Blood-Red

Fairy Tail Year 776

Three years had passed since Lei En had found Qian Guang. Qian Guang was now old enough for middle school, but unfortunately, this world had no middle school. Lucky—after all, middle school was where academic pressure began. He had shot up in height and was already five feet tall, completely surpassing the old man.

Over those three years, his magic power had steadily increased. Through books, Yang Qian was no longer a complete novice when it came to magic power either. He also realized that the old man had only been stubbornly refusing to admit it before—he was far more talented than him.

Still, the old man was indeed an impressive mage. As for his combat strength... perhaps he was just better at using medicine.

But Qian Guang, who had studied traditional Chinese medicine since elementary school in his previous life, was no slouch either. Under the old man's guidance, he had learned to recognize most medicinal herbs. Some of his knowledge of Chinese medicine from his previous life even surprised the old man, who kept saying, "You were born to study medicine. I really did pick up a little monster."

"Big Brother Qian Guang!!!"

Qian Guang heard Roundy's voice from far away. Three years had passed, and the little girl had grown into a big girl. She was holding Sweetie's hand and calling out to him in the distance. Hearing her energetic voice, the villagers all looked at her with goodwill.

"Hey, little girl, you're really clingy with your Big Brother Qian Guang. What are you going to do when you grow up?"

"Hmph, Blacksmith Uncle, you talk too much."

Roundy ignored the blacksmith's teasing and dragged Sweetie over to Qian Guang.

"Huff, huff, huff."

"Slow down. Why are you running so fast? Sweetie can barely keep up."

Seeing Roundy panting from running too quickly, Qian Guang affectionately rubbed her little head and greeted Sweetie beside her.

Sweetie looked at the handsome Qian Guang, her hands twisting together as her face turned red. In a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, she said, "It's fine. I can do it." (u‿ฺu✿)

Ah, she was too gentle. She was exactly the sort who, even after being bullied, would look at you with reddened eyes and ask what she had done wrong, saying she could change.

"Big Brother Qian Guang! Are you going up the mountain?" Roundy asked, looking at the basket and small knife on his back.

"Yeah, I was just planning to gather some herbs."

"Big Brother Qian Guang! Did you forget what day it is today?"

"Uh..." Qian Guang was left speechless. He truly had no idea.

"The third anniversary of you stopping wetting the bed?"

"Ah, I hate you! m9(｀д´)!!!!" Roundy's face instantly turned red at Qian Guang's teasing. Sweetie beside her could not stop laughing either, since the little girl really had still wet the bed at four years old.

"Hmph, my father, mother, and I are going to the city today."

Hearing that, Qian Guang finally remembered. A merchant family had passed through earlier and gotten lost. They needed someone who could act as both guard and guide, and they had taken a liking to Uncle Daina, wanting to hire him.

The village also happened to need some supplies from the city, so Daina happily agreed, planning to take his wife and daughter along for a little fun.

"Oh, I remember now. So it's the little girl's commemorative trip to the city. When are you leaving? You won't be gone for too long, right? You wouldn't forget your Big Brother Qian Guang, would you?"

Qian Guang pretended to be sad as he wiped away nonexistent tears.

Roundy immediately grew anxious. "No, no! I'll be back in a month. I'll bring you gifts then, and lots of delicious food too."

A month? It seemed Uncle Daina was planning to take his tagalong child on a honeymoon delayed by seven years. After all, the merchant's city was not far away. Thinking this, Qian Guang looked at Roundy strangely.

Would anyone really bring their daughter on a honeymoon? She must have insisted on coming.

Seeing the excitement in the little girl's eyes, Qian Guang knew he had guessed correctly.

Qian Guang rubbed her head again. "When you come back, I'll make you Hundred-Herb Soup. It'll taste much better than Grandpa's."

Roundy swallowed. After all, she had tasted it once before, and it had truly been delicious. Sweetie swallowed too, her face turning even redder.

Meanwhile, at Daina's house...

Daina cried as he packed his luggage.

"Wuwuwuwuwuwuwuwu, darling, my honeymoon! Why did that girl have to find out? I even asked Old Lei En to keep it quiet."

"Well, it could be fun too, couldn't it?" Buma looked gently at her husband.

"Damn it!"

By the time Qian Guang returned to the cave from three years ago, the sky had already darkened.

Qian Guang lit a fire, took out his dry rations, and slowly ate.

Looking at the flames before him, Qian Guang's memories seemed to return to the blackish Hundred-Herb Soup he had drunk three years ago. It had really been awful—worse than the pancake in his hand.

Even so, Qian Guang's face was full of smiles, and his eyes were filled with tenderness.

After coming to the world of Fairy Tail, it was not as though Qian Guang had never wanted to visit Fairy Tail. He had even asked Grandpa about it, only to learn that Grandpa had once gone adventuring with Makarov. Grandpa said that if he wanted to go, he could even write him a letter of recommendation.

Did joining Fairy Tail really require a letter of recommendation? Wasn't Makarov the "human trafficker" who went around kidnapping people? The two old men really were alike in that regard. Did old people all like children?

But Qian Guang refused. Partly because the plot had not begun yet, but more importantly, because he wanted to stay with Grandpa longer. Even if he truly went to Fairy Tail one day, it would not be now. At the very least, he had to teach the old man how to cook first. How could that old man eat such terrifying meals?

He was simply an idiot. When he was young, he had probably been a hot-blooded idiot too.

"This is incredible, incredible! I never saw a colorful lingzhi mushroom in my previous life. What an eye-opener."

Deep in the forest, Qian Guang found a seven-colored lingzhi mushroom that he had previously seen only in books. The deadly poison within it was simply essential for killing people with poison. Even after being ground into powder, it remained colorful, and inhaling it would slowly corrode the target's magic power.

"Ah, I've already been out for three days. Roundy should have reached the city by now. I'll head back to the cave and return tomorrow morning."

The basket that had been empty when he set out was now packed full, filled with all kinds of medicinal herbs and a bear paw. The other paw had already gone into his stomach.

"Little boy, little lad, carrying a basket to gather herbs, fearing neither wind nor rain..."

Qian Guang sang his altered lyrics as he skipped home.

In the village, the once lively and peaceful evening scene was gone. There was only fire filling the sky and the rampant laughter of villains.

The old man's small body lay in a pool of blood. One hand was pressed against his chest, tightly clutching a letter. His eyes were lifeless as he muttered, "Qian Guang, don't come back. Go... go as far away as you can. I'm sorry. Grandpa broke his promise. I can't stay with you anymore. You eat so much, so don't ever let yourself go hungry. Makarov, take good care of my grandson..."

The old man's voice grew softer and softer. Though soundless, his lips continued moving in instruction until the light in his eyes gradually faded away.

Qian Guang's heart suddenly clenched. A terrible premonition rose within him, exactly like when his grandfather had left in his previous life.

"No, no, no... that can't be!"

Qian Guang clutched his chest and ran in terror.

Before dawn the next day...

Qian Guang stood there, gasping for breath. The distant village was still burning without end.

"Grandpa!"

Qian Guang's eyes split wide as he ran toward the village like a madman.

Standing at the village entrance, there was none of its former bustle. There was only the sound of blazing flames, and everything before his eyes was stained red with blood.

Qian Guang walked forward blankly, his expression completely shattered. Bloody tears streamed from his eyes, yet he did not notice.

He saw that Granny Hua's most precious flowers had been dyed blood-red. Blacksmith Uncle no longer had his usual booming voice and lay there quietly. If only the ground beneath him were not blood-red. Sweetie, who would usually greet him gently with a flushed face, was finally facing him with a pale face instead. But he still preferred the little girl with red cheeks.

At last, Qian Guang stopped before a pool of blood. The blood on the ground had already congealed. A small body lay there, its mouth seemingly still trying to say something.

"Ah!!!!"

Qian Guang broke down.

"Oh? There's still a little brat who slipped away."

An unfamiliar, disgusting voice rang out.