Chapter 324 – Just Kidding
"The client for this job is Warrod Secrein, fourth among the Ten Wizard Saints and one of The Four Gods of Ishgar."
"What?!"
"The client is one of the Ten Wizard Saints?!"
"What's going on?"
"Why would someone that powerful ask us for help?"—almost everyone in the guild jumped in shock.
The Ten Wizard Saints are, without question, the mightiest Mages on the continent of Ishgar.
Whatever task required their help had to be unimaginably difficult.
"Ren, this assignment must be completed."
Makarov said to Ren, his expression uncharacteristically serious as he held out the high-priority request flyer.
"Mm, I understand."
Ren nodded calmly, accepting the heavy parchment without a second thought.
"The mission from the fourth seat of the Ten Wizard Saints—count me in!"
Natsu had always wanted to see the world; hearing that such a big shot had personally assigned Ren, he burned with curiosity and begged to tag along.
"You weren't even named. Why butt in?"
Gray snapped at Natsu, crossing his arms with an annoyed scoff.
"I'm just curious, okay? What's wrong with that?"
Natsu was sick of the routine jobs lately and craved a real challenge; staying still wasn't his style.
Anyone could accept an S-Class mission, provided an S-Class Mage came along to supervise the team.
Neither he nor Lucy had reached that rank yet, so he'd had no chance to test how strong he'd actually become after their recent chaotic battles.
After a moment's thought, Makarov nodded slowly. "All right, Natsu can go."
Natsu's strength had soared lately; a bit of real experience beside Ren would do him a lot of good.
"Yeah! Awesome!"
Natsu leapt for joy, pumping his fists into the air.
The journey away from the bustling streets of Magnolia and into the deep, untamed wilderness of Fiore was a breath of fresh air.
"We haven't set out together like this in ages—feels nostalgic," Lucy said, gently tucking a stray strand of blonde hair behind her ear.
The breathtaking scenery around them was instantly lifting her spirits.
Above them stretched a flawless, crystal-clear blue sky, completely devoid of clouds. They walked along a winding dirt path flanked by lush, vibrant green hills that rolled endlessly toward the horizon.
A murmuring stream ran parallel to their route, its crystal-clear waters shimmering under the warm sunlight. The vibrant sounds of nature were everywhere—chirping birds hidden in the canopy, small beasts rustling in the underbrush, and colorful butterflies dancing among blooming wildflowers.
A cool, gentle breeze carried the rich, earthy scent of grass and damp soil, instantly melting away the lingering stress of guild brawls and city life.
"The air's so fresh, the breeze feels perfect—this place is amazing!"
Lucy spread her arms wide, closing her eyes as she took a deep, refreshing breath of the untainted countryside air.
"Like camping! It puts you in such a great mood!"
"Aye, sir~!"
Happy flew casually beside her, munching on a small fish he had saved. Suddenly, his large, dark eyes narrowed, and he eyed her with a highly suspicious gaze. "By the way, Lucy, why'd you come?"
"I… I'm partners with Natsu! Where he goes, I go."
Lucy stammered slightly, scrambling for a noble-sounding excuse as a faint blush dusted her cheeks.
Happy looked incredibly skeptical, crossing his tiny paws. "You're here for the reward, aren't you?"
"No way! I just missed everyone going out together."
Lucy waved her hands frantically in denial, though her heart pounded with guilt.
She definitely was here for the reward. Ren was notoriously generous when it came to splitting job bounties, and a direct request from the fourth seat of the Ten Wizard Saints would undoubtedly pay in the millions.
Her mind was already calculating the math. Even just a hundred thousand Jewels of that cut would easily cover her exorbitant rent in Magnolia for an entire year. She wouldn't have to suffer the anxiety of her landlady's nagging ever again.
"Really?"
Happy's tiny face stayed doubtful, his tone dripping with absolute disbelief.
"Cross my heart!" Lucy declared, puffing out her chest indignantly.
Natsu, who was walking slightly ahead, suddenly turned around, walking backward as he joined the conversation. "Hey, the client's the fourth seat, right? The Magic Council gave Ren the first seat, yeah?"
"Yep," Happy nodded, flying up to rest on Natsu's spiky pink hair.
"Think he's mad Ren jumped over him and wants trouble?" Natsu asked, a wide, battle-hungry grin spreading across his face. He punched his palm, clearly hoping the old man was looking for a fight.
"Dunno… hope not," Happy sighed, sweating slightly at Natsu's belligerent attitude.
"Jura's only the fifth seat, and that rock-head is crazy strong—wonder what the fourth can do!"
Natsu's eyes sparkled with intense anticipation, his magical energy flaring slightly in his excitement.
Ren, walking at a leisurely pace with his hands tucked into his pockets, couldn't help but chuckle at their wild imaginations. "Quit guessing. We'll find out soon enough."
Despite his calm exterior, Ren's mind was running through the vast wealth of canon lore he possessed.
The Four Gods of Ishgar were the absolute apex of the Ten Wizard Saints, legendary figures who rarely showed up in public. But Ren remembered them perfectly, and for a very simple, rather tragic reason.
The former first seat, God Serena, had once thrashed all four of them completely single-handedly.
God Serena was a monster who possessed eight distinct Dragon Slayer Lacrimas. His overwhelming strength had turned the once-legendary title of the Ten Wizard Saints into a bit of a pathetic joke.
Driven by an insatiable thirst for greater power and the desire to fight the Black Dragon Acnologia, God Serena had eventually defected to the western continent, joining the Alvarez Empire and becoming a core member of the terrifying Spriggan 12.
[Akarin's Note: The Spriggan 12 are Emperor Spriggan's (Zeref's) elite personal guard, each possessing magic power rivaling or exceeding Ishgar's absolute best.]
When the Alvarez Empire eventually launched their full-scale invasion of Ishgar, seats two through five had completely failed to stop God Serena. They had been utterly useless in the face of true, continent-shaking power.
Ever since recalling that future timeline, Ren had felt the title of 'Wizard Saint' was rather overrated. It was a big fish in a small pond scenario.
But all jokes aside, Ren knew he couldn't completely dismiss them. The Saints were still undeniably top-tier Mages within the context of their homeland; they just paled in comparison to the apocalyptic might of the Alvarez Empire's monsters like August and Irene Belserion.
Ren knew that his own current strength was immense, but he couldn't afford to be arrogant. If he wanted to protect his guild from the impending war, he needed to keep pushing his system and refining his abilities to the absolute limit.
"Look, everyone—a house!"
Lucy suddenly shouted, pointing toward a small, peculiar wooden cottage resting atop a completely bare hilltop.
It was a strange sight. The vibrant, lush forest they had been walking through abruptly ended, giving way to a barren, rocky mound where the isolated cabin sat alone, surrounded by an eerie silence.
"Excuse us, we're from the Mage Guild Fairy Tail."
Lucy stepped forward cautiously. She politely pushed the creaky wooden door, peeking her head inside the dimly lit cottage.
"Shhh~~!"
A harsh, hissing sound echoed from the shadows within, instantly freezing the group in their tracks.
"Silence. Plants love quiet. If you understand, shut those noisy mouths."
The voice was raspy, deep, and carried an undeniable, heavy weight of authority.
Lucy, Natsu, and Happy instantly tensed up, cold sweat forming on their foreheads. The man standing before them in the gloom was the legendary fourth seat of the Ten Wizard Saints.
The sheer atmospheric pressure of being in the presence of one of the Four Gods of Ishgar made it difficult to breathe. Was he actually angry? Had they offended him right out of the gate?
"Quiet? Just kidding! Trees and flowers actually adore the human voice! Wahahaha!"
Suddenly, the heavy tension shattered like fragile glass.
Warrod Secrein spun around, bursting into boisterous, eccentric laughter.
"A tree…?"
Lucy's jaw dropped open in utter disbelief.
The old man standing before them looked exactly like a literal, walking tree. His skin was rough and grooved like ancient bark, his hair was a strange shade of mossy green, and a literal leafy sprout grew directly out of the top of his bald head.
"Ah, you're finally here, Fairy Tail Mages!" Warrod smiled warmly, his bark-like face crinkling with genuine joy.
"Are you Mister Warrod Secrein of the Ten Wizard Saints?" Lucy asked hesitantly, still trying to process the visual anomaly before her.
"Correct! I'm Warrod Secrein—just kidding!"
Warrod posed dramatically, winking at them.
"Eh—?!"
The entire group stared at him, utterly stunned by the bizarre antic.
"That was a joke too," Warrod added, his smile never wavering.
"What's with this grandpa?!"
Natsu and Happy were thoroughly bewildered, their jaws practically hitting the wooden floor. This goofy, plant-like old man was supposed to be one of the continent's ultimate powerhouses?
"Hello, Mister Warrod. I'm Ren, here for your requested job."
Ren stepped forward, completely unfazed by the old man's eccentricities. He offered a polite, respectful nod.
"Ren? So young! A true prodigy!"
Warrod's playful demeanor shifted for a fraction of a second. His keen, ancient senses could feel the terrifying, surging ocean of magic dormant inside Ren's body—it was staggeringly close to his own, perhaps even denser.
To possess so much refined, monstrous power at such a young age was incredibly hard to believe. The rumors of the Magic Council's newly appointed 1st Seat were apparently not exaggerated in the slightest.
Simultaneously, Ren's eyes narrowed slightly as he silently activated one of his core system abilities.
[Skill Activated: Transparent World]
Through his enhanced vision, Ren peered directly into Warrod's physical and magical structure. He could see the dense, ancient nature magic flowing through the old man's bark-like veins.
Ren's system evaluated Warrod's magic power: a bit above 8-Star.
It was a truly formidable level of strength. Though currently listed fourth among the Ten Wizard Saints, Ren knew from his canon knowledge that Warrod's true value lay in his incredible utility and immense mana reserves. He had contributed more than most during the desperate war against the Alvarez Empire, using his sprawling nature magic to alter battlefields on a continental scale.
"So why are you here?" Warrod asked, blinking his eyes with a genuinely puzzled expression.
Ren's mouth twitched slightly, his stoic facade cracking for a brief second. "You summoned me!"
Warrod paused, staring blankly at the ceiling for a long moment. Then, he dramatically smacked his own forehead.
"Ah… I forgot!"
Thud—!
Everyone in the Fairy Tail group completely lost their balance and face-planted into the floorboards at the sheer absurdity of the situation.
"Just kidding!"
[Akarin Note:
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