First Mission

"Already the second day, huh? Haah... haah... I haven't slept this well in ages."

Ye looked at the chirping birds outside the window, then came back to himself. "I've joined Fairy Tail."

"I've decided. I'm taking a job today. The 100,000 J I won yesterday is nowhere near enough to spend. I need to work hard and make money."

Ye slowly walked along the road to the guild, taking in the scenery by the roadside.

He sighed. "This really is relaxing. It'd be great if things could stay like this forever. But when I think about those people later on, I have to become stronger. I'm still far too weak. I don't deserve the title of the strongest creature on land at all."

As he walked, he arrived at the guild's entrance, a grin rising on his lips.

Boom! Ye kicked the guild doors open with one foot. That felt really good.

The guild master's roar came from afar. "Brat, can't you open a door normally?!"

Ye laughed. "Next time, next time. I definitely will next time."

Ye walked over to the job board and found that there were still plenty of requests: subjugating bandits, eliminating monsters, love fortune-telling, magic tutoring, and more.

Looking at the board before him, Ye found the jobs truly varied. He pondered, "Which one should I take?"

"This one, then. Subjugating magical beasts is right up my alley."

He ran excitedly over to Makarov. "Old man, old man, I want to take this job!" Ye forcefully slapped the request form down in front of the guild master.

Makarov slightly opened his eyes and looked at the request form before him. He said sternly, "Brat, don't think having a little strength means you can act without restraint. Pick another job."

Ye thought for a moment. "Then this one. Subjugating bandits."

Makarov looked at Ye helplessly. "Do you have to take these subjugation jobs?"

Ye answered seriously, "Because I'm broke. I can barely afford food. These jobs pay fast."

Makarov sighed. "Fine, then. I'll find someone to go with you."

Ye protested, "You're finding someone else? Are you looking down on me?"

Makarov said helplessly, "Brat, it's your first time taking a job. You need someone to show you the ropes."

Ye considered it. "That's true. So who are you getting to show me the process?"

Makarov said mysteriously, "You'll find out tomorrow."

Ye said unhappily, "I have to wait until tomorrow?"

Makarov snapped, "It's only one day! The request isn't going anywhere!"

Ye said in disappointment, "Fine, fine. Tomorrow it is."

The next day.

At that moment, a young girl said with a deeply displeased expression, "Grandpa, he still isn't here? He's already two hours late!"

Makarov said awkwardly, "Maybe something held him up."

Just then, a leisurely figure swayed his way toward the guild.

Seeing him, the girl rushed in front of Ye and demanded sternly, "Do you know you're two hours late? A full two hours!!"

Makarov angrily said from the side, "Brat, you were the one in a hurry yesterday, and you're also the one who came late today!"

Ye said solemnly, "I saw a kitten on the way here."

Erza's expression changed, and she asked seriously, "Was the kitten hurt?"

Ye grinned. "No, no. It was just too cute. Before I knew it, I'd gotten completely absorbed watching it. Hehehe."

Erza's face immediately darkened as she shouted, "Go die!"

Erza swung her sword at Ye.

Ye effortlessly dodged it.

When Erza saw that she had missed, her competitive spirit suddenly flared up.

She had gone out on a job yesterday and hadn't seen Ye's fight with Mirajane, but she had heard about it. Mirajane had lost. Erza had always wanted to test the skills of the person who had defeated Mirajane, who was evenly matched with her.

Even denser sword shadows flashed through the air.

Yet Ye dodged every one of those dense sword shadows from impossible angles.

Seeing that it had no effect whatsoever, Erza stopped swinging her sword.

She threatened, "Do that again next time and I'll cut you down! Hmph! ╭(╯^╰)╮"

Ye slowly replied, "Yeah, yeah."

Makarov said, "Brat, this is Erza. She'll show you the ropes for taking jobs, and she'll accompany you on this subjugation request."

Ye finally said excitedly, "What are we waiting for? Let's go!"

With that, he walked out.

Seeing Ye like this, Erza smiled unconsciously and followed after him.

After a long train ride, Ye and Erza arrived at their destination.

Ye said in surprise, "So this is the destination? It really is different."

Erza asked in confusion, "Different from where?"

Ye smiled faintly. "Different from the Great Forest of Monsters where I used to live."

Erza said in surprise, "You lived in that place all this time? That's an extremely dangerous place."

Ye said without concern, "Ever since I woke up, I'd already been in that place. The danger was manageable. That forest was simply amazing. Whenever I was bored, magical beasts kept me company. Whenever I was hungry, food came right to my door. I truly loved it there."

Looking at the boy before her, Erza murmured with an indescribable feeling, "So that's where his incredible strength came from... living alongside beasts, fighting beasts."

At that moment, Ye asked, "What do we do next?"

Erza came back to her senses. "Next, we need to meet the client and gather some information."

Ye said, "I see. Then let's go!"

The two arrived at the client's residence.

Before them stood a massive manor.

Looking at the manor, Ye said, "It's really huge. Rich people really are different. Once I have money, I'm buying a place like this too."

Erza looked speechlessly at Ye and stepped forward to ask one of the manor's servants.

"Excuse me, is anyone here? Is your master present?"

The maid replied, "Yes, our master is here. May I ask what you need?"

Erza said, "We are mages from Fairy Tail. We accepted this request and have come to ask about a few things."

The maid said, "You're mages from Fairy Tail? I'll inform the master right away."

Before long, a handsome elderly man came before Erza and Ye. "I've been waiting for you for quite some time. Someone finally accepted my request. Please, let's discuss the details inside."

Erza and Ye followed the manor's owner into a room.

Erza asked, "May I ask what kind of monster we are supposed to eliminate for this job?"

The manor owner said, "My family has lived here for generations, and every generation has made its living mining ore."

Ye exclaimed, "A rich second-generation heir!"

The manor owner shook his head. "I'm not. My great-grandfather was."

Hearing that answer, Ye felt a jumble of emotions. Damn it, why couldn't I have transmigrated into a family like that? Then I wouldn't have to worry about food or drink.

The manor owner continued, "Four months ago, a group of bandits somehow appeared in my mine and seized my mining area. Every one of those bandits is incredibly vicious. My workers are no match for them, especially their leader, who can use magic. At first, mages came to subjugate them, but they all failed. Not one returned. The bandits have even enslaved my workers to mine ore for them."

Ye said thoughtfully, "From what you've said, this group of bandits has some strength."

The manor owner burst into tears. "So I beg you, esteemed mages, please help me. Drive these bandits away so that my family's ancestral business can return to my hands. Otherwise, when I die, I won't be able to face my ancestors!"

Erza looked at Ye. "What do you think? A request worth two million J shows that these bandits are far from ordinary, and besides..."

Ye narrowed his eyes. "What do I think? I don't have an opinion. My fists will give them the answer."

"Both of you, it's getting late. Please rest for a while first. I've had a dinner prepared. You can set out tomorrow morning."

Erza and Ye looked meaningfully at the old man before them, exchanged glances, and nodded. "Thank you for your hospitality, sir."