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The scene of the father and daughter reuniting was very touching.
Even Makarov, an old man who had experienced countless things, couldn't help but shed happy tears for them.
As the patriarch of the Fairy Tail family, Makarov not only witnessed Gildarts' growth step by step as he surpassed him, but also watched Cana grow from a little girl into an adult.
Now, seeing two "children," one big and one small, reunited, how could Makarov not be happy for them?
Such a joyous occasion naturally called for a celebration.
However, before the celebration, there was one more thing Makarov needed to do. His body swelled, and the short old man instantly transformed into a two-meter-tall muscular strongman.
"Gildarts! You've been quite the ladies' man out there all these years, living comfortably, no wonder you don't want to take over as Guild Master."
"Now, let this old man have some fun too!"
Gildarts, who was embracing Cana and crying, suddenly felt a chill down his spine. In an instant, a tall shadow enveloped him.
At this moment, how could Gildarts not know that his romantic history of dating many women had been exposed?
Only Natsu, Happy, and Lucy should have known about this.
Who did it?
Could it be...
Just then, Natsu sprang out from behind Makarov, grinning mischievously as he said to Gildarts, "That's right, Gildarts, I sold you out."
Natsu had almost been punished by Makarov for secretly going to the Western Continent, so to divert the attention, Natsu decisively sold out Gildarts.
If I change the subject like this, he'll be the unlucky one.
Natsu realized he was getting smarter and smarter.
Thanks to someone's big mouth, Gildarts' love affairs quickly spread throughout the guild. If not everyone in the guild knew, they at least had some idea.
So, everyone, disgusted by Gildarts' actions, spoke up to condemn him.
"Pah, scumbag!"
"I knew he was a playboy all along!"
"Why can't I find a girlfriend when I'm so handsome, but he, an old man, can date so many women..."
"Wah wah wah! It's a single dog! Everyone, retreat quickly!"
"..."
Listening to everyone's topic gradually straying, Makarov twitched his mouth, then loudly and forcefully brought the topic back: "Let's give Gildarts a good beating! My children! Get him!"
"Huh? We're going to fight Gildarts?"
The originally agitated crowd immediately quieted down. Speaking was fine, but if they actually laid hands on him, Gildarts would probably dismantle them and the guild together.
Makarov had long anticipated everyone's reaction, and a countermeasure came to his mind instantly. "Oh, right, to prevent the guild from being destroyed by magic, no one is allowed to use magic, Gildarts, you too!"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone, who had already been thinking of excuses to run away, immediately perked up.
If you can use magic, everyone calls you "Fairy Tail's Strongest."
But if magic is forbidden...
Looking at his companions, each rubbing their hands, Gildarts also breathed a sigh of relief. If he used magic, he would genuinely worry about hurting his companions.
If magic is forbidden, then use hand-to-hand combat.
When it came to hand-to-hand combat, Gildarts had never feared anyone.
Especially with him, an experienced guild senior, facing his juniors, Gildarts had absolute confidence in enduring the group attack and even counter-killing.
Taking off his robe, Gildarts twisted his neck, gave Cana a reassuring look, then turned calmly to face everyone, completely unaware of Cana's expression of silent mourning for him.
"I haven't been back in a few years, so let me see your progress in hand-to-hand combat. Don't disappoint me."
"Then let's begin!"
Natsu pushed off with his feet, charging first with a punch toward Gildarts. Gildarts saw through the brute's move at a glance and casually opened his palm to block.
However, as fist and palm met, Natsu's arm was suddenly covered in a dark sheen, and one punch pushed Gildarts back a step.
Gildarts rotated his wrist, thinking, when did Natsu learn magic that could harden his skin? Didn't that kid have no interest in magic other than Fire Dragon Slayer Magic?
"Natsu, that's cheating."
"The Guild Master said no magic."
Who knew Natsu didn't stop his attack? The brute's punches and kicks kept coming at Gildarts, and he explained while fighting, "This isn't magic, it's Armament Haki!"
It was another power, outside of magic, that could be combined with hand-to-hand combat and strengthen the body.
No wonder those brats all looked displeased; they must have all mastered this power. So they really were confident in ganging up on me.
Gildarts finally realized he had fallen into a trap, but it was too late. A group of people covered in Armament Haki had already surrounded him.
Before being overwhelmed by that vast crowd, Gildarts let out a cry of unwilling indignation.
"Guild Master! You tricked me!"
...
On another note, while Gildarts was getting beaten, Makarov was having the time of his life.
All this time, Makarov had been subtly hinting for Gildarts to take over as Guild Master so that he, the old man, could retire and enjoy life.
But who knew this guy always had endless excuses to decline?
If he couldn't beat him, Makarov would have long since dragged Gildarts back and pinned him down in the Fourth Guild Master's position, while he went off to play music and dance.
Makarov returned to the long table, raised his wine glass, and drained it, a look of contentment on his face.
Noah, who had observed the entire process, couldn't help but laugh. "You old rascal, you've gotten cunning. To scheme against Gildarts like that, aren't you afraid he'll run off again later?"
"Hmph, it's just Gildarts."
Makarov wouldn't tell Noah that he had already planned to use Cana to control Gildarts. As long as Cana was in the guild for one day, Gildarts wouldn't run far.
He could come back anytime, so he could run wherever he pleased.
Noah couldn't be bothered with Makarov's little schemes; he wasn't going to be Guild Master anyway. Leaning back in his chair, he muttered, "First Irene and Erza, then Gildarts and Cana. Why is it all reunion stories these days? Can't we have some shocking developments?"
Makarov gave Noah a disdainful look. "You brat, you don't want to be a slacker anymore, do you? Isn't family reunion great? In a novel, it could even pad out a lot of words, isn't that wonderful?"
Noah pouted. "Hmph, only third-rate writers would pad out the plot like that, truly uninspired."
Makarov didn't want to continue bickering with Noah. He turned to look at August, who had been silent, and his expression suddenly became complicated, as if he was struggling with something.
A few minutes later, Makarov seemed to have made a major decision. He said to August with a heavy expression, "August, do you want to see the First Guild Master?"
Because of the drunk father and daughter, August was immersed in the fantasy of a loving father and filial son reuniting with Zeref.
Interrupted by Makarov, August quickly covered his inner embarrassment with a cough. Fortunately, having held a high position for a long time, his expression management skills had always been excellent.
Seeing August not speak, Noah interjected, "I remember the First Guild Master's grave is on Tenrou Island. Speaking of which, I've never been to our guild's holy ground."
At this point, Noah suddenly remembered something.
According to August's memory, the Second Guild Master, Precht, secretly moved Mavis's body, so there was only a gravestone for Mavis left on Tenrou Island.
After delivering Mavis's posthumous child, how Precht dealt with Mavis's body was something August didn't know, because he was abandoned by Precht at that time.
Just as Noah was hesitating whether to ask Makarov about it, August spoke. His gaze was piercing as he looked at the floor beneath his feet, as if his sight could penetrate the earth below.
"Makarov, I have already 'seen' Mother."
"She's beneath this building, isn't she?"