"Do not panic yet. Mira, what time is it."
Makarov said it like it was nothing, but worry still flickered in his eyes as he asked.
Mira glanced at him and answered, "Do not worry. With Kai's strength, there will definitely be no problem."
"Yeah."
Makarov nodded and stared at the closed guild doors. His eyes were still filled with concern.
Mirajane looked out at the rain on the street, wiping the tables over and over. This familiar rainy day dragged her thoughts back to the past.
As soon as she thought of those days, the grief she could never fully hide rose up again, and her eyes began to fill with tears.
"Papa."
He would never again be able to play games with his father, share a meal with him, or play with toys together.
The atmosphere in the guild grew heavier, and the rain outside fell harder.
"Romeo, go home for now. Something may have happened to Kai and the others, so they are being delayed."
Which meant that most likely they would not make it back today. Maybe they could not find him. Maybe they had run into danger in the mountains.
"He promised, and he will not lie. He is the one who completes the most missions in the guild, he is the guild's number one wizard."
"Once he takes a job, that super strong wizard absolutely never fails."
Romeo did not want to accept the reality that something had happened to his dad. He cried and shouted, as if that alone could change what was happening.
"Romeo, do not cry."
"Kai is amazing, but he is still only human. There is no one who can do everything. He can fail too."
"You are the son of a wizard. You should be strong. Stop crying and go home."
"Do not worry. The guild will definitely take care of you. We will treat you the same as always, so do not cry. Go on home."
Because he was the master of Fairy Tail, Makarov had to stay calm right now. Only that way could he reassure the guild.
"Romeo..."
Mira also stepped forward, wanting to say something, but at that moment the guild doors were kicked open.
"You rotten old man, I have been listening at the door and heard you badmouthing me. What do you mean I am bound to fail too."
Kai walked in from outside, completely soaked by the rain. With every step he took into the guild, water dripped heavily onto the floor.
"Mira, process my mission."
He pulled the request sheet from his clothes and handed it to Mira. The paper was soaked through in several places.
"All right."
That stamp meant the job was officially complete.
"Dad, I am sorry."
"Sob, sob, I will never let you do dangerous things like this again, sob."
Romeo flung himself into Macao's arms and wailed. In this moment, all the bullying and mockery he had endured before did not matter at all.
Right now he only needed his father to be alive and safe.
"Do not cry, Romeo. Next time those little brats bully or mock you, just ask them one thing."
"Can their dads fight nineteen monsters alone."
Macao reached out to ruffle Romeo's hair, forcing a smile through the pain. Every father wanted to be his son's hero.
He was no different. Clumsy as he was, he was still trying his best.
"Sob, sob."
Romeo cried even harder. Now he truly understood how great his father was. Even if his dad never did anything else, the love he gave was already something huge.
Once Romeo and Macao had cried themselves out, they both turned to look at Kai.
Romeo stared at him with eyes full of worship. From now on, he wanted to become a wizard like Kai.
Macao's grin stretched from ear to ear, but he was not joking. He genuinely supported Kai as the next guild master.
Ever since Kai had joined, he had been out working jobs nonstop. Macao had barely even seen him, yet as soon as he heard Romeo's plea, Kai had gone to help.
He completely agreed with what Kai had said earlier. There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. If you commissioned a wizard, you had to be ready to pay the price.
"You little brat, what nonsense are you saying. I have not retired yet and you are already thinking about voting for a new master. Sounds like you want a beating."
Makarov glared at Macao, fuming. He did not even bother smoking his pipe and just hurled it at him.
"Heh heh heh."
Macao laughed as he caught the pipe.
"I will remember what you said, Macao. When the old man finally retires, you and your kid better remember to vote for me."
Kai laughed loudly as he spoke.