A Failed Father

No matter how much he despised magic, Jude couldn't deny that the Heartfilia Consortium, built with his own blood and sweat, had been pulled back from the brink of bankruptcy thanks to one mage.

"Mr. Noah, my sincerest thanks."

"And you too, Rena."

Watching Jude's rigid face struggle to squeeze out a faint smile, Rena burst into loud laughter. To get his prideful old friend to swallow his dignity and say thank you—that called for a celebration.

In that case, for the sake of his old friend's face, he'd tack on another 2.5 million as a bonus.

Jude's face changed at lightning speed. Was his face worth only two hundred fifty? He suspected Rena was being sarcastic, but given the situation, he couldn't lash out.

Noah hadn't expected the client to be so generous with the extra payment. The original fee was 3 million, 2 million had been funneled into Black Bird's operating funds, and now another 2.5 million was added on top.

Was this what rich people's whims looked like...

A full 7.5 million—nearly two-thirds of Mira's reward for hunting the Beast King. But compared to life-and-death S-rank missions, this job was barely a walk in the park.

7.5 million in cash would need a big chest to carry. To avoid trouble, Rena opened a savings account for Noah and deposited the reward directly.

"Keep this Payment Lacrima safe, Mr. Noah. When you need to spend, just activate it and pay. It's already widespread in most big cities, so no worries."

Noah took the Payment Lacrima. He hadn't expected this world to have developed such a method. No need to carry cash—just scan the Payment Lacrima and pay. It was indeed convenient.

After hearing "7.5 million J credited" from the Lacrima, Noah's commission was officially over.

Rena wanted to invite Noah to stay another day or two to treat him properly, but for a homebody like Noah, all he wanted was to go back to his dorm and crash.

Still, before leaving, Noah glanced at Jude, recalling the stories Rena had told him about the man, and about the daughter he kept locked away like a caged canary, ignoring her completely.

"Mr. Jude, it's not my place as an outsider to say this, but since we probably won't cross paths again, I don't care if you get angry hearing it."

"I don't know much about magic, but I do know whether it's evil depends on the user's stance."

"Your wife died because of magic—I don't know the details. But if you take that out on your daughter, ignore her feelings, crush her dreams... then you're a pretty terrible father."

"Don't wait until you finally wake up to regret it. There's no cure for regret in this world."

"Cherish your family and friends while you still can."

Whether Jude took it to heart or not, Noah didn't care. He turned and left.

Noah hated trouble. The only reason he said so much to a stranger he'd just met was that Jude's situation reminded him of his own old father, Faust.

Before Noah was created, Faust's queen had died in childbirth, and the world's mana crisis was looming. He'd taken all his rage out on his newborn son.

Noah's poor elder brother had barely arrived in this world before being heartlessly abandoned.

By the time Faust's iron heart softened because of Noah, he remembered the debt he owed his eldest son. But there was no chance to make amends—he could only pour double the love onto Noah.

Jude was luckier than Faust, though. He hadn't yet inflicted deeper wounds on his daughter, and he still had a friend who cared enough to think of him.

Hopefully, he could move past the pain of losing his wife.

If not, that was none of Noah's business. He was just a passerby.

Half an hour had passed since the young man left, but the two men in the office hadn't moved. Rena looked at Jude, who had been staring blankly for a long time, and sighed.

Everything Noah had said to Jude—Rena had used those same words to advise his friend countless times.

But did it work?

Jude was still as stubborn as a rock.

"Rena... thanks."

"Come home with me to see Lucy. If it's just me alone, she won't want to talk to me."

Jude's sudden voice broke the silence, startling Rena, who had given up hope. Then a flicker of surprise—this lucky fool had finally seen the light!

So all these years of advice and persuasion meant nothing compared to an outsider's words?

Because I'm his good friend, he never took my words seriously? You're a real bastard, Jude...

Cursing inwardly, Rena still wanted to help his friend. He immediately started brainstorming. "Then what are you waiting for? Go buy some things Lucy likes. She's fifteen—a sensible young lady. You need to apologize properly and admit your mistakes."

Hearing Rena's words, Jude first felt excitement and gratitude, then his expression froze.

What did his daughter... like?

After years of distance and estrangement, Jude realized he had no idea what his daughter's current interests were.

"You're a goddamn terrible father."

Even Rena, always the gentleman, couldn't help cursing at the sight. He sighed helplessly.

"Dolls, storybooks, pretty clothes, good food... those are what most girls like."

"Lucy inherited her mother's 'Celestial Spirit' magic. Get your people to check every magic shop right away and see if there are any Celestial Spirit Keys for sale. If you're lucky enough to find a unique 'Zodiac Twelve' key, even better."

"Don't just stand there! Get moving, you bastard who has nothing left but money!"

What happened after he left the Merchant Guild, Noah had no interest in knowing.

All he knew was that he'd finished the commission in just three days, and the client, Guild Master Rena, had even given him a five-star review on the commission form to express his satisfaction.

Now Erza had nothing to say, right?

Four days until Christmas, and Noah planned to just give himself a vacation straight into next year—after all, it only added up to about ten days or so.

The final stretch of the year was naturally for kicking back and relaxing.

"Laxus, I'm the Guild Master!"

"Old man, you're going to regret this!"

Two voices, each brimming with anger, reached Noah's ears from outside the guild hall. Only, those lines sounded familiar somehow.

Wasn't this exactly what Rena and Jude had said when they argued?

Was someone about to storm in and slam the door next?

Just as Noah was silently grumbling to himself, sure enough, the door was yanked open from the inside, and a cold-faced blond man in a black coat and signature headphones stepped out.

The man was none other than...

Makarov's own grandson, the powerful and rebellious thunder, the first S-Class Mage of the new generation, the guardian of the guild's second floor, a lover of classic rock fusion, and in Noah's eyes, a complete lunatic.

Laxus Dreyar.