Urgently Seeking a Job That Pays Well and Requires No Work

After Hughes handed Natsu a few solidified flames as compensation, the boy held the flames in his arms and happily walked over to Makarov and the others.

With each bite, a flame bloomed, and a happy smile spread across Natsu's face, completely unlike his previous irritable self.

No wonder Natsu lives such a happy life!

After sending Natsu away, Hughes stood with his back to the guild members, frantically comparing the differences between his own flames and Natsu's flames in his mind.

Natsu's flames are highly inclusive; they can not only devour other flames but also absorb magic of other attributes to strengthen their own flames.

However, Natsu absorbing magic of other attributes into his body can cause side effects, such as stomach pain and general weakness.

Hughes's flame ability, gained through the Flame-Flame Fruit, does not possess the ability to devour. The Flame-Flame Fruit's flame ability emphasizes expansiveness and wide reach, meaning a large area and high temperature.

From this perspective, Hughes's fire abilities seem inferior to Natsu's, but that's only for now. Hughes hasn't forgotten that Logia Devil Fruit Complete Awakening, possess terrifying assimilation abilities.

The most common consequence is the permanent alteration of the climate and topography of the entire region.

As for the other characteristic of Natsu 'Fire Dragon Slayer Magic, Hughes had also figured it out a bit.

The reason Natsu's fists become so powerful after being enveloped in flames is ultimately because Natsu's flames are compressed and solidified; every punch he throws simulates the compressed eruption of volcanic flames.

Hughes always felt that this compressed and then explosive flame was unique to the Magma-Magma Fruit, the nemesis of the Flame-Flame Fruit- Magma-Magma Fruit.

However, since Igneel, the Fire Dragon King who taught Natsu the Fire Dragon Slayer Magic, lived in magma, it's normal for Natsu's flames to have characteristics of the Magma-Magma Fruit.

Hughes could indeed compress and solidify flames, after all, his self-created Flame Jet utilized this technique.

However, this kind of charged-up move depends on the situation. The enemy isn't stupid; they will give him time to charge up and compress the attack during the battle.

Hughes shook his head. He understood Natsu's two fire-related abilities, but they weren't quite compatible with his Flame-Flame Fruit and weren't very suitable for him. However, it was still a good idea nonetheless.

After sorting out his thoughts, Hughes turned around. The lakeside, which had been crowded with people, was now only occupied by Makarov and Mira; the other kids had long since disappeared.

Hughes strolled towards them, his smile beaming. "President, I haven't eaten since this morning. You should treat me to a meal!"

Makarov: (⊙_⊙)?

"You brat, what do you mean I should treat you to a meal? All that worrying about you and staying here to watch over you was for nothing."

"Ah~ But you called Mira away, so there's no one to make me breakfast, and the house is all empty with nothing to eat!"

Upon hearing this, Makarov jumped up in anger and punched Hughes hard in the knee. "I called Mira away to teach Mira magic; and you brat, you're so old, can't you even cook a meal at home?"

Hughes picked his nose and scoffed at Makarov's roar.

It's easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality. After Mira spoiled his appetite, he couldn't eat anything else. Only the free food in the guild could make do with a few bites.

"Smack~"

The old man was extremely displeased with Hughes's nose-picking behavior, so he jumped up and punched Hughes's knee hard.

Hughes:... Damn it, I got punched twice in the knee, but I don't feel any pain at all. Is the old man failing me, or am I hard again?

"You're paying for it yourself. Don't think I don't know how much money you've made these past few days. You're just leeching off my retirement fund from the guild all day long, aren't you ashamed!"

The old man left in a huff, and Hughes's gaze followed his short, retreating figure, a sense of desolation filling his heart.

Food tastes best when it's free!

Standing next to Hughes, Mira reached into her handbag with her fair hand; having figured out Hughes's habits, she already knew that this Hughes hadn't eaten yet.

When she had breakfast at the guild early that morning, she made a point of buying one for Hughes and putting it in her handbag.

"Hey, the guild only had bread for breakfast this morning. You have a big appetite, so I bought you four. They should still be warm. And here's milk!"

Mira, wearing a light red dress, held a large pile of food in her hands and handed it to Hughes.

Hughes, heartbroken by Makarov, felt a slight tremor in his heart upon seeing this scene, as if struck hard by an arrow, and was almost moved to tears.

Hughes grabbed a palm-sized loaf of bread from Mira's chest, tore open the wrapper, and popped it into his mouth. "Mira, if only you were a few years older and fuller-figured!"

"With your considerate and virtuous nature, I, Hughes, might just kneel down and beg you to marry me!"

Mira paused slightly, then expressionlessly stuffed the bread back into her handbag.

Some people deserve to starve to death!

These things would be better fed to stray dogs on the street than to Hughes.

Mira turned and walked away resolutely, without looking back.

"Mira, you still haven't given me three loaves of bread and some milk!"

"Roll!"

"Oh dear! Is Mira already starting to be affected by the demon within her?" Hughes asked with a puzzled look.

Makarov's magic lessons are always held once a week, lasting one morning each time.

Therefore, Macao, Wakaba, and others who did not need further training also appeared in the guild in the afternoon.

Hughes's dream of getting a good night's sleep was shattered. Natsu and his group started causing trouble for no reason after a simple question, "Want to fight?" Hughes watched the whole farce with a silent sigh.

"I'm often ostracized because I'm not silly enough!"

Unable to join, Hughes reluctantly got up and walked towards the guild quest board.

Hughes wanted to see what quests were high-paying, low-stress, and didn't require leaving the guild; he ended up meeting Nab, who had the same idea and was hesitating in front of the quest request panel.

Hughes knew about Nab, the guild member dressed as a caveman.

Although Nab looks scary, he has a very gentle personality; he is also a long-time member of the Fairy Tail guild and extremely dislikes celery and ghost stories.

He spends all day lingering in front of the guild's task assignment board, just to find a task he can complete on his own; he's quite an oddball in the guild.

Nab always participated in the gambling games set up by Macao and Wakaba; however, no one ever saw Nab carry out any missions.

Hughes suspects that Nab might be a hidden wealthy individual within the guild, whose wealth, like Makarov's pension, will forever remain an unknown quantity.

Upon seeing Hughes, Nab greeted him warmly, "Hughes, you're here for a mission too?"

Hughes nodded. He had indeed come to see if there were any suitable missions; staying in the guild all the time was getting rather boring.

"There aren't any suitable quests on the quest board right now; they've all been taken by Laxus!" Nab said, pointing to the quest board, which was completely empty except for a few unwanted D-Class and C-Class quests that made their presence felt.