Year 778
It had been over a year since Qian Guang and the other three had joined Fairy Tail. So far, only Qian Guang had been allowed to take jobs; the president had refused to let the others do so because they were too young.
Given Qian Guang's personality, he would not have wanted to take jobs as long as he was not short on money. But at the beginning of 778, Porlyusica had thrown him out and said to Makarov:
"Either he goes, or I go!"
Damn old man and old lady!
With no other choice, Qian Guang began his career as a job-taking wizard. Though calling them jobs was a stretch—he was really just traveling in disguise, gathering herbs, treating illnesses, and picking fights. He had been living quite comfortably.
But two months ago, that changed. There were fewer jobs on the request board—or rather, there were not fewer jobs. Everyone had simply suddenly become more diligent.
At the root of it all was that workaholic, Laxus! He never rested, taking one job after another. If he could accept a whole stack of jobs at once, he probably would not have come back at all.
Guild
A few kids who could not take jobs yet sat at the bar with the president, watching everyone scramble for requests at the board.
"Hey, why is everyone so enthusiastic? Is everyone short on money?" Lisanna asked the president as she looked at the pitifully sparse request board.
"Hehehe, I know why. It has to do with everyone's exam," Cana said with a mysterious smile, as the oldest among the children.
"What exam? Tell us, tell us!" Natsu was excited. He wanted to take jobs more than anyone else.
"Eh!"
Mirajane and Erza also looked over. Both of them were already quite strong, but the president believed there would be huge problems if he let them out on their own. Using the excuse that the year was nearly over, he had talked them into waiting until next year.
"Oh, the S-Class exam. They're doing this for the S-Class exam," the drunken president casually revealed the mystery.
"President! I was supposed to say it!" Cana was unhappy. She had finally gotten a chance to act like the elder.
"HAHAHAHA, sorry."
"Grandpa! What's S-Class?" Natsu was fired up. He had no idea what it was, but he thought it sounded cool.
"Oh~ See the second floor? There's another request board up there, but the jobs on it are 10-Year and 100-Year Quests. Only S-Class wizards can accept those, so you cannot go up there until you become S-Class. Especially you, Natsu." The president warned the eager Natsu, then punched him while he was at it. No particular reason—it just felt good.
"Alright! I'm definitely going to become an S-Class wizard!" Natsu got back up, burning with passion once more.
"Hah, I'll become S-Class first!" Gray refused to back down.
"Give it a rest, you snot-nosed brats who only know how to cry. I haven't even spoken yet," Mirajane sneered.
"Mirajane, you've gone too far. I'll definitely be the first to become S-Class." Erza looked utterly serious.
"Hah, go die, red-haired freak."
"Go die!"
The children's group brawl began once more, while Makarov watched with the same drunken grin.
BOOM! BOOM!
Suddenly, the request board exploded.
Laxus and Qian Guang, one big and one small, were once again clashing with their auras. They each gripped the same request as they confronted one another.
"Hey, shouldn't a senior give way to his junior, you blond bastard?"
"Hah? Kids should go drink milk at the bar. S-Class will definitely be mine!"
The two were practically sworn enemies. They had actually started arguing over a job with barely any reward.
"Bastards! Neither of you is taking that job! And fix the request board!" A massive fist sent both of them flying. "Seriously, you never let this old man have any peace."
Just as the guild was in chaos, an announcement rang out. "Magnolia will soon enter Gildarts Mode. All citizens, please proceed to the designated locations as quickly as possible."
"What's Gildarts Mode?" Lisanna tilted her head. She had never heard of such a mode.
Laxus stopped arguing with Qian Guang as well. Clicking his tongue, he went to find himself a drink. "Didn't expect that old man to be back too."
The moment Cana heard the announcement, she stiffened. Sitting on her stool, she looked deeply uncomfortable. But everyone was too curious about Gildarts Mode to notice; only the president gave her a long, meaningful look.
Curious, Qian Guang opened the door and looked outside. What he saw made him wonder whether this world's technology was being used in some very strange ways. ‼(•''╻''•)꒳ᵒ꒳ᵎᵎᵎ
The town split into blocks, and those blocks constantly shifted around until a clear path from the guild to the town gates was opened.
Then a red-haired, scruffy-bearded man appeared in everyone's sight, rubbing his head and looking a little embarrassed.
As the figure drew closer, the president became increasingly tense.
"Hey! Mina! Long time no see!" The man greeted everyone cheerfully and strode toward the guild.
"You bastard!!!"
"The door is over there!"
BANG
The president had still spoken too late. A huge hole instantly opened up in the guild wall.
"Ahahaha, sorry. I didn't notice." Gildarts awkwardly laughed as he rubbed his greasy red hair.
Gildarts, Fairy Tail's only S-Class wizard at present, usually took on 10-Year Quests and only returned once in a very long while.
"Seriously, none of you ever lets me relax."
"Oh! Gildarts, how was the 10-Year Quest?"
"Did you bring back any souvenirs?"
Everyone was happy to see Gildarts again. After all, they might not see him even once in a whole year.
"Yo, Gildarts!" Natsu happily pounced on him, taking the opportunity to show off Happy!
"Oh! A winged cat! How amazing!" Gildarts instantly put on a foolish expression. As expected, hot-blooded protagonists came with a built-in intelligence-reducing aura.
Mirajane, standing nearby, was somewhat uneasy. She did not know Gildarts. When Qian Guang and the others had arrived, Gildarts had happened to leave on a 10-Year Quest. Yet her instincts told her that this man was terrifying—far more terrifying than anyone she had ever met.
"Oh, long time no see, Cana. You've gotten prettier. Hey, Gray, you're not wearing clothes again." Gildarts rubbed Cana's head and laughed heartily.
Qian Guang watched Cana's blissful expression and felt that this foolish uncle really was oblivious. In the original story, Cana had always wanted to tell him.
Qian Guang studied Fairy Tail's current strongest wizard. In terms of magic power, he really was a monster—at the very least, much stronger than that aged Wizard Saint.
While Gildarts was introducing himself to Mirajane and marveling at how many more adorable kids there were, he noticed Qian Guang's gaze. After all, Qian Guang had made no effort to hide it.
Gildarts turned to look at the source of that gaze: a black-haired, long-haired kid who was studying Laxus's headphones.
"Yo, Laxus, long time no see. Have you started babysitting now?" Gildarts teased Laxus first. To him, Laxus was a kid too. Too bad that shoebox kid was no longer as cute as before; back then, he could even trick him into barking like a dog.
"Who wants to babysit him?!"
"Who wants him babysitting me?!"
The two clicked their tongues and immediately retorted.
"Ah, I see. I never expected Laxus to have a rival too. That's great. What a terrifying kid. Hello, kid, I'm Gildarts." Gildarts did not mind in the slightest and greeted Qian Guang with a grin.
"Hello, uncle. I'm Qian Guang. I'm currently living with Mirajane." Qian Guang solemnly introduced himself.
"Eh, so mature at such a young age?" Gildarts felt he had been misunderstood. He liked curvy older women, not little girls! They had only just met, and he was already declaring his claim?
"Go die!" Unfortunately, a certain white-haired demon had exceptionally sharp ears. A size thirty-two shoe once more had an intimate encounter with his face.
"You don't need to come home tonight!" Mirajane did not deny it either. Everyone in the guild knew that the four of them lived together.
"HAHAHAHAHA, it's still as lively as ever!"
"Alright! Let's have a party!"
"OH!!!"
"Quiet!" Makarov spoke up to stop the sudden, inexplicable party from beginning.
The guild immediately fell silent, and everyone looked toward the president.
"Since Gildarts is back, nobody needs to take jobs for the next few days. Prepare yourselves—the S-Class exam candidates will be announced soon!"
"Oh!"
Everyone looked excited. This was a major event, after all.
"Alright, now let the welcome-home party for Gildarts begin!" The president suddenly raised his glass.
"OH!!!" The guild instantly erupted.
Three days later, at the guild
A massive notice board stood inside the guild.
"Ahem. The S-Class exam candidate list will now be announced!" The president looked solemnly at the crowd below.
"Two people will be taking part in this S-Class exam. They are..."
"Laxus Dreyar!"
"OH!!!"
Laxus snorted when he saw his name, but the smile at the corner of his mouth betrayed him.
"Qian Guang Meredith!"
"OH!!!"
"That's amazing, Brother Qian Guang!" Lisanna immediately pounced onto Qian Guang.
"Just don't lose like last time." Mira turned her head aside, though she was also very happy for him.
"Of course." Qian Guang smiled.
Qian Guang and Laxus locked eyes, and both wore cruel smiles.
"This S-Class title will definitely be mine!" ×2
"The exam will be held at El Canyon! Gildarts will serve as the examiner! You'll be told the contents once you arrive. Go alone; everyone else, wait here."
"Eh, why?"
"I wanted to watch. I didn't get to see them fight last time either."
The Fairy Tail: Dual Kamui, provided by Qian Wei
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