Chapter 41: FTRJ: Chapter 41

“You’re not taking Erza!” Natsu yelled.

The frog messenger, under the intense gaze of so many, and especially with the presence of someone even the Council wouldn’t readily provoke, nervously swallowed nonexistent saliva.

“It’s a Council order, not my own decision,” the frog messenger stated, trying to maintain a calm demeanor.

Seeing Finn still staring intently at him, the frog messenger shifted his gaze towards Makarov, pleadingly saying, “Master Makarov, please have mercy. I’m just following orders. Please don’t make this difficult for me.”

After a moment of contemplation, Makarov declared, “You can take Erza, but you’ll have to arrest me as well. After all, I’m guilty of lax supervision, wouldn’t you agree?”

Makarov stepped out from the crowd, positioning himself directly in front of the frog messenger. He extended both hands, gesturing for the messenger to handcuff him.

The frog messenger was on the verge of tears; he wouldn’t dare handcuff a Ten Wizard Saint!

Just then, Finn intervened, gently lowering Makarov’s hands. “Master, let me handle this. You’re getting on in years.”

Turning his attention to the frog messenger, Finn stated, “There shouldn’t be a problem with me observing the proceedings, should there?

It’s only fair to ensure that our guild members aren’t subjected to any unjust treatment.”

Finn’s gaze remained unwavering as he issued a veiled threat. “If you have any objections, then send those old geezers themselves to fetch us.”

The frog messenger, caught in a difficult position, weighed his options for a long moment before finally letting out a heavy sigh.

“Very well,” he conceded, his voice laced with resignation. He reached for the handcuffs, intending to restrain Erza, but Finn swiftly intervened, intercepting his movement.

“We’re not going anywhere. What’s the point of the handcuffs?” Finn stated calmly.

“R-right,” the frog messenger stammered, relieved to find a way out of the increasingly uncomfortable situation.

He wasn’t about to risk incurring the wrath of such powerful mages. His primary objective was simply to deliver the individuals to the Council; causing further trouble might jeopardize his own safety.

“Let’s go,” Finn said, leading the way.

As they walked, Finn placed a comforting hand on Erza’s crimson hair. “Don’t worry,” he whispered, “they won’t dare do anything.”

Erza nodded, her apprehension noticeably eased by Finn’s reassuring presence, and together, they set off towards the Council headquarters.

…

Back at the Fairy Tail Guild, the usual boisterous atmosphere was noticeably absent. Well, almost. Natsu was still causing a ruckus.

“Why did they take Erza?! She didn’t do anything wrong!” Natsu roared, his voice echoing through the guild hall.

“Natsu, shut up,” Gray snapped, his patience wearing thin.

“It’s the Council. Technically, they’re our superiors. We’re powerless,” Gray said, his voice heavy with dejection.

“What’s this crap about the Council? Just burn the whole place down!” Natsu continued to rant, his anger unabated.

Makarov, his cane rapping sharply against the floor, brought Natsu’s outburst to an abrupt end.

“You idiot! Have you ever considered what would happen if the Council ceased to exist? Who would be responsible for maintaining order amongst the mages? Who would mediate conflicts between guilds?”

“But even so, they shouldn’t have taken Erza,” Natsu protested, his voice still laced with anger.

Mirajane sighed, her voice laced with a mixture of exasperation and resignation. “Natsu, there’s no need to continue this argument.

Finn has already gone with them. Unless something unforeseen happens, he should be back by tomorrow morning.”

Mirajane couldn’t help but recall Finn’s previous visit to the Council headquarters, a visit that had resulted in a spectacular display of defiance, with Finn single-handedly confronting and verbally berating all nine Council members without the slightest hint of fear.

It had been a close call; they’d almost set the entire building ablaze, just as Natsu had suggested.

Therefore, Mirajane had unwavering faith in Finn’s ability to protect Erza. She knew that he would handle the situation effectively and ensure Erza’s safety. He always had a way of reassuring her.

At the Magic Council branch office…

Finn and Erza strolled along the corridor, engaging in lighthearted conversation. However, Erza’s expression instantly hardened upon catching sight of a familiar figure ahead.

A man in a pristine white coat, his blue hair neatly styled, a distinctive marking adorning his right eye, and an enigmatic smile playing on his lips.

“Jellal,” Erza hissed, her voice barely a whisper, yet filled with intense animosity.

Finn’s eyes narrowed, his mind rapidly recalling the information he possessed about the individual before him.

Jellal Fernandes: one of the Ten Wizard Saints, a member of the Council, and the uncanny doppelganger of Mystogan.

Jellal approached them, his voice smooth and deceptively cordial. “Well, well, well, Erza. It’s been quite some time, hasn’t it?”

“I couldn’t care less about seeing you,” Erza retorted, her voice sharp and filled with disdain.

Observing Erza’s visible agitation, Jellal chuckled, spreading his hands in a gesture of apparent nonchalance.

“Now, now, Erza, there’s no need to be so tense. This is merely an avatar,” he explained, his tone calm and reassuring.

“My actual body remains at the Council headquarters,” he added, gesturing towards the imposing building behind them.

“Those old fogies inside are also just avatars. No one would bother using their real bodies for such a trivial matter.”

Erza’s eyes narrowed, a sudden realization dawning upon her. She glared fiercely at Jellal.

“I see,” she hissed, her voice laced with barely suppressed fury. “So it was you all along! How utterly tedious,” she muttered, her disappointment palpable.

Jellal shook his head, his smile unwavering. “Now, now, Erza, I think you’ve got me all wrong. I did, after all, offer my defense on your behalf.”

“This whole incident is merely the result of those old fools inside being too cowardly to take responsibility for their actions.

They’re simply looking for a convenient scapegoat,” Jellal continued smoothly.

“So, you’ve decided to pin this on someone from our guild?” Finn interjected, swiftly stepping in front of Erza, his eyes fixed intently on Jellal. He shielded Erza protectively, his gaze unwavering.

“Finn!” Erza exclaimed, though she didn’t resist Finn’s protective gesture.

“Just how much power do you people possess?” Finn challenged, his voice laced with a hint of icy menace.

The playful smile vanished from Jellal’s face, replaced by a look of cold calculation.

“Finn,” he said, his voice devoid of its earlier cordiality, “I believe you’ve completely misunderstood the situation. As I stated earlier, I did indeed offer my defense on behalf of Fairy Tail.”

“We shall see,” Finn replied, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Jellal, seemingly unfazed by Finn’s skepticism, shook his head nonchalantly. “Suit yourself,” he said, his tone dismissive.

“The trial is about to commence. I must proceed inside. I’ll see you in the meeting,” he added before his form gradually dissolved into nothingness.

…

Finn turned his attention back to Erza. “It’s alright now,” he said softly, his voice imbued with a reassuring calmness. “Let’s go.”

“Mm!” Erza nodded, her apprehension noticeably lessened.

At the trial, Erza stood within the designated area for defendants, facing the avatars of the Council members.

Finn, however, had chosen to make himself remarkably comfortable. He had positioned a large, ornate rocking chair beside Erza, and he was currently reclining in it, his hands clasped behind his head, his gaze directed upwards at the Council members with an air of supreme nonchalance.

The Council members’ faces were a mixture of shock and outrage at Finn’s blatant disregard for decorum.

Ultear, one of the Council members, propped her chin on her hand, her eyes sparkling with curiosity as she observed Finn’s audacious display. “What an interesting individual,” she murmured to herself.

Erza, initially tense and serious, couldn’t help but crack a smile at Finn’s unconventional approach. She gently patted Finn’s shoulder, attempting to subtly urge him to adopt a more serious demeanor.

Finn, however, remained unmoved, continuing to regard the Council members from his reclined position with an expression that could only be described as supreme indifference.

The Council chairman, unable to contain his irritation any longer, slammed his gavel repeatedly against the table.

“Finn!” he thundered, his voice ringing with barely controlled fury. “We have already extended a significant concession by allowing you to observe these proceedings. What exactly is the meaning of this disrespectful behavior?!”

Finn, swaying gently in his rocking chair, responded with an air of supreme nonchalance. “You needn’t concern yourselves with my actions,” he stated calmly.

“I’m simply here to ensure that my comrades receive a fair hearing. Now, please, proceed with the trial.”

“You…” the chairman sputtered, attempting to regain control of the situation, but Finn cut him off before he could utter another word.

“Equip!” Finn declared, a magic circle flaring into existence as the Ryūjin Jakka materialized in his hand.

The frog messengers, witnessing this sudden display of power, visibly paled, their bodies trembling with apprehension. Could this be the prelude to another one of Finn’s infamous Council raids?

With a swift, decisive movement, Finn plunged the Ryūjin Jakka into the floor, the immense force of the impact causing several deep cracks to spiderweb across the polished surface.

Observing the palpable fear that had gripped the Council members, Finn offered a dismissive wave of his hand.

“Now then, let’s get this show on the road,” he said, his voice calm and reassuringly casual. “I merely needed to secure a more comfortable position for myself. Do continue.”

With that, Finn settled back into his rocking chair, his right hand casually resting upon the hilt of the Ryūjin Jakka, his demeanor one of utter relaxation, though his choice of location was perhaps a tad inappropriate.

The trial, a farcical display of empty rhetoric, concluded abruptly.

Erza gently shook Finn awake. “Finn, wake up. The trial’s over. We can go home now.”

Finn, his eyes heavy-lidded, blinked slowly. “It’s over already?” he mumbled, his voice laced with sleepiness.

He couldn’t entirely blame himself for succumbing to slumber; the proceedings had been as tedious and monotonous as a lengthy lecture.

Erza, a mixture of amusement and exasperation evident on her face, nodded. “Yes, it’s over. Let’s go back to the guild.”

Finn sprang to his feet, stretching languidly and yawning widely. His gaze fell upon the Council chairman, whose face was now a mask of furious frustration, an expression that suggested he’d just consumed a large quantity of something incredibly bitter.

“So,” Finn remarked, a playful glint in his eyes, “you’re not going to keep us locked up for a couple of days this time? I was rather looking forward to revisiting those rather…rustic accommodations.”

The chairman’s face darkened even further. “The cells are currently full,” he retorted, his voice laced with icy disdain.

“You’re free to return to wherever you came from.” He then handed the neatly compiled documents to one of the frog messengers before vanishing from the elevated platform.

“How utterly anticlimactic,” Finn commented, his lips curling into a smirk.

“Alright, let’s go back to the guild,” Erza said, taking Finn’s hand and leading him out of the Council chambers.

…

Back at the Fairy Tail Guild…

“So it was just a show arrest,” Lucy breathed a sigh of relief, her earlier anxiety dissipating as she witnessed Erza and Finn’s safe return.

“Good, good. They’re back safe and sound,” Makarov murmured, his voice tinged with relief, though he couldn’t entirely conceal the fact that he had been genuinely worried about their safety. After all, every parent worries about their children.

“Erza, let’s continue our never-ending duel!” Natsu exclaimed, his voice brimming with unrestrained enthusiasm.

Erza sighed wearily. “Let’s not, Natsu. I’m absolutely exhausted.”

Ignoring Erza’s protest, Natsu charged towards her, his voice echoing with battle cries. “Fire Dragon…”

Before Natsu could even complete his battle cry, Erza delivered a swift, powerful punch to his abdomen, sending him sprawling to the ground in a heap. The intense pain caused Natsu to instantly lose consciousness.

Erza shook her head, a hint of amusement in her eyes. “I suppose there’s no avoiding it, then,” she conceded, her voice calm and resolute. “Let’s do this.”

“Natsu’s already down,” Happy whispered, his voice laced with a mixture of amusement and concern.

“Erza’s still incredibly powerful,” someone commented, their voice filled with awe.

“Hahaha, Natsu’s still as pathetic as ever,” the guild members erupted into a chorus of laughter, the earlier tension and anxiety completely dissipating with Erza and Finn’s safe return.

“Mirajane, I’ll have a glass of milk, please,” Finn requested, pointing towards the large barrel of milk situated at the back of the guild hall.

“Certainly,” Mirajane replied, her voice sweet and melodious, a warm smile gracing her lips.

“Seriously, all the guild’s milk is for you, isn’t it?” Cana grumbled, her voice laced with playful exasperation as she hugged a large barrel of beer.

Finn, not to be outdone, retorted with equal measure of playful sarcasm, “And all the guild’s beer is for you, isn’t it?”

Cana shook her head, her expression one of fond exasperation. “You’re both such childish people,” she remarked, her voice laced with a hint of amusement.

Finn’s eyes widened in surprise. Even considering his past life, he was approaching forty years of age, and yet, he was being called childish by a girl who was barely twenty!

“Don’t give me that look,” Cana challenged, her voice laced with playful defiance. “I’m perfectly content with my milk; are you brave enough to face your beer?”

“Cana! Don’t encourage Finn to drink!” Mirajane interjected, her voice firm and her expression one of playful disapproval.

“She’s scolding him,” Makarov chuckled, his voice low and amused.

Suddenly, Mirajane’s form began to waver slightly, causing Finn to spring to his feet instantly, his hand reaching out to steady her.

He felt a familiar magical energy beginning to surge, and he knew immediately who had returned.

“Finn, I’m feeling a little sleepy,” Mirajane murmured, her eyes drooping slightly.

“It’s alright,” Finn whispered, his voice low and reassuring. “Mystogan’s back.”

__________________

for more advance Chapters visit patreon.com/bars45.

For 10$- All advance Chapters.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep