Fairy Tail

"Noah, come on in!"

Mira clapped her hands, and when she turned around, a gentle smile like sunshine had already appeared on her face.

But the bodies lying all over the floor told a different story—they were the only witnesses to the white-haired demoness's rampage just moments ago.

Since the day he was born, Noah had never seen a woman so violent. Faced with Mira's warm greeting, he found himself at a loss.

Should he really join this guild?

If they found out he came with ulterior motives, he'd definitely die a miserable death...

A voice in his heart seemed to urge him not to step into this guild, but another voice encouraged him not to be afraid—better to die under the peony bush than live without tasting romance!

Just as Noah was tangled in inner conflict, a deep and steady voice rang out.

"Young man, standing at our guild's entrance—is there something you need?"

Noah turned around at the sound, but saw no one.

He scratched his head. Was he hearing things? Or was it someone's magic?

"Ahem!"

A deliberate cough made Noah look down, and there stood a short old man in a beige robe and red shirt, staring at him with a helpless expression.

The old man had a small mustache, and his bald crown, ringed by white hair, gleamed brightly under the light.

"Grandpa Master! You're back!" Lisanna came hopping out of the guild hall, crouching down beside the old man, her big eyes blinking adorably.

Noah stayed silent, quietly observing the old man. On the magic train, whenever Mira talked about Fairy Tail, she always mentioned one person.

Makarov Dreyar.

The current master of Fairy Tail.

One of the "Ten Wizard Saints," a title that shook the magic world.

But Noah never imagined that someone with such an imposing identity would be a kindly little old man.

Makarov reached out and gently ruffled the girl's head, as usual. "So happy—Lisanna, do you have some good news to share with me?"

Lisanna beamed. "Grandpa Master, big sister took my brother and me to complete the 'Beast King Subjugation' request!"

Hearing Lisanna's joyful report, Makarov's expression darkened.

"Nonsense! Absolute nonsense!"

"With that monster's constitution, without two S-class mages working together, there's no chance of taking it down. Becoming an S-class mage doesn't mean you can casually finish an S-class request!"

After scolding them briefly, Makarov checked Lisanna from head to toe and found her unharmed. He then asked with concern, "How are Mira's injuries? And Elfman?"

Hearing this, Noah's lips curled slightly. So concerned about his guild members—no wonder Mira respected him so much.

"Master, we're fine."

Mira, pulling Elfman along, arrived at the guild entrance just then, signaling that they were safe.

Seeing that the two were truly unharmed, Makarov finally breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't want to see tragedy strike the guild.

But then doubt crept into Makarov's mind. With Mira's current strength, there was no way she could have taken down the Beast King unscathed, and Elfman and Lisanna had no business interfering in a fight of that level.

Lisanna wouldn't lie to him.

So how had Mira actually defeated the Beast King?

Seeming to read the master's question, Mira smiled and leaned toward Noah. "Master, my brother, sister, and I came back in one piece thanks to this Mr. Noah's help."

Makarov followed her gaze to the young man. When he got a clear look at Noah's face, he paused slightly—Noah bore a resemblance to two people he knew.

But the old fox that he was, Makarov hid that flicker of emotion well, not letting the young ones around him notice.

"Noah, is it... a good name."

"Please, come inside and talk."

Entering the guild, Makarov saw the knocked-out members scattered across the floor. He glanced around but didn't see the person he expected.

At a table, two middle-aged men—Macao and Wakaba—one with a cigarette, the other with a drink, spotted Makarov looking around. Macao teased, "Master, don't bother looking. Erza's out on a job and hasn't come back yet."

"The one who cleaned up Natsu and Gray and the others was Mira-chan."

Makarov was surprised. When it came to fights, Mira keeping herself from making things worse was already a stretch. Why would she kindly step in to stop them?

Wakaba, pipe in mouth, picked up the thread. "Seventeen—that's the age when love first blooms, right, Mira-chan?"

"Bloom your head!"

Mira's face flushed slightly as she rolled up her sleeves, ready to throw down. But remembering Noah was right there, she forced herself to hold back the urge to beat the two old men senseless, wanting to leave a good impression on her savior.

Maybe you should just go ahead and hit them—don't hold it in and hurt yourself... Noah thought to himself.

Makarov looked at Mira, then at Noah, and couldn't help but show a kind smile. But he said nothing, merely leading Mira and Noah through the guild hall to a counter that looked like a bar.

Who makes their guild's business counter look like a bar counter? Noah had already racked up plenty of complaints just from entering this guild.

With a light hop, Makarov sat on the counter with practiced ease. "Noah, tell Mira what you'd like to drink."

"Just a glass of water for me." Noah pulled out a chair and sat down.

That said, the drink Mira handed Noah was a meticulously crafted cocktail.

Looking at his own beer, then at the glass on Noah's table, Makarov felt a mix of emotions. The little girl was already starting to favor outsiders over her own.

Pouring herself a glass of juice, Mira stood behind the bar and reported the details of the "Beast King subjugation" to Makarov.

When he heard that Mira was severely injured, Elfman had lost control and gone berserk, and Lisanna was in danger, Makarov's brow furrowed tightly. Fortunately, Noah's appearance had averted the tragedy.

"Mr. Noah, this old man represents Fairy Tail in thanking you. Thank you for saving Mira and the others from danger."

Standing on the bar counter, Makarov bowed solemnly to Noah.

Noah was flattered. An old man over eighty bowing to him—he couldn't accept that. He quickly stood up and supported Makarov: "I just happened to pass by by chance. There's no need for this."

"Everyone in the guild is this old man's family. You saved the children's lives; gratitude is a must."

Makarov's expression was serious. "Mira said you're searching for your older brother, Noah. Could you describe his appearance to this old man? I have a wide network of contacts; I might be able to help you."

"Sorry, I don't know what my brother looks like. I only know he has dark blue hair."

Noah scratched his head, looking embarrassed. He truly didn't know what his brother Jellal looked like. It was all because his father Faust had gone mad back then, heartlessly abandoning Jellal while he was still in swaddling clothes.

"Dark blue hair. That hair color isn't common on this continent, but it's not rare either." Makarov pressed further: "You must know your brother's name, right?"

"His name is Jellal."

Though he'd never heard the name before, with the dark blue hair trait, Makarov could ask his friends to help search.

Noah didn't hold much hope for Makarov's goodwill. His brother was from Edolas and had no magic power; he probably wasn't even active in the mage community.

"Master, Noah has nowhere to go. Can he join our guild?" Mira looked at Makarov pleadingly.

"Hmph, now you remember this old man?"

Makarov clicked his tongue, but he couldn't resist Mira's coaxing. Besides, even without Mira's request, he wouldn't refuse if Noah wanted to join.

"Joining the guild is no problem, but Noah, can you reveal your magic?"

Makarov's request was reasonable. Fairy Tail was a magic guild; members usually formed teams to complete quests and split the rewards, so they needed to know each other's magic for team formation.

But Noah said it wasn't convenient, claiming his magic could neither fight directly nor provide support, though he was skilled in some fist and blade techniques.

Sensing that the other party was deliberately hiding it, Makarov didn't mind. He just assumed Noah hadn't yet let down his guard in this unfamiliar place.

"Since you're joining Fairy Tail, you need to get the guild's emblem. Noah, what color do you want, and where do you want it?"

"White, on my right forearm."

Noah extended his right arm. Makarov nodded at Mira, who took out tools from behind the bar and began stamping and marking Noah's right forearm.

Looking at the quiet Noah, Makarov couldn't help but associate him with a junior in the guild.

"Noah, do you know Mystogan? He's an S-class mage who advanced in our guild this year. He's a bit like you."

"I don't know him."

Noah's answer was decisive. His brother had no magic and could only fight using magical tools.

In his view, it was unlikely his brother was in this magic-rich world, competing with a group of gifted mages for the S-class position.

Soon, a narrow white pattern of the "Dancing Fairy" appeared on Noah's right forearm. From then on, he was a member of Fairy Tail.

Infiltrate Fairy Tail: get?

Next up was to investigate whether the "Lumen Histoire" with its endless magic power really existed.

Actually, after meeting Makarov, Noah no longer believed much in that intelligence. This magic guild, though as eccentric as the other "Fairy Tail" in the parallel world, probably didn't have a dark side.

"Lads!"

Makarov's vigorous shout silenced the guild hall, which had grown lively again.

Standing on the bar counter, Makarov raised his glass. "Let's welcome our new companion, Noah!"

"Welcome, welcome!"

"Come on, Natsu, show Noah a trick!"

"Ooh!!"

"I'm fired up!"

Noah watched the cherry-haired boy performing a fire-breathing act. He'd been knocked out with his eyes rolling back just moments ago, but now he was full of energy again. No wonder Mira could go all out with her heavy hits—his physique was truly tough.

On the second floor of the guild, accessible only to S-class mages, a figure wrapped in a heavy coat silently watched the protagonist of the celebration below.

"Hmph, interesting."

"The old man doesn't know, but I know your real name, Mystogan... The 'Jellal' this kid is looking for is probably you."

"Now you have no more excuses to refuse a fight with me."