Hope doesn't know Kana's narcissism.
The two found two relatively intact stones amid the ruins to rest for a while, and Hope suddenly said, "Kana, you find an inn in Oshivana and rest by yourself; I reckon the Iron Forest won't seal off the area for long."
Kana thought the same; after all, even if the Council is useless, it's not a small dark guild like the Iron Forest that would dare to overstep.
"Me go find an inn? What about you?"
Hope smiled, took out the magic-record crystal and the fast-acting heart-saving pill that Mira Jin gave him, waved them before her, and said, "Of course I'm heading to Trifolium City to see the guildmaster; Mira Jin kindly asked me to."
Kana sneered, "I think you're just smitten by Mira Jin's beauty."
"Who said that? I'm just plainly lecherous."
Kana burst into laughter at Hope's shamelessness, "You, you actually admitted it outright!"
Oshivana City isn't far from Trifolium City; a magical train takes about half an hour. Kana stared at Hope for a few seconds, then shrugged, "Fine, you go deliver the message to the guildmaster yourself, but I didn't get a sip of the event's fine wine, so when you get back you owe me a drink."
Hope readily agreed, "Just one drink? No problem."
"Tsk, you cheap chicken!" Kana snapped.
After teasing Kana a couple more times, Hope left the city and headed straight into the forest outside.
Finding himself alone, he activated the "Divine Foot".
If you didn't know, you'd be startled the first time you see it.
After using "Divine Foot," Hope discovered his speed easily surpassed Bolt's record, and the spell not only dramatically increased his running speed but also reduced stamina consumption while running.
Unfortunately, the spell only amplifies speed; if it could directly strengthen his legs, it would truly be a "Divine Foot."
After Hope left, Kana didn't go to an inn; instead she walked to the tavern by the street.
She ordered two beers casually, silently listening to the patrons' discussion—all of it angry about the Iron Forest's destruction of the city, the occupation of the train station, and the Council's failure to send anyone to resolve the issue.
Kana wholeheartedly agreed with them.
These days the Magic Council is run by a bunch of old‑timers.
These people cling to power and refuse to step down, yet their own abilities have regressed dramatically, causing many nations and mage guilds to be quietly dissatisfied with the current Council leadership.
But there's nothing they can do; the Magic Council holds a uniquely special position on the Ishugal continent, and unless the Council reforms itself from within, no one can intervene.
Of course, infiltrating the Council is also a decent strategy.
Unfortunately, no one has managed to pull that off yet.
While Kana was listening to the older men at the next table gossip about the city's old king getting a green hat, a burly man burst through the tavern doors, excitedly shouting, "Everyone! A show's about to start!"
"A Fairy Tail mage is coming to deal with the Iron Forest scoundrels!"
"Leading the charge is the Fairy Queen!"
Spectating is a common habit among most humans; when they heard an S‑rank mage was appearing, and that it was the Fairy Queen who had been in the spotlight for the past two years, they rushed to the train station. Seeing the Fairy Queen battle, even if you die, it's worth the ticket price!
Everyone surged toward the train station, eager to catch a glimpse.
However, disappointment loomed as a massive wind wall enveloped the entire station; not even a mage could break through it.
Clanging collisions and screams echoed from behind the wind wall.
Just as the crowd lamented missing the Fairy Queen's fight, a surge of powerful magic erupted from inside the station, followed by a wind‑elemental magical slash that shattered the obstructing wall.
Amid the swirling gale appeared a red‑haired girl clad in light blue armor.
"It's the Fairy Queen!"
"Wow! Wow! Wow!"
"Your Majesty, I'm a fan!"
"..."
For a moment, the train station turned into a fan‑meeting scene.
As a powerful female mage, Elusha never lacks admirers, but she isn't a celebrity and doesn't care about fans.
The gale quickly dispersed, revealing a train station badly damaged from fierce combat. Looking at the scattered Iron Forest mages, the onlookers inhaled deeply.
Kana pushed through the crowd and approached Elusha, who was wearing the "Wind Emperor" armor, and said, "Yo~ making a big splash, huh?"
"Kana, what are you doing here?"
Elusha was surprised by Kana's appearance, then immediately asked, "Where's Hope? Do you have the Lala Bai on you?"
"Hope went alone to Trifolium City to see the guildmaster; that broken flute is on him." As she spoke, Kana sensed something off—how did Elusha know about Hope and the Lala Bai? Then she realized: Elusha had teamed up with Nazz and the others specifically for the Lala Bai.
Kana instantly understood; after all, the legendary "Black Mage" himself created that demon, and even someone as strong as Elusha must handle it carefully.
But after hearing Kana's answer, Elusha's face changed dramatically, "Bad news! Hope's in danger!"
Kana, still bewildered, was grabbed by Elusha and shoved into a magical four‑wheeler parked outside the station.
Soon after, Nazz, Gray, Lucy, and Happy were also forced into the vehicle.
The magical four‑wheeler sped out of Oshivana City; while driving, Elusha explained to the four bewildered passengers and the cat why they were being taken.
"The Iron Forest leader, Erigoll, isn't inside the station."
"I learned from an Iron Forest member that Erigoll placed a one‑time tracking spell on the Lala Bai."
"That so‑called 'Grim Reaper' wind mage must be after Hope now!"
...just as Elusha had predicted.
At that moment, Hope was blocked by a shirtless man in a battle skirt, wielding a scythe, with wind walls closing off every exit.
"I don't know how you got the Lala Bai from Kageyama," the man said.
Floating in mid‑air, Erigoll, supported by wind magic, brandished his scythe and looked down at Hope, "Hand over the Lala Bai peacefully and I'll spare your life."
"Fine, take it then," Hope replied.
Before the threat could finish, Erigoll saw the bartender‑clad guy toss a flute engraved with a three‑eyed skull toward him.
Caught off guard, Erigoll fumbled and grabbed the "Lala Bai".
After confirming it was genuine, Erigoll glanced back at Hope with a complicated expression, "You're just handing it over like that?"
"What else can I do? I'm just a lowly bartender, barely making a few coins a month—what life am I playing?" Hope said, his words oddly sensible.
Erigoll stared at Hope deeply; originally he would have killed him whether he handed it over or not, but after hearing those words he suddenly felt too lazy to kill him.
Watching Erigoll retreat into the distance, Hope calmly drew a wooden flute from his sleeve—identical to the one he'd just given Erigoll.
"Hehe, you've been fooled."
"'Wooden design' works well, huh?"