'Beard...'
The Celestial Spirit King was momentarily stunned by the insult.
'This is not a beard! Even if you're an old friend, I cannot concede on this point!' he thought indignantly, stroking his mustache.
Lucy ignored the Celestial Spirit King's internal reaction and continued shouting, her voice cracking with emotion.
"This was an unfortunate accident! What crime has Loke committed? If he's not innocent, I cannot accept this!"
"I don't accept it! Absolutely not!"
Lucy's emotions grew more intense, and golden light once again appeared around her, surging violently.
In Lucy's view, while Loke bore some responsibility for Karen's death, his fault didn't reach the level where he needed to repay with his life.
She absolutely could not accept the cruel rule of exchanging one life for another.
In this matter, Loke was at fault, but Karen was also at fault.
If Karen hadn't treated Aries that way, Loke would never have done such a thing—after all, Loke had been carrying the guilt of Karen's death for three years.
Moreover, Loke didn't remain in the human world with the intention of causing Karen's death; if Karen had listened to Bob, the Guild Master of Blue Pegasus, and treated her Celestial Spirits well, things wouldn't have come to this.
If forced to choose, she would stand by Loke's side.
Celestial Spirits are living beings with their own emotions.
To Lucy, Celestial Spirits were her friends, not some contract-bound mercenaries.
The more Lucy fought for him, the more guilty Loke felt.
He looked at Lucy painfully and shouted, "Enough... Lucy, stop! I don't want forgiveness from others. I just want to atone for my sins. I want to disappear like this!"
"NO!!!"
The magic power emanating from Lucy grew stronger, shaking the suspended water droplets around them.
"Even if you disappear, Karen won't come back! It will only create new pain!"
"That's not a sin! A heart that cares for its companions is not a sin!"
Lucy shouted unwillingly, the golden light around her growing increasingly brilliant until it blinded the clearing.
'Aquarius... Taurus... Cancer... Sagittarius... Capricorn...'
All the Celestial Spirits who had contracts with Lucy appeared behind her one by one, summoned by her sheer will.
Even Virgo, who had only recently formed a contract with Lucy, appeared behind her.
Even though they were facing the absolute ruler of their world, the Celestial Spirit King, the spirits standing behind Lucy dared to look directly at him to support their summoner.
'So many Celestial Spirits appearing simultaneously!'
'How deep is Lucy's bond with the spirits?' Loke looked shocked as tears welling in his eyes.
"Lucy!" Ultear and Kagura wanted to step forward to help Lucy, as she seemed to be in great pain from the magical drain.
Raizel extended his arm to stop them.
"Let's wait and see."
"If Loke disappears, only we here will bear the pain," Lucy panted, her body trembling.
She turned her head, looking at Loke with determined eyes. "That kind of thing doesn't count as atonement at all!"
Lucy's magic power could only last a few seconds under such strain, and all the manifested spirits faded and returned to the Celestial Spirit World.
Now completely exhausted, she collapsed to the ground, barely managing to lift her head to look at the Celestial Spirit King.
"If you're also a Celestial Spirit, you should understand Loke and Aries' feelings, right?!"
"Lucy!" Ultear and Kagura quickly stepped forward to help Lucy up.
"Celestial Spirit King, I believe you've seen it too. This should be the real answer, shouldn't it?"
Raizel stepped forward and activated his magic.
"Take Over: Alphamon!"
Raizel transformed, rising to the same towering height as the Celestial Spirit King to meet his gaze eye-to-eye.
"I see... what a powerful human..." The Celestial Spirit King glanced at Raizel, whose stature had suddenly increased.
In the Spirit King's eyes, Raizel already qualified as a true powerhouse.
Not only Lucy, the descendant of his old friend, but also the immense Magical Power Raizel was now radiating—both were existences worthy of his respect.
'I also know Anna Heartfilia,' Raizel projected his thoughts.
Though Raizel didn't speak aloud, his telepathic voice reached the Celestial Spirit King's ears clearly.
The Spirit King's eyes widened in astonishment as he stared at the black-armored knight.
'Anna Heartfilia—my old friend.'
His appearance here was partly due to sensing Lucy's determination, but Lucy being Anna's descendant was also a major factor.
Of course, he had now come to acknowledge Lucy as well; he had overheard her conversation with Loke earlier and had felt the genuine bond between Lucy and the Celestial Spirits.
Anyone who could call Celestial Spirits her friends definitely deserved to be called "old friend" like her ancestor.
Having reached this point, the King made his decision.
"Hmm, to be criticized so thoroughly by an old friend... Perhaps the 'rules' might be wrong instead."
The King looked down at the Lion.
"For Leo, who wanted to save Aries, and for my old friend who wanted to save Leo—in recognition of this beautiful bond, I shall make an exception for this matter."
"Leo... I permit you to return to the Celestial Spirit World!"
"You do have some good points after all, bearded old man!" Lucy beamed, giving a thumbs-up with a wink despite her exhaustion.
Hearing this, the Celestial Spirit King grinned widely, showing his large teeth.
He then nodded at Raizel.
Since he was Anna's friend, that made him his friend too—perfectly reasonable!
"If you have the chance, you're welcome to visit the Celestial Spirit World, human."
"Of course," Raizel also responded with a thumbs-up.
"You're pardoned Leo. You should thank the guidance of the stars."
With these words, the Celestial Spirit King's figure began to scatter into starlight.
"Please wait, I..." Loke stood up, still unable to let go of his guilt completely.
"If you still wish to atone, I command you to live on as that friend's strength," the King's voice boomed as he faded.
"She is a friend worthy of your devotion, isn't she?"
"Protect her with your life!"
The Celestial Spirit King's body gradually transformed into a bright, shining cross of starlight in the sky.
As the starlight cross disappeared, Loke's glasses, which had been suspended in mid-air, began to fall.
The water that had been flowing upward started respecting gravity again, and the waterfall resumed its normal flow with a loud crash.
'As expected... Whenever it involves Heartfilias, you become quite unprincipled... Celestial Spirit King,' Raizel couldn't help but complain internally as he watched the fading Spirit King.
Though he had complained, Raizel had to admit the Spirit King's entrance had been quite spectacular, complete with its own time-stop buff.
"That's what he said."
Loke knelt on the ground, staring blankly at Karen's gravestone.
Through the shimmering starlight, he seemed to see Karen—the ghost who had haunted him for three years—smile gently at him before dissipating into the night.
'Karen...'
Witnessing this, Loke finally began to release the obsession and guilt in his heart.
After standing up, Loke turned to Lucy with a renewed light in his eyes.
"Thank you, Lucy."
"And thank you too, Raizel, Ultear, Kagura."
Loke shook hands with Lucy before transforming into golden starlight and returning to the Celestial Spirit World to regenerate.
A golden light solidified into the Leo Key, which fell gently into Lucy's hand.
"Looking forward to working with you from now on, Loke," Lucy smiled as she clutched the key to her chest.
It was only then that Lucy remembered to ask the question on her mind.
"Speaking of which, how did you guys end up appearing here?"
"Same as you—we also looked into Loke's relationship with Karen," Raizel said, tapping his forehead with a finger as he released his transformation.
"Alright, Loke's matter has been resolved. It's getting late—let's head back now."
"Mm!" Lucy nodded vigorously with a bright smile.
As a flash of teleportation light shimmered around them and the group vanished from the cliffside, returning to Magnolia once again.