Chapter 323 – Designated Request
"What right do I have to greet them? Forget it."
For seven years Mest blamed himself for not saving Fairy Tail on Tenrou Island; he had only infiltrated the guild to dig up proof of its crimes.
Still, he hadn't handed over the full recordings to the Council—that would invite too much trouble.
So he used his Memory Magic to alter the memories of Lahar and several other Magic Council Members.
Lahar had always been strictly by-the-book; Mest couldn't guarantee he wouldn't report every detail.
When the banquet ended, the guilds departed for their respective homes.
Magnolia Town.
The afternoon sun cast a brilliant, golden glow over the cobblestone streets, illuminating a city that had been completely transformed. Banners bearing the iconic Fairy Tail emblem fluttered from rooftops, balconies, and street lamps, catching the gentle spring breeze.
"They're back!!"
"They're really back!! The champions have returned!!"
"Quick, everyone, this way!! Don't let them pass without a cheer!!"
"We've waited so long—welcome home!!"
By now, Magnolia's main street was packed shoulder-to-shoulder with thousands of townsfolk who had come especially to greet Fairy Tail's triumphant return. The air was thick with the scent of roasted street food, blooming flowers, and the undeniable electricity of sheer joy.
Confetti rained down from the highest windows, catching the sunlight like a shower of glittering snow. After seven long, grueling years of decline and disrespect, the true heart of Magnolia had finally returned to its rightful place.
"Everyone! Let's give the Grand Magic Games champions the warmest, most respectful welcome!"
Standing near the front of the massive crowd, Twilight Ogre's master, Banaboster, greeted them with an unnaturally broad smile, his entire guild in tow.
His overly enthusiastic demeanor was betrayed by the massive beads of cold sweat rolling down his forehead. Three months earlier, these exact same people had bullied Fairy Tail with snarling faces, constantly demanding extortion money and trashing their rundown tavern.
But after watching the apocalyptic broadcasts of the Games, they had violently changed their tune. They had watched Ren single-handedly annihilate legendary dragons and witnessed the Tenrou Island group dismantle the strongest mages in the kingdom.
The old Fairy Tail—the battered remnants led by Macao—was a target they could push around. The new, resurrected Fairy Tail let them off easy by simply ignoring them—and Banaboster knew it. He bowed so deeply his nose nearly scraped the cobblestones, terrified of a single stray spell wiping his pathetic guild from the map.
[Akarin's Note: Twilight Ogre took over as Magnolia's top guild during the 7-year time skip, routinely harassing the remaining Fairy Tail members for debt payments until Makarov's return.]
"Fairy Tail triumphantly returns—!!" the crowd roared, the sound echoing like thunder across the city.
"We're baaack—!!"
The guild Mages beamed at the crowd's overwhelming enthusiasm, waving their arms and wiping joyful tears from their eyes. The warmth radiating from the citizens of Magnolia was a stark contrast to the mockery they had endured for nearly a decade.
"Miss Erza! Your Pandemonium battle was absolutely incredible! It was a masterpiece of swordsmanship!" a young boy shouted from atop his father's shoulders, his eyes shining with pure worship.
"Thank you," Erza replied. Her scarlet hair danced in the wind as she offered the boy a stoic, dignified nod, though a soft, genuine smile graced her lips.
"Mirajane-san, you were wonderful! Beautiful and terrifying all at once!" a group of local merchants cheered.
"You saw?" Mirajane cupped her cheeks, her usual sweet, angelic facade returning in full force as if the demonic entity she had summoned in the arena had never existed. "Oh my, I'm a bit embarrassed. Please forget about that scary side of me."
"Ren, nicely done!! You really showed the whole kingdom what we're made of!!"
"Strongest Mage in Fairy Tail, just as expected!! You're a living legend!"
Listening to the endless praises directed at Ren, Elfman stepped forward, flexing his massive biceps proudly. "Right now he's not just Fairy Tail's strongest—he's the strongest on the entire continent of Ishgar! A true man among men!"
Evergreen fluttered her fairy wings, rolling her eyes from behind her glasses. "What are you acting so proud for, you big oaf? You're certainly not Ishgar's strongest."
"Ren's my big brother! If he's the absolute strongest, of course I'm proud! I'm a man!!" Elfman retorted passionately, crossing his arms.
Evergreen blushed slightly, looking away with a classic tsundere huff. "Well... I suppose that's true. But don't let it go to your giant head."
Suddenly, a burst of heat erupted near the center of the parade.
"Check this out, everyone!"
Natsu leaped onto the edge of a marble fountain, grinning from ear to ear as he pulled a massive, gleaming trophy from his travel bundle. He hoisted it high into the air, the polished gold reflecting the brilliant Magnolia sunlight.
"Proof of our absolute victory—the King's Cup!!"
Deafening cheers erupted from the crowd at the sight of the majestic trophy. It was a flawless piece of craftsmanship that symbolized the Grand Magic Games' highest, most prestigious honor.
"We actually won—!!" Happy cheered, flying circles around Natsu's head.
"Whoa-oh! Whoa-oh!! We're number one!!"
"It's still hard to believe… it really feels like a dream," Macao whispered, his voice cracking with emotion.
"The guild that always came in last place for seven straight years… we actually took first place!"
Unable to hold back their pent-up emotions any longer, Jet, Droy, and Warren fell to their knees and wept openly. The bitter memories of being the laughingstock of Fiore were finally, permanently erased. They had clawed their way from the darkest abyss back to the very summit of the magical world.
"Next, if I may have your attention!"
The mayor of Magnolia, a stout, kindly man in a formal suit, stepped forward from the cheering crowd. "The city council has prepared some special keepsakes for all of you."
"Keepsakes? You really didn't have to go to such trouble, Mayor!" Makarov looked sheepish, rubbing the back of his bald head in mild embarrassment. "Your warm welcome is more than enough for these foolish children of mine."
"A-hem!" The mayor cleared his throat, adjusting his spectacles with a proud smile. "Members of Fairy Tail, please look over there."
He gestured dramatically toward the end of the street. The massive crowd parted like the sea, pulling away a gigantic, magically woven tarp that had obscured the horizon.
Following his gesture, the entire guild froze in their tracks. There, standing proudly in the center of town, was their beloved, original guildhall—restored to its former, magnificent glory.
"It's… it's exactly the way it was!!" Lucy gasped, covering her mouth with both hands as tears welled in her eyes.
The entire guild stared in breathless astonishment. The grand wooden doors, the towering banners bearing their golden emblem, the familiar outdoor seating area—every single architectural detail had been flawlessly recreated. It was a massive upgrade from the rundown, drafty windmill on the edge of town they had been forced to use.
"Fairy Tail has brought unmatched honor to our city," the Mayor proclaimed, his voice thick with emotion. "So, we rebuilt your guildhall as a welcome home gift."
"Mayor… you're… you're too kind…"
Tears streamed uncontrollably down Makarov's wrinkled cheeks. The tiny guild master fell to his knees, utterly overwhelmed by the love and loyalty of the city he had sworn to protect.
"No need for thanks, Master Makarov," the Mayor chuckled warmly. "Every single person on this street pitched in to rebuild it. From the carpenters to the bakers, we all wanted our true heroes back where they belong."
"I love this street so much~~!!" Natsu roared, firing a stream of celebratory flames into the sky.
Soon, the entire guild was happily escorted back inside the familiar building. As they pushed open the heavy wooden doors, the nostalgic scent of aged oak, spilled ale, and roasted meat immediately filled their senses. Joy filled every single heart in the room.
Fairy Tail was officially reborn.
Mages who had previously left the guild under severe duress from Twilight Ogre's bullying enthusiastically returned. New, wide-eyed hopefuls lined up to join their ranks, all warmly welcomed by Mirajane so long as they bore no ill will toward the family.
Within days, the massive guildhall bustled with chaotic, wonderful life once more. Brawls broke out over spilled drinks, laughter echoed off the high ceilings, and the request board was constantly surrounded by eager mages.
Amidst the celebratory atmosphere, Ren didn't allow himself to become complacent. He immediately set out on an S-Class mission to slay a horde of mutated monsters terrorizing a distant mountain range.
Standing amidst a cratered wasteland, Ren casually dusted off his coat. Dozens of massive, heavily armored Earth Wyverns lay dead around him, dispatched without him even breaking a sweat. With his current, god-like power, he completed the deadly S-Class subjugation with frightening ease.
[System Message: S-Class Subjugation Complete. Reward: Gold Legendary Draw x1.]
Finishing the job and hearing the familiar chime of the System left him feeling refreshed. Work really was the best tonic to keep his senses sharp and his body conditioned.
Yet, as he stared at the holographic interface, his expression remained stoic. The Grand Magic Games of Fiore were famed not only within the kingdom but across every single nation of the Ishgar continent. Thanks to their stellar, world-shaking victory, Fairy Tail was completely flooded with highly lucrative job offers.
When Ren returned to the lively guildhall, several brand-new S-Class requests already hung on the second-floor board. This delighted him immensely; dominating the Games had definitely been worth the effort.
He formulated a simple, relentless plan. He would take countless S-Class jobs, draw more Gold Legendary cards from the System, recycle the extra or useless abilities, raise his core magic power, and grow ever stronger.
To many people in Fiore, Ren had already become the absolute pinnacle of what a Mage could possibly be. He was a walking legend, a human who commanded the power of the heavens.
But to Ren himself, merely outclassing other human Mages meant very little.
His brutal, desperate battle with the Black Dragon Acnologia on Tenrou Island had burned a harsh reality into his mind. He had seen the true abyss of power, and it had shown him exactly how immense the gap still was between him and the true apex predators of the world.
He needed far greater magic power, deeper reserves of Chakra, and even stronger allies if he was going to survive the apocalyptic wars that he knew were coming.
"Master, an urgent request just arrived."
Mira approached with a form in hand.
"Ever since the Grand Magic Games we've been getting more designated requests."
Makarov took the sheet: a designated job, one where the client names a specific Mage.
Most named Ren, but knowing he accepted only s-class work, Makarov rejected the rest and publicly stated Ren took only s-class designated requests.
Mira smiled. "Everyone's suddenly so popular."
Besides Ren, Erza, Laxus, Natsu, and other standouts of the Games were swamped with personal requests and had been run off their feet.
"Ren, another request specifically for you."
"Is it s-class?"
Ren asked Makarov.
"Mm…"
Makarov glanced down, about to answer, then froze. "This is…"
"What's wrong, Master?"
Mirajane asked, noticing his change of expression.
[Akarin Note:
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