"Can you tell me now? Why did you pick such a dangerous job?" Inside the gently rocking carriage, Ur looked across at Levy and finally asked the question.
He had already read through the request she'd chosen. The description was simple, but the danger was extreme.
It was the kind of mission completely unsuitable for a mage like Levy. Both Makarov and Ur realized immediately that something about this didn't add up.
That was why Makarov had tried to stop her in the first place.
Technically speaking, Levy's mage rank was even higher than Ur's; she had already reached B-Class.
But in terms of combat ability? Ur could take out several Levys with a single strike. Levy wasn't a combat mage. She was a researcher; her role was closer to a scholar than a soldier.
The difference between the two was like that between a special forces soldier and a scientist.
In this world, magic is used for more than fighting. Most of Levy's previous jobs involved decoding texts and researching ancient writings. For her to suddenly take on a dangerous combat mission, anyone could see something was wrong.
Faced with Ur's question, Levy fell silent for a long moment. Only then did she speak, her voice low and tense.
"That monster… It's the one that destroyed my hometown. Mine, Jet's, and Troy's."
Ur blinked. He hadn't expected that answer. Then anger rose in him, sharp and sudden. "So you're doing this for revenge? Did you even think about the difference in strength?"
"I… I don't know!" Levy clutched her head, her eyes reddening.
Seeing her like that, Ur let out a quiet sigh, shook his head, and swallowed the words he had been about to say.
She was only thirteen. Even if people in this world matured early, Ur couldn't expect her to think like an adult. And she'd lived through something that traumatic… being lost and confused was the most natural thing in the world.
Disasters might force someone to grow up, but that still took time.
"Alright, enough. Don't cry. When the time comes, leave that monster to me. I'll help you get your revenge." He reached out and gently patted her head.
Come to think of it, he was only two years older than her. But thanks to his original physique and the effects of Void Hunger, he now towered over her. Nearly one meter eighty, with muscle beginning to show beneath his clothes. He was still a bit lean, but compared to two months ago, the transformation was astonishing.
To Levy, his tall, steady presence was undeniably reassuring.
"Mm…" She nodded softly and began wiping her eyes.
❖≔﴾═══════ﺤ
Their destination lay outside the borders of Fiore—out at sea.
The request had been issued by a group of fishermen who lived along the coast.
About a month ago, the creature had appeared offshore. At first, it merely interfered with the fishermen's nets. They didn't even see it clearly. But around two weeks ago, the monster began coming ashore to hunt humans.
In just a few days, more than a dozen coastal residents were devoured. Terrified, the survivors finally sought help from the mages' guild.
"You should have information on the creature, right?"
As the carriage rattled along, Ur suddenly looked over at her again. Levy blinked, then jolted as if remembering something.
"Ah, yes! I do!" She hurriedly pulled a notebook from her backpack and handed it to him.
"These are all the records I've gathered over the years. But its origin is so ancient… even now, I still haven't fully understood where it came from." Her voice faded into disappointment.
Her passion for ancient writing stemmed largely from this monster. Yet despite years of searching, she still had no answer.
Ur accepted the notebook.
It was thick—packed with notes, references, sketches, and clippings. Only by flipping through it could one appreciate how much time and effort Levy had poured into this.
He skimmed several pages; something caught his attention. "Levy… are you saying the creature's history goes back nearly a thousand years?" Ur looked up from the notes, surprised.
Levy nodded. "Yes. I've checked countless ancient texts. Records of creatures like this appear in works from over a millennium ago."
Ur's eyes changed subtly. He didn't doubt her; when it came to knowledge, two Urs put together still couldn't match her.
But that only deepened his confusion.
From what he had gathered so far, the target of this mission wasn't a monster—it was a demon.
But demons in this world had only been created about four hundred years ago by the black mage Zeref. How could something similar have existed a thousand years ago?
He thought for a long moment. Then, slowly, a smile curved onto his lips.
"This world just gets more and more mysterious…"
❖≔﴾═══════ﺤ
After taking a coach from the last train station, they didn't have to travel much longer. Before long, Ur and Levy arrived at their destination.
The moment they stepped off the carriage and saw what lay ahead.
Both of them froze in shock.