How was that possible?
In this world, where magic had long since become commonplace, it was as familiar as air and water.
Even a three-year-old child in a remote mountain village knew that magic existed.
And yet this boy, who contained such terrifying magical power, was asking what a Mage was?
Lu Chongwei honestly shook his head.
"I don't know."
He pointed to the forest behind him, a bitter smile appearing on his face.
"Ever since I woke up, I've been here in this forest. I don't know anything about the outside world."
That was the truth.
Although he was a transmigrator, he hadn't inherited the original owner's memories, so he really knew nothing about how this world worked.
Gildarts looked into Lu Chongwei's clear eyes and realized the boy wasn't lying.
His expression turned serious.
He'd been in the forest this whole time?
Could he be some wild prodigy who'd grown up in the wilderness, cut off from the world since childhood?
"Then what's this power inside you?"
Gildarts pointed at Lu Chongwei's chest and asked bluntly.
"You can feel it, can't you? There's a powerful energy inside your body."
Lu Chongwei froze for a moment, then understood.
Was the man talking about that special energy—or his spiritual pressure?
Was that kind of energy called magic in this world?
Lu Chongwei didn't hide anything. If he wanted to fit into this world, he needed to show what he could do.
He stretched out his right hand and focused.
Hum.
A ball of crimson energy gathered in his palm, radiating waves of heat.
"You mean this?"
Lu Chongwei looked at the energy ball in his hand and spoke uncertainly.
"To be honest, I'm not sure either. I guess it was about ten days ago that I suddenly discovered I had this power."
He looked up at Gildarts, his gaze sincere.
"And it seems to grow on its own, little by little."
Boom!
Those words exploded in Gildarts's mind like a thunderclap.
He'd only discovered it ten days ago?
And it grew on its own?
Gildarts looked at the energy ball. Though Lu Chongwei was trying hard to control it, it still radiated terrifying pressure. A storm of disbelief rose in his heart.
This had to be a joke!
Even ordinary Mages who trained for decades—or their entire lives—might never possess such enormous magic power.
And this boy had done it in just over ten days?
What did that even mean?
"Genius" wasn't enough to describe him.
He was a monster!
A complete monster, born for magic!
Gildarts took a deep breath, trying to calm the shock inside him.
The way he looked at Lu Chongwei changed.
His initial scrutiny gave way to the look of someone seeing a priceless uncut gem.
"Kid, what's your name?"
Gildarts's voice softened considerably.
Lu Chongwei let the energy in his hand dissipate and answered obediently.
"My name is Lu Chongwei."
"Lu Chongwei, huh..."
Gildarts repeated the name, then grinned, revealing a row of white teeth.
"Well then, Lu Chongwei. Do you want to leave this forest?"
At those words, Lu Chongwei's eyes lit up at once.
It was like a traveler lost in the desert spotting an oasis.
"Yes! Of course I do!"
Lu Chongwei was so excited he nearly jumped, his face full of longing.
"I've dreamed of leaving this place! But I can't find my way out. Everything looks the same around here!"
Seeing how eager the boy was, Gildarts couldn't help bursting into laughter.
He reached out his big hand and gave Lu Chongwei a hearty pat on the shoulder.
"Hahaha! Good! Now that you've run into me, there's nothing to worry about!"
Gildarts spoke boldly.
"I'll take you out of here and bring you to a human city!"
Lu Chongwei felt as if his shoulder had nearly been smashed, but warmth spread through his heart.
At last.
At last, he could leave this wretched place.
No more eating that disgusting flying-fish meat, no more worrying about wild animals attacking him at night, and no more talking to the air all by himself.
Just as Lu Chongwei was basking in his happiness,
Gildarts suddenly turned around and pointed at the enormous crater nearby.
His tone seemed casual, but there was a hint of curiosity in it.
"By the way, Lu Chongwei."
Gildarts looked at the solidified lava and asked,
"Did you cause all this damage?"
The air instantly grew still.
The smile on Lu Chongwei's face froze.
His heart gave a thump.
He'd been so caught up in his excitement that he'd forgotten about that.
The man had said he was here on a mission.
What was the mission?
What if he was here to catch whoever was responsible for wrecking the forest?
After all, Lu Chongwei's slash had destroyed plenty of trees and even changed the terrain.
Lu Chongwei warily took a step back, watching Gildarts with a guarded expression.
"Y-you came to investigate this?"
His hand unconsciously reached for the Zanpakuto at his waist, and his body tensed.
"Are you here to arrest me? Because I burned this part of the forest?"
Seeing the boy so tense, as if preparing for a fight, Gildarts froze, then laughed in spite of himself.
He waved a hand to show he meant no harm.
"Don't be nervous. Relax."
Gildarts crouched down so his eyes were level with Lu Chongwei's.
"My mission was to 'investigate whether any demons were around.' I wasn't sent to arrest anyone."
He gestured around them and explained in a relaxed tone,
"Besides, this is an uninhabited area. You burned some trees, but nobody was hurt. So it's not some terrible crime."
He paused, a hint of encouragement in his eyes.
"I'm just curious. Did you really do this?"
At that, the tension finally left Lu Chongwei.
At least he wasn't here to arrest him.
He let go of the hilt and scratched his head awkwardly.
"Um... yes, I did."
Lu Chongwei lowered his head like a child who'd done something wrong.
"I was testing a new move I'd just learned. I didn't expect it to be that powerful... I won't go messing around like that again."
So it really was him.
Although Gildarts had already suspected as much, hearing Lu Chongwei admit it still shocked him.
The kid was only eleven or twelve.
With that kind of destructive power, he was practically a walking strategic weapon.
If he went down the wrong path, the consequences would be unimaginable.
He had to bring the boy back to the guild.
Gildarts made up his mind.
Only a welcoming place like Fairy Tail could guide a boy with such terrifying power onto the right path.
Night fell.
A bonfire blazed in a clearing in the forest.
Its light illuminated the two of them.
Lu Chongwei held a freshly roasted chicken and devoured it.
Gildarts had caught it for him, and it tasted a thousand times better than that wretched flying-fish meat.
"Delicious! This is so good!"
Lu Chongwei ate with grease all over his mouth, looking thoroughly satisfied.
Before you continue