Chapter 74

The Order of the Holy Ten is a round blue medal.

It features two intersecting horizontal and vertical protrusions on the front, with four petal-shaped patterns at the corners of the intersection. The medal is quite light, seemingly made from some kind of enchanted iron.

In addition to the medal, Knight was also given a robe of the Holy Ten. The robe's material looks expensive, and the emblem of the Holy Ten is prominently displayed on the back.

After the award ceremony, Knight and Erza followed the Council's staff to the exit.

"We'll leave you here, Mr. Knight, Ms. Erza," said one of the staff, turning and leaving with a polite nod.

Nate couldn't help but grumble, "Couldn't they have used teleportation magic to send us back?"

Erza shook her head, amused. "The Council has always been like this."

"Whatever," Nate shrugged. "I can teleport us myself."

Although the distance was considerable, Nate could use Thunder God's teleportation spell, though it would drain a significant amount of magic power.

"Before we head back, how about we stop by some shops and pick up gifts for everyone?" Nate suggested.

Erza smiled, finding it amusing. "You're treating this like a vacation, aren't you?"

"Let's go," Nate said with a grin.

The two began their descent from the Council headquarters, which was perched atop a bare, cone-shaped mountain with little vegetation. The winding road down the mountain led to a bustling town at the base.

As they walked down the mountain, a figure emerged from behind a statue ahead of them.

Erza's expression hardened. "Jellal!"

"Long time no see, Erza," the man greeted with a smirk.

"What do you want?" Erza's voice was sharp, her eyes filled with suspicion.

Jellal walked closer, his hand reaching toward Erza's chin.

Before he could make contact, Nate grabbed Jellal's wrist, his voice calm but firm. "Could you stop harassing the women in our guild?"

Jellal paused, then smiled and pulled his hand back. "My apologies."

As he walked past, he whispered menacingly, "It's in your best interest to stay quiet about certain matters."

Erza's expression darkened, her fists clenched. When the sound of Jellal's footsteps finally faded, she whispered, "Thank you."

"'Certain matters?'" Nate mused aloud. "If it's private, you don't have to tell me."

Erza hesitated but then shook her head. "No, it's something I can share. Let's keep walking."

As they continued down the mountain, Erza's voice grew more somber. "When I was younger, I knew a man named Jellal who did terrible things... and he's still doing them. Jellal has a twin brother, Zeref. As his brother, Zeref never tried to stop him."

Erza took a deep breath, her fist tightening. "When I first met Zeref, I thought he was Jellal."

"Really?" Nate responded nonchalantly.

Erza sighed in frustration. "Maybe Zeref just doesn't want me to bring up his brother's crimes to the other council members, especially the Speaker. It could ruin his reputation."

"Either way, I can't stand him!" she admitted, her voice full of disdain.

Nate chuckled softly. It was rare for Erza to express such strong dislike for someone.

"What are you laughing at?" she asked, puzzled.

"Is it possible that he's been lying to you?" Nate pointed to his eyes. "My six eyes told me that the person we saw was just a thought projection."

"What?" Erza stopped dead in her tracks, shocked by the revelation.

"Yes," Nate confirmed. "It wasn't really him."

"Has it always been a projection?" she asked, incredulous.

"Always." Nate nodded. "Ever since I first encountered him, he's only used a thought projection."

Erza's face twisted in disbelief. "But how did the Speaker and the rest of the council not notice?"

Nate shrugged, impressed despite himself. "Jellal's projection magic is powerful enough to fool even the highest-ranking mages."

Erza suddenly turned to go back up the mountain. Nate quickly grabbed her arm. "Where do you think you're going?"

"To confront him!" she declared.

"Calm down, you don't have any evidence," Nate reminded her.

"You're my witness!" she retorted.

"I believe you," Nate said with a sigh, "but that doesn't mean the others will."

Erza gritted her teeth, frustration building. "The projection... was it Jellal all along? What is he planning?"

"Whatever it is, we need to be cautious," Nate warned.

Erza thought for a moment, her eyes filled with determination. "Knight, I need to ask you for a favor."

Here it comes, Nate thought, bracing himself.

"I want to go to the Tower of Paradise, and I hope you'll come with me."

Nate's mind raced. He didn't particularly want to go, but he asked, "Where is it?"

Erza sighed, her brow furrowed. "I don't know exactly. It's an island somewhere out in the sea, but I have no idea where to start looking."

"I've tried researching the R-System on the Magic Network," she continued, "but even [Voldemort] didn't answer my inquiry."

"Voldemort?" Nate raised an eyebrow. He hadn't paid much attention to that particular thread on the forum, but he was surprised that Erza had even asked.

"Let's head back first," Nate suggested. "You can post about the Tower of Paradise. Maybe someone will know more."

"You're right." Erza nodded in agreement.

The two continued down to the town, where they bought gifts for everyone, spending a considerable amount of money.

Meanwhile, back at the Council headquarters, Jellal—using Zeref's form—watched from his office window as Erza and Nate descended the mountain.

Behind him, Ultear giggled softly. "Why bother warning her, Lord Zeref?"

Jellal smirked. "She's a necessary pawn. The R-System is almost complete, and soon she will walk into my Tower of Paradise of her own accord."

Ultear's thoughts drifted away. Tower of Paradise...

But right now, what did it matter? What devil's heart? What great magical world? All she cared about were two things:

Resurrecting her mother, Uru, and her love for Knight.

"How will I ever bring Uru back?" Ultear sighed quietly. Her "stinky little brother" had refused to let her sacrifice herself to do it. Though she was touched, she couldn't think of another way—except for the Tower of Paradise.

"You'll find a way," she whispered, her hopes pinned on him.