After a brief expnation, Juvia finally understood the situation.

  "So that's it—an alternate-world Juvia," she murmured, wiping away her tears as her face turned a bit red with embarrassment.

  Edos Juvia quickly grasped it as well: the other version of herself liked this young man and seemed to be quite a romantic. She couldn't help but look at Nate a little closer. He was indeed handsome, with a dependable air about him. She found herself intrigued by the other Juvia's retionship with him.

  Why did her other self like him? What interesting stories had they shared? Were they actually dating, or was it unrequited love?

  "Talking to another version of myself across worlds is such a novel experience," Edos Juvia said with a smile. "I'm going to have a private conversation with myself—no peeking!" With that, she retreated to a corner to chat with Juvia alone.

  Seeing this, the others eagerly began using the rings to chat with their alternate selves as well.

  Sitting atop a table as she opened her friend search, Edos Lucy asked, "Nate, what's the other version of me called?"

  "Gotta Earn Money," Nate replied.

  "Huh? Am I poor? Wait, is she broke?" Edos Lucy asked in surprise.

  "In a way, she's up to her ears in debt," Nate said with a chuckle.

  Edos Lucy frowned sympathetically. "Maybe I should lend her some money, then?"

  Nate held back a ugh. 'Money wouldn't work across worlds, would it?'

  Meanwhile, the guild members were fully engrossed in exploring the internet through their new rings. Observing everyone, Nate noted that this Edos Fairy Tail had far fewer members—only about twenty to thirty people.

  At that moment, the two Mirajanes approached, accompanied by Lisanna and Edos Elfman.

  "Guess which one is me?" one of the Mirajanes asked pyfully, with a teasing smile. "Nate, if you guess wrong, there'll be a penalty!"

  You're kidding, right? Nate thought. With his Six Eyes, he could see each person's unique flow of magic energy. It would be impossible for him to get it wrong.

  'Then again… maybe I should pretend to guess wrong?'

  "You're the Edos Mirajane, right?" he said confidently.

  Edos Mirajane blinked in surprise. "You got it right!"

  As she gnced at her other self, Mirajane ughed, "Nate has Six Eyes, so he can see the magic energy in each person. There's no way he'd get it wrong."

  Even so, she was pleased that he had recognized her.

  Lisanna looked at Nate curiously. "Hello, Nate. I'm Lisanna. Mirajane told me how much you've helped, and I hear it's thanks to you that we made it to Edos."

  "No need for thanks—it's what I should do."

  Lisanna smiled thoughtfully, wondering if Nate might be her sister's boyfriend, given the close bond between him and Mirajane.

  "Are you and Mirajane pnning to return soon? I can send you back anytime," Nate offered, then turned to Edos Mirajane, adding, "Would you and Elfman like to visit our guild?"

  "Really? Us?" Edos Mirajane was taken aback.

  "Yes. Lisanna has lived with you both for two years. Parting so suddenly could be hard."

  Feeling tempted, Edos Mirajane looked to her brother for his opinion.

  "Sis, I… I'd like to see the other world's Fairy Tail!" Edos Elfman whispered shyly.

  "Is that okay?" Edos Mirajane asked.

  "Of course. The guild will be shocked to meet you," Mirajane said with a smile.

  "Please take us back, Nate. And if we ever want to return, could you help us again?" Edos Mirajane asked, growing comfortable with relying on Nate.

  Nate didn't mind, so he held out his hands. "If you're ready, just hold onto my hand."

  The four of them pced their hands in Nate's, and a golden teleportation array appeared beneath their feet.

  "Nate, aren't you coming back?" Mirajane asked.

  "There's a small matter I need to take care of here. You go ahead," Nate replied. With that, the four of them vanished from the guild hall.

  Learning from the slight teleportation error he'd encountered st time, Nate was confident this time the coordinates would be accurate.

  "Going to Earth Land? Why didn't you invite me to something so interesting!" Edos Lucy's voice rang out.

  Nate turned in surprise. "You want to go too?"

  "Of course! I've had a great chat with myself and want to meet 'poor Lucy' too!"

  The Lucy from his world was anything but poor, Nate thought with amusement. She was set to inherit a massive fortune one day. He wondered what they'd been discussing.

  "What did you two talk about?" he asked.

  "Not telling you!" Edos Lucy replied, abandoning her chat window and slinging an arm around Nate's shoulders like a close friend. "Come on, let me tag along!"

  Close friend… No, not exactly—'do you have to hold on so tight, Miss Strong-Armed Lucy?'

  "Fine," Nate said, giving in. "Anyone who wants to go is welcome."

  "Awesome! Thanks, Nate! Let's go right now!"

  "Before that, I have something to handle first."

  "What is it? Need any help? Don't let this look fool you—I'm well-connected in the underworld!" Edos Lucy boasted.

  The underworld? Nate held back a ugh—cssic Edos Lucy. He gnced at a system notification that had appeared.

  [Mission: Expand the Internet to a Parallel World]

  [Reward: Based on Completion Level]

  [Mission Ready to Submit? Yes / No]

  Unlike previous tasks, this one could be submitted at any time. With rewards based on completion, Nate decided to wait—so far, only twenty or thirty rings had been distributed, far too few.

  He'd brought 30,000 rings, so he'd need to spread them all out to maximize his rewards. But how could he sell them quickly and ensure they'd be activated?

  Just then, someone burst into the room.

  'Bam!'

  The guild doors flew open, and Edos Jet and Droy shouted in unison, "Bad news! The king's forces are coming!"

  "What?" Edos Lucy's face darkened, and she yelled, "Get the transport array ready, 'Skinny Tech Freak'!"

  Skinny Tech Freak? Nate gnced over, curious, to see that she was referring to Levy, who was waving a machine around as she looked back, irritated.

  "Who are you calling a tech freak, Goril Woman?" Levy retorted.

  "Enough bickering! Set up the array—it's the king's troops!"

  Edos Lucy, fully in her gang-leader mode, began organizing the group.

  "I think I drew them here, but don't worry—I'll handle it," Nate said calmly as he stepped outside.

  The others exchanged worried gnces and followed him out. Above, a squad of soldiers descended on mechanical dragon mounts—clearly, not actual dragons, but rather mechanical magic devices.

  "The kingdom's First and Fourth Magic War Division Captains!" excimed Gray Surge, his voice muffled under yers of clothing.

  The two captains at the head of the army were indeed unusual. One was a rge bck panther wielding a huge sword—Captain Panther Lily of the First Magic War Division. The other, a double-chinned man with a slick, blond pompadour, wore pink magic armor and bck briefs—Captain Sugar Boy of the Fourth Squad.

  Nate recognized Panther Lily, though the other captain was unfamiliar. He floated up, positioning himself between the guild and the incoming forces.

  Spotting his target, Panther Lily called out, "Mage from Earth Land! Release Erza Knightwalker!"

  Nate's hand glowed, and his sword, Kyōka Suigetsu, appeared in his grasp. He raised it, pointing the bde toward the approaching forces before flipping it into a reverse grip.

  The simple motion drew everyone's attention.

  A moment ter, he chanted softly, "Shatter, Kyōka Suigetsu."

  With this release, all present—soldiers and Fairy Tail members alike—fell under the illusion of total hypnosis.

  "Well, then. I suggest you all put down your weapons and surrender."

  Bleam