Fairy Tail Guild.
More than a week after the S-Class Exam ended, everything returned to normal.
However, it was clear that someone was still in an excited state.
"That's how it is... I'm Cana's biological father.."
"Hehe, hehe~"
Gildarts chuckled foolishly, extraordinarily Happy, his hand continuously patting Cana's shoulder to show intimacy.
He was showing off to the other guild members who were still unaware.
Cana pushed Gildarts away as his face was almost touching hers.
Her face slightly red, she said with a hint of embarrassment, "Enough~! Can you please act normal~ This is so embarrassing!"
"No way, who told me I have such a cute daughter? I'm just Happy! Hahaha."
Gildarts directly picked up Cana and spun around the crowd, showing off his daughter.
The crowd looked back and forth at the struggling Cana, then at the Happy Gildarts, and were stunned to hear the news.
It was hard to imagine that Gildarts had this side to him.
It had been a week, and he was still showing her off to everyone he met.
This loving demeanor made him a complete doting father.
On the other side were Natsu and Romeo.
"Take this, ha~ ha."
After Romeo made some gestures, he looked at Natsu with sparkling eyes and said, "Amazing! I wish I could learn fire magic too, and when I grow up, I definitely want to join Fairy Tail!"
Romeo was incredibly envious when he heard that Natsu had wreaked havoc on Tenrou Island, fantasizing about unleashing his own power.
But then he remembered that his father, Macao, didn't approve of him learning magic.
He recalled what his father had told him: "Romeo, you're still young. We'll talk about it when you grow up!"
Then he lowered his head, pouting unhappily, and said, "It's just that Dad won't teach me, it's so annoying!"
"Well... fire magic?... it seems like..."
Natsu suddenly fell silent after hearing that, as if seriously considering other possibilities.
Romeo immediately perked up, looking at Natsu with anticipation. He hoped Natsu would teach him magic, after all, he had always looked up to Natsu as a role model.
Even Lily and Gajeel, who were sitting nearby, were drawn to Natsu's posture.
It seemed like the first time they had ever seen Natsu thinking.
The most important thing was that Natsu knew Dragon Slayer Magic, which was an ancient and lost art.
Without a true dragon to teach it, no one could learn this magic.
They really didn't know what Natsu was thinking about at this moment; could he have secretly learned other magic?
Gajeel carefully observed Natsu's every move, trying to discern something from him.
He was extremely serious.
He wanted to avoid a situation where Natsu truly mastered some other powerful magic, while he himself remained stagnant.
Lucy was drawn by the commotion over here; it was also the first time she had seen Natsu ponder a problem for so long.
Could Natsu have truly changed?
Lucy thought this inadvertently.
Suddenly,
"Clap~"
Natsu pondered for a moment, then suddenly clapped his hands together.
His expression was full of relish.
"Thinking back, honestly, the taste of that God Slayer Magic flame was really good, but it's a shame I can't eat it anymore!"
After Natsu finished speaking, he smacked his lips.
"Bang bang bang~"
Lucy, Gajeel, and Lily, who were still concentrating, hoping to hear a normal answer, all stumbled and fell to the ground.
"It seems I was really overthinking it; Natsu truly is unusual!" Lucy propped herself up on the table, looking at Natsu helplessly as she complained.
"Aye~ he's right!" Happy also chimed in, raising his right hand.
"Brat, I have a way for you to learn fire magic! You don't need this idiot!"
Gajeel placed his hand on Romeo's head, rubbed it, pointed to himself, and said with a confident laugh.
"Really?" Romeo's hope reignited as he confirmed.
"Of course, he knows ICEMAKE!"
"It's just been a long time since I contacted Totomaru!"
"But it's not a big problem!"
Gajeel pondered for a moment, thinking that Juvia should have his information, so there was no major issue.
"That's great!" Romeo shouted excitedly after hearing this.
Panther Lily, standing nearby, looked at Gajeel with a smile.
Gajeel, in turn, laughed heartily while rubbing Romeo's hair.
"Gajeel has changed so much!" Lily thought to himself.
There was also one very special person, Juvia.
At this moment, her face was filled with jealousy and a hint of envy as she looked towards Gray, almost biting through the handkerchief in her hand.
"Gray-sama, is it true that a master's daughter is more attractive?"
"Wuwuwu~ Gray-sama, Juvia is so sad, and so envious."
Juvia's face was tear-streaked as she watched Gray happily chatting with Ultear, but she had no way to interject.
It was truly heartbreaking.
"Juvia-nee, do you like Gray-nii? Hehe~"
A gentle pink-haired girl asked, smiling as she leaned in from the side.
"Th-this..." Juvia immediately flushed crimson, her hands unconsciously twisting together, becoming flustered.
"It seems so! Hehe, come with me!"
"Hey hey hey~"
Meredy chuckled mischievously, pulling the flustered Juvia and squeezing her next to Gray.
This made both Gray and Juvia shy and at a loss.
When Ultear and Meredy turned sideways, one could clearly see the golden and pink Fairy Tail marks imprinted on their waists.
The other guild members were also gathered together, some drinking, some playing, making it exceptionally lively.
"It seems, Third Master, you've done a very good job, Makarov."
The First Master sat on the bar counter, her legs swinging.
Looking at the noisy, laughing crowd, she smiled knowingly at the Third Master, who was heartily drinking beer beside her.
"Not at all, First Master, you're exaggerating, hahaha, just so-so!"
Makarov, hearing the First Master's praise, immediately put down his beer glass and scratched his head, laughing humbly.
However, his head-thrown-back laughter clearly showed his pride and happiness.
...
Zorn leaned against the railing on the second floor, contentedly watching everything happening on the first floor.
Isn't this what I wanted to protect?
It's so good, I protected it.
"Zorn, is there anything else you haven't told us!"
"It seems you knew something about this incident, but you shouldered it alone!"
Laxus emerged from a shadow, leaning against a pillar opposite Zorn, asking him with a doubtful yet certain tone.
"Just rely on me, because one day I will need you too."
"Whether it's painful or sad, we'll be there for each other, we're comrades, aren't we?"
"Consider this my moment of willfulness!"
Zorn propped his chin, looking at the frolicking crowd below, and said with a smile.
He subtly responded to Laxus's question.
"Ah~ I'm really Happy to be able to join Fairy Tail!"
Zorn's soft murmur made Laxus pause.
He looked at Zorn, who was smiling exceptionally happily at that moment.
Laxus simultaneously turned his head, looking downstairs where Natsu and Gajeel were butting heads, neither giving way.
He looked at the laughing old man.
He looked at the shy Gray and Juvia.
He looked at the noisy, playful crowd, and also smiled knowingly.
With his arms crossed, he walked downstairs.
"Next time, you'd better be careful~"
"Got it, got it."
Zorn waved his hand, indicating to Laxus that he understood.
Laxus also turned his head and snorted coldly.
Zorn, however, focused his thoughts on the surging number of tasks on the second and first floor mission boards, pondering carefully.
What new trick was the Council playing? It seemed it was time for a visit!
He didn't want to unknowingly become a pawn again.
He paid no attention to Laxus's words.
To be continued~
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