Chapter 42: Accusation

If it were before Selene's advice,

Irene could have easily faced Erza with cold indifference or even... mocking contempt.

But when Irene wanted to make amends with Erza, she found she didn't know where to start.

In fact, before coming to Magnolia, she had thought of many ways to deal with this and organized many words,

But when she truly faced Erza, she realized that those plans were meaningless.

The fact was, she had genuinely abandoned Erza and hadn't cared for twelve years. This was an undeniable fact.

She didn't know how Erza would feel once she learned about this.

So, when Selene appeared in the Eastern Forest, she suddenly felt somewhat relieved.

In the Eastern Forest, apart from her, there were only Erza and Irene. Selene rubbed her belly nonchalantly, "Are you planning to stand and talk like this? I'm suddenly a bit hungry. How about we eat and talk?"

Without waiting for the mother and daughter in front of her to respond, Selene waved her hand, and a table with various dishes appeared.

The aroma of the food made the already conflicted Erza's mouth water, her appetite stirred.

However, the focus this time wasn't on eating but on the conversation at the table.

After all, the reason Erza followed Irene to the Eastern Forest was to hear what this woman, who seemed high and mighty and bore a striking resemblance to herself, had to say.

Seeing the two sitting there in silence, Selene suggested:

"If you can't say it, how about I do it?"

Irene, after barely calming her emotions, shook her head, "No... I'll do it."

"I am your mother."

Despite having anticipated this, hearing it directly from the woman in front of her made Erza's eyes change dramatically.

Once she started speaking, it wasn't so difficult anymore. Irene began to recount the whole story,

"This story goes back four hundred years..."

As Irene narrated the entire event, Erza watched her silently.

"Later, troubled by the side effects of dragon power, I tried to use additional magic on you to take your... life."

Erza bit her lower lip slightly. The truth Irene was telling felt like a heavy stone, making it hard for her to breathe.

After hearing this, she took a deep breath to barely calm herself.

Irene laughed self-deprecatingly, "Though it may seem like an excuse to you, the failure of my personality transplant magic was not due to a flaw in the magic itself, but because I saw your smile..."

"At that moment, I knew I couldn't keep you by my side. Otherwise, that evil thought would never leave my mind, so I abandoned you in Rosemary Village."

Irene didn't use any nicer words to cover up her actions. She truthfully confessed her deeds to Erza.

While Irene had been recounting the story, things were fine, but once she finished, the atmosphere became strange and silent...

Erza's chest heaved slightly faster. Honestly, she didn't know what to say to Irene as her first words. She had many grievances to voice...

"Do you know what kind of life I lived before?"

There was a hint of sarcasm in Erza's voice, inadvertently revealing her subconscious thoughts.

Irene's gaze changed slightly. After a moment, she shook her head slowly.

To be honest, Erza didn't know why this was the first thing she blurted out, but since she had already said it, she didn't need to fear anymore.

Erza pointed to her right eye, "My right eye is an artificial eye. Although I can see, it can no longer shed tears. Why? Because the tears in my right eye have long dried up."

She patted her armor, "Do you know why I wear armor? Because without it, I don't feel safe."

She stared directly at Irene's crimson hair, "Do you know why my last name is Scarlet? Because I had no parents to name me."

She took a deep breath, "Yes, you were tormented by various side effects, unable to sleep, losing your sense of taste, but I watched the villagers being slaughtered by the Dark Magic Cult, children being enslaved on an island. For over two years, I lived in darkness. If it weren't for Grandpa Rob standing in front of me, I would have died long ago!"

Erza's eyes were already wet, with only a single tear falling. As she said, her right eye could no longer shed tears.

Even though she had mentally prepared, Irene's face still changed slightly once Erza spoke, and her hand unconsciously tightened...

Even Selene, who wanted to be the mediator, felt she shouldn't speak up.

She had originally thought that with Erza's strength, she should have been doing well, but didn't expect her to have such a troubled past...

Erza didn't seem surprised by Irene's silence, and continued on her own: "I am already used to living without parents, used to life in the guild. In the guild, I have family and friends, but you barged in, loudly declaring yourself as my mother, disrupting my once peaceful life."

Her gaze was indifferent, "If I were to choose a parent now, my answer would be Master Makarov, not you."

"I am just an ordinary person. I am not generous enough to forgive you so easily."

There was a burning anger in Erza's heart. She knew Irene had her struggles, but she didn't know how to vent it, after all, she was just a twelve-year-old girl.

"You say you were the 'Dragon Queen,' that you created Dragon Slayer Magic, and I know your magic power is much stronger than Master Makarov's. You are very powerful, much stronger than most people, but I don't need my mother to be so powerful."

"You have many reasons: betrayal of your people, side effects' troubles, but none of these change the fact that you abandoned me. As a mother, you have failed."

"I have said that I now have a family in the guild. I don't necessarily need parents. Now I have friends and can earn money. I can completely support myself and don't need... your charity."

Erza's words were straightforward, even Selene understood. She looked at the silent Irene, feeling anxious.

Irene just sat there silently, quietly accepting Erza's accusations.

Even so, there was no trace of hesitation or softening in Erza's angry expression.

Selene was internally shouting:

SAY SOMETHING!!!