Chapter 249: Happy and the S-Class Request
"We don't know why," Gray explained to the stunned Lucy, "but he doesn't want anyone to see his face. So every time he comes to pick up a job, he puts everyone to sleep."
"What?! That's so weird!" Lucy exclaimed.
"So, aside from the Master and the S-Class wizards, no one has ever seen Mystogan's face," Gray continued.
"Mystogan has his own reasons," a deep voice rumbled from the second floor. "You shouldn't pry into his appearance."
Everyone looked up to see a tall, muscular figure leaning against the railing.
"Laxus!!"
"You're here?"
"I can't believe you're actually in the guild!"
The members were shocked. Laxus was almost always away on missions, so seeing him was a rare event.
"That's another candidate for the strongest," Gray whispered to Lucy. She stared up at the intimidating man on the balcony.
Just then, the noise woke Natsu up. He lifted his head, saw Laxus, and instantly snapped awake. "Laxus! Fight me!"
"Didn't you just lose to Noah?" Vallen asked from nearby.
Vallen Racko was a member who had joined a few years ago, specializing in Telepathy Magic.
"Forget it," Laxus said, waving Natsu off. "I just got back from a job. I'm tired. Next time."
"How was it? Did the mission go well?" Noah called up from the bar.
In a flash of lightning, Laxus appeared in front of the counter.
"Not bad. Pretty smooth," he told Noah.
"Laxus! Let's fight!" Natsu yelled, charging toward the counter.
"Heh. Natsu's certainly got energy," Laxus chuckled.
"Isn't that a good thing?" Noah smiled.
"I suppose it is."
By then, Natsu had reached him. Laxus spun around and buried his fist into Natsu's gut.
Natsu folded like a lawn chair and collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
"Like I said. Next time, Natsu," Laxus said to the heap on the floor.
"And it's over," Happy chirped, hovering nearby.
Lucy and Gray stared, dumbfounded, then broke into wry smiles.
"Natsu is so pathetic."
"Laxus is definitely stronger."
"So strong!" Lucy gasped. She hadn't even seen Laxus move, just the aftermath.
"Of course," Gray said matter-of-factly. "All our S-Class wizards are monsters."
"Amazing! Fairy Tail really is the strongest guild!" Lucy said, her excitement growing. The other members puffed out their chests with pride.
"Going back out soon?" Noah asked as he logged Laxus's mission report.
"No," Laxus shook his head. "Taking a break. I've done enough jobs for now. Need to let things settle."
He had been working non-stop for years, gaining immense experience. Now he needed time to process it all and grow stronger.
"Good. Stay in Magnolia for a while," Noah said.
"Something up?"
"Likely. I'll tell you later."
"Alright. If you need help, let me know."
Laxus said this seriously. Noah smiled and nodded. "Of course. If I need you, I'll tell you."
"Right. I'm gonna go rest."
"Go ahead."
Laxus turned, waved to the guild, and walked out.
"Noah and Laxus seem really close," Lucy observed.
"Yeah," Gray said. "They've known each other for over ten years."
"That long?"
"One is the Master's grandson, and the other was taken in by the Master when he was a kid. They lived together at the Master's house for a long time. Noah only moved out after he made enough money to buy his own place."
Gray recounted the history he had learned from the older members.
"The Master's grandson?" Lucy asked, surprised.
"Yeah, Laxus is Makarov's grandson."
"Oh! I didn't know that!"
"Noah has been in the guild longer than anyone else our age, except for Laxus," Gray explained. "The rest of us joined later."
Lucy listened intently, soaking up the information she couldn't get from magazines.
Time passed quickly, and soon it was evening. The guild members began to head home.
Suddenly, a small figure flew into the guild hall, heading straight for a room on the second floor.
SMACK!
The figure slammed face-first into an invisible wall. It tried again, but couldn't get through. Defeated, it flew away.
After it left, Noah emerged from the shadows, watching it go.
The room was where the S-Class request board was kept. Noah had placed a barrier on it that prevented anyone who wasn't S-Class from entering. He had been alerted the moment the barrier was triggered.
'Guess I'll have to have a talk with them tomorrow,' Noah thought, shaking his head. Seeing nothing else amiss, he went home.
The next morning, the guild was bustling early. Noah spotted his targets immediately.
"Natsu, Happy. Come here for a second."
Natsu and Happy both froze, turning toward him with stiff, jerky movements. "Wh-What... is it...?"
"Wow, I've never seen Natsu like this," Lucy remarked.
"He definitely did something guilty," Gray grinned.
Noah pointed to the chairs in front of the counter. Natsu and Happy walked over like robots and sat down.
"Happy," Noah said calmly. "You tried to steal an S-Class Request last night, didn't you?"
The guild went silent. Makarov, who was drinking next to them, spat his booze everywhere.
"Happy?!"
"Does that mean Natsu and Lucy were in on it?!"
"Are they idiots?!"
"You can't just go on an S-Class quest!"
"Wait, Noah said he tried. Sounds like he failed."
"I didn't know anything about this!" Lucy shouted, waving her hands frantically.
"Why did you want to do an S-Class quest?" Noah asked Natsu.
"If I complete an S-Class quest, the old man will have to acknowledge my strength!" Natsu said with a grin, though he still looked nervous.
Makarov sighed deeply.
"Natsu," Mirajane said gently, "doing an S-Class quest doesn't prove you have S-Class strength. You need S-Class strength to do an S-Class quest. A single mistake on those missions means death. That's why only wizards approved by the Master are allowed to take them. You aren't ready."
Her tone was heavy when she mentioned death, and Natsu fell silent.
"Some of those quests are harder than S-Class," Noah added. "SS-Class and Ten-Year quests exist because S-Class wizards tried and failed. It's for your safety. You have to be strong enough, and have the Master's approval, to take the exam and become S-Class. Then you can take the jobs. Understand?"
"So I can never do one?" Natsu pouted.
"Of course you can," Noah smiled. "Just get stronger, learn to be a little calmer, and get Gramps's approval to take the trial. Once you pass, you'll be S-Class."
"But that's gonna take forever!" Natsu whined, slumping onto the table.
"Have some faith in yourself. Train hard, and you'll get there soon."
Natsu, still sulking, took Happy and went to brood in a corner.
"Good thing you put up that barrier," Makarov said, wiping his mouth. "It would have been a disaster if they'd actually taken one."
"Yeah," Noah agreed. "Just a precaution, but it paid off."
Taking an S-Class request without permission was a serious violation, punishable by expulsion. If Happy had succeeded, Noah and Makarov would have been in a very difficult position. Since he failed, a warning was enough.
"Oh, Gramps, about Lucy," Noah said, lowering his voice. "I need to talk to you."
Makarov nodded, and they moved to a private corner. Noah explained the situation with Phantom Lord and the potential threat to Lucy.
Makarov thought for a moment. "What do you plan to do?"
"There's only so much defense can do," Noah said. "If Phantom Lord really wants to hurt her, they'll find a way eventually. We need to be proactive. Lucy's parents are planning to visit the guild. We can use this opportunity to test the waters.
"If Phantom Lord has no ill intent, nothing will happen. But if they do... they'll make a move. And when they do, we'll catch them in the act, get the evidence we need, and take them down."
Makarov considered it. "You must ensure everyone's safety. And you cannot do this without the consent of Lucy's parents."
"Of course. I'll discuss it with them first. But since it concerns their daughter's safety, I believe they'll agree."
"Very well. But remember, safety first," Makarov said firmly.
Phantom Lord had been provoking Fairy Tail for years. Makarov had held back to maintain the peace, but if they were targeting one of his children... he wouldn't stop Noah. He would protect his family.
"Understood," Noah said.
He contacted Jude and Layla, who were delighted to hear he wanted to bring guild members to visit. After setting a time, Noah told Lucy they were going to her house tomorrow. Lucy happily ran off to invite Levy.
Noah then found Natsu and Happy, who were still moping.
"Alright, stop sulking. Train hard, and you'll be S-Class in no time. Tomorrow, I'm taking you all to visit Lucy's house. Want to come?"
"Lucy's house?"
"Yeah."
"I'm in!" Natsu sat up straight, his mood instantly improved.
"Aye! Me too!" Happy cheered.
"Good. Be at my house early tomorrow morning."
Noah then invited Gray, who also agreed. He told Ultear and the others, and they happily went to prepare gifts.
The next morning, Natsu, Gray, Happy, Lucy, Mirajane, Ultear, and Levy arrived at Noah's house. Noah, Erza, and Sorano were ready. Wendy, Yukino, Meredy, and Carla were practically vibrating with excitement.
Seeing everyone gathered, Noah cast his teleportation magic, and in an instant, the group appeared outside the gates of the Heartfilia estate.
~~~
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