The Guild Master's Responsibility

Lucy felt as if Makarov's words had ignited her very soul.

So this is what a real guild is like.

This is what family truly is.

Looking at her cheering, enthusiastic, and even somewhat silly companions around her, she felt no longer any sense of unfamiliarity or distance. An unprecedented sense of belonging took root in her heart.

She wanted to raise her hand, just like them, and proudly make the gesture that belonged to the Fairy Tail.

However, just as the entire guild was immersed in this frenzied atmosphere, a lazy, untimely voice rang out softly.

"Old man, if all else fails, just replace those old fogies on the Magic Council with a new batch."

Jiang Bai, holding Mirajane, spoke to Makarov on the second-floor railing in a casual tone, as if discussing what to have for dinner.

The entire guild fell silent instantly.

All eyes were on Jiang Bai.

Lucy was so shocked that she forgot to close her mouth.

Change... change to a different batch?

That's the Magic Council! It's the highest authority responsible for overseeing all the mage guilds in the entire kingdom!

In her view, the Magic Council, which oversees all the major guilds, is undoubtedly the strongest organization.

How can you say something like that so casually?

"Eh!" Lucy exclaimed instinctively. She moved closer to Jiang Bai, lowered her voice, and looked at him with an expression as if he were crazy.

"Don't say things like that to scare people. That's impossible, isn't it?"

Before Jiang Bai could answer, Mirajane, who was in his arms, covered her mouth and chuckled.

Jiang Bai wasn't lying!

Her voice carried a hint of mockery and pride that only her own people could understand.

"That's right!" Elfman, standing not far away, puffed out his chest and roared in his distinctively loud voice, "My brother-in-law almost caused the Magic Council disappear back then, he's a true man among men!"

"Damn it!" Natsu, who had just gotten up from the ground, slammed his fist into his palm, his face filled with resentment and envy. "Why didn't you take me with you, Jiang Bai? I wanted to destroy the Magic Council too!"

"Natsu, you're just trying to cause trouble."

Happy sat on the edge of the bar, swinging his legs, and made a pointed remark.

Lucy's brain had completely shut down. She listened blankly to the information overload of the conversation, feeling as if she had entered a fake magical world.

Almost... caused the Magic Council disappear?

Are you kidding me?!

Makarov jumped down from the second floor and stormed up to Jiang Bai, his old face flushed red.

Without saying a word, he punched Jiang Bai squarely in the forehead.

You little brat!

Jiang Bai did not dodge; in fact, just before his fist was about to land, he proactively deactivated the "Infinity" defense that was constantly operating automatically.

With a muffled thud, a fist slammed solidly into his forehead.

Makarov used all his strength in that punch, but it was more like an elder giving a friendly lecture to a younger person.

Jiang Bai rubbed his forehead, still maintaining his usual carefree attitude.

"The Magic Council is still necessary," Makarov reprimanded, his beard bristling and eyes wide.

"That's why I said to change to a different batch." Jiang Bai shrugged nonchalantly.

"That won't do!" Makarov's attitude was unusually firm. "As long as they don't cause trouble!"

Makarov believed in the principle of "I will not offend others unless they offend me."

But a barely perceptible glint of cold light flashed deep within his eyes.

If those old fogies in the Magic Council are really blind and dare to touch his own children, he will show those arrogant guys what it means to be Ten Wizard Saints.

Of course, this thought only flashed through my mind.

Makarov knew better than anyone that by the time that time came, Jiang Bai, that lawless brat, would probably have already taken care of everything before he even arrived at the Magic Council.

Thinking of this, the old man sighed with a mixture of relief and headache.

He turned around, ignoring Jiang Bai, and gave Lucy, who was still in a daze, a kind smile.

"Alright, new girl, come with me."

Mirajane stood up from Jiang Bai, took Lucy's hand, and said with a smile, "Let's go, I'll take you to get the guild's emblem."

"Ah... Oh! Okay!"

Lucy snapped out of her daze, feeling as if she were dreaming.

Mirajane pulled Lucy, who was still in a daze, to a corner of the bar.

There was an old-looking wooden box and a stack of stamps of different colors.

"Alright, now you're a member of Fairy Tail too."

Mirajane opened the box, which contained stamps of various shapes. She picked up a stamp engraved with the Fairy Tail crest, a gentle smile on her face. "Have you decided where to stamp it, and what color you want?"

Lucy's heart began to pound uncontrollably as she looked at the symbol she had always dreamed of.

She almost instinctively stretched out her right hand, back of her hand facing up, her voice trembling slightly with excitement.

"This is it! I want the pink one!"

"OK."

Mirajane picked up the pink stamp and, gently but with utmost seriousness, stamped it on the back of Lucy's hand.

A lifelike, pink Fairy Tail emblem was clearly imprinted on her skin.

It seemed to possess a life of its own, radiating a gentle warmth, and an indescribable sense of belonging spread from the skin of the back of Lucy's hand throughout her entire body.

She stared blankly at the emblem, her eyes involuntarily welling up with tears.

From today onwards, I am also a member of this family.

"Natsu! Look, look! This is my seal!"

Lucy excitedly raised her hand, like a child who had received a favorite toy, and rushed to Natsu, who was still lingering in front of the mission board, almost pressing the back of her hand against his face.

Natsu was frowning as he sifted through a jumble of mission lists, searching for one that was both lucrative and exciting.

He was startled by Lucy's actions and only gave her a perfunctory glance.

"Oh, really? That's wonderful, Lui."

Lucy's excited smile froze instantly.

The next second, sharp, shark-like teeth flashed across her lovely face, and her whole being was engulfed in flames of rage.

It's Lucy!

Natsu completely ignored her Roar and continued to struggle in front of the quest board.

Just then, a little boy who looked only six or seven years old timidly walked into the guild.

With an anxiety and worry beyond his years, he ran straight to the bar, looked up, and asked Makarov, who was drinking.

"President, hasn't my father come back yet?"

Makarov put down his wine glass, glanced at the boy named Romeo, and sounded somewhat impatient.

"You're so clingy, Romeo."

"If you're the son of a mage, you should stay home obediently, trust your father, and quietly wait for him to return."

Romeo's eyes instantly reddened, he clenched his small fists, and his voice trembled with tears.

"But he said he'd be back in three days. Now... a week has passed!"

Makarov's expression remained unchanged. He simply picked up his glass, took a sip, and then, as if deliberately speaking to someone, loudly addressed Natsu, who was still in front of the mission board.

"Speaking of which, it seems that Macao took on a mission from Mount Hakobe."

"It's not that far!" A glimmer of hope rekindled in Romeo's eyes as he eagerly clutched Makarov's robe.

"Then... then you guys should go find him quickly!"

Makarov's face darkened, he put down his glass, and his voice became extremely stern.

"Your dad's a mage, right?"

"There isn't a single mage in this guild who can't clean up their own mess! Trust him, then go back to your milk and wait!"

These cold and ruthless words, like a chilling knife, shattered the last glimmer of hope in Romeo's heart.

"Waaah..."

Large tears rolled down his cheeks. He couldn't hold back any longer, and while crying, he punched Makarov in the leg, then turned and ran out of the guild.

"Waaaaah--!"

The child's heartbreaking cries echoed at the guild entrance, fading into the distance.

Lucy watched all of this, completely stunned.

She couldn't understand how the chairman, who had just been talking about trusting each other like family, could say such cruel things to a child who was worried about her father.

"So... so strict!"

She couldn't help but mutter a complaint under her breath.

Mirajane appeared beside her without her noticing, gently patting her shoulder. His eyes, which always held a gentle smile, now revealed a complex sadness.

"Lucy, look at the president's expression."

Lucy instinctively looked towards the bar.

Makarov remained stern, holding his wine glass, without uttering a word.

But beneath that seemingly calm profile, Lucy keenly noticed that the old man's hand was trembling slightly.

His gaze was through the window, looking in the direction Romeo had run off into; deep within those eyes was a worry and pain more profound than anyone else's.

"The student council president... he's actually the one suffering the most."

Mirajane's voice was very soft.

"As the guild leader, he cannot order any member of the guild to risk their life on a mission that is not their responsibility. This is a trampling on the dignity of mages."

He cannot show weakness, because he is the pillar of everyone.

Lucy was stunned.

She looked at the short figure sitting alone at the bar, then at the guild members around her who, though silent, all wore the same somber expressions.

So... that's how it is?

It turns out that behind that stern demeanor lay such a heavy responsibility and sorrow.