Although Cana was already tipsy, Kira had no doubt that she would continue drinking well into the evening. With her mind clouded by alcohol, it was the perfect moment for business. Perhaps she might agree to something on impulse.
Like Erza, Cana was one of Kira's regular customers. While she wasn't classified as a VIP, Kira, as the owner of Hope Hut, prided himself on being unbiased. Every customer deserved enthusiasm and opportunities to purchase—even if there weren't any, Kira was skilled at creating them.
It wasn't just Erza's armor. Nearly every magical item used by the members of Fairy Tail—from enchanted crystals to weapons, wands, and even magic pens—had been crafted by Kira.
Perhaps it was the benefit of being a time traveler, or maybe it was sheer talent, but Kira had discovered his knack for crafting magic items a few years ago. His unique combination of advanced forging techniques and Word Magic allowed him to create extraordinary tools.
His inventory ranged from minor items like Swift Boots, Telekinetic Throwing Knives, Prophecy Cards, and Lucky Dice, to more sophisticated creations such as armor, staffs, and rings. The Hope Hut had become the magical department store of Magnolia.
Cana, who wielded card magic, required a steady supply of enchanted cards for battle. For someone like Kira, crafting a custom set of cards was practically effortless.
Cana slammed her drinking barrel onto the bar, her voice slurred as she complained, "The thing is... your prices are way too high! I can't afford them!"
Kira replied confidently, "What are you saying? You get what you pay for. You've seen my cards—they last a long time. Besides, the money isn't leaving you; it's just changing form. My cards are far more valuable than those two barrels of wine you're holding."
"But... it's still too expensive. I'm not S-class like you and Erza," Cana said hesitantly. She knew firsthand the power and quality of Kira's magical creations.
"Possessing magic demands powerful items. If you want to grow stronger, you have to invest. Once you reach S-class and take on high-paying missions, you'll make that money back in no time," Kira reasoned.
In the magical world, magic was divided into two main types: Possessing Magic and Ability Magic.
Possessing Magic referred to magic that relied on magical tools. The pinnacle of this category was Celestial Spirit Magic. Celestial Spirits, powerful beings from another dimension, were summoned through corresponding keys by Celestial Spirit Mages.
The most powerful spirits, the Zodiac Spirits, were summoned using rare golden keys, while lesser spirits were summoned with silver keys. Kira didn't know if there were other types of keys beyond this.
Since most of their combat power came from the spirits, Celestial Spirit Mages were generally the weakest in terms of personal combat ability—unless they wore specialized Celestial Spirit battle suits.
Conversely, Ability Magic required wizards to rely on their own physical strength or specialized equipment, such as Erza's armor or the firearms used by Bisca and Alzack in the guild.
Card magic, like Cana's, fell under Possessing Magic. However, it was considered mediocre for three main reasons:
First, card wizards were less powerful than Celestial Spirit Mages and lacked the physical prowess of Ability Mages. This left them stuck in the middle—not particularly strong in any one area.
Second, the creation of magic cards was a major hurdle. Card wizards couldn't imbue magic into their own cards, nor could they make them from scratch. This forced them to purchase cards, which was both costly and unreliable. High-quality cards were rare because powerful wizards rarely chose to become card makers.
Finally, the third issue was their lack of specialization. Card magic's versatility came at the cost of having no unique strengths, leaving it vulnerable unless enhanced by powerful items—or outright cheats, like Kira himself.
This lack of competitive edge was the reason why Cana was later given the Fairy Glitter spell in the original timeline. Without it, her card magic alone would not have qualified her for Team B. In terms of raw power, both Lucy and Levy outclassed her.
At this point, Cana had not yet been overshadowed by the guild's more exceptional members, like Natsu or Gray. Kira estimated her current strength to be comparable to Loki's.
But Loki wasn't just any wizard—he was the Celestial Spirit Leo of the Zodiac, and his time spent in the human world had greatly diminished his powers. Once he regained his status as a Celestial Spirit, his strength would peak again, leaving Cana far behind.
At the bar, Cana sat in silence, her hesitation evident. Kira, sensing an opportunity, continued his sales pitch with fervor, though Gray, sitting nearby, muttered to himself, Swindler...
Noticing Cana's slight interest, Kira pressed on. "This new deck took me an entire week to craft. It's incredibly powerful. If you don't want it, I'll have to sell it to someone else."
Switching tactics, he added an emotional appeal, "Honestly, how many card wizards do I know? Aren't these cards made specifically for you?"
Kira tapped the bar to grab Cana's attention, then gestured toward Gray. "Think about it—how long have we known each other? Over ten years, longer than I've known Gray. And have you ever heard anyone in the guild complain about my magic props? My work is always top-notch."
He continued with practiced ease, layering praise and motivation into his words. "Since you joined Fairy Tail, you've worked tirelessly to become an S-class wizard. I've seen it all. But look—five S-class wizards have been promoted in the past twelve years, and it still isn't your turn. Is it because you lack talent? No. Is it because you're not hardworking? Absolutely not."
"You have immense magic power, excellent combat skills, and an IQ leagues above Natsu and Gray. All you're missing is a set of powerful magic cards!"
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" Gray interjected, clearly offended, but Kira ignored him entirely.
Kira's impassioned words rang in Cana's ears, each one landing like a thunderclap. His arguments were compelling, almost devilishly so.
Become S-class. Become S-class. Become S-class. The thought consumed her.
"A set of 10 cards for 500,000 J," Kira concluded confidently.
"That's outrageous!" Gray exclaimed, visibly shocked.
Cana clenched her fists, her emotions warring within her. Finally, she snapped. "I want... I want... a ghost! You damned profiteer, go to hell!"
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Kira proudly patted the armor he had created, presenting it to Erza with an air of accomplishment. "Great, isn't it? This armor is specially tailored for you. By the way, to ensure that fat doesn't affect you in battle, I also included a large enough groove right here..."
"Alright, I'm satisfied," Erza interrupted him without hesitation.
"Eh? You're not going to listen? This armor is crucial for your safety in combat—"
"As long as the armor fits well and is practical, I don't care about anything else."
Kira didn't quite understand her indifference. If it were him, he'd take his time to examine every detail. However, since Erza herself dismissed it, Kira, as the merchant, decided not to press further.
"Hmm... well then, about the payment balance..."
Without a word, Erza took out her card and slapped it onto the counter.
"Yeah!" Kira exclaimed.
This was one of the things he appreciated most about Erza—she was straightforward, wealthy, and didn't even blink when settling the bill. She was so much more agreeable than the customers who drank excessively and haggled over trivial items like playing cards.
If she weren't such a VIP customer, even Erza wouldn't have received this level of attentive service from Kira.
With practiced ease, Kira handled the payment and asked, "By the way, you suddenly ordered new armor. Are you heading out on a particularly dangerous mission?"
"No," Erza replied casually. "I just wanted to experiment with a new combat style and thought this mission would be a good opportunity to test it."
"I see. When are you leaving?"
"Time is tight—I'm heading out now!"
What? In a hurry? It certainly didn't seem that way to Kira.
If she was pressed for time, how had she managed to relax and enjoy cake here? Clearly, delicious food was a priority, even when time was short.
After securing her armor, Erza turned to leave but suddenly paused, as if recalling something. She glanced back and said, "You haven't taken on a mission in ages, have you? You should visit the guild sometime. Don't stay cooped up in the shop all the time."
Although she secretly hoped Kira would stay put and keep crafting more armor for her, Erza wouldn't voice such a selfish request in front of her guildmates.
"If you keep slacking off like this, others will surpass you."
"Others? You mean Natsu or Gray?" Kira leaned back in his recliner, resuming his relaxed demeanor. "Let's talk when they become S-class wizards. They're nowhere near that level yet."
Kira had been an S-class wizard for a long time. He had passed the assessment even before Erza joined the guild. Despite Fairy Tail's abundance of talent, his record remained unmatched to this day.
As a result, Kira was acknowledged as one of the guild's finest—second only to Gildarts, aside from the guild master—and widely regarded as a genius.
Erza frowned, admonishing him, "Don't get too complacent. They've grown much stronger. If you can't hold your ground, the reputation of our guild's S-class wizards will take a hit."
"I get it... But if you don't leave now, you're going to be late!"
"Alright then, I'll be going. Goodbye."
"Goodbye! Come back soon!"
The sound of the wind chimes echoed softly as the door swung shut behind her, signaling her departure.
The afternoon sun streamed through the glass windows, casting warm rays onto the patch of greenery inside the shop. A wooden rocking chair lay amidst the verdant grass, where Kira now reclined in a rare moment of idle reflection. This peaceful afternoon was perfect for sorting out his thoughts.
It had been twenty years since Kira's unexpected arrival in this world. By now, he had a thorough understanding of the place—this was the world of Fairy Tail, brimming with magic, camaraderie, and adventure.
For an ordinary person, the best choice would be to live a simple life. But for someone like Kira, gifted with magical talent, the possibilities were limitless. No—he was determined to make his mark in this extraordinary world.
Kira had been born into poverty, orphaned in a small village. Yet he had powerful innate magical abilities and self-awakening magic—hallmarks of the quintessential time-traveler's journey.
As he grew older, he joined adventuring groups that passed through his village, leveraging his versatile magic to become both an attacker and a support mage.
His magic—Word Magic—was an extraordinarily powerful text-based spell system. By uttering specific words, he could cast corresponding spells. The effects were akin to a combination of Arc of Embodiment and supplementary magic.
With such potent abilities, along with his inherent magical reserves and unmatched mental fortitude, Kira felt destined for greatness—perhaps even to rule.
In X774, at the age of ten, Kira first heard the name Fairy Tail.
Until then, he had thought he'd been reincarnated into a generic fantasy world. But when his adventuring team arrived in Magnolia, he realized he was in the actual world of Fairy Tail.
Seizing the opportunity, Kira redirected his path and joined the legendary magic guild renowned for its powerful members and infamous exploits.
In just two years, by X776, Kira had aced the rigorous S-class wizard examination, becoming the guild's youngest S-class wizard and the first to achieve the rank after Gildarts. His unparalleled talent earned him recognition as the youngest S-class wizard in the entire Fiore Kingdom.
During that time, Kira's reputation spread across the continent. He was hailed as "the most talented young wizard" by Magic Monthly and acquired the moniker "The Sage."
The nickname wasn't due to any peculiar behavior but stemmed from his unique Word Magic, which could materialize objects and grant special enhancements.
Kira's achievements were a source of envy—and frustration—for his peers, particularly Laxus, Mirajane, and Erza, who had joined the guild later. They repeatedly challenged him in their bid to surpass him.
By X782, two years prior, Kira had used his savings to establish Hope Hut, his magic shop in Magnolia. This move infuriated his competitive guildmates, who had long regarded him as their benchmark but were now left trailing far behind.
Now, in X784, Kira was twenty years old, and a pivotal moment in the world of Fairy Tail was approaching—the start of the guild's story.
Though much time had passed, Kira still remembered the main events of the series. He wasn't worried about forgetting minor details—this guild had a knack for overcoming any challenge. As long as one shouted the right phrase, it felt as if triumphant music played in the background, and victory was inevitable. Such was the magic of Fairy Tail.
Thinking about it, Kira's heart raced with excitement. It felt like a return to his youthful vigor. Rising from his chair, he decided it was time to revisit the guild—the place where his dreams had first taken root.
"Hmm… It's been a while since I've been to the guild. I'm free today, so why not take a look? Maybe even pick up a mission to remind everyone of my presence."
"According to the timeline, the main story should be kicking off soon. I wonder—has Lucy joined the guild yet?"
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