章 90: Chapter 90: Gildarts - Returning to the Guild Only to See Ian Exhausted!
It wasn't surprising that Precht would be astonished after reading the intel handed over to him regarding the Fairy Tail guild. He even started speculating that Makarov was plotting to lead Fairy Tail in a quest to conquer the world.
After all, none of these pieces of information seemed to unjustly accuse Old Makarov.
Yes, every incident indeed involved the Fairy Tail guild.
However, whether or not Old Makarov was the one leading these actions was still a big question mark.
Makarov: "Master Precht, do you really think that everything you just mentioned is what I planned? None of what you listed has anything to do with me, aside from the time I may have broken a few of Jose's ribs at the guildmasters' conference—and that was just because I'd had too much to drink, and that bastard wouldn't stop running his mouth! I'm completely innocent here!"
Just as Precht was scheming how to make Fairy Tail and Grimoire Heart the top organizations of both light and darkness on the continent of Ishgar, and fretting about Makarov potentially getting obsessed with power and not intending to return the position of guild master, the scene shifts to the Fairy Tail guild.
Inside the Fairy Tail guild...
"Ugh! I'm going to die…"
Makarov was staring at a stack of bills, tears streaming down his face.
"Being the Master of Fairy Tail is the last thing I want! Anyone else can have it!"
"Master Precht, the First Master and Warrod have already returned to the guild, so why don't you come back too? Please, come and save me!"
Makarov looked at the seemingly endless string of zeros on the bill in his hands. He was completely drained, lying like a rag doll across the bar, staring blankly at the ceiling, and silently praying for Precht to return and relieve him of this burden.
"Master, are you alright?!"
"Master, you need to stay strong!"
The guild members gathered around Makarov, their faces filled with worry. Anyone could collapse in this guild, but not Makarov. If he went down, who would clean up their messes and pay their debts?
"Laxus, go work!"
After wiping away his tears, Makarov's gaze fell on Laxus, who was sitting nearby. Right now, he could only count on his grandson.
"Grandpa! Even if I work myself to the bone, with only the reward from A-rank missions, there's no way I could pay off such an enormous debt anytime soon!" Laxus said with a sigh. "The highest payout for an A-rank mission is only about a million Jewels. With the damages from destroying docks, train stations, blowing up churches, and wrecking half a town... we're looking at several billion Jewels in total."
The only reason the damages weren't even worse was because Warrod had managed to restore the church and town with his magic. But docks and train stations? Those couldn't just be fixed with wood.
"Laxus, if I'm not mistaken, you've made a breakthrough, haven't you?"
Makarov narrowed his eyes as he glanced at Laxus, realizing that his magic had reached the level of the Ten Wizard Saints.
Bzzt…
"Yeah! Isn't it obvious?!"
With a rumble of thunder, Laxus released an aura that rivaled the magic of the Ten Wizard Saints.
Not long after the S-Class trial, Laxus had broken through into the realm of the Ten Wizard Saints—a goal he'd dreamed of for so long. Yet, once there, he found it wasn't as amazing as he had imagined.
Of course, this 'Wizard Saint' threshold was based on Jura's strength from seven years ago.
Hmm, Jura certainly was handy—almost like Fairy Tail's default unit of measurement for power.
Seven years ago, he represented the threshold for being a 'Wizard Saint.'
Seven years later, he represented the human limit, or what some might call the 'inhuman' realm.
"Laxus, my eyesight isn't what it used to be. Suddenly, I can't see you today…"
"Just for today! Listen carefully, it's only for today!"
"No matter how many S-class missions you take, I won't say a thing. After all, I can't see you, can I?"
"If my eyes are failing me, there's nothing I can do."
Makarov said this, and then he simply shut his eyes.
To repay the debt, Makarov was willing to disregard all the guild's rules.
Leading by example in violating the guild's code—that was something only Makarov could do.
"Huh?"
Laxus was stunned. He couldn't believe that Makarov would go to such lengths, abandoning all pride, just to pay off their enormous debt.
"Hey, Master..."
"If Laxus can take on S-Class missions, then I should be able to as well!"
At this moment, Mirajane stood up angrily from her seat and looked seriously at Makarov.
"You…"
Makarov turned his gaze to Mirajane—at her current magic level, she still hadn't reached the standard of the Ten Wizard Saints.
At the moment, Mirajane was only at the level of a veteran S-Class mage, and it would likely take her about a year to reach the threshold for a 'Wizard Saint.'
And to truly break through that threshold, it would probably take another year.
According to Makarov's estimates, Mirajane would reach the level of a 'Wizard Saint' at about sixteen or seventeen years old.
"You're not ready yet."
Makarov shook his head firmly.
Even though fourteen-year-old Mirajane could earn an S-Class title in the neighboring Phantom Lord guild and be treated as their ace, this was Fairy Tail—the guild known for its impossible standards.
Without the strength of a 'Wizard Saint,' there was no way she could be an S-Class mage or take on S-Class jobs.
"Mirajane, you still have to keep pushing yourself~"
Ultear, perhaps because she was a year older or because she had been training by Ur's side for a long time, was already standing at the threshold of the 'Wizard Saint' level. With a bit of luck, she might officially cross into that domain within a year.
"What?! Why not?"
"I'm already at the S-Class level!"
Mirajane fumed. She pouted, clearly upset.
Recently, during a mission, Mirajane had crossed paths with Sol, an S-Class mage from Phantom Lord, and she found him ridiculously weak.
"You're not mature enough! Once you become as composed as me, you'll be ready for S-Class missions."
Erza suddenly appeared beside Mirajane, her armored chest proudly pushed forward as she spoke smugly.
By the way, Erza had officially entered the realm of the Ten Wizard Saints. Among the young generation of Fairy Tail, she was now one of the best, right alongside Laxus.
"You armored witch…"
Mirajane's eyes twitched in irritation.
"What did you say? Punk girl!"
Erza snapped, getting in Mirajane's face.
Boom!
In an instant, Mirajane and Erza were at each other's throats again.
A terrifying burst of magic erupted from both of them, sending shockwaves through the air.
"Hoo~"
Wakaba sat at the bar, watching the two of them go at it. He quietly lit his pipe and took a long puff, deep in thought.
His own strength had grown tremendously over the past two years, which was evident from his perfect abs...
Wakaba had stepped into the S-Class realm. In Phantom Lord, he'd easily qualify as a new "Element of Mist" or something.
Meanwhile, Macao believed he could compete for the "Element of Fire" position. Thanks to Ian's encouragement and their relentless efforts, both Wakaba and Macao had made incredible progress in strength. Yet neither of them had any plans to compete for Fairy Tail's S-Class mage position.
"Are you kidding? Laxus, Ultear, and Mirajane haven't even passed the guild's S-Class trial yet! Who are we to think we could get it?!"
"Besides, apart from Laxus, Ultear, and Mirajane, there's also Eresh, a genuine dragon, waiting in line!"
"Then there's also Natsu, Gray, Lyon, Cana, and Elfman, whose strength has been growing by leaps and bounds! The competition is only getting harder…"
"So whatever about the S-Class trials! If we pass, great. If not, whatever..."
"After all, even without these competitors, we still wouldn't stand much of a chance of passing exams held by monsters like Ian, Gildarts, Ur, and even Master Warrod."
With that, Macao and Wakaba decided to keep things in perspective, pinning their hopes on taking the trial... a decade later.
When they turned fifty.
As for Ian, his eyes looked vacant, and he appeared to be on the brink of being completely drained.
"No, I need a break."
Ian wiped the sweat from his forehead.
He admitted he had underestimated the combat capability of the mother dragons—let alone two of them.
The good news was that he'd nearly finished learning everything possible from Lady Porlyusica's medical books.
In other words, he was ready for his second...
Or rather, his fourth simulation.
"Ian, you need to push yourself more!"
Gildarts walked into the guild, looking at the exhausted Ian, and couldn't help but grin.
Yes, his life was still the best—when the urge hit, he could just go on an adventure, or pretend he was doing a job, and run off to flirt with someone. No strings attached, he'd just leave once it was over. He wasn't tied down by responsibilities—the ultimate carefree scoundrel.
"You're having too much fun, aren't you?!"
Ian glared at Gildarts, fuming.
"It's not bad, just the usual kind of fun."
Gildarts sat next to Ian and ordered a cup of oolong tea, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.
"Alright, you win..."
"But you'd better remember what you said today."
Ian smiled faintly, taking note of Gildarts' provocations. He committed it to memory.
Sure, he couldn't take down a forty-year-old Gildarts...
But a thirty-year-old or a twenty-year-old Gildarts? That's another story.
Gildarts was asking for it.
"What's the matter?!"
At the moment, Gildarts didn't realize what kind of trouble was looming.
Ian didn't explain either—he just stuck his hands in his pockets, turned, and left the guild.
His departing figure radiated determination.
"What's happening?!"
A feeling of unease crept over Gildarts as he watched Ian leave.
Without thinking too much of it, Ian returned home.
No one was there—Irene and Selene seemed to be out shopping.
"Perfect!"
Without any hesitation, Ian returned to his room, closed his eyes tightly, and focused.
"System! Simulate!!"
And with that, Ian initiated another simulation.
Boom!!
Time was rewound fifteen years into the past.
The year was X764!
Magnolia Town.
Outside the Fairy Tail Guild…
Rumble!
On this day, thunder roared in the sky.
Rain fell in torrents, like a waterfall crashing from above.
"Cornelia! Cornelia, wait for me!"
A twenty-five-year-old Gildarts rushed out of Fairy Tail's guild, ignoring the cold rain soaking him as he shouted after the woman walking away with such determination.
"I've given you enough chances."
Cornelia didn't stop walking.
She had given Gildarts plenty of opportunities, but he had never slowed down for her, and now, she wouldn't stop for him.
Cornelia walked on, her hand gently touching her stomach, where she could feel a new life growing inside her. There was no way she could entrust her daughter to an irresponsible man like Gildarts.
Cornelia wanted to raise her daughter to be a proper lady.
"Goodbye, Gildarts. I'm giving you back your freedom!"
A tear rolled down Cornelia's delicate face.
She swore this would be the last tear she shed for Gildarts.
"Cornelia…"
"You can't leave me!!"
Gildarts, unable to stop her, knelt in the mud, weeping helplessly as Cornelia boarded the departing train.
"What a pathetic sight, Gildarts…"
"To think you can't even hold onto the woman you love the most."
As Gildarts was overwhelmed by grief, a mocking voice spoke softly into his ear.
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