"This is one of the guild's three great Super Magics—Fairy Glitter! Try it, Marco! You might just gain its recognition!" Makarov explained urgently, his face filled with astonishment.
The old man couldn't help but marvel inwardly—Marco truly had extraordinary fortune to evoke a reaction from Mavis's grave.
"No thanks. I don't need these kinds of magics." Marco shook his head, brimming with confidence.
"My magic is already strong enough."
He remained unmoved by the glowing orb, showing no intention of reaching out to test it.
"..."
Makarov opened his mouth, momentarily at a loss for words, yet he wasn't entirely surprised by this outcome.
When he had previously offered to teach Marco "Fairy Law," the boy had refused.
Marco insisted on focusing solely on mastering his own magic, showing no interest in learning other spells—not even one of Fairy Tail's "Three Great Super Magics."
In a way, there was nothing wrong with that.
Gildarts hadn't learned any of Fairy Tail's Three Great Super Magics either, believing he didn't need them.
His Crush Magic was already powerful enough, and it was, in itself, a form of Super Magic.
As for Marco's magic, Makarov saw it as no less formidable than Super Magic.
Most importantly, the upper limits of Marco's magic remained entirely unclear to Makarov—unpredictable, even.
It was a magic unique to Marco alone.
"Well, forget it then."
Since Marco was unwilling to learn, Makarov didn't press the matter.
This mindset was beneficial for Marco's growth.
Magic was, after all, a matter of conviction. Marco's confidence in his own magic could only be advantageous.
"So, does this mean I've passed?" Marco blinked.
The final reward had already been triggered, and it seemed there were no further trials.
Surely refusing to learn the Super Magic "Fairy Glitter" wouldn't disqualify him from the exam.
"You've passed. From now on, you are an S-Class Mage of Fairy Tail and may take on S-Class missions from the second floor." Makarov smiled as he announced the final result.
Marco sighed in relief.
Fortunately, there was no mandatory requirement to learn the spell—otherwise, he'd have been in trouble.
He couldn't use abilities outside the Saint system, so even if he learned it, he wouldn't be able to cast it.
As soon as Makarov finished speaking, the tombstone glowed once more.
This time, the light was even brighter—because the single orb of radiance had now split into two.
"Fairy Sphere!"
This time, Makarov couldn't hold back his exclamation, his expression turning complicated.
Did Mavis really favor Marco this much?
That Marco had earned Mavis's approval didn't surprise Makarov—he believed Marco perfectly embodied the will of Fairy Tail.
What shocked him was that even after Marco's refusal, Mavis hadn't given up.
Instead, she had sweetened the deal!
"Is she... angry?" Marco muttered awkwardly, whispering to Makarov.
"Uh—"
Makarov broke out in a cold sweat.
Mavis had been dead for eighty years.
Even if remnants of her will lingered here, surely emotions like anger wouldn't remain?
He occasionally came to pay respects, yet he'd never witnessed the tombstone reacting like this.
Today was certainly an eye-opener.
"I'm sorry, Master Mavis, but I really won't learn it." Marco bowed sincerely to the tombstone.
Though he didn't understand Mavis's intentions, they were likely well-meaning.
Unfortunately, he couldn't reciprocate that kindness.
"Why?"
Just as Marco was about to pull the conflicted Makarov away, a sweet, girlish voice suddenly echoed through the tomb.
"..."
Marco could sense that Makarov had visibly stiffened.
Clearly, the old man had never communicated with the soul of Mavis before.
Marco was certain now—the voice that had spoken was indeed the soul of Mavis.
There was no mistaking it; it was far too obvious.
Who else could teach someone "Fairy Glitter" and "Fairy Sphere" besides the very first guild master, Mavis Vermillion, who had created these three Super Magics?
"Master Mavis?"
Marco glanced around, feigning confusion as he called out.
"It's me."
With that response, a figure slowly emerged from behind the gravestone.
It was an incredibly adorable little girl.
She wore a light pink dress, barefoot, with a pair of delicate pink wing ornaments on her head that matched her outfit, making her look more like a fairy than a human.
"Why don't you want to learn it?"
The little girl frowned, clearly displeased and pressed Marco for an answer, as if she couldn't comprehend his refusal.
"Master Mavis?!"
Before Marco could respond, Makarov exclaimed in shock, his expression a mix of astonishment and disbelief.
Makarov, of course, recognized Mavis.
He had never seen her alive, but he had seen her body, so he immediately identified the ghost before him.
"Third Master, why doesn't your grandson want to learn these two magics?"
Mavis turned to Makarov, still fixated on the question.
While this was Makarov's first time seeing Mavis, it wasn't the other way around.
Makarov had often visited her grave, talking to himself about guild matters and his own troubles, so Mavis was quite familiar with him.
"Uh—"
Caught off guard by the first guild master's question, Makarov felt awkward and gestured for Marco to explain himself.
"Master Mavis, as I said earlier, my magic is already strong enough. I have full confidence in my own abilities."
Marco stuck to his original reasoning—no matter who asked, his answer remained the same.
"But learning these two magics would allow you to better protect Fairy Tail and your guildmates."
Mavis still didn't understand.
She was a true master of magic, with no specialization—it was said she knew every magic in the world and was proficient in all of them, which was how she had created the "Three Great Super Magics of Fairy Tail."
Naturally, Marco's refusal baffled her.
If it were her, she would have learned them without hesitation.
She loved learning—she simply adored knowledge and magic.
"My magic can also protect Fairy Tail and my guildmates. But compared to these two magics, I'm far more curious about how you've managed to exist here for eighty years."
Marco shook his head, still firmly refusing and redirected the conversation to something he found far more intriguing.
Beside him, Makarov perked up, clearly just as curious.
"What... exactly is your current state?" Marco asked.
"Probably a ghost? A ghost only you can see." Mavis tilted her head cutely as she answered Marco's question.
She had pondered this herself before.
Although she had studied many types of magic, becoming a ghost after death was clearly something she had never explored.
At first, she had been quite bewildered by this state and it took her some time to adjust.