— — — — — —
"You… you can't be serious!
"Humans entering the Celestial Spirit World without permission is a major crime!"
"Virgo, stop! You can't take him there! He'll die! Please, stop! I won't drag anyone else down with me!"
Loke watched in horror as Virgo appeared at Kazuma's summons, and the magic circle to return to the Spirit World lit up under his feet.
He tried to stand and stop them, but his body had nothing left. He collapsed and struggled forward like a helpless caterpillar, guilt written all over his face.
"Sorry, Leo… once we're summoned, we can't disobey our master. And I believe my master wouldn't make a reckless decision."
As Virgo spoke, the magic circle flared to completion. A moment later, she and Kazuma vanished from the human world.
"Kazuma… you idiot. Why can't you just let me die quietly? Why take risks for someone like me?"
"I already made peace with it. But now that you've done this… there's no way I can die yet!"
Leo gritted his teeth and forced himself upright. He had to hold on until Kazuma returned.
The Celestial Spirit World was a place no human body could survive in, just like spirits couldn't survive long in the human realm.
"I prepared a Spirit Garment for you, master," Virgo said. "Wear this and you'll be able to adapt to the environment. Allow me to dress you."
She approached with an old-fashioned Western suit, clearly intending to put it on him herself.
"No need. I can brute-force it for a while."
Kazuma chopped her lightly on the head and let his magic surge around him, forming a tight layer of Armament Haki.
"Let's not waste time. Take me to the Spirit King."
He looked around afterward. He had absolutely no idea where they were.
"Master, I have good news and bad news. Which would you like first?"
Kazuma sighed. "…Good news."
"The Spirit King already knows you're here."
"…And the bad?"
"The Spirit King believes you snuck in illegally, so he has already sent spirits to attack you."
"Virgo. You think you're funny?"
Kazuma grabbed her cheeks and squished them into all kinds of shapes. This was not the time for jokes.
"Ehehe." Virgo tilted her head with the faintest hint of cuteness.
Before Kazuma could scold her again, a group of spirits suddenly rushed at him, shouting:
"You jerk! Why don't you summon me?!"
"Do you know how long I've been waiting?!"
"Bastard..."
...
..
"???"
"What's with these guys…"
Kazuma flicked them away with a finger each. They were ridiculously weak, basically just here to look cute.
"These are low-combat spirits," Virgo explained. "And… they're all contracted with you."
"I collected almost all eighty-eight constellations except the Zodiac Twelve," Kazuma muttered. "You're sure they're attacking because of the Spirit King's orders… and not because they're personally pissed at me?"
"We are absolutely not acting out of personal grudges!"
"Even though we're totally annoyed with you!"
"But that's not why we're here, you jerk."
"And we're not holding back because you're doing this for Leo!"
"Dammit... let me hit you just once..."
The little spirits spilled everything as they attacked. No interrogation needed.
"Virgo, let's go. These guys aren't even trying."
Kazuma didn't bother dealing with them further and urged Virgo to lead the way.
As they continued through the Spirit World, more and more spirits came to obstruct them. Most were weak enough to flick away, but the closer they got to the Spirit King's palace, the stronger the spirits became.
"Master, please be careful," Virgo said suddenly. "The Spirit King just issued an order. No one is allowed to hold back anymore."
She stopped walking.
"The path ahead will be harsh. If you can't continue… I'll send you home."
"That's enough. Thanks, Virgo."
Kazuma patted her head and walked forward on his own. The number of enemies increased drastically.
Even though the sky held only eighty-eight constellations, there were multiple spirits representing each one except the Zodiac Twelve.
The result was a literal flood of spirits rushing him like a sky full of stars.
"I am Horologium, Spirit of the Clock Constellation!"
"I'm Lyra of the Lyre Constellation! I'm really good at singing. You should summon me when you want a song!"
"Puru! I can..."
"And my name is...."
They were all giving their information.
"Are you guys seriously introducing yourselves right now?"
Kazuma punched them all away in one sweep. The farther he went, the more familiar the spirits became—clearly the ones connected to his own keys.
They were easy to identify. The ones contracted with him yelled out their names while getting knocked out. The ones who weren't just screamed "ah!" and flew off. Very efficient system.
Finally, Kazuma reached the massive palace and saw the towering, imposing figure of the Celestial Spirit King seated inside.
The King looked down at the lone human who had fought his way to the door, silent and stern.
Just as Kazuma attempted to step inside, the Zodiac Twelve appeared, looking conflicted as they blocked his path.
"We're very sorry. We cannot disobey the Spirit King's command. If you want to proceed, you must defeat us."
They lowered their heads with shame. They had asked Kazuma to help Leo, yet they were now forced to stand as his final obstacle.
"Save it. All of you, come at me."
Kazuma charged straight in. No talking necessary. He didn't care who stood in front of him. He'd fight them all.
"I am Taurus, one of the—"
"Move."
Kazuma decked Taurus with a single punch.
"I am Sagittarius—"
"Seriously? It's the modern era. Who still uses bows and arrows? Get with the times."
Kazuma pulled out his floating cannon, set it to gravity mode, and flattened the centaur spirit like a sheet of paper.
"You guys should skip the introductions and just attack already!"
Aquarius didn't bother replying. She raised her jar, unleashing a massive torrent of water like an ocean crashing down.
"Oh, we're doing volume now?"
Kazuma charged power into a full bar of magic and fired. All of Aquarius's water evaporated instantly, and she herself was blasted out of commission.
"I'm Aries and I—"
"I don't give a fuck."
Kazuma punched Aries away before she could finish. A second later, her timid voice floated over.
"I wasn't trying to fight… I just wanted to say I support you…"
"Then talk faster next time," Kazuma muttered as he moved on.
...
Within ten minutes, every remaining Zodiac spirit was down.
Except Virgo, who stood some distance away.
"Master, I… I know you can't bring yourself to fight me, so I—"
"I can."
Kazuma lunged at her without hesitation. Spirits couldn't die in their own realm anyway, so why hesitate?
Virgo immediately dove into the ground to dodge. Her voice came from farther away. "You may be heartless, but I won't be ungrateful. I refuse to raise a hand against you, even if I must disobey the Spirit King."
Her declaration made the other Zodiac spirits groan.
"You could just pretend," Aquarius muttered, covering her face. "Why do you have to be the one idiot who refuses to fake a defeat like the rest of us?"
"Everyone else can fight. I can't," Virgo said calmly.
"I signed a contract with my master. I recognize him as my summoner. So I cannot attack him. Not even as an act. Not even by the Spirit King's order."
"Because spirits honor contracts above all. We never break them."
Virgo bowed toward the throne room, apologizing to the Spirit King, before walking to stand beside Kazuma.
"Virgo… you'd lose even if you fought me, but I'm still touched," Kazuma said with a smile. "Unless you're pretending so you can get close and sneak attack?"
"Master, if you keep talking like that, even I'll get angry."
For once, the emotionless girl looked genuinely upset. This was an incredibly serious moment, and he had the nerve to accuse her of plotting a sneak attack? Truly hurtful.
Kazuma laughed lightly and didn't push the joke further. He stepped toward the palace doors. Virgo tried to follow, but he stopped her with a raised hand.
"I can handle it from here. Wait outside."
He gave her one last look before turning away and striding into the Spirit King's palace.
Virgo instinctively grabbed his hand before he fully stepped inside, worry flickering in her eyes.
"Don't worry. I'll be fine."
"…Please come back safe."
Seeing his confident expression, she hesitated but eventually let go. Quietly, she murmured, "I wish you success."
...
The doors shut behind him.
The massive hall now held only two figures: Kazuma and the Celestial Spirit King.
"I know you came because of Leo," the Spirit King said.
"But Leo's crime cannot be dismissed. As Virgo said, spirits are bound by our contracts. We made a vow never to harm our summoner."
"And Leo's actions led to the death of his contractor. For that, I must punish him."
The Spirit King didn't attack. Everything before this had simply been a trial. If Kazuma couldn't pass it, he wasn't worthy of standing here at all.
Kazuma looked at him steadily.
"I'm a mage myself. Our way of life isn't so different from yours. We take jobs, complete them, and never harm our clients or trick them."
"But clients must follow the contract too. They pay the agreed reward. Both sides honor the deal."
"Spirits follow spirit contracts. Mages follow mage contracts. Whoever breaks the contract gets punished. That part makes sense to me."
He wasn't pleading. Spirits and mages alike had to face the consequences of their actions. Begging would do nothing. Solving the problem was the goal.
"That's good to hear." The Spirit King nodded heavily.
"Leo's exile pains me. But I cannot overlook what he did. Not as the king responsible for our laws."
"I didn't come to beg," Kazuma said. "I came to make a deal. I'll complete a request for you—no matter how difficult. And in return, you end Leo's punishment."
Standing before the towering king, Kazuma looked like an insect. But the strength and presence pouring off him didn't falter for a moment.
"What if I refuse?" the Spirit King asked, curious.
"Then I have no choice," Kazuma replied calmly. "If I can't solve the problem, I'll solve the person causing it."
His voice was steady, but the fighting intent blazing in his eyes left no doubt. If the Spirit King refused negotiation, Kazuma was ready to fight him head-on.
The Spirit King burst into deep laughter. "Fight me? All because the Twelve asked for your help?"
"Not just that. Loke is one of our guild's members. You carry the burdens of the Spirit World as its king. And as the future master of Fairy Tail…"
"I carry the burdens of all my comrades."
His conqueror's Haki and magic surged outward in full force. He had been ready from the start.
If he couldn't fix the problem, he'd remove the obstacle.
"What a sharp, bold young man," the Spirit King said.
"Very well. You braved the Spirit World alone for your companion. You stood before me without fear. For that courage and resolve…"
"I'll give Leo one chance."
"If you can summon me into the human world… I'll pardon Leo completely."
His voice rang with both majesty and warmth. The Spirit King was strict, but not petty. He respected Kazuma's spirit.
A massive magic circle formed under Kazuma's feet.
In the next moment, he was sent back to the human world.
"Young Celestial Spirit Mage… and my child Leo… do your best. I await your summons!"
The Spirit King's voice echoed across the entire realm, full of grandeur and hope for the future.
---
Outside the palace, Virgo blinked in confusion.
"Young Celestial Spirit Mage? Who's he talking about? Master isn't… wait… did the Spirit King make a mistake? Should I go in and tell him…?"
She tilted her head, absolutely baffled.
.
.
.