The Harvest Festival revelry continued until dawn the next day.
As the first ray of morning sun rose from the east, breaking through the darkness and falling upon the land,
the Magicians of the Fairy Tail Guild, who were hosting the parade floats, and the townspeople of Magnolia Town, who stood on both sides of the street, cheering, discussing, and enjoying the performances brought by the Fairy Tail Guild, finally returned home, still wishing for more.
"I hope next year comes quickly!"
"I wonder what new tricks the Magicians of the Fairy Tail Guild will pull out for the next Harvest Festival?! It's really making me look forward to it immensely."
Many of the townspeople, from the moment the Harvest Festival ended, began to anticipate next year's Harvest Festival. They were very curious, given the level of antics from the Magicians of the Fairy Tail Guild, what kind of wonderful performances would be presented at the next Harvest Festival?!
Perhaps it would surprise everyone again?
However, some elders who were permanent residents of Magnolia Town and were very familiar with the personalities of the Magicians of the Fairy Tail Guild, clasped their hands together and continuously prayed to the gods: "I truly hope that the performances the Fairy Tail Guild presents each year are pleasant surprises, not frights."
Cough cough…
Just like that, the Harvest Festival quietly passed.
The time came to October 8, X778.
There were only two months left until the Fairy Tail Guild's truly most important annual event, the S-Class Mage Examination.
Perhaps, for ordinary Magicians, two months is still a lot of time…
However, for the S-Class Mage candidates within the Guild, these last two months felt very urgent…
Especially for those few individuals, recognized by the Fairy Tail Guild members as the top seeds most likely to pass this year's S-Class Mage Examination.
Noon.
The Fairy Tail members, who had partied all night, finally got out of bed. They all dragged their heavy, light-headed bodies into the Fairy Tail Guild's main entrance.
As soon as they entered, they heard the continuous quarrel coming from inside the Fairy Tail Guild's main entrance.
"Laxus…"
"Those few quests in your hand, I clearly saw them first."
Erza pointed at the quest slips in Laxus's hand and said angrily.
"Erza, has no one taught you the rule of first come, first served?"
"Just seeing them is useless. All these quest slips are posted on the board; whoever gets them first, they're theirs!"
Laxus held more than a dozen A-rank quest slips and said smugly.
"Damn it, you're just relying on the unique speed of your Lightning Dragon Slayer Magic to snatch the quest slips before me! What's there to be proud of?"
Erza's face puffed up with anger from Laxus's words, and she spoke huffily.
"Erza, don't you know?"
"Speed is also an advantage…"
Laxus's lips curled slightly upwards, that punchable expression making Erza grit her teeth.
"Damn it…"
Erza was a bit dejected; her premonition had indeed come true…
Back when Erza first met Laxus, she had already anticipated that this annoying blond would snatch the quest slips she favored, and now it had indeed come to pass.
"Laxus, you're going a bit too far, huh!"
"Can you complete all the A-rank subjugation quests by yourself?"
"At least give us some."
At this moment, Mirajane also came to Laxus's side and loudly accused him.
"Sorry, Mirajane…"
"If it were on a normal day, I wouldn't mind giving you a few A-rank quest slips."
"But unfortunately…"
"To prepare for the examination two months from now…"
"I won't hand these quest slips over to anyone."
"In other words, Mirajane, you and I are currently rivals."
Laxus glanced at Mirajane beside him, uncharacteristically explaining a few words.
"Damn it." Mirajane stomped her foot hard upon hearing this, and said irritably, "It seems we can only snatch them."
"Yes, we can only snatch them."
Ultear, who had just entered the Guild, upon discovering that all the A-rank quests had been taken by Laxus, her usually good-tempered self inevitably became a bit more irritable.
"Then let's see!"
"Let's see if, with your speed, you can truly snatch these quest slips from my hands."
As Laxus spoke, his body transformed into a bolt of lightning, and in just a single breath, he disappeared from the first-floor hall of the Fairy Tail Guild.
"Damn it, don't let him get away."
Erza, Mirajane, and the others, seeing Laxus about to escape, their expressions immediately changed, and they rushed out of the Guild, going after Laxus, who had turned into lightning, to encircle him…
"What's going on?"
"It's the middle of the day, why are Erza and Laxus fighting?"
As for the other Magicians in the Guild, they seemed utterly confused, looking at Laxus and the others who started fighting as soon as they entered the Guild, their expressions showing bewilderment.
"Isn't it almost time for our Guild to hold the S-Class Mage Examination?"
"If there are no surprises…"
"The candidates who pass this year's Guild S-Class Mage Examination will be decided among Laxus, Erza, Ultear, and Mirajane."
"So, Laxus and Erza, they've already started clashing…"
"Although the examination is in two months, this war, which concerns the identity of the Guild's next S-Class Mage, has already begun."
Finally, it was Wakaba, who had been sitting at the bar from the beginning, drinking whiskey and puffing on a cigar, who, with a solemn expression, explained the specific reasons and circumstances of Erza and the others' fight to everyone in the Guild.
"S-Class Mage Examination?!"
As Wakaba's words fell, the expressions of the Magicians present in the Guild all changed.
"So, it's that day again, right?!"
Macao said, walking to Wakaba with a serious expression. Usually amiable and a good-natured person in the Guild, his expression at this moment carried a rare sense of sternness.
"Yes…"
Wakaba snapped his fingers lightly upon hearing this, and ordered a glass of whiskey for Macao as well.
"Clink~"
"Cheers to our cause~"
Macao took the whiskey with ice cubes, clinked it lightly with Wakaba's glass, and then drank it all in one gulp.
Then…
"Little ones, let's gamble! Let's gamble!!"
"Who will be chosen by Master Makarov to participate in this year's S-Class Mage Examination?!"
"It's time for some divine predictions…"
As Wakaba and Macao spoke, they took off their shirts and cheered loudly.
"Oh!!!"
For a moment, the entire hall of the Fairy Tail Guild instantly let out a wolf howl.
At this moment…
Makarov, as the Guild Master, came out pushing a blackboard, accompanied by several specially invited poster girls.
"Little ones, write down the names of the members you think can participate in this year's Fairy Tail Guild S-Class Mage Examination~"
Makarov had a shrewd merchant's smile on his face. He looked at the Guild members as if they were a flock of lambs waiting to be slaughtered.
Sorry, on the gambling table, there are no fathers and sons!
Only when gambling…
He, Makarov, was not the father of the Fairy Tail Guild's Magicians.
"I bet 100,000 J on Laxus being chosen to participate in this year's Guild S-Class Mage Examination! Brothers, I'm going all in first, the rest is up to you…"
"I also bet 10,000 J on Laxus!"
"It must be Laxus!"
"Laxus is already a sure thing, right?"
The Magicians in the Guild almost all poured their money onto Laxus.
Although Laxus had a bad temper and wasn't very talkative, and seemed to have some distance from the Guild members,
there wasn't a single person in the entire Fairy Tail Guild who thought Laxus couldn't fight.
You could say Laxus was difficult to get along with, but you couldn't say Laxus was weak…
"Hey, hey, hey! You can't bet everything on one person, you damn brats."
Makarov, seeing everyone present betting their money on Laxus, frowned deeply and reprimanded loudly.
Really, it made him want to pull some strings to prevent Laxus from participating in this year's Guild S-Class Mage Examination. Cough cough…
"I bet 20,000 J on Erza!"
"I also bet on Erza…"
"I'm betting 5,000 J on Mirajane!"
"I'm betting 20,000 J on Ultear!"
Following Makarov's shout, the choices of the Magicians in the Guild began to diversify. Everyone wrote down the names of the candidates they believed might participate in the S-Class Mage Examination.
"I'm betting 10,000 J on Natsu!"
"Good for you, you're brave!"
"I'm betting 20,000 J on Gray!"
"I'm betting 5,000 J on Elfman!"
Subsequently, more and more different voices emerged within the Guild. They began to choose some less popular but still capable members.
After all, the possibility of these individuals being chosen was also quite high, and the fewer people who bet on them, the more they would earn.
"I'm betting 3,000 J on Laki Olietta!"
"No, brother, I really didn't want to say anything to you… "
"The person you bet on can be an underdog, because these underdogs with strength can easily pull off an upset! But you can't bet on someone too outlandish, right?!"
"Tell me, wouldn't it be better to use 3,000 J to buy a meal?"
"Why are you betting on a painter?!"
"If it were a painting competition, Laki Olietta would definitely be NO. 1, but this is a competition that requires combat…"
As the nominated Magicians became increasingly obscure, the people in the Guild were quite speechless.
Even Laki Olietta himself, upon seeing his name written on the nomination board, froze in place. He asked in confusion, "Huh? Me?! Participate in the S-Class Mage Examination? Compete with Laxus and them?"
"I'm betting 500,000 J on Erza!"
Just as everyone was squabbling, a discordant voice slowly sounded, shocking everyone present into silence.
"Hiss…"
"What, 500,000 J?!"
"Are you kidding me? That's way too much, isn't it?"
"Even if Erza is your daughter, you don't need to emphasize it here, do you?"
"We're all just having fun, you're here to cause trouble, aren't you?"
Upon hearing this, everyone first gasped, then looked towards the figure slowly walking into the Fairy Tail Guild hall, muttering.
Yes, the newcomer was naturally Medivh, who had just woken up.
"Ah-woo~"
"Good morning, Master~"
"Let me see who everyone chose?"
Medivh yawned and strode to the bar at the back of the Guild. He first greeted Makarov, the Guild Master, then…
He then looked at the list of Fairy Tail members whom they believed would participate in this year's Fairy Tail S-Class Mage Examination.
The names on this list included Laxus, Erza, Ultear, and Mirajane, these four universally recognized powerhouses. After them were Natsu, Gray, Lyon, and Elfman, as well as Laki Olietta.
"Huh?"
Medivh didn't expect Laki Olietta's name to appear on the list.
"Don't look at me, I don't know what's going on either…"
"Perhaps it's a prank by some Guild member?"
Laki Olietta shrugged helplessly. As an artist, a painter who could use magic, he wasn't really interested in fighting.
"No Cana?"
Medivh noticed that Cana's name wasn't on the list. He picked up a piece of chalk nearby, casually added Cana's name, and bet 10,000 J on her.
Well, in Medivh's mind, Cana was absolutely worthy of the S-Class Mage seed status. In terms of potential magical talent and physical potential, Cana was not much weaker than Mirajane and the others.
Although, Cana would definitely miss out on this year's S-Class position in the Guild…
But that didn't mean Cana wouldn't have a chance to pass the examination in the future.
To this, Cana said, "Medivh, I really thank you! You go through all this trouble just to make me experience failure."
After Medivh finished all this, he furrowed his brows tightly, rubbing his chin while staring blankly at the list of names in front of him. He seemed to be contemplating something important.
"Medivh…"
Makarov seemed to notice Medivh's abnormality. He looked up at Medivh, who was staring blankly at the list of names, and asked in confusion, "What's wrong with you? Are you alright?"
"I just feel that~"
"There seems to be something crucial missing from this list of names."
"But right now, I've suddenly forgotten it, and I can't recall it at the moment…"
Medivh frowned, rubbing his temples while racking his brain.
"Hmm?!"
"Do you think this list is missing anyone else?"
Upon hearing this, Makarov turned his head to look at the list of names beside him.
To be honest, the list of members nominated by the Guild members to participate in this year's S-Class Mage Examination was already very close to his own expected list of participants for this year's S-Class Mage Examination…
If there was any difference…
It was just the addition of the great painter Laki Olietta.
And also, in Makarov's opinion, Elfman's strength was not yet sufficient to participate in this year's S-Class Mage Examination.
He should cultivate for another three or four years before even considering it!
Other than that, there was nothing else.
However, since Medivh said there was a problem with this list of names, there must be something amiss. Makarov thought this and began to recall the specific performances of all the Magicians in the Guild and their mission completion over the past year.
"That's right…"
Just as Makarov was recalling along with Medivh, checking for any omissions due to his age, or any capable Guild members who might participate in the S-Class Mage Examination…
Medivh's expression suddenly flashed with realization. He seemed to have thought of something important. He turned to Makarov and said seriously, "Speaking of which, I remembered something very important! I wonder if you, Master Makarov, have thought of it?"
"What is it?"
"Just tell me directly!"
"My old brain has nothing in it right now."
Makarov looked up and asked Medivh.
"It's just that…"
"Is Ur an S-Class Mage of our Guild right now?"
"Because I can't quite remember, so I thought I'd ask you."
Medivh looked at Makarov and asked with a serious expression.
"Eh?!"
Upon hearing this, Makarov widened his eyes. After going through his memories, he said in disbelief, "That's right, speaking of which, Ur, who is already one of the Saint Ten Wizard, doesn't seem to be an S-Class Mage of the Guild yet."
"Huh?"
"No way! That Ur isn't an S-Class Mage of the Guild?"
"I remember now! Although Ur joined the Guild four years ago, she's always been training outside. Usually, she never shows up at the Guild."
"Also, in my memory, there's no record of Ur participating in the Guild's S-Class Mage Examination, which means Ur is indeed not an S-Class yet…"
"Wait, hasn't Ur already received the Saint Ten Wizard title granted by the Magic Council? That's a title on the same level as the Master, right?"
"So, she, a Magician already recognized by the Magic Council as one of the top ten on the Ishgar continent, is going to compete with others in the Guild for this year's only S-Class position? Are you kidding me?!"
For a moment, all the Fairy Tail members present dropped their jaws in astonishment.
So, the 'Saint Ten Wizard' Ur will also participate in this year's Fairy Tail Guild S-Class Mage Examination, right?
If the 'Ten Wizard Saints' Ur is also going to participate in the examination, then can everyone else just withdraw directly?
After all, what's the point of taking the examination then?
Hmm, the Fairy Tail Guild's matching mechanism is as excellent as ever!
You are a rising star who has just glimpsed the mysteries of magic.
So, the person you will be competing with next is Ul Milkovich, who has already forged her own magical path, has been immersed in the field of magic for decades, and is the strongest Molding Magician on the continent, one of the Saint Ten Wizard.
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