This Guild Is the Best!

Facing the seven kids before him, all different heights and wearing different expressions, but all clearly wanting to join the guild, Makarov felt his temples throbbing.

He had a feeling the guild would be very "lively" from now on.

Oh well, Fairy Tail had never turned away any family member who wanted to join.

"All right, all right, stop crowding the entrance!"

Makarov waved his hand, his vigorous voice rising above the commotion. "Anyone who wants to join, come with me to take care of the paperwork!"

Without further ado, the old man led the long line of newcomers to the bar and began handling their admission.

At Jiang Bai's signal, Mirajane, Elfman and Lisanna followed him over, looking a little uneasy.

Gray still had that cocky look on his face, while the three members of the "Thunder God Tribe" behind Laxus followed his every step, as though afraid of losing sight of their lord.

Just as Makarov took out the magic stamp engraved with the guild emblem, a pink-haired figure came rushing over.

"Are you new here? You look strong! Come fight me!"

Natsu's eyes lit up as he zeroed in on Gray, who looked the most aloof, and the cloaked Mirajane.

Jiang Bai ignored his adopted little brother, who had nothing but fighting on his mind, for the moment. He walked over to Makarov and lowered his voice.

"Old man, Mirajane's situation is a little unusual."

Makarov listened with half an ear as he stamped the back of Elfman's little hand.

"Her right arm became like that when she took over the demon 'Satan.' She needs to learn complete Take Over Magic to control it. Otherwise, it won't return to normal."

Jiang Bai then briefly explained the seal beneath the church in Kardia Village, making it clear that he hadn't interfered.

"Those villagers were going to burn her brother and sister to death, so I left the seal alone. They can deal with the consequences themselves."

Makarov's hand paused mid-stamp.

He looked up, a barely perceptible cold glint flashing through his cloudy eyes.

He was a kind man, but he was no saint who showed kindness without limits.

Fairy Tail believed in family, and those villagers had crossed a line that must never be crossed.

"You did the right thing." Makarov's voice grew grave. "People who lay a hand on family don't deserve a wizard's protection. They deserve the lesson they'll get."

With that, he looked over at the silver-haired girl nearby, who had kept herself wrapped in her cloak and looked particularly uneasy.

"Child, come here for a moment." Makarov beckoned to Mirajane, keeping his tone as gentle as he could. "Let me see your arm. I need to understand exactly what's going on before I can help you."

Mirajane's body went rigid.

He wanted her to reveal the arm that symbolized curses and misfortune in front of so many people...

She instinctively looked to Jiang Bai, seeking his opinion.

Jiang Bai gave her a reassuring look and nodded gently.

Mirajane took a deep breath.

She was willing to trust the boy who had saved her and her siblings, and she was willing to trust the guild he had told her would accept her.

She gritted her teeth and walked up to the bar. Under the curious gazes of the entire guild, she slowly drew her right arm out from beneath her cloak.

It was a fearsome arm, covered in black scales from the shoulder down, with a hand transformed into a sharp, enormous claw.

It was filled with an ominous, evil aura.

The moment the arm was fully exposed to the air, the noisy, bustling guild hall fell silent in an instant, as though someone had grabbed it by the throat.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on that arm.

To Mirajane, this deathly silence was the most familiar and terrifying scene in the world.

It was exactly the same as in the village.

Fear seized her heart in an instant. She thought she had frightened everyone again, and that those curious looks would soon turn to disgust and fear.

Her face went deathly pale. Instinctively, she started to pull her arm back, to hide it once more in the shadows that made her feel safe.

But just as she was about to withdraw it,

A shout full of excitement and curiosity exploded through the silent hall like a thunderclap.

"Whoa—so cool!"

Natsu pushed through the crowd, his eyes shining even brighter than when he saw flames. He stared intently at Mirajane's demon arm, practically drooling.

"I want an arm like that too! It looks so strong!"

Mirajane was utterly stunned.

She... she hadn't expected that reaction.

Natsu's shout was like a fuse, instantly setting the whole guild alight.

The deathly silence broke, replaced by an even more enthusiastic chorus of exclamations.

"Seriously? Is that a demon's arm? Its magic power feels so strong!"

"It looks so hard! Can I try slashing it?"

"Hey, hey, can that arm breathe fire?"

"It's way cooler than these muscles of mine!"

"Give me a break, Wakaba. What muscles?"

No one was afraid, and no one was disgusted.

The gazes directed at her were full of curiosity, envy, and pure admiration for powerful strength.

These people, these guys whose minds worked differently from ordinary people's, were looking at and discussing her "curse" as though it were a cool piece of equipment.

Mirajane stood there in a daze, her mind blank as she watched these "weirdos" crowd around her arm, marveling at it, some even wanting to reach out and touch it.

She had imagined countless possibilities, but never this one.

Jiang Bai walked over to her, the smile on his face growing more obvious as he watched her cute, bewildered expression.

He nudged her gently with his elbow.

"Well?"

Jiang Bai's voice, tinged with a lazy smile, reached her ears clearly.

"Our guild didn't let you down, did it?"

Mirajane slowly turned to look at Jiang Bai's "everything is under control" smile, then looked at the faces around her, each full of kindness and curiosity.

The string that had been pulled taut in her heart finally went completely slack.

An unprecedented warmth and sense of security enveloped her.

Her eyes grew hot, and she could no longer hold back her tears. They rolled down in great drops.

But this time, they were no longer tears of sadness and fear.

Looking at everything before her, Mirajane summoned all her strength and gave a smile that looked worse than crying.

This guild...

Was the best.