"So, what happened during these four years?"
"I mean, are Ur and the others doing well?"
Medivh sat at the long table in the dining room, where everyone usually ate, holding a bottle of ice-cold yogurt emitting a chill. He drank it in large gulps while looking at Gray, who was diligently preparing breakfast in the open kitchen across the dining room, and asked.
"Actually, after you left, Ultear asked us everything about you. Although I don't know if it's entirely accurate…"
"But after that, Ultear analyzed the events that happened in 'another' timeline—I mean, the timeline where you, Big Brother Medivh, accepted the mission—combining it with the time you appeared and what you did, and she figured out most of it."
Gray paused there. He seemed to have no intention of elaborating to Medivh on the potential tragedies that Ultear had analyzed in the other timeline.
Because Medivh had said they didn't need to know any tragedies…
They just needed to live carefree and happily.
Gray would absolutely not let Medivh's efforts be in vain.
"After you left, we stayed put, quietly waiting for the Magic Council to arrive. After the Council's investigation team and incarceration unit sent the children Brain had privately imprisoned back to their respective families, and after we witnessed Brain, the former director of the Magic Development Bureau, being judged by the Council for experimenting on children without authorization, then…"
While toasting bread, Gray recounted Brain's fate after Medivh left. As Medivh had expected, facing Brain, who had been crippled and left with only half a life, the Magic Council sentenced him to life imprisonment…
Note that the Council's life imprisonment is different from conventional prison life imprisonment. Brain will henceforth be permanently confined by the Magic Council in a transparent magic sphere with a spatial volume of less than one cubic meter…
He will be illuminated by dozens of fluorescent lights all day long, and he will have to eat, drink, and relieve himself within this magic sphere, while Council soldiers outside the sphere monitor him continuously, 24 hours a day, in shifts.
Indeed, Brain's current life in the Council is utterly devoid of dignity!
Worse than a monkey in a zoo…
Brain will have to endure this life until he dies.
It can be said that for Brain, who cared so much about his reputation, this was more agonizing than death!
At the same time, because the magic sphere contained irresistible spells written by Script Magicians using magic barrier particles…
So Brain couldn't even commit suicide; he could only force himself to cling to life, living a fate worse than death.
This was the Magic Council's punishment for Brain…
They wanted Brain to live and endure these punishments.
"We followed your instructions and came to the Fairy Tail Guild, becoming a member of the Magician Guild Fairy Tail!"
"Speaking of which, we encountered many interesting things on our way to the Fairy Tail Guild."
"Along the way, we eliminated quite a few Dark Guilds, and were even fortunate enough to meet a current Magic Council member—Toki Andaruba Councilor."
"And due to some small incidents, we went to BLACKVOX, the largest Magical Prison under the Magic Council's control, managed by Toki Andaruba Councilor. There, we stopped a premeditated prison break."
"And we met Gildarts, who, for some unspeakable reasons, had actually deliberately gotten himself arrested to complete a mission…"
"That old man is a monster! He's as strong as Big Brother Medivh—I mean, as strong as the Big Brother Medivh I remember, who defeated Deliora."
When Gray said this, his expression held a hint of lingering fear.
Gildarts was strong, but he went a bit too far…
To prevent the enemies from escaping, he destroyed half the prison…
Well, since the prison was destroyed, there was no escaping it.
Very reasonable.
He meant, according to the logic of the Fairy Tail Guild.
Of course, Gildarts also eliminated all the invading enemies, that was it.
"Haha…"
"That's indeed Gildarts' style."
Medivh chuckled at the words.
Honestly, Medivh already had a mental image of it.
Gildarts was the kind of guy who, while on a mission, could perfectly eliminate invading beasts in a village, be hailed as a hero by the villagers, then get so overly excited and carried away that he didn't watch where he was going, accidentally tripped, and at the same time used Crush Magic, tearing the entire village apart, ultimately being deemed a bad guy by the villagers and driven out of the village…
"After that, I stayed at the Fairy Tail Guild as Ultear instructed, waiting for your arrival, Big Brother Medivh…"
"As for Ur, Ultear, and Lyon, they followed your advice, obtained a letter of recommendation from Master Makarov, and went to train with Senior Warrod."
"They've been training until now; by my reckoning, they should be done."
Gray recounted the deeds of Ur and the others over the past four years, simplifying them for Medivh.
"You all worked hard."
Medivh said, standing up from his seat. He walked directly in front of the still-young Gray and spoke earnestly.
"Compared to you, our hardships are nothing."
Gray looked at Medivh in front of him and smiled gently. As long as Medivh could return, everything was worth it.
"Another bottle of iced yogurt, please."
Just as Gray was feeling emotional, Medivh placed the empty bottle in front of Gray and said with a shameless grin.
"…"
Gray was somewhat silent about this.
Hmm, this shameless feeling was just right.
Gray could confirm that the Medivh he was familiar with had completely returned.
Cough, cough…
Morning.
After Erza and the others had breakfast…
Gray 'volunteered' to stay and clean the dishes.
The rest followed Medivh to the Guild.
On the way, Medivh kept asking Erza beside him, "Erza, have you learned magic yet?!"
"Replying to Fa…",
"Replying to Uncle Medivh…"
"I can now use Re-quip Magic and Attachment magic."
Erza smiled sweetly at Medivh's question and replied.
Hmm, Father was caring about her again. Happy~
"Re-quip Magic and Attachment magic, huh?"
Medivh's expression paused slightly.
Upon hearing this, Medivh could already confirm…
This child, Erza, was raised by Irene from a young age.
After all, Attachment magic, a high-difficulty magic that was almost lost on the Ishgar continent, wasn't known by many people.
"But I still need to confirm to what extent this child, Erza, has mastered Re-quip Magic and Attachment magic."
As Medivh thought this, he looked at Natsu, who looked half-asleep and listless.
"Erza, how about you have a fight with this kid Natsu?"
Medivh asked Erza.
"This…"
Erza glanced at Natsu beside her, her expression a bit troubled.
"A fight?!"
As for Natsu, upon hearing that there was a fight to be had, he was already fully revived.
"What? Are you not confident in your own strength?"
Medivh asked Erza.
After all, because of Medivh, Natsu's strength was a bit stronger than in the original work at the same period.
According to Medivh's estimation…
Even if Mirajane successfully joined the Fairy Tail Guild a few months later according to the original timeline, she might not be able to do anything to the current Natsu.
"No~"
"I'm just simply afraid that I might accidentally kill him…"
To this, Erza smiled gently, speaking the most spine-chilling words in the softest tone.
"Huh?"
Natsu's face immediately showed a hundred displeased expressions upon hearing this.
"Don't underestimate me!"
"I'm very strong!"
As he spoke, Natsu's body became engulfed in blazing flames.
"Oh my~"
"Then let's see, kid."
Erza said, and a scarlet magic circle lit up in her hand. A sharp knight's sword appeared in her grip.
At once, the atmosphere between Natsu and Erza gradually solidified.