A Tragedy After All (1)

After explaining the details of the mission to Makarov, Old Suo once again embarked on his journey to the Northern Continent. Since this mission was not commissioned and was extremely dangerous, the Guild Master granted him special permission to act alone.

After a brief farewell to Kana and the others, Old Suo rode his silver-white halo back to the eastern region of Isban.

Looking down at the vast ice field, Old Suo mentally gave Mashima a good scolding.

"Couldn't that guy, Pit Island, have given me a more detailed description of Gray's home address? The entire eastern part of Isban is so big; by the time I find it, that Deliora guy will probably be long gone!" (Great Owl: Heh! Mashima- sensei doesn't know you can time travel, so why waste ink on such old news?)

After venting his frustrations, Old Suo patted his cheeks lightly with both hands, took a deep breath, and then steered the windboat to begin the grand eastern parade.

In an ice cave in northeastern Isban

"Click"

"Click"

With a few cracking sounds of bones breaking, a huge, dark figure pierced through the darkness and slowly walked to the cave's exit.

"Based on these guys' memories, that guy should have already left the Isban region. It's time to go out and vent our anger!"

After the rough voice fell, the huge, dark blue figure leaped down and disappeared into the curtain of snow.

"Ulu, if you're going to teach magic, you can just stay home. Why are you taking me around like this?"

Hearing her apprentice's complaint, the Ice Beauty turned around and explained, "Shape-Making Magic is a free magic; it can only unleash its power when you find a form that belongs to you. Judging from the previous situation, there's no form for you at home, so I brought you out to look for it!"

"Oh~~"

Seeing the relieved look on Lord Zero Emperor's face, the Ice Beauty ran around him once, then continued walking forward.

"Tch! He said he was helping me find my shape, but he's really here to find that silver-haired handsome guy!"

"Bang!"

The moment the Lord Zero Emperor uttered his ramblings, an ice-white rose stretched out from in front of him and pressed him into the snow.

"Hmph! If you dare to talk nonsense again, I'll freeze you right here and make you a sleeping handsome guy!"

Hearing the threat coming from ahead, Lord Zero Emperor, who had trained to resist the cold, couldn't help but shiver.

"Sigh! Women who get angry and embarrassed are truly terrifying! (Lord Zero Emperor's inner thoughts)"

After internally criticizing someone, Lord Zero Emperor struggled to his feet and chased after the lingerie-clad beauty ahead.

Lockdia Town, eastern Isban

After giving her son a light kiss on the forehead, Yin slowly left the room and headed towards the kitchen, where the clattering sounds were coming from.

Hearing footsteps on the stairs, the blue-haired young woman, who was busy at the stove, turned her back to the living room and teased, "What? You're finally willing to leave your precious little darling?"

He flashed a hearty (slightly lewd) smile at the young woman's back, then the handsome young man with black hair wrapped his arms tightly around her waist and whispered in her ear, "Nonsense! He's clearly my little darling, the one in my arms right now is my big darling."

Reaching behind her opponent's right ribs, the young woman found her usual attacking spot and gently rotated her delicate fingers 720 degrees.

"Hiss!"

Feeling the familiar pain, Yin gasped and obediently withdrew his groping hand.

"My dear wife, I was just telling the truth. Was it really necessary to make such a fuss?"

Glancing at the teary-eyed, black-haired youth, the blue-haired beauty said irritably, "Telling the truth is fine, but the way you're saying it seems a bit off, doesn't it?"

"Hehe! Really? You're already a mother, why are you still so sensitive?"

After attracting the attention of a lecherous man with a charming (forced) smile, the blue-haired woman forcefully slammed the iron tray in her hand onto his head.

"Bang!"

"Puff!"

"Pfft!"

Upon seeing the man with white hair and beard, the blue-haired young woman, who had been trying to suppress her laughter, couldn't control her facial expression any longer.

"Giggle"

"Giggle"

Glancing at the blue-haired young woman who was shaking with laughter, Old Master Yin asked in bewilderment, "So what if you successfully ambushed me once? Is it really necessary to laugh like that?"

Upon hearing the old man's words, the blue-haired young woman stopped smiling, examined him carefully, and then burst into nodding and laughing.

Seeing that the other party not only didn't stop laughing, but actually escalated the laughter, Old Master Yin became even more puzzled. Just then, he suddenly noticed a silver-plated tray in front of him that could serve as a mirror, so he leaned in and carefully examined his current state. The next second, Old Master Yin's face turned from white to red, and he even let out a loud train whistle.

After getting over the period of shame, Old Master Yin hurriedly reached out and patted his cheeks and hair, at which point a flurry of goose feathers began to fall from the table.

Seeing that her work area had been made a mess by the other party, the blue-haired young woman forced herself to stop laughing and said, "Alright, stop taking pictures and go take a shower!"

"Hmph! I'll show you what I'm made of tonight!"

After uttering this defiant remark, Old Master Yin shook off the remaining flour from his clothes and turned to walk into the bathroom not far away.

She made a face at the other person's back, then the blue-haired woman refocused her attention on her own battlefield.

After carefully sensing the surrounding magical reactions and confirming that there were no dangerous elements like last time, Deliora, who had evolved into the Cautious Demon (borrowing the exclusive adjective 'Cautious and Brave'), broke through the snow.

"Boom!"

The enormous sound, resembling an avalanche, instantly drew the attention of everyone nearby. The next second, a wise scream rang out, followed by chaos.

"De... Deliora!"

"Deliora? What did this demon do here... Ahhh~~"

"Run!"

"Help! I don't want to die!"

"Mom, where are you?"

"The guard! Where is the guard?"

Looking down at the chaotic street below, a smile curved across the large, dark, metallic face.

After observing quietly for a while, the dark blue-black demon, having enjoyed the peace and quiet, began his slaughtering game.

"Roar!"

After knocking down pedestrians with a roar, the dark blue demon strode forward, enjoying the solidity of the earth.

Upon reaching the end of the street, Cautious Demon turned around and glanced at the red plum blossoms and white snow painting on the ground. The next second, he excitedly waved his arms to both sides, while simultaneously shooting out an orange-red beam of light from his mouth.

"Call out!"

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

Under his active intervention, buildings were snapped in half, and streets were engulfed in flames.

"Roar!"

"Roar!"

Just as Cautious Demon was expressing his pleasure, a black-haired youth carrying a heavy sword and leading dozens of silver two-legged insects came to his front... well, to be precise, to his feet.

Watching the moving ants, Deliora raised his right hand and touched his empty right eye. Then, he lowered his head and carefully scanned them several times.

"Hmph! They're just some ordinary ants, yet they made me so nervous!"

After finishing his mental preparations, Deliora moved his foot onto the other person's head without any hesitation.

"Everyone, get out of the way!"

Upon hearing the black-haired youth's command, the silver-legged insects scattered.

"Boom!"

Although the two-legged creatures managed to escape the danger zone in time, the shockwave caused by the large creature still caused them considerable trouble.

"Ptooey!"

After spitting out the dust in his mouth, the black-haired youth shouted, "Is everyone alright?"

"Fine!"

"Safety!"

"I'm fine!"

After confirming the safety of his teammates, the black-haired youth, holding the heavy sword upside down, rushed quickly toward the large foot not far away.

"Listen up, everyone! Keep your distance! Archers and mages, hold the line from the rear! Greatswordsmen, engage in close combat! Daggers, roam and provide support!"

"Clear!"

After the replying voices faded, the silver bipeds lurking all around began to automatically lock onto their attack positions.

"Whoosh!"

"Bang bang"

Feeling the itching in his waist and legs, Deliora suppressed the urge to lie down and laugh, watching the two-legged creatures' performance with great interest.

Noticing the smug look on the burly man's face, the black-haired youth spat out a curse, then charged at him, sword in hand.

"Cover the captain!"

Upon hearing the vice-captain's order, the archers quickly changed their aim.

"Whoosh whoosh"

"Whoosh whoosh"

Several dark blue arrows flew off the bowstring and straight toward the dark blue giant's knees.

"Bang bang"

"Bang bang"

Whether the arrows had genuinely hurt Deliora or he was deliberately toying with them, the large, dark blue-green figure, who had remained motionless, suddenly jerked backward, nearly falling to the ground.

"Brothers, give it your all! This big guy is about to give up!"

Hearing the vice-captain's words, and seeing what had just happened, the group, seeing hope, roared and attacked even more fiercely.

After enduring the harassment silently for a quarter of an hour, Deliora, unable to bear it any longer, began to retaliate.

"Whoosh"

"Careful!"

Although the captain's warning was timely, Deliora's punches traveled faster than sound, so before the archers below could react, the giant fist had already landed on their heads.

"Boom!"

A sound comparable to the explosion of a high-explosive rang out, followed by a cloud of yellow dust and a few red dust particles that completely obscured everyone's vision.

A moment later, the dust settled, and the dark blue-black giant fist slowly rose, revealing several pools of flesh below.

Seeing this, several sounds of vomiting and crying came from the battlefield.

"We can't win! This guy is simply not someone we can beat!"

"No... I don't want to die... I don't want to die!"

"Ah~ I don't want to turn into mincemeat, my family is still waiting for me... still waiting for me... Waaah..."

As these voices spread, fear instantly infected the crowd, and soon signs of a rout gradually appeared. A desperate crisis quietly crept through them, surrounding the entire town.