Fairy Tail: Saint Seiya Magic Unleashed

Chapter 36: The Lively Theater Festival

"I'll do my best."

Mystogan's face was solemn.

Finding a way to bring people back to Edolas had now become his top research goal.

Of course, the mission to stop the Anima spell wouldn't be put aside either.

This time, Mystogan had chosen to follow Moen and Makarov back to the guild purely to get a lay of the land.

After that, he would once again set out on his journey across the world to counter the effects of Anima.

Mystogan wouldn't be staying at Fairy Tail for long.

The group of four left Cait Shelter and quickly arrived at Clover Town, where they bought train tickets headed directly for Onibas.

They hadn't chosen to return straight to Magnolia because—

Moen still had a mission to complete. The request hadn't been fully checked off yet.

"Perfect! I heard the Sirshado Troupe is performing,"

"And a bunch of other famous theater groups will be there too. We can catch a show in Onibas before heading back. It's been a while since I've gone."

On the train, Makarov was practically glowing with enthusiasm as he talked about the theater.

Onibas, known as the City of Drama, boasted a renowned grand theater.

Many of Fiore's most well-known troupes often came to perform here, and every so often, a troupe famous throughout the entire continent of Ishgar would appear.

Whenever that happened, the city would come alive in a wave of excitement—it had even evolved into a seasonal festival of sorts.

"Grandpa Makarov, are plays really that good?"

Wendy sat with her small hands clutching the edge of the train seat, her legs gently swinging in the air.

She looked up at Makarov with wide-eyed curiosity.

"Of course! It's not just plays—there'll be all kinds of performances. They're really fun. Want to go watch together?"

Makarov smiled warmly, his voice gentle as he spoke.

While Moen went to turn in his mission, he would take Wendy and Mystogan to see the show.

"Yes, please!"

Wendy cheered happily.

Children's emotions changed fast.

Wendy had already let go of the sadness of parting ways, and now, her heart brimmed with excitement for the future awaiting her at Fairy Tail.

As for Mystogan, he didn't show much interest in theatrical performances.

The weight he carried was far too heavy—he had no room in his life for entertainment.

Makarov wasn't too happy about that.

"Keep the bowstring drawn too tight, and one day it'll snap. You have to find the right balance."

He tried to advise Mystogan gently, but it didn't seem to have much effect—Mystogan was as stubborn as a mule.

Moen could only chuckle and shake his head.

Some things couldn't be forced.

Unless Mystogan willingly set down the burden on his shoulders, he'd never be able to relax.

By now, they all knew the truth:

Mystogan was royalty—a prince of the human kingdom in Edolas.

And his father, the king, was the very one who started everything.

That's why the pressure on Mystogan was so immense.

He believed that every sin committed by his father was one he also had to bear.

For every person harmed by Anima, he carried the guilt.

That sense of responsibility was admirable—but it was also suffocating.

Moen understood this well:

Only when everything was truly brought to an end could Mystogan finally return to a normal life.

Meanwhile, in his seat, Moen held the newly acquired Sacred Cloth Repair Manual, carefully flipping through the pages.

It was far more than just a repair guide.

Inside were methods for not only repairing Sacred Cloths, but also detailed instructions on how to enhance them using materials like "Blood of the Gods."

This manual was incredibly valuable—essentially a user guide for all Cloth-related systems.

It even clearly listed the advanced functions available beyond the standard features of the armor.

Moen's eyes sparkled as he continued reading, already picturing how he'd upgrade his new Orion Cloth step by step.

Once Moen reached a certain level of synchronization with a Cloth,

he could use the constellation's unique skills—even if he hadn't mastered them himself.

And once he did master a skill, wearing the corresponding constellation's Cloth would empower it even further.

In short:

Cloths came with innate skills

and those skills could then be boosted by the Cloth itself.

A powerful synergy, to say the least.

This revelation got Moen fired up.

He felt like he was this close to unlocking the full potential of the Equuleus Bronze Cloth.

Maybe it was because Equuleus and Pegasus constellations were adjacent in the sky—

Whenever he used Pegasus Meteor Fist, he could faintly sense a resonance, like an invisible hand nudging him closer to Equuleus.

"Almost there… Just a bit more!"

With renewed focus, Moen dove eagerly back into his manual.

The train rumbled on, passing station after station, until finally—

"We've arrived. Onibas."

Even before they stepped off the platform, they could feel it:

This city was alive with energy.

The crowds surged through the station—

Travelers, performers, fans, all flooding in from every corner of Fiore, hoping to catch a glimpse of the spectacular festival.

The guards were sweating bullets trying to maintain order amid the chaos.

"Way more packed than last time… Must be close to the peak of the Theater Festival, huh?"

"It's insanely lively."

Moen couldn't help but marvel at the scene.

Fiore wasn't exactly a small country—seventeen million strong.

So whenever something gained even a bit of hype, it turned into a massive event.

And the Theater Festival?

It was practically legendary.

Moen hoisted Wendy onto his back to prevent her from getting swallowed up in the crowd.

With Makarov and Mystogan beside him, they muscled their way toward the station exit.

Even for a group as powerful as them, this crowd was no joke.

It wasn't like Moen could just throw out a Pegasus Meteor Fist to clear a path.

If he tried something like that, Makarov would personally punch him into orbit.

"I'm never coming again!"

The second they made it outside, Makarov huffed angrily.

Moen glanced at him and had to bite back a laugh—

The old man's cloak and back were smudged with multiple muddy boot prints.

He'd gotten stomped in the crowd more than once.

Oops… I forgot he's short too…

While Moen had picked Wendy up, he'd completely overlooked poor Grandpa Makarov.

Not that Makarov would've let himself be carried—he had his pride.

If he really wanted to, he could've gone giant-size and bulldozed through.

But that would've been a bit excessive.

"Moen-nii, you can put me down now."

Wendy's soft voice sounded from his back.

Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes wide with excitement—she was clearly caught up in the city's vibrant atmosphere.

Moen crouched and gently set her down.

Now it was time to split up.

Moen needed to complete his mission and hand over the "Magic Horns" to the client.

The others—Makarov, Wendy, and Mystogan—would go ahead to the theater and wait for him.

Slinging the heavy, horn-stuffed bag onto his back, Moen waved goodbye and headed off toward the client's estate.

But from a distant corner in the crowd…

several gazes locked onto Moen.

And with them, a quiet surge of magical energy began to stir.