The next day.
At the Guild.
"Let me warmly welcome a new companion to Fairy Tail!"
Weston stood on a wooden table, one hand on his hip and the other raising a beer mug high, cheering loudly.
"Cheers!"
"Oh oh oh!!!"
The Guild members were also very enthusiastic, raising their glasses and drinking heartily.
Gulp gulp... "Hmm... freshly squeezed orange juice is really good!"
Yuri, Precht, and Warrod sat in a row, looking at the orange liquid in their cups, silently but with a smile.
"I was wondering why the villagers were so sober last night after drinking so much. Turns out they weren't drinking wheat wine at all, but orange juice..."
"No, maybe the children were drinking orange juice, but the adults should have been drinking alcohol, just not as much as we thought."
"No matter what, this outcome is the best."
"Indeed!"
The three clinked their cups together and took a hearty gulp.
After the celebration.
Weston called all the Guild children over, gathered them in front of the wooden table, and explained that he would be leaving Tenrou Island to develop the Guild.
"Boss, are you really leaving Tenrou Island?"
"We'll really miss you!"
"Mhm mhm... us too..."
Everyone had grown up together as companions, so it was normal to feel reluctant about suddenly parting ways.
Weston looked at the few who spoke, raising an eyebrow: "If you really miss me that much, why don't you come with me?"
"Uh... I can't, my mom and dad don't want me to travel far."
"That's right, my grandpa doesn't want to leave Tenrou Island either. He says he wants to die here."
The residents of Tenrou Island were more attached to their homeland and more insular than Weston had imagined.
Agreeing to Weston's proposal for the village to establish ties with the outside world and for the children to venture out and explore the world was already a very rare concession, and it was all because of Weston.
"Boss, don't worry, I've already talked to my family. In three years, when I turn 18, I can leave Tenrou Island and explore the outside world. I'll come to you then, so you absolutely must not forget me!"
"Of course."
"Since you've joined Fairy Tail, you are my family. I would never abandon my family."
Weston spoke with conviction, his arms crossed over his chest.
A delicate little girl squeezed in front of Weston, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"Boss, actually, for all these years, there's been something I've kept in my heart for a long time, always wanting to tell you."
"Now that you're leaving, I'm afraid if I don't say it now, I won't have another chance!"
Ah, this... could this be the 'farewell confession' kind of development?
Weston was slightly stunned, his gaze unconsciously shifting to Mavis and Zera not far away.
He saw one of the two women smiling faintly, the other sweetly, but both were watching intently.
In an instant.
The Guild members immediately started booing, 'Oh—'
Yuri, Precht, and Warrod also immediately showed expressions of 'gossiping,' 'amused,' and 'watching a good show.'
"Just say what you want to say, I'm listening."
Weston swallowed, feigning calmness.
In front of everyone, this little girl shouldn't make a mistake, right?
The little girl let out a 'hoo,' secretly cheering herself on with a clenched fist, then suddenly looked up at Weston: "Boss, I've always wanted to tell you..."
"Please let Mavis and Zera go, and let them find happiness together!!!"
"...?!"
Weston's nervous mood instantly calmed down.
Yuri, Precht, and Warrod all widened their eyes at the same time, so shocked their jaws dropped.
Mavis blinked, tilted her head, her face full of 'I don't understand' and 'curiosity' expressions.
Zera's face was red, and in her tightly clenched right fist, black flames flickered in and out of existence.
The Guild members, on the other hand, all frowned, looked at each other, and silently communicated with their eyes—
'Wasn't she going to confess?'
'What is she saying?'
'I don't know!'
'I completely don't understand!'
'Why fulfill Mavis and Zera's wishes? Fulfill what?'
Whew... Weston patted the little girl's head, sighing meaningfully: "After we leave, you should either learn from Mavis and read more useful books, or learn from Zera and practice the magic I taught you more."
"Don't think about such nonsense all day."
Then he turned his head to look at the other Guild members.
"Once I go out and submit an application to the Council, Fairy Tail will become an official Magic Guild."
"Although I will build the Guild's headquarters outside then, this place cannot be dismantled. You should treat this as a branch of the Guild and continue to act as members of Fairy Tail!"
"Sword and Hugh, from now on, you two will be the Guild Masters of the Tenrou Island branch, and all matters here will be handled by you."
As soon as the appointment was announced, Sword and Hugh immediately became invigorated, putting on expressions of deep gratitude, then straightened their backs and made their assurances.
"Understood!"
"Got it!"
"Boss, we will definitely take good care of the Guild companions and the village!"
...Although it had been decided to leave, there was no rush.
Whether it was packing luggage or asking villagers to help build the ships for their journey, all of this required time.
Plus, in a few days it would be the seventh anniversary of Fairy Tail's establishment, so Weston decided to stay in the village for a few more days, which would also give him time to teach Yuri and the others magic.
When night fell and the other Guild companions had returned home, Weston called Mavis, Zera, and Yuri over for a small meeting.
"Yuri, Precht, and Warrod, starting tomorrow, I will teach you how to perceive magic power."
"Once you activate the magic power within your bodies, you will be able to awaken your own magic."
Perceive magic power, awaken magic?
Has it finally come to this step?
Listening to Weston's words, the three felt a surge of excitement.
"However, we can discuss this tomorrow. Right now, I want to show you our Fairy Tail's course of action once we return to the mainland."
"Uh... course of action?"
"Exactly!"
Weston said, activating his Super Archive magic, revealing the plan he had painstakingly devised over the past few days.
"The best way to develop a Magic Guild is to make a name for yourselves!"
"Ordinary fame isn't enough; it must be heroic deeds like 'defeating Dark Guilds' and 'saving enslaved and taken advantage of people'!"
"In this process, it's best if there are situations like 'a vast disparity in numbers between the two sides' and 'winning with fewer numbers.'"
Precht's expression shifted upon hearing this: "It sounds like you already have a target in mind?"
"Exactly!"
"Blue Skull of Magnolia is our first opponent!"