"It was Natsu and Gray. Those two little brats got into a fight first thing this morning, and then the dorm ended up looking like this."
Seeing Moen, Reinhardt, who was working hard repairing the dormitory, explained.
"Uncle Reinhardt? You can do this kind of thing?!"
Only when Reinhardt spoke did Moen finally realize that the man dressed like a construction worker, holding a hammer and knocking here and there, was actually Reinhardt, the guild's defensive magic array master.
"Hey, in our line of work, you need some means to make a living."
Reinhardt answered with a hearty laugh. He wasn't exactly joking—weak mages really did need some other way to earn a living, or else they might not be able to support themselves.
Moen rolled his eyes and didn't bother with Uncle Reinhardt's nonsense. Uncle Reinhardt's strength definitely wasn't weak. Being good at this was purely a hobby. The folks in Fairy Tail really did have all sorts of hobbies.
Moen looked up carefully. The place where the dormitory building had a huge hole was indeed Natsu and Gray's room.
"Is it really that dangerous?"
Standing to the side, Elfman gulped. His expression was a bit worried. A fight could blow a hole in the wall? Was this place… really suitable for him to live in?
"Don't worry. They're very controlled. They won't drag you into it."
Seeing Elfman's worried expression, Moen quickly spoke to comfort him. He couldn't let this kid get scared away.
'Natsu! Gray! Always causing trouble!'
At the same time, Moen cursed Natsu and Gray a few times in his heart. They caused trouble and didn't even tell him—afraid of being beaten, huh?
"I'm not scared, Brother Moen."
Although Elfman felt worried inside, he didn't back down.
As a proper man, he couldn't retreat so easily. He also wanted to learn magic so that if someone fought again, he could stop them!
"Good job!"
Moen gave Elfman a thumbs-up. This "Little Elf-student" really did have some toughness in his character.
With his bag on his back, Elfman followed Moen into the dormitory building. Although Natsu and Gray's room had a big hole, it didn't affect the use of the other rooms.
Very soon, Moen settled Elfman in. Then, instead of leaving, he sat in Elfman's room and started talking to him.
"Your sister Mirajane—was she always like this?"
Moen asked while actively gathering intel on his mission target. Know yourself and know your enemy—only then can you win. If he wanted Mirajane to accept this power, he first had to find the reason she refused it.
"No. Mira was always brave and lively before."
Hearing Moen's question, Elfman's expression dimmed. He slowly spoke, helplessness in his tone. Regarding Mirajane's change, he was clearly always worried.
"At the beginning, when she was taken by the demon—no, no… at the beginning when she awakened Take-Over Magic, sis didn't become like this. It was after being targeted by the villagers, after we were hated by the villagers, that she started becoming like this—becoming discouraged."
Elfman looked at Moen as he told their family's story. In the boy's eyes was a faint hope. He clearly hoped Moen might have a solution.
Elfman couldn't think of a way. Neither could Lisanna.
When they were wandering outside, he and Lisanna had heard their sister Mirajane trying to hold back her crying at night. Both of them knew she had been in emotional torment all this time. They were both worried, both heartbroken.
If someone could figure out a way to bring their sister back to who she used to be, he would be grateful to that person—no matter what he had to do.
"So that's how it is."
After hearing Elfman's words, Moen narrowed his eyes slightly. He seemed to have grasped a few key points—points that could break the deadlock!
The Mirajane now was not her true self, but a girl constantly tormented by guilt deep inside.
The ones she felt guilty toward were Lisanna and Elfman. The reason she hated that "demon's power" was also because of Lisanna and Elfman.
The three siblings grew up relying on each other. Only Lisanna and Elfman could make Mirajane become like this. She wouldn't care so much about outsiders' opinions.
She hated her own recklessness—insisting on defeating the demon, only to accidentally gain this "demon's power."
She hated this "demon's power," because it was this power that caused Lisanna and Elfman to be hated along with her.
She felt it was all her fault—her own stubbornness that changed everything, that took away the peaceful life her younger brother and sister once had, even though it was difficult.
"I-Is that so?!"
Hearing Moen's analysis, Elfman looked shocked. Then, after thinking carefully, he realized that this explanation actually made a lot of sense. With his sister's personality, it really was very possible she would think that way.
"But Lisanna and I don't blame Mira at all!"
Elfman became anxious. He suddenly stood up, wanting to go explain things clearly to his sister. The three of them had grown up relying on each other. He and Lisanna didn't care whether others liked them or not. They felt that as long as their family was together, that was enough.
Even if the three of them wandered together, eating in the wind and sleeping under the stars, they didn't think it was hard. They would never blame Mira.
"You really do need to do something."
Moen nodded. Now that the root of the problem had been found, they simply needed the right remedy.
Whoever tied the knot must untie it. This matter had to be solved by Elfman and Lisanna themselves.
"I'm going to go tell Mira now!"
Hearing this, Elfman became anxious and wanted to leave immediately.
But Moen stopped him, because he felt that relying on words alone was too weak. It would be hard to say whether it would truly shake Mirajane's mindset.
To ensure the mission would succeed, Moen felt he needed a decisive method—something that could achieve the goal in one try.
"Are you willing to learn Take-Over Magic?"
After thinking for a moment, Moen asked Elfman.
"Huh? I am!"
Elfman froze for a second, then immediately answered. This child wasn't stupid. He instantly understood Moen's intention.
If he learned Take-Over Magic and Lisanna also learned Take-Over Magic, then Mira wouldn't feel that they were forced onto the streets because she alone was different.
If both he and Lisanna learned Take-Over Magic and even enjoyed it—it might make Mira stop rejecting her own power.
"It's a workable plan, but it'll depend on whether you and Lisanna have the talent."
Moen was quite satisfied with this plan. Its impact on Mirajane would definitely be huge. The only question was whether it could be carried out.
[For additional chapters Patreon. Com/ALLISWELL123]