"S-Class missions are both highly difficult and troublesome to complete, with many potential variables. Mages with little experience or weak strength would struggle to handle them, which is why access is restricted."
The next day, on the second floor of the Fairy Tail guild, Laxus brought Marco to pick a mission.
Although he had outright refused the day before, telling Marco to choose one on his own, he couldn't shake Marco off when the latter followed him home that very night.
Marco made himself at home, first enjoying some sweet pastries at Mira's place, then spending the evening pestering Laxus at his house.
Unable to get rid of him, Laxus had no choice but to agree, which was why they ended up at the guild first thing in the morning.
"Restrictions are necessary. Without conditions for accepting missions, it would be irresponsible toward the guild members."
Marco nodded.
A magic guild could have a relaxed atmosphere, but its rules and regulations had to be well-established—it couldn't be run like some slapdash operation.
That kind of foundation would never last.
It was the bedrock of any great institution.
Though Fairy Tail had a laid-back vibe, it still had plenty of rules and structures in place.
For instance, the guild's second floor was strictly off-limits to anyone who wasn't an S-Class Mage, and mission acceptance as well as mage rankings were all tightly regulated.
These practices were the hallmarks of a responsible magic guild.
At its core, a magic guild was just a "platform," a "mission request center."
It was these rules and humane considerations that made a guild feel more like a family.
"Is this... the Century Quest?"
Walking through the second floor, Marco's eyes landed on the most prominent mission—impossible to miss, marked with an extreme danger symbol.
The request slip looked worn, as if frequently handled, suggesting someone had taken a keen interest in it.
"Yeah, that's the Century Quest. Even I'm not qualified to take it."
Laxus's expression was complicated as he stared at the slip.
He had thought that becoming an S-Class Mage would free him from all constraints when accepting missions, but this "Century Quest" shattered that notion.
The old man—Makorov—had forbidden him from taking it, saying only the most seasoned S-Class Mages, those who had earned his approval, were permitted to accept the "Century Quest."
This didn't sit well with Laxus.
Before becoming an S-Class Mage, he needed approval.
After becoming one, he still needed approval.
What was the point of becoming an S-Class Mage, then?
Was that fair?!
In the end, the "Century Quest" had driven another wedge between Laxus and Makorov.
The real issue wasn't the quest itself—it was the matter of "approval."
"A mission where no one has ever returned safely, a quest uncompleted for a century—it's only natural they wouldn't let you take it."
Marco however, saw no issue with that.
Though Laxus was strong and exceptionally talented, he was still in his growth phase.
Many accomplished mages who had challenged the "Century Quest" ended up dying far from home, so it was only natural that he wasn't allowed to take it.
"..."
Laxus fell silent.
He wasn't stupid—he knew full well he couldn't complete the "Century Quest," and he understood that the old man forbidding him was out of kindness.
But not being recognized still filled him with anger.
"So, is it Gildarts who wants to take this quest?"
Marco looked at Laxus, voicing his question.
If Laxus wasn't qualified to take it, then the one frequently eyeing this quest poster could only be Uncle Gildarts.
"Yeah, he's always wanted to challenge the Century Quest."
Laxus nodded.
He'd seen Gildarts staring at the quest poster more than once and had even asked him about it.
To his surprise, the old man genuinely intended to take it.
Though Laxus was dissatisfied about being unqualified for the "Century Quest," he had no real intention of accepting it—he was just frustrated by the lack of recognition.
But Gildarts?
He truly wanted to take it and was ready to act.
If not for the shortage of S-Class Mages in the guild, he might have already left.
"I see..." Marco nodded knowingly.
Unlike Laxus, Gildarts was clearly permitted to take the quest.
After all, Gildarts had been renowned for years, with formidable strength and vast experience.
There was no real reason to stop him.
The only thing holding him back was likely his sense of belonging and responsibility to the guild.
With him as the only S-Class Mage in Fairy Tail, disappearing without a word would be disastrous—something Gildarts would never do.
"So, my promotion is actually bringing Gildarts closer to..."
Marco's expression turned odd.
He almost said "closer to death," but that felt inappropriate.
Besides, who said Gildarts was doomed to fail the "Century Quest"?
Sure, by conventional logic, such an epic quest would eventually fall to the protagonist—but who's to say Gildarts couldn't be the protagonist?
Why not a middle-aged hot-blooded story?!
"Even without you, others would have been promoted. Erza, Mirajane—they'll all reach that level in a couple of years. So it was bound to happen soon anyway. Gildarts will definitely take this quest."
Laxus didn't think this had much to do with Marco.
Fairy Tail's S-Class Mages would inevitably grow in number—their generation was full of prodigies, all destined to reach that level eventually.
"I wonder what this quest is about."
Staring at the "Century Quest," Marco grew curious.
The poster revealed nothing about its contents—to learn more, they'd have to find the client.
"And the client is in the Northern Continent of Guiltina?"
Marco studied the poster, guessing that Gildarts' interest in the "Century Quest" might also stem from a desire to travel there.
"Don't look at that one. You're not qualified to take it anyway. Better check out other missions and pick something a bit easier, so you don't fail your first S-Class mission."
Seeing Marco still staring at the "Century Quest" in thought, Laxus called out to him, thinking it'd be more practical to focus on easy quest.