Chapter 656 - 656: Freedom

The moment Lucy told Athena that there was nothing strange about a doll wanting to live, Athena's eyes suddenly opened. For the first time, something seemed to shine within them.

"Aren't you already alive right now?" Lucy asked with an encouraging smile.

The corners of Athena's mouth slowly curved upward without her even realizing it.

Humans called that expression a smile, and to Raizel, Ultear, and the others, there was nothing artificial about it anymore.

Elefseria noticed it as well, his expression filling with surprise.

"She smiled... Athena really does have emotions..."

The realization clearly shook him, but he quickly composed himself and continued listening.

Still wearing that faint smile, Athena resumed her story. "After I entered the outside world, I experienced many things. People gradually began gathering around me, and before I realized it, the White Magic cult known as Rebellious had come into existence."

After the fall of Tartaros, various dark cults had begun rising in prominence, particularly those devoted to the Black Mage Zeref.

In contrast, Athena's tremendous power and pure white appearance naturally drew people toward her, and the number of believers surrounding her gradually increased.

Rebellious, however, had never been founded through deliberate preaching on Athena's part.

Its followers had gathered around her of their own accord, which was also why the White Magic cult had never caused the same kind of widespread trouble as the Black Magic cults.

"Even though many people came to worship me, I was never satisfied," Athena continued. "What I wanted was emotion. And that was when the Duke-sama you met appeared before me."

"!!"

Cold sweat immediately appeared on Elefseria's forehead.

Lucy frowned. "But he was already dead. And it's not like he was some kind of spirit like Wraith."

Athena nodded. "I thought the same thing. My understanding was not mistaken—he is not the real Duke-sama."

"Then why did you stay with him?" Lucy asked, clearly unable to understand.

"Because he made me an offer, much like the one you made when you asked me to become your friend. His proposal made the question of whether he was truly Duke-sama irrelevant to me."

Athena paused briefly before continuing. "The false Duke told me that he had discovered a way to transmute my 'emotions,' and asked me to assist him."

Mira nodded in understanding. "So he targeted exactly what you wanted most. That's why you left Rebellious and returned to Gold Owl, where you've stayed ever since."

Elefseria let out a long sigh.

"Until very recently, I still believed you were sealed away. I didn't even know this false Duke existed..."

"He is neither a fake nor the real Duke-sama."

Athena said it so calmly that it took everyone a moment to process how bizarre the statement actually was.

Even Raizel, who had been lounging somewhat lazily until then, straightened in his seat.

"What does that mean?"

"He is a 'concept,'" Athena answered. "An existence created by giving physical form to the concept of Duke."

"Concept..."

Raizel, Ultear, Mira, and Lucy exchanged looks.

Then all four spoke at almost exactly the same time.

"Viernes, the Gold Dragon God!"

"What are you guys talking about?" Wendy asked, completely lost.

Natsu looked just as confused.

Selene had once explained that Viernes existed as something closer to a concept than an ordinary living being, and after they accepted the Hundred Years Quest, she had made sure Ultear and the others understood what little was known about him.

Athena looked mildly surprised.

"I didn't expect you to already know that."

She nodded and continued, "The false Duke is an illusion created through alchemy. Even Gold Owl itself is, in a sense, an alchemist..."

She paused and corrected herself.

"No. It would be more accurate to say that the entire guild is the will of the Gold Dragon God, Viernes."

"..."

A profound silence fell across Magia Dragon, so complete that even the smallest sound would have been audible.

"The guild itself is an alchemist?"

"The will of Viernes?"

Ultear, Mira, and Lucy lowered their heads, trying to digest the information.

Wendy scratched her cheek awkwardly.

"I don't understand any of this..."

Raizel decided to simplify it.

"In plain language, Gold Owl is Viernes—or at least a part of him."

Erza immediately asked, "So it's some kind of mimicry?"

Athena shook her head.

"No. Viernes no longer possesses a physical body."

"That's impossible!" Elefseria's eyes widened violently. He shook his head several times before raising his voice. "I've seen him before!"

"More precisely, he once had a body," Athena explained calmly. "He later lost it. In his current state, he survives as something resembling a concept."

Mira rested her chin on her left hand, lightly tapping her cheek with one finger.

"A concept... How are we supposed to defeat something like that?"

Erza cautiously suggested, "Would destroying the Gold Owl guild hall work?"

Ultear immediately shook her head.

"I doubt it. If his will can attach itself to a building, then there's no reason it couldn't simply attach itself to something else afterward."

Raizel remained silent, thinking through possible solutions of his own.

"Then what are we supposed to do?" Kagura asked with a frown.

A sword could be as sharp as anything in the world, but even the finest blade could not cut something as intangible as a concept.

Kiria's supposed ability to "cut strength" was only a form of hypnosis, after all.

It was hardly proof that abstract concepts could literally be severed.

"Are you guys still talking about this? Just beat him up and we're done! Wahahaha!"

Natsu planted his hands on his hips and laughed with complete confidence.

"..."

Lucy stared at him.

"No! We literally just explained why that isn't possible! Why do you refuse to understand?!"

"It isn't impossible," Athena said. "There is a way to defeat him."

She smiled confidently, then stopped talking.

Everyone waited.

Athena continued smiling.

"Don't leave us hanging!"

"Explain."

"Go into detail."

Under the barrage of impatient demands, Athena finally continued.

"Viernes no longer possesses a body. Calling his current existence a 'concept' or 'will' is simply one way of describing it. In terminology more familiar to Mages, his condition could be described as an Enchantment."

"Only his will remains, Enchanted onto Gold Owl. Through that state, he created the false Duke-sama and has been using my power."

Elefseria nodded slowly as the pieces began to fit together.

"Using your power... I see. If Viernes intends to use you to kill the other five Dragon Gods, that would make sense. They've always competed with one another, each seeking an advantage over the rest."

"But without a physical body, Viernes still can't actually be defeated..." Erza murmured, resting her chin on one hand.

"I keep telling you, just punch him!" Natsu insisted, still looking excited.

Lucy sighed helplessly beside him.

"And we keep telling you that won't work."

Raizel ignored the argument and looked directly at Athena.

"So what's the method you mentioned?"

"There is a way... but..."

Athena fell silent again.

"But what?" Happy asked, looking up at her.

After hesitating for a while, Athena finally answered.

"I don't know what I should do."

She did not know whether she should help Fairy Tail or continue assisting Viernes in the hope that he could give her the emotions she desired.

Her thoughts were pulling her in completely opposite directions.

Lucy frowned.

"But if the false Duke is actually Viernes, then according to the purpose you were originally created for, doesn't that technically make him your enemy?"

"And he treated you horribly," Wendy added. "He genuinely tried to kill you."

Raizel looked at Athena for a moment before speaking.

"Duke may have created you, but if what you really want is to understand emotions, then the first thing you need isn't someone else deciding your purpose for you."

Athena slowly raised the head she had been hanging.

Raizel continued calmly.

"You need freedom."

Athena stared at him.

"Freedom...?"

---------

Read 40 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.

patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator