"Servants too? Are they nobles?"
"She's gorgeous..."
"Macao, be careful. Your lady might catch you staring..."
"You're the annoying one. And Wakaba, where exactly are your eyes looking right now?"
"You'd better have a good explanation for that!"
As the group stepped into the guild hall, their entrance immediately drew the attention of several members lounging around with drinks. After giving the newcomers a quick glance, they soon returned to their booze and banter.
"Hey there, mind telling us why you've come to our guild?"
As Ren and his companions approached the bar counter, Gildarts put down his drink and stood up. He leaned forward and looked them over, his voice casual but laced with power.
The overwhelming aura he exuded filled the room in an instant.
"So this is Fairy Tail's strongest mage?"
Kageyama Ren observed Gildarts with a calm nod. He could feel the vast, immeasurable magic power coiled within the man, something that easily surpassed his own. No wonder Gildarts survived a clash with Acnologia and even managed to hold his ground for a time against the Magic King, August.
"Hahaha! Gildarts, did you get into trouble again? What, did someone bring your kid here to make you take responsibility?"
"Look, that kid's hair is the same reddish-brown color as yours!"
"This is gonna be good. Drama's about to unfold!"
Just as Gildarts stood tall, sizing up Ren's group with a stern expression, laughter erupted from the crowd. The rowdy voices in the guild roared with amusement.
"Shut it! If I wanted noise, I'd have asked for it!" Gildarts barked, silencing the hecklers. Then, turning toward Ren, he lowered his voice. After comparing Ren's hair color to his own, a subtle tremor ran through his body.
He leaned in and whispered, "K-Kid, your mom... is she Maria? Or Sofia? No, wait... don't tell me it's..."
In an instant, the imposing aura shattered, and Gildarts turned into a greasy old uncle, panicked and sweating.
"Uncle, you really do have love-children out there, huh…"
"And judging from the situation, probably more than one."
Ren's eye twitched slightly.
"Gildarts, deal with your own mess. Don't drag the guild into your personal affairs."
From behind the counter, Makarov, Fairy Tail's third guild master, watched Ren for a while, then turned away and shut his eyes, clearly unwilling to get involved.
He looked as if the very sight of Gildarts caused him inner turmoil.
"Wait, Master, let me explain!" Gildarts panicked, turning toward Makarov, trying to defend himself.
But Makarov didn't respond, having apparently made up his mind already.
Seeing no help from his guildmaster, Gildarts turned helplessly back toward Ren.
"So, really... who's your mother? Maria? No, her eyes were green... Sofia had blue eyes... wait, don't tell me you're Sophie's kid?!"
He scratched his beard, racking his brain while studying Ren's face, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't figure it out.
"…I'm not here because of you. I came to join Fairy Tail."
Ren spoke flatly, looking at the strong but clearly scummy man before him.
"Join Fairy Tail? Kid, you want to become a mage of this guild?"
Having been eavesdropping from behind the bar, Makarov leapt lightly down from the counter and landed in front of Ren, hands behind his back.
"Yes."
Ren nodded, looking down at the short old man before him. Though smaller in stature, Ren didn't underestimate Makarov. Despite no longer being in his prime, the guildmaster's immense magical power and deep understanding of magic made him one of the strongest on the continent, just behind monsters like Warrod.
More importantly, Ren respected the man's character.
"Very well. Then extend your hand."
With a gentle smile, Makarov took out the Fairy Tail guild stamp.
"Huh?"
Ren hesitated, but then followed the instruction and held out his hand.
Smack! Makarov pressed the stamp onto the back of Ren's left hand. As the emblem of Fairy Tail appeared, Makarov gave him a warm, fatherly look.
"Welcome to Fairy Tail. From today onward, we are comrades, and we are family."
"That's it? That simple?"
Ren looked at the mark in disbelief. But everything confirmed it—from the system prompt in his mind to Makarov's heartfelt welcome—he had officially become a member of Fairy Tail.
"To become family, there's no need for reason," Makarov replied with a smile, then turned toward the others and asked kindly, "Anyone else want to join Fairy Tail? Grandpa's got the stamp ready! You can choose any color and location you want~"
With that smile, Makarov looked like an old fox who had found a promising group of recruits. Truthfully, he couldn't be happier to have them join.
And from his many years of experience, he could already tell that neither Ren nor Erza were bad kids.
Sure, Ren was more guarded and calculating, but he was still young. Compared to Makarov's vast life experience, he had a long way to go.
"Me! I want to join too!"
Erza raised her hand excitedly. Seeing Ren join made her eager to be a part of it as well.
"Alright! From today, you're part of Fairy Tail too!"
With Makarov's stamp, Erza officially became a guild member.
"Um…"
After stamping both Ren and Erza, Makarov turned to look at Irene.
His gaze turned serious. Among the group, she was the only one he couldn't read at all. Though there was no visible flow of magic in her body, every cell in his being screamed danger. It was like standing before a terrifying monster.
Her presence alone surpassed everything he had ever encountered.
Still, trusting his instincts, Makarov said nothing.
"Alright~"
Seeing that Ren and Erza had joined, Irene decided to follow. She pressed the stamp onto her hand, choosing a crimson color to match her scarlet hair.
Ren watched her and let out a breath of relief.
When his own stamp was applied, he had briefly sensed a faint, invisible connection—something mystical, like a thread that linked everyone bearing the Fairy Tail crest. The deeper the bond, the stronger the sensation.
He could feel that deep connection clearly between himself, Irene, and Erza, as well as Makarov's equal and genuine love for all guild members.
"This guild emblem… it really is Fairy Tail's true legacy. A form of magic deeper than even the Three Great Fairy Spells."
Ren couldn't help but marvel. Then another thought struck him.
If someone like Irene, at her level were to receive this Fairy Tail bond buff, just how ridiculous would that be?
He stopped thinking about it. It was simply too mind-boggling to imagine.
As for Illya, Ian, and Eden, under Irene's instruction, they too joined the guild. When Makarov stamped them, he did notice something off. But he chose not to ask. Everyone had their own secrets, and as long as they didn't harm the guild, it didn't matter.
"Alright, you brats! Let's celebrate! Six new members in one day! Let's drink to that!"
Makarov raised his mug high. Though honestly, even if he hadn't said anything, the guild members would've kept drinking regardless.
"Oh, and by the way, you're paying for your own drinks."
He added with a sly grin.
"Cheh…"
The guild members booed in unison.
"OHHH!!"
But they still raised their glasses and drank heartily.
With that, booze flowed freely, and attention drifted away from Ren and the others. Those who wanted to drink drank. Those looking for missions browsed the board. And those who liked to fight started brawling again.
The guild was once more filled with joyful chaos.
But that, after all, was Fairy Tail.
*********
Hey everyone! I'll be dropping an extra 1 chapter once we hit 200, 400 power stones! If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to spend some power stones. I'd really appreciate the support. Thanks a bunch!