A Naval Hero's Grandchild-Raising Troubles

"Move."

Laxus stared at the person before him, his tone extremely rude.

If he'd run into a small door, Noah might have stepped aside out of courtesy. But with both main doors of the guild wide open, there was enough room for four or five people to walk through side by side.

If Laxus had been even slightly polite, Noah might have let him pass. But that unbearably arrogant, contemptuous look in Laxus's eyes... Well, Noah's own temper flared up, and he stood his ground with clear displeasure.

"You're blocking my way. Move."

"Heh~"

Laxus let out a cold laugh. "Noah, don't think I won't lay a hand on you just because you're still useful to me."

"What do you mean, 'useful to me'? This is practically the first time we've spoken." Though Noah didn't understand what Laxus meant, he could tell the guy was in a bad mood.

No surprise there. After a grandson argued with his grandfather and stormed off, what good mood could he have?

Makarov had been so angry he'd pulled rank as guild master. Noah had no idea what Laxus had said or done to make that usually tolerant, kind old man so furious.

The two of them stood locked in a standoff at the entrance, the atmosphere gradually freezing over.

"Noah, you're back!"

"Welcome home, Noah!"

A spirited youth with cherry-pink hair and an adorable blue cat spotted Noah's back from a distance, running over and greeting him warmly.

When Natsu reached the entrance, he noticed the lightning-yellow hair inside. "Laxus, you're here today too? Come on, accept my challenge!"

Seeming irritated by Natsu's fiery enthusiasm, Laxus ignored him entirely. He shot Noah one cold glance, then left the guild without another word.

Natsu was long used to Laxus's behavior. Even though the guy had refused his challenge again, Natsu believed that one day, he'd accept.

Besides, one left, but another was still here.

"Noah, fight me."

"I refuse."

Noah's answer was decisive.

It wasn't that he was being heartless. It was just that Natsu was a total battle maniac—whenever he saw a powerful mage, he always wanted to throw down.

Even if he lost, he'd probably challenge again the next day. Gray's nickname for Natsu, "single-celled organism," fit him perfectly.

Casually scooping up Happy, Noah walked toward Makarov at the bar while petting the cat.

"Master, I'm here to turn in a commission."

Though Noah had already completed the job and collected his reward, he still had to report to the guild for record-keeping and to hand over the guild's cut.

The main source of funds to keep a magic guild running came from the commission cuts. Fairy Tail was no exception.

Every time the guild completed a job, Fairy Tail took one percent of the reward to cover operating costs.

For example, Noah's current job had a base reward of three million, plus an additional two-point-five million. The guild's cut was only fifty-five thousand.

Based on what Noah had learned about Fairy Tail over the past three-plus months, that kind of cut wasn't nearly enough to cover the damages guild members caused during jobs.

Let alone the salaries for guild staff.

So Noah suspected Makarov had been using his own pension to fill the gap—or the guild had some other hidden income source.

Taking the commission slip Noah handed him, Makarov—who'd been fuming at his grandson moments ago—immediately broke into a grin.

A three-million job turned into five-point-five million? This kid had skills.

Of course, Makarov had no idea Noah hadn't reported the extra two million. That was Rena's operational funds, not part of the commission reward.

"So that's why I hadn't seen you for two days. Thought you were slacking off in your dorm, but you were out on a job."

In high spirits, Makarov teased Noah a little. As guild master, how could he not know the guild's combat instructor was a notorious slacker?

Noah's face was full of resignation. "I didn't want to work either. If Erza hadn't come to me directly, and if I'd dared to refuse, she definitely would've cut me down."

"Aye! Noah, are you really scared of Erza?" Happy was enjoying Noah's petting service, the cat practically melting with comfort.

Makarov chuckled lightly. "It's not fear. This kid Noah is just lazy. Running into someone as strict and strong-willed as Erza—he's simply not used to it."

Noah couldn't be bothered to argue. He just yawned and headed for the port to see if there were any discounted chips on sale.

[Ding~]

[You have a new Otherworld Commission. Please check.]

Great. No sooner was one job done than another showed up.

Noah glanced around. There weren't many people in the guild right now, so he found an inconspicuous corner, sat down, and unfolded magic in his hand.

[Otherworld Prayer Commission]

[Navy Hero Monkey D. Garp has been troubled lately by the education of his two grandsons. He hopes to obtain an excellent parenting guide.]

[Reward: Autonomous mastery of an otherworldly power—"Armament Haki"]

[Deadline: Before Ace meets Sabo]

After reading the details, Noah frowned slightly. It was the same kind of strange time limit as "before the Millennium Puzzle is assembled."

This magic is insane!

Who knows when that "Ace" guy will run into "Sabo"!

But the reward really tempted Noah—power from the world of Marine hero Garp: "Armament Haki."

It sounded pretty cool.

Still, asking Noah, a homebody kid, to answer questions about raising kids was way too much for him.

Fortunately, Fairy Tail had two "father" figures right now.

Glancing at Macao, who was playing horsey with his four-year-old son, Noah chose to ask the more experienced Makarov instead.

"Tips on raising kids? Why are you asking that?"

Makarov frowned, eyeing Noah suspiciously. "You little brat, don't tell me..."

"Guild Master! Don't get the wrong idea!"

Noah quickly cut off the old man, insisting he was still a kid himself. He was only asking because he wanted to help a soldier friend with some parenting advice.

A soldier—barely seeing his family all year, let alone having a chance to educate his kids.

Makarov nodded, but sighed inwardly. His own track record with raising the next generation couldn't exactly be called a success...

A son who tried to steal the guild's forbidden magic.

A rebellious grandson who wanted to make the guild stronger but used extreme methods.

So, he'd just summarize his own failures and offer some advice to that Marine.

Makarov talked, and Noah wrote in his notebook.

First and most important: establish a child's sense of right and wrong early.

Second: discipline with balance—punish mistakes but not too harshly, just enough to make the lesson stick.

Make sure no shady characters get close, lest they fill the kid's head with evil ideas. Children's minds are easily twisted at this age.

Find a preschool for the child.

Back in his dorm, Noah copied the parenting tips into another notebook to keep, just in case he'd need them later.

He stuffed the notebook into the pure white glow of "Prayer" magic and waited quietly. Based on past experience, the reward would arrive in a few minutes.

Sure enough, a "ding~" sound echoed in his mind.

[Otherworld Commission Completed]

[Reward: Self-Mastery of "Armament Haki"]

[Client's Comment: That Zephyr guy was surprisingly easygoing. After he and Sengoku spent a day beating me up, he agreed to set up a preschool for my two grandsons at the Marine Headquarters Training Camp.

As for Sengoku, that old fox seemed to have figured out Ace's identity, but he didn't call me out on the spot. If he didn't, then it's fine from now on.]

Noah's jaw dropped. What did he just read?!

Sending two little brats off to the military?!!

How could anyone do that?!

Those guys named "Zephyr" and "Sengoku" were totally just getting back at you for your grandsons!

But this Marine hero sounded surprisingly tough to beat.

What's done is done. Noah could only wish them well.