"Please, you must give me this opportunity!"
King Toma pleaded with a face full of earnestness, like a child yearning for a beloved toy, completely devoid of any kingly demeanor.
He was so eager to participate in this grand event that he even resorted to using government resources to help promote it, all just to become the host of the spectacle.
"Alright, that should be fine."
Marco ultimately agreed to the request—there was no helping it, the offer was simply too generous.
King Toma's enthusiasm for matters related to Mages far surpassed his passion for being a king.
Compared to ruling, he much preferred being a powerful Mage.
Well, that wasn't entirely unreasonable.
If Marco were asked to trade his strength for the throne, he would absolutely refuse without hesitation.
There was no other reason—this king, who wished to protect his country, ultimately had to rely on Mages like them.
During the previous invasion by the Alvarez Empire from the western continent, it was only through the efforts of the Magic Council that the enemy was repelled.
"Mundane" nations could hardly contribute much in such major events.
In the end, it was the Magic Council that truly governed the entire Ishgar continent.
When Mages ran amok, causing destruction, only the Magic Council could judge and handle the aftermath.
"Mundane" countries couldn't even voice their opinions.
Therefore, Marco didn't find King Toma's attitude all that strange.
After all, who wouldn't want to become a powerful Mage?
Well, being powerful was a prerequisite.
If one were to become an ordinary, low-ranking Mage, it would still be better to remain a king.
"Excellent! Thank you, Marco!"
With Marco's approval, King Toma immediately expressed his boundless joy and gratitude.
His dream had finally come true!
Marco's lips twitched slightly.
They were currently in Magnolia, inside the guildhall of Fairy Tail.
To secure his involvement, King Toma had gone "incognito," traveling all the way to Magnolia just to plead with him.
When it came to ruling, he advocated for laissez-faire governance, but when it came to Mage affairs, no one was more enthusiastic than him.
"When does it start?"
After confirming that he could disguise himself and serve as the host, King Toma was so excited that he practically wished the "National S-Class Exam Tournament" would begin immediately.
"It's still early. Wait until October." Marco replied helplessly, signaling King Toma to remain patient.
"Go back for now and return when it's about to start. A country cannot be without its ruler for even a day. You can't just stay in Magnolia and wait, can you?"
Seeing King Toma's disappointment, Marco tried to persuade him.
It felt as though King Toma intended to linger here indefinitely.
Good grief, neglecting his duties as king just to be a host here.
"Alright, I'll go back first. But when everything is almost ready, you must notify me so I can come early and familiarize myself with the specific procedures!"
Under Marco's persuasion, King Toma finally agreed to return for the time being.
However, he was still uneasy and repeatedly urged Marco to inform him in advance.
"Hisui, study well under Marco here. Before October this year, try not to return to the palace too often."
Before leaving, King Toma earnestly advised his daughter Hisui, though his words made her sweatdrop in exasperation.
"Understood." Hisui replied helplessly.
Was their father-daughter bond really that worthless? Just to ensure nothing went wrong and not miss the "National S-Class Exam Tournament," he wouldn't even let her return home!
He wanted her to stay here and keep watch the entire time!
"My.. what a good daughter."
King Toma praised her contentedly, making Hisui's face twitch—a rare loss of composure, mainly because her father was just too absurd.
Soon, having achieved his goal, King Toma left satisfied, leaving Marco and his apprentice Hisui staring at each other.
"When you become queen someday, don't be as unreliable as your father."
Looking at Hisui, Marco bluntly criticized the damn king.
"I won't." Hisui answered firmly.
She couldn't guarantee much else, but she definitely wouldn't be as absurd as her father.
She certainly wouldn't be so keen on involving herself in Mage affairs, especially since she herself was a fairly capable Mage and had already become disillusioned with Mage matters.
Unlike King Toma, who was full of fantasies about magic and Mages—after all, he usually only saw news related to Marco, which naturally fueled his imagination.
Honestly, anyone who saw those would start fantasizing.
He'd fantasize about becoming the "Star Rose God" Marco Dreyar, unbeatable throughout the land, making a name for himself across the entire Ishgar continent.
...
Thus, the host for the "National S-Class Exam Tournament" was decided: King Toma of the Fiore Kingdom.
Of course, he would conceal his identity and not officially host as the king—some discretion was needed, after all, to protect the dignity of the Fiore royal family.
Originally, Marco had wanted to hire a professional for the host position, but ultimately yielded to personal connections.
While it was said the offer was too good to refuse, it was really out of consideration for Hisui's sake.
If King Toma's performance turned out to be truly terrible, Marco would still replace him.
The first tournament needed to build its reputation—it was crucial and couldn't be jeopardized by his antics.
Marco had reiterated this to King Toma, and the Fiore Kingdom's monarch was quite understanding.
He guaranteed he would work hard to meet the requirements, and if he fell short, he would honestly step down.
It was this attitude that earned Marco's approval.
Marco had no doubt King Toma would practice diligently.
After all, the king usually didn't have much serious business to attend to, so he'd have plenty of time to learn how to be a host.