Heading Home

The group boarded the Christina and began their return journey.

On the deck of the luxury airship, the Tenrou Island assessment team lay sprawled out, covered in dust and their clothes tattered.

Riyao slumped against Mirajane, his head resting on her shoulder, his arms dangling and swinging back and forth, too lazy to even pull his legs up, his whole body limp and powerless.

"My whole body aches, and my head feels dizzy."

The voice was muffled, squeezed out from the throat.

Mirajane reached out and touched his head, her fingertips running through his hair, the movement very gentle.

"Serves you right for being so cocky."

Don't you think that form is cool?

Riyao chuckled twice, his smile only halfway across the face, when a muscle in his shoulder suddenly twitched, causing the smile lines to disappear in pain.

Mirajane pinched his face in annoyance and pulled it outwards.

Riyao's face was stretched into a distorted arc.

Makarov patted Macao on the shoulder, looked him up and down, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

"Not bad, you've become the fourth-generation president. Why don't you continue as president?"

Macao twisted his body, swayed his waist a couple of times, and the tips of his ears turned a little red.

"Oh dear, I'm just acting as an interim representative. Since you're back, of course you should be the new president."

Riyao tilted his head and shouted in that direction.

"By the way, how much money do I have left?"

"Well..."

Macao scratched his head, rubbed his fingers on his scalp several times, and looked around, then around, but never landed on Riyao.

"It's almost used up."

"What?"

Riyao sprang up from Mirajane's body with a sudden movement, his back muscles protesting, and he fell back down in pain, his head slamming back into Mirajane's arms.

"What do you mean 'almost used up'? That's a whopping 300 million! Natsu and the others aren't even here, how come so much was spent?"

The entire airship fell silent.

Everyone present stared wide-eyed.

His mouth was so wide open you could fit a fist inside.

Riyao really that rich?

They realized they had severely underestimated the kingdom's foremost healing mage's ability to amass wealth.

No, this isn't accumulating wealth; it's clearly printing money.

Makarov's jaw nearly dropped to the floor; his mouth opened and closed repeatedly before he could finally manage to utter a sound.

"You brat! When I ask you for a little money, you're always so stingy and hesitant, but you have so much!"

Riyao raised his head, snorted smugly, and grinned from ear to ear.

"I don't just treat illnesses; I also sell the medicinal herbs I grow for a good amount of money. If I weren't so lazy, I could sell a lot of fruit too."

The group exchanged a silent glance.

Once we get back, we must eat as much fruit as we can at the Riyao Manor.

Riyao's lips twitched as he thought of his abandoned manor, which had been neglected for seven years.

The weeds must be waist-high by now.

Cleaning this up would be exhausting.

Oh well, let's just consider this an opportunity to reorganize and plan.

People gathered in small groups to chat about the changes over the past seven years.

Erza touched her chin, her fingers tracing back and forth on her jawbone.

"Grand Magic Games? Are all the guilds in the kingdom participating?"

"Yes."

Bisca sighed, her shoulders slumped, and her voice was filled with frustration.

"For several years in a row, our guild hasn't even made it past the preliminaries."

Natsu, clinging to the airship railing, spoke weakly, his face turning green.

"Uh... knock them down..."

Every word was squeezed out, and his lips were trembling as he finished speaking.

Riyao suddenly raised his hand and unleashed a barrage of green light orbs at Natsu.

One after another, orbs of light pelted Natsu.

Mirajane tilted her head.

"What are you doing?"

"I have a bit of indigestion."

Riyao replied listlessly, his wrist still mechanically swinging.

"Give some points to Natsu."

I didn't feel anything a moment ago, Present Riyao I'm starting to feel dizzy.

The side effects of the Dragon Force are kicking in.

Who knows why dragons get motion sickness?

He simply used up his Dragon Force to cast Healing Magic.

Natsu's vision went black.

He fell straight down, his head hitting the deck with a dull thud.

Happy opened his mouth wide, his cat face filled with terror, and his whiskers were trembling.

"I hope Natsu is alright?!"

"Uh... it's nothing."

Riyao waved his hand, his wrist limp.

"I shared my motion sickness symptoms with him; he's used to it anyway, and the capable should do more."

Everyone's lips twitched simultaneously.

Wendy looked at Riyao, then at Natsu lying on the ground, her face scrunched up and her eyebrows furrowed into a tight knot.

Will I be like this in the future?

"Wrapped."

Riyao lay down, his head resting on Mirajane's lap, looking as if he were about to die, his eyelids already drooping halfway.

"This is a side effect of the Dragon Force."

But his hands didn't stop; he kept throwing green orbs at Natsu.

Natsu would twitch, kick his leg, or flick his arm every now and then.

He was being chased in his dream by a group of vehicles with legs—trains, carriages, and airships—all with eyes, chasing him and crushing him all over the world.

Riyao tried adjusting the inner ear vestibule, but after a couple of attempts, it seemed to be completely useless.

I simply closed my eyes and decided to take a nap.

We'll gradually adjust the balance of strength when we get back.

Mirajane patted his chest rhythmically, his hand falling, rising, and falling again, the rhythm steady and steady.

Wendy's face contorted with embarrassment at the thought of herself spewing rainbows from the bow of the boat, her lips pressed into a thin line.

Gajeel crossed his arms, raised his chin, and snorted through his nose.

"That's because you guys lack willpower; I didn't get carsick."

Lily lay beside him, not even lifting his head, his eyes half-closed.

Is it possible that you haven't reached that point yet?

There was a moment of silence on the airship.

Gajeel's face darkened.

He stomped his foot on the deck.

The airship swayed.

Everyone burst into laughter, the sound echoing across the deck and drowning out Natsu's snoring.

The Magic Council was the first to learn of Fairy Tail's revival.

"Those troublesome bastards are back."

The news spread like wildfire throughout the kingdom.

The Crime Sorcière Trio.

"They're alright after all."

Jellal's lips curled up slightly.

Let's go find them.

Is Ur going to find Ur?

"..."

Ultear pinched Meredy's face and tugged at it.

Meredy was pinched so hard she couldn't speak.

Royal Palace

Arcadios approached Princess Hisui.

"Your Highness, they are back."

"Mira and the others are indeed alright. This year's Grand Magic Games is sure to be exciting."

Sabertooth.

Sting was incredibly excited when he heard the news.

"Great! We finally have a chance to defeat Mr. Natsu and Mr. Riyao!"

Rogue nodded.

"And Gajeel."

Lamia Scale.

Lyon grabbed his luggage and hurried out the door.

I'm going to check on Ur!

Jura opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Lyon had already run off.

Like him is Mermaid Heel Kagura.

I'm going to check on Erza.

Millianna quickly followed.

"I'm going too!"

The various factions reacted differently to the news of Fairy Tail's revival.