Ten Hasty Years

Time passed in the blink of an eye...

In the peaceful little town.

A delicate-looking girl of around ten, dressed in a knight's gown with armor and her crimson hair braided into a ponytail, closely followed a brownish-red-haired boy who appeared to be about her age. Their arms were full of daily necessities—toothpaste, face wash, towels, and the like...

"Oh? Isn't this Ywen and Erza? Out shopping?" The two hurried along, though their height limited how fast they could walk. When the shopkeepers around town spotted them, they immediately called out, "These are freshly caught fish. Take them home and eat them!"

"Thank you, Uncle Tom!"

"But we decided to have apple pie tonight..."

At those words, the brownish-red-haired boy smiled and shook his head at the enthusiastic shopkeeper.

"Take it, take it. Just make sure to set aside more of your newest croissants for me tomorrow morning. My boy keeps begging for them, but every time I go, they're all sold out!"

Uncle Tom left no room for refusal as he stuffed the fresh sea fish into the brownish-red-haired boy's arms.

"Then thank you, Uncle Tom!"

The brownish-red-haired boy, Ywen, gave the fish shop owner a slight bow in thanks.

Then he continued onward with the crimson-haired girl behind him.

"It's nothing, it's nothing. Off you go! Isn't your mother waiting for you?"

The fish shop owner waved dismissively.

"Sigh, why are other people's children so sensible?"

"Why does my dumb boy only know how to roughhouse all day? Otherwise, he's off playing in the mud~"

"But Erza has grown more and more lovely these past few years. If only I could make her my boy's wife, hehe..."

The fish shop owner watched the boy and girl recede into the distance, indulging in his fantasies. But before long, he helplessly shook his head and muttered, "Forget it! My boy isn't worthy of a girl as wonderful as Erza!"

The fish shop owner seemed to know his own limits.

The boy and girl continued forward, and the scenes that had played out before the fish shop occurred all across town. It was as though the boy and girl were immensely well-liked in this little town. By the time they reached their own shop, they were nearly unable to carry everything in their arms.

"Erza, put the things down first! It's your tenth birthday today. Your brother has a gift for you!"

Seeing no one around, the brownish-red-haired boy simply lifted all the items the girl was carrying behind him with gravity. In truth, he had already made the items weightless. The two had only been carrying them to avoid drawing too much attention.

"A gift?! What gift?"

The girl excitedly stepped in front of the boy and asked.

"You'll know once you open it!"

As he spoke, the boy handed the girl a strange little treasure chest.

"This is..."

Confused, the girl opened the chest and found a strange-looking fruit inside.

It was the Paramecia Type: Magnet-Magnet Fruit.

It was also the last Devil Fruit Ywen had not eaten.

Yes, the brownish-red-haired boy was naturally Ywen, while the girl was naturally Erza.

Ten years had passed since Erza's birth.

Because Ywen had met Aileen before Aileen met Zeref.

Erza, who should have been born in Year X765, had ultimately been born a year early, in Year X764.

After ten years, the time had reached Year X774. Today was Erza's tenth birthday, which was why Ywen gave her the Devil Fruit he had prepared.

In fact, Ywen had first planned to leave this Devil Fruit for Erza when she was still very young.

Back then, they had encountered several rogue mages who had intended to rob Ywen and Aileen! Just as Ywen was about to deal with those fodder mages, Erza had shouted that she would protect Ywen and Aileen. Just like in the original story, she awakened Requip Magic: Knight, controlled the ironware around her, and instantly defeated those fodder mages...

Watching Erza awaken Innate Magic at the time had deeply shocked Ywen!

Unlike magic learned later in life, Innate Magic was like the world's blessing. It could not be acquired through study; it was more like a gift bestowed directly by the world. Those capable of awakening Innate Magic often possessed enormous talent!

Of course, it was only natural that Erza possessed talent. After all, her mother was Aileen Belserion! Even in the original story, Erza had taken only three or four years to go from awakening magic to becoming an S-Class Mage. In just a few short years, she had completed a path of magic that ordinary people could not finish in a lifetime. Her talent was terrifyingly powerful!

It was precisely because Erza had awakened Requip Magic: Knight that Ywen decided to give her the Paramecia Type: Magnet-Magnet Fruit.

The Paramecia Type: Magnet-Magnet Fruit's traits happened to complement Erza's magic perfectly. With the aid of magnetism, Erza would fight more easily while using the armor from Requip Magic: Knight. The Magnet-Magnet Fruit's abilities could also make up for Erza's lack of long-range offensive power!

After all, the awakened ability of the Magnet-Magnet Fruit was the Railgun. With Erza's invincible close combat ability paired with the Railgun's long-range firepower, she would have almost no weaknesses at all.

"So pretty!"

Just as Erza was admiring the fruit in her hands and could not bear to put it down, the bakery door opened, and three beautiful, captivating young women in different outfits, each with a distinct temperament, walked out.

"Young Master Ywen, Miss Erza, you're back~"

"Come in quickly! The meal is ready, and Lady Aileen is waiting for you both."

"..."

As the three young women spoke, they immediately carried the various floating household items inside while inviting Ywen and Erza in.

"Alright!" Ywen first nodded, then gave the three young women a faint smile. "Illya, Ian, Eden, you three have worked hard. Come inside and rest."

"Yes, Young Master!"

Upon hearing this, the three young women followed Ywen and Erza into the bakery. Before entering, Eden did not forget to switch the sign hanging on the bakery door to indicate that the shop was closed.

These three young women, dressed respectively in a maid uniform, a white chef's uniform, and black combat attire, were the products of Aileen's Personality Imbue: Illya, Ian, and Eden.

"You're back~"

After going upstairs to the second floor where they usually rested, they found Aileen waiting for Ywen and Erza in the living room. She wore a casual outfit fit for staying at home.

"Uh, we're back!"

Ywen nodded at Aileen, a faint smile on his face.

"Aileen! I'm back! And Brother gave me a gift!"

Erza ran excitedly to Aileen and, as if presenting a treasure, took out the gift Ywen had prepared for her.

"You should call me Mother!" Aileen first feigned anger and lightly tapped Erza on the head. Only then did she examine the strange fruit in the wooden box in Erza's hands. "So it's this thing?"

Aileen stared blankly at the strangely shaped fruit for a moment before revealing a gentle smile. Remembering the first time she had met Ywen, she stroked Erza's little head and smiled. "This is something very precious. Erza, you must cherish it properly!"

"Mhm! I know! I'll eat every last bit of this fruit!"

Erza nodded, deciding to eat all of the gift her brother had given her.

"No! There's really no need to eat all of it..."

Knowing the horrifying taste of Devil Fruits, Ywen's lips twitched. He wanted to say something, but in the end, he could not bring himself to speak.

"Come to think of it, eleven years have already passed..."

Aileen looked at the warm family gathered in the room, smiling softly.

"Indeed. Time really flies!"

Ywen nodded. He knew it was time to leave this town.

It was not merely because the tasks in his mind had updated, adding an advanced task to join any magic guild.

More importantly, in eleven years, many things had changed. Even the town's people had passed into a new generation, yet Aileen's appearance remained as youthful as ever. To avoid unnecessary trouble, it was time for Ywen and the others to move.