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There was an enormous library in the Fairy Tail guild.
It was an incredibly vast library, large enough to hold ten bookshelves twenty meters tall, filled with countless heavy books.
This library contained records of every request Fairy Tail had accepted since its founding, along with information on related magic, essential knowledge, and more.
Calling it a library would be less accurate than calling it an archive. Occasionally, ancient manuscripts or old books written in archaic scripts acquired by guild members from outside would also be mixed in.
Basically, as long as it concerned the world of magic, records could be found in this library unless the matter was absolutely confidential.
Of course, that included common magic books—books that recorded the methods for learning specific magic.
Today, Noah planned to stay in the library all night. He even intended to remain there for a while, searching for books containing knowledge about magic.
So, when night was about to fall and the guild members had mostly left Fairy Tail, Noah stood at the guild entrance, preparing to see off Mira, Lisanna, and Erza, who had kept him company all day.
"Big Brother Noah, do you really not need my help?" Lisanna puffed out her cheeks, looking a little unhappy.
"The library is so big. It'll be really hard for you to search for magic books by yourself. I went to the library before when I was learning Take Over Magic, so wouldn't it be better to let me help?"
"Then are you planning not to sleep tonight?" Noah spread his hands.
"I'm planning to work all night, so you'd better not keep me company."
"I don't mind..." Lisanna began muttering under her breath, but since she lacked the confidence to truly stay up with Noah all night without sleeping, she could only grumble a little.
"Although I'm not interested in staying up all night with you, I am rather curious about what magic you want to learn." Mira crossed her arms, turned her head away, and spoke awkwardly.
"If you beg me, I can reluctantly keep you company."
"To be honest, I'm also curious what kind of magic you'll learn." Erza looked at Noah as well.
"Do you really not need our help?"
"I appreciate the thought." Noah considered it for a moment, then shook his head.
"Tonight, I'm only planning to see whether there's any magic I like. I might not find anything in one night. If you're really curious, it won't be too late to come help me tomorrow."
"I see..." Erza pondered for a moment, then nodded.
"Then there's nothing we can do. I hope you find something tonight!"
Lisanna seemed to want to say something else, but Mira grabbed her.
"Since he doesn't want us meddling, why should we force ourselves on him?" Mira snorted coldly, taking Lisanna's hand and walking outside.
"Come on, let's go home. Let that man show off by himself!"
"W-Wait! Big Sister Mira!"
Watching Mira pull Lisanna farther and farther away, and hearing Mira's words that sounded both like a complaint and anger, Noah scratched his cheek and asked Erza with a troubled expression.
"Did I offend her again?"
"She just wanted to help you, but she couldn't bring herself to say it directly. She's always so indecisive!" Erza looked both amused and exasperated as she started walking toward her own residence.
"Then I'm heading back too. See you tomorrow!"
Noah nodded silently and watched Mira, Lisanna, and Erza leave. Only after their figures had disappeared from sight did he turn around and head back into the guild, walking toward the library.
After nearly two years, Noah had finally trained his control over his magic power to a masterful level. He had completely brought the unmatched magic power within him under control!
Feeling the magic power inside him surge as he wished, churning like raging waves without leaking even the slightest trace outside his body, Noah clenched his powerful fist, unable to suppress the excitement rising in his heart.
It couldn't be helped. Noah had waited a long time for this day!
As long as he could freely control his own magic power, Noah would be able to learn magic!
In other words, Noah could finally formally embark on the path of learning magic and begin advancing toward becoming a true wizard!
And with the formidable magic power within Noah, which had taken two full years of hard training before he could control it freely, once he began learning magic, his strength would improve by leaps and bounds!
By then, surpassing Mira and Erza, who had always kept pace with Noah and were evenly matched with him, would no longer be a dream!
If things went smoothly, he might even surpass the person who had always looked down on him and been dissatisfied with him!
The image of a lightning magic user appeared in Noah's mind—someone with magic power as unusual as Natsu's, golden hair, a magic tool that could play music, sharp eyes, and an arrogant expression. All of Noah's excitement turned into resolve as he quickened his pace and continued toward the library.
After walking for about five minutes, Noah passed through the guild's first-floor bar and saw the entrance to Fairy Tail's library.
But the instant he saw the library entrance, Noah stopped, surprise appearing on his face.
"So you've come?"
Makarov was sitting cross-legged on a cargo box beside the entrance to Fairy Tail's library. Rarely, he held neither the wine cup nor the cane he usually carried. He was not wearing his clown-like outfit either. Instead, he wore a magnificent, precious robe adorned with sacred patterns.
Anyone in the world of magic would recognize that luxurious robe ninety-nine percent of the time.
It was a robe that only the Ten Wizard Saints—the ten strongest and most upright wizards on the entire continent, unanimously acknowledged by the Council of Magi—could possess!
Normally, Makarov only wore this luxurious robe representing his status as one of the Ten Wizard Saints on extremely formal occasions.
Yet Makarov was now wearing that robe representing the Ten Wizard Saints as he stood here. One could imagine just how seriously he regarded what he was about to do.
Seeing Noah's extremely surprised expression, Makarov grinned. His eyes seemed capable of seeing through everything, gleaming with indescribable sharpness.
"Have you finally reached this point?"
"Grandpa..." Noah hesitated before speaking in an uncertain tone.
"Did you already know?"
"If you mean that you've completely gained control over your magic power, then yes, I did!" Makarov's face was filled with affection.
"After all, I watched your hard training every day. I never missed a single day..."
Those words pierced Noah's heart like a warm current.
So Makarov had always been quietly watching over him and taking care of him, never stopping for even a moment.
Taking a deep breath, Noah walked up to Makarov, met his gaze, and spoke.
"Grandpa, do you have something important you want to tell me?"
"Something important?" Makarov narrowed his eyes and tilted his head.
"It is indeed quite important, but I simply felt that it was time for us to have a serious talk."
After saying that, Makarov fell silent for a while before speaking.
"Noah, I know that all this time, you've been running from your own origins!"
Noah's eyes immediately became complicated.
That was true.
Just as Makarov had said, Noah had been consciously and unconsciously avoiding his own origins all along.
Because his instincts told him that his origins definitely concealed something that could not be known by others.
Before you continue