Chapter 74 : The Real Garbage!!

"What?"

The members of Fairy Tail exchanged bewildered glances upon hearing those words. The daughter of a wealthy family was among them all along? How could they have been unaware of such a fact?

Lucy's complexion paled as Jose's words struck her. She instinctively covered her mouth, feeling a tremor course through her body. The near-destruction of the guild, it dawned on her, was potentially her own doing.

Kyros recognized the person Jose was referring to.

Jose sneered, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Why feign ignorance now? Isn't Miss Lucy Heartfilia, the heiress of the Heartfilia Konzern, a member of your esteemed Fairy Tail guild?"

"What?!"

"Lucy is a wealthy family's daughter?!"

Nearly everyone in the guild turned their attention to Lucy. They had never fathomed that their everyday discussions about rent involved someone from such an affluent background. Lucy, who toiled hard to make ends meet, turned out to be the heiress of a wealthy family.

Being a wizard wasn't just about play; it involved undertaking perilous tasks and was a profession chosen by those with a passion for adventure and a determination to carve out their own path in life.

Hence, in Ishgar, only about one in ten individuals possessed magical abilities. Despite this being a relatively high ratio, it meant that out of every ten thousand people, only a thousand had the potential to become magicians.

For instance, Magnolia Town, with a population of around twenty thousand, counted roughly two thousand magic users among its residents. Among them, over a hundred belonged to the Fairy Tail guild, with half of them being outsiders.

Yet, only a fraction of them truly resided in Magnolia Town and served as guild mages.

Someone like Lucy, the heiress of a wealthy family, was highly unlikely to pursue a rough-and-tumble wizarding lifestyle. Typically, she would merely be a patron of such establishments.

In Kyros's previous world, it would be akin to the daughter of a tycoon delivering meals.

Lucy couldn't hold back her tears. "Yes... I'm sorry. I never intended to conceal my identity, but I fled from home, not wanting to be treated differently because of my status. I never imagined that my presence would bring trouble to everyone. I simply adore Fairy Tail and wish to contribute to its legacy, to live by my own merits..."

Mira approached Lucy, enveloping her in a comforting embrace. She tenderly ran her hand through Lucy's hair and smiled reassuringly. "It's alright, Lucy. You don't need to explain. We've witnessed firsthand the kind of person you are during your time here. As a member of Fairy Tail, nothing changes because of your background."

"Yeah! Lucy is Lucy!"

"Exactly! Regardless of her background, she's one of us."

"The heiress of a wealthy family... it does sound grand. Suddenly, I feel I may have been a tad too judgmental before."

"Hahaha!"

The laughter of all the guild members resonated through the hall.

Kyros grinned, turning to Lucy with a reassuring smile. "Lucy, this whole ordeal has nothing to do with you. Even if you hadn't concealed your identity and joined Fairy Tail, you'd still be one of us."

"He simply can't stand the idea of Fairy Tail surpassing Phantom Lord. Any excuse will do for a guy like him who's blinded by his own ego."

As Kyros's words sank in, a wave of realization swept through the Fairy Tail members.

Exactly! Whether Fairy Tail is prosperous or not is none of their concern. They refuse to see us thrive and grow stronger.

How petty! Even we, the members of Fairy Tail, have our own battles to fight.

"Thank you, everyone." Lucy's voice trembled with emotion as tears welled up in her eyes. Since her mother's passing, her father had grown increasingly distant. Gradually, their home lost its warmth, becoming more like a suffocating cage than a sanctuary.

She refused to be confined like a caged bird. In pursuit of her own dreams, she fled her home and found solace in the life of a wizard, joining the Fairy Tail guild.

Here, her past was unknown, and she was treated as an equal. The camaraderie among the guild members filled her with a sense of freedom and joy.

This was the life she had always yearned for.

At this moment, a dissonant and unpleasant voice pierced through the air: "What a pathetic display of family harmony. It's utterly revolting, truly despicable."

"Such a sorry excuse for a guild, overflowing with trash. My spirit surpasses them all!"

"If it weren't for Kyros being a part of your guild, my spirit wouldn't even entertain the notion of losing to you!"

The strength within the Fairy Tail guild varied widely, much like any other mage guild. There were always a few mages with exceptional prowess, alongside others who were less skilled.

Fairy Tail had no strict entry requirements; anyone with a decent heart could become a member.

Makarov's gaze hardened as he addressed Jose: "You have no right to insult my guildmates! The status our guild enjoys today is thanks to every single member. They are all wizards who bring me pride, unlike the filth you spew from your mouth!"

With disdain, Kyros added, "He still insists on being the strongest, blind to the fact that one who treats others as trash is the true waste."

Kyros felt the urge to silence Jose permanently, unwilling to endure any more of his words.

Makarov raised his hand to halt Kyros's intentions.

"There's no need to take his life, Kyros. His magic core has been shattered; he's powerless now. Let the Magic Council handle his punishment."

A magician's magic core, located in the lower abdomen, is the source of their magical power. Once damaged, it cannot be restored, rendering the magician powerless.

"Kill me! Makarov! Kill me if you dare!" Jose's cry echoed through the space. Stripped of his magic, even death seemed preferable to him.

With a contemptuous snort, Kyros unleashed his overwhelming dominance, rendering Jose unconscious. Stripped of his magical prowess, Jose was as defenseless as any ordinary person against Kyros's might.