"A magic item… that's a demon?"
The idea was not only novel but downright outrageous. Still, for the rough-and-tumble folks of Fairy Tail, it wasn't that hard to swallow.
"As far as I know, every demon created by Zeref possesses unique and formidable powers," Kira said, narrowing his eyes. "If Lullaby isn't just some ordinary magic item, then our real enemy might not be the losers from Eisenwald, but a demon enhanced by Zeref himself!"
"Zeref's…" Erza's eyes flickered with clear apprehension.
"We saw Deliora on Galuna Island, one of Zeref's creations," Kira said, glancing at Gray. "Their strength is beyond what normal people can handle. I think Gray can vouch for that."
"Deliora…" Gray lowered his head, unease stirring in his chest. Could Lullaby be another Deliora? They had to stop it!
Kira shot a look at Natsu, who was busy goofing off with Happy. That guy's only good for fighting.
Luckily, not everyone missed the gravity of Kira's words. As a fellow S-Class wizard, Erza had far more mission experience and was sharper than Natsu and the others. She caught on immediately. "I get what you're saying. You mean we need to deal with this somewhere far from people, right?"
"Exactly! You guys smashing up streets on regular missions is one thing, but this is different. You've got to think about the consequences this time! If someone gets killed, the Guild Master will have a hard time explaining things to the Magic Council!"
Makarov: Smashing streets is fine? And this guy's worried about explaining things to the Council?
Erza gave Kira a deep look. "If that's the case, then you have to come with us. Things will be safer with you around."
Now that's what I like to hear!
"Don't worry," Kira said, patting Erza's armored shoulder. "If Lullaby was that powerful, someone would've dealt with it already. The fact that a few small-time punks from Eisenwald could break its seal means it's probably not a big deal."
"So don't get too worked up! Besides, Eisenwald doesn't exactly have any top-tier wizards. They're trying to use Lullaby, but they might end up getting burned by it themselves."
"Those who play with darkness will eventually be swallowed by it," Kira added dramatically.
While his words eased some tension, Erza remained concerned. "We can't just bet on that possibility. You said it yourself—it's a demon modified by Zeref. If we let it slide, it could cause a disaster!"
"Fair point. We can't ignore it. Alright, I'll tag along for Lullaby," Kira said with a reluctant nod. "But one last thing before we head out…"
"What?"
"Where is Eisenwald?"
Erza didn't show the slightest hint of embarrassment for her lack of foresight. "We'll figure that out in Oshibana Town!"
Oshibana was where Erza had spotted some Eisenwald members. Simple and straightforward—classic Fairy Tail style! But…
Kira smirked, teasing her. "I thought only Natsu would blurt out something so brainless. You're impressing me, Erza."
Natsu bristled. "What'd you say?!"
Happy chimed in, "I think Kira's got a point…"
Lucy stifled a laugh from the sidelines.
What should've been a serious matter was lightened by Kira's casual banter.
"One more thing," Erza said. "What's Eisenwald's goal with Lullaby?"
That stumped her. Her plan had been to beat up Eisenwald, snatch Lullaby, and maybe hand it over to the Magic Council. As for their motives, she hadn't thought that far. She guessed, "Eisenwald's a dark guild. If they're after Lullaby, they're probably planning to cause chaos, likely in a crowded place where people can hear it."
"Spot on," Kira said, nodding. "They might even target some big names to show off their power. If it were me, I'd probably go after royalty or Magic Council members."
Gray sweat-dropped. "This guy… just says stuff like that without batting an eye…"
Maybe because Fairy Tail was already a lawless guild, no one seemed fazed by Kira's words. Either they didn't think he'd do it, or… maybe he already had.
Erza's eyes lit up as something clicked. "The Guild Masters' Conference!"
Gray blinked. "The conference?"
"Yeah, it's possible!"
"That means the Guild Masters are in danger!"
"Mira, contact the Master immediately and tell him about this!" Erza shouted toward the bar, then grabbed Natsu and Gray without hesitation. "You guys are coming with me—now!"
Kira waved Lucy over. "Let's bring Lucy too. It'll be like a guided mission for her. That's fine, right, Erza?"
Lucy, who'd been quietly watching the drama, was caught off guard. Why am I suddenly involved?
"Me? But it's a dark guild! I'm not that strong…"
"Lucy, huh? Sure!" Erza said. "I heard on the way here that you took down a three-meter-tall gorilla or something. This might be dangerous, but if you're that reliable, you'll be fine."
Dangerous?!
Lucy teared up. "That wasn't me…"
Natsu slung an arm around her. "Come on, Lucy! You took on all of us with one move earlier!"
Erza's eyes narrowed. "You were fighting again?"
Uh-oh. Slipped up.
"Uh… haha, let's get going! We'll be late!" To dodge Erza's wrath, Natsu grabbed Lucy's hand and bolted out the door, Happy flying close behind.
Two seconds later, Natsu dragged Lucy back inside. "Where are we going again?"
---
Half a day later, a massive brown carpet soared through the sky toward Oshibana Town at breakneck speed.
They could've taken the train the next day, but Erza insisted on leaving immediately, leaving no time to buy tickets. So, they rode Kira's flying carpet instead.
The carpet was crafted from the hide of a magical beast, spacious enough to comfortably seat ten people. Its soft texture was relaxing, and the intricate magic patterns woven into it were dazzlingly cool. Even without magic, it'd be a pricey blanket.
But it was a magic carpet, after all, and its true value lay in the spells Kira had infused into it: flight, acceleration, purification, shock absorption, sun protection, moisture resistance, waterproofing, fireproofing, durability… The number of enchantments far surpassed any other magical transportation on the market.
"Whoa! This is amazing! I've never seen anything like it!" Lucy exclaimed, leaning over the edge to gaze at the rivers and mountains below, her Celestial Spirit Keys glinting in the sunlight.
"I didn't know you had a magic item like this. Impressive!" Erza said, arms crossed. "I was planning to leave tomorrow, but this works."
Kira stroked the carpet like he was petting Happy, puffing out his chest proudly. "Heh, this is my latest creation—a flying carpet! Big capacity, blazing speed, great view, top-notch comfort. It's the ultimate travel tool… though the wind up here's a bit strong."
"Why didn't you use this on our last mission?" someone asked.
"Come on, you've gotta reveal good stuff one at a time! Otherwise, most of my creations would just collect dust in storage!"