— — — — — —
"Yes, I'm enough on my own. If I can't beat the Black Dragon by myself, then bringing more people won't change anything."
After saying that, Kazuma suddenly frowned. His spider haki cut out without warning, and the feeling of danger vanished along with it.
He didn't understand what happened.
"Don't say things like that," Mavis protested. "There's strength in numbers. When companions stand together, the power they can unleash is definitely greater than one person alone."
"As the saying goes, united we stand, divided we fall."
"H-Hey, where are you going? Don't leave! Wait for me! I'll stop talking if that's what it takes. Just chat with me a bit longer, okay?"
Mavis watched Kazuma jump down from the tree, clearly preparing to leave. She thought he was annoyed by her constant chatter.
"The Black Dragon seems to have run into something halfway and changed course. It doesn't look like it's coming anytime soon."
"So I'm heading back for now. When the Black Dragon actually shows up, I'll come again."
Kazuma could no longer sense Acnologia's presence. He had no idea what the dragon had gone off to do, but for the moment, it clearly wasn't coming back. There was no point waiting around, so he decided to return and rest.
"Oh right, First Guild Master. Since I'm leaving, I'll take you back with me too."
Kazuma reached out, grabbed the First Guild Master by her clothes, and pulled her straight into the shadows.
"Hey! What are you doing?!"
"No wait... Why can you even touch me?!"
"And what is this pitch-black thing? It's terrifying! I don't want to go in there! Help! I'm being kidnapped!"
The First Guild Master's screams echoed as Kazuma dragged her into the shadows. Not long after, they emerged inside the Fairy Tail guild hall.
"Stop screaming, First. We're home."
Kazuma let go, and Mavis promptly landed flat on her butt, yelping in pain.
"Ow, ow! Don't just let go all of a sudden!"
She rubbed her butt and complained.
"First, you're a spirit. You can fly. And you don't even feel pain."
Kazuma stated this calmly.
"Ah… that's true. I forgot."
Mavis put on an adorable expression, clearly trying to play it cute and get away with it. It didn't work. Kazuma didn't even look at her.
He pushed open the door and walked straight into the Fairy Tail guild hall.
"Fairy Tail… am I finally home?"
Mavis looked up at the guild's signboard, then at the flag fluttering in the wind. Memories from long ago surfaced.
"Fairy Tail… do fairies have tails? Maybe they do. Maybe they don't. You could even say whether fairies exist at all is a mystery. But it's precisely because of the unknown that it sparks endless curiosity."
Mavis smiled. So many things had changed over the years, yet the Fairy Tail flag still flew proudly.
She followed Kazuma inside. The guild was as lively as ever, filled with laughter and noise.
Looking at the members, at the smiles on their faces, Mavis's own smile grew even brighter.
"Kazuma, you brat, you finally came back!"
"Where did you run off to this time, dumping all the guild's responsibilities on an old retired man like me?!"
"Do you have any idea how exhausting it is to manage this place while also dealing with the Magic Council?! You little—"
Hearing the cheers welcoming Kazuma back, Makarov tossed aside his work and hurried out of his room. The moment he saw Kazuma, he started scolding him nonstop.
Then his words died in his throat when he noticed Mavis standing behind Kazuma.
"F-F-First… First Master?!"
Makarov stared at Mavis in disbelief, rubbed his eyes hard, then turned to look at Kazuma.
"Didn't I tell you I went to Tenrou Island? I was expecting a huge battle, but the opponent didn't show up halfway through."
"So I had no choice but to come back. Oh right, I even brought you some local specialties from Tenrou Island."
Kazuma casually patted Mavis on the head. Even though she was a spirit and no one else could touch her, he could. After all, if he could punch hard enough to shatter a soul, touching it wasn't exactly strange.
"Local specialties? And patting her head with your hand? You're way too rude! Do you even know who this is?!"
"This is the First Guild Master, Mavis Vermillion!"
"No, no.... Is it really the First? Could it be someone who just looks like her?"
Makarov hesitantly reached out to touch her. His finger passed straight through.
"It's real… It's the First Master's soul!"
"Yes, that's me," Mavis said cheerfully.
"And Makarov… no, I should call you the Third Master now. Fairy Tail has become such a wonderful guild."
"A place filled with joy and warmth. You must have worked very hard all these years."
Mavis looked at the white-haired old man before her. She recognized him instantly. She had been the one to give him the name Makarov.
"First Master!"
Makarov gazed at her, never imagining he would be able to speak with the First Master like this. For a moment, he completely lost control, tears welling up in his eyes.
.
.
.