Weston's confident words immediately put the gathered wizards at ease.
They finally remembered that the man standing before them was not just the Master of Fairy Tail and a Wizard Saint, but also the "Fairy Commander" who had once dominated the battlefield with peerless strategy and foresight.
In the past, none of his decisions had ever been wrong; they had always led everyone to a better life. With such a track record right before their eyes, why should they harbor any doubt?
In short: just follow him and charge forward blindly!
"We understand, Master!"
"Since this is a decision you've made after careful consideration, we will absolutely support it!"
"Well said!"
Once they decided to fully back Weston's idea, the guild members immediately began chatting excitedly about the construction of the school.
"Why don't we help build the school ourselves?"
"Yeah, yeah! Let Joey revert to his giant form—he'd be a natural at heavy labor!"
"Hahaha... true! He alone could do the work of a hundred men!"
The girls were not to be outdone either. Caught up in the surrounding atmosphere, their enthusiasm soared.
"We might not be great at construction or manual labor, but if it's for advancement and publicity, we can definitely be of use!"
"Master, you must have envisioned what the school looks like, right? Do you have sketches? Can we see them?"
"By the way, once the school is built, our children should be able to attend for free, right?"
Looking at his comrades united in purpose, a smile tugged at the corners of Weston's mouth.
This feeling of being trusted, of having people back you up no matter what you did...
It was wonderful.
"That goes without saying! Benefits like this obviously go to our own people first!"
"Everyone, come look at my sketches. If you have suggestions, bring them up now, otherwise you won't get a chance once the design is finalized!"
In January of X701, Fairy Tail made the major decision to build a magic school in Magnolia.
In February of the same year, Master Weston traveled to the Royal Capital, Crocus, and the Council branch to explain his intentions to Queen Lily and Councilor Zanke. After several days and nights of deep discussion, an agreement was reached.
In the summer of X701, the first magic school in the Kingdom of Fiore, "Fairy Academy," was officially established as a project. With the financial and manpower support of the Fiore Royal Family and the Council, construction teams began breaking ground outside the town of Magnolia.
In X703, the three major powers—Fairy Tail, the Fiore Royal Family, and the Council—co-sponsored advertisements to recruit teachers and enroll eligible students for the nearly completed "Fairy Academy."
The news shook the nation. A constant stream of applicants poured in, exceeding 3,000 people in just a few days.
Weston personally led the testing of the applicants. After layers of screening, 300 enrollment spots were finally granted.
In the winter of X703, after two and a half years of construction, "Fairy Academy" was finally completed. Weston took office as the first Principal, and Mavis Vermillion took office as the Vice-Principal.
Queen Lily and Councilor Zanke visited the site in person for a friendly meeting with Weston and participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
In the spring of X704, "Fairy Academy" officially opened.
Darwin, Chris, Erza, and Makarov, along with the young wizards from all over the country who had passed Weston's screening and entrance exams the previous day, became the inaugural class of Fairy Academy.
Thanks to the establishment of "Fairy Academy," Magnolia's economy developed rapidly. Within a few years, it became the most prosperous and bustling town in the Kingdom of Fiore, second only to the Royal Capital, Crocus.
X710.
Today was Weston's 40th birthday.
As night fell, at the Guild Tavern.
Wizards gathered together, led by Mavis and Zera, to host a birthday banquet for Weston.
"Happy Birthday, Weston (Master)!!" × N
At forty, Weston had not become a man with a receding hairline or a bald spot, nor had he become a greasy middle-aged man with a potbelly and weak limbs, nor a sallow-faced man with sunken eyes.
None of the ailments known as "middle-aged men's nightmares" had happened to him.
His eyes remained as clear and bright as they were at twenty, his face as handsome and dashing as at thirty. Only his tall, brawny build and vigorous, powerful limbs reflected a man in his forty-year-old prime.
"Thank you all for the blessings!"
"I will continue to work hard in the future, striving to make the guild bigger and stronger, and to remain at the absolute top of the magic world!!"
Hearing this, everyone clapped in agreement.
Only Darwin couldn't help but complain to Erza: "Honestly, it's always this same line. Dad is being way too perfunctory, isn't he? Can't he be a bit more serious and say something more substantial?"
The reason he said this was because earlier today at Fairy Academy, when Weston received blessings from the faculty and students, he had said the same thing: "striving to make the school bigger and stronger and improving student welfare."
Not just today—every birthday banquet, guild anniversary, or school celebration in the past, Weston said almost the exact same thing.
This left Darwin quite speechless.
"You shouldn't put it like that!"
Erza shook her head, disagreeing with Darwin: "If he really wanted to be perfunctory, with the Master's talent, he could easily speak for two or three hours without repeating a word. But he didn't do that."
"It's because he'd rather everyone spend their time on meaningful things than waste time and energy listening to insignificant speeches."
Darwin was stunned and asked subconsciously: "What 'meaningful things'?"
Erza looked at the feast on the nearby table, gave a thumbs-up, her eyes sparkling with light and a faint blush appearing on her cheeks: "Drinking, chatting, and eating, of course!"
"...Fair point. Those things are indeed more meaningful than listening to a long-winded speech."
Just then, the sound of a comrade talking to Weston drifted over from nearby—
"Master, this is the birthday gift I prepared for you, please accept it!!"
"Hey! Why so formal with me? But since it's from your heart, I'll take it! By the way, your kid is turning 6 soon, right?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm touched you remember."
"What are you saying?! We're family, of course I remember your kid! Since he's six, have him report to the Academy this year. I'll personally issue his admission notice..."
Darwin: "!!"
So that was his true purpose for not wanting to waste time!!
What birthday banquet? This place is practically turning into a scene of blatant bribery!!