"You… terrified them into submission?"
The giants stood frozen, trying to process Kael's words. They had spent their entire lives clashing with the Troll Kingdom; they knew exactly how dangerous their enemies were. Trolls were feral, uncivilized brutes—each one massive, each one frighteningly strong.
The Giant Kingdom had only managed to hold them back through better weapons, stronger armor, and disciplined tactics. The idea that a single human could carve through the Troll Capital was almost beyond belief.
And yet… the proof was right in front of them.
The trolls were still there—shivering in the distance, too frightened to even take a step forward. This human youth hadn't just beaten them. He had broken them.
"Let's head back,"
Kael said.
Despite the scale of the destruction, his actual kill count wasn't as high as it looked. Trolls were absurdly tough; in pure physical endurance, they were even sturdier than giants. Dropping one cleanly took concentrated force.
Kael did the math in his head: with his current reserves, he could maybe put down a hundred before his mana started to bite back—but there were tens of thousands of trolls in the city. More importantly, he didn't hold a personal grudge against the troll race as a whole. And on top of that, dark guild regulations strictly forbade interfering in the wars of sovereign nations.
He'd done enough.
The Giant King nodded. He understood that even with the trolls rattled, a full-scale war would still cost the giants dearly. They had come to retrieve Kael. Now that they had him, there was no reason to linger.
As the giant host turned and began marching away, the trolls finally released a collective, shaky breath.
"That human… he was a monster,"
one troll whispered, voice hollow.
"I thought humans were supposed to be weak. How can someone like that exist?"
"Did you see the sky crack? Is that what human magic can really do?"
The Giant Royal City
A massive crowd had already gathered at the city gates, waiting in tense silence. When the rhythmic thump of heavy footsteps rolled through the valley, the Giant King's voice cut through the tension like a bell.
"We're back!"
"Oooooooooh!"
The city erupted into a deafening cheer. Word had already spread that Kael was the one who rescued the children. To the giants, he wasn't merely a guest anymore—he was a hero. A savior of their bloodline.
"Tonight, we celebrate!"
the King roared.
"For the return of our children—and in honor of our hero, Kael! Let the banquet begin!"
The giants threw themselves into preparations with contagious energy. A massive bonfire was lit in the central square, surrounded by mountains of fruit, whole roasted beasts, and barrels of wine the size of small houses. Giants danced traditional steps around the flames, their laughter shaking the city's foundations.
The children Kael had rescued followed him everywhere, eyes shining with pure adoration.
Later, the Giant King—whose name Kael learned was Hajrudin—lifted a stone vat of wine and clinked it against Kael's much smaller glass. Both of them drank in one go.
"Aha! Refreshing!"
Hajrudin laughed, his voice rolling like thunder.
"These past few months have been suffocating. To finally give those troll bastards a taste of their own medicine… it feels incredible! Hahaha!"
Queen Lina joined them, smiling with quiet warmth.
"We owe this peace to you, Kael. To rescue every single child from the heart of the Troll Capital… I truly thought it was impossible. You're not exactly an 'ordinary' wizard, are you?"
Lina and Hajrudin had never visited human lands, but they kept detailed records of the outside world. They knew most human mages couldn't even stand up to a giant child—and even the strongest were typically only comparable to an adult giant.
What Kael had shown was something else entirely. If anything, it seemed to surpass even their memories of Makarov.
"I'm… alright, I guess,"
Kael replied, keeping his tone modest.
He wasn't entirely sure where he ranked, but he suspected he'd entered the uppermost tier of Ishgar. The continent was vast, and Elbaf itself was proof that hidden powerhouses still existed beyond the usual maps and rumors.
"Just 'alright'?"
Hajrudin cut in, practically vibrating with excitement.
"Lina, you didn't see it! He walked out of that city like he owned it, and thousands of trolls were too scared to even breathe wrong around him! I've never seen anything that dominant in my life!"
Lina laughed softly.
"I believe you. Kael. Even if you aren't the strongest in Ishgar, you must be among the very top. To see that kind of power in someone so young… Humans truly are a race that produces miracles."
As the night wore on, Kael learned more about how Master Makarov had met the royal couple.
Decades ago, Makarov had come to the mountains on a high-level mission. He, Hajrudin, and Lina had fought side by side to slay a legendary Hydra that had been terrorizing the region. The three had become fast friends—though, according to Hajrudin, young Makarov had apparently harbored a crush on Lina.
He had even asked her to leave with him.
Lina had gently turned him down, seeing him more as a "brother." Besides, she and Hajrudin were childhood sweethearts, and she couldn't imagine living in a world built for people one-tenth her size.
Kael couldn't help chuckling at the image of a younger Makarov getting politely rejected by a giant queen. Still… the old man had always been bold. Even back then, he'd clearly been the protagonist of his own era.
The Next Morning
Kael packed light and prepared to leave.
"Are you sure you can't stay longer?"
Hajrudin asked, genuinely disappointed.
"We haven't properly thanked you yet."
Kael smiled and shook his head.
"The guild is still being rebuilt after a big fight, and I need to get back and help. It's a long trip. If I'm gone too long, my friends will start worrying."
"I understand,"
Hajrudin said, then extended a finger for Kael to shake—careful and precise, as if he were handling something fragile.
"Then I won't keep you."
When Kael reached the city gates, he found nearly the entire population gathered to see him off.
"Kael!"
Buri and the other children shouted, waving with all their might.
"Buri, Ayla—you didn't have to come all this way,"
Kael said, a little touched.
Ayla stepped forward with a soft smile.
"You saved our children. We couldn't let you leave without saying goodbye properly."
Buri puffed out his chest.
"Kael! When I grow up, I'm going to be just like you!"
"I believe you will,"
Kael said, then tapped Buri lightly on the shoulder.
"Just make sure you use that strength to protect your mother."
A shy giant girl edged forward, cheeks red.
"Kael… when I grow up… will you marry me?"
Kael broke into a cold sweat.
"Uh… you're already… kind of a lot bigger than me, kid."
The crowd roared with laughter at his awkward expression.
"Alright, everyone,"
Kael said, lifting a hand.
"This is far enough. Time for me to go."
He activated his magic.
"Full-Body Take Over: Ulquiorra!"
A flash of green-black spiritual pressure erupted as Kael transformed. The giants gasped—most of them hadn't seen this form.
"Whoo! Another one?! That's so cool!"
the children shouted, practically bouncing.
Kael rose smoothly into the air, hovering with effortless control.
"He can fly?"
the adults murmured, stunned.
Kael waved one last time.
"Goodbye, everyone!"
"Take care!"
"Come back and visit!"
Over it all, Hajrudin's voice thundered through the valley:
"Fairy Tail will always be a brother-guild to the Giant Kingdom! If you ever need us, say the word—and our army will march to your side!"
Kael nodded once in acknowledgment. Then he released his Resurrección—massive black wings snapping open.
With a powerful flap, he streaked across the sky, heading home.
Kael didn't usually think of himself as a hero. But as he glanced back at the tiny figures still waving from the mountain pass, he had to admit—
Being one felt surprisingly good.