Chapter 98: He Seems Younger
Laxus had nothing to say. Dino's words had struck him like a lightning bolt, forcing him to face reality.
He'd always thought people wouldn't give him proper credit because he was Makarov's grandson—the guild master's family getting special treatment.
But the truth was far more humiliating. He'd been the one using that connection, acting like being the master's grandson made him superior to everyone else. Looking down on his guildmates, dismissing their bonds as childish games…
I was the childish one all along.
"Gramps… your body?" Laxus's voice wavered.
"Ah, well, Dino said I've probably got another ten good years left in me." Makarov chuckled, though his eyes held a tired warmth.
"Ten years…?"
Laxus's body went rigid. He'd always seen his grandfather as invincible—Fairy Tail's unshakeable pillar. He'd never let himself think about age, deliberately pushing away thoughts of mortality.
But Dino's beating had shattered that willful ignorance. His grandfather was eighty-eight years old. Ten years would pass in the blink of an eye, and then…
Then he'd truly be alone.
The realization crashed over him like a tidal wave, and suddenly Laxus couldn't breathe. Fear seized his chest.
"Laxus! Laxus!!"
"No!" He jerked awake, drenched in cold sweat.
"Laxus?"
"Gramps!"
Makarov's expression hardened. "Laxus, by some miracle, no one died in this mess you created. But you violated the guild's core principles. You threatened the lives of your guildmates and endangered Fairy Tail itself." His voice grew heavy. "You know what punishment that carries."
All color drained from Laxus's face. Of course he knew. The rule had never bothered him before, but now—now it terrified him.
Makarov took a deep breath. "You wanted to be guild master? Then let me tell you the first requirement for that position—you must lead by example. Laxus, you are—"
The door slammed open. "HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!"
"Natsu?! What are you doing here?"
Natsu stormed up to Makarov, practically vibrating with intensity. "Gramps! Dino told me you're gonna kick Laxus out of the guild! Is that true?!"
That brat figured it out? Makarov's eye twitched.
His expression became stern. "Yes. What Laxus did was unforgivable. According to our rules, he must be expelled."
"Why?! Didn't Dino already beat the crap out of him?!" Natsu gestured wildly at Laxus's bandaged form. "Look at him! Nobody else got hurt this bad!"
"Getting injured and answering for his crimes are two separate matters!"
"How are they separate?! Dino said he beat Laxus black and blue specifically as punishment!" Natsu's logic, for once, was surprisingly sound. "If the crime deserves expulsion, but he already got punished this hard, then it shouldn't add up to expulsion anymore, right?"
Both Makarov and Laxus froze.
That… actually made sense. If the severity of Laxus's actions warranted expulsion, but he'd already received severe punishment, perhaps calculating it at the expulsion level was excessive.
Laxus was stunned for a different reason. Dino spoke up for me? He'd expected the man to hate his guts.
Natsu pressed on: "Dino also said it's way too easy if Laxus just gets to look cool and run away. At the very least, he's gotta pay back the cost of rebuilding the Kardia Cathedral first!"
Makarov's face went white as a sheet. Right—in all the chaos, he'd nearly forgotten. No Fairy Tail members had died, and injuries were minimal, but the property damage…
The Kardia Cathedral at the center of Magnolia was completely destroyed. The repair costs alone would require mortgaging the guild hall!
"Speaking of which—where is that brat Dino?!" This disaster was far from one-sided. Dino was responsible for at least half the destroyed buildings!
"He went to rehearsal for the Fantasia parade," Natsu said, then his expression turned serious. "Gramps, don't expel Laxus. We let former enemies join the guild all the time."
"And Laxus is already one of us. If we let people reflect and change, why can't we give our own guildmates that same chance?"
Natsu's fists clenched. "Besides, even if you really are gonna kick him out… at least wait until I beat him first!"
His face twisted in frustration. "Dammit! Why wasn't I strong enough to fight in this battle?!"
"Natsu… since when did you get so articulate…?"
Makarov was silent for a long moment, then sighed. "Laxus. I'm postponing your punishment. Whether you can stay in the guild after you've healed… that will depend on everyone's feelings."
With that, Makarov turned and left.
"Laxus!" Natsu pointed at him dramatically. "When you're healed up, I'm challenging you! Dino's not the only one in this guild who can kick your ass!"
Natsu stomped out, probably heading to Fantasia rehearsal as well.
Laxus sat alone in the silent infirmary.
Creak.
The door opened, and the Thunder God Tribe shuffled in hesitantly.
"Laxus…?"
Laxus looked at his three followers—his friends—and gave them a weak, apologetic smile. "Sorry… for dragging you guys into this mess."
All three of them looked shocked. Laxus never apologized.
They quickly shook their heads. "No! We followed you because we wanted to!"
"Laxus, are you… are you still going to be guild master?"
"The punishment's postponed."
"That's great!" The relief on their faces was obvious.
Though "postponed" wasn't the same as "pardoned," at least it meant there was a chance Laxus could stay. They'd all grown up in Fairy Tail—this guild was their home. If Laxus had been expelled, they wouldn't have known what to do.
Laxus stared up at the ceiling, his voice hollow. "I lost to him again. Completely and utterly."
Not just in strength. In every way that mattered. He'd even gotten to stay in the guild because of Dino's intervention.
The Thunder God Tribe had never seen Laxus look so… defeated. So distant.
"Don't give up, Laxus!" Freed said firmly. "You still have so much untapped potential. In three more years, you'll definitely be able to beat him!"
"Yeah!" Bickslow added. "And if three years isn't enough, then five years!"
"If not five, then ten!" Evergreen declared. "You're still young! One day you'll surpass that monster!"
"…Dino's actually a year younger than all of us," Laxus muttered.
All three sweatdropped.
"…He's not human."