Seeing the subtle change in Noah's expression, Makarov coughed. He figured that if he didn't speak up soon, Noah would wander even further down the wrong track.
Being a barmaid was a perfectly respectable job, okay?!
"Mira works as a barmaid part-time because I told her to. It's punishment for taking Elfman and Lisanna into danger without permission."
Noah nodded. Having the hot-tempered delinquent work in a service job that required patience was probably Makarov's way of tempering Mira's personality.
Just then, a male wizard around twenty years old, wearing a patterned vest and a skull necklace, walked up to the bar and complained, "Mira, why hasn't the drink I ordered come out yet? I'm about to head out on a job."
"Really, Nobu?"
"I've watched you loitering around the request board for nearly the whole morning. Did you really find a job that only you can complete?"
"If you dare lie to me, you'll be in big trouble~"
Mira smiled, but to Nobu, it looked like a demon threatening him with death.
How terrifying!
"Sorry. I still haven't found a job."
Although he knew Mira wouldn't do anything outrageous in front of the guild master, Nobu wisely backed down rather than stubbornly insisting.
"Oh, then how about working as a guild host? I'm sure you could handle that job all by yourself, Nobu."
His confidence thoroughly crushed, Nobu slunk away.
Noah couldn't help speaking up. "Mira, don't you think you're being a little harsh? That must really hurt his pride..."
"Hurt his skull!"
Mira explained to Noah, "Nobu's magic is Possession. It's a little like Elfman's Take Over: Animal Soul magic. He can attach the spirit of a dead animal to himself, boosting one of his abilities."
It sounded like an inferior version of Elfman's magic. Take Over could achieve a "full-body Take Over," whereas Possession could only enhance one particular ability.
Nobu came from the Wild Tribe, a people who lived deep in the forest and had a natural affinity with animals. Everyone in the tribe could use Possession: Animal Spirit magic.
After turning fifteen, some members of the Wild Tribe chose to leave home and complete a challenging task on their own to prove how much they'd grown.
Nobu was one such member of the tribe, determined to challenge himself.
Unfortunately, in the five years since joining the guild, Nobu still hadn't found a high-difficulty job he could complete by himself.
Over time, he'd developed the habit of pacing in front of the request board, and his "dream" remained far out of reach.
Noah turned to look at the figure standing in front of the request board again. He was someone bound by his dream—but at the end of the day, he just wasn't strong enough.
Unfortunately, Noah couldn't do much to help. For now, aside from his physical skills and the Flame Resistance (Strong) he'd just acquired, his use of magic was limited to his expertise with magical items.
And even among magical items, all Noah had was the war weapon Dragoon, which his father had given him before the teleportation.
At least he still had nearly nine million in funds, so he could consider buying one or two magical items.
For now, though, Noah wanted to clean out the storage room first. Makarov had told him that most of the guild's books were about magic and theory, carefully compiled by Fairy Tail's Second Master. They'd be very useful.
But as the second prince of Edolas, Noah couldn't possibly clean the place himself. Besides, he couldn't handle the job alone.
Still, Makarov's "punishment" for Mira had given Noah an idea.
Turning toward the guild hall and looking at the handful of members sitting around, Noah cleared his throat and called out loudly.
"Everyone!"
"There are some books in the storage room that I need, but I can't clean it all out by myself, so I could use some help."
"I won't make you work for free. I'll pay each of you 5,000 as a thank-you."
"There are only ten spots. If you don't mind cleaning and sorting things out, come sign up."
Noah had expected only a few people to volunteer. After all, 5,000 was a paltry reward; one could earn it easily by taking a job.
But as soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the hall flared up like oil on a fire, and people surged around the bar, crowding it completely.
After confirming the volunteers, Noah filled all ten spots. The storage room cleanup also gave him a chance to learn their names.
First was Macao, one of the two older men who'd complained about Mira the day before.
Next were Wakaba, Droy, and a petite girl named Levy. The three of them were a team.
Then there was a scantily dressed girl named Cana, who reeked of alcohol and was so drunk that Noah wondered whether she was even conscious.
Nobu had returned. Dreams were important, but everyone had to eat.
A male wizard named Warren, who looked very ordinary.
The siblings Elfman and Lisanna had also come.
The last was Gray, a boy who couldn't get along with Natsu.
"Wakaba, your magic is God Speed, and yet you were slower than Uncle Macao. What's wrong with you...?"
Droy teased his friend, while Wakaba hurried to explain, "What do you know? A middle-aged man with a wife and son has enough pressure on him to move even faster than God Speed!"
Macao, who'd taken an unexpected jab, gave a rueful smile but couldn't argue. The pressure of supporting his family often gave him a headache, but when he thought of his beautiful wife and adorable son, it was all worth it.
Warren stepped forward and offered to help Noah. "If there's anything you need passed along while we're cleaning, I can do it."
Warren's magic was Telepathy. He could send his thoughts to anyone within a certain range, and in battle, he could even read his enemies' thoughts.
"All right, let's get to work in the storage room, or Cana's going to fall asleep." Gray helped Cana, whose eyes were bleary with drink. The smell of alcohol coming off her made him uncomfortable. How much did she have to drink to get this drunk?
Lisanna had already prepared the cleaning tools, while Elfman carried a bundle of brooms and held a bucket in his other hand. "A real man has to work hard at cleaning!"
Looking at Elfman, full of enthusiasm, Noah saw that just as Mira had said, his timidity was gone. But was it really necessary for him to keep saying "real man"?
"Sorry for the trouble, everyone. Thanks for your effort."
The storage room was behind the hall. Noah picked up a stool, ready to follow the others, but as he was crossing the hall, he felt someone watching him and couldn't help looking up.
A blond man wearing spiked headphones leaned on the second-floor railing, staring at Noah without bothering to hide it.
When he saw that Noah had noticed him, the blond man curled his lip in disdain, then disappeared from view.
Noah was completely baffled. He had no idea how he'd offended the blond man, and in the end could only sum it up in one sentence:
"What a weirdo."
Before you continue