Chapter 194: Gildarts
"So cute!!"
"There's a female Happy too!!"
"Little sister, how old are you?"
The Fairy Tail Guild Hall was in a frenzy of adoration. The guild members crowded around the newcomers, their eyes sparkling with curiosity and affection as they looked at the small, blue-haired girl and her white Exceed companion.
Wendy Marvell sat timidly on a bar stool, her feet barely touching the rungs, clutching a glass of juice with both hands. She looked like a delicate porcelain doll or a guild mascot, radiating an innocence that melted even the toughest hearts in the guild. Beside her, Carla sat with her arms crossed, trying to maintain a dignified air despite being the center of attention.
"They really are popular," Ren remarked with a smile, leaning against the bar counter. He took a sip of his drink, watching the lively scene. "It's good to see them settling in."
"Ren, you all did a good job," Makarov said, sitting beside him. The old master's expression was grave but relieved. "With this, the area will be peaceful for a while. Though, I must admit, I didn't expect Master Roubaul to be..."
Makarov trailed off, a hint of sadness in his eyes. He had known of the Cait Shelter Guild as part of the local alliance and had met Roubaul a few times at master meetings. Roubaul had always been taciturn, a mysterious figure wrapped in heavy robes. Makarov never expected him to be the spirit of an ancient Nirvit from 400 years ago, lingering in the world solely to atone for the creation of Nirvana.
"It was a heavy burden to carry alone for centuries," Ren said quietly, his gaze drifting to Wendy, who was now being hugged by Levy. "At least he can rest in peace now, knowing his 'granddaughter' has found a new home."
"Indeed." Makarov nodded, taking a swig of his beer. "If dangerous magic like Nirvana had truly fallen into the hands of the Oración Seis, who knows how great a disaster it would have caused. The devastation would have been unimaginable."
The report Ren and the others had brought back was harrowing. The Oración Seis wasn't just a group of strong mages; they were a precision instrument of destruction.
"This time, it's a good thing you stepped in," Makarov continued, glancing at Ren with appreciation. "I didn't expect the Oración Seis to have such a powerful leader hidden behind the scenes. To think Brain had split personality... and that Zero possessed power rivaling a Ten Wizard Saint."
According to Ren's report, Zero's magic power was terrifyingly dense, comparable to, or perhaps even exceeding, that of Jose Porla, the former master of Phantom Lord. If Ren hadn't been there to counter him, the Allied Forces might have suffered severe casualties.
"Actually, it's fine," Ren shrugged, swirling the ice in his glass. "Even if I hadn't stepped in, everyone wouldn't have lost. Natsu and the others... they have a way of surpassing their limits when it counts."
Ren wasn't just being humble. He knew the plot armor of the protagonists was thick. However, he didn't know if his excessive involvement in the plot would have a negative impact on their growth. By taking down the major threats himself, he might be robbing Natsu and Gray of valuable experience points. But looking at the smiling faces around the guild hall, he decided he couldn't worry about that too much at the moment. The safety of his companions was still the top priority.
"Little Lucy, you're back~!"
"Lu-chan!"
Levy McGarden ran over happily, throwing her arms around the blonde Celestial Spirit Mage.
"Finally safe and sound! I was so worried when I heard about the Oración Seis!"
"I'm back, Levy-chan," Lucy laughed, hugging her friend back. She looked tired but accomplished. "It was... intense. But we made it."
Nearby, Droy and Jet watched with a mix of admiration and slight envy.
"Gradually, Lucy is also getting further and further away from us..." Droy sighed, munching on a chicken leg.
"Yeah," Jet agreed, adjusting his hat. "She's a newcomer who only joined the guild about half a year ago, yet she's already involved in major events that shake the entire kingdom. We need to step up our game, Droy."
At the bar, Mirajane smiled gently, her blue eyes filled with warmth. She crouched down to be at eye level with the two new members.
"Carla is probably the same species as Happy, right? An Exceed?" Mira asked softly. "And what kind of magic does Wendy use?"
Wendy's eyes widened, and she excitedly tugged on Carla's sleeve. "Carla!! Look! This is the real Mirajane Young Miss! The one from the Weekly Sorcerer magazine!"
Carla huffed, turning her head away to hide a small blush. "Don't compare me to that tomcat, Happy. We are completely different. As for Wendy..."
"I use Sky Dragon Slayer Magic," Wendy answered politely, though her voice was filled with a shy pride.
The guild hall went silent for a split second before erupting again.
"Oh, oh!"
"So amazing!!"
"She's a Dragon Slayer Mage like Natsu?!"
"Counting Gajeel, there are three Dragon Slayer Mages in this guild now!"
The guild members were buzzing with surprise. Dragon Slayer Magic was supposed to be a Lost Magic, extremely rare and almost mythical. Yet, here in Fairy Tail, they were collecting them like trading cards. Fire, Iron, and now Sky.
On the second floor railing, Gajeel leaned against a pillar, munching on an iron bolt. He looked down at the commotion, his expression slightly flustered.
"Salamander has that blue cat... the little girl has the white cat..." Gajeel muttered to himself, a vein throbbing on his forehead. "They are all Dragon Slayers... so why am I the only one without a cat? Is there something wrong with me?"
He chewed the bolt aggressively. This injustice could not stand.
"To celebrate defeating the Oración Seis, and to celebrate Wendy and Carla joining the guild! Today, we'll have a grand feast!!" Makarov shouted, raising his tankard high.
"Wendy and Carla's welcome party!!"
"Woo-hoo-hoo!! I'm fired up!!" Natsu roared, blasting fire from his mouth.
"Aye!" Happy flew in circles.
The guild instantly transformed into a party zone. Barrels of booze were rolled out, platters of meat were piled high, and music began to play.
"This is truly a happy place, Carla," Wendy whispered, watching everyone laughing, drinking, and fighting playfully. Her mood, which had been heavy with the loss of Cait Shelter, began to brighten. It seemed that this guild didn't reject them; instead, it welcomed them with open arms and warm hearts.
"I don't care..." Carla muttered, taking a sip of tea. But a small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "But... the tea isn't bad."
A few days passed in a blur of peace and relaxation.
The guild hall was bathed in the warm afternoon sunlight. Ren sat at a table reading a book, while Lucy approached the newcomers.
"How is it? Have you gotten used to this guild yet?" Lucy asked casually, pulling up a chair next to Wendy and Carla.
"Yes!" Wendy answered cheerfully, her legs swinging back and forth. "Everyone in the guild is very caring towards me. Gray-san bought me ice cream, and Erza-san helped me pick out some new clothes. Everyone is so kind. It really is a wonderful guild."
"I'm quite satisfied with the fact that there's a Girls' Dormitory," Carla added, crossing her arms. "It's clean, secure, and far away from the noisy males."
Wendy blinked and looked at Lucy curiously. "Speaking of which, why don't you live in the dormitory, Lucy-san? It's very convenient."
Lucy slumped onto the table, a dark cloud hanging over her head. "I... I only recently found out there was a Girls' Dormitory! And besides, I asked about the rent. It's 100,000 Jewels a month! If I moved in, I definitely couldn't afford it."
"100,000?!" Wendy gasped.
"Yes," Lucy cried. "My current rent is 70,000 Jewels, and that already gives me nightmares every month. 100,000 is impossible!"
She looked over at Ren with puppy-dog eyes. "Sometimes, I really want to go on an S-Class mission with Ren again. That way, I wouldn't have to worry about a year's rent. Ren, take me with you next time!"
Ren chuckled without looking up from his book. "Get stronger first, Lucy. S-Class missions aren't for sightseeing."
"Stingy!"
Suddenly!
Dong... Dong... Dong...
A deep, resonant sound echoed through the guild hall. It wasn't just a sound; it was a vibration that could be felt in the floorboards.
The large bell situated high above the Fairy Tail Guild hall had begun to chime.
"What?!" Lucy jumped up, startled. "Is that the bell?!"
She looked up at the ceiling in confusion. She had seen the massive bell placed at the very top of the Fairy Tail Guild since she joined, but she had always assumed it was just a decoration or for emergencies. She never expected it to actually chime.
"This sound..."
"This way of ringing the bell is...!"
The atmosphere in the guild changed instantly. The casual chatter vanished, replaced by a frenetic excitement. Even Makarov, who was dozing at the bar, sat up straight, his eyes gleaming.
"Oh, oh!"
"Could it be!!"
"Gildarts is back!!"
A roar of excitement erupted from the guild members. Natsu jumped onto a table, grinning wildly. "He's finally back!"
"Gildarts?" Wendy asked, tilting her head in confusion. She looked around, bewildered by the sudden shift in energy.
"I haven't seen him either," Lucy said, looking equally confused. "But I've heard the name. He's said to be Fairy Tail's strongest Mage."
"Fairy Tail's strongest Mage?" Wendy's eyes went wide. She looked at Ren, who had closed his book and was looking towards the entrance with a rare look of anticipation.
"Isn't Big Brother Ren Fairy Tail's strongest Mage?!" Wendy asked in surprise.
Carla also looked at Lucy and then at Ren. She had personally witnessed Ren's power during the Nirvana incident. He had dismantled the Oración Seis almost single-handedly. Could it be that there was an even stronger monster than Ren in the Fairy Tail Guild?
"I don't know about that..." Lucy hesitated. She was also a semi-newcomer and had only seen Ren's overwhelming power. It was hard to imagine someone stronger.
Mirajane walked over with a tray of drinks, her smile wider than usual.
"When Ren joined Fairy Tail, Gildarts had already left to do a mission," Mira explained to the confused girls. "So, Gildarts was the undisputed strongest Mage in the Fairy Tail Guild before Ren arrived. Now... Ren is certainly the strongest Mage currently present in the guild. As for who is ultimately stronger between the two? No one knows without a formal comparison."
If it were before, Mira would have unhesitatingly said that Gildarts was stronger. Gildarts was a legend, a force of nature. But now... she looked at Ren. This young man had defeated two Wizard Saints and crushed a dark guild solo. His limits were unknown.
In fact, many people in the guild were secretly debating this very topic. The old king vs. the new king.
"I see, the strongest in Fairy Tail Guild before Ren joined Fairy Tail," Lucy mused. Then she paused, counting on her fingers. "Wait! Hasn't Ren been in the Fairy Tail Guild for over a year? So, Gildarts hasn't returned to the guild for over a year?"
Mira shook her head, her expression turning slightly serious. "No... not over a year..."
"I knew it..."
"It's three years," Mira said. "He hasn't returned for three years."
"Three years?!" Lucy's jaw dropped. "What has he been doing?! Why hasn't he returned to the guild for three years?! Did he have a falling out with someone?! Or did he get lost?!"
"Haha!" Mira couldn't help but laugh at Lucy's imagination. "You really have an active mind. Of course, it's work."
She held up a finger to explain.
"Above S-Class missions, there are SS-Class Missions, which are incredibly difficult. And above SS-Class Missions, there are jobs called 10-Year Missions."
"10-Year Missions?" Wendy whispered, awestruck.
"Yes. Missions so difficult that no one has been able to complete them in ten years," Mira explained. "But Gildarts... he went to do something even beyond that. A 100-Year Mission."
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