Fairy Tail: Collapsing Stars

Chapter 450: Fairy Tail's Prospective S-Class Mage Assassination Plan

"Lucy, you're back?"

"How did the job go?"

The moment Lucy entered the guild, Mirajane greeted her warmly.

Although the usually lazy Fairy Tail mages had all become unusually diligent, constantly lining up in front of the request board looking for jobs, Mirajane, who worked part-time as the guild receptionist, was as gentle as ever, welcoming her companions back from their completed missions with a smile.

"The job went pretty well..."

"If Natsu hadn't accidentally burned our client's entire acre of farmland into fertilizer while defeating the bandits at the very end, I guess we could've called it a successful mission..."

The corner of Lucy's eye twitched as she recalled the unpleasant memory. Because of Natsu's reckless stunt, the client deducted most of her reward, leaving her with only enough to pay this month's rent. Fortunately, Fairy Tail's benefits were excellent, and meals at the guild were basically free.

"But that's not important! Mirajane, come here for a second. I want to ask you something!"

"Mirajane, what's going on? Why is everyone suddenly working so hard?"

"This is completely different from our guild's usual atmosphere!"

"Could the world's about to end or something?"

Lucy hurried over, pulled Mirajane into a corner of the guild, then pointed toward the long line of mages waiting in front of the job board.

"Oh, that~"

"It's probably because December is almost here... the end of the year."

Following Lucy's gaze, Mirajane finally understood what she was asking and smiled in realization.

"December's almost here?!"

Lucy rubbed her chin thoughtfully.

Being both a clever girl and a novelist, Lucy possessed an exceptionally active imagination. The moment Mirajane mentioned December, countless possibilities sprang into her mind.

"I get it!"

"So everyone's trying to earn more money before the year's over, so they can enjoy the New Year, right?!"

Lucy lightly smacked her fist into her palm and looked at Mirajane expectantly.

"Uh..."

"Now that you mention it, that's actually part of the reason."

Mirajane blinked before nodding.

Lucy really was smart. She had thought of something Mirajane herself hadn't considered.

Just as Lucy guessed, many guild members really were desperately taking jobs to save enough money before the New Year.

After all, January and February were relatively slow seasons for requests. If they didn't save enough beforehand, they'd have no choice but to sleep inside the Fairy Tail guild—a place comparable to hell.

"So that's it!"

Lucy nodded with relief.

At least the world wasn't ending.

"But that's only one reason."

Just as Lucy relaxed, Mirajane continued.

"There's another reason?"

Lucy's heart immediately sank.

Her sixth sense began screaming.

Something bad was about to happen...

"Mm!"

"Every December, no matter whether they're constantly traveling or out on missions, Fairy Tail's mages all return to the guild to participate in Fairy Tail's grandest annual event..."

Mirajane deliberately paused, watching Lucy's expression.

"Fairy Tail's grandest annual event?!"

Lucy looked utterly shocked.

"That's right."

"Its name is... the Fairy Tail S-Class Mage Promotion Exam!"

"Each year, candidates are selected based on their performance throughout the year and the missions they've completed."

"So everyone's working desperately now because they want Master Makarov and Master August to notice them before the month ends. They all want to earn a place in this year's exam... and ultimately become one of Fairy Tail's proud S-Class Mages!"

Mirajane smiled with satisfaction at Lucy's expression before revealing the answer.

"The Fairy Tail S-Class Mage Exam?!"

Lucy's eyes widened instantly.

Everything finally made sense.

She now understood why Natsu and Happy had abandoned her to take missions alone.

She understood why everyone in the guild was lining up for jobs.

Everything revolved around the guild's greatest event...

The S-Class Mage Promotion Exam!

Lucy knew just how obsessed Natsu was with becoming an S-Class Mage.

He and Happy had undoubtedly been giving it everything they had so they could finally pass this year's exam.

"S-Class Mage..."

"I really want to take the exam too..."

"I want to become an S-Class Mage someday..."

"But... with my strength, there's no way I'd even be selected..."

Lucy couldn't help imagining herself defeating Natsu and everyone else before proudly becoming an S-Class Mage.

The mere fantasy made her blood boil with excitement.

Of course...

She also knew exactly what kind of monsters Fairy Tail's S-Class Mages were.

She knew how difficult it was to earn that title.

So she was only fantasizing.

She had absolutely no intention of competing against those monsters.

"Mm..."

"You know, when I took the exam back then, I was just as excited as everyone else is now..."

Mirajane's eyes grew distant as she reminisced.

"Right!"

"Come to think of it, you're an S-Class Mage too, Mirajane!"

"Could you tell me what the S-Class exam was like when you took it?"

Standing so close, Lucy had naturally overheard Mirajane.

Only then did she remember...

The beautiful young woman before her wasn't just a pretty face.

She was one of Fairy Tail's strongest S-Class Mages.

"Haha..."

"When I took the exam, the guild's mages weren't nearly as strong as they are now."

"You could say I simply got lucky by taking it early."

"I never encountered any truly powerful opponents."

"So it's really nothing worth talking about..."

Mirajane replied modestly.

"Come on, tell me anyway~"

Lucy grabbed Mirajane's hand eagerly.

"Well... if you really want to hear it."

"It honestly isn't anything special."

"I remember the Master gathered all the candidates together."

"Then he started explaining the exam rules."

"I was still young back then."

"I couldn't hold myself back."

"So I attacked everyone before he'd even finished."

"By the time I came to my senses..."

"I was the only one still standing."

"So naturally..."

"I became that year's S-Class Mage."

"Oh, and that's also when everyone started calling me 'Demon' Mirajane."

Mirajane smiled gently as she recounted her experience.

"Ah..."

Lucy went completely numb.

Watching Mirajane calmly explain how she'd single-handedly defeated every candidate and casually become an S-Class Mage...

Lucy unconsciously imagined a horrifying bloodbath.

A crazed Mirajane laughing wildly while standing atop mountains of bodies before ascending Fairy Tail's throne of S-Class Mages.

"So?"

"Was my experience helpful?"

Mirajane smiled sweetly.

"Very... very helpful..."

Lucy nodded frantically.

How could she possibly say otherwise?

Anyone bold enough to disagree with Mirajane had probably already died.

"She's terrifying..."

"Mirajane is absolutely terrifying..."

"You really can't judge her by that pure, beautiful face..."

Lucy thought inwardly.

"Anyway..."

"This year's exam probably has nothing to do with me."

"I just hope I might have a chance next year."

Lucy scratched her cheek awkwardly.

"Nothing to do with you?"

Mirajane narrowed her eyes.

She had a completely different opinion.

In her view...

Lucy had a very high chance of being selected this year.

...

"S-Class Mage Exam..."

After chatting with Mirajane a little longer, Lucy left the guild and headed home.

Her thoughts remained completely occupied by the upcoming exam.

Soon, she arrived at her apartment.

She skillfully unlocked the door.

The moment it opened—

"Yo, Lucy."

"Long time no see."

"I've missed you."

The setting sun streamed through the apartment window, casting golden light across the room like a veil over the handsome orange-haired young man sitting leisurely on her sofa with his legs crossed.

He was incredibly handsome.

Almost poetic.

If only...

He weren't completely naked.

"Hello?"

"City Guard?"

"There's a naked pervert in my house."

Lucy calmly pulled out her communication lacrima and began contacting Magnolia's security forces.

"Wait!"

"Lucy, it's me!"

"It's Leo!"

"Leo the Lion Spirit!"

The handsome orange-haired man immediately panicked.

He dashed over almost instantly, grabbing both of Lucy's hands while desperately explaining himself.

"Huh?"

"Leo?"

"When did you become a pervert?"

Lucy stared blankly.

"Whose fault do you think that is?!"

Leo roared angrily.

"What does that have to do with me?"

Lucy looked utterly confused.

"Miss, your lifestyle's getting wilder and wilder."

"You've already brought home another handsome guy today."

"And this one's completely naked."

"Did you get tired of that pink-haired boy from yesterday?"

At that moment, an elderly voice sounded from behind Lucy.

"Uh..."

"Sorry."

"I'll deal with it immediately."

Lucy hurriedly apologized.

To avoid even more misunderstandings...

She dragged Leo inside.

"Sigh..."

"Young people these days..."

After the door closed, the landlady sighed deeply.

She regretted that when she was young...

She hadn't dated several handsome men like Lucy apparently had.

...

Inside the apartment—

"First of all..."

"Put some clothes on!"

Lucy ordered.

"As you wish~"

Leo snapped his fingers.

A black suit instantly appeared on his body.

"Now then, Lucy."

"Can you finally listen to me?"

Leo asked.

"So you can wear clothes!"

Lucy complained.

"Sorry."

"My recent job doesn't require wearing a shirt."

"I almost forgot what clothes even were."

Leo explained.

"A job where you don't need clothes?!"

Lucy's face immediately turned red.

Her imagination began running wild.

"That's right."

"My job is cleaning hot springs."

"If I wore clothes, they'd just get soaked."

Leo answered matter-of-factly.

"..."

The corner of Lucy's mouth twitched.

That wasn't the kind of job she'd imagined.

She'd thought Leo had become a host...

Or maybe a male pole dancer...

"What exactly were you imagining?"

Leo raised an eyebrow.

He was certain Lucy had been thinking something extremely rude again.

"Well..."

"Ahem... that's not important!"

"What's important is..."

"Why are you back, Leo?"

Lucy quickly changed the subject.

"Lucy."

"I only came back for three things."

"To help you pass the S-Class Mage Exam."

"To help you pass the S-Class Mage Exam."

"And..."

"To help you pass the S-Class Mage Exam."

Leo straightened his suit and spoke solemnly.

"Help me pass the S-Class Mage Exam?"

Lucy froze.

"Exactly."

Leo nodded firmly.

"Have you lost your mind?"

Lucy stared at him in disbelief.

"I wouldn't dare."

"I made a bet with Selene."

"If I fail to help you become an S-Class Mage..."

"She'll drag me back."

"In other words..."

"Lucy."

"My life is riding on this."

Leo gripped Lucy's shoulders seriously.

"You really don't want to go back to Selene?"

"She's incredibly beautiful."

Lucy could tell from Leo's eyes that he wasn't joking.

He truly had no intention of returning.

"Lucy."

"My heart belongs only to you."

"Don't ever say things like that again."

Leo shivered.

If he didn't know Selene's true form, perhaps things would be different.

But after learning she was actually a dragon...

He completely lost all interest.

After all...

An embroidery needle simply couldn't deal with a water barrel.

"Heh."

Lucy merely sneered.

Leo's so-called devotion...

Was nothing more than a joke.

"Enough talking!"

"Lucy!"

"There's no more time!"

"Let's begin our hellish training!"

Leo brushed back his stylish hair before grabbing Lucy and dragging her outside.

"Wait!"

"I just got home!"

"Let me rest!"

Lucy struggled helplessly.

Although her strength had improved tremendously during her time in Fairy Tail...

As her magic power increased...

The Zodiac Spirits she summoned became proportionally stronger as well.

As a result...

She still had virtually no ability to resist powerful Zodiac Spirits.

"No time!"

"Training starts now!"

Leo refused to give her any opportunity to rest.

This wasn't a joke.

His life was literally on the line.

Every second wasted...

Was another step closer to being dragged back to Selene.

...

Leo had even appealed to the Celestial Spirit King.

When the Spirit King first heard that someone had detained one of his spirits, he was furious.

He declared he would punish whoever dared do such a thing.

But...

The instant he learned that person was the Moon Dragon God Selene...

The Celestial Spirit King smiled warmly, patted Leo's shoulder, and said,

"Actually, working under Selene isn't so bad."

"Keep it up."

"I believe in you."

"..."

At that moment...

Leo had truly experienced despair.

Eventually, after exhausting every possible idea, he finally reached an agreement with Selene.

As long as he could prove he wasn't just a useless womanizer...

But a useful womanizer capable of helping his master Lucy...

He would be allowed to leave Selene's service and return to his normal life.

Therefore...

To Lucy, this year's S-Class Exam was merely another test.

To Leo...

It was a battle for survival.

"Lucy!"

"I believe in your potential!"

Leo shouted.

He had already mobilized every connection he possessed.

Monday: Aquarius trained Lucy to withstand tidal waves.

Tuesday: Scorpio trained her to survive desert conditions.

Wednesday: Sagittarius trained her reflexes.

If Lucy reacted even a fraction too slowly...

She would immediately be riddled with arrows.

Thursday: Leo personally trained her hand-to-hand combat.

Friday: Taurus trained her physical strength.

Saturday and Sunday:

All five instructors attacked her simultaneously in comprehensive training.

On top of that...

Leo also recruited Libra to maintain constant gravity magic on Lucy...

Giving her the equivalent of training inside a gravity chamber.

As for rest?

From this day onward...

That word no longer existed in Lucy's life.

...

While Lucy silently prayed for her future...

The entirety of Fairy Tail entered a state of intense competition.

Even Kagura...

A perennial S-Class candidate who had failed countless times...

Was giving everything she had.

At this moment...

Every Fairy Tail mage shared only one goal—

Defeat their comrades.

Reach the summit.

Become an S-Class Mage.

Indeed...

When it came time to eliminate their own companions...

The people of Fairy Tail showed absolutely no hesitation.

In terms of darkness...

They were even worse than Dark Guild mages.

...

Time passed quickly.

A month disappeared in the blink of an eye.

"I can't do it anymore!"

Lucy collapsed onto the sand, crying in despair.

Surrounding her...

Were numerous Zodiac Spirits.

Since Leo had summoned them using his authority as the leader of the Celestial Spirits, they were consuming their own magic power rather than Lucy's.

Thus...

Five Zodiac Spirits stood together at once.

An astonishing sight.

"With the Princess's current strength..."

"She has absolutely no chance against Fairy Tail's other S-Class candidates."

"My recommendation, Senior Leo..."

"You should wash yourself thoroughly and present yourself to Lady Selene as a gift."

"That is your optimal choice."

"Yes."

"You should prepare to serve Lady Selene for the rest of your life."

Virgo, as sharp-tongued as ever, calmly delivered her merciless verdict.

"No!"

"Absolutely not!"

"I refuse to sacrifice my entire garden because of that tyrannical dragoness!"

Leo clutched his head and wailed.

He swore...

He would escape Selene's grasp.

"Leo."

"So all this hard work really wasn't for my sake."

Lucy shouted angrily from the sand.

"Enough!"

"At this point..."

"I have no choice."

"I'll use my ultimate technique."

Leo suddenly seemed to think of something.

"Ultimate technique?"

Lucy blinked.

"A technique that can guarantee your promotion to S-Class."

Leo answered seriously.

"You had something like that all along?!"

"Why didn't you use it earlier?!"

Lucy nearly exploded.

"Idiot!"

"If it's an ultimate technique..."

"Of course it can only be used at the most critical moment!"

Leo scolded.

"Uh..."

Lucy reluctantly admitted...

That actually made sense.

"I'm only doing this because there's no other choice."

"Normally..."

"I would never use such a forbidden secret technique."

"I only hope the great Celestial Spirit King can forgive me..."

Leo clasped his hands in prayer.

Gulp.

Lucy swallowed nervously.

This was the first time she'd ever seen Leo this serious.

She couldn't help anticipating...

What kind of ultimate spell was powerful enough to guarantee her promotion.

Surely...

He was about to teach her some invincible secret magic.

"Hello?"

"Brandish?"

"I have a job for you."

"That's right."

"I want you to assassinate every other Fairy Tail mage who might participate in this year's S-Class Mage Exam..."

"Leave Lucy as the only candidate."

"Thanks."

Just as Lucy watched expectantly...

Leo calmly took out his communication lacrima...

And called Brandish.