Chapter 36: FTRJ: Chapter 36

Thump! A tremendous sound echoed through the guild hall. “You idiots, stop fighting!!”

“Whoa…so big!!” Lucy’s eyes widened at the giant before her.

The giant’s appearance silenced the brawling guild members. Only Natsu, the unlucky one, was still laughing triumphantly. “Hahaha, you’re all scared! That means I win this fight…”

Before he could finish, he was flattened by the giant Makarov with a single, mighty stomp.

Lucy was utterly terrified.

“Yo, Master, long time no see!” Finn greeted the guild master with a cheerful wave.

Makarov looked down at Finn. “You’re back, that’s good, that’s good!”

He turned to Lucy. “New recruit?”

“Yes, yes, yes!” Lucy replied hastily, the immense pressure emanating from the giant Makarov causing her to involuntarily stammer.

Makarov’s gigantic form began to shrink gradually, eventually reverting to his usual height of about a meter.

“Pleased to meet you!” Makarov’s tone was now considerably more amiable and welcoming.

“This is our guild master, Makarov,” Mirajane kindly explained.

“Um, hello Master, I’m a new recruit hoping to join Fairy Tail,” Lucy said nervously.

“Now, now, no need to be so stiff,” Makarov said with a reassuring smile. He then attempted a rather ambitious jump to reach the second-floor balcony, but his height, or rather, lack thereof, proved to be a significant obstacle. He ended up colliding awkwardly with the railing halfway through his jump.

Finn quickly covered his mouth, desperately trying to suppress his laughter.

Makarov shot Finn a withering glare before clearing his throat to alleviate the awkward silence. “You lot,” he began, his voice laced with a hint of exasperation, “take a look at the sheer volume of complaints we’ve received from the Council.”

With a sigh, Makarov produced a towering stack of complaint forms.

“You bunch of knuckleheads only make me get scolded at the Council!” Makarov’s small form trembled slightly, as if he were enduring some immense physical strain.

The guild members hung their heads in shame.

“But, screw the Council and their petty complaints,” Makarov declared dismissively, his voice filled with utter disdain. With a flick of his wrist, the complaint forms burst into flames, the burning papers tossed aside with a careless wave of his hand.

“Listen up, you Fairy Tail!” Makarov addressed the guild members, his voice ringing with authority. “All extraordinary power is born from the ordinary. Magic isn’t some miraculous power; it demands willpower and intense concentration.”

Makarov shook his head, adding, “No, it’s more than that. You need to pour your very soul into it. That’s what true magic is all about. If you’re constantly worried about what others think, you’ll never truly master magic. Don’t be afraid of those fools!”

“March forward with unwavering belief in yourselves! That’s what it means to be a Fairy Tail mage!” Makarov raised his right hand, forming the familiar Fairy Tail ’7’ hand gesture.

“Ooh!!!” The guild members responded enthusiastically, mirroring Makarov’s gesture.

Lucy, utterly captivated by the scene unfolding before her, raised her right hand in the same gesture, joining in the collective display of unwavering camaraderie and spirited determination.

“Mom, I’ve joined an amazing guild!” she whispered to herself, a wide smile spreading across her face.

…

“Finn, how was the mission?” Makarov asked, turning to Finn after the enthusiastic display of unity had subsided.

Finn took a sip of milk, then relaxed in his chair. “The mission was a complete success, but I’m absolutely exhausted.”

“Oh, that’s just like you, Finn,” Makarov said admiringly. “That was a Ten-Year Quest, after all.”

Wakaba exhaled a plume of smoke. “I can only imagine how powerful you’ll be when you reach our age! Haha!”

Finn shook his head with a wry smile. “Wakaba, who knows what the future holds?” he said, “I’m still young, after all.”

“Finn is a true man,” Elfman declared, his face beaming with admiration.

“Mirajane, refill!” Finn gestured towards his empty glass, handing it to Mirajane.

“Seriously, you still drink milk?” Macao teased, his voice laced with playful mockery.

“You wouldn’t understand,” Finn retorted dismissively.

Mirajane placed a fresh glass of milk in front of Finn before turning her attention to Macao, her arms akimbo and her expression one of playful exasperation. “Do you think I should drink myself silly every day like you guys? I think milk is much better for you. It’s healthier!”

Mirajane then directed her gaze towards the group of men who were engaged in boisterous conversation, including Makarov. “You guys really need to ditch those bad habits,” she stated firmly.

Cana, who was still happily engaged in her ritual of consuming large quantities of alcohol from a nearby barrel, couldn’t help but roll her eyes at Mirajane’s words. She knew that only Mirajane and Erza possessed the authority and the unwavering affection to reprimand him in such a manner.

Macao, Wakaba, and Makarov exchanged bewildered glances. Macao whispered, “What was that all about?”

“Idiot,” Makarov muttered under his breath, “in the eyes of your loved one, everything you do is perfect. Don’t you get it?”

Ignoring the boisterous antics of the older guild members, Finn turned his attention to Mirajane. “Thanks, Mirajane,” he said, “Oh, and by the way, I have a gift for you.”

Hmm? A strange feeling washed over Finn. He felt like he was being watched. He glanced around, noticing that Makarov and the others were still engrossed in their boisterous conversation.

Was he being overly sensitive? Finn scratched his head, his gaze falling upon Mirajane’s expectant expression. With a gentle smile, he reached into his bag and produced a small, exquisitely wrapped gift box.

Unbeknownst to Finn, Makarov and the other guild members’ eyes widened, their gazes fixated on the small gift box with an intense curiosity.

“Master, is he proposing?!” Macao exclaimed, his face alight with excitement and a palpable sense of anticipation.

“You idiot, let me see!” Wakaba, whose view was completely obstructed, strained to crane his neck forward, desperately attempting to catch a glimpse of the contents of the gift box.

Makarov quickly placed a finger to his lips, silencing his fellow guild members with a hushed “Shh…you two idiots, keep it down!”

Mirajane’s hands flew to her mouth as she stared at the small gift box, her heart pounding in her chest. “Could it be…? A ring? Is Finn proposing? Could this clumsy idiot finally be getting it?” she thought to herself, her cheeks flushed with a mixture of excitement and nervous anticipation.

Finn carefully opened the gift box, revealing a delicate crystal necklace.

Macao, overcome with excitement, seized Wakaba’s shoulder with a firm grip, squeezing it repeatedly in an attempt to suppress his overwhelming emotions and prevent himself from making any noise that might betray his intense curiosity.

Wakaba winced in pain, about to let out a yelp of protest, but before he could utter a sound, he was swiftly restrained by Gray and the other guild members. Wakaba’s eyes widened in confusion as he struggled against their grip; he had no idea when they had arrived.

Mirajane lowered her head, her cheeks now as red as an apple, her hands fidgeting nervously, unsure of where to place them.

“Sister, you absolutely must accept it! I wholeheartedly approve of this union!” Elfman declared, his fists clenched tightly, his voice trembling with excitement. The younger brother seemed even more agitated than the couple themselves.

Finn finally spoke, his voice calm and steady. “Mirajane, this is a magic crystal I obtained during my mission. It has special properties; it can save your life in a crisis.” He carefully removed the crystal necklace from its box.

The magic crystal shimmered and gleamed under the soft light, its ethereal beauty captivating Mirajane’s attention. Girls, after all, possess an innate fondness for glittering and enchanting objects.

However, Finn noticed that Mirajane still hadn’t reached out to take the necklace, her eyes filled with a mixture of anticipation and something else that he couldn’t quite decipher.

A wave of uncertainty washed over Finn. Could it be that she didn’t like the gift? He decided to address the situation directly. “Mirajane? Is something wrong?” he asked gently.

“Is that all? Is there nothing else you want to say?” Mirajane finally asked, her voice barely a whisper.

“Other things? Oh, right, this is only half the crystal. The other half is for Erza, but they both have the same effect,” Finn explained, a sudden realization dawning upon him.

Slap! A chorus of sounds echoed from behind Finn as the gossiping guild members collectively facepalmed.

“If Finn had half my charm, he’d have a hundred kids by now,” Wakaba muttered, his voice filled with a mixture of disbelief and amusement.

“Sigh, hopeless, utterly hopeless,” Makarov sighed, shaking his head in exasperation as he recalled his own grandson, Laxus, who possessed a similarly unwavering focus on strength and little else.

“When will I ever get to hold my great-grandchildren?” Makarov let out a long, wistful sigh before resuming his drinking ritual with renewed vigor.

“Natsu, you’re speechless too, right?” Bisca asked, noticing Natsu’s equally dumbfounded expression.

Natsu responded without a moment’s hesitation, “Yeah, I want one too! Damn Finn, only giving it to Mirajane and Erza! Seriously!”

Another straight man!

Despite the slight pang of disappointment, Mirajane quickly composed herself, a sweet smile gracing her lips. “Then, please put it on me,” she requested softly.

“Ah, um…” Finn stammered, unable to meet Mirajane’s gaze, his cheeks flushed crimson.

“What? You don’t want to?” Mirajane’s voice held a hint of playful annoyance.

“No, no, no…” Finn waved his hands frantically, “It’s just…it’s just that I’ve never done this before,” he confessed sheepishly, scratching the back of his head.

“Then hurry up,” Mirajane said, rolling her eyes playfully.

“Okay,” Finn replied, carefully opening the clasp of the necklace. With gentle hands, he encircled Mirajane’s neck, their bodies briefly touching in a gesture that resembled an embrace.

Finally, the necklace was secured. Finn let out a sigh of relief.

Mirajane covered her mouth, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Finn. “You’re really cute right now,” she whispered.

“Huh??” Finn’s eyes widened in surprise.

Mirajane, however, had already turned and left.

“Sigh, such a clueless idiot,” she muttered to herself.

…

Fairy Tail guild hall buzzed with its usual chaotic energy.

Levy, examining the mission board, noticed something unusual. “Huh? That ’find a book for 200,000Jewels’ job is gone?”

Mirajane, carrying a tray, approached. “Natsu and Lucy took it.”

Levy looked dejected. “I was still considering it.”

Makarov spoke up, “Maybe it’s for the best you didn’t, Levy.”

“The client just contacted me,” Makarov continued.

Finn set down his cup. “Should we cancel it?”

Makarov shook his head, his expression serious. “No. The client increased the reward to two million Jewels”

Levy gasped, covering her mouth. “Ten times? That’s almost an S-class mission reward!”

“Things are getting interesting,” Finn smirked.

“Finn, you’re free lately, right?” Makarov placed his empty cup on the table, his eyes slightly unfocused from drink.

Finn considered this. He nodded. “I just got back; I want to rest.”

He eyed Makarov cautiously. “You’re not going to give me a mission, are you? I want to rest!!”

“Now, now, don’t overreact,” Makarov chuckled. “It’s not work. It’s quite relaxed, actually.”

Finn suspected Makarov’s intentions weren’t entirely benevolent. “Master, just tell me straight. This is making me nervous.”

“Hahaha, it’s to attend the regular inter-guild meeting. What do you say?” Makarov looked at Finn expectantly.

“Another meeting? Please, spare me! Why not take someone else?” Finn groaned, remembering his last experience attending one of these meetings with Makarov.

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