novelraw Chapter 322 Chekhov's Shot
Chapter 322 Chekhov's Shot
Chapter 322 Chekhov's Gun (Please subscribe!)
Makarov did not announce the news immediately. Laxus had not yet returned. Since he had made the decision, he would definitely announce it openly and honestly in front of Laxus.
This forced Moen to stay in Magnolia for the rest of the time, since he would definitely have to be there when the announcement was made. If Laxus returned and he wasn't there, the timing would never match up.
In the early morning, the faint sunlight shone into the room through the wooden window. Moen woke up from his sleep, sat up, stretched, and then quickly got out of bed without lingering.
The first thing Moen did after getting up was to touch the bedside table.
The book "Memories of Time," which was sealed by the "crystal wall," sat peacefully on the bedside table. The four-leaf clover on the cover looked even greener, with a strange vitality.
Judging by the time, it's likely that the cooldown has finished, and this magic book that can travel back in time can be used again.
"Everything is fine at the moment."
Moen picked up the book and entered the study. The study was quite spacious. As soon as you entered, you could see the exquisite desk, which was placed by the window facing the door. The walls on both sides were lined with bookshelves, densely filled with all kinds of books.
These books were all compiled by Moen from the Fairy Tail library. The Fairy Tail library has so many books that it covers all aspects of life. Some of these books are so well-known that even the old man doesn't know when they were put there. The library is a true treasure trove.
Of course, all the copies here are photocopies. The originals are still kept in the library. Guild property is guild property, and it's definitely not allowed to take them home. Borrowing one occasionally is fine, though.
Moen placed "Memories of Time" in the center of the left bookshelf. For some reason, he felt that he would need this thing again in the future, like a "Chekhov's gun" that had been laid out for so long, it was bound to come in handy eventually.
After putting "Memories of Time" away, Moen sat down in a chair. On the desk was a notebook with only the title written on it.
This is "The Return of the Great Detective," currently in the "New Document" state. The heavily modified version of Sherlock Holmes will eventually be "resurrected," otherwise he'll be overwhelmed with criticism.
Fortunately, some time ago, Moen specifically asked Lucy to spread the news that the story would continue through the "Fan Club," which stopped the fans from sending letters to "Fairy Tail" and "Fairy House," allowing everyone to have some peace for a while.
However, because the new book has been delayed for a long time, fans have already started sending letters urging for the manuscript to be completed. Since Mo En was forced to stay at home during this period, he naturally prepared to start working.
However, even after work, daily training couldn't be neglected. Moen quickly washed up and went out for training.
"Moen, I'm here!"
When Moen went out, Gray was already waiting outside. He greeted Moen with a smile and followed behind him as they ran into the depths of the forest, seemingly quite familiar with the route.
"It's your first day back, aren't you going to rest for a bit?"
Moen asked Gray in surprise. Gray really did follow him to train whenever he had free time. The boy's strength improved visibly. Not a single drop of sweat was wasted. Leon's defeat was not unjust.
"I don't need to rest, but I'm not that tired."
Gray shook his head. It was just Leon, not Deliora, so it wasn't enough to make him need to rest.
"Haha~ Leon would be furious if he knew."
Moen chuckled and remarked that Leon's strength was actually quite good. In other mage guilds, he would at least meet the S-class standard. If he corrected his habit of using "Ice Shape Magic" with one hand, he wouldn't be bad among S-class mages.
But compared to Gray, he is still a step behind. Even after correcting his method of using "Ice Shape Magic", Leon could not defeat Gray in his current form.
"After all, he had no one to teach him."
Gray spoke calmly, clearly aware of how he had fallen behind Leon, attributing a significant portion to external factors.
Gray believed that Leon, who was always obsessing over details, had never neglected his magical training. After all, Leon's goal was to defeat "Deliora," so he definitely needed to improve his strength.
However, without guidance, Leon had to rely on his own efforts to learn, which ultimately made him grow faster than someone with guidance and competition.
Thinking of this, Gray felt quite pleased with himself. Natsu didn't get up today, which was good news. He had won today's competition!
"Win a little every day, improve a little more every day, and you will definitely achieve final victory!"
With these thoughts in mind, Gray perked up and became exceptionally excited, a state that continued throughout the training.
"boom!"
Gray was sent flying backward, crashing into the thick rock wall, his ambition vanishing with the impact.
Lying on the ground, looking at the azure sky above the hole, Gray couldn't help but smile bitterly. He had been too excited just now, and had actually challenged Moen, only to be ruthlessly defeated by him.
"Honestly, they don't even think about how this huge pit we're in came to be."
Gray sighed inwardly; he was indeed not on the same level as Moen.
Although Gray didn't witness firsthand how the massive crater deep in the forest was created, he still vividly remembered the terrifying power Moen displayed on "Galna Island"—it looked like he was going to smash the sky to pieces!
"How is it? Want to come again?"
Moen stood casually in front of Gray, extended his hand to him, and asked with a smile.
"Smack."
Gray managed to raise his hand and grab Moen's hand. With Moen's help, he stood up and braced himself against the wall, repeatedly saying, "I'm not coming anymore, I give up."
Gray conceded defeat quickly. In fact, as the gap between him and Moen widened, Gray hadn't dared to challenge Moen so bravely in a long time. This was a difference between him and Natsu.
That kid Natsu still goes through his usual phase, yelling about wanting to challenge this person or that person. After getting beaten up, he'll behave for a while, but he'll always do it again. He's a repeat offender.
Neither of these two personalities is inherently good or bad. Natsu's personality allows him to unleash astonishing power when facing strong enemies, but Gray will not back down when facing strong enemies either; when he goes berserk, he can directly use "Absolute Freeze".
I feel that even with Absolute Freeze... it might not be enough to defeat Morngo...
Although Gray would never use "Absolute Freeze" on Moen, he couldn't help but compare it to his strongest move. Unfortunately, he found it hard to imagine himself using "Absolute Freeze" to defeat Moen's "Athena Exclamation".
"Let's go back."
Moen smiled and put his arm around Gray's arm. With a thought, the two of them arrived above the large hole. The hole had actually been filled with some soil, thanks to the earth-type mages in the guild, but it was clearly still a long way from being completely filled.
However, this is also quite good, as it provides a decent training ground for earth-type mages. They can freely throw soil into it. In the arena, if they were to throw soil or sand around at will, they would have to clean it up themselves afterwards. Here, they don't have to; they can consider it a contribution to filling in the pits.
With his body aching all over, feeling like he was about to fall apart, Gray quickly returned to the "Fairy House." On the way, he stopped by Granny Poliusica's house to get some ointment. Although he was scolded, Gray felt a little better.
"Love! It's Moeng and Gray!"
As soon as they arrived at the entrance of the "Fairy House" residential area, Moen and Gray encountered Natsu and Happy. Happy saw the two of them first and quickly called out to Natsu, who was rushing out.
"They're all back!"
Natsu yelled, looking regretful. He had slept in late today and missed morning training, letting Gray sneak off by himself!
"You're too late."
Although Gray had been wincing in pain just moments before, he immediately perked up upon seeing Natsu. His backache and leg pain disappeared, as if he had taken some kind of magic potion. He then greeted Natsu with a cool expression.
So, having guidance and competition makes all the difference. Even if you're on your deathbed, you still have to fight to the death against your rivals, focusing on making sure they don't feel comfortable at all.
"How...did you get beaten up so badly?"
However, Gray's stubbornness did not fool Natsu, who immediately noticed that something was wrong with Gray. It can only be said that the person who knows you best is your opponent. If there is even the slightest thing that is not right, your opponent will seize on it, even someone as thick-skinned as Natsu.
"6
""
Gray didn't speak for a moment, but Natsu had already learned to answer first.
"You've challenged Moen!"
Natsu looked completely certain; he knew he had found the answer.
"I want to come too!"
Natsu didn't laugh at Gray for overestimating himself. Instead, he made a surprising decision: even after seeing how badly Gray was beaten by Moen, he still challenged Moen.
"6
'
Gray opened his mouth, thinking to himself that Natsu was indeed worthy of his name; he should have thought of it sooner. Of course, this guy wouldn't laugh at him for overestimating himself, because Natsu himself often did the same thing; he was the bravest one.
Natsu...
'
Happy, on the other hand, looked on with pity. He really didn't want to see Natsu get beaten up. Challenging Moen was just asking for a beating.
Yes, he also challenged Mirajane, Erza, Laxus, and Gildarts, except that Mystogan was never around, otherwise even this S-rank Natsu would have challenged them.
Happy, who is almost always by Natsu's side, has seen Natsu get beaten up countless times and feels sorry for him. Unfortunately, Natsu doesn't feel sorry for himself.
"Tomorrow."
Moen smiled and shook his head, declining Natsu's challenge. He had met his exercise target for the day, so he would postpone the beating until tomorrow.
"Okay! It's a deal!"
Natsu jumped up excitedly and clenched his fist. He didn't know what was so exciting about getting beaten up tomorrow. Gray and Happy certainly didn't understand either.
Moen went home, and Gray, Natsu, and Happy followed him.
"Natsu, you apply the paint to Gray."
Moen raised his hand and threw the ointment he had gotten from Granny Poliusica directly to Natsu, instructing him to apply it to Gray.
"Why did you make me do this?!"
Natsu immediately protested, saying he didn't want to help Gray apply the ointment!
"I don't want you to apply it! Give me the ointment!"
Upon hearing this, Gray immediately glared at Natsu and reached out for the ointment, as he was capable of applying it himself.
"If you don't apply it, I won't play with you tomorrow."
Moen, who was about to take a shower, said something that immediately changed Natsu's attitude. The fire dragon took back the ointment that he was about to hand over and was about to apply it to Gray without saying a word.
"I'll do it myself!"
"That's not up to you!"
Gray was still resisting, but Natsu's hands were already covered in ointment. Although he said he was applying ointment, the two of them started wrestling.
"What are you two doing?"
Erza, who had just entered the house, was surprised to see Natsu and Gray wrestling in the living room of the Moen family. Lucy, who was beside her, also looked at the two clowns with curiosity.
"Natsu is applying ointment to Gray."
Habife explained from the side that he didn't find the scene strange at all.
"You really wouldn't know unless you were told."
Lucy remarked, "Isn't this clearly a fight?"
"Bang! Bang!"
After two muffled thuds, the living room fell silent. Natsu, with a large bump on his head, obediently applied medicine to Gray, who also had a large bump on his head. The two then engaged in a staring contest.
Erza stood with her arms crossed, her posture upright, supervising the two. Her sharp gaze swept between Natsu and Gray like a searchlight, and the invisible pressure made the air seem to freeze. If either Natsu or Gray made the slightest move, they might be punished by her righteous iron fist.
Seeing this inexplicably harmonious scene, Lucy couldn't help but lower her head and smirk. She secretly gave Erza a thumbs up, silently expressing her admiration for the "Queen's" powerful suppression. Natsu and Gray were as obedient as two little chicks.
After Erza nodded slightly in response, Lucy walked briskly up the stairs, passed through the second-floor corridor as if she knew the way well, and headed straight for Moen's study.
As Moen's apprentice and a companion who had grown up with him in the guild since they were twelve years old and who practically considered this place their second home, Lucy naturally didn't need to be polite at Moen's house.
Lucy loved reading, so Moen’s study was naturally open to her, just as the recording studio was open to Mira and the music room to Emerald.
Of course, before going to the study, Lucy obediently asked Moen for permission and received a response from Moen, who was taking a bath.
Lucy pushed open the heavy wooden door to the study, and a unique aroma of old books, paper, ink, and wooden bookshelves filled the air.
A reassuring scent wafted over her, and she took a deep breath of the familiar aroma, her gaze instinctively sweeping towards the large desk placed by the window.
"The Return?!"
Lucy looked at the desk and naturally saw the book "Sherlock V: The Return of the Great Detective" which was still in the "New Document" state. This made Lucy's eyes light up instantly, like an explorer who had discovered a treasure. She immediately went closer.
Sure enough, Moenge wasn't lying to her. "Sherlock Holmes IV: The Final Case" is not the end; the story of Sherlock Holmes continues!
Unfortunately, she hasn't actually started writing yet, so she can't sneak a peek. Lucy looked at the bookshelf with considerable disappointment, intending to just pick up a book at random to pass the time.
First, Lucy looked around the bookshelf on the right side of the desk but didn't find anything that interested her. Then she walked to the bookshelf on the left and her eyes were immediately drawn to the book in the middle.
"A four-leaf clover? What kind of book is this?"
Looking at the book, Lucy involuntarily held her breath, a strong curiosity and a strange flutter rising in her heart.
She tiptoed and, with a touch of caution, reached out and took the book, which exuded an unusual aura, from the bookshelf.
When her fingertips touched the spine of the book, the four-leaf clover on the cover seemed to shine brighter for a moment, before returning to its steady and mysterious pulse. The study was unusually quiet, with only the occasional birdsong from outside the window and the faint noise from downstairs.
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