Chapter 83:
Everyone looked toward the source of the voice and saw Sho staring at Erza with a grim expression.
"Are you trying to use these people to gain sympathy from your peers?! Don't joke around!!"
"The truth isn't what you say, Sister. You put explosives on our ship, blew up all the ships, and escaped alone!"
"You didn't think we'd survive, did you?! You never expected us to be alive again!"
"You didn't expect that Jellal noticed your plan before you blew up the ship. He took us off the ship, and that's why we survived the explosion!!"
"Jellal told us this is what happens when one learns magic incorrectly!"
"My sister indulged in the power of magic and couldn't extricate herself, wanting to discard all the memories related to us! That's the real truth, isn't it?!"
Su Yan looked at Sho and said lightly, "Did Jellal tell you that?"
Natsu and Gray looked at Sho with the same questioning gaze.
Sho suddenly felt his breath catch at those pure, scrutinizing looks.
"You mean what Sister said is true?! Is Jellal lying?!"
Gray said, "Is the Erza you know someone who would do something like that—throwing away the past in such a cruel manner?"
Sweat covered Sho's face as he shouted in a panic, "What do you know about us?! How can you question us when you know nothing?!"
"I've only been able to live until today because of Jellal's words!!"
"That's why we spent eight whole years completing the Tower of Heaven, all for Jellal!!"
"And now you say it's all a lie?! Don't kid with me!!"
Wally and Millianna were also at a loss, not knowing who to believe now.
With a guilty look, Erza felt that it was her weakness that led them to be deceived by Jellal all this time.
Su Yan said indifferently, "At this point, who's lying or telling the truth is unclear. You are so foolish it's hopeless."
"What did you say?!" Sho glared at Su Yan angrily.
"To tell who is right or wrong, just see what each side has done. Erza was driven away, doing nothing harmful but keeping her distance for your safety. Jellal kept you all confined on that island, having you continue the Dark Magic Order's work, building the so-called Tower of Heaven."
"That's because Jellal said everything outside is just illusory freedom! Only by resurrecting Zeref can we gain true freedom!!" Sho retorted.
"What is true freedom?"
Sho's expression turned frenzied: "True freedom is making the whole world take notice!"
"I will punish the remnants of those who once deprived us of freedom, as well as the sister who betrayed us, and the ignorant fools living in this world, along with the incompetent Council!!"
"We're going to bring them fear and grief like never before!! We'll take away all freedom in this world!! We'll be the rulers of this world—ahahahahaha!!"
Sho laughed wildly, his face twisted.
"Crack!!" Erza stepped forward, grabbed Sho's shoulder, and headbutted him right in the face.
"Wow ah ah ah~!" Sho screamed, falling backward onto the ground.
"Sho!" Wally and Millianna shouted worriedly.
Bleeding from his nostrils, Sho looked at Erza in disbelief, "Sister, you… you hit me?!"
Erza looked at Sho angrily and shouted, "That's not true freedom!!"
"What's the difference between what you're talking about and the Dark Magic Order that once deprived us of our freedom?! Becoming like them, is that the real freedom you want?!"
"S-Sister…" Sho had never seen Erza this angry at him before. He was a bit frightened.
"You, who were once so kind, have become so twisted. Is it all because of Jellal?!"
Gray said, "With such evil ideas in your head, if you still can't tell who's right, you deserve to be deceived."
At this moment, the taller Simon stood up and said, "Sho, Wally, Millianna, you've all been deceived by Jellal."
"Simon?! Don't you believe what Sister said?"
"I never doubted Erza. I've waited eight years, and it's great to see you again, Erza."
"Simon…" Erza was very happy to hear Simon's words. Her eyes became slightly moist. Among her former companions, there was still someone who always believed in her.
"Little Erza, I…um…" Millianna was embarrassed. It seemed she too chose to believe in Erza.
Erza touched Millianna's head and smiled: "It's alright. I'm sorry I couldn't rescue you all these years."
Millianna burst into tears: "Waaah! I'm sorry, Erza! I always believed in you too, but I just didn't know what to do!"
Wally apologized, "I'm sorry, Erza. I didn't want to believe it either, but…"
"I understand," Erza said softly.
Seeing his companions trust Erza one by one, Sho's body trembled, his face pained: "Why can everyone trust Sister so much… Why can't I trust Sister too? Damn it—ah ah ah ah ah!!"
"What is the truth?! Who should I trust?!"
Erza looked at Sho with pity and said, "It must be hard for you to accept all this now. But what I want you to know is that in the past eight years, I've never once forgotten you."
"I'm sorry I was too weak to do anything for you."
Simon smiled: "But it's different now. That's right, I've been waiting for this moment for a long time—waiting for powerful wizards to gather together to overthrow Jellal, destroy the Tower of Heaven, and truly free everyone trapped there."