"I've heard of you, Lucy. A very impressive new member," Marcus said, a hint of admiration in his voice.
Lucy covered her face with her hands. "I can only imagine what you've heard…"
Happy flew over, looking around curiously. "Hey Marcus, what kind of stuff do you sell here?"
Marcus pointed to the merchandise behind him. "We've got a lot of things: T-shirts, arm guards, mugs, towels…and the most popular items are the character figurines." He pulled out a Lucy figurine and handed it to Happy.
Lucy's face paled, beads of sweat forming on her brow. "Why did you make those without my permission?!"
"Oh, and it has a 'sexy' mode too!" Marcus instructed Happy to press a small switch on the figurine's base. With a click, the figurine's outer clothing detached.
"Ah!" Lucy quickly snatched the figurine back from Happy's surprised grasp.
Finn, who had been observing the scene with a mixture of amusement and bewilderment, finally spoke up. After staring intently for a moment, he pulled out a thick wad of bills from his pocket. "I'll take ten!"
"What are you talking about?!" Erza instantly appeared behind Finn, grabbing him by the back of his collar and unceremoniously dragging him away. Before disappearing, she shot a withering glare at Marcus.
Happy, ever observant, commented in a deadpan tone, "Marcus, you're drooling."
"It's sweat!" Marcus retorted defensively.
The group entered the main hall. The vast space, with its neatly arranged benches and chairs, was a far cry from the old, ramshackle tavern. It felt more like a sophisticated club.
Finn looked at Natsu, who had his head almost completely buried in his scarf. "What's wrong, Natsu?" he asked, a hint of concern in his voice.
Natsu couldn't quite articulate his feelings. "It's…just different," he mumbled, unable to fully explain the sense of unease he felt.
"Lucy-san—welcome back!" Levy spotted the returning group and rushed out, greeting them with a bright and enthusiastic smile.
"Levy-chan——" Lucy's face lit up with joy at the familiar greeting.
"Isn't it amazing? Come on, let me give you a tour of the new guild!" Levy excitedly grabbed Lucy's hand, pulling her along as she led the group on a tour of the newly renovated guild hall.
The changes to the guild were truly remarkable. Beyond the main hall, there was a sparkling swimming pool, and even a fun-filled playground in the basement for everyone to enjoy.
"But the biggest change is upstairs," Levy said, gesturing towards the second floor.
As if on cue, Elfman emerged from the upper level, offering a friendly greeting.
"Of course, for S-class missions, you still need S-class mages to participate," Elfman added with a grin.
"It's changed so much," Lucy exclaimed, her voice filled with wonder.
Natsu, still partially hidden within his scarf, simply murmured, "It's…different."
The sound of approaching footsteps announced the arrival of Makarov, whose diminutive figure appeared before the group.
"You're all back, you bunch of little brats," Makarov greeted them with a chuckle, his tone affectionate despite the playful scolding.
"Master, you're here too," Finn said, acknowledging Makarov's presence.
Standing beside Makarov was a girl in a lovely blue and white dress. Makarov introduced her with a warm smile. "This is our newest member, Juvia. Isn't she adorable?"
Juvia, with a graceful lift of her skirt, performed a polite curtsy. "Pleased to meet you all."
"Juvia, you actually joined!" Finn exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine surprise and delight.
"Thank you for your help in Akane," Erza expressed her sincere gratitude to Juvia.
"It's all thanks to everyone's help. I'll do my best!" Juvia responded, her face beaming with happiness at the warm welcome she had received.
"And we have one more new member joining us. Why don't you all say hello?" Makarov said, gesturing towards a figure sitting alone at a nearby table, seemingly engrossed in eating utensils.
"There's someone else?" Happy tilted his head in confusion, his gaze following Makarov's gesture.
"Ah?!" A collective gasp of surprise rippled through the group.
"Are you kidding me?" Gray couldn't believe his eyes, his voice laced with disbelief.
"Gajeel?!" Natsu and Gray instantly assumed their battle stances, their bodies tensing in preparation for a potential confrontation.
"Tch," Gajeel grunted, turning his head away with a dismissive flick of his gaze.
"Why is that guy here?" Gray demanded, his voice edged with anger and a palpable sense of unease.
Juvia quickly stepped forward to intervene. "Wait, Gajeel was actually recommended by me."
"Juvia's fine, but that guy's the one who destroyed the guild!" Erza's face was equally filled with anger and disbelief.
Makarov chuckled and waved his hand dismissively. "As the saying goes, yesterday's enemy can become today's friend."
Natsu marched over to Gajeel, slamming his hand onto the table with a resounding thud. He leaned in, his gaze intense as he addressed Gajeel directly. "I can't work with this guy!"
Gajeel met Natsu's gaze unflinchingly. "Don't worry about it, I have absolutely no intention of becoming your friend," he said, standing up abruptly. "I'm just here for the work."
Gajeel met Natsu's intense stare with an equally defiant glare. "I just never expected to end up working in the most ridiculously annoying guild. This is going to be a pain in the ass."
Makarov, his hands clasped behind his back, offered an explanation. "Guiding misguided young people back onto the right path is also the responsibility of us older folks."
"He's not inherently bad; he was simply misled by the environment in Phantom Lord," Makarov added, trying to mediate the brewing conflict.
"We should at least keep an eye on him for a while," Erza suggested, her expression still wary but slightly less hostile.
Makarov nodded, silently agreeing to Erza's suggestion.
Upon seeing Gajeel stand up, Levy instinctively hid behind Finn, her head peeking out timidly. "I…I don't really mind anymore," she whispered softly.
After offering a few words of reassurance to his worried younger comrade, Finn approached Gajeel, his shadow falling over the iron dragon slayer.
Gajeel instinctively took a step back, his eyes darting nervously as he looked up at Finn, the man who had twice unceremoniously thrown him to the ground.
"Hey…Finn, what are you planning to do?" Makarov asked anxiously, his voice laced with a hint of apprehension.
"Since it's the Master's decision, we'll abide by it," Finn replied calmly, his gaze unwavering.
"But…" Finn's expression suddenly turned serious, his voice taking on a sterner tone.
"At the very least, you should apologize to Levy and the others, now that you're here," Finn stated firmly.
Gajeel averted his gaze, avoiding eye contact. Levy, however, stepped forward, gently tugging on Finn's sleeve. "It's really okay," she reassured him softly, "I've already let it go."
"Alright, alright, Finn, come over here and tell me about the mission," Makarov intervened, skillfully diffusing the tense atmosphere.
————
"That's basically what happened," Finn recounted the details of the recent mission to Makarov, providing a comprehensive account of the events.
Makarov set down his beer mug, letting out a long sigh. "Thank you, Finn. Erza's situation…it's been something I've been deeply concerned about, something that's weighed heavily on my heart."
"But things are better now. Erza's smiling more than she used to," Makarov glanced sideways at Erza, who was happily indulging in a strawberry cake, a warm smile spreading across his own aged face.
Turning his attention back to Finn, Makarov continued, "I never imagined you'd reach this level of power. Even the Etherion was no match for you."
Finn quickly waved his hands dismissively. "Master, you're exaggerating. It was mostly luck."
Makarov took another sip of his drink, unconcerned by Finn's humble words. The decision he'd been contemplating solidified in his mind. Turning his gaze back to Finn, he spoke with a newfound resolve. "Finn, I've made up my mind. I'm going to pass the position of Master to you."
Upon hearing Makarov's surprisingly straightforward announcement, Finn, who had been casually sipping his milk, promptly sprayed a mouthful of the beverage onto Makarov.
"Master, I didn't mean to do that! Please believe me!" Finn stammered, his face flushed with embarrassment and a touch of guilt.
Makarov stared at him with wide, incredulous eyes. "I'll believe you…if you agree to become the next Master."
Finn rubbed his temples, a headache forming. "Then you might as well just assume it was intentional," he sighed, resigned to Makarov's stubbornness.
Seeing Finn's unwavering resistance, Makarov's expression turned serious. "I'm being completely serious, Finn! Your strength is unmatched, and your reputation within the guild is impeccable. You're the only one who's truly suitable for the position."
"But Master, you know how I am. I'm not really interested in becoming Master right now. We can talk about it later," Finn said, attempting to gently deflect Makarov's persistent pleas, hoping to postpone the inevitable discussion.
"Sigh…" Makarov let out a long, weary sigh, clearly frustrated by Finn's reluctance but ultimately resigned to accepting his current indecision. For now, there was nothing more he could do.
Suddenly, the lights in the guild hall flickered and died, plunging the entire space into darkness.
"Hmm? What was that?" Finn blinked, his eyes adjusting to the sudden lack of illumination.
As if on cue, a large curtain in front of them parted, revealing a massive stage.
A single spotlight illuminated the center of the stage, where Mirajane sat serenely, dressed in a strikingly different outfit than usual, a guitar resting gently in her lap.
"Oh, Mira, we're back!" Finn greeted Mirajane with a warm and friendly smile.
"Welcome back," Mirajane replied, her eyes meeting Finn's across the hall. A mixture of relief and happiness shone in her gaze.
"To celebrate Finn and everyone else's safe return, and to mark the grand opening of our new guild hall, I'll be performing a song for you all," Mirajane announced, her voice clear and confident. Her words were immediately met with a thunderous wave of cheers from the guild members below.
"It's been a while since I've heard Mira sing," Finn remarked, a wistful note in his voice.
"If you want to hear her sing, Mira would gladly give you a private performance," Macao chimed in, playfully draping his arm around Finn's shoulders.
"Hush, just listen," Finn said, gently pushing Macao's arm away, his attention fully focused on Mirajane as he eagerly awaited her performance.
Mirajane's slender fingers delicately danced across the guitar strings, producing a cascade of melodious notes that gradually filled the hall.
"We've been waiting for you, Mira!"
"Mirajane, you're the best!" The cheers from the guild members continued, their voices rising in a wave of enthusiastic support.
Mirajane closed her eyes, her voice soft and clear as she began to sing. Her voice was like a gentle stream, flowing calmly and soothingly over the hearts of everyone present.
The previously boisterous guild hall fell silent, captivated by the enchanting melody. Her song seemed to possess a magical quality, capable of easing the pain and sorrow lingering in the hearts of her listeners.
Makarov turned his head, observing Finn sitting beside him, and Erza and the others in the front row, a warm smile spreading across his aged face. "You've all returned safely," he murmured, his voice filled with relief and gratitude.
"The children of Fairy Tail…they're all growing stronger and more resilient each day," Makarov thought to himself, a deep sense of pride and contentment swelling within his heart as he gazed upon the guild members he had nurtured and raised.
In an atmosphere of profound peace and harmony, Mirajane's song drew to a close.
The beautiful music was met with a thunderous round of applause and cheers, even Finn couldn't resist standing on his chair and shouting his enthusiastic approval.
"Mira, that was amazing! Who's up next?" Finn called out, his voice brimming with excitement.
As if in answer to Finn's question, the fallen curtain rose once more, revealing the next performer.
Gajeel, clad in a surprisingly sharp white suit and clutching an electric guitar, sat calmly in the center of the stage. The sight instantly caused a wave of stunned silence to ripple through the guild; Gajeel's appearance and attire were utterly incongruous with the image of a musical performer.
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