A magic merchant infiltrating Fairy Tail

Just as Kira was relentlessly teaching Natsu while leading him deeper into the forest ahead, someone in another direction began a similar lesson.

"You said someone might intercept us on our way back? Really?"

Facing the big-breasted, brainless Abbagrim, Erza's expression was serious and earnest: "That's possible! The guild leader said it before, right? Anyone who doesn't bring back a magical beast is considered a failure! The supporters in this competition are all very strong. In a two-on-one situation, it's not impossible to successfully snatch it!"

"But if we do that, only one of us, the one who steals or the one who is stolen from, can advance. What if the battle goes on for too long and we run out of time? Wouldn't that be a losing proposition? In comparison, it's safer to capture a magical beast ourselves, isn't it?"

"That's assuming every team can find monsters. What if they don't encounter any monsters in their direction of progress? Does that mean they can only steal from others?"

"Uh... if you put it that way..."

"Also, as long as there is a significant disparity in strength between the two sides, the battle won't take much time at all. For example... if Kira comes to snatch the monster from us, the two of us won't be able to hold out for long."

Thinking of Kira's character, Abba Green instantly broke out in a cold sweat: "No...no...there are several teams between us, so far away, he wouldn't come all the way here, would he?"

Calculation problem: Kira and Natsu are at the 12 o'clock position, Erza and Abrams are at the 5 o'clock position, and the two teams are 5 kilometers away from the base. How far apart are they approximately?

解：根据三角形的余弦定理：c^2=a^2＋b^2－2ab cosθ，其中a=5，b=5，θ=150°，解得c≈9.66公里

Erza and Abba Grin, who had not received formal math education, naturally couldn't solve the problem, but they could probably imagine that the distance involved was not short.

The competition lasted only three hours. They were delayed at the stronghold for fifteen minutes and ran five kilometers in their own direction. Subtracting the time for the return trip and the battle, there shouldn't have been enough time for them to run that far.

With that thought in mind, the two finally felt relieved.

Erza, looking at the still-shaken Abbagrim, reminded her, "There's a hidden rule in the first level: there are no restrictions on the 'Supporters'! That means we can attack the candidates at will!"

"!!"

Hearing this, Abba Grin panicked completely: "Wait...wait...let me think about who the teams around us are...team number four is Gray and Ultear; team number six is ​​Fred and Gerald..."

"It's not just the teams that are nearby that are in danger. If they're determined to take action, they might even cross several kilometers to steal our goods. So we absolutely cannot let our guard down!"

"We must identify the target in the shortest possible time and resolve the battle as quickly as possible to return to the stronghold!"

Chapter 581 First Half End

"The earth collapses at the Cave Dragon's lair!!"

With a loud shout, a terrifying explosion erupted in the dense mountain forest, sending up a cloud of dust. A heavy, terrifying magical power swirled around, proclaiming the immense power of the one who had acted.

"To find the monster with the most God-like power, you should observe all the monsters you can find!"

Serena stood in front of Levy, full of vigor and exuding a youthful, chuunibyou-like aura. In front of him lay a bunch of magical beasts that had been running around because of the earthquake he had created, and had been knocked unconscious by him.

Gazing at the ruins before her, Levy's small heart could barely withstand the unconscious magical pressure emanating from the person before her: So powerful... Is this the 'Number One Wizard of the Ten'? He can actually trigger a beast tide with just one spell...

Wait a minute! Something seems off?!

"Wasn't it said that only I could deal with the captured magical beasts?! Now you've already defeated all of them!!"

"Ah! Oh right! I forgot!" Serena slapped her hand as if waking from a dream, then looked at Levy with a grin. "I'm so sorry!"

"Never mind...it's nothing..."

After yelling, Levy finally regained her composure. Realizing her actions, she even became nervous, saying anxiously and helplessly, "I was rude just now, I'm so sorry!!"

For an eighteen-year-old girl who has just come of age, the idea of ​​being the "number one mage of the Ten Wizard Saints" is still a bit too terrifying.

Seemingly noticing Levy's nervousness, Serena chuckled and patted her shoulder, saying, "Let's take this opportunity to observe which magical beasts have the most meat! Then we can go hunting in those beast hordes!"

"Huh? Go to the monster horde? But they only came out because of the previous tremors, right? Will we be able to find them?"

"Of course! Dragon Slayer Mages have very sensitive noses!!" Serena patted her chest confidently, her twin ponytails bobbing up and down, quite eye-catching.

Oh right! I almost forgot you're a Dragon Slayer Mage too...

Mentioning Dragon Slayers, a hint of curiosity flashed in Levy's eyes: "I know Gajeel and Natsu have a strong sense of smell, but... are the second-generation Dragon Slayers also so sensitive? I don't think Laxus seems to have this kind of talent..."

"Is it that blond brat?" Serena instantly pictured Laxus's arrogant demeanor and laughed heartily, "His Dragon Slayer Magic isn't even fully utilized yet!"

Levy was speechless and embarrassed, thinking to herself: "Saying that Laxus's Dragon Slayer Magic hasn't been fully utilized... You're probably the only one in the world who would say something like that."

She was unaware of Eileen and Elefseria's existence, otherwise she wouldn't have thought that way.

"Maybe he just thinks it's embarrassing... I think that kid is really arrogant, I'll teach him a lesson sooner or later!"

After saying that, Serena walked towards the group of unconscious monsters and started picking and choosing them with a frown, like an old lady picking vegetables at a market.

"..."

Do whatever you want, but don't say it in front of me!!

Just as Levy stepped forward to choose a magical beast, Serena's voice came again: "By the way, that brat who uses iron is even more arrogant than him! He's clearly so weak, but he always acts like he's the best in the world. If we get the chance, we should teach him a lesson too!"

Huh? If that's what you mean, then I can't pretend I didn't hear you!

"You mean Gajeel? He's not..."

Levy wanted to retort, but when she felt Serena's terrifying magical power again, she couldn't help but swallow her words. "Gajeel... his personality... is actually not so bad..."

The sound was so low it was barely audible.

"Huh? Did you just say something?"

"No...nothing..."

Sorry, Gajeel!

I think it would be good if you could tone down your temper sometimes!

……

"Achoo!!"

"What's wrong? Even an idiot like you can catch a cold?"

Dispel looked at Gajeel, who had just sneezed loudly beside him, with a suspicious expression.

"Hmph! It's not a cold! Maybe someone's thinking about me!"

Gajeel blew his nose, proud that he had never caught a cold, and then let out a 'kikiki' laugh, just like a villain in a movie.

Dispel took two steps back in disgust: "Tsk tsk tsk... Look at you now! You look so sour!!"

"hehe."

Gajeel let out a deeply sarcastic remark, thinking to himself: You know nothing! You bachelor! Just like Kira, you're an emotional idiot! This is the trouble of love for me!

Just as Tie Long was secretly gloating, Dispel suddenly made an "OK" sign with both hands and asked, "Hey, how far have things progressed between you and that little girl Levy? Have you done that yet?"

His irreverent tone and smile made Gajeel blush. He hadn't expected that Dispel, who seemed as innocent as Kira, would be such a skilled driver, even his driving maneuvers were so simple and profound.

"What...what's it to you?! Why are you so nosy?!"

"You better take it easy, I heard she's only eighteen this year? Just turned eighteen!"

"It's so noisy!!"

The cast iron, red with shame and anger, resembled wrought iron.

After a few seconds of silence, Dispel suddenly asked, "Speaking of which, I heard you always lose to Natsu in fights?"

"Huh?! Who told you that? I'm way stronger than that fire dragon, okay?!"

"It sounds like you're not very confident!"

Dispel raised an eyebrow and continued, "You're both Dragon Slayers, but Natsu's dad is the Fire Dragon King, while your dad is just an ordinary iron dragon; Natsu entered the Dragon Force a long time ago, while you still haven't even seen it; Natsu is sunny, handsome, optimistic, and lively, while you're roguish, wicked, and have a sinister look on your face..."

Gajeel: Rage +1 +1...

"Hey~ I'm telling you, you can't always fall behind everyone else, right? Listen to me, put in some effort, and you might be one step ahead of him when it comes to getting married and having kids! Or even a few steps ahead! Strive to become the second couple in your guild's generation to get married..."

"You bastard, will you ever stop?!"

The valley echoed with Gajeru's furious roar.

……

"Roar……"

"Crush!!"

After a deep, soft shout, pure white magical light scattered, cutting the air and the surrounding vegetation and rocks into countless cubes. Under the pull of compressed magic, they exploded with a bang, causing unprecedented destruction to the territory of a certain magical beast.

"Has the decision been made for this guy?"

The monster in front of them resembled a much larger wild boar. From every angle, it was undoubtedly the fattest one in its kind, but it didn't seem difficult to deal with.

Juvia maintained a serious expression, but without any disrespect: "Yes! Thank you for your hard work, Gildas!"

"Then the battle from here on out is up to you! I'll help you guard the area!"

Gildarts tossed his cloak and walked toward the other herd of pigs that had surrounded him, a smile of admiration on his face. "Good luck, Gray's girlfriend!"

? ? ! !

In an instant, Juvia became incredibly excited, as if he'd been injected with adrenaline. His skin turned bright red, and his voice rose eighty decibels above its usual volume: "Yes!!!"

As soon as he finished speaking, to Gildas's astonishment, Juvia's magical power surged instantly, transforming into a terrifying torrent that erupted from the ground, crashing against all the surrounding magical beasts like a wave from an underwater volcano.

"Water flow typhoon!!!"

Gildas: "..."

……

Half of the assessment period had passed, and the fishing competition at the base had also ended.

"Fishing competition over!!"

In the sunlight, Mavis smiled brightly; her long, light blonde hair and white dress made her look like an angel straight out of a fairy tale.

"The Beyonders team has won, with a score of 33 to 7!!"

"Great!!" ×3

"How could this be..." ×3

On one side were the jubilant Happy, Charlene, and Lily cat trio, while on the other side were the petrified Precht, Makarov, and Augustus trio, creating a stark contrast of joy and sorrow on the riverbank.