By the time the magic train pulled into Magnolia Station, the afterglow of the setting sun had already blended into the night.
The tavern-like building was brightly lit.
This was the liveliest time of day for Fairy Tail. No matter how busy their schedules, most members would return to the guild in the evening to rest, chat with friends, drink, and brag about their day's experiences.
The lively atmosphere spilled through the heavy wooden doors, reaching the ears of the two travelers.
Kana, overjoyed, pushed the door open without hesitation. Her eyes went straight to Wakaba and Macao drinking together, and she slipped seamlessly into the wine tasting as though she had always been part of it.
Wakaba took a puff from his pipe, greeting Noah while teasing, "Hey Noah, did you find any magic items? Did Kana swindle you?"
"Damn you, old smoker! Who do you take me for?"
Kana rolled her eyes before excitedly retelling the day's adventures to Macao.
When he heard that Noah had single-handedly defeated a squad of elite Black Magic Cult members using only physical skills—without magic or magical tools—Macao and Wakaba were dumbfounded.
It was not impossible for them to face such opponents alone, but doing so without magic was nearly unthinkable.
"Is this new kid another monster…?"
Macao couldn't help but compare Noah to the guild's so-called "new generation" of S-class wizards. Each was a prodigious talent who had made a name for themselves in the magical world.
It was not hard to imagine Noah's name joining that list soon. Perhaps by next year, he would pass the guild's S-class assessment and ascend into their ranks.
Macao's gaze shifted slightly toward Kana, who was merrily drinking with Wakaba, and he sighed inwardly.
She had attempted the S-class assessment several times, always ending up as someone else's stepping stone. He had once believed Kana might finally succeed next year, but after seeing Noah's overwhelming ability, her chances seemed slim once again.
Still… why was this girl so fixated on becoming an S-class wizard?
Meanwhile, Noah strolled across the hall and sat down at the bar. Having eaten very little that afternoon, he was starving.
"Noah, welcome back! Would you like something to eat or drink?"
Mira smiled sweetly, resting her cheek in her hand.
Gray, working reluctantly behind the counter, twitched. Just moments ago, Mira had been snarling devilishly at him—"If you don't work harder, you'll die"—yet now she was acting like an angel in front of Noah.
*Does Noah even know how fast this girl changes her expressions?*
Faced with such obvious favoritism, Gray clenched his fists, ready to make a point. But resisting Mira was like punching cotton.
"…I'll go deliver drinks."
With that excuse, Gray picked up a tray and left. Surely, it wasn't because he *couldn't* win against Mira—it was just that he respected women and didn't want to argue with a little girl.
Still studying the guild's menu, Noah asked curiously, "Mira, what's this 'Flame Set Meal'?"
The menu showed no picture of food, only a portrait of Natsu. Naturally, Noah was intrigued.
"That's Natsu's special set meal," Mira explained. "It's a mix of fire and meat."
Noah blinked. "Isn't that just barbecue? What makes it special?"
He had treated Natsu and Happy to a high-end barbecue once, and apart from gorging himself, Natsu hadn't shown anything unusual.
Mira chuckled. "You're wrong. The flames in this dish aren't for grilling the meat—they're for Natsu to eat."
Her voice lowered with emphasis. "You see, Natsu is a Fire Dragon Slayer. He can eat fire."
"…A Dragon Slayer?!"
Noah was floored. Dragon Slayers—known as the nemesis of Dragons—were practitioners of one of the most mysterious lost magics. To think that hot-headed, eccentric Natsu was actually a wielder of Dragon Slayer Magic!
"Fire Dragon Slayer…" His thoughts spun. *So that 'fire resistance' ability I gained from Natsu's prayer request—it must've been a copy of the Dragon Slayer's physical enhancements.*
Could future requests lead to the ability to *eat flames* as well? What if he could even learn Dragon Slayer Magic itself?
Shaking off the thought, Noah ordered a simple spaghetti bolognese.
But when the dish arrived…
The bowl contained more thick chunks of meat than pasta noodles. Noah stared blankly.
"…Isn't this *too* much preferential treatment? Won't the others complain?"
As if sensing his doubt, Mira quickly shifted the topic. "By the way, Noah, the temporary library is ready. Leibi and the others sorted the books and placed them on the shelves. You can visit anytime."
Noah had almost forgotten the warehouse-cleaning commission. Since it was his request, he had left the rewards with Mira to distribute among the helpers.
Who knew guild receptionists had so many responsibilities?
After dinner, Noah made his way to the temporary library.
It was nothing extravagant—just old shelves, tables, and chairs moved from the warehouse, partitioned off with four tall wooden boards and a small door.
As he stepped inside, Noah spotted a short old man seated at a table.
"Good evening, Master."
Makarov removed his glasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Noah, did you buy a magic tool?"
"Yes. A pair of magic gloves."
Noah didn't elaborate further, casually pulling a book from a shelf before sitting near him.
He noticed Makarov wore a troubled expression. Was it because of the book in his hand?
Sensing his curiosity, Makarov pushed the book toward him.
The yellowed cover bore the Fairy Tail insignia and the words—*Fairy Tail Chronicles.*
"A record of the guild's history," Noah realized.
He briefly wondered if a mention of "Lumen Histoire" might appear inside, but quickly dismissed the thought. No guild would openly record *Endless Magic Power,* a secret that could spark bloody conflict across the world.
His eyes fell on some handwritten drafts scattered across Makarov's desk.
"Master, are you… updating the chronicles?"
Makarov nodded, handing Noah some pages.
The drafts detailed the guild's achievements in recent years—the rise of Fairy Tail's new generation S-class wizards.
- In X778, **Laxus Dreyar** passed the exam, becoming S-class at 17.
- In X780, **Erza Scarlet** became the youngest in Fairy Tail history, at just 15.
- In X781, **Mira Strauss** passed at 16.
- In X782, this very year, **Mystogan** rose to S-class at the age of 20.
Noah had already met Erza and Mira, but not the other two.
Looking up, he caught sight of Makarov smirking smugly, practically wearing the words: *Come on, praise me as the guild master.*
Noah's lips twitched. *So that's what this is about—you just wanted someone to show off to.*
Still, he couldn't deny his surprise.
Except for Laxus, who was six years older, the other three were about Noah's age, yet already represented the strongest combat abilities of the guild.
But Noah, armed with the mysterious power of "wish," was confident he would catch up soon.
"Master, is it alright if I borrow some of these books to read back at the dorm?"
"Of course. But handle them with care. Most were written by my teacher himself—they're all one of a kind."