The moment Ultear's figure disappeared around the corner, Makarov excitedly jumped up onto the bar counter, grabbed Kabe, and began slapping his arm with all his might.
"Well done, Kabe. Just as expected of my favorite child. Picking you up back then was truly the most correct decision I've ever made in my life."
Kabe: "..."
Watching the Master grin from ear to ear in delight, Laki, who had just been completely and shamelessly ignored, puffed out her cheeks in anger.
"Master, that's not what you used to say."
"Ah? Ha... hahaha, Laki, you're very outstanding too. You're Fairy Tail's finest poster girl."
For a moment, the old man clearly had no idea how to face her. After all, now that Ultear had joined, Laki's importance in this particular area really had dropped quite a bit.
Fortunately, Laki did not actually care that someone had taken over part of her work.
After all, now that she had already found a broad and shining road in real estate, she no longer lacked the extra pay she used to earn from repairing the guild.
If anything, Ultear joining would help share part of that workload and make her own life easier.
Even so, she still could not stand Makarov's face changing this quickly.
She had already decided that once they got back, she would not speak to that hateful Master for an entire week.
The other people in the guild also sympathized deeply with Laki's tragic treatment. One after another, they began condemning the Master and protesting the way he treated one of the guild's great contributors.
But then Erza returned with Ultear, and Makarov formally announced in front of everyone that she had officially joined Fairy Tail.
Instantly, the entire crowd changed faces.
...
"So Ultear, you're Gray's senior sister too? What a coincidence. I practically watched Gray grow up. Usually I treat him just like my own little brother."
Macao casually hooked an arm around Gray's neck and warmly sidled up to Ultear, trying to strike up familiarity.
Gray wore a thoroughly irritated expression as he shoved his arm away.
"You bastard, Macao. That sounds nice and all, but you've never exactly been gentle with me."
The moment he finished speaking, another hand landed on his shoulder.
He turned his head, only to see Wakaba, that bastard.
"Exactly. If we're talking about real bonds, then obviously I'm the one who has the best relationship with little brother Gray."
"Gray, don't talk nonsense. You know I've always doted on you the most."
Macao first shamelessly said a few syrupy, disgusting lines to Gray, then immediately started bickering with Wakaba.
"You idiot, you already have a wife. What are you even joining the fun for?"
"Bastard Macao, don't you already have a son, Romeo?"
"That's exactly because I'm worried Romeo lacks motherly love that I want to find him a living mother."
"Oh, cut the crap. You're just a lustful bastard."
"Hah? Looking to die, you idiot with the airplane hair?"
After only two lines of argument, the two of them predictably started fighting.
They did not hold back at all. Every blow went straight for the other man's face.
...
Watching the two of them throw hands without mercy, Ultear, who had only just joined the guild and was still unused to this style of getting along, looked a little at a loss.
But before she could say anything, the men of the guild, all thinking they had found a chance to show themselves off, instantly swarmed over.
Surrounded in the middle and a little overwhelmed, Ultear clearly had no idea how to deal with them all at once.
Makarov's face sank.
In a flash, he charged into the crowd and sent them all flying, one in each hand.
"Get lost, you bratty punks! If any of you scare little Ur, I'll make sure you regret it!"
After threatening them, Makarov turned back around and immediately put on a warm and kindly face as he said to Ultear,
"Don't feel embarrassed. If they act like this again next time, just hit them directly. That's a special permission from me as guild master."
After saying that, Makarov rubbed his hands together somewhat awkwardly.
"Well... Ultear, you see the guild's in this condition, so could you maybe..."
Although he did not finish the sentence, Ultear had already understood exactly what he meant.
After wiping away a bead of nonexistent cold sweat, she smiled lightly and said,
"That's easy. If you want, I can even restore it to how it looked right after it was first built."
"Good, good, good!"
Makarov said "good" three times in a row. Then he widened his eyes and stood there eagerly, ready to watch Ultear perform.
Ultear took a deep breath and slowly lifted her hands into the air.
"Return to your original form, Time..."
"Wait a second!"
"Cough, cough!!"
That sudden shout came so abruptly that Ultear was nearly choked to death by the breath she had been gathering.
Her brows instantly knit together, and she turned angrily toward the direction the voice had come from at the entrance.