Although from the current situation, it seemed that Moen had already completely gotten the Nord Forest beast tide under control and was keeping it contained within the forest.
But Makarov did not want to gamble on that possibility. What if Moen failed to hold it back? Then a great battle would inevitably break out.
Although Makarov was not particularly worried about the final outcome of the battle, he believed the mages of Ishgar would certainly achieve ultimate victory, but battlefields were chaotic and ever-changing, and no one could guarantee that no accidents would happen.
No one in the guild shrank back, but Makarov truly had to consider more. He had to think about the worst possible scenario.
No matter what, leaving behind children like Natsu and Gray was a responsible decision for Fairy Tail's future.
Even if the worst happened, these children would still be able to support Fairy Tail, continue Fairy Tail's spirit, and become the guild's pillars.
"If Moen were here, he definitely wouldn't want you all to go either."
Looking at the emotional children, Makarov brought out his trump card.
"..."
Natsu, Gray, and the others all fell silent. Even the rain outside became lighter. Juvia also knew that Brother Moen definitely would not want them putting themselves in danger. If that place were truly dangerous, Brother Moen certainly would not want them all going there.
"But is it really that dangerous?"
Gray was somewhat suspicious. Hadn't they said that Brother Moen alone had already blocked the beast tide? Yet now that so many people were going, they were still afraid something might happen? Wasn't that being a little too cautious?
"I... can't be sure either..."
Makarov paused when asked.
He could only say that what Moen had accomplished was simply too astonishing. It would probably leave many people's jaws dropped.
Some of these older people had personally experienced the last uprising. Though most of them had still been young at the time, just like Natsu and the others now, and had not been summoned to go, they had still learned from their seniors about how brutal the battle had been.
"The Nord Forest beast tide" was like some kind of urban legend in the hearts of their generation. None of them had seen it personally, but in their memories, it was something terrifying beyond doubt.
For Moen alone to stop the Nord Forest beast tide was indeed a tremendous shock to everything they had always believed.
But right now, they could still find one explanation—that this had only been the probing first wave, and the real main assault would come later.
That was also why Makarov was stopping the children from going. He truly feared that once the battle entered its fiercest stage, they would not have the spare hands to protect them.
"It's decided then."
Makarov made the final call, leaving the children no chance to continue making a fuss.
The anxious Erza and Mirajane also helped suppress the noisy children. They wanted to depart as quickly as possible.
"This is not the time to waste here!"
Erza stood with hands on her hips and glared as she spoke, suppressing the children until they all quieted down and no longer dared to say anything more.
"Don't worry, kids. We'll definitely bring Moen back for you."
Uncle Macao raised a thumb beside them and said with a grin.
Although his own child was still young, Macao showed no hesitation and immediately decided to go along with the rescue mission. His good partner Wakaba naturally refused to fall behind.
All the guild mages with at least some strength were in the lineup, joining this operation to "Save Private Moen."
Natsu wore an unconvinced expression. He clearly still wanted to go. When this guy became stubborn, he was truly extremely stubborn.
If you won't take me, then I'll go by myself!
In Natsu's heart, he clearly already had his own plan.
Watching everyone depart, the guild became rarely quiet again. Natsu's eyes rolled as he schemed. Now that everyone had left, it seemed he could sneak off himself.
"Natsu, what are you trying to do?"
However, Natsu's strange movements were noticed by Gray, who was equally unwilling to accept things.
Looking at Natsu and Happy sneaking around on tiptoe, Gray looked puzzled. What kind of nonsense was this guy trying to pull now?
"Aye! We got caught, Natsu!"
Happy suddenly straightened his body and shouted. He looked extremely guilty, as though it were his first time doing something like this.
"H-Haha..."
Natsu laughed awkwardly, inwardly annoyed.
His plan had actually been discovered by Gray of all people!
In truth, Natsu was overthinking it completely.
It was not only Gray who had noticed. In fact, every dissatisfied child in the guild had noticed him and Happy sneaking around suspiciously.
"Natsu, were you planning to secretly go north?"
Seeing that Natsu said nothing, Gray continued and asked.
"Ah?! How did you know?!"
Natsu opened his mouth wide in shock, looking utterly stunned. He had never expected Gray to see through his plan.
"..."
Gray's face darkened with frustration. He felt as though Natsu was treating him like an idiot.
With how transparent Natsu was, anyone with even slightly normal intelligence could tell what he was trying to do.
"Natsu, let's go together!"
Cana stepped forward and spoke directly to Natsu.
She had just been hesitating whether or not to disobey Master Makarov's order. Would Brother Moen really want them all to go?
After hesitating for a moment, Cana chose to follow her own heart.
She decisively stepped forward and declared that she wanted to go too.
"Eh?!"
Natsu was stunned and somewhat unable to understand what was happening, but before he could figure it out, the other children began speaking one after another.
"I'm going too!"
Juvia quickly followed and spoke with great seriousness. Although she had not studied magic for very long, her terrifying talent and learning attitude had already given her respectable combat ability. And if it was to fight in order to rescue Brother Moen, it would fill her with fighting spirit and let her display two hundred percent of her strength.
"I'm going too to save Master!"
Hisui also raised her hand right after.
She knew she would absolutely never be allowed to go by Master Makarov, so she had remained silent earlier, only quietly shrinking in the back.
She had watched Natsu and the others argue their case while cheering for them inwardly, thinking that maybe she could slip in together with them.
Unfortunately, even Natsu and the others had been left behind, causing her plan to completely fail, and she could only helplessly remain behind.
"We can organize a squad and depart together."
Levy spoke with a serious expression and proposed her idea.
She believed everyone definitely wanted to go, so they might as well all depart together. That way, everyone's safety could also be maximized.
"I think that's fine. Even if the Master blames us later, we can all bear it together. At least it won't be only one person getting punished."
Lisanna stuck out her tongue and expressed her support.
If many people shared responsibility, then even if they were punished, everyone would be punished together.
Gray also expressed support. Elfman, Jet, and Droy had no objections at all either. In the end, everyone raised their hands for a vote and directly approved the decision.
"..."
Natsu opened his mouth wide.
He had originally only planned to sneak off by himself, yet somehow it had inexplicably turned into everyone going together.
"Alright! Then let's all go together!"
Though shocked inside, Natsu was also swept up by everyone's emotions.
He too felt that setting off together made them seem much more imposing!
"Let's go! Yeah!"
As everyone shouted together, Fairy Tail's Youth Rescue Squad was officially formed.
A group of children charged out of the guild in grand fashion, leaving the few mages who had been told to stay behind and watch them staring at each other in confusion. Then those mages also chased after them, leaving only a few slower ones behind to guard the guild.
"Damn it! They just left us behind!"
The few remaining people were extremely annoyed, hating only that they had not hurried up and followed. In the end, they could only remain at home and wait for everyone's return.
They all knew that those who had gone to chase after the children definitely would not be coming back. Instead, they would go together with the children.
Everyone wanted to do their part for "Save Private Moen."
"Achoo!"
Standing guard before the Crystal Wall, Moen sneezed.
He wrinkled his nose. This time the smell was truly very strong. After all, there was a pile of corpses here.
Moen thought that dealing with these corpses was also a major problem. They could not just be left here unattended, could they?
Although if left in the forest, the corpses would slowly decompose on their own, that would probably take a very long time.
Moreover, there were simply too many corpses. If they were not handled properly, it might even breed a plague or something similar.
"Burning them all in one fire would work too."
Moen thought about it.
That was the simplest way to deal with them.
There were so many corpses that if they did not use a simple and brutal method, it would be hard to process them.
Who could possibly have the patience to pick through every single one and make use of them?
Besides, the monster corpses had all been smashed into pieces already. Any valuable parts had likely been crushed as well.
Trying to find anything useful would be about the same as panning for gold in filth.
Ever since the last monster uprising, Moen had remained here guarding the place, waiting until the allied mage forces arrived at Nord Forest.
And during that time, another monster uprising never occurred.
That result made Yajima somewhat uneasy.
If another uprising truly never happened again, would it not make him seem as though he had made a fuss over nothing?
Of course, he did not regret what he had done.
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