Makarov = Faust?!

In an unknown other world.

All humans possess an innate potential power from birth.

Emotion, presence, intimidation...

When manipulating these intangible, formless sensations, a person's willpower can extend and transform into a formidable force.

This power is called—"Haki."

Opening his eyes, Noah stepped out of his state of enlightenment. After slowly exhaling a breath, he focused his mind, and in an instant, his right palm was enveloped in a strange, jet-black luster.

This black luster, which seemed to merge with his skin, was "Armament Haki."

With a small popping sound, a wisp of smoke rose from Noah's blackened right palm. The Blast Gauntlets on his left hand still glowed with a faint red light.

To test how much Armament Haki could improve his defense, Noah gave himself a small fire-attribute explosion.

This "direct blast" had only one-third the power of a normal one, but if it had struck bare flesh directly, even Noah would have been wincing in pain.

Yet the result was that, aside from the impact of the blast giving his right palm a slight sensation, Noah felt nothing else.

The boost Armament Haki gave to defense exceeded Noah's imagination. The increase in attack power was probably also significant, but Noah didn't want to test that in the dormitory.

"So this is the power of the world that Hero of the Marines comes from... Not bad."

Noah flopped onto his bed. Although he had gained a new power from another world, he couldn't bring himself to be happy.

Because Armament Haki was a growth-type power; it needed constant honing to become stronger.

High-level Armament Haki could cover the entire body, or be wrapped around a weapon to enhance its hardness and power.

"Sigh... couldn't they just boost me straight to high-level Armament Haki? I don't want to grind levels..."

Rolling over on the bed, Noah sighed in frustration. To put it nicely, he was someone who was content with the status quo; to put it bluntly, he was just lazy.

Back in Edolas, with his old man watching over him, Noah could put in a bit of effort to train in physical arts and learn to use various magical tools.

But now that he was in the unconstrained world of Earth-land, Noah gradually let himself go, starting to slack off and live a lazy, laid-back life.

Complaints aside, to improve his strength, Noah still had to spend some time training in Armament Haki.

His unpleasant experience with Laxus gave Noah a feeling that, sooner or later, the two of them would have a fight.

If he really ended up facing the guild's strongest rising star mage, Noah felt a bit of pressure. He didn't want to be the one lying on the ground when it was over.

Even though Noah was lazy, he didn't want to lose.

So, starting next year, he'd spend two...

Hmm, maybe just one hour a day training Haki.

A few days passed, and Magnolia welcomed the last holiday of the year: Christmas.

The three-story, tavern-like building was bustling with activity. Many members had taken a few days off, planning to rest well in the final days of the year and spend Christmas with their companions.

To celebrate, besides festive decorations like lanterns and streamers, Makarov had also placed a large Christmas tree in the guild's backyard, covered in small gifts.

Having specially changed into a Santa Claus outfit, Makarov asked the waitress behind the counter, "Mira, how do I look in this? Do I have a bit of a Santa Claus vibe?"

"Too skinny, Master."

Mira commented without holding back. In her impression, Santa Claus was supposed to be a slightly plump, kind old man, not someone short and thin.

Makarov sat down helplessly. As he aged, although his body was still sturdy, his frame had gradually shrunk a lot, and his appetite was nowhere near what it used to be.

"Morning, Master. Are you trying to play one of the seven dwarves?"

Before Noah could finish his sentence, Erza, who was with him, cut him off. "If you can't talk properly, don't talk at all. Master is clearly playing Little Red Riding Hood."

Saying the most hurtful things with the most sincere expression.

Makarov thought Erza had interrupted Noah because she disagreed with the kid's words; he didn't expect she was planning to stab him in the back herself.

But the thing was, Makarov's current look could indeed be linked to the seven dwarves or Little Red Riding Hood.

So it was time to change the subject.

"Noah, you came to celebrate with everyone today too? I thought you'd use the excuse of needing rest after a mission to hole up in your dormitory."

Facing Makarov's teasing, Noah yawned. He didn't want to come either, but who knew that Erza would show up early in the morning and drag him out of bed again?

She said that since this was Noah's first Christmas at Fairy Tail, it would be best for him to participate in the simulated guild master game—the "King's Game."

Just what kind of game was this "King's Game" that it got Erza so excited?

He originally wanted to ask Makarov, but Noah noticed that the little old man's expression immediately turned a bit unnatural upon hearing the game's name, as if he had some psychological trauma from the King's Game.

This made Noah incredibly curious. What kind of game could make the esteemed guild master so apprehensive?

So Noah immediately called out to the guild's number one iron-headed kid.

"Natsu! Come play a game!"

Noah just shouted across the hall, and that cherry-haired boy popped out from some unknown corner.

Coming along with him were Happy and Gray.

Natsu was always bursting with energy, hopping around excitedly. "What game is it, Noah? I can't wait anymore! Just watch me crush Gray in this game!"

"Hmph, that's my line, you single-celled idiot."

With just two sentences, Natsu and Gray were already bristling with hostility. If Erza weren't there, they'd probably have started duking it out on the spot.

Noah grabbed Happy and said calmly, "Erza wants you all to play King's Game."

Hearing that name, Natsu's face changed. "What! That devilish game!"

"I've got things to do. Have fun."

Gray was already making a break for it, but before he could escape, Erza caught him and dragged him back.

"What? You two think my game isn't fun?"

In Natsu and Gray's eyes, the angry Erza at that moment seemed to have swelled dozens of times in size, ready to crush them both at any moment.

To avoid a beating, Natsu and Gray quickly insisted that King's Game was a great game, and under Erza's pressure, they tremblingly "volunteered" to join.

This made Noah even more certain that the game had issues—otherwise, how could it scare even Natsu, who never learned from past mistakes?

Using the excuse of going to the bathroom, Noah easily slipped away. To prevent Erza from coming after him, he planned to find a hidden spot to lie low.

The third floor of the guild was Noah's chosen hiding spot.

This was the area where the master worked. Usually, no one came here, not even Master Makarov—he preferred watching the kids on the first floor.

But to Noah's surprise, as soon as he reached the third floor, he saw that short figure. It seemed Makarov was also worried about being dragged into that game by Erza.

"It's Noah. The office is a bit messy, find yourself a seat." Though it was the master's office, Makarov didn't mind Noah's uninvited visit. There was nothing important here anyway.

The only thing of value was the group photo of Fairy Tail's founders.

Noah looked at the photo hanging on the wall. Having read the guild's chronicles, he naturally knew the identities of the four founders in the picture.

Mavis Vermillion, the guild's first master. During the Second Trade War, she shone brightly with her extraordinary intellect, earning the title "Fairy Tactician." Unfortunately, she died young.

Precht Gaebolg, who took over as the second master after Mavis's death. After forty years of dedicated service, he entrusted the guild to his student, the third master Makarov, and then traveled the world, never to be heard from again.

Warrod Sequen, who left the guild after disagreeing with Precht when the second master took over. Now one of the Ten Wizard Saints, he spends his years working on desert greening.

Yuri Dreyar, whose spirit was crushed when his close friend Mavis and his wife Rita died in the same year. He ultimately passed away from grief four years after his loved ones left, entrusting his four-year-old son Makarov to his friend Precht's care before his death.

According to the guild chronicles, these four founders endured countless trials and challenges together before founding Fairy Tail in X686.

But in just ten years, their fates had changed drastically—some died, some left, some stayed.

Noah sighed with emotion. "Life really is unpredictable."

Makarov was also stirred by Noah's words into a trace of memory. There was a time when he too had companions he could confide in, like the founders, but in the end, they left the guild for their own dreams.

Like his teacher Precht, Makarov had now guarded the guild as its master for over forty years.

"Sigh... That bastard Gildarts, when will he come back and take over for me?"

Makarov muttered something Noah didn't catch, but Noah was curious enough to ask him why Erza's "King's Game" scared Natsu and the others.

King's Game:

Participants draw lots. Whoever draws the lot with the master's mark can choose other participants and give them mandatory orders.

After hearing Makarov's explanation, Noah found it strange.

The person who drew the winning lot picks one or more people from those who didn't draw the master's lot to complete a task.

Wasn't this essentially just a truth-or-dare game? What was so strange about it?

Wait... Could it be!

Seeing the change in Noah's expression, Makarov gave a bitter smile. "You've guessed it, haven't you? That's right. Most of the orders from the winning lot are extremely embarrassing acts, or things the person ordered can't accept."

"For example, ordering some exhibitionist to wear ten layers of clothes and not take them off until the game ends."

How cruel. That was practically pushing Gray to his death.

"Or making someone strip naked in public and shout the name of the person they like."

A masterstroke of social death. Killing the soul! Killing the soul!

But wasn't this a bit too intense...

Noah stopped Makarov. He didn't want to hear any more punishments that could shatter his understanding of the world.

Noah had no idea why Erza was so passionate about such an "intense" game. It couldn't be that she always drew the master's lot or never got ordered to do anything perverted, could it?

The old man and the young man in the office tacitly ended the topic.

Makarov pulled out a box filled with various styles of Santa Claus costumes. "Noah, come help me pick which one suits me. I'm going to deliver gifts to the orphanage kids tonight."

So that was it. This little old man was a kind-hearted soul.

The image of Santa Claus in storybooks, aside from the reindeer and red suit, had one other important feature.

That was the thick, snowy-white beard that covered his cheeks and chin.

Makarov was short and scrawny. With a big beard, at least he wouldn't be mistaken for a dwarf or Little Red Riding Hood at first glance.

Following Noah's advice, Makarov put on a fake beard and looked in the mirror. His outfit was indeed much more pleasing to the eye.

"Alright, alright. When I deliver gifts to the children this year, I definitely won't get recognized like before."

Makarov was in high spirits. He turned to praise Noah, only to find the boy staring at him with a strange look.

"President, try putting on a wig."

Before Makarov could answer, Noah placed a wig on the little old man's head.

Looking in the mirror, Makarov noticed the wig Noah had put on him was especially thick. Was this kid mocking him for having thin hair?

But indeed, his bald spot was too conspicuous. Even with a Santa hat, he might still be recognized.

Noah was quite thoughtful, though.

What Makarov didn't know was that Noah's gaze had grown even more peculiar.

"President, please stand on the desk for a moment. I'll step back and see if there's anything else off."

Standing at the stairway, watching Makarov hop onto the desk, Noah's heart churned with shock.

Because Makarov's current appearance was a perfect ten-out-of-ten match with Noah's father, Faust!

As for the reason, Noah had already figured it out.

Why his old man was so displeased with Ivan for easily selling out intel.

Why his old man found beating Ivan so satisfying.

It was because "Makarov" and "Faust" were parallel world counterparts!

No wonder his old father beat Ivan three times a day, always treating him to "loyal oranges," "green garlic," "kind celery," and "purple seaweed"... It was all to vent for his "self" in Earth-land.

Noah thought of something else. If you went by seniority, he and Ivan were of the same generation.

Didn't that mean Noah was Laxus's uncle—different father, different mother, different grandfather, different world, but still his real uncle!

Makarov looked at the boy grinning foolishly by the stairs. "Noah, what are you laughing at? Is my appearance that ridiculous?"

"No, no."

Noah quickly waved his hands, but couldn't help laughing out loud. "I just remembered something really funny."

"What is it?"

"I'm going to be an uncle."