The Other Me

"Boom--"

With a violent tremor, the massive tree-root structure finally stopped moving and crashed heavily onto an unfamiliar piece of land.

The guild members were all dazed and disoriented from the impact, staggering and falling.

"Thank... that was close..." Gray, who was afraid of the cold, was pale and shivering as he clung to the pillar.

"Quiet!" With a queenly air, Lucy slammed her whip on the table beside her, making a sharp crack that instantly silenced the crowd.

Jiang Bai, on the other hand, remained as steady as a rock. The moment the guild began teleporting, he set up a stable Psychokinesis platform beneath his feet, and his hairstyle was perfectly intact.

He watched the Edolas mages scatter in a daze, completely unmoved.

Only after everyone had recovered did he slowly walk up to Lisanna and Edolas Mirajane.

"Alright, you can tell me now."

Jiang Bai's curiosity had been piqued to its peak.

"What kind of person am I in this world?"

Upon hearing this question, everyone in the guild immediately turned their attention to Jiang Bai.

That look in his eyes was incredibly complex.

There was curiosity, awe, and a hint of... gossip.

Lisanna glanced at Edolas Mirajane beside her, and seeing that she didn't object, she nodded and began to slowly recount her story.

"Actually, when I first came to this world, I also inquired everywhere about you, 'Brother Jiang Bai'..."

Lisanna's voice was soft, but loud enough for everyone present to hear.

"Furthermore, there's the relationship between the older sister in this world and Brother Jiang Bai... so I probably know more than others."

When she said the word "relationship," Mirajane of Edolas blushed almost imperceptibly, but quickly regained her gentle yet assertive demeanor.

"Jiang Bai Warren, like his sister, was born in the same village."

They've been childhood sweethearts.

Oh?

Jiang Bai raised an eyebrow, inwardly complaining.

Childhood sweethearts? Sure, my counterpart from another world made her move pretty early.

Lisanna, oblivious to Jiang Bai's inner thoughts, continued speaking.

"But later, Jiang Bai's parents wanted to take him to the capital for a trip, but they ran into members of the Dark Guild on the way..."

At this point, Lisanna's tone became heavy.

"To protect young Jiang Bai, his parents... both sacrificed their lives."

"Since then, Jiang Bai Warren has rarely laughed."

He joined the Royal Army, starting as a low-ranking soldier, and through his talent and hard work, climbed step by step to the position of general in the Royal Army's army.

"Throughout his military career, he was undefeated, the kingdom's strongest and most invincible general. And he had only one goal: to wipe out all the evil dark guilds."

Hearing this, Jiang Bai roughly understood.

Orphaned, a genius boy joins the army to seek revenge...

Isn't this the standard overpowered protagonist revenge story? My alternate self from another world has received a pretty classic script.

"Later, although Fairy Tail was declared a dark guild by the king," Lisanna glanced at her companions around her, her voice lowering further.

"But Jiang Bai... he's always been smitten with Fairy Tail, especially since his sister is around."

These words immediately created a somewhat awkward atmosphere within the guild.

Many people had expressions of sudden realization.

"I knew it! Several times we were about to be surrounded by the Royal Army, but they always managed to let us escape because of some 'inexplicable' mistakes!"

"So it was General Jiang Bai who was letting the water go!"

"Sigh, Mirajane's charm is still too great..."

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Edolas Mirajane's cheeks flushed red from everyone's comments. She stomped her foot, but wasn't really angry.

Just then, Queen Lucy, who had been silent all along, suddenly crossed her arms and let out a cold snort.

"Hmph, although that guy is the kingdom's lackey, to be fair, I still admire him quite a bit."

All eyes turned to her again.

Queen Lucy, meeting everyone's gaze, said frankly, "What? Am I wrong? Jiang Bai Warren, though cold as iron, is indeed protecting this country in his own way."

"If our guild hadn't been branded a 'dark guild' by that senile old man, the king, perhaps... we could have been allies fighting side by side with him."

These words silenced many in the guild.

Although they were hostile to the Royal Army, they knew in their hearts that those whom Jiang Bai Warren had wiped out were indeed the real scum who burned, killed, looted, and committed all sorts of evil deeds.

After hearing all this, Jiang Bai stroked his chin and revealed a playful smile.

A contradictory character who vows to eliminate all evil to avenge his parents, yet turns a blind eye to "so-called evil" for the sake of his childhood sweetheart?

That's interesting.

It seems that although my other self went through a lot, I was still essentially a lovelorn soul bound by emotions.

"Alright, that's the end of the story."

Jiang Bai clapped his hands, breaking the atmosphere of deep thought.

"Now, let's get down to business."

His gaze swept over everyone present, finally settling on Edolas, Levy, and Lucy.

"This constant hiding and fleeing isn't a solution."

"What are your plans next?"