Fairy Tail: Magic is not such an inconvenient thing.

"I can look into this..."

Abbot summons an ancient text, enters "[Lalabai]", and performs a one-click search:

"【Ralabai】is one of the demons in the Book of Zeref. Created by Zeref as a magic flute with a three-eyed skull, it possesses 'mass curse magic' that kills enemies through sound curses, and is known as 【Ralabai the Spellcaster】..."

"...So that's how it is, it's a demon." x3

Gray was nodding along when he realized what was happening, and he was shocked:

"That's really bad!"

Abbott picked at his ear:

"Why are you so agitated? It's just a demon. Mira's been dealt with before..."

"But that's a demon from the Book of Zeref!!!"

"It is said that the demon in the Book of Zeref only knows one kind of magic, the Curse Kill. The spell sounds powerful, but it is actually difficult to work on people with strong magic power. The ancient books also record that this Lalabai is just a weak demon who can only bully ordinary people. There is no need to worry too much about it."

"But..."

Gray, unusually agitated, paced back and forth in the room.

"Abbot, come help us destroy the Iron Forest! These demons that plague the world should all be eradicated!!"

"..."

Abbott remembered the story Ultear had told him: Ultear's mother, Ultear, was Gray's magic teacher in the Northern Continent.

Furthermore, Ul's "death" was due to the use of the forbidden magic [Absolute Freeze] to seal away Deliora, the demon of the Book of Zeref.

Urudia is currently trying to break the seal on her mother and has asked Ebo for help.

Although Abbott thought that so many years had passed, her mother must be dead by now, Abbott didn't refuse. She just told her to come to him for help when the ceremony started.

So Abbott could understand Gray's hatred for demons, except...

"It's just a dark guild, a place full of rotten fish and stinkers. It doesn't need the three of us S-ranks to come together, does it?"

It's not that Aibo is prejudiced against dark guilds; it's a fact. Unless a truly powerful mage has a dark side, they generally wouldn't stay in a dark guild. Therefore, most mages in dark guilds are weak and can only live a life of hiding.

Despite having such a powerful nickname as "Grim Reaper," Eligor is probably just a weakling in terms of actual strength. Compared to this nonsensical dark guild, Ebo is more interested in that demon.

"Anyway, I don't want to go. You guys go, or if you can't win, just call me, and I'll be there in a second!"

"Tsk, Abbot, you bastard... never mind, how about Erza comes to help?"

"Sure, does Mira want to come along?"

"I won't go. The president isn't here, and I have a lot of things to take care of. Or maybe..."

Mira glanced at Gray, a wicked idea forming in her mind. She smiled and clasped her hands together, saying:

"Why don't you guys call Natsu? If the three of you team up, you'll be our guild's [strongest team]!"

"Okay." "Huh?! I don't want to team up with that fireball bastard!"

Erza and Gray spoke at the same time.

Erza turned and glared at Gray:

"Hmm? Gray, you have a problem with that?"

Gray immediately backed down:

"N-no... I... I'll get along well with Natsu."

When Abbott and Mira saw that the three of them had actually teamed up, they almost burst out laughing, clutching their stomachs.

Gray and Natsu, who are incompatible like fire and ice, plus Erza, who's clueless and reckless—if these three teamed up, they could probably wipe out an entire city. I really want to know what the guild master's expression would be when he finds out...

Abbott and Mira exchanged a glance, their minds perfectly aligned – how could they forget to torment their newcomer at a time like this?

So Abbo suggested with a smile:

"Why don't you guys mentor the new members of the guild while you're at it? Lucy, who just joined, has a lot of potential!"

Erza frowned:

"This isn't a good idea; attacking the Dark Guild is very dangerous."

"Don't worry, Erza, I've personally tested Lucy's strength. She's an excellent Celestial Spirit Mage, and she'll have no problem protecting herself!"

“Okay, since it’s Abbott’s suggestion, let’s add one more. I’ll go and inform them that we’ll leave tomorrow morning.”

"Grey, elbow, come with me."

"Yes..."

Gray followed the decisive Erza away, dejected.

Behind them, the two smiling buddies waved to them.

"Keep it up!"

After the two left, Mira immediately changed to an eager expression:

"Abbot, how about I tell the guild leader about their team formation right now? Won't he be so anxious he'll rush back from the meeting? Haha~"

"No, no, no, I'll just write a letter and send it. Ideally, it should arrive by tomorrow's meeting. Hopefully, the old man's heart can hold up. Hehehe, I need to contact Chairman Gollman and ask him to take a picture of the old man's expression..."

"Haha, Abbott, you're so naughty~ But I like it~"

"Thank you for the compliment. But Mira, do you want to take over that flute demon?"

Mira rested her chin on her hand, thought for a moment, and then shook her head:

"No need. Curse-killing magic is forbidden by the Council, and as far as I know, this magic can only be used against those who are weaker than me. It's too useless. Receiving it won't improve me much."

"Chichu, since you don't want it, I'll just capture it and study it later. I've always been very interested in the demons in the Book of Zeref..."

Chapter 134: The Expedition Against the Iron Forest

Lucy felt like she was back to normal.

The guild's most popular female mage, Fairy Queen Erza, personally invited me to join her team!

I'm so honored! Does anyone know this?

What does this mean? It means that my abilities have been recognized by the big shots!

Yohohohoho~

As expected, I am a genius and beautiful mage, one in a million. I'm sure reporters will be coming to interview me, the rising star of Fairy Tail, soon!

What title should I come up with for myself? Blonde Fairy? Celestial Spirit Princess? The Sexy Queen of Fairy Tail?

Oh dear, this is so troublesome!

"......" x2

Gray, who had just finished fighting with Natsu, nudged Natsu with his elbow as he looked at Lucy, who was completely absorbed in her own world.

"Hey, is this newbie really okay? He doesn't seem very bright."

"How would I know? But her taste reminds me of something I miss, it's like...my mother's scent?"

"Huh? I didn't expect that you, Fireball Bastard, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, would actually be a pervert too?"

"Huh? Who is this perverted naked man calling a pervert? I'm just stating the facts! I'm not like you!"

Harpy's objective evaluation:

"Ah! Lucy is so nice, she even treated me to fish!"

Erza arrived late, and immediately caught Gray and Natsu fighting.

"Huh? You two had another fight?"

"Haha~ No, no! We're good friends~" x2

Erza ignored the two smiling tigers and turned to look at Lucy, the girl recommended by Eber... which piqued her interest:

"Lucy, right? Abbot praised your abilities. This mission is quite dangerous, but he still recommended you to me. You must be very capable. I look forward to your guidance from now on."

"No, no, no! It's me who needs more care!"

Lucy was so startled that she bowed deeply, then realized something was wrong.

Wait, Abbot praised my skills? Where did he get that conclusion? My skills are completely insignificant compared to his! But why...?

Could it be that Abbott saw my potential? So Erza invited me because of Abbott's recommendation! He actually thinks so highly of me! I'm so touched!!

"I will definitely do my best! By the way, what is the mission this time?"

"Oh, I forgot to tell you yesterday, Natsu, come here, let me explain this operation to you..."

Erza briefly explained the cause and effect, and Natsu, after listening, waved his fist:

"So, the goal is to destroy a dark guild, right? Great! I'm fired up!"

But no one noticed Lucy on the other side, her face deathly pale, almost petrified and shattered.

To annihilate the Dark Guild!? To confront the legendary demon!? The cursed Lalabai!? Is that an enemy a newcomer like myself should be facing!?

Is it too late for me to quit now? But at this point, I can no longer bring myself to say that I'm too weak and incapable of shouldering this responsibility!

No way! Why is Abbott introducing me to a mission of this level?! I can't handle it!

"What should we do next? We don't even know where the Iron Forest guild's base is."

"Go to Onibas, Iron Forest is active in that area."

Natsu's face turned pale:

"W-Do you want to ride the magic train? Or, you guys take the train, I'll run over..."

"Idiot! By the time you run there, we'll all be done."

Erza shook her head:

"Normally, you can't use this without S-level access, but consider this a perk for you. Follow me..."

Erza led the group to a room on the third floor of the guild.

"here it is..."

"【Teleportation Chambers】Mystgang has set up teleportation magic circles in various cities throughout the country, allowing us to quickly move between cities using these magic circles..."

However, because activating the teleportation array consumes too much magic power if one is not skilled in spatial magic and does not use magic crystals, mages below S-rank are not allowed to use this room.

Natsu clutched his head and cried out in despair:

"What?! There's such a convenient teleportation array?! I didn't even know about it before?! What about all the trouble I've caused all these years?!"

"Because it's mostly just Laxus and me using it regularly anyway, Ebony doesn't need it, Mira and Mystogan rarely go on commissions anymore...and..."

Erza looked Natsu up and down:

"Natsu, if you use the teleportation array without permission, your magic power will be drained instantly."

In theory, activating a teleportation array requires approximately 10,000 magic power, but this consumption decreases as one gains more control over spatial magic.

Mystogan is proficient in spatial magic circles and can use a small amount of magic crystals to teleport. Erza would need about 5000 magic power to teleport once. This amount of consumption is nothing to her, but it is a bit of a stretch for Natsu, who knows nothing about spatial magic. He can only try to do it by brute force.

"Damn it! I'm definitely going to get promoted to S-rank this year!"

"Ridiculous! I'll be the only one getting promoted this year!"

Erza gestured for the group to step into the teleportation array. She adjusted the teleportation coordinates and activated the magic circle. The group then appeared in a cave on the outskirts of Onibas.

"We've arrived. Now we'll split up. Once you spot any trace of the Iron Forest members, contact me immediately via the terminal. Understand?"

"Yes!"

Natsu and Gray dashed off in opposite directions, disappearing in an instant. Erza nodded to Lucy and soon vanished as well.

Lucy was left standing alone, bewildered and trembling.

"Waaaah... Actually, I was just about to ask... if anyone would be willing to help me out..."

Left with no other choice, Lucy could only cautiously begin to act alone.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, in a private room at the Fairy Tail guild.

Abbot was lying in Mira's arms, drinking tea while looking at the projection magic device in front of him—which he usually used to watch the news.