Bab 61: Chapter 61: No Time for Sadness! Next Up: The S-Class Mage Promotion Trial!
The Harvest Festival's celebrations lasted until dawn.
With the first light of dawn shattering the darkness, the Fairy Tail mages overseeing the parade floats, along with Magnolia's townsfolk, who had lined the streets cheering and marveling at Fairy Tail's performances, finally returned to their homes with satisfaction.
"Oh, I wish next year would come sooner!"
"I wonder what kind of show the Fairy Tail mages will put on for the next Harvest Festival? I can't help but get excited just thinking about it."
Many townsfolk began eagerly anticipating next year's Harvest Festival from the very moment this one ended. They were curious to see what kind of brilliant display the Fairy Tail mages would bring to amaze everyone once again.
However, some of the elderly residents of Magnolia, who were well-acquainted with the Fairy Tail mages' unpredictable nature, clasped their hands in prayer, murmuring, "I only hope Fairy Tail's performances bring delight and not dread each year."
Ahem…
And so, the Harvest Festival quietly passed.
The date was now October 8, X778.
Only two months remained until Fairy Tail's most crucial annual event: the S-Rank Promotion Trial.
For an ordinary mage, two months may seem like plenty of time…
But for the S-Rank candidates in the guild, this remaining two-month window felt incredibly tight…
Especially for those acknowledged by other guild members as the frontrunners most likely to pass the S-Rank Promotion Trial this year.
At noon.
The Fairy Tail members, having reveled all night, finally began to stir, dragging their tired bodies through the guild doors.
As they entered, they were immediately greeted by the constant sound of bickering coming from within.
"Laxus…"
"The missions in your hands—I had my eye on them first," Erza said angrily, pointing at the stack of mission requests in Laxus's hands.
"Erza, didn't anyone teach you the principle of 'first come, first served'?" Laxus replied, smirking as he held several A-Rank mission sheets.
"Seeing them first doesn't count if you can't grab them. The missions were all posted on the board; whoever takes them first gets them!"
Holding a dozen A-Rank mission requests in his hand, Laxus spoke proudly.
"Hmph, you only got them before me because of that lightning magic speed of yours! What's there to be so smug about?" Erza pouted, cheeks puffed up in anger.
"Erza, aren't you aware?"
"Speed is also a type of advantage…" Laxus's lips curled into a mocking smile, making Erza grind her teeth.
"Hmph…"
Erza sulked, feeling her prediction about Laxus stealing the missions she had her eye on had come true the moment she first met the infuriating blonde.
"You're overdoing it, Laxus!" Mirajane interjected, now standing beside Laxus, openly reproaching him.
"Sorry, Mirajane…"
"On any normal day, I'd gladly share a few A-Rank missions."
"But unfortunately…"
"With the exam coming up in two months…"
"I can't afford to give any of these away."
"In other words, Mirajane, we're rivals now," Laxus explained, glancing at Mirajane.
"Fine!" Mirajane stomped her foot angrily. "I guess we'll just have to take them by force."
"Indeed, by force it is."
Ultear, who had just entered the guild, found that all the A-Rank missions had been snatched up by Laxus. Even she, normally patient, showed a hint of frustration.
"Then give it a try! Let's see if any of you are fast enough to take these missions from me," Laxus taunted, transforming into lightning and disappearing from the guild hall in a single breath.
"Damn, don't let him get away!"
Erza, Mirajane, and the others, seeing Laxus make his escape, quickly ran out of the guild, determined to chase him down.
"What's going on here?"
"Why are Erza and Laxus fighting in broad daylight?"
The other guild members watched in confusion as Laxus and the others, who had only just entered, started quarreling.
"Isn't it almost time for the guild's S-Rank Promotion Trial?"
"If things go as expected…"
"The candidates for this year's S-Rank Promotion Trial will probably include Laxus, Erza, Ultear, and Mirajane."
"So, Laxus and the others are already sizing each other up…"
"Though the exam is in two months, the battle for the new S-Rank Mage title has already begun."
It was Wakaba, sitting at the bar, sipping whiskey and puffing on a cigar, who somberly explained the cause of Erza and the others' quarrel.
"The S-Rank Promotion Trial, huh?" As Wakaba's words sank in, the faces of the mages in the guild changed.
"So, it's that time of year again, isn't it?" Macao said, walking over to Wakaba with an uncharacteristically serious expression.
"Yes…"
Wakaba snapped his fingers and ordered a whiskey for Macao as well.
"Cheers to our cause~"
Macao took the glass, clinking it with Wakaba's before downing it.
Then…
"Place your bets, everyone! Who do you think will be chosen for this year's S-Rank Promotion Trial by Master Makarov?!"
"Time to place those legendary bets…"
Wakaba and Macao, now fired up, removed their shirts and cheered loudly.
"OHHHH!"
The entire Fairy Tail guild hall erupted with wolf howls.
Then…
Guild Master Makarov entered with a blackboard, along with a few guild hostesses he'd invited to help out.
"Alright, everyone, write down who you think will participate in this year's S-Rank Promotion Trial!" Makarov grinned, his expression that of a sly merchant sizing up his gullible patrons.
Sorry, but when it comes to gambling, family ties don't exist!
For gambling purposes, Makarov wasn't Fairy Tail's father figure.
"I'm betting 100,000 J on Laxus to make the exam this year! All in, boys. Now, let's see what you've got…"
"I'm betting 10,000 J on Laxus, too!"
"It's gotta be Laxus!"
"Laxus is practically a sure thing, isn't he?"
The guild's mages piled their money on Laxus.
Laxus might not be easy to get along with, and he often kept his distance from others, but in Fairy Tail, nobody doubted his strength.
Say what you will about Laxus's attitude, but nobody could call him weak…
"Hey, hey! You can't all bet on one person, you little brats!" Makarov shouted as he saw everyone bet on Laxus, furrowing his brow in frustration.
Seriously, he was almost tempted to pull some strings to prevent Laxus from participating in the S-Rank Promotion Trial this year.
"Ahem… I'm betting 20,000 J on Erza!"
"I'm betting on Erza, too…"
"I'll bet 5,000 J on Mirajane!"
"I'm betting 20,000 J on Ultear!"
With Makarov's rebuke, the mages started diversifying their bets, listing all those who might participate in the S-Rank Promotion Trial.
"I'm betting 10,000 J on Natsu!"
"Bold choice!"
"I'll put 20,000 J on Gray!"
"I'll go with Elfman for 5,000 J!"
The guild members began placing bets on less obvious candidates, considering those who had a chance but were less popular choices. The fewer people betting on someone, the higher their payout if chosen.
"I'm putting 3,000 J on Reedus Jonah!"
"Seriously?"
"He's an artist, not a fighter. Save the 3,000 J for a good meal instead, right?"
"Reedus would win a drawing contest, but this is about combat…"
Even Reedus himself was confused, scratching his head as he saw his name on the board. "Huh? Me? Compete with Laxus for the S-Rank trial?"
"I'm betting 500,000J on Erza!" A voice rang out, and everyone was stunned silent.
"Gasp…"
"What?! 500,000 J?!"
"No way, that's insane! Even if she's your daughter, isn't that a bit much?"
"We're just having fun, but are you here to disrupt the game?"
Everyone turned to see Ian, who had just woken up, saunter into the guild hall.
"Good morning, Master~"
"Let me see who's been picked."
Yawning, Ian walked up to the bar, nodding at Makarov before scanning the list of names everyone thought would participate in the S-Rank Promotion Trial.
Among them were Laxus, Erza, Ultear, and Mirajane—the strongest candidates according to most of the guild members. Then there were Natsu, Gray, Lyon, Elfman, and… Reedus Jonah.
"What?" Ian hadn't expected Reedus's name on the list.
"Don't look at me. I'm as clueless as you…" Reedus shrugged. As a magic-wielding artist, he had little interest in fighting.
"No Cana?" Ian noticed Cana's name was missing, so he casually added it to the list, placing a 10,000 J bet on her.
Yes, in Ian's mind, Cana was fully deserving of being an S-Rank candidate; her latent magical potential and physical prowess were almost on par with Mirajane's.
Even if it was unlikely for Cana to make the cut this year… it didn't mean she wouldn't have a chance in the future.
Cana sighed, "Thanks, Ian. Going through all this just so I can experience the pain of failure…"
Afterward, Ian stared intently at the list, lost in thought, rubbing his chin. He seemed to be pondering something significant.
"Ian…" Makarov noticed his unusual behavior and asked, "Is something bothering you?"
"I just feel…" Ian replied thoughtfully. "This list seems to be missing something crucial, but I can't quite remember what."
"Oh?" Makarov looked back at the list, puzzled.
Honestly, the names were pretty close to the lineup he had in mind for the S-Rank Promotion Trial this year. The only difference was the addition of Reedus Jonah and possibly Elfman, who Makarov felt needed three or four more years of training.
However, if Ian said something was missing, there was probably something worth reviewing. Makarov began running through his mental roster of all guild members, recalling their performances and mission records over the past year.
"Wait…"
Just as Makarov was considering if his old age had caused him to overlook something important, Ian's face lit up with realization. He turned to Makarov and said, "Now I remember something essential! Has it crossed your mind, Master?"
"What's that?" Makarov asked.
"It's just…" Ian began, "is Ur an S-Rank mage in our guild?"
He looked at Makarov questioningly.
"Eh?!" Makarov's eyes widened. He searched his memory and said in disbelief, "Oh right! Now that you mention it, Ur, who's already one of the Ten Wizard Saints, doesn't seem to be an S-Class Mage in our guild yet."
"Huh?"
"No way! Ur isn't an S-Class Mage in our guild?"
"I remember now! Ur joined the guild four years ago but has been training outside and rarely shows up."
"Also, I don't recall any record of Ur participating in the guild's S-Class Promotion Trial, which means she indeed isn't an S-Class Mage yet..."
"Wait, isn't Ur already a Wizard Saint, appointed by the Magic Council? That's a title on par with the Master, right?"
"So, she, a mage already recognized by the Magic Council as one of the top ten mages in Ishgar, is going to compete with other guild members for the single S-Class spot this year? Are you kidding me?"
The Fairy Tail members were stunned, their jaws dropping.
So, Ur, a Wizard Saint, would also be participating in this year's S-Class Mage Promotion Trial?
If that was the case, could everyone else just forfeit?
What was the point of even competing?
Fairy Tail's matchmaking system was as excellent as ever!
You are a budding mage, just beginning to grasp the mysteries of magic.
So, your competitor will be Ur Milkovich, one of the Ten Wizard Saints, the strongest Molding Mage on the continent, who has walked her own magical path for decades.
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