Year X782
Time flew. Ever since Kael received the Ten Wizard Saint title, guild requests had been pouring in from all corners of the kingdom. The guild's reputation skyrocketed, propelling Fairy Tail to become the undisputed No.1 guild in the entire kingdom.
This only fueled the jealousy burning in the heart of Joseph, president of the Phantom Guild. Yet, Fairy Tail's overall strength far surpassed that of his guild, and Kael's overwhelming power during their last encounter left Joseph wary. Coupled with kingdom regulations, all he could do was seethe in impotent rage.
"Damn you, Fairy Tail… mark my words. One day, I'll take back everything I've lost!"
Over the past two years, Lisanna, Elfman, Natsu, and Gray had grown like they'd been on steroids—gone were their childlike appearances, replaced by youthful vigor and handsome, matured looks.
Kael himself had transformed from a teen into a more mature young man. Over these two years, he had visited every library across the Fiore Kingdom, systematically studying the magic of the Fairy Tail world, seeking to develop even more powerful spells.
His efforts had paid off. Kael had made noticeable progress, which gave him some relief. He returned to Fairy Tail alongside Kana, feeling satisfied with the results of his studies.
After a little over a week back at the guild, Kael lingered on the second-floor mission board, waiting for the S-Class "Beast King Subjugation" task. But as if mocking him, the mission never appeared.
Still, Kael remained vigilant. Not wanting to risk negligence, he instructed Mirajane to accept the Beast King task and take Lisanna and Elfman with her.
Why not prevent her from taking it? Kael knew Mirajane's fiery, competitive nature too well—if told not to, she might have snuck off and taken it anyway.
That morning, Kael lay on the second-floor sofa as usual, while Laxus sifted through the mission board for an S-Class task to take the Thunder God Squad out on.
Yes—over the past year, the Thunder God Squad had joined Fairy Tail. During a previous mission, they had witnessed Laxus' incredible strength and bravery and became his devoted followers, always trailing behind him. This time, Laxus wanted them to tackle an S-Class task to broaden their experience.
Fried's loyalty to Laxus amused Kael. Wherever Laxus went, Fried followed, eyes filled with unrestrained admiration.
Haha, a tangent… back on track.
Tap, tap, tap~
"Ah… ha~ so sleepy."
As footsteps approached, the guild members, previously nodding off, suddenly succumbed to slumber again. The figure advancing was fully wrapped, carrying several magic staffs on his back. By the time he entered the guild, everyone had collapsed into deep sleep.
Erza and Mirajane held out a bit longer, but even their endurance faltered the moment they saw him.
"Yo, long time no see, Mister Gong," Makarov greeted the man, whose eyes were the only visible feature.
"Long time, Guild Master. I'll just take these missions," Mister Gong replied swiftly, collecting several mission slips and showing them to Makarov before preparing to leave.
"Mister Gong, your Sleep Magic is impressive. You might just earn an S-Class exam spot this year," Kael called out from the second-floor railing, his eyes bright, fully awake, and happy to see him.
"Yo, long time no see!" Laxus said, arms crossed, leaning against a pillar, greeting Mister Gong. Kael was right—his precise magical control, formidable martial arts, and immense power clearly qualified him for S-Class evaluation.
Mister Gong merely nodded and turned, vanishing into the street outside. Slowly, the guild members began to wake from their enchanted sleep.
"Hmm, still as eccentric as ever," Kael said, nodding in approval.
"Just a bit more… almost had it. Damn," Erza muttered, clenching her fists and staring toward the guild entrance.
Kael's thoughts drifted. Mister Gong hated being seen, especially by Erza. His strongest magic had been applied to her, and even Mirajane, standing nearby, was affected.
"Erza, this year's S-Class exam—your examiner will be Mister Gong. One-on-one. How about it?" Kael suggested with a sly smile, secretly hoping something entertaining would unfold.
"Alright! Then I'd better prepare properly," Erza replied fiercely, cracking her knuckles and heading out to the library to consult Laby on how to counter Sleep Magic.
"I'm heading out on a mission too. Keep an eye on the guild," Laxus said as he took down his selected S-Class mission and called the Thunder God Squad, leaving only Kael upstairs, staring blankly.
Why not check on Kana? She had gone on a mission herself, insisting on independence. Kael fully supported her. He made sure the mission was safe and even prepared several defensive and teleportation magic cards for her. Once she was equipped, he indulged in a few teasing moments, showing affection in a way that blurred the line between overprotective and doting.
Afternoon
Sunlight streamed through the guild doors, illuminating Kael's face as he slept on the bar counter.
A figure approached, lightly tapping his cheek. Kael's groggy eyes opened to see Lisanna.
"Lisanna, you're back. Mission went smoothly?" Kael rubbed his eyes, speaking softly.
"Yes, thanks to Natsu, everything went perfectly," Lisanna replied.
"Just… one little thing. I need your help, Kael," she said, sitting beside him, cheeks flushed and slightly embarrassed.
"Oh? What's the matter?"
"This is the compensation slip. We spent part of our mission reward, but it still isn't enough." Lisanna handed him the sheet, her hands gripping the chair nervously.
"And Natsu… this kid?"
Kael's blood pressure spiked. He crushed the slip in his hands, leaping to his feet. Sensing Natsu's location, he prepared to teleport and give him a proper scolding.
"Kael… it's not Natsu's fault. I didn't control my strength properly," Lisanna admitted.
"…Ah…"
"You taught me how to control my strength, Kael?"
"Yes… not too hard."
"Cough… very well. Good job."