Chapter 67: The Reassembled Strongest Alliance of Fiore (1)
After Mirajane and Ciel's date ended, the next day the two of them were chatting as usual, seemingly on good terms—but there was an odd, unspoken tension in the air.
When Erza and I approached Mirajane and asked what had happened, she only gave a wry smile and said,
"It was just... a fun day."
Could it be that she had failed to confess?
I wanted to ask Ciel about it, but something told me that if I even brought it up, he would somehow turn the tables and make me spill everything instead...
And so, their relationship returned to being no different from before.
A month passed like that.
....
"Welcome~♪ What would you like to order?"
"I'll have the Azure Sky Meat Sauce and a Holy Soda."
"I'll go with the Beastkin Curry."
"Would you like dessert as well?"
"Then... I'll take the Ruby Parfait."
"Same for me."
"Got it~!"
"And for this table—oh, thank you~ … Wait! What am I even doing?!"
Wearing a waitress uniform and taking orders in a restaurant, I tossed my napkin to the floor. At the same time, Natsu, also in uniform and balancing a tray of food, turned to me.
"Lucy, this is all part of the job."
"This isn't mage work at all! And don't get me started on this humiliating cosplay—what even is this?!"
"The chef here makes magic-infused cuisine."
"We're helping out too, so what's the problem~?"
"Stop eating the customers' food!!"
To make up for my shortfall on rent, Natsu and I ended up working part-time at the magic cuisine restaurant Eight Island.
The pay was high for a day's work, which was reason enough, but on top of that, since Ciel had gone with Master to attend the Guild Council meeting, we were asked to take on this request in his place.
....
"Sometimes a waiter outfit isn't so bad."
"Try saying that while actually wearing yours!"
"And whose rent problem was this again?"
"Urgh... sorry."
When Gray, serving customers in nothing but his underwear, said this, I lowered my head in shame.
Originally, this was supposed to be my job alone, but everyone insisted on helping and sharing the pay with me, so I couldn't exactly complain.
Noticing how gloomy I was, Gray tilted his head toward another waitress approaching in uniform.
"And look."
"Huh?!"
Swinging her hips and striking sultry poses at a table, Erza was taking orders with all the allure of a succubus.
Her charm had customers ordering the most expensive dishes on the menu. And she herself seemed to be enjoying it, smiling as she worked.
"See? Some people are actually having fun with this."
"...Fine. I'll give it my all too."
With my guildmates working so hard, it wouldn't be right to complain. Wiping the sweat from my forehead, I dove back into work.
What would normally have been my job alone became surprisingly manageable with the four of us splitting the load. Time passed quickly, and we finished without trouble.
....
"Whew~ Good work, everyone."
After closing up shop, we sat outside on the benches, and the restaurant's owner and head chef, Master Yajima, smiled warmly as he handed out our pay.
"You young ones really know how to handle yourselves. Come by anytime."
"Yes, sir. I learned a lot today."
"I think I understand Mirajane's feelings a little better now."
"Phew~ That was good~!"
"You ate too much of the restaurant's food, you idiot!"
Even after the shift, Erza was still in her waitress uniform, while Gray leaned tiredly against the wall.
I was just grateful they had taken the time to help me.
Though, thanks to Natsu eating more than he worked, his pay was docked in the end.
After handing out our pay, Erza turned to Master Yajima and asked him about the Council.
"By the way, Master Yajima, what's the situation with the Council?"
"Hm~ Well, I'm already retired, you see."
"The Council?!"
"You didn't know? Yajima here used to be one of the Magic Council members."
At the mention of the Council, Natsu and Gray stiffened and widened their eyes. I explained to them what I knew about Master Yajima.
Though he now ran a small restaurant, not long ago he had been one of the Ten Wizard Saints serving on the Magic Council.
After the Etherion incident and the collapse of the Council, Yajima had resigned, taking responsibility. Many of the other members had also stepped down due to the betrayal of Siegrain... no, Jellal.
As he told us about this, Yajima's tone carried a touch of regret.
"Siegrain... no, Jellal, was it?"
"His name is Jellal."
"Yes, that Jellal, and Ultear's betrayal too—we made a grave mistake back then. Now they're working on forming a new Magic Council, holding negotiations across every region... I truly owe you all an apology. Using Ciel without telling you the truth about who he was—it was inexcusable."
"No... We heard that you opposed the Etherion strike until the very end, Master Yajima. And even so, you felt shame and chose to retire. On the contrary, we're grateful—you protected Ciel's identity, allowing him to act freely. For that, we thank you."
At Erza's words, Yajima smiled faintly as he shook a frying pan of rice.
"Politics just isn't in my nature... being a cook is far more enjoyable. But Natsu, Gray—"
When Yajima called their names, the two immediately froze up. Looking at them with a serious but worried expression, he continued.
"From now on, the Council will be different. I won't be there anymore. That means no one will be around to defend Fairy Tail. Remember that—and stop making life so difficult for Makarov and Ciel."
"Y-yeah, we got it."
"Understood."
"Good. Then send my regards to Makarov and Ciel, would you?"
Even as he bid farewell, waving to us with a gentle smile, he no longer looked like one of those stiff, grim-faced Council mages—just a kind old man running a restaurant.
We waved back before heading out.
Thanks to everyone's help, I was finally able to cover this month's rent. If I had any money left over, I'd make sure to treat Ciel, Natsu, Gray, and Erza in return.
....
Above the skies of Fiore.
In an airspace unreachable by ordinary humans, a massive airship drifted across the night sky.
Inside the airship, a woman with long black hair braided into twin tails and lips painted a deep red wore a provocative dress. Holding a crystal ball in her hand, she appeared in the airship's main chamber, contacting someone through the orb.
"Oración Seis… the Six Demon Generals are on the move… What shall we do, Master Hades?"
Reporting to the elder seated in the large chair of the chamber, Ultear asked how they should respond to this development.
Hades, stroking his long beard, replied in a detached tone, showing little concern.
Standing at his side, two men nodded in agreement with his words.
"Leave them be."
"If they act, those others won't stay quiet either."
"And in the meantime, we'll search for the key to unsealing Zeref."
"If things go well, it might even clear away a few troublesome guilds."
At Hades' words, Ultear smiled faintly and added her own remark.
"Fairy Tail, perhaps?"
"Kuh… kuhuhuhahahahaha…!"
Hades' laughter echoed throughout the ship, filling the night sky as he gazed out at the world below.
....
At the same time.
In the newly constructed Council Assembly Hall, the Guild Masters were feverishly drawing lots.
The elderly masters beamed with joy whenever they pulled slips marked Safe, their excitement almost childish. Watching them, Ciel could only let out a dry chuckle.
"To think they're so happy about avoiding a troublesome duty…"
"Ciel, this is no time to be laughing," said Makarov, tugging at his coat collar.
Unlike his usual demeanor, Makarov's face was tense as he looked up at Ciel.
"Makarov, just give it up. We already drew a losing slip," remarked a member of Blue Pegasus with a sigh.
"Heh, that just means your guild has rotten luck! But I've got Ciel here, the miracle survivor. If he draws, I'm sure we'll avoid it!"
"Ohoho~ we'll see about that."
"Ciel! It's our turn now. Go on, pull one."
Urged forward, Ciel scratched his cheek and muttered.
"Master, I'll warn you now… I'm lucky in trivial gambles, but when it comes to serious matters like this, my luck is abysmal. Are you prepared not to blame me?"
"Eh, if you draw a losing slip, it's your responsibility!"
"…So you intended to push this onto me from the start, didn't you?"
"Oh, I'd never think such a thing~" Makarov whistled, dodging the question.
With a faint, dangerous smile, Ciel stepped up to the lottery box and slipped his hand into the hole.
"So this was your plan all along… old man."
At last, he pulled out a small folded slip of paper.
....
The next morning.
Arriving at the guild, Lucy stopped in front of the request board, where a massive notice had been posted. Turning to Mirajane, she asked:
"Hey, Mirajane… what's this about?"
"What's this?"
"I drew up an organizational chart of the dark guilds."
"Why'd you do that?"
"Lately the dark guilds have been moving more actively. I think it's about time guilds like us strengthen our alliance."
At Mirajane's words, Lucy remembered that just a few days ago, Makarov and Ciel had gone to the regular Council meeting about this very issue, and she nodded.
As Lucy nodded and looked over the chart, Elfman and Juvia started discussing it—and before long, the entire guild was gathered, talking about the subject of the dark guilds.
"What's this big grouping here?"
"Juvia knows. That's the largest dark guild alliance, the Balam Alliance."
"The Balam Alliance?"
"Yes. The Balam Alliance is composed of three guilds, each with several subordinate guilds under them. Together, they move the dark underworld."
Following Juvia's explanation, Lucy scanned the chart until her eyes went wide, recognizing one of the names.
"Ah! Eisenwald!"
"Right, the guild Erigor was in."
"Wasn't that under Oración Seis?"
"Same with Ghoul Spirit, the one the Thunder God Tribe crushed."
"Juvia too—back during Phantom Lord, the guilds she destroyed were also under Oración Seis."
"Don't say that with a smile."
"Whoa~ maybe it's better not to mess with them…"
"No need to worry. I heard they're only six people."
"Only six? What kind of tiny guild is that?"
Hearing the casual chatter, Mirajane suddenly cut in with a stern voice.
"Six people, yet they hold a third of the Balam Alliance. That means each of those six is terrifyingly strong."
"Ugh…"
"She's right…"
Oración Seis.
One of the three dark guilds that make up the Balam Alliance alongside Grimoire Heart and Tartaros.
The fact that they held their position with only six members was no laughing matter.
That six people could be counted among the core of the underworld's strongest forces made it natural to suspect that they were monsters beyond human limits.
Lucy shivered at Mirajane's warning just as footsteps and familiar voices echoed from the guild entrance.
"About that Oración Seis…"
"…Looks like we're the ones who'll be taking them on."
"Ah! Welcome back, Master~! Ciel~!"
"Don't just welcome us!!"
Makarov, face heavy with worry, and Ciel, smiling as ever, walked in.
At their words, the guild erupted in shock and screams.
As the murmurs grew louder, Erza stepped forward to speak for them all, demanding confirmation.
"Master, Ciel… what exactly do you mean by that?"
"At the Council meeting a few days ago, the matter of Oración Seis' movements came up. It was decided we couldn't ignore it, so one guild was chosen to take them down…"
"And unfortunately, Master drew the losing lot."
"You're the one who drew it!"
"Kufufufu… Either way, a losing draw is still a losing draw."
The next day after Mirajane and Ciel's date, the guild gathered, but an odd tension lingered despite their usual friendly banter.
When Erza and I asked Mirajane what had happened, she only gave a bitter smile and said,
"It was… just a fun day."
Could it be that her confession had failed?
I wanted to ask Ciel directly, but something about him made me feel that if I pressed, he'd end up drawing the whole truth out of me instead.
In the end, their relationship went on unchanged, neither closer nor farther than before.
....
A month later…
Makarov and Ciel stood before the guild, explaining with calm composure while everyone else watched them with tense expressions.
"Why'd you take Ciel along, of all people, Master? The guy's unlucky when it comes to draws."
"Fairy Tail is supposed to take on this fight…?"
"No, this time the enemy's far too powerful. Even with Ciel's strength, if it's just us, we'll end up as nothing more than the Balam Alliance's next target."
As concern filled the guild members' faces, Ciel simply smiled and reassured them.
"That's why we're reforming the alliance."
"Alliance?!"
"Yes. It's the same alliance as during the Barach Whale subjugation years ago. Fairy Tail, Blue Pegasus, Lamia Scale, and Cait Shelter—four guilds selecting their members to combine strength against Oración Seis."
The mention of an alliance stirred memories.
"That's right… we did form one three years ago…"
"Yeah, back then it was Ciel, Gildarts, and Laxus—a true strongest team. But now, neither Gildarts nor Laxus are here."
The alliance had precedent, born under the Council's direction years earlier. This time, by sheer misfortune, that alliance was to be reformed once more.
Whispers filled the guild hall.
Yes, Fairy Tail had once fielded its strongest S-Class team to join the alliance. Now, with Natsu, Lucy, Gray, and Erza, it was a different story.
Could they truly face an enemy as terrifying as Oración Seis? Doubt clouded everyone's hearts.
"Wait… the enemy's only six people, right? Why do we need an alliance just to take them down? Just what are they…?"
Makarov cleared his throat heavily and glanced at his members.
"So then, who will go with Ciel?"
Ciel chuckled softly.
"Kufufufu… I'll accept as many volunteers as we can get."
The guild fell silent.
If even Ciel—the strongest wizard in Fairy Tail—was moving, then this battle was no trivial matter. The danger was palpable, and no one spoke lightly.
And yet, some did step forward.
"Alright! I'll smash those guys myself!" Natsu declared, grinning fiercely.
"…Always bringing back the troublesome jobs, Ciel." Erza sighed as she walked forward to stand by his side.
Just as the silence returned, Ciel's sly smile deepened. He pointed toward Lucy and Gray.
"Oh, right. I heard that while I was gone, you all formed something you called the 'strongest team'—Natsu, Erza, Gray, and Lucy, was it?"
"Ugh—?!"
"H-Hey, Ciel… you don't mean…?"
"In times like this, it's wisest to rely on familiar comrades. So then, I'll be counting on you… Fairy Tail's Strongest Team."
And so, under Ciel's guidance, Fairy Tail's "Strongest Team" was once again assembled.
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