The Return of the Reckless
The entire Fairy Tail Guild Hall stared, a sea of bewildered faces watching Qi Yan and Elfman stand calmly in the doorway. Makarov, halfway through the door, stopped dead.
Qi Yan, oblivious to the panic he had caused, looked around, slightly confused. "Oh! Everyone's here."
"Qi Yan?! Elfman?! You're okay?" Mira rushed forward, relief warring with disbelief.
"Okay? What's okay?" Qi Yan asked.
Makarov let out a massive sigh of relief, dropping his stance. "It's good that you're okay! Luckily, you didn't go on that mission. That job was changed to S-Class. I was worried you'd get hot-headed and take it on. Giving up was the right thing to do."
"Give up the mission?" Qi Yan frowned. "Give up what mission?"
"What else could it be? The Phantom Bandit Gang mission you accepted!"
Qi Yan gave a casual shrug. "We completed that mission!"
A stunned silence descended. Every jaw in the room dropped.
Mira instantly turned to Elfman, her eyes wide and questioning. Elfman nodded solemnly, confirming the impossible truth.
Makarov's eyes widened so much they looked like saucers. "You... you really completed it? You defeated the 'King of Assassins' Camille?"
Qi Yan nodded. "Yeah! That guy was quite troublesome, a bit difficult to deal with."
Elfman winced inwardly. 'Difficult to deal with'? He took down a crew of thirteen elite mages and their legendary leader in a matter of minutes!
"You... why are you so reckless? This was an S-Class mission! That was the infamous King of Assassins!" Makarov shouted, clutching his beard.
Qi Yan spread his hands defensively. "I couldn't help it! The mission was already accepted, I couldn't just abandon the client, could I? Besides, they were trying to kill my client—that would damage Fairy Tail's reputation."
Proof in Print
Just then, the cacophony of a passing newspaper vendor interrupted the tense moment.
"Breaking news! Breaking news!" "The notorious Phantom Bandit Gang has been fully apprehended!" "The identity of the Phantom Bandit Gang's leader is shocking!"
Guild members rushed out to buy a paper. Soon, a roar erupted.
"It's really done!!" "Qi Yan, a newcomer who just joined the guild, actually completed an S-Class mission! This is too amazing!" "No wonder he could defeat Natsu; this guy's strength is monstrous!"
The newspaper's front page clearly reported that a Fairy Tail Mage named Qi Yan had single-handedly annihilated the infamous gang.
Makarov took a deep, steadying breath. "Report the mission process, now!"
Elfman relayed the events—from the revelation of Camille's identity and the seven million J reward, to Qi Yan's impossible speed, invulnerable defense, and the devastating, final black magic that left a massive crater.
The guild listened in awe. He had fought thirteen elite mages, including a Spatial Magic specialist known as the King of Assassins, and won, completely alone.
Makarov looked at the young man, his eyes mixing pride with absolute terror for the future. "This time it's fine, but don't be so reckless again!"
The Road to the Second Floor
Qi Yan, already mentally calculating his next move, pressed his advantage. "Understood! Oh, by the way, Master, since I've even completed an S-Class mission, can I go upstairs to the second floor?"
A chorus of agreement rose from the floor. "That's right! He completed an S-Class mission; he should be able to go to the second floor!"
"No!" Makarov slammed his staff down.
"An S-Class mission is an S-Class mission, and the second floor is the second floor. To go to the second floor, you must become an S-Class Mage. This is a guild rule."
Makarov was firm. If he let this reckless genius access the S-Class board freely, he'd be worrying about century quests next week!
Qi Yan's face fell slightly. "Sigh! Alright! Master, how do I become an S-Class Mage?"
"To become an S-Class Mage, you must wait for the S-Class Mage promotion exam at the end of the year. Only by passing the exam can you be promoted."
Qi Yan's eyes widened. "End of the year?! It's only the beginning of the year now! That means I have to wait another half year!"
"That's right!" Makarov thought with relief. You brat, you should just honestly go do other missions now.
A New Chapter
The guild soon returned to its usual noise, the chatter dominated by the 'S-Class Rookie.'
Qi Yan, finally having money and freedom, ordered a feast. He had endured half a month of hunger, and now he was going to make up for it.
Throughout his meal, numerous mages—Macao, Wakaba, and others—invited him to form a permanent team. He politely declined each one. Teaming up was safe, but it would only slow down his solo quest for power and draws. His goal was the S-Class exam; everything else was a distraction.
He flagged down the server. "Mira! Another beer!"
Mira quickly brought a mug, her face alight with gratitude. "Qi Yan, thank you very much this time."
She had heard from Elfman that Qi Yan handled the entire confrontation alone, gave Elfman a hefty million-Jewel split, and risked his life for their client. Her respect for him was immense. "If you ever need my help with anything in the future, just say so."
Qi Yan blinked, a sudden idea striking him. "Hmm, I actually do have something I'd like your help with."
"What is it?"
"I want to buy a house."