By the time everyone returned to Magnolia, night had already fallen.
But the commotion they caused still made residents unable to resist opening their windows to gawk.
The biggest troublemakers of Fairy Tail were riding the Magic Council's exclusive magical airship!
The residents of Magnolia felt like they were dreaming. Chase's neighbors were even more convinced they had gone to bed too early.
Every time the Magic Council appeared, it was always to invite Fairy Tail members for tea. Why were they showing such special treatment this time?
"Hey, no way. The Council actually sent their airship to bring Fairy Tail people back?"
"Oh no! Could it be that Chase guy has already conquered the Magic Council?!"
"What happened? Honey, pinch my face am I dreaming?"
"Ow! Damn it! Pinching the face isn't pinching peas!"
Amid the continuous discussion, the magical airship slowly descended, landing on the large lake at the edge of town.
After thanking Lahar, who had led the escort, Chase and the others arrived at the new guild hall construction site.
In just one day, the new guild hall had changed noticeably.
The main structure was mostly complete. A three-story building in Western castle style stood on the shore. Looking up, one could vaguely glimpse its future imposing appearance.
The construction site was completely silent. Only the temporary counter had a faint light on.
Makarov, who had received news in advance, was sitting there drinking.
Seeing the group appear, the slightly tipsy little old man raised his hand. "Yo! Welcome back!"
"We're back, Master." Mira smiled in response.
Everyone sat down at the tables and chairs across from the counter.
Juvia, who had come along, looked very restrained. She hid alone in an inconspicuous dark corner, all her attention fixed on the naked Gray.
Although she had come back with them and had gotten somewhat familiar with everyone on the way —
She still wasn't a member of Fairy Tail. She was instinctively afraid of Master Makarov, who was on Jose's level.
"I've heard about what happened. Chase, Mira — good work."
With that, Makarov suddenly burst out laughing. He hopped over to Chase and kept patting his shoulder. "Not bad, not bad. You lived up to my trust."
"Ahahaha! Little Ya said Michello and Org's expressions were like they'd eaten shit — that's just great!"
Councilors Michello and Org had always been steadfast opposition against Fairy Tail. They had frequently pinned labels on the guild, even saying it should be disbanded.
To slap them in the face so hard — just imagining it made Makarov want to laugh out loud.
Ah, no — he was already laughing...
"More importantly, there's a serious problem, old Makarov, that you need to explain to me."
Chase quietly removed Makarov's hand from his shoulder. His expression changed as he sprayed spit. "What's this about the Ten Wizard Saints proposal?!"
Lucy, sitting nearby, jumped: O-Old Makarov?!
"Ara, Chase, don't be so rough with the master~" Mira covered her mouth with a light laugh.
Erza looked utterly helpless. She held her forehead and sighed deeply. Unwatchable.
Even Natsu and Gray, who had been brawling, stopped their Friendship Ruining Fists aimed at each other's heads and looked over.
"Ah ha, ahaha. Little Ya told you, did he?"
Makarov clasped his hands behind his back, frowned, and pouted in a pretend puzzled expression. "This is a title that all wizards on the continent dream of, you know. I thought you'd definitely like it."
"I'm not like those two simpletons in our guild who willingly jump into a pit just because they see one."
Chase waved his hand. "Just withdraw the proposal already. I have zero interest in whatever qualification exam that is!"
Natsu and Gray's foreheads immediately sprouted angry cross marks. "Bastard Chase! What do you mean by that? Say it again if you dare!"
Lucy watched with wide beautiful eyes: Yep. Two simpletons. They sure volunteered to take the bait!
Juvia: He's not afraid of that Mr. Chase at all — Gray-sama is so cool~
"That won't do. Once the Magic Council passes a proposal, withdrawing it comes with a hefty fine!" Makarov said matter-of-factly.
"How much?"
"What?"
"How much is the fine?"
Chase waved his hand grandly. "Don't deduct it from guild funds. I'll pay it myself!"
If money could solve it — for someone with assets nearing a billion, it was no problem at all!
Hearing this, Makarov finally realized — Chase really wasn't short on money.
"Bad move! You're not some broke newbie who can't even pay rent!" Old Makarov clutched his head in surprise.
Lucy, who had been silently bitching Natsu and Gray, felt her mouth twitch. It felt like an arrow had hit her knee.
Was it really okay to say that so openly?
And what's this about a broke newbie who can't pay rent?!
Her lease wasn't even up yet!
Happy's head suddenly popped out from Lucy's chest, his mean expression. "Hey hey, Lucy. The master seems to be calling you~"
"Shut up, you damn cat!" Lucy angrily elbowed Happy.
"Ahem."
Over there, Makarov cleared his throat to hide his embarrassment, then said earnestly, "Chase, the fine is secondary. The important thing is that Fairy Tail can't lose face."
"If word of this gets out, people will say our guild members are cowards who surrender without a fight."
"It's fine. It'll be your face that loses face." Chase said flatly.
"..."
Now it was Makarov's turn to have a twitching mouth.
"To be honest, Master, I understand what you mean. But aren't there wizards in our guild more suited for the title of Ten Wizard Saints than me?"
Seeing that withdrawal wasn't an option, Chase directly activated True · Trap Card · Scapegoat. "Like Uncle Gildarts."
"Oh... it's Gildarts..." Natsu and Gray drooped their heads in disappointed sighs.
Lucy: "Not you guys — what were you expecting?!"
At this mention, Makarov's eyes couldn't help but dim. His aged face showed exhaustion.
"Three years ago, the master mentioned it once. Then Gildarts went off to do the 100 Years Quest," Mira explained with a smile.
"I see. So Mira, are there any other 100 Years Quests available in our guild right now?"
"You little brat — is that the point?!"
Makarov jumped up and delivered a chopping Chase on the head. He said seriously, "The 100 Years Quest isn't something you can just take on!"
Chase's progress had far exceeded his expectations. In just two and a half years in the guild, he had already grown to a level rivaling the Ten Wizard Saints.
But even so, given his current experience and maturity, a Ten-Year Quest was already his limit. He wasn't yet qualified for a 100 Years Quest.
Let alone the fact that for a hundred years, no matter how good the team of wizards, they had gone and never returned. The danger level was unimaginable!
Seeing Chase clutching his head pitifully, Makarov sighed heavily, turned, and walked heavily back to the counter.
"Well, fine. Since you really don't want to participate in the Ten Wizard Saints qualification, I'll go to the Council tomorrow to withdraw it. Worst case, those people will mock and ridicule me a bit. It's fine. I'll be fine."
Looking at that lonely, desolate back, Chase couldn't help but feel a little unbearable. "Um, Master... it's not that I absolutely can't..."
"Really? You agree?!"
The moment he turned around, Makarov's face lit up with joy. "Then it's settled! For the guild's honor, give it your all!!"
Where was even a trace of that lonely old man act now?
Chase: "..." Old thief, you were acting me?!
"Ara ara. As expected of the master." Mira didn't seem surprised at all. She was grinning from ear to ear.
"Compared to the master's acting skills, I still have a long way to go." Erza propped her chin on her hand in thoughtful pose.
In these strange areas, she always showed unparalleled seriousness.
"I don't think you need to specifically learn this, you know..." Lucy muttered quietly while silently mourning for Chase for three seconds.
"Ooooh! I'm fired up!"
"Aye~!"
"...It's not even you guys going!!"
And so, Chase reluctantly agreed.
But agreeing was one thing. He still put forward three conditions to Makarov.
First, he would do his best, but he couldn't guarantee passing the qualification.
Second, even if he passed and was granted the title of Ten Wizard Saint, he would not get involved in the Council's various trivial matters.
Third, he would not become guild master.
Makarov agreed without hesitation.
The purpose of having Chase compete for the Ten Wizard Saints title was precisely to let the higher-ranked ones knock him down a peg — and to let him see the wider world.
Just getting him to take this step was already a success. The rest could come gradually.
With this key issue resolved, Makarov's tense nerves relaxed.
"Then next, there's one more thing..."
He looked up at the dark corner where Juvia was hiding. "Since you're here, I'll say it now. Come out."
Moonlight fell. That area was silent. No figure was visible — only a pile of steel pipe scaffolding that had been dismantled today.
"Gray, you've even taken off your underwear? What kind of decency is that?!"
Just that fast, a head with heart-shaped eyes popped out from behind the steel pipe pile.
"AAAAHHHH~! Gray-sama's naked body!"
"Underwear? When did I — oh, I still have it on..."
Completely different reactions, but their overly violent movements somehow strangely matched.
Not seeing what she wanted to see, Juvia quickly snapped back to normal.
Exposed before everyone, she had no choice but to cautiously walk up to Makarov and say cautiously, "M-Master Makarov... h-hello... have you had dinner?"
"Yes. Have you?" Makarov answered seriously.
"Thank you for asking. I have too." Juvia nodded emphatically.
Lucy: What a nutritious and strange conversation...
The atmosphere grew awkward.
After two coughs, Makarov got straight to the point. "I'll be direct. Juvia... would you like to join Fairy Tail?"
He had noticed Juvia long ago. This girl had probably spent more time at the construction site than he had!
"Huh?! M-Me?! Can I?!" Juvia's beautiful eyes widened. She couldn't believe her ears.
"Of course."
"But... but before... I did those things to your guild and everyone..."
"That matter is long over. And you were just following Jose's orders."
The Ten Wizard Saints cloak swayed in the light breeze. Makarov smiled and reached out his right hand to Juvia. "As long as you're willing, Fairy Tail welcomes you anytime."
Guiding lost young people back to the right path — that was the duty and responsibility of old-timers like him from the older generation.
Hearing this, Juvia's eyes instantly filled with tears.
All this time spent with Gray-sama (in her imagination), she had been deeply attracted to Fairy Tail's cheerful, relaxed atmosphere.
Completely different from the cold, ruthless Phantom Lord that only valued strength — this was a true "home."
"Mm! I'm willing!"
Juvia reached out her hand, extremely moved. Tears streamed down her face.
Seeing this, everyone smiled. No one was surprised.
"Juvia, welcome to Fairy Tail!" Lucy was the first to run over and congratulate her.
From now on, she was a guild veteran too. She had to act like a senior! The girl secretly rejoiced.
Then — she ran headfirst into Juvia's resentment-filled gaze. "Romantic rival!"
"Huh? No, no, no — I think you've got the wrong idea!" Lucy quickly waved her hands to explain.
"Just you wait! Juvia will not lose to you!"
Juvia was full of energy. Her long hair wildly danced against the dark background.
"...She completely didn't listen!"
"Hey, Lucy. Juvia was an S-Class wizard in Phantom Lord, you know." Happy raised his hand, offering a kind, warm reminder.
The timid Lucy was immediately frightened into backing away repeatedly, instinctively hiding behind Chase.
Her "senior member" image, which hadn't even had a chance to stand up, shattered on the spot, scattering all over the floor.
"The new guild hall will be finished soon. We'll hold the formal announcement and registration ceremony then, all together."
Makarov's words came like a timely rain, easing Lucy's embarrassing situation. "If nothing unexpected happens, there should be other newcomers as well."
Today, when he took the Three Crows to the Magic Council, he had happened to run into his old friend — Councilor Belno, a gentle woman known for her dovish ways.
In their brief chat, Makarov learned that Gajeel — the former Phantom Lord Dragon Slayer — apparently bore a strong resemblance to Belno's deceased son.
And before the all-out war between Fairy Tail and Phantom Lord had broken out, she had even tried to persuade Gajeel to leave Jose and choose a more suitable guild!
Based on this connection, Belno had given Makarov Gajeel's current location and kindly requested him to guide Gajeel onto the right path — to join Fairy Tail.
Makarov had been planning to do this anyway. And doing so would also allow him to sell Belno a small favor. So he had agreed quite readily.
His plan was to leave in the next few days to find Gajeel, and then announce the news at the new guild hall's completion ceremony.
***
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