Chapter 190

Chapter 190: Chapter 190

"Damn it... damn it!"

Sho collapsed onto the ground after watching Erza’s memories, all the strength seeming to drain from his body.

"Jellal... that bastard Jellal actually lied to us!"

He looked as though his entire understanding of the past eight years had shattered.

Millianna burst into tears and threw herself into Erza’s arms.

"I’m sorry, Erza..."

Erza gently stroked her hair and shook her head.

"Don’t say that. This wasn’t your fault."

Her expression softened.

"Back then... if anything, I was the one who failed."

"That’s not true!"

Sho clenched his fists.

"We spent all these years without realizing he was lying to us. We’re the idiots here!"

Erza sighed.

Then, looking at the companions she had once believed she had lost forever, she finally showed a relieved smile.

"No."

"The one who should apologize is me."

Her gaze lowered.

"For eight years, I never forgot any of you, but I still couldn’t bring myself to do anything to help."

Erza’s voice became quieter.

"I was too weak."

"I’m sorry."

"That wasn’t Erza-nee’s fault!"

Sho immediately protested.

"It was all Jellal! He was the one threatening you!"

Marshall stood off to the side, quietly muttering to himself.

Still, the atmosphere between them seemed good enough, so he didn’t bother interrupting.

He wasn’t completely incapable of reading the room.

Instead, he left them some space to reunite and walked a short distance away.

Erza’s old companions had now been successfully turned against Jellal, while Erza’s opinion of Jellal had dropped even further.

Marshall had basically accomplished everything he wanted.

So far, the whole situation had gone extremely smoothly.

All that remained was to deal with Jellal.

Then the Tower of Heaven incident should be over.

And yet... Marshall still felt vaguely uneasy.

He couldn’t understand why.

They had already taken down Jose, whose combat power had been over five hundred thousand.

Compared with that, what was there to worry about with Jellal, who was only around the hundred-thousand range?

Marshall genuinely couldn’t see how he was supposed to lose.

After quite some time, Simon finally walked over to him.

Erza and the others were still reminiscing, but Simon felt there were some things they needed to discuss in advance.

"About Erza..."

Marshall glanced at him.

Simon hesitated.

So that was why this guy had reacted so strongly to the way Sho called her "Erza-nee."

Apparently, Marshall was Erza’s new little brother!

Fine.

Since Marshall was young anyway, Simon supposed he could let him have the little-brother position.

Definitely not because he couldn’t beat him.

Marshall looked at him.

"What plans do you have?"

Millianna joined them and answered first.

"Jellal intends to officially begin the ritual tomorrow."

Her expression became serious.

"So we can attack tonight while he isn’t prepared and defeat him in one go!"

She clenched a fist.

"The threats he used against Erza back then don’t work anymore. We’re not helpless children he can manipulate however he wants."

"We’re Mages too!"

Simon glanced at the others, then turned toward Erza.

"There are still people inside the Tower of Heaven who were originally captured as slaves by the Black Magic Cult, right?"

He asked quietly, "Are we rescuing them too?"

"Of course."

Erza answered without hesitation.

"I think the best option is to get everyone out tonight, then surround Jellal tomorrow."

Wally frowned.

"But what if Jellal notices something’s wrong and runs away?"

"He won’t."

Marshall answered immediately.

"Because his real plan is to have Etherion strike the Tower of Heaven."

He folded his arms.

"Until that objective is achieved, he won’t leave."

"Etherion?"

The four stared at him.

Erza explained what they knew.

When she finished, all of them looked shocked.

"What?!"

Sho stared.

"So that’s what all those Lacrima inside the Tower are for?"

His face twisted.

"Jellal never told us any of that!"

"Damn it..."

Wally clenched his teeth.

"We really were just pieces on his board."

"That bastard never treated us as companions at all!"

Millianna suddenly looked alarmed.

"But if that’s true, then shouldn’t we act before tomorrow?"

She looked around anxiously.

"If we don’t stop him from activating Etherion, everyone inside the Tower of Heaven could die!"

"No."

Marshall shook his head.

"We’re going to let him activate it."

Everyone looked at him.

"First of all, Jellal’s Thought Projection is operating inside the Magic Council under the name Siegrain."

Marshall continued calmly.

"If we destroy the Tower too early, Jellal can simply use his Thought Projection as an escape route."

His eyes narrowed.

"And if we fail to expose his identity as a Council member this time, he may create even more trouble later."

Marshall paused.

"Besides..."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"After everything Jellal did to all of you, don’t you want him to experience what it feels like to be abandoned by everyone around him?"

The smile became colder.

"He spent years deceiving people."

Marshall chuckled.

"I wonder whether he’s prepared to be betrayed himself."

The four exchanged looks.

Their eyes immediately lit up.

Millianna was the one who finally asked,

"You know much more about this than we do."

She tilted her head.

"You already have a plan, don’t you?"

"We can cooperate with whatever you need."

"That would certainly make things easier."

Marshall nodded.

"Not that I’m expecting too much from you, but I might as well hear what kinds of Magic you can use."

Sho’s eye twitched.

"You bastard..."

Still, he answered honestly.

"I use Card Magic."

He held up one of his cards.

"I can seal people and objects inside cards and store them there."

"Oh?"

Marshall became interested.

"Spatial Magic?"

He nodded.

"Not bad."

Wally spoke next.

"My Polygon Magic lets me turn my body into blocks."

He demonstrated briefly.

"I can also make my hands appear in different locations."

Then he shrugged.

"But for actual attacks, I mostly rely on my gun."

"You’re using Spatial Magic too?"

Marshall gave him another look.

"You people actually have some pretty unusual talents."

Millianna shrank slightly under Marshall’s gaze.

She was still somewhat afraid of him.

"I-I use Cat Magic."

She touched the magical ears on her head.

"I can transform into a cat..."

Then she nervously lifted her rope.

"And this rope can restrict an enemy’s Magic Power."

Marshall stared at her.

"...I think I understand now."

He rubbed his chin.

"You’re all basically self-taught, aren’t you?"

Millianna blinked.

"Yes."

That explained it.

Magic awakened naturally through personal instinct was often incredibly strange and lacked any systematic structure.

Millianna had probably awakened her transformation ability through an intense desire to become like a cat.

As for the rope she created, its Magic-sealing effect was most likely achieved by restricting the flow of Magic Power.

Its utility wasn’t bad.

The rope itself simply wasn’t especially durable.

After thinking it over, Marshall turned toward Simon.

"What about you?"

"I use Darkness Magic."

Simon answered.

"I can deprive someone of their sight."

He paused.

"And I know some basic Telepathy too."

"Good."

Marshall nodded immediately.

"Then you and Sho will handle the rescue operation."

He pointed toward Simon.

"Use your Magic to cover the operation, while Sho seals everyone into cards and gets them out."

Marshall looked between them.

"Can you do that?"

"Of course."

"Good."

Then Marshall turned toward Wally.

"Square-face."

Wally’s expression twitched.

"You look like you can act reasonably well."

Marshall continued,

"Can you keep Jellal distracted without making him suspicious?"

Wally grinned.

"Leave it to me."

"Then that settles it."

Marshall nodded.

"The three outside reinforcements Jellal hired can be left to Erza and us."

He began organizing the rest in his head.

"As for the exact sequence of the operation—"

"Eh?"

Millianna suddenly raised her hand.

"W-Wait."

Marshall looked over.

"What?"

"What about me, nya?"

"You?"

Marshall gave her a flat look.

"Go be the mascot."

Millianna froze.

"A cat isn’t useful for much else."

"H-How mean..."

Her ears drooped.

Erza immediately pulled Millianna into her arms and comforted her.

"There, there. Don’t cry."

She smiled.

"Marshall just doesn’t want you getting dragged into anything dangerous."

"He’s always very gentle with girls."

Millianna sniffled.

"R-Really?"

"Of course."

Erza hesitated for a moment.

"And, um... there’s actually something else."

Millianna looked up.

"Marshall already has a cat named Ruby."

Erza smiled awkwardly.

"So, Millianna... maybe don’t use that name for yourself around him."

"A cat?!"

Millianna’s mood changed instantly.

"Can I see her?!"

Marshall sighed.

"After this is over, you can look as much as you want."

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