Back at the Guild, the Four Who Got a Scolding

Three days after the beast tide had passed, the Magic Council's forces finally arrived. After handing over every member of the Dark Guild Smile Coffin, Ed set off for home as well.

Sitting on the train, Ed happily counted this mission's reward. "I only took this job because the pay was high, but I didn't expect they'd actually add more afterward. A full two million J! Wow, this is just amazing!"

After counting the money, Ed began reviewing what he had gained from the battle. For now, Flying Thunder God combined with Rasengan and Monster Strength should handle most direct fights. But I still have too few Flying Thunder God Kunai. If I'd had enough this time, I could've dealt with it without Andrius's help. But they're so expensive to make... and I still have debts to repay...

No, when I get back, I should check the guild library for some information. Maybe I can take the Thought Body as a reference and develop Shadow Clones and Shuriken Shadow Clones. Oh, and Sealing Jutsu too. Minato's Sealing Jutsu was top-notch. Maybe I can figure out a few...

After several days of travel, the train finally reached Magnolia. Ed got off and stretched his body. "Wow, it really is more comfortable to be back~ Sitting on that train for so long was pretty rough. Tch, if it hadn't been so far away, I would've just used Flying Thunder God to come back. I'll head straight to the guild first~"

With a flash of golden light, Ed appeared at the guild entrance.

"I'm back~" Ed greeted them as he entered, only to find the atmosphere in the guild rather strange.

Erza and Mira were pressing their foreheads together in a contest of strength, constantly hurling insults at each other. Things like "armor girl," "little delinquent," and "no one wants you." It looked like an elementary school argument.

Ed calmly walked up to the bar and greeted Makarov. "I'm back, old man. The mission's complete."

Makarov glanced at Ed. "I've already received the news. You encountered a Dark Guild this time, didn't you? Good work. Not only did you wipe out the Dark Guild and stop the beast tide, but no one even complained to the Magic Council about you destroying a large stretch of ground. They even put in a good word for you with the Magic Council."

Makarov could not help sighing at that. "Sigh... If only those brats were all like you this time. I'm dragged to the Magic Council every day to get chewed out. Honestly..."

"Haha, don't say that, old man. Whoever causes trouble pays for it. At most, they get yelled at a little~" Ed looked as though such trivial matters were not worth worrying about.

"Then will you write the reports next time? Will you go get yelled at?" Makarov glared at Ed. Unable to withstand the enormous resentment radiating from him, Ed immediately changed the subject. "Come to think of it," Ed said, pointing at the two headbutting each other nearby, "what's going on over there?"

"What else could it be... Sigh..." Makarov looked deeply pained. "They only exchanged a couple of looks, and it developed into this. I really don't understand young people these days."

"Exactly! And they keep saying Gray and I fight all the time, when they fight each other every day too. Besides, whenever Gray and I fight, he's the one provoking me!" Natsu suddenly leaned in from the side and joined the conversation.

"What nonsense are you spouting, you droopy-eyed freak? You're obviously the one who provokes me every time!" Where there was Natsu, there was Gray. Gray shoved Natsu aside as he spoke. "Move it, you fire-breathing idiot. Ed just got back. He wiped out an entire Dark Guild, so don't let your stupidity keep him from resting."

"You ice bastard, wanna fight?!" As expected of a fire mage, Natsu caught fire at the slightest spark—especially when it came from Gray.

He immediately hooked an arm around Gray's neck and said to Ed, "Ed! You get some rest first. Once I'm done with this droopy-eyed guy, come tell me all about how you took down that Dark Guild. You'd better explain every detail—you did something huge!"

The two immediately opened a second battlefield inside the guild. At the sight, Makarov's entire face turned red with anger. Seeing Makarov's fury, Ed quietly moved to the side, trying to make himself less noticeable.

"You little bastards!! Stop right now!!" Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! With four crisp impacts, the four troublemakers were all slammed into the floor. Makarov had dealt each of them a heavy blow to the head, and they squatted there with tears in their eyes, clutching their heads.

"Wow... That looked like it hurt. Are you okay, Mira?" Ed walked over and crouched down, looking at the top of Mira's head. "Looks like there's a big bump. Want me to rub it for you?"

"I'm fine... W-wait... what... what did you just say?! Who wants you to rub it?!" Mira seemed to suddenly realize what he meant. Her face flushed bright red as she shouted, "You messed with me last time! And now you dare do this again! Are you looking for a fight?!"

"Hmm?!" Makarov caught the key word and immediately glared over.

"!" Mira shuddered all over and instantly stood straight. Erza, beside her, immediately said, "See, Master? Mira is always like this. All she thinks about every day is fighting."

"You should both say less..." Looking at the four seemingly quiet but constantly troublemaking thorns before him, Makarov felt a deep headache coming on.

"You four, stop hanging around the guild when you have nothing to do. Get out there and work!" Makarov chose out of sight, out of mind and directly ordered the four of them to disappear from before him.

Ed then stepped forward and said to Makarov, "Old man, because a Dark Guild was involved in this mission, the reward was increased by one million J, making it two million total. Can I repay one million first? I need the rest to buy some equipment."

"No problem. Just plan it out yourself. Besides, the point of this debt was never to make you repay money. It wouldn't matter if you couldn't pay it back. The real point was to make you pay attention to whether the environment around you is suitable for using high-powered magic in battle. Last time, you were lucky. Hardly anyone got hurt. But if someone had been seriously injured or killed by your battle..."

Makarov paused, his expression becoming serious as he said earnestly to Ed, "Then it wouldn't be a matter of debt anymore. You might be wanted and never be able to live openly again."

"I understand, old man!" Ed was somewhat moved. Makarov truly deserved his reputation as a good man; even at a time like this, he was thinking of what was best for Ed.

"But I still have to repay the debt. It's my own responsibility, and I won't run from it." Ed's expression was serious.

Makarov nodded. "Do as you like. Handle it yourself." "Then I'll head back and rest first. I've been traveling for several days, after all." Ed waved, turning into a streak of golden light and vanishing before everyone's eyes.

"That kid's magic is really convenient..." Everyone could not help but marvel as they looked at the spot where Ed had disappeared.

"Oh right, that kid's magic!" Mira suddenly seemed to think of something.