"Hurry up!! Bring the wine!! ”

"Haha! Victory again!! ”

"Cheers to our president and advisor!!"

"Oooh——!!!!"

……

The guild headquarters of "Demon Tail" has successfully won the "Snow Mountain Battle" not long ago, and the members of "Snow Mountain Battle" are holding a celebration banquet more excitedly than usual.

Because this time, not only were their guild members unscathed, but even the troops they had incorporated were not killed or wounded, which could be said to be a perfect victory in the true sense of the word.

It's just that when everyone is celebrating, there is a 'protagonist' who is not so happy.

“…… Mebis? ”

After hanging a blonde from the ceiling, the brunette girl, who had just returned from a joint meeting that the guild leaders had to attend, stepped over to her friend's side.

Although the little one had a faint smile on his face, Zela knew that she was rejoicing at the safe return of her guild companions, and that it was not her true idea at all.

In addition to the relief, there is also an emotional color called 'confusion' in those big turquoise eyes.

“……”

"Zela...... How many people died in this battle? ”

Swaying his feet, Mebis lowered his head made a faint sound.

One decision can sometimes take the lives of hundreds of people, and the kind girl bears a huge pressure and burden in her heart.

“…… Mebis, it's war......"

"Hmm...... I know ......"

Sighing softly, Zela understood Mebis very well.

Truth be told, she's also tired of this endless fighting.

They didn't set up this guild for these things.

But the torrent of the times often makes them involuntarily.

In addition, the 'injuries' on the two of them still have some sequelae, so even if Zela has any ideas, he doesn't dare to take Mebis to Hu Lai.

“…… When will this war end......"

"I want ...... Start the real adventure early......"

Pouting, Mebis's disgruntled murmur came again.

（…… ）

(too...... War, it's not a risk, is it...... ）

Deeply sympathetic, the words of the feather-eared girl also spoke to Zela's heart.

The way to 'go back' did not appear, the physical problems were not solved, and the life you wanted was not lived.

In addition to the cultivation of magic, it is still commendable, but it is far from reaching the level where it can challenge the peak powerhouse of this world.

Thinking about it this way, she felt that she might have failed as a born-again......

Alas......

Inexplicably lost, the brown-haired girl silently began to think about life......

（…… That's right! That's good...... ）

Inspiration flashed on the fly, and Zela suddenly looked at the figure of the girl she had grown up with.

"Mebis, after this war is over, let's go back to 'Sirius Island'."

"Just the two of us."

She remembered.

When you are confused, you really have to go back to your starting point to see.

“……！”

“……”

"Hmm!"

From surprise to understanding, the feather-eared girl immediately understood her friend's thoughts.

It feels like they haven't been back for a long time, but it's their 'home'......

They exchanged glances, and the two of them, who were in a better mood, looked at each other and smiled.

The night at the end of winter is mixed with gusts of cold winds, and the snow by the lake adds a bit of frosty aftertaste, but it still can't take away the excitement and warmth that surrounds this guild.

The moon seems to be rounder.

......

*********************************************************************************************************************

In April x688, in order to ensure victory in the war over trade rights, lords from all over the world began to sign perfect employment agreements with the mage's guilds in their cities.

At that time, people did not realize what kind of impact a magician could use mass destruction magic could have on the tide of battle.

Since then, the kingdom of Fiorre, famous for its blooming flowers, has been completely embroiled in the smoke of war, and death and strife have become the main theme of the day.

In May of the same year, under the command of a young girl with feathered ears, the army that had been incorporated into the "Fairy Tail" of the Magus Guild recaptured the garrison of the "Shiloji Gate" with less than three times the strength of the enemy, and became the first battle to establish the name of "Fairy Commander".

In August, an elite raid team led by Yuri Dolea managed to break through the blockade of the town of "Onebas", which was garrisoned by rival mages and guilds, and defeated hundreds of mages including the leader.

In October, the team led by Presitto Gellberg and Volod Sinken was ambushed by the rival Magus Guild on the way back, and was besieged in the "Gunuki Station".

In January X689, the girl, known as the "Fairy Commander", accurately calculated the enemy's plan to attack from the snowy mountain road of "Hakobe Mountain", and instead took advantage of the terrain to carry out an unprecedented 'no casualties battle', putting the heaviest bargaining chip on the balance of victory on the entire southwest front.

After only one year of participating in the war, the "Fairy Tail", a new sorcerer guild that was originally unknown, has repeatedly performed miraculous feats, leading the side that hired them to the disadvantaged side on the path to victory.

It's just that with such brilliant results in a short period of time, Zela's guild will naturally be jealous and hated by people with good intentions.

Among them, it is not only the enemy that includes the enemy, but also the so-called 'Allies Guild' on the same front......

……

************************************************************************************************************************

- March X689, the war zone north of Oshibana.

"Hmm...... Over here...... Over here...... And here......"

"Mr. Commander, please convey it and let the troops on the right flank withdraw."

“——？！”

In a thoughtful pose, Mebis pointed to the drawings depicting the battlefield and gave instructions that surprised the armored soldiers around him.

"What the hell are you talking about?! Isn't the enemy there already fleeing?! Now is your chance to take advantage of the victory! ”

The captain of the soldiers, who was 'deceived' by Mebis's appearance, was not willing to take a little girl's word for it.

What a 'fairy military division' must have been exaggerated!

"That's a trap."

She didn't care about other people's opinions, and the feather-eared girl still explained to the captain word for word the reason for her judgment.

As soon as he said the third, the guy turned pale and ran out, shouting the name of his herald.

"Hoo ......"

After breathing a sigh of relief, the little guy's expression became serious again, and he began to arrange the information and battle situation he had obtained in his mind.

She was always a little uneasy about this battle.

And as the battle unfolds, something becomes more and more incongruous.

(Strange...... How can there be only so many people here...... And the route pointed out by the intelligence is not right...... ）

(Number of people...... Change of location...... Withdrawn routes...... Not! Wrong! Say?! ）

Something wrong with intelligence?!

After circling all the doubts and mismatches, the strange feeling that had been felt all along finally became clear in Mebis's mind.

What's more, when all these seemingly 'small mistakes' converge, they all point to one place.

That's the battlefield where their Fairy Tail leader, Zela, is on.