Fairy Tail: Becoming stronger by spending money.

The news that Caesar had become one of the Ten Wizard Saints spread like wildfire across the entire kingdom.

Many were baffled by the sudden announcement, while only a few who knew the truth understood why it had happened.

Regardless, the event catapulted Caesar's reputation to new heights.

He even shot to the top of several popular magic magazines' lists for "most wanted boyfriend among wizards."

Rich, handsome, powerful.

The only flaw? He was a bit too young.

But that would fix itself with time.

Plenty of older women were already eager to take their chances.

Not that Caesar cared—or even knew.

Because his sentence still wasn't over.

The Magic Council had to save face.

If they said four months, then it was four months—even for a newly promoted member of the Holy Ten.

Caesar didn't mind.

The confinement life was more like a relaxing retreat.

His room had become a residence. He could take walks when he wanted, and the Council's grand library was open to him.

In it, Caesar found many rare books, containing obscure and ancient magical knowledge.

Time passed peacefully.

The four-month sentence came to an end.

Truthfully, Caesar didn't even want to leave.

But the time had come.

After closing the last page of a magic tome, he pulled on the cloak representing the Holy Ten and walked out of the Senate building, respectfully saluted by Council members as he left.

Floating into the air, golden aura swirling around him, Caesar soared toward Magnolia.

…

Magnolia – Fairy Tail Guild.

Caesar touched down slowly in front of the guild doors.

He pushed them open and called out, "I'm back!"

His voice echoed—but the guild, normally lively and chaotic, was strangely quiet.

Makarov sat alone at the counter, drinking gloomily.

He glanced at Caesar and forced a smile.

"Welcome home."

"What's going on?" Caesar frowned.

The room felt heavy.

No shouting, no brawls, no noise. Just quiet drinking and lowered heads.

"Caesar…"

Erza stood up. Her voice trembled slightly.

She clenched her fists, then finally said, "Lisanna passed away."

Caesar froze.

It took a moment to register the words.

He blinked, then rubbed his ears with a weak laugh.

"Must be something wrong with my hearing."

"Caesar," Makarov said gravely from the counter, "You heard correctly. Lisanna is gone. Mirajane and Elfman are at the Cardia Cathedral cemetery."

His voice cracked as he forced out the words.

"Stop messing with me!" Caesar suddenly roared.

"I've seen Lisanna's face. It's not the type that dies young! Even if something were to happen, it wouldn't be for at least another two years!"

With that, Caesar turned and ran out, heading toward the Cardia Cathedral.

"Master…"

"Let him go," Makarov said quietly.

When a child dies, it's the parents who suffer the most.

Rain began to fall. Cold droplets soaked Caesar's hair and clothes as he sprinted through the streets.

He didn't fly. He ran.

Soaked and silent, he reached the cemetery.

Mirajane and Elfman were already there, dressed in black.

Elfman held an umbrella over Mirajane but let the rain drench him.

Mirajane was in a daze, crouched by the tombstone.

She reached out slowly and brushed her fingers across it.

At the top was the Fairy Tail guild mark.

Below, the name "Lisanna Strauss."

And under that: X768 – X780

Tap… tap… tap…

Footsteps echoed through the cemetery.

Mirajane turned to see Caesar approaching.

"Caesar…"

Mirajane ran to him, threw herself into his arms, and buried her face in his chest.

Though both were soaked, Caesar could feel the warmth of her tears.

"What happened?"

He held Mirajane and stared coldly at Elfman, who had a large scar across his face.

"It was my fault…"

Elfman fell to his knees in tears.

"I tried, sister! I really did. But I was too weak… I couldn't control it. Lisanna—she just wanted to save me…"

Caesar froze.

He gently pulled Mirajane back and looked her in the eye.

"You went to fight the Beast King?"

He remembered.

Lisanna's death in the original events was linked to a mission involving the Beast King—years later, after Mirajane became an S-Class Mage.

"We weren't trying to fight it. It was just a cleanup request," Mirajane said softly.

"But we ran into the Beast King by chance. I used Take Over: Demon God Halphas, but I didn't have enough magic.

Elfman… he tried to Take Over the Beast King's soul and lost control.

Lisanna… she just wanted to wake him up."

Mirajane's voice cracked.

Caesar pieced it all together.

Same process—just two years too early.

"Where's Lisanna's body?" he asked quickly.

Mirajane and Elfman shook their heads.

There were no remains.

Caesar finally sighed in relief.

After confirming the details, he was certain.

Lisanna wasn't dead.

Just like in the original story—she had been sucked into a f**k.

In Aslant, small unstable f**ks (interdimensional rifts) were scattered around during this time.

Most were eventually shut down by Mystogan, but not before incidents like this occurred.

"Don't worry."

Caesar touched Mirajane's tear-soaked face and gave her a gentle smile.

"Lisanna isn't dead. It's complicated, but… she's gone to another version of Fairy Tail, in a parallel world.

She can't come back yet—but I promise you, she'll return within five years.

Do you believe me?"

Mirajane stared at him, then nodded silently and hugged him tighter.

Elfman, too, felt a little more at ease.

Still, he swore to himself right then and there—he would become stronger.

So strong that no one around him would ever die again.

"Let's go home."

Caesar picked up Mirajane gently.

"The guild's hurting right now. Let's bring them hope."

"…Mm."

The three of them walked back to the guild together.

The light rain stopped.

The clouds broke apart.

And once again, sunlight bathed the land.