New Journey, the Demon in the Village

The next day.

Amid the ruins, sunlight fell on a black-haired little boy as a group of transparent figures looked at him gently.

The blacksmith laughed heartily at the little knife in his hand. Granny Hua wanted to pat the child on the head. The young girl's flushed cheeks had already revealed her feelings... The old man looked at him kindly and reluctantly, then gave a carefree smile and led everyone away as they slowly faded from sight.

A gentle smile rested on the boy's lips, while tears streamed uncontrollably down his face.

The same hillside, the same people—but this time, the boy did not look back. Holding the Fairy Tail letter of introduction from his grandfather's arms, he set out on his journey.

After waking up, Qian Guang buried everyone. For those who had been consumed by the flames, he made memorial graves as well. He also found the letter his grandfather had been clutching all along.

Year 777.

Qian Guang had grown another year older. It had been six months since he left, but he was in no hurry to go to Fairy Tail. The dragons had only just disappeared, and there was still a long time before the story began.

After spending time with everyone, Qian Guang no longer felt like some peripheral character. He had completely integrated into this world.

Over the past six months, he practiced his Wind Magic while gathering herbs and treating people by the roadside to earn travel expenses.

Holy Light Village.

The moment Qian Guang arrived, he sensed that something was strange about the village. Everyone seemed to be afraid of something.

After asking around, he learned that there was a demon in Holy Light Village.

"How strange. There's a demon in Holy Light Village—does that mean there are angels in Demon Village?" Qian Guang shook his head with a laugh.

"Young sir, please stop joking. There really is a demon. It was in the church before, and now it lives in a cave outside the village. That arm is terrifying." The villager seeking treatment saw Qian Guang's unconcerned expression and hurriedly tried to warn him.

Qian Guang still waved it off, but inwardly, he thought, A church, a demon, an arm? Why do those keywords feel so familiar together? Damn it, I only remembered fragments of the plot. I should have written them down earlier.

At that moment, the noisy shouts of the villagers came from ahead.

"Get out! You demon!"

"Leave! Don't bring disaster here!"

Qian Guang walked over and saw a crowd surrounding a little girl. She was tiny, with white hair, and looked about the same age as Roundy. But she was timid, clutching her small hands as the villagers shoved and cursed at her. She did not dare talk back.

"Stop!" Qian Guang could not bear to watch any longer. He stepped in front of the girl and shielded her.

"This is the demon you were talking about? She's just a little girl, damn it! You call yourselves humans and dare treat her like this?"

"She is a demon! Her sister is a demon, so if she stays by her sister's side every day, she must be one too!"

"That's right! Who are you? If you want to protect her, get out with her!"

Qian Guang frowned at these foolish villagers. It was not their ignorance that disgusted him, but their extremism in dealing with things. And the moment he saw this little girl, he understood why those clues had felt so familiar.

Lisanna Strauss. That was the girl's name. Her sister, Mirajane, had eliminated the demon in the church but was possessed by it afterward. In a sense, she had saved the villagers too.

The villagers grew louder and louder. Some had even picked up stones and wooden clubs.

A magic circle lit up in Qian Guang's hand. A gust of wind swept through the crowd and blew them all down. "Move aside. I'm leaving today, and you will give me food and a carriage. This is not a request. It is an order." Seeing Lisanna's thin face, Qian Guang decided to play the villain for once. Otherwise, food would become a huge problem for them.

The villagers looked toward an old man behind them, who was probably the village chief. He sighed. "Honored mage, we can give you food and a carriage, but could you help us deal with the demon?"

"They are not demons." Qian Guang frowned and did not answer the chief's request. Everyone had a temper, after all.

The village chief had no choice. He waved a hand and told someone to prepare the food.

Only then did Qian Guang properly look at Lisanna. The little girl was still frightened. "Don't be afraid. I've already told them to prepare food. Can you tell me about your sister? And why did you come here alone?"

Seeing that Qian Guang did not seem intent on hurting her, Lisanna timidly said:

"My brother is sick. I heard there was a doctor here. And my sister isn't a demon. Don't hurt my sister."

"Alright, alright. I'm a doctor. We'll go take a look in a moment. And your sister isn't a demon—she's a hero."

At the word "hero," Lisanna could no longer hold it in and began to cry softly. Who knew how much hardship they had suffered?

Qian Guang looked at the cart of food that had already been prepared and rubbed Lisanna's head. "Let's go."

Meanwhile, at the cave.

"Damn it! Where did Lisanna run off to?!"

A beautiful girl with a ponytail punched the wall. Her right hand was hidden beneath a cloak, but a glimpse of its grotesque black shape could be seen.

"Big Sister Mirajane, hurry and look for Lisanna. Don't worry about me. Cough, cough." The frail boy lying on a pile of dry grass spoke weakly.

"Shut up!"

"Hey!"

Mirajane grew increasingly agitated.

"Big Sister Mirajane! I'm back!"

"Lisanna!"

At the sound of her voice, Mirajane rushed outside at once. But when she saw the scene outside, her expression immediately turned grave.

"Who are you? Lisanna, come here quickly."

"Don't worry. I'm the doctor this little girl brought back."

Mirajane did not believe this boy, who was not much older than herself. But Elfman's illness truly could not be delayed.

"Then come in. I'll trust you for now, but if you're lying... I am a demon." As she spoke, she revealed the grotesque arm hidden beneath her cloak.

Qian Guang smiled at Mirajane, who clearly hated that arm yet had no choice but to use it to protect her younger brother and sister. Still, Mirajane at this age was really pretty.

"Stop showing off your trophy. I'll go take a look at him. There's food in the carriage, so you two eat first. Oh, and if you can, make him some porridge."

With that, Qian Guang walked past Mirajane and entered the cave.

"You!"

Before Mirajane could react, Lisanna threw herself at her.

"Big Sister Mirajane, big brother is a good person. He even protected me in the village."

The moment she heard that the little girl had gone to the village, a vein bulged on Mirajane's forehead. She grabbed Lisanna's cheeks with both hands. "Huh? You've gotten bold, haven't you? You actually ran to the village! How many times have I told you not to go there?!"

"I was hungry." The little girl explained unclearly.

Mirajane pulled her into a hug. "It's fine as long as you're okay."

"Mm."

Inside the cave.

Qian Guang had already examined Elfman. It was a cold and a high fever.

"Drink this." Qian Guang took out an emerald-green potion from his basket, then began using Healing Magic to treat his body.

"Thank you." Elfman held no hostility toward Qian Guang. Since his sister had let him enter, he could trust him. Elfman trusted his sister absolutely.

"What a silly boy."

After drinking the medicine, Elfman's complexion gradually regained some color, and strength slowly returned to his body. He stared at Qian Guang in amazement.

"Impressive, right? Even if it is, I'm not teaching you. I don't want some beefcake brawling in the future and then casting Healing Magic on himself." Qian Guang said smugly.

Although Elfman did not understand what Qian Guang meant by "beefcake," he still sensed a wave of malice.

At that moment, Mirajane and Lisanna came in carrying some food. Seeing that Elfman's condition had improved, they were instantly overjoyed. Mirajane awkwardly came over to thank him.

"It's nothing. By the way, what are you planning to do from now on?" Qian Guang took the little girl's wooden stick and began rubbing it against another stick to make fire.

"I don't know." Mirajane answered bluntly.

"Come with me."

The moment she heard that, Mirajane became wary. "What are you trying to do?"

"Don't be so tense. What would I want with the three of you? I'm a mage, and I'm planning to join Fairy Tail. Come with me. Oh, and that demon possession of yours can be removed with Take Over Magic."

"Really? Big brother, can you do it?" Mirajane was not excited, but Lisanna became excited first. She understood very well how badly her sister wanted to get rid of that arm.

"Uh, I can't. But Fairy Tail definitely has someone who knows how. So, do you want to come?"

Mirajane hesitated. But seeing the expectant looks of her brother and sister, and knowing she truly had nowhere else to go, she nodded. "Alright. But if you're lying to us, hmph! ╯^╰"

"Alright, alright." What else could Qian Guang do when faced with such a tsundere Mirajane? Naturally, he could only coax her.

"Then let's go together. My name is Qian Guang. Qian Guang Meredith."