A Tragedy After All (5)

A few wisps of clouds hung in the distance in a corner of the sky, and the dazzling yet gentle warm sun shone on the rows of rooftops. Suddenly, a flock of white birds and beasts glided across the quiet town, attracting the attention of passersby below.

After circling around for a while, the white flight formation disbanded on the spot, and each member returned to their own camp.

A moment later, one of the white-clad pilots landed behind a fan-shaped wooden plank.

Just as the white pilot was preparing to go to sleep, a commotion below caught its attention. (PS: The following is an excerpt from a classic quote by Mashima.)

"You've gained another apprentice! (The proprietress of Papaya Restaurant)" (PS: The proprietress's name isn't Papaya; Papaya is the name of the restaurant.)

"His name is Gray, he's very rebellious, he's a real headache!" (Ulu)

"The other one's called Leon, right? I'm sure they'll both grow up to be incredibly handsome!" (The landlady)

"Crack"

"Crack"

Chewing on the fruit crumbs in her mouth, the Ice Beauty said indifferently, "Is that so?"

After putting the red berries into the paper bag, the proprietress closed one eye and teased, "How about I get one for them when they grow up?"

"Crack"

After taking a big bite of the red fruit in front of her, the Ice Beauty, while secreting salivary amylase, mumbled, "I'll give you both, so they don't drive me crazy with all the noise!"

Noticing the Ice Beauty's awkwardness, the proprietress suddenly turned around and advised, "Oh dear! If you act like this, people will think you have a child, which is why men won't dare to come near you, right?"

"Heh! That's not how it is at all. Otherwise, why would that cowardly pervert have targeted me?" (PS: This inner monologue is Great Owl's own creation)

After bidding farewell to her inner world, the Ice Beauty pushed the payment in front of the other party and said haughtily (and shyly), "I don't need your meddling!"

"Ulu, you're not young anymore. Shouldn't you start seriously considering pursuing your own happiness?"

"Okay..."

Just as the Ice Beauty and the proprietress were saying goodbye, the two boys waiting by the flowerbed began their own discussion. (Um... it seems, perhaps, it's Lord Zero Emperor making a one-sided attack?)

"Hey... Gray, how long do you think it will take us to surpass Ulu?"

"I'm not interested in that!"

"Ulu is my target, and my dream is to beat Ulu one day."

"Don't keep bringing this up with me. I've already told you I'm not interested!"

"You're such a gloomy guy!"

"You're just too oblivious, always talking about these trivial things!"

"Ulu said that she would take you as her apprentice because you have always been carrying a dark past."

"Having experienced such a terrible ordeal, how could I not embrace my dark past!"

She said she would help you drive away this darkness!

"Of course we can drive them away... with these hands!" (Gray)

"All I want is... all I want is to defeat Deliora, and I'll be satisfied! (Gray)"

"As soon as I get enough power, I'll say goodbye to that... ice-like woman!" (Gray)

"Thump!"

The moment he finished speaking, a righteous iron fist descended from the sky, landing squarely on the center of his head, followed by a pink takoyaki (Maruko) appearing on his head.

Is this the kind of attitude you should have towards your master?

Seeing his furious master and his junior brother stroking Maruko to the side, the silver-haired boy smiled unkindly, resting his head on his hands.

"Sorry!"

After the gloomy-eyed man gave a perfunctory apology, the three of them, master and apprentice, chatted and laughed as they embarked on their return journey.

After turning the corner, the black-haired boy, obsessed with power, once again voiced his protest to the Ice Beauty.

"When are you finally going to teach me powerful magic?"

"Haven't I already been teaching you?"

Hearing the Ice Beauty's extremely perfunctory answer, the black-haired boy said with dissatisfaction, "What's so powerful about that kind of Shape-Making Magic? I think it's completely useless!"

The moment the boy with downcast eyes finished speaking, the Ice Beauty walking in front suddenly stopped and turned around to stare at her disciple.

Seeing the other person's serious face, the black-haired boy quickly turned his head away.

"Look at me!"

Seeing that her apprentice was still tilting his head, the Ice Beauty shouted sharply, "Gray!"

Realizing his master was truly angry, the black-haired boy tilted his head slightly to ensure that his pupils could see the other person.

Upon realizing that the other person was staring at him, the black-haired boy had no choice but to turn around and face them directly.

"Didn't I tell you? Shape-Making Magic is a free magic. As long as you can find your own shape, you can be as strong as you want."

"Hmph! In the end, it's all the same few sentences."

No sooner had the black-haired boy finished speaking than the Ice Beauty who had been staring at him suddenly exclaimed, "Why are you taking off your clothes in a place like this?!"

"Ah?!"

"It's all your fault, you made me develop this bad habit!"

"Bang!"

Hearing the droopy-eyed boy's complaint, the Ice Beauty immediately launched him into the air with a Rising Dragon of Mount Lu, roaring, "You brat, you dare to blame me!"

Upon seeing this, Zero Emperor and the passersby around him burst into laughter.

"Ha ha"

"Ha ha"

A moment later, the Ice Beauty, carrying Gray who had ordered three servings of Maruko, said embarrassedly, "We're going back!"

Upon hearing his master's words, Gray's jaw opened and closed forcefully several times (though he couldn't utter a sound), then he allowed himself to be carried away. Meanwhile, Lord Zero Emperor first picked up some clothes that someone had thrown on the ground before quickly chasing after the two.

Because of what had just happened... well, actually it was because Spiky Gray had fallen into a deep sleep, the three of them remained quiet the whole way until they reached the outskirts of the city.

"Seriously, this is so embarrassing!" (Ulu)

"So funny! (Zero Emperor)"

"Stop talking nonsense, Phoenix-eyed man! (Gray)"

"Shut up, you droopy-eyed man!"

Just as the two brothers were bickering, a carriage slowly drove up from the side of the road. Because the two were close together, the three of them could clearly hear the conversation inside the carriage.

"By the way, have you heard about Deliora? (The man with glasses)"

"Ah~~ It seems it moved to the northern continent, I heard it's around Prague." (Headscarf Man)

"Really? So Isban has returned to calm!?" (The bespectacled man)

Upon hearing the conversation inside the carriage, Gray, who was following behind Leon, suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"Splash!"

Two seconds after the incident, the sound of an object hitting the snow reached the ears of the two people in front. They exclaimed in surprise and turned to look behind them.

"Gray? (Ulu)"

"It's in Prague... Deliora!"

Seeing her apprentice acting strangely, Ulu quickly walked to his side and dragged him home.

Once home, Gray could no longer contain his emotions. He quickly packed his things and turned to walk outside.

"Bang!"

Not long after he stepped out of the room, the door to the small house was opened again, and this time it was not closed.

"Stop!"

"How could you possibly beat Deliora? You can't do it, Gray!"

Hearing the shouts behind him, the black-haired boy stopped and said without turning around, "Stop talking nonsense!"

"People like you simply don't understand. I must avenge my father and mother!"

"What's your opinion?!"

"If you dare to leave, you will be expelled from the sect!"

Hearing the Ice Beauty's threat, Gray turned around and said with a relaxed expression, "Ah~~ okay, I'm happy to have an easy time!"

Seeing his junior brother turn and leave without hesitation, Leon stared wide-eyed, his voice filled with surprise, confusion, and regret as he softly called out, "Gray?!" (The Great Owl couldn't quite grasp Zero Emperor's tone here, so for safety reasons, a few more adjectives were added.)

"If I die because of this, I will absolutely hate you for not teaching me more powerful magic."

Hearing the complaints drifting from ahead, the Ice Beauty closed her eyes and said speechlessly, "I can't stand it!"

A moment later, the Ice Beauty turned around and walked into the room.

"Ulu, what are you doing?"

"That goes without saying... Of course, we'll catch up with that idiot who talked back to his master and give him a good spanking!"

Hearing the sounds coming from inside the room, Leon froze on the spot. Then, a memory sealed in his mind surfaced in his eyes.

"I don't understand why you would take that stray kid as your apprentice!"

"Because he said he wanted to learn magic! What's wrong with that?!"

Upon hearing this matter-of-fact answer, Leon instantly erupted.

"If you want to be Ulu's stand-in, isn't one person enough for you?"

"Bang!" (PS: This is the sound of the Ice Beauty closing her book.)

"Smack!"

Leon raised his left hand to lightly touch the burning spot on his face, staring blankly at the person in front of him. At this moment, the other person squatted down and gently stroked his face, saying, "Leon, you are wrong! I have never regarded you as a substitute for my daughter, never, because you are you, and you are also my beloved apprentice."

"Hey, Leon, don't just stand there like an idiot, come and pack your things!"

Hearing the shouts coming from inside the room, Lord Zero Emperor instantly snapped out of his reverie.

"Okay, I'm coming!"

After speaking, Lord Zero Emperor shook off the remaining snow from his body and turned to walk towards his room.

"Um?"

Just as the three masters and disciples in the wooden house were gradually moving away from their dwelling, His Majesty the Emperor, who was in an ice cave, suddenly opened his eyes.

"The direction those three went... could it be...?"

Thinking of a certain possibility, His Majesty the Emperor suddenly stood up and quickly cast a silver halo around his feet.

"Buzz!"

When the Silver-White Light disappeared, the ground beneath Old Suo's feet vanished, replaced by floating white clouds.

"Wind Shape - Wind Boat"

The next second, a group of mischievous bluish-white elves rushed to Old Suo's feet and filled their bodies with His Majesty the Emperor above and the cotton candy around him.

After regaining his footing, Old Suo looked down, simultaneously activating his hearing to its maximum to ensure he had a clear understanding of the situation below. (After all, he couldn't read lips and couldn't reveal himself; a moment's carelessness could lead to a major blunder, which would be disastrous!)