Chapter 61 (1/2)

”Mom?” asked Erza in surprise.

”My daughter ~” said Irene happily, moved to Erza in an instant and hugged her tightly.​​

During this hug, the man also moved towards Erza and the others.

”Mom, who is that?” asked Erza as she separated from her mother.

”This is...” said Natsu but was cut off before he could finish.

”This is my friend, Zeref,” introduced Irene.

”What?!” Everyone went into an attack position upon hearing this, even Erza was wary.

”There's no need to worry, despite the legends about him, he's not evil” Irene said to reassure them and lower their guard.

”Are you sure?” asked Erza, still vigilant.

”Yes,” said Irene, nodding with a smile.

Seeing how serene her mother was, Erza was convinced and convinced the others as well.

”I can't accept it. You're the one who created END and killed the ones I loved,” Gray said resentfully.

”Gray...” said Erza painfully.

”I understand your hatred for me. But you're wrong about some things” Zeref replied with understanding.

”What do you mean?” asked Gray, squinting.

”I understand why you are angry with me, because in the end, I am the one who created the demons, but your hatred towards SNE is useless.

”What?! SNE is the one who...!” Gray wanted to retort but was cut off.

”Wrong. SNE never created the Tartaros guild. Mard Geer did it to unite all the other demons for his purpose. In fact, since its creation, END has never been awakened.

Gray was shocked by this revelation, and they continued to talk until Gray understood and they came to an agreement.

Gray also asked about the identity of NDT, but Zeref said it would be soon.

The story of Zeref's curse and the help of the Celestial Phoenix was explained to them to better convince them so that in the end, everyone understood.

”You've grown up, Erza,” said Zeref wistfully.

”Hm? What did you mean? This is the first time I've seen you” said Erza confused.

”You may not remember me, but we have seen each other many times before when you were still a child” said Zeref with a sincere smile.

”What?” Erza looked at her mother, confused and shocked.

And she was even more shocked when she saw her mother nod her head in affirmation.

”Does that mean you...-”

”Yes. I know your father, he's a friend, he's helped me a lot,” Zeref said with a slightly sad and melancholic smile.

Everyone was shocked when they heard this, especially Erza.

And on reflection, Erza now trusted Zeref. If her father did it, then she would do it.

”If not, why are you here?” asked Erza curiously.

Irene and Zeref looked at each other and nodded mutually.

”We're here for the Archbishop,” Zeref replied with a serious tone.

”The Archbishop? So as I thought, he's hiding something” Erza replied with a thoughtful expression.

”What do you mean Erza?” asked Irene to her daughter.

”Hm? No, it's just that I always thought he was hiding something. The fact that he gave me that title, the way he approached us, the way he looked at us and what he said earlier” said Erza thinking about all those strange moments.

”I knew my daughter was so smart” Irene hugged Erza like a teddy bear.

”What do you mean earlier?” asked Zeref.

”After I defeated Mard Geer, he appeared next to him with a syringe of blood. As if he had just drawn blood from him.”

”!” Zeref widened his eyes as he heard.

”So that's it” said Zeref.

”What do you mean?” asked Irene.

”I think the Archbishop is experimenting with the blood of demons as well as... the Celestial Phoenix” said Zeref with some hesitation for the last part.

”What?!” Everyone was surprised and Erza could see that his mother seemed affected and angry.

”Zeref, since you are known to have lived a long life, did the Celestial Phoenix really exist? Have you ever met him? Is he still alive?” asked Wendy out of curiosity.

”... Yes, he really existed, I have indeed met him and... He's still alive,” answered Zeref as he looked away after finishing his sentence.

”Wow” Everyone was surprised to hear that.

Even if he didn't know this legendary creature before, it was still a creature that rivaled Acnologia.

Erza, on the other hand, could feel her mother's body shaking before her mother let go and ran to Zeref.

”Is this true?! Are you sure he's still alive?! Do you know where he is?!” shouted Irene, grabbing Zeref by the collar.

”Sorry, I couldn't confirm it before but now I can confirm that he's alive” Zeref replied with a slight apologetic smile.

Irene trembled and tears rolled down her cheeks as she fell to her knees.

”Mother!” Erza rushed to her mother.

”What's the matter with you?” asked Erza as she took her mother in her arms.

There was silence for a few seconds.

”Erza, I have to tell you something,” Irene said as she came to her senses and wiped away her tears, then looked at her daughter seriously.

”What?” asked Erza confused because she had never seen her mother so serious.

”I never told you who your father was and I think it's time now that you knew the whole truth” Irene said as she took a deep breath and prepared to tell her to Erza's shock.

She had never known who her father really was and now she was going to know everything.

”Your father is... The Celestial Phoenix.”

No one could believe it.

”W-What? What are you saying, Mom? It's a creature from 400 years ago, how-” Erza said in utter confusion.

”I'll tell you what Erza. My secret and the story of your father and me” said Irene.

And after that followed a long conversation in which Erza was shocked along with the others.

”It's- I-” stammered Erza as she lowered her head preventing her face from being seen.

”I'm sorry, dear. I'll understand if you're mad at me,” Irene said with a sad, pained expression.

*PLOP*

Irene suddenly looked at her daughter as she heard the noise and could see that she was shaking and that drops of water were falling to the ground.

”It's-it's not that, Mama... It's just that I'm... I'm happy,” Erza said with a broken and emotional voice but with a tone of joy.

Irene's eyes widened as she saw her daughter's tearful, upturned face with an emotional smile.

”I-it means that daddy-... that daddy's alive,” Erza said as she collapsed into her mother's arms and tears of joy filled her eyes.

”Soon, soon we will be reunited” said Irene with certainty in her daughter's ear.

Everyone smiled at this emotional conversation.