Fairy Tail: Collapsing Stars

Chapter 496: Future Lucy: Where Are There Ten Thousand Dragons?! Layla: That's Too Few, Not Enough for Fairy Tail to Kill!

"Could it be that you already know that I…"

Future Lucy, or rather, Lucy from another timeline, trembled slightly after hearing Layla's words.

Future Lucy had originally intended to pretend to be the Lucy of this timeline, properly meet her parents in this world, and then leave without looking back, as though she had never come here in the first place. However, what shocked and stunned Future Lucy now was that her identity had actually been recognized at a glance by her mother from this timeline.

"Using the Eclipse Gate to save the world is a responsibility that we Heartfilias bear!"

"It's just that I originally thought this responsibility would end with my generation! There would be no need to place this responsibility upon your shoulders anymore. Yet what I never expected was that you ultimately still couldn't escape using the Eclipse Gate to save the world you live in… Perhaps this is simply the fate of our Heartfilia family~"

"However, even if this is a responsibility borne by our Heartfilia family throughout countless universes and countless timelines, I will still break it for you to see… After all, I am your mother."

Layla gently held Lucy's little hand and spoke earnestly and seriously. Perhaps a mother truly became stronger for the sake of her child. Layla, who looked even younger than Lucy, possessed a will as firm as steel at this moment.

"M-Mother…"

"Actually, I-I'm not your daughter. I'm not the Lucy of this timeline."

After hearing Layla's words, Lucy felt warmth in her heart. At the same time, her eyes turned red, and she couldn't help but reveal her identity herself.

"Silly child. As long as you are Lucy, then you are my daughter, regardless of whether you come from the past, the future, or any other timeline."

After hearing Lucy's words, a warm smile appeared on Layla's face. She gently reached out and stroked Lucy's little head, speaking softly.

"Wuwu…"

After hearing Layla's words, Lucy could no longer hold herself back. She curled up in Layla's embrace, greedily breathing in the reassuring and familiar scent of her mother, while continuously murmuring, "Mother, I missed you so much. I thought I would never be able to see you again in my entire life."

"But you're seeing me now, aren't you?!"

"Lucy, if something is bothering you, don't keep it bottled up inside. Just tell Mother! Mother will find a way to help you solve it."

Layla gently stroked Lucy's head and spoke softly.

"Mother, the world I live in encountered a group of very, very powerful enemies!"

"We did everything we could. We really did everything we could, but we still couldn't defeat them! They were too powerful. Ordinary magic couldn't even hurt them…"

"My companions, the friends I knew, my family! One after another, they fell before my eyes, while I could do nothing to help. In the end, I was the only one who survived. Only I survived, wuwuwu…"

At this moment, Lucy was like a child who had suffered an enormous injustice outside. Nestled in her mother's embrace, she continuously cried about all the hardships and experiences she had endured over the years.

"Lucy, you've suffered so much all these years…"

Listening to Lucy's words, Layla's brows furrowed tightly. Her hand gently stroked Lucy's back, her heart filled with unbearable pain over all the suffering Lucy had endured throughout these years. Layla would rather have endured all those hardships in her daughter's place.

"Damn it!"

On the other side, at the corner of the staircase, Jude stood there with a cigarette between his lips, continuously taking puffs while muttering "puff, puff." His brows had already knitted into a tight knot. Although Jude couldn't hear what Lucy was saying to Layla, he could see his daughter sobbing uncontrollably. Clearly, Lucy hadn't been living comfortably during these years.

"With Layla's Celestial Spirit and Brandish's help, Lucy could still have lived such an unhappy life. Where exactly has she been all these years?!"

Jude gradually calmed down. At the same time, he was puzzled by what his daughter had experienced throughout these years. Jude also began thinking: if even Brandish couldn't deal with whatever had happened, could he, Jude, really deal with it?!

"Forget it! Even if I have to spend my entire fortune, I'll make those who bullied Lucy understand that there will be absolutely no good ending for anyone who offends a member of the Heartfilia family…"

After thinking for a moment, Jude firmly made up his mind. At worst, he would spend his entire fortune and invite every powerful Mage in the Kingdom of Fiore. He refused to believe that he couldn't get justice for Lucy.

Moreover, with Jude's current financial resources, let alone hiring powerful Mages, even mobilizing the armies of several surrounding countries wouldn't be difficult. The Heartfilia family was now truly wealthy enough to rival entire nations. The Heartfilia family's railway tracks had already been laid throughout the entire continent of Ishgar, and recently, even development projects in the Western Continent had gradually begun…

"Wuwu…"

Lucy lay in Layla's embrace like a little child. After crying her heart out for a while, she gently wiped her eyes and then slowly slipped out of Layla's embrace.

"Mother, I don't want to trouble you with this!"

"Besides, this is something you definitely can't help me with. The enemy this time is simply too powerful. They aren't something an ordinary person can deal with…"

After venting the bitterness in her heart through tears, Lucy's eyes were still red, but they were now filled with determination. At this moment, Lucy seemed to have been reborn and had once again regained her composure.

"Even if I can't solve it for you, I can still help you think of a way, can't I?!"

"Besides, this isn't your world. Although it is very similar to the world you live in, it is also completely different. You don't understand the situation in this world. Tell me about your troubles. Perhaps I can tell you who you should go to in order to solve the troubles in your world."

Layla smiled gently after hearing Lucy's words.

"T-That's true…"

Lucy was stunned for a moment before nodding, because what Layla said indeed made sense.

"Mother, actually…"

"The world I live in was attacked by ten thousand dragons!"

After hesitating for a while, Lucy still told Layla about the disaster her world had encountered.

"An attack by ten thousand dragons?!"

Layla froze after hearing Lucy's words.

From Lucy's description, Layla could also feel that the world Lucy lived in must have experienced a catastrophic disaster comparable to the apocalypse. Otherwise, her daughter Lucy would never have shown such a vulnerable side. Yet no matter how Layla imagined it, she never expected this so-called catastrophic disaster to consist of a full ten thousand dragons…

But speaking of dragons, wasn't this exactly her specialty?!

"Mm…"

"Sure enough, even Mother can't do anything about it, right?!"

"After all, those are dragons! Just one dragon is already something a Mage can't defeat, let alone this time, when there are a full ten thousand of them?!"

Looking at her mother's expression, Lucy revealed a helpless look. The moment Lucy saw the shock on Layla's face, she knew that her mother couldn't help her either…

Of course, Lucy had no intention of blaming Layla. She had no reason whatsoever to blame Layla in the first place. She had simply still held onto a little expectation after hearing her mother's words, hoping that a miracle might happen.

After all, Lucy had already witnessed too many miracles after arriving in this world. Now, Lucy could only silently hope, hoping that another miracle like the fact that her mother was still alive in this world would happen once again!

"Lucy, what are you thinking?!"

"Don't be too greedy! Mother is still alive in this world. Isn't that enough?!"

However, after that brief moment of expectation, Lucy herself immediately destroyed that hope deep within her heart.

She had already gained enough in this world. She had never been a greedy person. Besides, if she relied on others for everything, wouldn't that mean she still hadn't grown at all?!

If she were still like before, when she had used the Eclipse Gate to travel through time, needing her companions to help her with everything while she herself couldn't accomplish anything properly…

"Isn't it just ten thousand dragons?! Mother will find a way to help you deal with them!"

However, just as Lucy was persuading herself not to be greedy, Layla suddenly grabbed Lucy's hand tightly and spoke excitedly.

"What?!"

Lucy was slightly stunned after hearing Layla's words, her eyes filled with disbelief.

"Mother, you mean you'll help me deal with them?!"

Lucy wasn't entirely certain, so she asked Layla again.

"Of course! They're merely dragons. It's not a big deal!"

Layla nodded seriously after hearing Lucy's question.

"But those aren't one dragon. There are ten thousand of them!"

Lucy spoke seriously after hearing Layla's words.

"So what if there are ten thousand?!"

"Even if there are ten thousand dragons, Mother can still find a way to kill them all for you!"

Layla was overflowing with enthusiasm at this moment. She had even found a trace of the feeling she had back when she had wandered the world as a Celestial Spirit Mage.

"Eh?!"

After hearing her mother's bold declaration, Lucy was completely stunned. It was as if this was the first time she had ever seen her mother like this.

Lucy remembered that the Layla in her memories had always been beautiful and dignified, like a perfect and magnificent golden rose forged from gold.

However, the Layla before her now was lively and energetic, practically eager to personally charge into battle and help Lucy defeat those ten thousand dragons.

"Hehe, Miss Lucy, it looks like this is your first time seeing Miss Layla like this, right?!"

"Actually, Miss Layla has always been like this. It's just that after Miss Layla met Master Jude, took on the responsibility of the Heartfilia family, and then had you, Miss Lucy, she became much more composed…"

Just as Lucy was staring at her mother in shock, a maid came before Lucy and spoke with a smile.

"Hm?!"

Lucy turned toward the voice. She saw that the maid who had spoken had long emerald-green hair and looked to be around thirty years old. However, judging from the way she spoke, Lucy could tell that this maid was around the same age as her mother.

"You, you are?!"

Lucy looked at the maid before her and was slightly stunned. She felt as though she had seen this maid somewhere before, but she couldn't remember the woman's name.

"I'm Grammi! I'm Miss Layla's substitute maid. Miss Lucy, don't you remember me?! You even let me hold you when you were little~"

"You're really hurting my feelings…"

The green-haired maid was naturally Grammi. Seeing Lucy stare at her for so long without being able to say her name, Grammi spoke with a slightly hurt expression.

"S-Sorry…"

"In the world I come from, Mother… died when I was very young! After that, Father dismissed all of Mother's personal maids! Because Father was afraid that seeing them would remind him of her…"

Lucy first softly apologized to Grammi before casually telling Layla and the others about the situation in her world.

"Lucy, I'm sorry. It seems that you really endured far too much in the world you come from…"

When Layla heard that she had died very early in the world where this other-world Lucy came from, she didn't feel sad at all. Instead, she apologized to her daughter. She regretted that she had been unable to raise her daughter herself, and she also regretted that the version of herself in that world had been unable to see her daughter grow into an adult.

"No! Mother has nothing to feel guilty about!"

"On the contrary, I was simply too immature when I was little! Being able to see Mother one more time in this world, I'm already completely satisfied!"

After hearing Layla's words, Lucy shook her head repeatedly. Then she looked at her mother Layla with an extremely serious expression, expressing the longing and affection she felt for her.

"…"

Layla didn't say anything more. She simply held Lucy gently in her arms and stroked the back of her head, just as she had when Lucy was a child, gently holding and comforting her.

Time passed second by second…

Lucy didn't know when she had fallen asleep. When Lucy opened her eyes again, the sky had already changed from day to night.

"Oh my~"

"Lucy, you're awake?"

Layla, who was reading a book, smiled when she saw Lucy wake up with her head resting on her lap and greeted her warmly.

"Mother…"

"How many hours did I sleep?!"

Lucy was still drowsy at this moment. She had just awakened and didn't seem fully conscious yet. In her hazy state, she greeted her mother Layla.

"You slept for about four hours. It wasn't very long…"

"It's about time for dinner anyway! Our family hasn't gathered together for a meal in a long time."

Layla gently stroked Lucy's little head and spoke softly.

"Four hours have already passed?!"

At this moment, Lucy finally woke up completely. After hearing Layla's words, a trace of shock flashed across her face, and she immediately broke free from Layla's embrace.

"Mother, I understand your kindness, but I can't keep waiting any longer! My companions are still waiting for me to save them. Perhaps every second I delay, someone among them will die! I can't enjoy peace and tranquility here alone while they are fighting desperately for me! Although war and bloodshed are things that we don't desire, that is my fate."

Lucy straightened her body, her gaze filled with determination. If everything before her were merely a dream, she wished that this dream could last a little longer, preferably forever. But she couldn't! The world she came from was already on the verge of destruction. She couldn't enjoy peace while abandoning her companions. She had to find a way to save those companions who trusted her!

"Lucy…"

After hearing Lucy's words, Layla's eyes flashed with emotion. Layla knew that her precious daughter had grown up.

"Lucy, I already told you. I'll solve your problem!"

"Besides, your opponents are ten thousand dragons. Even if you leave now, you absolutely won't be a match for ten thousand dragons!"

"Moreover, as long as we make proper use of the Eclipse Gate, we can completely avoid the outcome of those ten thousand dragons invading the capital and eliminate every danger invading your world!"

"Lucy, trust me…"

Looking at the grown-up Lucy, Layla gently stood up. With her fair hand, she softly caressed Lucy's cheek and tried to persuade her.

"This…"

Lucy hesitated slightly after hearing Layla's words.

However, Lucy ultimately couldn't resist the expectant look in Layla's eyes. She could only silently repent in her heart: "I'm sorry. Let me enjoy this beautiful life, which feels like a dream, one last time! Please!"

"Take Miss Lucy to bathe and change her clothes."

Layla saw the hesitation in Lucy's eyes. Without giving Lucy any time to think further, she directly gave the maids behind her an order.

"Yes, ma'am!"

As Layla's voice fell, one maid after another approached Lucy and pulled her toward the bathing room in the distance.

"Eh?! Wait, I…"

For a moment, Lucy was half-resisting and half-complying as the maids took her to the bathing room.

"Wow~ Miss Lucy's skin is so smooth~"

"Miss Lucy, how do you take care of your skin? It's so white!"

"As expected of Lady Layla's daughter, even your skin is so beautiful…"

After Lucy entered the bathing room, the sounds of clothes slipping off and the maids' teasing voices soon echoed throughout the room.

"Hey! Wait, I can do it myself!"

"You don't need to help me wash that part…"

"No!!!"

As all the maids acted together, only Lucy's delicate protests remained inside the bathing room. If a Mage from the Fairy Tail guild had been nearby at this moment, they would certainly have been extremely surprised. So Lucy could actually make such a coquettish voice!

An hour later…

Lucy, whose every detail from head to toe had been thoroughly cleaned by the maids, was now standing before Layla in an elegant dress, with her hair carefully styled, looking like a noble young lady.

At this moment, Lucy was wearing an elegant dress, and her body felt extremely awkward. She wasn't accustomed to dressing like a young lady. Although, strictly speaking, she really was a noble young lady—and not just any noble young lady, but the young lady of a wealthy family whose lineage had been passed down for hundreds of years.

"Now that's more like it!"

Even Jude, who had always been known for his sharp tongue and strict-father image, couldn't help nodding after seeing Lucy.

"So embarrassing…"

Lucy blushed at this and sat restlessly in her seat.

At first, Lucy had some difficulty blending into the atmosphere of the Heartfilia family's dinner. However, a few minutes later, she began eating slowly and elegantly with a smile, just like Layla and Jude. From time to time, she chatted casually with her mother and father. It could only be said that Lucy was ultimately a descendant of the Heartfilia family…

After Lucy spent a relaxed and pleasant meal with her mother and father, she chatted with Layla and Jude for a long time. She talked about what she had seen and experienced over the years, as well as the happy times she had spent in the Fairy Tail guild. At the same time, Lucy knew that her father Jude was merely an ordinary person who didn't understand magic, so she deliberately concealed the Tenrou Island S-Class Mage exam and everything that happened afterward…

Layla and Jude listened attentively to the stories Lucy told, occasionally nodding. Clearly, both Layla and Jude were very interested in their daughter's adventures. More importantly, Layla and Jude wanted to hear about Lucy's experiences over the years and whether she had encountered anything unpleasant…

Fortunately, Lucy didn't seem to have encountered anything unpleasant in the guild. Every little experience Lucy had in the Fairy Tail guild seemed to have brought her immense happiness.

Soon, night fell…

Layla and Jude finally returned to their respective rooms to sleep.

Of course, Lucy also returned to her room under the guidance of a maid.

"Miss Lucy, this is your room~"

As the head maid of the Heartfilia family, Grammi personally escorted Lucy back to her room and spoke to her warmly.

Lucy looked at the room before her, her heart filled with emotion. This room was practically identical to the room in her own world. It could be seen that the Lucy of this world also had a rather terrible personality, just like her.

"Aunt Grammi, thank you~"

"You should go back and get some rest too!"

After entering the room and taking a moment to reminisce, Lucy smiled at Grammi behind her.

"All right, Miss Lucy. Have a good rest~"

Grammi smiled gently at Lucy, then turned and left.

However, just as Grammi was about to leave the room, she seemed to remember something. She turned around with a mischievous smile and reminded Lucy, "It's probably none of my business, but I still have to remind you, Miss Lucy! Please remember this. At night, never try to sneak out of the Heartfilia family estate by yourself, especially don't try to escape through your room…"

"Uh…"

Lucy, who had originally been preparing to sit on the bed and rest, was struck by lightning when she heard Grammi's words from outside the door. Her entire body trembled again and again.

"Ahaha, of course I wasn't planning to sneak out in the middle of the night~"

"Honestly, Aunt Grammi! What kind of person do you think I am?!"

When Lucy heard Grammi's words, the smile on her face became somewhat stiff. She didn't know how Grammi had figured out her plan, but now that Grammi had exposed her, she could only speak to Grammi while forcing herself to remain calm.

"Are you really not going to sneak out in the middle of the night?"

However, Grammi seemed to see through Lucy's guilty conscience. She narrowed her eyes and continued questioning Lucy.

"Of course! I swear it in the name of the Lucy of this world!"

Lucy immediately raised her arm and swore.

"All right, then! I believe you~"

Grammi looked deeply at Lucy before smiling gently and turning away.

"Phew…"

After Grammi left, Lucy let out a long breath. There was nothing she could do. Being around Grammi put far too much pressure on her! Lucy didn't know why, but she always felt as though Grammi could see through everything she was thinking.

However, Lucy didn't think too much about it. She soon fell asleep on her large bed.

In the middle of the night…

Around three or four in the morning, when the sky was shrouded in darkness, Lucy, who had kept her eyes tightly closed all this time, suddenly opened her bright eyes. She quietly got out of bed and then walked over to the window before her.

"I'm sorry, Mother. I'm sorry, Father. And I'm sorry, Aunt Grammi!"

"I really can't hesitate any longer. I… have to move forward!"

Deep within her heart, Lucy apologized to her parents and Grammi. She had already made up her mind. She was going to leave under cover of night.

Although Lucy felt somewhat guilty toward her parents and Grammi, she had a mission on her shoulders. She had to save the companions in her world!

As for the oath Lucy had sworn earlier, she had sworn it in the name of the Lucy of this world. It had nothing to do with her~

Thinking this, Lucy walked directly to the window. First, she removed the curtains and twisted them into a rope to use for climbing down from the upper floor. Then she opened the window and threw the rope down. Next, she took off the troublesome dress she was wearing and changed into clothes suitable for movement. After everything was ready, Lucy was prepared to set off…

However, the moment Lucy's body left the window, a series of transparent characters suddenly floated across the window.

"A magic array!"

When Lucy saw those characters, her heart suddenly trembled. Grammi's blessing from earlier immediately echoed in her mind, warning her never to try to leave the estate at night. At this moment, Lucy finally understood what Grammi had meant…

At night, anything could leave this estate.

Except Lucy!

"Boom!"

Just as Lucy was wondering what was happening, the magic array suddenly transformed into a bolt of lightning and struck down toward Lucy.

"A Full Counter Magic Array?!"

Lucy trembled as she looked at the lightning flashing before her. Before she could think any further, endless lightning had already descended upon her body.

"I…"

Lucy felt extremely bitter at this moment, her stomach full of frustration.

Lucy didn't know what she should say. She didn't know what the Lucy of this world had done to deserve such heavenly retribution that her parents and kind Aunt Grammi would actually write a magic array beside her window—and not just an ordinary magic array, but the highest-level Full Counter Magic Array, which would trigger a magical attack the moment it was activated!

Just how many magic particles had it taken to successfully inscribe this?!

"Lucy, you really are damned!"

Future Lucy cursed herself before losing consciousness amid the bolts of lightning.

Sunlight poured over her face…

When Lucy regained consciousness, she could already see the sun slowly rising from the east through her window.

"I'm screwed!"

At this moment, Lucy didn't even need to think to know that her plan had failed perfectly.

"Lucy, are you awake? May I come in?"

Just as Lucy was thinking, a knock sounded from outside her door, accompanied by Grammi's voice.

"No! Please wait!"

Lucy panicked. While responding to Grammi outside, she pulled the curtain from outside the window back inside, untied it, and hung it back on the window.

Immediately afterward, having finished all this, Lucy ran toward the elegant dress she had taken off. She needed to change back into it immediately…

Perhaps because Lucy was too anxious, she accidentally struck her fair toes against the leg of the bed. In an instant, pain, numbness, and countless sensations traveled from her toes toward her brain.

"Ouch~"

Lucy immediately lay down on the bed, clutching her toes and speaking with tears at the corners of her eyes.

"Lucy, are you all right? What are you doing? I'm coming in!"

Just as Lucy was holding her delicate foot, her face twisted in pain, the door to her room was gently pushed open.

Seeing that the door was about to open, Lucy knew she had no time left. She could only stuff her long dress beneath the blankets, then quickly pull the covers over herself before Grammi entered.

"Aunt Grammi, let me sleep a little longer. Just a little while~"

By the time Grammi entered Lucy's room, Lucy was already wrapped tightly in the blankets, like a lazy little orange cat, coquettishly pleading with Grammi.

"Lucy, you must be exhausted~"

"Would you like me to have the servants bring breakfast to your room?"

Looking at Lucy hiding beneath the blankets, Grammi's face showed a trace of pity as she asked.

"N-No, that's not necessary…"

Lucy immediately shook her head after hearing Grammi's words, her expression suddenly changing.

"Are you sure you don't need it?!"

Grammi asked with concern.

"I really don't need it. I'll get up right away and go downstairs to have breakfast with Mother and Father!"

Lucy immediately replied.

"Is that so?!"

After hearing Lucy's response, Grammi didn't say anything more.

In Grammi's opinion, Lucy was simply missing her parents too much…

"Then I'll wait for Miss Lucy downstairs!"

"By the way, Miss Lucy, would you like me to call a servant in to help you get dressed? Or perhaps I should personally help you? Come to think of it, it's been more than ten years since I last dressed Miss Lucy. Now that I think about it, I actually miss those days…"

Looking at Lucy, Grammi suddenly thought of something and asked with a smile.

"No! There's no need…"

Lucy immediately shook her head at Grammi, her expression changing dramatically.

"Is that so? What a shame. Then I'll wait for you downstairs, Miss Lucy…"

After saying this, Grammi stopped teasing Lucy and walked out of her room on her own.

"Phew…"

After Grammi left, Lucy slowly exhaled. She had finally managed to fool Grammi.

"As expected, no matter which world's Miss Lucy it is, she's really not obedient~"

On the other side, after leaving Lucy's bedroom, Grammi helplessly sighed.

In fact, in order to better protect Lucy, both Grammi and Layla had learned Observation Haki from Ivan. So unfortunately, Lucy's supposedly flawless acting had actually been completely observed by Grammi and Layla.

What could be said? Only that your mother is still your mother!

"Wash up! Get dressed!"

After Grammi left, Lucy quickly took care of her personal hygiene.

Lucy was very fast. This was a habit she had developed during all these years of living outside!

About fifteen minutes later, Lucy had washed her face, put on her elegant dress, and walked out of her room into the dining room downstairs.

"Lucy, hurry up and eat breakfast! We still have something to do afterward~"

Seeing Lucy come down from the second floor, Layla immediately smiled and called for Lucy to hurry up and eat breakfast.

"Hm? Is there another activity after breakfast?"

Lucy skillfully sat in her seat and waited for the maids to bring breakfast while asking Layla.

"Lucy, what are you talking about? Didn't you say that your world was invaded by ten thousand dragons?"

Layla slightly raised her delicate brows after hearing Lucy's question.

"So?"

Lucy was somewhat confused. She didn't understand what ten thousand dragons had to do with the activity she would be doing later. In Lucy's opinion, Layla's activity was probably just socializing with other nobles.

"What do you mean, 'so'?! Of course I'm taking you to find someone who can defeat those ten thousand dragons!"

Layla spoke helplessly after hearing Lucy's words. She suddenly felt that her eldest daughter was a little naturally airheaded!

"Mm!!"

When Lucy heard Layla's words, she was completely shocked.

"You mean there's someone who can defeat ten thousand dragons!"

"You aren't lying to make me happy, are you?!"

"Those are ten thousand dragons!"

Lucy was shocked as she repeatedly questioned Layla.

"Why would I lie to you about this?!"

Layla seemed somewhat speechless.

"However, although I really haven't lied to you, I have indeed encountered a rather serious problem here!"

A trace of hesitation appeared in Layla's expression.

"A problem?! Could it be that some kind of price needs to be paid?"

"No matter what price I have to pay! I don't care, as long as they can help me eliminate those ten thousand dragons that caused the world I live in to fall into ruin!"

Lucy became emotional. In order to eliminate those ten thousand dragons and save her companions, she wouldn't hesitate even if she had to stake her own life!

"It's not because of something like that. Actually…"

"Lucy, are you sure there are only ten thousand dragons attacking the world you live in?!"

Layla looked at Lucy and asked hesitantly.

"Absolutely!"

Although Lucy didn't know why Layla had emphasized the word "only," she still nodded firmly.

The number of dragons had been counted using a magic radar! It wasn't an estimate. This was an exact number…

"Sigh! That's indeed a little too few…"

After hearing Lucy's words, Layla suddenly sighed and then said something that made Lucy feel as though her entire worldview had collapsed.

"You said it's too few?! Those are ten thousand dragons! A full ten thousand dragons!!"

"We can't even deal with a single dragon!"

Lucy nearly exploded after hearing Layla's words.

"I know! I know there are ten thousand!"

"I told Ivan and the others the same thing, but precisely because Ivan and the others learned that there are ten thousand dragons in your world, they started fighting!"

"They all want to monopolize those ten thousand dragons."

Layla said this while frowning.

"Sigh…"

"If there were a hundred thousand dragons, no—if there were fifty thousand dragons, that would be enough for everyone to share~"

Layla sighed helplessly after hearing Lucy's words. It wasn't that she was overly arrogant. Ten thousand ordinary dragons really were somewhat too few.

"Ah?!"

At this moment, Lucy's eyes widened. She couldn't believe what she had heard.

They actually considered ten thousand dragons too few—not enough to kill?!

Now Lucy became somewhat curious about just how powerful the people her mother Layla had found were, for them to be able to say that ten thousand dragons weren't enough to kill…