Back to Magnolia

Laxus shook his head. "Big brother, you don't need to apologize. I'm just not used to encountering something like this for the first time. You're right. The Dark Magic Group and Dark Guild both have to disappear. We need to respect life. Come on, let's go get something to eat."

Allen believed that although Laxus was still young, with his personality, these events would only become a source of motivation for him. He wouldn't sink into despair simply because he was still immature.

The two of them took Ultear to find a nearby congee and noodle shop. Ultear might genuinely have been starving, because she ate an entire bowl of congee. After she was full, she fell asleep in Allen's arms. Seeing her frown slightly even in sleep, Allen and Laxus were both heartbroken—and even angrier at Brian.

The two of them packed up a large amount of food at the shop and brought it back for Makarov and the others.

When Allen and Laxus returned, Makarov walked over and said, "Most of the children have been identified. Only one pair of sisters remains unidentified. I spoke with the people from the Council. We'll take these sisters back to the guild, while they'll send the other children whose identities have been confirmed back to their relatives."

Allen went over to look at the sisters Makarov had mentioned. Both had white hair, and their small bodies were curled up against each other. The more Allen looked at their faces, the more familiar they seemed. Then he suddenly realized: Could these be Sorano and Yukino?

In the original story, both of them had been abducted by members of the Dark Magic Group, only to be separated later. It seemed that the Dark Magic Group had sent them to Brian as experimental materials.

"Then we'll take the train back to Magnolia first thing tomorrow morning."

At dawn, the gentle sunlight passed through the train windows, softly sprinkling the inside of the carriage like a golden veil.

Allen, Laxus, and Makarov each held a cute child in their arms as they sat quietly in their seats.

The night before, everyone had introduced themselves to one another. Just as Allen had expected, the two lovable sisters were indeed Sorano and Yukino. When they learned that the kind old man before them was the guild master and that he was willing to take them in, the two innocent little girls burst into tears of excitement. They hugged Makarov tightly, as though afraid he might suddenly change his mind.

As time passed amid the rhythmic clatter of the train, it slowly entered Magnolia Station.

As soon as the doors opened, the three of them carried the children and hurried straight toward Polyushika's house without hesitation. Along the way, Allen's longing for Polyushika grew stronger and stronger, causing his footsteps to quicken involuntarily.

Having received the news in advance, Polyushika was sitting quietly in front of her house, gazing intently into the distance as if anxiously waiting for something. When she spotted Allen and the others, along with the children in their arms, she immediately stood and went to meet them.

There was no time to hug Polyushika. The three of them placed the children on the beds inside the house, and Polyushika examined them one by one.

After learning from Makarov about the torture the children had suffered, Polyushika's face was also filled with anger once she finished the examinations.

"These three poor little things are extremely weak from long-term malnutrition. They need careful recuperation. I'll prepare a diet plan for you later. Follow it when preparing their meals. Their injuries were treated yesterday, so come back in three days to change the dressings."

After giving the three of them their instructions, Polyushika looked at them seriously and said, "I know you'll definitely go after the Dark Magic Group and that Brian. I have only one request: make sure they receive the punishment they deserve. I can't imagine how many children have suffered like this over the years, or even died. Now that we have a lead, keep investigating it all the way. Allen, Grandma supports you this time!"

The three of them nodded heavily. Allen also said seriously to Polyushika, "Once Ultear recovers, Laxus and I will take her to the Northern Continent. We'll look for her mother first, then go after the Dark Magic Group. As for Brian, he won't escape. I'll find him."

Polyushika nodded when she heard Allen's words but didn't reply. She knew that Allen would definitely do what he said. Then she returned to the house to write the medical instructions and diet plan.

Allen, Laxus, and Makarov walked out of the house. Laxus clenched his fists and said, "I'm looking forward to that day more and more."

Allen patted Laxus on the shoulder. "Come on. Let's go prepare some things for the three little girls."

The fighting spirit on Laxus's face instantly turned into bewilderment. According to Polyushika, she couldn't take care of three children by herself, so they had to do it. Allen and Laxus had absolutely no experience and could only rely on Makarov.

But Makarov was actually a little lost as well. He had never looked after little girls either. Allen and Laxus had been raised practically unattended before, so there had never been any need to worry about such things. But according to Polyushika's instructions, the three girls needed meticulous care. This immediately stumped all three of them.

Makarov sighed and said, "Come on. Let's go back to the guild and see if those fellows have any good suggestions."

Fairy Tail had several girls at the guild, but none of them were married. For something like childcare, they needed to find someone who was married and had children.

The three of them reached the guild's entrance. Seeing the doors tightly shut, Makarov walked up and kicked them open. Everyone inside turned toward them with fierce looks in their eyes, but when they saw Makarov leading the way with Allen and Laxus behind him, they instantly became as meek as lambs.

"It's Guild Master Makarov, along with Allen and Laxus! I was wondering who had kicked with so much force."

"Nonsense! You just said you were going to teach this guy a lesson."

"Damn it, are you looking for trouble, Wakaba?"

"I just can't stand that smug face of yours, Macao!"

As they argued, the two began fighting, and the brawl instantly expanded from a fight between them into a massive guild-wide melee.

Allen shattered a flying bench with one punch, but several more tables and chairs immediately came flying at him. Veins bulged on his forehead. Laxus had already joined the fight beside him, and after smashing another incoming table, Allen could no longer hold back and charged in as well.

"Looks like you've forgotten about my fists while I was gone, huh?"

Makarov shook his head and walked toward the bar. When he saw Nobu beside the quest board, he asked, "Haven't you picked a quest yet, Nobu?"

Nobu was completely immersed in his own world and paid no attention to the sounds around him, so naturally he didn't notice Makarov's question. Makarov didn't take it to heart. After all, even the brawl happening in the guild hall hadn't made him anxious. He knew perfectly well that someone would soon step in and properly deal with the chaos.

Sure enough, when Makarov strolled to the front of the bar, the noisy hall, where everyone had been fighting fiercely, instantly fell silent. Of all those involved in the brawl, only Nobu, who still stood beside the quest board as if unaware of everything, and Makarov, who stood calmly in front of the bar, remained upright. Everyone else—including Laxus—lay sprawled across the floor in disarray, looking thoroughly battered.

At that moment, Allen stood majestically in the middle of the hall. After slightly calming his hurried breathing, he shouted excitedly, "That was great! You guys are ridiculously weak! I've been gone for so long, and I can't believe you still haven't improved at all!"

Nearby, Macao struggled to support himself with one hand against a table that was nearly half destroyed. After slowly pushing himself upright, he gasped heavily and shouted at Allen, "Come on, how could there be a monster as absurdly strong as you? You're not even eleven yet, are you? In our guild, aside from the guild master and Gildarts, who could possibly stand against you? Even Laxus couldn't last two punches against you. If you ask me, you really ought to give him some proper training!"

Wakaba, Macao's close friend, stood beside him and chimed in, "Exactly! Laxus, you're useless too! Look at you. You've been out with your big brother for so long, and you still can't get through more than a few moves? Hurry up and practice some more! Otherwise, next time I'll have no choice but to bet on whether you can last two punches against that Allen guy!"

Hearing this, Laxus, whose face was already bruised and swollen and whose appearance was thoroughly miserable, flew into a rage. He glared furiously at the two detestable old men and cursed inwardly: If those two hadn't teamed up to ambush me just now, how could I have wasted so much stamina trying to defeat them while fighting two against one? As for not being able to beat my own big brother... I've never beaten him even once, from childhood until now, so I'm not particularly unwilling to accept the result. I just don't want the gap between Allen and me to keep growing.

Makarov smiled as he watched everyone gradually recover, then called Macao and Wakaba over.

The two supported each other as they walked to the bar and downed two glasses of beer in one gulp. "Ah! Much better! Guild Master, why did you call us over?"

Makarov smiled at them and asked, "Do either of you have any experience looking after little girls?" He asked the two of them because they had been married for two and a half years, and their wives had only given birth the previous year. Thus, Makarov decided to ask them tentatively.