurriedly grabbed Ultear's arm,
"Aren't we still alive? Even if... even if the Council locks us up, won't we still have a future? Can't we stop doing bad things then?"
Melty was only 13 this year, a little older than Wendy. She was raised by Ultear when she was too young to understand things, and she was very attached to Ultear.
Ultear spoke softly: "Listen to me, okay?"
Melty just shook her head. She felt that letting Ultear continue would lead to something bad.
"Can I say a few words?" Gray spoke, "You probably hate me, but there's something I need to tell you."
Actually, both Ultear and Melty disliked Gray, but both felt it better to hear what he had to say than to persist like this.
"Ul spoke to us about you once. She said that when you were born, it was the happiest moment of her life.
"A tiny body yet full of infinite possibilities, she saw the power of life in you, gained the strength to live from you.
"The feeling of happiness made her tears fall uncontrollably, so she named you Ultear—which means Ul's tears.
"She believed you were her proof of being alive, so... the things you said about abandoning you, leaving you to suffer at the Magic Development Bureau, I cannot agree with.
"I think there must be some misunderstanding here. I have no right to interfere with your attitude toward Ul, but I hope that attitude doesn't come from a misunderstanding."
Ultear was stunned; her name didn't mean being disliked, but happiness?
"Impossible." At this point, Ultear couldn't believe what Gray said at all, "This can't be true!"
"I have no reason to deceive you," Gray said, "You just need to ask Leon to confirm. We didn't even know you were alive, let alone fabricate such a lie or conspire in advance."
Ultear was taken aback. Yeah, such a thing could be easily verified.
So...
Was it the people at the Magic Development Bureau who lied?
Having lived in lies for many years, looking back on those unwilling-to-recall memories, Ultear suddenly felt what those people said was full of loopholes.
It's just that she was too young at the time, and mired in her emotions, she couldn't see them.
"Sorry for overhearing your conversation." Makarov stepped out, "You seem to have mentioned the name Magic Development Bureau?"
Gray quickly asked, "Old man, do you know about it?"
"Hmm..." Makarov nodded, a reminiscent expression appeared on his face, "Actually, when Laxus was young, his health was poor because his innate magic power was so strong, so strong that it was a severe burden on his body.