Chapter 39: Dark Mage Guild, Ivan Enchanted

Not long after, footsteps echoed from outside.

Ivan suddenly lifted his head in surprise, realizing that somehow it had turned to daytime. The sound indicated that someone had entered the library. He closed the notebook in his hands and replayed its contents in his mind.

There was still an unreal feeling about it.

Could such a thing really exist?

Infinite usage of magic power...

How could something like that possibly be created?

And even if it could be created, didn't Precht have even a hint of selfishness?

He even left it in the guild?

Ivan struggled to understand such a notion.

If it were him, he would definitely keep something like that under his own control.

However, thinking of his father Makarov's style...

Ivan felt that it wasn't entirely impossible, after all, a person with a dark mind cannot cultivate Light Magic. The purer the heart, the brighter the person, and the more able one is to cultivate Light Magic to a higher realm.

To become the strongest Light Mage in the world, it was not surprising that Precht might not care for such things.

But did Precht care...?!

What exactly was Lumen Histoire, and why had he never heard his father mention it?

Ivan recalled his experiences over the decades from childhood to now.

Finally, he confirmed it.

His father had never mentioned it once...

Where was it hidden?

Was it something only the Guild Master could inherit?

Ivan's expression changed without warning, his mind entirely occupied by the words Lumen Histoire.

Looking at the notes in his hand, he memorized the contents, placed them back in their position, and walked out of the secret room with an expression as usual, exiting the library.

He looked towards the Fairy Tail base.

He pondered how to extract information about Lumen Histoire from his father Makarov.

——

On the other side.

Between Ishgar on the Eastern Continent and Alvarez on the Western Continent, on a certain island.

From a distance, a structure that resembled a tree branch thrusting skyward stood tall.

As one got closer, it became evident that this was no tree branch.

It was a tower under construction, the Tower of Heaven.

Stinger had already been lurking here for several days with Ultear, and they had gathered most of the basic information about the island.

Ultear gazed at the distant tower and sighed, "What a colossal project. Even if we took it over now, it wouldn't be of much use," she continued. "Even if it were completed, it would take several more years."

Stinger replied expressionlessly, "It's better to be prepared than to be caught off guard. Just making preparations. Whether this tower can be built successfully is still uncertain. This is already the eighth one. The previous seven have all been destroyed by the Magic Council. Only this one remains undiscovered by the Council, hidden away."

Ultear's eyes widened, astonished, as she stared at the high tower in disbelief. "This is already the eighth one? Where did they get that much money?"

This was not just a matter of building a house; you can't just decide to put one up suddenly.

The labor alone requires thousands of workers, mostly captured, along with the astronomical costs of materials.

A project of this scale, and the Dark Mage Guild had managed to construct eight?

Hiss—

Just thinking about it made Ultear feel dizzy.

Stinger scoffed, revealing a rare expression of scorn, "These guys in the Dark Mage Guild, though their strength is lacking... They are quite skilled in brainwashing. Using the R System's ability to resurrect the dead, they've deceived countless civilians and nobles.

The entire continent doesn't know how many people are their followers. Some royal family members you see might even be followers of the Dark Mage Guild. With that in mind, do you think they lack for money?"

Ultear was left speechless, "They just willingly gave it up?"

Stinger replied, "Not giving? That's the matter of the Dark Mage Guild's followers, who unknowingly expose themselves. If commoners die, so be it; those nobles can't bear to part with their status. That's how they manage to build so many of the R System.

Though their strength is weak, they hide themselves too well. Even we can't uncover their hiding spots. Otherwise, we would directly control them. Why would we need to go through so much trouble? Weaklings have no power to speak."

Ultear nodded, never expected the Dark Mage Guild to be this sort of existence.

To support the construction of eight Tower of Paradises, one can imagine how many cultists were in the Dark Mage Guild and just how much funding they provided, yet she could only sigh in response.

With Stinger and her magic, controlling this place was not difficult at all.

And they had already chosen.

On the Ishgar Continent, in the east.

A floating airship bearing the emblem of the Heart of Evil Guild drifted above a forest.

Onboard, Hades was listening to his subordinate Azuma's report.

"Hades sir. It has been confirmed that the woman named Ur indeed possesses tracking methods for Ultear. A while ago, she suddenly turned west. It seems she's trying to intercept Ultear, but her speed isn't as fast as Vice Guild Master Strega. She couldn't catch up to Vice Guild Master Stinger and Ultear. Now she's headed westward. It looks like she plans to pursue them to the sea."

Hades' eyes flickered coldly as he said, "Then let her remain on the continent. Head to the west immediately. I will personally take care of this trouble."

Azuma was taken aback, glancing up at Hades.

The Guild Master hadn't made a move in many years; realizing this, Azuma hurriedly replied, "Understood."

He then went downstairs to instruct those controlling the airship to head west.

——

In Magnolia Town.

At a forest cabin on the eastern side.

Makarov paced back and forth outside anxiously, while Porlyusica, feeling irritated, opted to sit on a tree stump with her eyes closed, meditating.

Inside, Gaal was busy transplanting a magic crystal into Laxus.

Though Makarov believed there was no issue—after all, Porlyusica was still sitting there steadily—he couldn't help but feel that waiting was tormenting.

The others from the guild were waiting outside the woods, aware that Porlyusica disliked humans.

Gildarts sat on the ground, bored, propping his chin as he looked around, "Speaking of which... Where's that guy Ivan? Laxus is his biological son; doesn't he care at all? Didn't he come out with us?"

The people around were also puzzled, unaware of Ivan's whereabouts, when someone suddenly recalled, "Ivan seemed to say he forgot something halfway. He went back to the guild to look for it."

Just then, a powerful surge of lightning magic erupted from within the forest, shooting straight into the sky.

Inside the Fairy Tail guild.

Taking advantage of everyone's absence, Ivan, searching for Lumen Histoire, felt something and looked towards the east, seeing the same yellow lightning illuminating the sky.

"Did it succeed...?"

Then he snapped back to reality, his gaze becoming resolute as if he had shed a heavy burden, standing still while pondering his father Makarov's character.

Lumen Histoire...

Where could it be hidden?