Time Drifts By

Spring turned to autumn, and five years passed. It was now X772.

Over those five years, eight-year-old Riyao had learned a great deal from Granny Porlyusica.

Granny Porlyusica smiled with satisfaction. Well, actually, she wore a look of disgust as she grabbed a broom and beat Riyao out the door.

"Damn brat, don't you ever come back!"

"That won't do, Granny Porlyusica. How could I leave you all alone in your old age?"

"Get lost! Stop ruining my herbs! And I hate humans!"

Porlyusica chased Riyao for half a kilometer because he had grabbed another handful of herbs before leaving. As he ran, Riyao shouted, "Granny Porlyusica, don't be angry! Put it on the old man's tab!"

Porlyusica swung her broom with a fierce whoosh and smacked Riyao, sending him flying a hundred meters.

"Get lost!"

Riyao wasn't angry about being sent flying. He waved cheerfully and called out in his youthful voice, "I'll come see you again, Granny! I'll bring you some good tea!"

On a forest path, a boy with golden hair in a wolf-tail cut strolled along with a foxtail grass stem between his teeth, humming a tune he had made up himself. A hint of mischief shone in his emerald-green eyes.

His Healing Magic had grown increasingly refined. Before transmigrating, he had been an anime fan, and he figured he couldn't just play support. He needed at least some ability to fight head-on.

Who knew whether the main cast's plot armor would protect him? What if he kicked the bucket out there one day and became the first Fairy Tail character to die?

Using Tsunade as his reference all along, he had devoted himself to experimenting, trying to develop his own secret technique for monstrous strength and an ability like the Strength of a Hundred Seal.

He had originally planned to imitate Might Guy's Eight Gates as well, but despite repeated searches and extensive study, he had never managed to find the corresponding meridians and acupoints in his own body. With no other choice, he had given up on it.

Riyao slowly clenched his fist. He had developed Healing Magic into an effect that remained permanently active, and he could clearly feel it continuously soaking into and nourishing his body.

That gentle yet substantial magic power gave him a physique, strength, and self-healing ability far beyond those of an ordinary person.

But this enhancement had only just begun, and he hadn't been training for long. Even though his foundation was already outstanding, the gap between him and ordinary people had yet to become all that enormous.

Riyao stopped dwelling on it. There was plenty of time ahead, anyway, and lots of adventures waiting to be explored, lots of companions waiting for him to torment—no, to befriend.

Back at the guild, Riyao kicked the doors open and announced joyfully, "I've completed my training! Granny Porlyusica was so pleased, and she was reluctant to see me go when she said I'd completed my training. Sigh, I said goodbye to Granny Porlyusica with tears in my eyes."

Sitting on the bar, Makarov retorted with a look of contempt, "Do you think we believe that? Has there ever been a day she didn't sweep you out the door? And hide the stolen goods in your pockets before you start spouting nonsense, all right?"

Laxus stood up and exchanged a glance with Riyao, and the two began to brawl.

"Laxus, you little blond brat, take my Black Tiger Heart Gouge!"

"Riyao, you bastard, aren't you blond too? No, you're a golden retriever!"

"You're the dog! You're the golden retriever!"

"What the heck? Whatever, take my Lightning Dragon's Crushing Fist!"

"You've got no sense of honor, using magic!"

The blow drove Riyao back two steps. Rubbing his stomach, he began using Healing Magic to activate his cells. Monstrous strength mode, on.

He charged back in and resumed brawling with Laxus, dragging many guild members into the fight.

"Macao, you bastard, you actually ambushed me in the chaos!"

"Wakaba, where the hell are you hitting? If it stops working, are you gonna take responsibility?"

"You wig-wearing bastard, take my Armstrong Cyclone Strike!"

"It's not a wig, you curly-haired bastard! Take my Delicious Stick!"

"Naruto!"

"Sasuke!"

"I'll be back!"

The entire guild hall was already in chaos. Tables and chairs lay overturned, stray magic flew in every direction, and the brawling mages grappled with one another amid a deafening uproar.

Makarov had been watching this lively bunch of youngsters with a kindly, gratified smile, but as the scene spiraled further out of control, his expression gradually darkened, turning from gentle to livid.

The next second, he acted. His enlarged palm came crashing down with the authority of the guild master, pinning everyone still fighting to the ground. His hair and beard bristled as he roared in anger.

"You bastard brats! Do you really think your guild master isn't here?!"

Riyao got up and cheerfully began healing the guild members, muttering, "So many little lab rats. Hehe."

The members scrambled backward in terror.

Over the years, Riyao had picked fights whenever he had nothing better to do, then practiced on the injured members. Proper treatment would have been one thing, but he also used them to test all sorts of bizarre methods.

Over those years, the guild members had suffered diarrhea, strokes, legs that wouldn't obey them, and all kinds of other bizarre side effects.

Laxus was one of the victims. At first, he had thought Riyao was a cute junior. Then, that day, Laxus had practically lived in the toilet.

A while later, Riyao was sitting on the steps outside, sucking on an ice pop, when he spotted a little brown-haired girl at the entrance, gazing up at the guild's sign.

At first, Riyao paid her no mind. Fairy Tail was pretty famous, after all.

Then Riyao suddenly remembered that it was X772, the year Cana came looking for Gildarts. He began to study the little girl closely: a little white dog, brown hair.

Riyao walked over to tease the little girl he suspected was Cana and asked with a smile, "Hey there, cute little miss. Is there something you need? Are you here to post a request? Or are you looking for someone? Your daddy, for example?"

Cana flinched at the word "daddy."

"Big brother, I'm... looking for someone."

"Oh? Tell me who you're looking for. I can help you. If it's Gildarts Clive, I know him too."

Cana was stunned. Σ(っ °Д °;)っ

Riyao told a lie. "I'm a mage who uses Healing Magic. I can see the essence of life, and yours isn't much different from Gildarts's. You also look a little like the old man."

"I... I..."

"All right, all right. Uncle Gildarts might be a little scruffy and a little slow in the head, but he's a good guy."

Riyao cheerfully took Cana's little hand and led her toward the guild. There's no way I'm letting you get away this time.

Before they reached the doors, Gildarts happened to step out, apparently just about to leave on a job.

Riyao called out, "Hey, stupid old man, are you heading out on a job? I was hoping to introduce you to a new member who's about to join the guild."

Gildarts lowered his head and helplessly scratched his fluffy red hair, smiling in mock annoyance. "You little brat, can't you call me something nicer?"

His gaze shifted to Cana beside Riyao, and his expression softened as he offered her a heartfelt compliment.

"Oh, it's this little girl. You're so pretty. You'll definitely grow up to be an absolutely gorgeous beauty."

Cana simply stared at Gildarts, frozen in place.

Seeing this, Riyao gently shook her arm. Only then did Cana come back to her senses, but her eyes instantly reddened, and she looked ready to cry.

Seeing the little girl suddenly become upset, Gildarts felt an inexplicable tightness in his chest. The usually carefree and uninhibited S-class mage was now at a loss, flusteredly trying to soothe her in a gentle voice.

Riyao watched cheerfully from the side.