"Hello, I'd like to post a commission."
Just as Mirajen was battling the violent little demon inside her mind, a voice came from outside the door that Hop had half‑blocked.
Turning around, she saw an elderly man dressed in climbing gear.
Upon hearing that he was here to post a commission, Hop and Mirajen invited the old man into the guild.
Behind the counter, Hop poured the old man a cup of warm water, while Mirajen fetched a pen and a blank commission form from a drawer and asked, "Sir, what commission would you like to post? Our Fairy Tail mages will do our utmost to fulfill it."
"I don't know if it'll be completed, but I've long heard of your guild's destructive power," the old man said abruptly, leaving Mirajen speechless.
That old man really knows how to talk.
Hop shook his head slightly and said, "Sir, if you're not satisfied with Fairy Tail, you can look for another mage guild; there's no need to force yourself."
The old man turned his head, meeting Hop's gaze, and recognized that this youngster, like himself, enjoyed a sarcastic tone.
As the saying goes, fists fear the young; the old man coughed politely, letting the topic drop, and said, "My name is Buch, a member of the Historian's Guild."
In fact, in this world, besides mage guilds there are many other types of guilds.
For example, there are scholar guilds that study various knowledge, mercenary guilds that care about money not people, treasure hunter guilds that seek and seize riches... In short, guilds are small communities of like‑minded individuals banding together.
Hearing the old man's self‑introduction, Mirajen asked with some doubt, "I recall the Historian's Guild doesn't seem to think highly of Fairy Tail, right?"
"That's because your guild's mages are clumsy; if they were to damage any relic, the loss would be unacceptable," Buch snorted coldly.
Mirajen's smile froze once more.
While his words made sense, she couldn't help feeling the urge to punch the old man... Compared to Mirajen, whose inner demon was stirring, Hop was intrigued, "Then, Mr. Buch, what commission could make a scholar who dislikes our guild come knocking on our door?"
"If it's not exciting enough, we can simply decline it~"
"I had no idea our guild accepted commissions with additional conditions."
A hand clad in iron armor silently appeared on Hop's head; from the corner of his eye he saw a red‑haired girl dressed in knightly armor.
Immediately, he broke into a cold sweat and forced a calm tone, "So it's Elusha. I was just joking—what can I do when this old man comes on all sarcastic..."
Bang!
The sudden commotion startled Buch, and seeing Hop's head violently slammed onto the table, the old man could only think of one thing about Elusha.
Is this the Fairy Queen?
How brutal.
Unaware that she had left a bad impression, Elusha released her grip, pulled the feigned‑dead Hop off the chair, and with a supposedly friendly smile said to Buch, "This client— that guy earlier is a guild rookie, still unfamiliar with the procedures; please don't mind."
"N-no, I don't mind. I really don't mind."
Buch forced a laugh, dabbed the cold sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, and quickly explained his purpose.
It turned out that Buch's Historian's Guild had recently discovered an ancient kingdom ruin in an undeveloped forested mountain, presumed to be a realm that vanished over 400 years ago.
However, a terrifying monster roams the ruins, preventing the guild's archaeological team from proceeding, so they are seeking outside assistance.
In fact, almost every scholar guild partners with a mage guild—specifically the magic‑research‑focused "Azure Pegasus"—and any operation needing mage assistance is delegated to them.
Buch initially sought help from the Azure Pegasus, but they were short on manpower, so they recommended Fairy Tail.
Since the task is merely to eliminate the monster blocking the ruin's exploration, choosing the more combat‑capable Fairy Tail is actually better.
Those were the exact words of Azure Pegasus's leader, Bobo, to Buch.
Truly a good brother of Makalov; even after leaving Fairy Tail, he still remembers to send work his old friend's guild.
Buch filled out the blank commission form: they need at least one mage to accompany a team to the ancient kingdom ruin, eliminate the monster, protect the archaeological team for a week, and the stronger the dispatched mage, the better.
Are you making a wish here?
Hop, leaning in again, glanced at the commission details, his mouth twitched.
But when he saw the long string of numbers under the reward column, Hop was so shocked his jaw nearly dropped.
20,000,000 J!
Does the Historian's Guild really have that much money?
They couldn't possibly be digging up tombs... Yet Elusha and Mirajen were unfazed; the Historian's Guild is backed by the royal families of over a dozen nations, so 20 million J is a fortune for most guilds but just right for them.
Considering the Historian's Guild merely appraises relics for nobles and runs auctions, they can easily rake in several hundred million a year.
Buch looked at Hop's naive expression and finally felt relieved, "Kid, do you think your guild can take this commission?"
Damn! Money doesn't make you great!
Hop felt indignant, but outwardly he quickly changed his expression, grasped Buch's hand firmly, and said earnestly, "Mr. Buch, please be sure to entrust this commission to Fairy Tail."
Shameless!
Buch, Elusha, and Mirajen all muttered their commentary in a voice‑over.
The commission was posted, but Buch's time waits for no one, so they must quickly decide who will take the job.
Ordinary mages aren't to Buch's liking.
And the strongest members below S‑rank are mostly absent; Natz and Gray have been taken by Makalov for a reprimand.
"Why not send an S‑rank mage? If the money's insufficient, I can add more," Buch said generously.
Mirajen nodded; a 20‑million reward already exceeds that of some S‑rank missions, so hiring an S‑rank mage is no problem.
"Elusha, how about you?"
Elusha didn't refuse; currently the guild has only her and Mirajen as S‑rank mages, but Mirajen can't take the mission.
She alone can't handle both the monster and protecting the archaeological team, so... Elusha's eyes flicked to a certain would‑be runaway, grabbed him, and said, "Let's form a temporary team, Hop, split the reward fifty‑fifty."
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