In another unknown world, all humans possess an innate latent power.
Emotions, aura, deterrence... When manipulating these intangible feelings, human willpower can extend into a powerful force.
This power is known as—"Haki."
Opening his eyes, Noah emerged from his state of sensing power, slowly exhaled, and then, with a thought, his right palm was instantly enveloped in a strange, jet-black glow.
This jet-black glow, seemingly integrated with his skin, was "Armament Haki."
After a small explosion, a wisp of blue smoke rose from Noah's jet-black right palm, and the blasting glove on his left hand still glowed faintly red.
To test how much defensive ability Armament Haki could enhance, Noah gave himself a small fire-attribute blast.
This "direct blast" had only one-third of its normal power, but if it acted directly on the flesh, even Noah would wince in pain.
Yet the result was that, apart from a slight sensation in his right palm from the impact of the blast, Noah felt nothing else.
The increase in defensive power from Armament Haki exceeded Noah's imagination. The offensive power boost was probably also significant, but Noah didn't want to test it in the dormitory.
"Is this the power of the world where the Marine heroe resides... It feels good."
Noah flopped onto the bed. Although he'd gained new power from another world, he couldn't bring himself to be happy.
Because Armament Haki is a growth-type power—it needs continuous training to become stronger.
High-level Armament Haki can cover the entire body or be imbued into weapons to enhance their hardness and power.
"Sigh... Couldn't it just directly raise my Armament Haki to a high level? I don't want to level up..."
Rolling on the bed, Noah sighed. To put it nicely, he was content with the status quo. To put it bluntly, he was a lazy person.
Originally, in Edolas, with his father, Faust, watching over him, Noah would put in a little effort to practice martial arts and learn to use various Magic items.
But after arriving in Earth Land, where no one constrained him, Noah gradually liberated himself and began a life of slacking off and being a couch potato.
Despite his complaints, to improve his strength, Noah still had to spend some time cultivating Armament Haki.
His unpleasant experience with Laxus gave Noah a premonition that one day, the two of them would have a fight.
If he really had to face the strongest Mage of the guild's new generation, Noah still felt a bit of pressure. He certainly didn't want to be the one lying on the ground then.
Noah might be a couch potato, but he didn't want to lose.
So, starting next year, he'd spend two... no, one hour a day training Haki.
Several days passed, and Magnolia welcomed the last festival of the year, Christmas.
The three-story tavern-like building was bustling with activity. Many members had taken a few days off, planning to rest well for the remaining days of the year and celebrate Christmas with their companions.
To celebrate, besides decorative items like lanterns and streamers, Makarov also placed a large Christmas tree in the guild's backyard, adorned with small gifts.
Having specially changed into a Santa Claus outfit, Makarov asked the hostess behind the bar, "Mira, how do I look in this? Do I look a bit like Santa Claus?"
"Too thin, Guild Master."
Mira gave her critique without holding back. In her impression, Santa Claus should be a slightly plump, kind old man, not short and thin.
Makarov sat down helplessly. As he aged, though his body remained robust, his stature gradually became much shorter, and his appetite wasn't as good as before.
"Good morning, Guild Master, are you playing a dwarf?"
Noah's words were cut short by Erza, who was with him. "If you can't speak properly, then don't. The Guild Master is clearly dressed as Little Red Riding Hood."
With the most sincere expression, she spoke the most hurtful words.
Makarov had thought Erza interrupted Noah because she disagreed with the boy's words, but he didn't expect she was going to stab him herself.
But Makarov's current appearance just happened to be related to dwarves and Little Red Riding Hood.
So it was time to change the subject.
"Noah, are you also coming to celebrate with everyone today? I thought you'd use the excuse of needing rest after a job and just stay holed up in your dorm."
Facing Makarov's teasing, Noah yawned. He didn't want to come either, but who knew Erza would come early in the morning and drag him out of bed again.
She said it was Noah's first Christmas at Fairy Tail, and it would be best for him to participate in the game simulating a Guild Master—the "King's Game."
What kind of game was this "King's Game" that made Erza so excited?
He originally wanted to ask Makarov, but Noah noticed that the old man's expression immediately became a bit unnatural after hearing the game's name, as if he had a psychological trauma from the King's Game.
This made Noah incredibly curious. What kind of game could make the dignified Guild Master so apprehensive?
So Noah immediately called over the guild's most reckless member.
"Natsu, come play a game!"
Noah just shouted into the hall, and the pink-haired boy appeared from who knows what nook or cranny.
Happy and Gray also came along.
Natsu was always full of energy, excitedly jumping up and down. "What game, Noah? I can't wait! Watch me make Gray lose miserably in this game!"
"Hmph, that's my line, you single-celled organism."
After just two sentences, Natsu and Gray were already full of animosity. If Erza hadn't been there, they probably would've started fighting on the spot.
Noah grabbed Happy and said lightly, "Erza wants you guys to play the King's Game."
Hearing that name, Natsu's face changed. "What! That devilish game!"
"I have something to do—I'm leaving first. Have fun."
Gray even greased his heels and tried to leave, but unfortunately, he was caught by Erza before he could successfully escape.
"What? Do you two think my game isn't fun?"
In Natsu and Gray's eyes, the angry Erza at that moment seemed dozens of times larger, capable of crushing them both at any moment.
To avoid a beating, Natsu and Gray both declared the King's Game to be a good game, and finally, under Erza's oppression, the two shiveringly "volunteered" to join the game.
This made Noah even more certain that there was something wrong with that game. Otherwise, how could it make Natsu, who never learned from his mistakes, feel fear?
Using the excuse of going to the restroom, Noah easily escaped. To prevent Erza from coming to find him, he prepared to hide in a secluded spot.
The third floor of the guild was Noah's chosen destination for hiding.
This was where the Guild Master worked, and usually no one came here, not even Guild Master Makarov himself—he preferred to watch the children on the first floor.
However, to Noah's surprise, as soon as he reached the third floor, he saw that short figure. It seemed Makarov was also worried about being dragged into that game by Erza.
"Oh, it's Noah. The office is a bit messy—find a place to sit yourself." Although it was the Guild Master's office, Makarov didn't mind Noah's uninvited presence. After all, there was nothing important here.
The only valuable thing was the group photo of the creators of Fairy Tail.
Noah looked at the group photo hanging on the wall. Having read the guild's chronicles, he naturally knew the identities of the four guild founders in the picture.
Mavis Vermillion, the guild's first Guild Master, shone brilliantly during the Second Trade War due to her exceptional wisdom, earning her the title "Fairy Tactician," but unfortunately, she died young.
Precht Gaebolg, who took over the guild as the Second Guild Master after Mavis's death, diligently served for forty years, then entrusted the guild to his student, the Third Guild Master Makarov, and subsequently wandered the world with no further news.
Warrod Sequen, after the Second Guild Master took office, left the guild due to disagreements with Precht. He is now one of the Ten Wizard Saints, dedicated year-round to desert greening efforts.
Yuri Dreyar, whose spirit was greatly damaged by the deaths of his close friend Mavis and his wife Rita in the same year, eventually passed away in sorrow four years after his loved ones left, entrusting his four-year-old son Makarov to his good friend Precht on his deathbed.
According to the guild's chronicles, these four founders went through many hardships and challenges together before establishing Fairy Tail in X686.
And after only ten years, the fates of these four had drastically changed: some died, some left, and some remained.
Noah said with some emotion, "Life is truly unpredictable."
Makarov was also stirred by Noah's words, recalling a time when he, too, had companions with whom he could confide, like the first generation, but eventually they also left the guild for their respective dreams.
Like his teacher Precht, Makarov had now served as Guild Master for over forty years.
"Sigh... When will that rascal Gildarts return to take over for me?"
Makarov muttered something that Noah didn't catch, but he curiously asked him why Erza's "King's Game" scared Natsu and the others.
The King's Game:
Participants in the game draw lots. If one draws a lot with the Guild Master's symbol, they can choose other participants and issue mandatory commands to them.
After hearing Makarov's explanation, Noah found it very strange.
The person who draws the lot chooses one or more people who didn't draw the Guild Master's lot to complete a task.
Isn't this essentially a game of truth or dare? What's so strange about it?
Wait... Could it be!
Seeing the change in Noah's expression, Makarov gave a bitter smile. "You guessed it too, didn't you? That's right—most of the commands from the person who draws the lot are quite embarrassing actions, or things the commanded person can't accept."
"For example, ordering a certain exhibitionist to wear ten layers of clothing and not take them off until the game ends."
How cruel! This is practically pushing Gray to his death!
"Or making someone strip naked in public and loudly shout the name of the person they like."
What a move for social death—killing the heart! Killing the heart!
But wouldn't that be too extreme? Noah stopped Makarov. He no longer wanted to know about these punishments that broke his understanding.
He wondered why Erza was so passionate about such an "extreme" game. It couldn't be that she always drew the Guild Master's lot, or that she never received any perverted commands, could it?
The old man and the young man in the office tacitly ended the topic.
Makarov brought out a box filled with various styles of Santa Claus costumes. "Noah, come quickly and help me decide which one suits me. I still have to deliver gifts to the children at the orphanage tonight."
So that's it—this old man was a philanthropist.
The image of Santa Claus in storybooks, besides reindeer and red clothing, also has one important characteristic.
That is the big, snow-white beard that covers his cheeks.
Makarov was short and scrawny. With a big beard, at least he wouldn't be mistaken for a dwarf or Little Red Riding Hood at first glance.
Following Noah's suggestion, Makarov put on a fake beard, looked in the mirror, and indeed, his outfit looked much better.
"Good, good, good. This year, when I deliver gifts to the children, I definitely won't be recognized like before."
Makarov was in a very good mood. He turned to praise Noah, only to find the other person looking at him with a strange gaze.
"Guild Master, try on a wig too."
Before Makarov could answer, Noah placed a wig on the old man's head.
Looking in the mirror, Makarov noticed that the wig Noah put on him was particularly thick. Was this kid making fun of his sparse hair?
But indeed, his bald spot was too noticeable. Even with a Santa hat, he might be recognized.
This kid Noah was quite thoughtful.
However, Makarov didn't know that Noah's gaze at him had become even stranger.
"Guild Master, please stand on the table for a moment. I'll step back and see if there are any other issues."
Standing at the staircase, watching Makarov jump onto the office desk, Noah's heart was in turmoil.
Because Makarov's current appearance bore a ten-tenths resemblance to Noah's father, Faust!
As for the reason, Noah already understood.
Why his father was displeased with Ivan, who easily betrayed information.
Why his father felt so relieved when he beat Ivan.
It was because "Makarov" and "Faust" were parallel world counterparts!
No wonder his father beat Ivan three times a day, always serving him with "loyal orange," "garlic chives," "Enqin," and "seaweed"... to entertain Ivan. It turns out he was getting revenge for his "self" in Earth Land.
Noah thought of something else: if calculated by generation, he and Ivan were of the same generation.
Doesn't that mean Noah is Laxus's uncle from another world?
Makarov looked at the young man standing at the staircase, grinning foolishly. "Noah, what are you laughing at, boy? Do I look funny?"
"No, no."
Noah quickly waved his hands, but still couldn't help but laugh out loud. "I just remembered something very funny."
"What is it?"
"I'm going to be an uncle."