The instant those words came out, it was as if the air had been violently torn apart.
Yukino froze where she stood.
Her eyes reddened in an instant.
It was not anger.
It was grievance, humiliation, the pain of having her dignity trampled in public by her former guild master until even breathing became difficult.
"I didn't..."
Her voice was very soft, so soft it was almost inaudible.
"I only... I only wanted to save Mr. Natsu and Mr. Happy..."
But her explanation meant nothing before Jiemma.
Jiemma merely gave a disdainful snort.
"Everything a loser says sounds like an excuse."
Yukino lowered her head, tears striking the floor.
All of a sudden, she felt she was ridiculous.
The girl she had once been had actually treated this place as home.
For this cold guild, she had trained desperately, fought desperately, and refused to retreat even if it meant gambling with her life.
She had thought that as long as she worked hard enough, she would be acknowledged.
But in the end, in Jiemma's eyes, she had never been a comrade.
Only a tool that could win points.
If she won, she stayed.
If she lost, she was thrown away.
Natsu exploded on the spot.
"You bastard!"
Boom!
Flames surged up from his body, the scorching magic power burning the floor beneath his feet black.
Happy was so angry he was nearly in tears.
"That's too much! Yukino's already hurting so badly!"
Erza's face went completely cold.
Her fingers gripped the hilt of her sword, her knuckles taut and white.
"Jiemma, you make me sick."
The aura around Mirajane changed as well.
Her gentle smile was still there, but quite a few Sabertooth members in the hall took a step back at the same time.
They felt it.
This woman