"Alright, alright! Settle down, all of you!" Gildarts' booming voice cut through the chaos like a stabilizing anchor.
He stretched out an arm, effortlessly parting the excited crowd. "Don't swarm the newbies! Go back to your drinks or your brawls! The initiation ceremony isn't even done yet!"
Though Gildarts' "physical persuasion" dispersed the crowd, their gazes still burned toward Roger like spotlights, and the hum of excited chatter filled every corner of the guild hall.
"Contract Magic" and "boosting magic power" were the hottest topics on everyone's lips.
In a dimly lit corner, Laxus, who had been silent, tapped his fingers lightly on the table, muttering under his breath, "A magic that can directly enhance magic power, huh…"
Makarov, watching the guild slowly return to its usual rowdy state, shook his head with a wry smile and beckoned to Roger and the others. "Ignore these noisy troublemakers. Come on, kids, let's get the important stuff done first."
He raised his index finger, tracing a complex pattern in the air.
As he moved, a soft golden magic circle shimmered into existence, precisely imprinting onto a drawer beside the bar counter.
With a soft click, the drawer popped open.
Inside the spacious drawer lay a single, heavy bronze stamp.
Makarov picked up the weighty stamp, his face warming with a kind smile as he looked at the three. "You can choose the location and color of your guild emblem. Any colors you like?"
Roger thought for a moment before rolling up his right sleeve, revealing a toned arm.
"I'll go with light blue, and put it here," he said, pointing to his upper arm. "This way, I can cover it with my sleeve when I need to, but show it off when it matters."
Kagura blinked her big eyes, puzzled. "Why hide it? Don't we want people to see the emblem so they know we're Fairy Tail mages?"
"That's exactly why," Roger said as Makarov expertly pressed the stamp onto his arm. A flash of white light later, a light blue guild emblem appeared, perfectly concealed when he lowered his sleeve.
"If the emblem's somewhere too obvious, like your hand or face, then when we're out on missions—especially subjugation ones—the target will spot us right away as members of an official guild sent to take them down."
"Worse, they might even figure out specific details about our magic."
He looked at Kagura and Erza, his expression serious. "In a fight, 'knowing something the enemy doesn't' can often decide who wins."
"Like when I beat those guys before, a big part of it was because I'd already figured out their magic and weaknesses."
"So, Kagura, Erza, remember this: never reveal all your cards too easily."
"That includes your strength, your magic, even your personality. At critical moments, those unknowns can be the key to victory."
Erza listened intently, a thoughtful glint in her eyes, before nodding slightly.
Kagura, only half-understanding, nodded vigorously anyway. "Got it, Brother Roger!"
The two girls had their guild emblems stamped on their upper arms as well—one in vibrant scarlet, the other in white.
After stamping the final emblem, Makarov stood before the trio, his face beaming with warmth and pride. His voice rang out, loud and clear, filling the bustling guild hall:
"Welcome to Fairy Tail!!"
As his words echoed, the system's voice chimed in Roger's mind.
[Ding! Successfully joined the guild. Game system fully activated.]
[Ding! Mission Mode unlocked. Accept missions at the guild's mission board to earn extra rewards upon completion.]
[Level Module loading complete. System panel upgraded.]
[Name: Roger]
[Rank: B-Class Mage]
[Magic Power: 3321/3400]
[Magic: Contract Magic LV1, Illusion Magic LV3, Requip Magic—Knight LV2, Enhancement Magic LV3, Reinforcement Magic LV2]
[Skills: Voice Modulation LV5, Cooking LV5, Swordsmanship LV3, Magic Missile Fabrication (Pseudo) LV2, Disguise LV5]
[Ding! Contract Magic fully activated.]
[Contractor Requirements:]
[1. Must possess magic power.]
[2. Must have strong magical potential.]
[3. Strength must not far exceed the host's.]
[As the strength and number of contractors increase, the level of Contract Magic will rise, unlocking additional functions at certain stages.]
Roger raised an eyebrow. "A full panel overhaul, huh? Feels like jumping from 3G to 4G."
He glanced around, noticing three markers in his field of vision: two gray exclamation points and one pale gold one.
"Kagura and Gildarts are gray, but the gold one… Laxus?"
A flicker of surprise crossed his mind, quickly replaced by understanding.
"He's a top contender for Fairy Tail's strongest in the future, so his strength and potential are no surprise. But his gold marker seems fainter than Erza's?"
"Is it because his magic power is a stage above mine?"
After a moment's thought, Roger approached Makarov, who was chatting with Gildarts.
"Guild Master, can I take on a C-rank subjugation mission now?"
"C-rank?" Makarov's eyes flashed with approval. "Nice choice. Very grounded. You didn't rush to grab a B-rank mission just because your magic power qualifies."
He tapped his temple, his expression growing serious. "A mage's true rank isn't just about magic power. It's about combat experience, understanding of magic, and split-second decision-making."
He stroked his beard, mulling it over. "Alright, here's the deal…"
With a nimble hop, he landed silently from the bar counter and clapped his hands.
"Come with me to the backyard. I want to see for myself how well you control your magic and where your combat instincts stand."
He waved toward the other side of the counter. "Erza, Kagura, you two come watch as well!"
Without waiting for a reply, Makarov strode confidently toward the guild hall's back door, hands behind his back.
Roger exchanged a glance with the two girls, and without hesitation, the trio followed.
The guild members, ears perked for juicy gossip, caught the keywords "Guild Master," "combat," and "newbie." Their excitement ignited instantly.
"Whoa! The Master's gonna spar with the newbie!!"
"Idiot! It's called 'training'! The Master's showing love to the rookie!"
"Call it training or a fight, who cares?! The Master making a move is a once-in-a-blue-moon event! Let's go, let's go!! We'll miss the show if we're late!!"
"Don't push me! Let me through!"
"Who stepped on my foot?!"
Chairs clattered, tables shook, and spilled drinks went ignored as the crowd surged like iron filings to a magnet, shouting and shoving toward the back door.
In just a few breaths, the once-lively guild hall was deserted, save for a few toppled chairs and half-empty beer mugs on the counter, their foam still popping.
In the guild's backyard, the open space usually used for basic training was now packed with a dense, three-layer-thick wall of onlookers.
Guild members stood on tiptoes, craning their necks, eyes wide and fixed on the two figures in the center.
On one side was the short but mountain-steady Guild Master Makarov. On the other was the calm, dark-haired newcomer, Roger.
The air seemed to freeze, filled only with tense breathing and the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze.