The moment Mistgun's shadow vanished through the doorway, the members of Fairy Tail began to stir awake one by one.
Everyone except Natsu, who was still sprawled on the floor, snoring loudly.
"That feeling… was that Mistgun again?" one of the members muttered groggily.
"Yeah… that guy's sleep magic is seriously overpowered," another grumbled, rubbing his temples.
The Thunder Trail team yawned and stretched, still shaking off the lingering drowsiness while complaining half-heartedly about Mistgun's absurd power.
"Uh… who exactly is Mistgun?" Lucy asked sleepily, rubbing her eyes and blinking as her voice came out soft and slow.
"He's one of Fairy Tail's strongest S-Class candidates!" Elfman declared, a bead of sweat running down his face as he spoke with exaggerated seriousness.
Bang!
"Yeah, that's right," Gray added, slapping the table with frustration. "But for some reason, he never lets anyone see his real face. Even when Erza herself tried to evaluate him during the S-Class trials, she didn't get the chance."
Lucy's eyes widened. "Wait—seriously? Even Erza hasn't seen what he looks like?!"
She turned toward Erza, who stood silent nearby, her crimson hair lifting slightly in a faint current of magic. The quiet tremor in the air made it clear—Erza was not pleased.
"Hey, hey! Calm down, Erza!" Cana said quickly, stepping between them. Levy chimed in nervously, "Yeah, chill out! No need to blow a fuse!"
The fiery aura around Erza faded slightly, though her irritation was still palpable.
"So basically," Gray continued cautiously, "aside from Master Makarov, Kael, and Laxus, nobody's ever seen Mistgun's real face."
"Huh? Laxus?!"
Natsu's eyes snapped open the moment he heard the name. He leapt up, scanning the guild hall like a hunting dog.
"Where is he?! Where's Laxus?!"
Gray groaned. "Seriously? You just got your butt handed to you by Erza, and now you're ready for another beating?"
"I don't care!" Natsu roared, flames bursting from his mouth as he pointed dramatically at the second floor. "I'm gonna fight every single S-Class wizard in this guild!"
Kael, who'd been quietly sipping from a mug, sighed deeply. "You never run out of energy, do you…? You were half-dead five minutes ago."
Gray chuckled. "Well, too bad for him—Laxus and Mirajane are still out on an S-Class mission. They'll be back soon enough, though. Maybe then he can get his rematch."
"Fine! I'll wait!" Natsu clenched his fists and glared up toward the guild's second floor. His expression twisted into longing as he stared at the mission board above.
"I wanna do S-Class missions too…" he muttered under his breath. His feet began to move slowly toward the stairs, as if pulled by an invisible force.
But before he could set foot on the second floor, a giant spectral hand—Makarov's—materialized from thin air, blocking his path completely.
"Not a chance, Natsu!" the old man bellowed. "You're not ready yet! Until I say otherwise, you are not setting foot on that floor!"
"Old man, this year I'm definitely becoming an S-Class wizard! Just you wait!" Natsu shouted back. "Happy, we're leaving!"
"Aye, sir!" Happy replied, fluttering his wings as they stormed out of the guild together.
Lucy watched them go, bewildered. "Um… what just happened?"
Kael exhaled through his nose, smiling faintly. "He'll sneak back in tonight to steal a mission slip. Just wait."
Honestly, Kael had been planning to rest for a few days, but after hearing from Cana that Laxus and Mirajane would soon return to report something important to the Master, he suspected things wouldn't stay peaceful for long.
Still, he pushed the thought aside. For now, relaxing with Cana mattered more.
"Let's go," he said softly, taking her hand. "Night market's open."
And with that, the two slipped out into the warm, lantern-lit streets.
——— ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ———
Evening – Inside the Guild
"Lucy, we're heading out!"
"Okay! See you tomorrow!" Lucy waved goodbye as her friends left.
Before long, the once-rowdy guild was quiet again—only Lucy and Levy remained, surrounded by open books and the faint scent of parchment.
"Thanks for waiting for me, Lucy," Levy said, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Then she noticed Lucy staring up at the sealed staircase. "Hmm? What are you thinking about?"
"It's just… when the Master said we couldn't go upstairs," Lucy said thoughtfully, "he sounded so serious. What's up there anyway, Levy?"
Levy smiled faintly, shaking her head. "Mmm… that's something you'll learn in time."
Then, lowering her voice, she added, "The jobs on the second floor's request board aren't like the ones downstairs. They're far more dangerous. Even a small mistake can mean death. Only the strongest wizards are allowed to take them."
"Only S-Class wizards," she added solemnly. "The pay's huge, sure, but the risk? Even having nine lives might not be enough."
Lucy's eyes widened, her hands tightening around her book. "That dangerous?!"
Levy nodded gravely, then brightened a little. "But, you know, there's one upside—the reward money is incredible! Kael actually bought an entire house in Magnolia with cash just from one S-Class mission!"
Lucy gaped. "No way…"
She wasn't impressed by the money—she came from wealth—but the sheer danger of it sent shivers down her spine.
"So, S-Class wizards are the only ones who can accept those missions, huh?" she murmured, still processing.
"Exactly," Levy said proudly. "It's a title given personally by the Master. Right now, only six wizards in Fairy Tail hold it."
She leaned closer, lowering her voice as if telling a legend. "Their names are…"
"Gildarts.
Kael.
Laxus.
Erza.
Mirajane.
And Mistgun."
"Only six?" Lucy whispered, awestruck.
Levy nodded with a grin. "Yup! And that list is in the exact order they earned their S-Class rank."
"Wow… they're all amazing…" Lucy breathed, eyes sparkling with admiration.
"Just promise me one thing, Lucy," Levy said suddenly, her tone turning serious again. "Don't make becoming S-Class your goal—not yet. Those missions… they're not something you can face unprepared. Even one mistake could cost your life."
Lucy nodded earnestly. "Yeah. I get it."
"Good!" Levy said cheerfully, finishing her juice in one gulp. "Now come on, it's getting late. Let's head home."
The two cleaned up the last of their books and walked out into the cool evening air. At a fork in the road, they waved each other goodbye.
Lucy wandered along the riverside, humming softly to herself, the moonlight shimmering off the water. Her heart felt full—excited, inspired, and proud to be part of Fairy Tail.
She'd finally learned what made this guild so special—its strength, its bonds, its purpose.
"I'm so glad I joined…" she whispered, smiling. "Alright, tomorrow, I'll work even harder!"
Lost in her happy thoughts, Lucy didn't notice the man watching from the shadows—or the faint light flickering in her apartment window.
A visitor had already let themselves in.
...
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