In the afternoon, only some minor characters and veteran loafers were left in the guild chatting and drinking.
Some people genuinely have no interest in becoming S-Class, while others feel it's beyond their capability, so it's not worth the hassle.
As the group of troublemakers left, the lively guild became slightly quieter.
Occasionally, someone with a nearby task location would return the same day to hand in a mission, not even taking a break before accepting another task and leaving again.
—— Technically speaking, it's against the rules to take on three consecutive tasks like Erza does, but she promises to handle them one by one, just saving the time spent returning to the guild.
After all, as an S-Class Mage, the requirements are slightly more relaxed in this regard.
"I really want to become S-Class too (so I can be closer to Laxus)..." said Qico, the daughter of the women's dormitory owner, as she lay sprawled across the table, looking unmotivated.
Lisana brought the juice she requested and said casually, "Then why not try hard to participate in the exam?"
"I can't do it." Qico cradled the cup, surrounded by several ghost-like white spirits, "Did you forget, Lisana, my magic."
"Ah, the 'Urban Legend' magic." Lisana realized, "Earlier in Edolas, seeing you use magic, I thought you could already use it outside."
"That's because the whole of Magnolia was there; as soon as I left that Floating Island, it immediately stopped working again."
Qico's magic relies on the spirits drifting within the vicinity of Magnolia. Once she leaves here, it essentially becomes useless, requiring a considerably long time to prepare and might not even recover.
The exam site for the S-Class exam couldn't possibly be set in Magnolia, so even if she gained qualification, she would be completely unable to take the exam.
Lisana suggested, "How about learning some other magic, like Take Over?"
"No, Urban Legend is strong enough already." Qico refused, "Take Over might make me look ugly like Elfman... ah, I'm sorry."
Lisana replied without care, "It's okay, Brother Elf's magic indeed doesn't look quite nice."
Actually, she felt her sister's Take Over wasn't quite nice either; only hers seemed more adorable.
But her sister said that her brother-in-law seemed to like Satan's Soul... probably words to make her sister happy?
"Lisana, over here!"
"Coming~" Lisana carried a tray, delivering wine to Nabu, who sat closest to the bulletin board, "Nabu, aren't you working?"
"I'm looking for work that only I can complete."
"Edolas's Nabu never picky about work, always busy every day."
"..." Nabu reflected for a second but still felt he wasn't wrong, "However... unbelievable, you really are Lisana."
Lidas interjected, "It's been days, you're still saying that?"
"Because..."
Lidas ignored him, pulling out a sketchbook, "Lisana, want to draw a portrait?"
"Alright." Lisana looked down, "Should I change clothes?"
"No need, just stand there as you are."
...
Nearing evening, Makarov returned to the guild with a young girl, but Kildas was nowhere to be seen.
"President, you're back!"
"Who is that girl?"
"So cute!"
Everyone's eyes were immediately drawn to the girl Makarov brought back. The purple-haired girl timidly hid behind Makarov.
"Alright, calm down, I'll introduce her!" Makarov signaled everyone to curb their enthusiasm slightly.
The crowd made way, allowing Makarov to lead the purple-haired girl to the front.
Wendy and Carla watched her curiously, wondering if she, a newcomer after them, would be entrusted to their care.
After some thought, Wendy felt it unlikely, as technically she hadn't even passed her own 'internship period' yet.
"This is Ginanna, from today she will be a member of our guild." Makarov revealed Ginanna kindly, "Come, greet everyone."
Ginanna said nervously, "I-I am Ginanna, 9 years old... no, 20-year-old Ginanna. P-please don't bully Ginanna~"
"20 years old?"
Everyone found it unbelievable, as except for certain aspects, this girl was not much stronger than Wendy in all aspects.
Moreover, her face and actions exuded innocence, and her choice of words seemed very childlike.
Rhode frowned, perhaps her slip of the tongue about being 9 was her real age? Where did the old man pick up this child?
Makarov looked around, "Wendy, come over here."
"Me?"
"Yes, come chat with Ginanna for a while, I have something to discuss with Mira."
"Alright!" Wendy was delighted, although it wasn't a full entrustment of Ginanna's care, she could at least tend to her for a while.
"Hello, I'm Wendy, and this is my good friend Carla."
The pairing of the adorable little girl and the cute little cat made Ginanna feel secure: "Hello, Ginanna."
"Using her name as a catchphrase." Carla whispered, but seeing a group about to gather around, quickly flew up, acting like a grown-up, advising them to quiet down.
Ginanna found Carla who flew up suddenly quite endearing.
Meanwhile, Makarov was explaining Ginanna's background to Rhode and Mira.
"Do you remember Oracion Seis?"
"Of course."
"Among Oracion Seis, there was one with the nickname Cobra, the Poison Dragon Slayer Mage, who had a partner, a flying mutated purple cobra."
"!" Rhode and Mira turned to look at Ginanna, "She couldn't be..."
"Yes, Ginanna is that cobra. The Council was planning to 'deal with' it today. I felt something was off, so I tried to undo the magic, and it turned into this."
"When she first recovered, Ginanna said she was 9, but the Council's magic instruments measured her at 20 years old. In other words, when she was 9, she was turned into a snake by someone using magic, and for the following eleven years, she had no memory."
Rhode asked, "Did Cobra do it? Or was it the mastermind?"
Makarov shook his head, "No, 11 years ago, Cobra was just a child, and he was captured into the Tower of Paradise.
"He probably encountered Ginanna by chance and found her unusual, which is why he always took care of her when she was turned into a snake."
Mira sympathetically said, "Thinking about it, both are quite pitiable."
"No matter the past, now Ginanna is a member of the guild. Due to the magic's impact, although Ginanna is 20, her physical growth isn't great, and her mental age is somewhat problematic. So..."
Makarov looked at Mira, "I'll be relying on you to take care of her for a while."
Mira tilted her head, "Me?"
"Yes." Makarov smiled warmly, "Because when it comes to caring for an adult with some language communication barriers, who has less worldly knowledge than a child, you are the most experienced in the guild."
Rhode: "..."
Is he pointing at me?
Mira seemed to realize this too and cheekily winked at Rhode before smiling and saying, "Alright, I understand."