From the very beginning, the mission had been far too suspicious. Two million just to destroy a book? It didn't matter how rich you were—could a book really be worth that much?
Allen watched Lucy curse the Duke. This situation seemed far deeper than it initially appeared.
"Lucy, what's going on?" Allen asked, deciding not to act until he heard the whole story.
"This book is incredibly valuable. It's irrefutable proof of a crime... and of the kind of person Duke Everlue is."
With Lucy's words the Duke trembled. Allen noticed this and signaled with his eyes for Lucy to continue, she nodded and began to say what she had discovered.
Day Break was a mediocre novel with Duke Everlue as the protagonist. However, it had never been officially published. That was because the Duke had threatened the famous author Kemu Zaleon. You'd think being a wizard and novelist would be enough to protect you from this kind of abuse, but no—unpleasant as he was, Everlue was a Duke. In Fiore, that's one of the highest titles someone can attain without being royalty.
"Damn you, Kemu Zaleon! How dare you deceive me!"
Allen stepped on Everlue's back. "Shut up."
"Ahh! That hurts!"
"Lucy, go on."
"Yeah…"
Allen treating Everlue like garbage helped Lucy calm down. She continued her story. The Duke had threatened Kemu Zaleon's family, so he had no choice but to write the book.
Allen shifted his foot to Everlue's head, pressing down. "I don't consider myself a saint, but threatening someone's family... that's just vile."
Everlue wanted to scream, but froze when he met Allen's eyes. He felt like if Lucy weren't here, Allen would've crushed his skull on the spot.
"Wait! I offered him money! I offered him a title! But he rejected me! He gave me no choice—I had to imprison him for three years until the book was finished…"
"Your survival instinct is that of a capybara, isn't it?", Allen's stare grew colder as Everlue spoke, and feeling the pressure on his head increase, the Duke went quiet. But he wasn't about to just lie there and die. Slowly, he reached his hand toward his pocket.
"Allen, this guy's scum, but he's not worth it…" Lucy said with a nervous smile. Allen was furious on both their behalves, so she no longer had anger in her eyes.
Allen looked at Lucy, then relaxed his expression. "So I'm guessing that book details all of Everlue's crimes…"
"Yes," Lucy smiled. " But it's a letter too, one to his son"
"..." Allen gave a slight smile. With those words, he understood the entire story—and the identity of Kaby Melon, the client who requested this mission.
"No! I won't let you deliver that book!" Everlue pulled out a golden key.
"Allen, that's a Celestial Spirit key!"
Allen didn't flinch. He didn't even move. "Of course, a Duke would have the resources to acquire a golden key…"
"Open! Gate of the Maiden! Virgo!"
A magic circle appeared behind Allen, and from it emerged a huge maid with pink hair.
"Virgo! Help me!"
Lucy quickly pulled out Cancer's key but froze when she saw Virgo didn't move.
"Virgo, what are you doing?! Hurry up and attack this bastard!"
Allen turned to look at the silent spirit. Their eyes met, and Virgo answered.
"I'm sorry. I can't…"
"What?!"
"I can't attack this person…"
Lucy exclaimed in disbelief, "A spirit refusing to protect their master?! No—Aquarius is like that too!"
"Don't be ridiculous! Have you forgotten our contract?!"
Allen turned toward Everlue, still underfoot, and narrowed his eyes at the key in his hand. With a flick of his wrist, it flew into Allen's hand. He looked at it for a moment before whispering, "Liberatio Pactum…"
A surge of magic pulsed from the key for a moment then faded. Allen tossed the key to Virgo, who caught it without looking surprised that Allen could nullify a spirit contract.
Of course, that only applied to Virgo—both Lucy and Everlue were absolutely stunned.
Everlue shouted in anger and desperation, "T-THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!"
"If there's one thing I've learned in life," Allen said mockingly, "it's that just because you can't do or understand something doesn't make it impossible."
"But… you just broke a contract with a Celestial Spirit!" Lucy gasped. Magic capable of breaking contracts—this was extremely dangerous for Celestial mages.
Allen understood Lucy's fear. Even though she was sure Allen would never do that to her, the mere knowledge that someone could perform such magic put people like her at great risk if that person were hostile.
Allen smiled a reassuring smile at the frightened girl, "Well, it's not like I can just snap my fingers and make it happen. I have to meet several conditions. First off, my power has to be greater than the combined strength of the mage and the spirit. My will has to surpass the sum of both as well. The magic consumed to break a contract is enormous. And I must be in physical contact with the binding object… in this case, the key."
Lucy listened to Allen's words and felt a bit less afraid. At the same time, she was a little embarrassed for having gotten so scared.
"I'm sorry…"
Allen stopped stepping on Everlue and walked over to Lucy. Once in front of her, he said, "Don't apologize. If I were in your position, I'd be scared too. Losing your Celestial Spirits could mean death. But don't worry. Because aside from what I just mentioned… no one else knows this magic. I created it myself."
"…!"
Lucy's eyes widened. Ever since she met this man, he kept shattering her sense of reality. She also realized that she didn't really know Allen at all—nothing about his past, his experiences, relationships, friendships, or origin. She only knew of his strength… a strength that seemed to have no limits. And yet, she couldn't feel even the slightest danger when standing beside him.
"Thank you…" Lucy said with a soft smile. "I'm glad I met you~"
Allen smiled back. "I'm glad I met you too."
"You bastards! How dare you flirt with each other while ignoring me!" Everlue extended his hand toward Virgo. "Virgo! Give me the key! I'll make the contract again!"
In the end, even if Allen broke the contract, a new one could be formed as long as both parties agreed. But Virgo didn't move. Instead, she stared silently at Allen, as if waiting for something.
"What are you doing, Virgo?! Give me the key!"
"I don't want to," replied the maid spirit. Then she started walking toward Allen, her body glowing as her form began to change. To Lucy's disbelief, Virgo transformed into a normally-sized girl, with pink hair, blue eyes, and an expressionless face.
...
Kimiko – I did not see that coming!
Kate – Wait, spirits can do that?!
Gwen – It's true! What a twist, haha.
MJ – Total surprise~
Half the Chat was shocked by Virgo's transformation. The other half—mostly people from Allen's world who probably should know about Fairy Tail—couldn't say anything due to Chat restrictions, so they just laughed or pretended to be surprised.
...
"So cute!... Is she pretty?" Lucy said, covering her mouth.
Virgo stopped in front of Allen and, under Everlue's astonished gaze, knelt down and offered him her key.
"Master, the moment I saw you… I felt like you pierced me!" Virgo said as if confessing, though in a very strange way.
"You mean your heart, right?! You mean he struck your heart!" Lucy shouted, flustered.
"I want to be your slave!" Virgo's eyes sparkled.
"You mean you want to form a contract, right?!" Lucy exclaimed, disturbed by the maid's phrasing.
"I want to be yours!" Virgo said with a slight blush.
"Hey, is it really okay for a Celestial Spirit to say something like that?!" Lucy was on the verge of a mental breakdown after the maid's scandalous declaration.
"From the moment I sensed you, I imagined what it would be like to serve you day and night… especially at night…"
"Hey! You didn't even try to hide that one!" Lucy finally cried out—it was impossible to justify that last part.
Allen remained silent as he stared at the maid, who—despite being undeniably pretty—was wearing shackles and chains like a prisoner, which was… unsettling.
The Chat desperately wanted to say something to Allen, but it was impossible.
He was starting to realize what it truly meant not to know the plot. He didn't know if accepting this spirit would be good or bad. Would she be a great ally or betray him in the future? Did she have good intentions—or deep down, far beyond even Allen's enhanced perception, was she lying?
Allen could only do one thing, and that was to act based on his personality, his desires, his instincts, his morality, and his will. With that in mind, he smiled. Not knowing the plot might be annoying… but it also made his actions feel more genuine. He wouldn't move based on Virgo's past or future. He would make his decision based solely on the expressionless, oddly submissive, slightly masochistic maid standing before him.
Allen looked Virgo in the eyes.
"Virgo, I wouldn't be a good master for you. As you can see, my hands are full, and I don't think I'd be calling on you often to fight..."
Virgo remained silent, her face showing a hint of frustration. She could sense the spirits residing within Allen, and as cruel as she might be, she couldn't even defeat someone like Bocchi.
"Even so..." Allen reached out and gently patted the maid's head.
"I appreciate your honesty. That's why I have a proposal for you..."
Virgo's eyes lit up, while Everlue fell to his knees in helplessness—not out of jealousy since he'd lost interest in Virgo the moment she became "ugly" in his eyes, but because... how dare a mere celestial spirit abandon him?
"Unforgivable... this is unforgivable!"
Duke Everlue, in a fit of rage, entered the earth like a mole and began to move quickly, his magic allowing him to do so, 'Brat, you may be strong, but you can't defeat what you can't see. Besides, I know the weakness of guys like you—you can't stand seeing your loved ones hurt. I'll kidnap your girlfriend and force you to serve me like I did with Kemu Zaleon. With a mage like you under my control, even the Magic Council wouldn't dare attack me!'
Everlue grinned with malicious intent...
On the surface, Allen simply stared at the ground. For some reason, this guy thought burrowing underground made him safe. Allen prepared to stomp and compress the earth, crushing the Duke—but then glanced at Virgo and smiled.
"Virgo, defeat Everlue and prove your loyalty."
"As you command, my master..."
"Hey isn't that cruel...that was his master until a moment ago?" said Lucy nervously.
"No, no, this is the best way to show my submission to my master!" said Virgo excitedly.
"Ah, forget what I said," muttered Lucy; she couldn't keep up with Virgo's thoughts.
Virgo sank into the ground. Allen and Lucy waited. Just three seconds later, Everlue burst out from the earth—unconscious, toothless. The maid landed in front of Allen, who, satisfied, reached out to pat her head... but she turned around, presenting her backside instead.
"Virgo?"
"Yes, Master?"
"What do you mean 'yes'? Why are you showing your butt?!" Lucy snapped.
"Why?" Virgo tilted her head innocently.
"I saw Master extend his hand, so I assumed he wanted to punish me. I acted accordingly."
"You're mistaken..." Allen muttered, realizing this Virgo... was like Albedo, but without the yandere and without emotions.
"That's a shame..." Virgo said.
"I give up..." Lucy sighed, exasperated.
...
After Everlue's defeat, Allen, Lucy, and Virgo returned to Kaby Melon's mansion. There, Lucy revealed the truth: the book contained magic that rearranged its words, becoming a completely different text. It was, in fact, a letter to his son, Kaby. Upon reading his father's final words, Kaby cried, and the mission was complete.
Allen and Lucy said their goodbyes to Kaby. Despite his wealth, he was a humble man. Even though the book wasn't destroyed, he still paid them the full two million. Allen had no reason to refuse, so they accepted and returned to Magnolia.
On the way back, Lucy had changed back into her usual outfit.
"I still can't believe it..." Lucy said, holding Virgo's key.
"What is it, Hime (Princess)?" Virgo asked from behind.
"Hime?"
"My master is Allen-sama, so I must call you Hime... You don't like it?"
"Hehe don't worry, it doesn't bother me~" Lucy replied with a smile, though quickly snapped out of it, "That's not it. I mean—how is it even possible to have a contract with two people?!"
"Well, you'd have to ask my master," Virgo said curiously, "The contract can only be made with whoever has my key, and the fact that there are now two is something that leaves me speechless."
"You don't look it..." said Lucy, exhausted, and then looked at Allen.
Allen, who had been walking silently, spoke up, "It's complicated. A long time ago, there was a priceless artifact with a fatal flaw—it was damaged. It was vital to repair it or an entire country would be at risk. So I thought... what if instead of fixing it, I could replace it?"
He continued, "After a whole year of researching the forbidden archives of... that country, I created a magic called "Echo Arcanum" (Echo of the Arcane). It allows you to temporarily replicate the power of any magical artifact, even legendary ones..."
"Allen, what are you talking about?" Lucy asked, barely processing half of what he'd said.
Allen ignored her and continued, "For the physical form, I worked with a powerful wizard named Albus Dumbledore to create "Simulacrum Forma"(The form without a soul). This spell allows perfect replication of objects, regardless of the material they're made of..."
"Allen-san, I can't follow you anymore..." Lucy said with a trembling voice.
Allen went on undisturbed, "Even with those two pieces, the final element was missing—and sadly, even I couldn't complete it. Fortunately, in a world of magic, there's always someone better. After a year, I found a secret cave once used by Merlin himself for his research. In one of his books, I found a spell called "Sigillum Merlini"(Merlin's Seal). It made the effects of Simulacrum Forma and Echo Arcanum permanent... though it required a price."
"Wait! Did you just say it requires a price?!" Lucy gasped, grabbing Allen's arm, her concern overriding everything else.
"Why didn't you say that sooner?! How could you do something so reckless?!"
Allen smiled at her concern and hugged her.
"Relax. Originally, the price was a portion of one's life span—a massive sacrifice. But I removed that side effect long ago. Now, it only requires massive amounts of magic, which is something I can afford."
"...!" Lucy breathed a sigh of relief and quickly pulled away, her heart pounding like crazy.
"How nice, isn't it?" Virgo looked at Lucy expressionless but with a mocking tone, "Now that I have Master's magic, I can remain in the human world all the time. And don't worry about magical fatigue, Hime..."
Lucy couldn't argue. A spirit typically requires a lot of magic to maintain—but to Allen, that was nothing. Now that she shared a contract with him, the magical burden was practically zero.
'I need to become stronger...'
The more Lucy learned about Allen, the more unease grew in her heart. Was she truly worthy of being by his side? Even ignoring their relationship... did she even have what it took to be his partner?
Allen flicked her forehead lightly.
"Ouch! What the—?" said Lucy with tears in her eyes, were they from the tap on her forehead or something else?
"Being together has nothing to do with strength or weakness. I enjoy being with you because it's fun, and I feel good around you. I hope that's mutual."
Lucy grabbed Allen's hand.
"Of course! I'm so happy to be with you! Thank you for accepting me despite being so weak, for helping me, protecting me, and letting me stay by your side!"
"Maybe you two should just get married already..." Virgo said expressionlessly, which embarrassed Lucy so much she fainted.
Allen caught her and carried her in his arms. At that moment, he was certain Lucy had a Disney Princess aura... waiting for a Prince Charming.
[Unfortunately, she fell into the clutches of a womanizing wolf. Poor girl.]
'Hey!'
Since Lucy was unconscious, Allen decided to use Apparition.
"Virgo, grab my arm."
"The lower one?" Virgo couldn't resist throwing in a perverted joke.
"..."
"..." Seeing her master's face, Virgo obeyed without another word...
Allen teleported not to the guild, but to his own building to avoid causing a scene with Lucy in his arms. He laid her gently on the bed and let her rest. Then he walked to the window and looked at the sky, amused by Lucy's words.
Does someone really need qualifications to be on his team?
If so, who would even have them?
Maybe... the strongest woman in Fairy Tail?
Allen shook his head.
...
In a forest, the ground trembled with each step of a "creature." Animals and monsters alike fled in fear. One might think it was a giant, but the quake came from something far more terrifying.
A woman with scarlet red hair, silver armor, and a blue skirt. She was beautiful and serene, imposing yet enchanting. She held a multi-ton horn above her head with just one hand. Her goal? To return to Magnolia—back to Fairy Tail.
As she passed through a town, she overheard the whispers in the streets...
"Hey, did you hear?"
"They say another monster has appeared in Fairy Tail..."
"He's so fast, enemies can't even react."
"He's so strong, he can launch someone to the moon."
"Word is... he defeated Salamander with a single blow."
"Some are already comparing him to Gildarts..."
"Don't be ridiculous!"
The scarlet-haired girl stopped in her tracks and approached.
"Excuse me, can you tell me more about this mage?"
"Uwah! It's Titania!"
"We're sorry! We didn't mean to talk behind your back!"
She interrupted them.
"I don't care. Just talk. Who is he?"
"Y-Yes! His name is..."
...
The girl left the town and continued on her way, a small smile on her face.
"This should be interesting..."
She was Titania, also known as the Queen of Fairy Tail. Her real name is Erza Scarlet—the strongest woman in Fairy Tail. And she was coming back!
===
A/N: I wasn't sure if I should use Princess or leave it as Hime, but I watched Fairy Tail in Japanese I'm very used to hearing Hime from Virgo.
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