Of course, the mention of God Slayer Magic has surely surprised Alex. Though he knows that God Slayer Magic is one of the magic types that can affect its user's body just like Dragon Slayer and Devil Slayer Magic, he never thought that it would be the magic that Ur found for Ultear.
Furthermore, he has never heard of Water God Slayer Magic in the story. The only God Slayer Magic variants that he knows from the story are Fire, Wind, and Lightning God Slayer Magic.
Though Alex also understands that it doesn't mean other types of God Slayer Magic don't exist. It's just that he has never expected to find one this easily and someone close to him will learn it.
"Hmm, God Slayer Magic, huh? I must say it's the best we can ask for." Alex rubs his chin while thinking about the God Slayer Magic.
It makes old hag Giselle intrigued. "Oh? Boy, you know about God Slayer magic?"
"Well, a bit. It's similar to Dragon and Devil Slayer Magic. They are Ancient Spells and also considered as Lost Magic. People even consider them as myths because many never saw them anymore. But one of the Wizard Saints, God Serena is a Dragon Slayer, so it must exist. It's just that the methods to learn those 3 types of Slayer Magic are almost not known. Well, a few people surely know and keep it as a secret until they find the right opportunity."
"Heh, you are quite knowledgeable. Yeah, you're right. Some people know how to learn those Ancient Spells and Lost Magic, but decided to hide it. After all, they are very valuable and if revealed can lead to war. Besides, quite a lot of Lost Magic and Ancient Spells are defected and have serious problems. Why do you think they disappear from history? Though some of them are considered as being too dangerous or too difficult to learn, so people remove them or stop learning them. For me, God Slayer Magic is an advanced magic that doesn't have any serious issues. But it's difficult to learn. This kind of magic needs compatibility, that's my conclusion after researching the Water God Slayer Magic Book for years."
"So you think Ultear is compatible with it?"
"Yes. She has a great affinity with Ice Magic, so water shouldn't be an issue. Also, the most important factor to learn that magic is age. Magic that can affect the user's body obviously needs to be learned from a young age when the body hasn't matured and still can grow to suit the magic's requirements. The older one becomes, the harder it is for their body to grow according to the magic and adapting to it. That's why I can't learn it myself."
"I see. An old hag like you can't grow anymore, after all, and instead your body is deteriorating. Make sense." Alex nods before getting thrown out of the house by Giselle using her Magic.
The others are sighing at him because he really can't filter his words. It's like he has a personal vendetta against Giselle by constantly annoying her even though they have just met today.
Anyway, the involved parties accept the deal, so now Ur and Ultear will join Mermaid Heel. Giselle will nurture Ur as the next Guild Master to raise the Guild's prestige and power. She also aims to make Ur a Wizard Saint, which won't be easy even though she is strong.
"Ah, right, what did you want to say earlier, Ultear? The important thing you wanted to mention." Lucy remembers that Ultear wanted to say something right after she returned from the Spirit World.
"Oh, right! Mama, Mrs. Layla, please help the Spirits."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Um, so when I was there, I met and talked with a lot of spirits. But there was this one spirit who always cried every time she returned from the Human world. I asked her what happened and she said nothing happened. I didn't believe her so I kept asking every time she returned until she finally confessed. She said her contractor always abused her and the other spirits contracted to the same person. That Mage often used her as a shield during battles and even used her to attract men. But she and the other spirits can't disobey her because of the contract."
Ultear mentions more of that Celestial Spirit Mage's evil behavior towards her spirits which make Layla fume in anger. She is also a Spirit Mage, so she can't understand how someone can do that to her spirit because she really loves her spirits like family.
"Ultear, who is the name of that Mage?" Layla asks with a warm smile.
"T-that, they didn't tell me."
Telling Ultear their contractor might cause harm on that contractor, so the Spirits didn't tell Ultear because it would violate their contracts.
"I understand. Then who are her contracted spirits?"
"Um, she contracted 2 Zodiacs, Aries and Leo."
"I see. Thank you, my dear."
"C-can you save them?" Ultear asks hopefully.
"Yes, but I need to be careful to avoid harming the Spirits." Layla knows that the Spirits must've been very worried about causing an indirect harm to their contractor by revealing this.
But they must be desperate because of the abuse so they tell Ultear their suffering. Maybe this is also the reason why the Spirit King allowed Ultear to stay in the Spirit World and bent the rule.
He wanted to find help for his people without breaking the rule and contract between Mages and Spirits. If he blatantly asked for help, then that would disturb the Spirit World's harmony and might even cause disaster.
Layla can confirm her guess just by looking at Capricorn's expression. She has known Capricorn for many years and can understand him without even talking.
The Spirits are family and friends to each other even though they will fight each other in the Human world for their contractors. But fighting for their contractors doesn't make them hate each other and seeing the other spirits suffer also makes them sad.
"Leave it to me, Ultear. I will find a way to help them. You just need to focus on curing your illness so your mother won't be worried anymore, alright?"
"Y-yes, thank you Mrs. Layla."
If Alex hears it, he will know who the Mage that Ultear means. Too bad that he is thrown out of the house by Granny Giselle for having such an unfiltered mouth.
"Layla, be careful with it, alright? If the opponent is too dangerous, you can always ask for my help. I may not be good with other things, but I am confident in my battle skills." Ur reminds Layla that she can rely on others.
"Fufufu, I know. I will contact you first if I really need help, so don't worry."
The next day, Ur and Ultear leave the Heartfilia residence with Giselle. They need to hurry because Ultear's condition will keep worsening the longer they wait. Besides, they don't know how long it will take for Ultear to learn that Water God Slayer Magic, so they can't waste their time.
Alex still stays there because he has promised to work there for a whole year. Layla told him that he can return to Fairy Tail already, but he refuses, saying that he won't break his promise, so Layla lets him stay while giggling.
Well, that 1 year time will end soon, so it doesn't really matter for Layla. Besides, if Alex also leaves now, then her daughter will be very lonely. So the remaining time of his stay will be a good time for the kids to prepare for the separation after being together for a year.
That's why for the next month, Alex's job is only to stay with Lucy, be it when she plays, studies, or walks around the town. Lucy knows that Alex will leave soon, so she enjoys the remaining time with him as much as she can.
She doesn't have many friends her age and Alex has become someone like her older brother, so she is actually reluctant to separate from him. But she knows he also has his life and doesn't try to make him stay longer than intended.
Their days go normally without any problem except for Layla who still can't find Grammi. But then in June, a few days before Alex's 1 year promise ends, they receive a surprising guest. Grammi suddenly visits the Heartfilia residence with a little girl who has the same hair color as her.
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Ch. 98: Fully Freed