C-Rank Mage

The theory behind magic formulas seemed complicated, but it wasn't that difficult to learn, especially when it came to the basic magic Ul was studying. As long as someone had average intelligence and put in enough effort, they would eventually figure it out!

But that was only the theory!

Whether they could successfully learn magic still depended on the mage's talent and willpower.

To master the theories and magic formulas behind these earth-element spells as quickly as possible, Ul spent the whole day in the library without even realizing it.

By the time he left the guild that evening!

Ul had even copied down some of the knowledge from the book so he could take it back to Granny Is's house and continue studying.

His Mental Power of seventeen gave him a solid foundation for learning the theory.

It took almost two full days and nights!

At last, Ul figured out how to cast all four spells...

Three days later!

Beside the fishpond in Granny Is's backyard.

Ul suddenly brought his hands together. The next second, a yellow Magic Circle appeared on the ground in front of him. A short distance ahead, a sharp earthen spike burst out of the ground and pierced a straw dummy clean through...

"Phew!!"

Seeing this, Ul finally let out a sigh of relief!

After three days of nonstop practice, he had finally managed to cast the only Lower-Rank Magic he'd learned: "Earth Spike."

The ability granted by his "Lava Body" passive was far stronger than Ul had expected.

Although all three earth-element spells were classified as "Basic Magic," he had mastered them all in just one day. Even the "Lower-Rank Magic," a step above Basic Magic, had taken him only two days.

Compared to the time he'd spent learning the three basic water-element spells at the beginning, the difference was more than a little...

Though some of that might have been because Ul had grown considerably stronger!

Still, he had to admit that the earth-element magical talent granted by the "Lava Body" passive was powerful.

By Ul's estimate,

the earth- and rock-element magical aptitude granted by "Lava Body" was probably already at B rank, a full two levels above his natural aptitude for water-element magic.

"Cheats really are terrifying!" Looking at what he'd achieved with his cheat, Ul couldn't help but marvel.

Lower-Rank Magic was different from Basic Magic!

Generally speaking, Basic Magic was meant to teach mages the nature of magic. Its educational value outweighed its practical use in combat.

Lower-Rank Magic, on the other hand, was genuine combat magic!

Ul was still weak, but with a Lower-Rank Magic like "Earth Spike," he was already capable of fighting to some extent.

In other words!

From now on, if he wasn't careful, "Earth Spike" could kill someone...

Because he'd been training in magic,

Ul had gone five whole days without taking a job.

Although Fairy Tail didn't force its members to take jobs, Ul clearly wasn't content to remain a D-Rank Mage...

So as soon as he'd successfully learned the spell, Ul immediately went on a job-taking spree.

Though "spree" was a bit of an exaggeration. There wasn't much to choose from among the D-Rank jobs...

Most D-Rank jobs were no different from the part-time work Ul had done at university in his previous life. The jobs Granny Is posted were already exceptionally unusual by D-Rank standards!

Since the guild's rules allowed members to take only one job at a time, even with Ul working hard to take on jobs, he still had plenty of free time.

He used that time to read and learn more of the basics of magic, preparing for future training...

This went on for about half a month!

Finally!

One day, Makarov announced that Ul had been promoted from D-Rank to C-Rank Mage!

Both Ul and Makarov were delighted when the news was announced...

Ul's first move was to rush to the job board, take a C-Rank job, and hurry out of the guild!

Then!

Makarov's mood soured!

There went another perfectly good excuse to drink to his heart's content.

"Guild Master, don't you think Ul's been pushing himself too hard lately? Maybe we should make him take a break," Wakaba said to Makarov, watching Ul disappear through the guild doors with some concern.

Everyone in the guild had noticed Ul's recent behavior. Someone who worked this hard at taking jobs was definitely... unusual...

Just as they'd said before!

Ever since Fairy Tail had been founded, they'd never had a member who actually took jobs seriously!

The only people in their guild who worked themselves to the bone every day like Ul were those with serious emotional problems. They did it because it was the only way they could vent their feelings...

Hearing Wakaba's words,

Makarov lowered his eyes and fell silent for a moment. Then he slowly said, "Let him be! This is the path he chose, and whether it's right or wrong, he should walk it himself. We only need to watch over him from behind... Besides, hasn't Ul been doing a great job with his recent assignments? What reason do we have to stop him?"

Looking at the dozen or so thank-you letters on the counter, Wakaba moved his lips, but in the end, he fell silent.

That was true!

Just as the Guild Master had said, they had no reason to stop Ul from taking jobs!

Even across the entire history of Fairy Tail, the number of people with a completion rate like his could be counted on one hand.

Over the years,

Fairy Tail's members had enjoyed a high success rate on their jobs, and the guild had received plenty of thank-you letters...

But "completion rate" and "success rate" were two different things!

In general,

after a Fairy Tail member finished a job, the guild would receive a flood of thank-you letters and... a flood of complaint letters!

The two types of letters usually arrived in the guild's mailbox at the same time!

As for someone like Ul, who received only "thank-you letters" and no "complaint letters," there had probably been only a handful since the guild was founded.

But that was exactly why Makarov and Wakaba were even more worried!

A guild member this "perfect"...

Clearly didn't belong in Fairy Tail...