Building a Ship of Friendship

"Seriously, why did you have to bring me along? I'm busy too, you know!"

Gray grumbled unhappily, one hand in his pocket and the other scratching his spiky hair. His shirt had vanished somewhere again.

But Gray had no idea that Aibo had already seen through his tough talk.

Tch, whatever. The city isn't completely safe either. I'd better protect this kid.

Oh? What a little tsundere at such a young age. Poor kid.

Aibo "timidly" lowered his head, looking "careful" and pitiful.

"Y-Yes, sorry, Brother Gray. I'm causing you trouble..."

Aibo was only six years old in this life, a tiny child barely twice as tall as his head. Gray and Cana, meanwhile, already looked like ten-year-old big kids.

So he had absolutely no psychological burden calling him "Brother."

As for pride? What was that? Could he eat it?

"Gray!!"

"Huh? No, I-I never said I wouldn't help!"

Gray looked reluctant, but inwardly, he was delighted.

Hehe, this kid called me big brother? That feels pretty good~

Aibo felt pleased. The corners of his lips curled up as he looked up with a "sweet" smile.

"Thank you, Brother and Sister. You're both such nice people~"

An angel!? x2

Cana and Gray were caught off guard by the cuteness, faint blushes rising to their faces.

Aibo understood. Over the past few days, even he had occasionally been charmed by the pink-haired little human child staring back at him in the mirror.

Aibo knew perfectly well just how adorable he was.

He couldn't let this innate power go to waste!

"Cana, is everyone in the guild a mage? Do they all know really powerful magic?"

"Of course! Our Fairy Tail is the strongest mage guild in the Fiore Kingdom!"

"Ahem, that's right. I traveled all the way from Isban on the distant northern continent just to join such a powerful guild. I'm very strong!"

Aibo's eyes sparkled.

"Really?! Then what kind of magic do you two use?"

Receiving the "admiring" gaze of his little bro, Gray felt as refreshed as if he had gulped down ice water in summer.

He immediately raised a hand. A huge, beautiful snowflake appeared in his palm, and he puffed out his chest.

"I'm an Ice-Make Mage. This is magic that gives shape to ice. I can make all kinds of things out of ice. It's the strongest magic!"

Not to be outdone, Cana pulled out several cards.

"I use Card Magic. Once you master it to a high level, you can become an all-purpose mage. Lighting fires, making ice, summoning lightning, making it rain—even prophecy and divination are possible!"

"Whoa! That's amazing~"

Aibo gave them all the emotional validation they could want, blinking his big eyes.

"Brother, Sister, can I learn your magic too? Can you teach me?"

"Hehe, Ice-Make Magic is very hard to learn~ But since you called me big brother, it's not like I can't give you a few pointers if you want to learn."

"That's easy. There are lots of magic books in the guild library. I taught myself Card Magic by reading books too."

"I see~"

Aibo fell into thought. It sounded like magical knowledge wasn't tightly controlled in this world? Or was Fairy Tail simply different?

Then learning other kinds of magic later on probably wouldn't be too difficult.

Aibo chatted with the two older children for quite a while longer. Neither of them was particularly guarded, so he easily coaxed a great deal of information out of them.

His understanding of this world, this country, this town, and this guild gradually became more concrete. He also formed a fairly clear plan for his next goals—

First, he needed to establish himself in this world. Aibo needed a stable source of income.

Mages could earn money by completing all sorts of jobs, but that sounded a little like being a day laborer—far too unstable. It would be fine as a side gig, but not much else.

Then came learning magic and training to become stronger. No matter what world he was in, personal strength was the foundation.

Since this was a world of mages, he might as well set himself a small goal first: become the strongest mage in this country.

Mm, and he also had to study his cheat ability. Aibo wasn't the stubborn sort. Since he had a shortcut, naturally he had to make good use of it.

In Aibo's eyes, a cheat ability was merely an extraordinary talent. The world would never lack geniuses, so why couldn't that genius be him?

Finally... he needed to find some fun in life. Pretending to be a child was pretty entertaining, but one had to have something to look forward to...

Right, he also had to avenge the old village chief who had taken him in. Once he was strong enough, he would find the Oblique Angle Cult and slaughter them all.

1. Make money 2. Become stronger 3. Do research 4. Have fun 5. Get revenge

Aibo quickly finalized his first career plan in another world.

Whenever he thought seriously, the noise in his mind weakened, and even time seemed to pass a little faster.

The three little brats made several rounds around Magnolia and soon finished buying everything they needed.

On the way back, Cana—who had been observing him in secret for half the day—finally finished beating around the bush. Holding Aibo's little hand, she asked as if she did not care.

"Um, little Aibo... Sister wants to ask... what's your relationship with Gildarts? Why did you come back with him?"

Gray turned his gaze toward him as well. He was quite interested in the guild's strongest mage.

Aibo came back to himself and blinked.

"Uncle Gildarts saved my life. A few days ago, a group of bad people rushed into the village and killed lots of people. Uncle Gildarts arrived in time and saved me."

"Bad people!? Then... your parents?"

"I've never met my parents. I lived with Grandpa since I was little, but Grandpa was also killed by those bad people..."

"Ah! I'm sorry!"

Cana waved her hands in a panic, her gaze toward Aibo gaining a hint of tenderness.

I shouldn't have brought that up!

"It's okay. Uncle Gildarts saved me, and he dealt with all the bad people. I'm very grateful to him. It's just... I can't go back to the village anymore."

"It's all in the past, Aibo. From now on, the guild is your home! We're all your family!"

Cana hugged Aibo tightly. She no longer cared much about Aibo's relationship with Gildarts. She had decided to treat him as her own little brother from now on.

"Hmph, and there's me too! Don't worry, little bro. With me looking out for you, no one will ever bully you!"

Gray patted his bare chest loyally. He saw a little of himself in Aibo.

"Really? Thank you both~~"

What kind children. Aibo could hear concern and sincerity in both of their thoughts.

Before his memories of transmigrating had awakened, he had drifted through life in a daze. Even his memories of living in the village had become somewhat blurry, and he only had a bit of affection for the old village chief who had taken him in.

But he could not really say he was in great pain.

Part of it was because he remained wary of this unknown world and unfamiliar environment, but approaching these two children with ulterior motives still made Aibo feel a little ashamed.

Sigh, filthy adult.

"Everyone in the guild is such a good person. When I first saw Uncle Gildarts, it felt like I was seeing a father! Gray and Cana are like my brother and sister. I like everyone."

Aibo said this with a beaming smile.

An angel! x2