Kagura's curiosity, which she'd been holding back for ages, finally burst out. She tugged at Gildarts' sleeve, looking up with eager eyes. "Uncle! Uncle! Does the town always split apart like that when you come back to Magnolia? Is that, like, a local specialty?"
The bustling guild hall froze as if someone hit pause. Seconds later, laughter erupted ten times louder than before! Almost everyone doubled over, pounding their chests or stomping their feet.
"Pfft—local specialty?!" Macao sprayed his drink, wiping tears of laughter as he mercilessly spilled the beans. "Hahaha, little lady, that's no specialty! That's just Gildarts' one-of-a-kind 'personal charm'!"
Clearing his throat, he put on a mock-serious tone. "Our dear Gildarts here has a cute little quirk—he zones out while walking! Problem is, his Crash Magic is so ridiculously strong that his magic power leaks out uncontrollably. So…"
He threw his hands up in an exaggerated explosion gesture. "Every time he comes back from a job, he 'accidentally' obliterates anything in his way—houses, shops, even some poor guy's magic four-wheeler!"
"The wildest time was when he zoned out and smashed right through a restaurant wall. People were eating, and they nearly choked to death when he popped up out of nowhere!"
Wakaba, with his slicked-back hair and cigarette dangling from his lips, seamlessly picked up the story, blowing a smoke ring as he leaned back in his chair. "You're telling me! Because of him, poor President Makarov's been chewed out by the mayor who-knows-how-many times!"
"The president had no choice. He shelled out a fortune to carve a 'Gildarts-exclusive path' into the mountain behind the guild…"
He dragged out his words for effect. "And guess what? Nine-and-a-half times out of ten, Gildarts forgets to use it!"
With an exaggerated sigh, he pointed at the floor. "In the end, the president and the mayor had to fork over their own money to rebuild all of Magnolia into this 'fortress' you see now! Hahaha!"
"Cough, cough!" Gildarts, his face burning from the exposé, coughed loudly to cut off their "enthusiastic introduction." "Alright, alright! The president's waiting!" he said, quickly changing the subject and leading the three teens with varying expressions toward the bar counter.
At the counter, a short old man with a mustache sipped from a mug.
Gildarts stepped up and introduced him. "This is the Fairy Tail Guild Master, Makarov."
"President, these are the new guild members."
Kagura immediately raised her hand, bursting with energy and a bright smile. "Hi, Grandpa President! I'm Kagura, Kagura Mikazuchi!"
"Oh, little Kagura!" Makarov set down his mug, his face lighting up with a warm, grandfatherly smile. "Welcome to Fairy Tail!"
Erza stepped forward, her scarlet hair swaying slightly, her expression serious. "I'm Erza. Nice to meet you, President. I look forward to your guidance."
Makarov paused, noting the lack of a surname, but the thought was quickly replaced by a warm grin. He nodded firmly. "Welcome to the guild, Erza. Come to me anytime you need help."
When his gaze landed on the last person, his eyes widened. "A B-rank mage?!"
"B-rank mage?!" the guild echoed in unison.
The shout was like a lit firecracker, setting the entire guild ablaze with excitement! Everyone leapt to their feet, chairs and tables clattering in the chaos.
Macao shot up from his seat so fast his mug tipped over, golden ale spilling across the table. He didn't even notice, his eyes locked on Roger. "Another B-rank mage this young?!"
"Another one? Who's the other?" Kagura tilted her head, puzzled.
Wakaba, cigarette still in his mouth, jerked his thumb toward a dimly lit corner of the guild.
There, a muscular young man with striking blonde hair and a black vest sat alone, exuding a cold, unapproachable aura.
"Laxus—President Makarov's grandson. He became a B-rank mage shortly after awakening his magic," Wakaba explained. "In less than a year, he jumped from B-rank to A-rank. He's never failed a single job."
"He's on track to be the youngest S-rank mage in any legal guild!"
"Wow, that's amazing!" Kagura exclaimed, but she quickly caught herself, realizing Roger was standing nearby. She straightened up and declared, "Sure, he's impressive, but I bet it won't be long before Brother Roger and Sister Erza surpass him and become the youngest S-rank mages in any legal guild!"
Makarov didn't take offense at her words. Instead, her fierce loyalty and adorable enthusiasm made him burst into laughter. Stroking his white beard, his eyes crinkled with amusement. "Oh? You've got that much faith in them, little Kagura?"
"Hmph!" Kagura planted her hands on her hips, chin raised proudly. "Of course! You know, Brother Roger and Sister Erza only awakened their magic two days ago!"
She stretched out the words "two days" for emphasis, smirking at the guild members' stunned expressions before adding, "And! Brother Roger's magic is super amazing! It lets him—and anyone who signs a contract with him—get stronger just by defeating enemies! Their magic power goes whoosh and shoots right up!"
"WHAT?!" the guild roared in unison.
The revelation hit Fairy Tail like a meteor strike! Shouts of shock nearly shattered the roof as everyone surged to their feet, knocking over tables and chairs in a frenzy.
The crowd, burning with curiosity and excitement, swarmed Roger like a tidal wave, surrounding him in an instant.
Macao, using his proximity to his advantage, shoved his way to Roger first, practically spitting with excitement. "Your magic can really boost other people's power?!"
"Move it!" Wakaba shoved Macao's face aside, planting himself in front of Roger and pointing at his chest. "Me! Wakaba! Tons of job experience, deep magic reserves! Look at me! Can I sign a contract with you? I'll charge into any fight first!"
The others joined in, shouting over each other:
"Pick me!"
"No, me!"
"I'll treat you to drinks for a year!"
"He's just a kid! What's he gonna do with drinks, idiot? I'll treat him to meals for a year!"
The flood of voices and intense stares made the air around Roger feel thin.
He took a deep breath, scanned the crowd, and shook his head helplessly. "Sorry, but no one here can sign a contract with me."
Makarov furrowed his brow, thinking for a moment. "What are the conditions for signing a contract? Matching magic types? Knowing specific spells? Or maybe the magic power gap can't be too wide?"
Roger could only shrug again, raising his voice. "I don't know the exact conditions myself. But when someone who meets them shows up, I'll know they can sign."