Chapter 4: I Can Team Up with You!
Although Levy had explained the guild registration process to him beforehand, Roland only realized how truly simple it was when he actually joined.
"Speaking of which—what kind of magic does Roland use?"
Noticing the golden guild mark on his left shoulder, Levy suddenly remembered something. She blinked and asked curiously.
Mirajane, who was handling the registration nearby, also looked over with interest upon hearing the question.
"My magic is somewhat unusual—it relates to shadows," Roland replied naturally with a smile after receiving his guild mark, noticing their curious gazes.
"Shadowkhan."
The next moment, all shadows in the guildhall began twisting and contorting like monstrous tentacles crawling wildly across the walls. Dozens of pairs of crimson glowing eyes gradually emerged from the darkness.
One after another, shadowy ninjas stepped out from the shadows. They were clad entirely in black ninja attire with their faces wrapped in headscarves, leaving only their red eyes visible—creating an eerie appearance.
These shadow ninjas knelt on one knee, bowing their heads toward Roland's direction as they quietly awaited their master's commands.
"..."
Levy stared dumbfounded at the figures emerging from the guild's corners, her mouth slightly agape.
"Hey hey hey, what the hell are those things!?"
"Did a dark guild attack us?"
The sudden appearance of the Shadowkhan startled other guild members as well, causing various exclamations to erupt throughout the hall.
Seeing the commotion growing, Roland waved his hand toward the shadow ninjas, silently issuing a retreat command.
Upon receiving the order, the shadow ninjas immediately melted back into the floor's shadows without hesitation.
Mirajane, having regained her composure, explained the situation to everyone present, preventing the situation from escalating into major chaos.
"Phew, your magic is truly unique, Mr. Roland," Mirajane remarked in amazement, watching the shadows in the guildhall return to normal.
"I've never seen magic like this before..." Levy murmured softly.
Even the ancient texts she'd studied contained no records of similar magic—as a bookworm, she had complete confidence in her knowledge.
"I see, so those strange figures just now were your magic!"
Just then, an elderly yet energetic voice came from behind.
Roland turned to see a short old man wearing a circus clown hat, his face adorned with a kindly smile.
"Yo, pleased to meet you, newcomer!"
Noticing Roland's gaze, the old man cheerfully extended a hand in greeting.
"This is the master of Fairy Tail—Makarov," Mirajane introduced with a smile.
"Good morning, Guild Master," Roland greeted with a light chuckle.
Though his memory of Fairy Tail's storyline was somewhat fuzzy, he clearly remembered this old man's identity.
Makarov Dreyar, the third Guild Master of the Fairy Tail guild, and one of the Ten Wizard Saints.
Meanwhile, Levy was explaining Roland's background to Makarov.
"Traveling alone since childhood?" Makarov gave him a surprised look before nimbly hopping onto a nearby high stool.
With a benevolent smile, he reached out and patted Roland's shoulder, laughing heartily.
"It's not easy, but since you've joined the guild, you should treat this place as your home. No need to be too reserved."
Seeing the guild master as kind as a grandfather, Roland couldn't help but relax a little.
However, the very next moment.
Bang—
A wooden bench flew over without warning, smashing Makarov, who had been laughing heartily, straight behind the bar.
"..."
Roland instinctively turned to look, then fell silent.
The guild hall had somehow erupted into chaos.
Shattered tables and wooden barrels flew everywhere, dazzling magic circles flickered one after another, accompanied by burning purple smoke and rising fumes...
"N-no, it's not what you think!" Levy's smile grew strained as she looked at Roland's silent expression, stumbling over her words as she tried to explain. "Everyone's just... having their usual interactions..."
Before she could finish, a burly figure suddenly came flying from a distance.
Just as it was about to hit Levy, Roland sighed and pulled her into his arms.
Makarov, who had just climbed back up, wasn't so lucky—before he could steady himself, he was knocked down again.
"Don't go too far—you damn brats!"
Unable to bear it any longer, Makarov activated his Giant Magic. His enormous arm tossed Elfman aside and he charged into the crowd with a roar.
"Mmph!"
Pressed against Roland's chest, Levy's cheeks instantly flushed red. Her petite, adorable body suddenly felt weak and powerless.
Sh-she's being held!?
"Um... are you okay?"
Looking at the breathless girl in his arms, Roland couldn't resist patting her head.
Her blue hair was soft and smooth, pleasant to the touch, with a faint fragrance that teased his nostrils.
It was just like petting a cat.
The difference was, a cat would purr when petted, but Levy—
Seeing the girl's increasingly dazed eyes, Roland inexplicably felt a pang of guilt and stopped stroking her hair, turning to look away.
As he did, he noticed Mirajane staring at them with intense curiosity. Realizing she'd been caught, she coughed lightly into her hand and whispered, "Ahem, I didn't see anything!"
Liar.
Fortunately, Mirajane's comment made Levy aware of the awkward situation. She quickly pulled away from his embrace and stood to the side, her face crimson as she nervously twisted her fingers behind her back.
"Mira-nee, may I take on a quest now?"
Ignoring the girl's blush, Roland asked with a serious expression.
After completing the guild entry quest, the system had unlocked the remaining two task slots.
[Quest 1: First Bucket of Gold!]
[Quest Description: Earn your first sum of money in this world—through work, begging, stealing, or robbing!]
[Quest Reward: Gourmet Table Cloth (from the world of Doraemon)]
[Quest 2: S-Class Request!]
[Quest Description: Complete an S-Class request. Be careful not to go out at night!]
[Quest Reward: Zoan-type Devil Fruit (from the world of One Piece)]
Right now, only the first one should be achievable.
"You can, but as a newcomer, I'd recommend finding a temporary teammate!"
Mirajane glanced at Levy beside them and smiled sweetly.
"I see. In that case, could I trouble Mira—"
"Wait, I can team up with you!"