Chapter 22

(Listen, I am extremely grateful to 'Wandering in a World Without You', 'Ice·Moon Shadow', 'Cloud Qiyu', 'You·', 'The Horizon Without Wind', 'Panda!', 'Little H's House', 'Rabbit of 703', and 'shan1yang2' for your generous donations!)

(We have received a strong recommendation in the category, which is much better than the previous book. I hope to get a good recommendation next week as well. So, friends, wouldn't you like to give a free favor by adding to your collection, recommending, or clicking?)

Noah and Erza's duel lasted only about five minutes before it ended.

And their location was not far from the Fairy Tail guild.

Therefore, about half an hour later, Noah and Erza returned to the guild.

At this moment, both Noah and Erza had a sheathed knight's sword at their waists. One was dressed in a simple shirt and pants with a coat, exuding a carefree aura, while the other wore cold, icy armor, radiating a heroic presence, looking like a perfect pair.

Moreover, after three months of joint training and constant companionship, Noah and Erza's breathing, posture, and pace had unconsciously become synchronized. If it weren't for Noah's black hair instead of bright red, many would have mistaken them for twin siblings.

In this situation, they directly returned to the guild, pushed open the door, and listened to the usual noisy commotion inside, looking at the chaotic scenes before them, exchanging a glance, and smiling in understanding.

Clearly, both Noah and Erza felt an unusual sense of familiarity with the unique liveliness of Fairy Tail.

Unfortunately, this sense of familiarity was soon interrupted by a rude shout.

"Erza————!"

Accompanied by a shout full of childishness, a figure leaped up from a nearby table, pouncing on Erza beside Noah like a hungry tiger.

"Let's have a match————!"

Without even raising her eyes, as if she was used to this, Erza nimbly moved to the side when the figure was close to her, then forcefully punched the figure's nose.

"Bang————!"

"Ah————!"

A muffled sound and a scream echoed throughout the Fairy Tail guild, and the figure that had pounced on Erza flew to the side like a large piece of trash.

Standing next to Erza, Noah, who was in the direction the figure was flying, did not remain as expressionless as Erza, but he calmly took a step back the moment the figure pounced on Erza.

Thus, the figure that should have hit Noah flew past him, missing by less than ten centimeters, and slammed into the wall nearby.

"Bang————!"

Instantly, a hole appeared in the wall, and the figure that had pounced on Erza was embedded in it, eyes rolling back, mouth wide open, slowly sliding to the ground, smoke rising from his body.

"Really..." Only then did Erza sigh.

"I don't really feel like fighting today, so let's skip the duel!"

"Don't say that after you've already hit me!" Noah couldn't help but cover his face and looked at Gray, who was lying on the ground in only a pair of shorts, eyes in circles, feeling utterly drained.

"Also, Gray, it's necessary to put on clothes before challenging someone to a duel, especially when your opponent is a girl..."

"Sh... shut up..." Gray, still with circles in his eyes, could only lie on the ground, tears streaming down his face.

At this moment, a voice sounded from the corner of the guild.

"Wow... that was amazing..."

Hearing this unfamiliar voice, Noah and Erza immediately turned their gazes toward the source of the sound.

There, in front of the guild's bar, stood a boy who looked to be around ten years old, younger than Noah and Erza, with rare cherry-colored hair and a thick scarf around his neck. A suitcase was placed beside him, clearly indicating he had just arrived at the guild.

"Hey! What's your name?!" The cherry-haired boy jumped excitedly, pointing at Erza without any courtesy.

"You can take down that guy in an instant, I'm interested in you!"

"Who are you calling a pervert?!" Gray, who had been lying on the ground helplessly, immediately jumped up as if he had come back to life, veins popping on his forehead.

"Do you want to fight?! Cross-eyed!"

"Let's not! Droopy-eyed!" The boy laughed.

"I can't even beat a girl, I'm not afraid of you!"

Gray's expression froze, unable to move.

Not just Gray, but everyone in the guild fell silent at this moment, the atmosphere becoming oppressive, as if a flood or a beast was about to appear. They all looked at Erza with fear.

"Oh?" Erza's lips curled into a pleased smile, a look that made everyone in the guild, except Noah, shudder.

"What's your name?"

"Me?" The boy, seemingly unaware of the change in the atmosphere, placed his hands behind his head, grinning widely.

"My name is Natsu! Natsu Dragneel!"

Looking at the bright smile on Natsu's face, for some reason, Noah's expression softened, as if basking in warm sunlight, and he couldn't help but feel a liking for Natsu.

Not just Noah, but Erza, Gray, and everyone in the guild unconsciously accepted Natsu because of his bright smile, though they didn't show it on their faces. But Noah, who knew everyone well, could tell.

Natsu Dragneel, huh?

What an incredible person.

Because of Natsu's outstanding charisma, Noah, who had developed a liking for him, was the first to show friendliness, smiling.

"My name is Noah! Noah Dola!"

"My name is Erza! Erza Scarlet!"

"Noah and Erza?" Natsu, who had been arrogant a moment ago, now counted on his fingers and smiled happily.

"Igneel, I've remembered two more names!"

"Igneel?" Noah asked curiously.

"Who is Igneel?"

Hearing this, Natsu puffed out his chest proudly.

"Igneel is my dad! The strongest dragon in the world!"

"Dragon?!" The crowd in the Fairy Tail guild collectively fell silent.

"Dragon?" Noah was taken aback for a moment, then asked uncertainly.

"Natsu, you mean your father is a dragon?"

"That's right!" Seeing everyone in the guild look doubtful, Natsu, as if insulted, shouted angrily.

"I'm not lying! Igneel taught me my magic, called 'Dragon Slayer Magic'!"

Everyone in the Fairy Tail guild looked at each other in surprise.

While there were many excellent mages in Fairy Tail, few were truly knowledgeable due to their styles. However, they had heard of 'Dragon Slayer Magic'.

It was a magic that could transform the user's body into a dragon's, used to slay dragons!

It was said that mages who used 'Dragon Slayer Magic' would have a dragon's body, with skin as tough as dragon scales, hands as sharp as dragon claws, and teeth as strong as dragon fangs. They could eat substances corresponding to their 'Dragon Slayer Magic' to restore their physical and magical strength and enhance their power!

Magic used to fight dragons?

Without a doubt, it was extremely powerful magic!

For such powerful magic to be claimed by a child younger than Noah and Erza, who wouldn't be skeptical?

Moreover, 'Dragon Slayer Magic' was a lost magic, an ancient magic that had already been forgotten. It was extremely rare even in ancient times, so who could believe it had suddenly appeared before them?

Only Noah, after sensing Natsu's magic, had a gradually serious expression.