Chapter 193: Wendy Joins the Guild
"Uwahhhhhh!!!"
Wendy cried out loud, her small hands clutching the empty air where Roubaul had stood. Her sobs were heartbreaking, tearing through the silence of the forest clearing like jagged glass. The grief was raw and overwhelming, the sound of a child who had lost her entire world in a single heartbeat.
Everyone stayed with her, offering no empty words of comfort. As adults and experienced mages, they all knew that sometimes, crying was the only way to process such a profound loss. Suppressing the pain would only leave deeper scars. They stood in a silent vigil, letting the young Sky Dragon Slayer mourn the family she had loved so dearly.
Time seemed to stretch, measured only by the girl's ragged breathing.
Finally, Wendy's cries softened to whimpers. Her small body, exhausted by the emotional release and the magical expenditure of the battle, gradually lost strength. Her eyelids fluttered and closed as she succumbed to a deep, fatigue-induced sleep.
Ren stepped forward, his boots crunching softly on the grass. He gently scooped her up, cradling her small form in his arms. She felt incredibly light, fragile yet resilient.
He turned to the gathered mages of the Allied Forces.
"Everyone, the Oración Seis have been defeated. Nirvana has been destroyed. Our mission here is complete," Ren announced, his voice steady. "We must return to report the situation to our Guild Master, so we may have to part ways here. If any of you have the chance to visit Magnolia, you are welcome to come to Fairy Tail as guests. I will treat you warmly."
Jura Neekis, the Iron Rock of Lamia Scale, stepped forward. He clasped his large hands together and bowed deeply, a gesture of immense respect.
"Ren-dono, you are too kind. It is entirely thanks to you that the Oración Seis were defeated this time. Compared to your contribution, we... felt rather cumbersome. I am ashamed that we could not be of more assistance."
"Don't say that, Jura-san. Everyone provided great help," Ren replied, shaking his head with a modest smile. "In terms of raw magic power, there isn't much difference between me and the members of the Oración Seis. Mostly, I just exchanged a greater expenditure of magic power for a short-term suppression of their strength. If the delay had been too long or I had used too much magic power, I would have faced considerable risk too."
Of course, this was merely Ren's polite rhetoric to preserve the dignity of the other guilds.
Internally, Ren knew the truth. If he had been operating alone from the start, unburdened by the need to protect allies or coordinate attacks, he wouldn't have played their game. He would have hunted them down systematically. It might have taken a little longer to locate them, but safety would not have been a concern. His combat mechanisms—the high-speed regeneration, the spatial manipulation, the sheer stat superiority—were far superior to anything the Oración Seis possessed.
"That's right! We are the Justice Alliance, and helping each other is what we should do!"
Suddenly, a sparkling aura interrupted the serious atmosphere. Ichiya Vandalay Kotobuki struck a pose, pointing a finger towards the sky, his face shining with an inexplicable light.
"I have deeply engraved this camaraderie of coordinated combat! Sharing hardships! Standing together through thick and thin! Facing life and death as comrades! This is the beautiful parfum of friendship! Men!!"
"As expected of Master Ichiya!!"
Behind him, the Trimens of Blue Pegasus—Hibiki, Eve, and Ren Akatsuki—echoed him in unison, striking identical poses with sparkles appearing in the background.
Lucy, watching from the side, couldn't help but deadpan. "Where was any of that? What 'coordinated combat'?"
Aside from seeing Ichiya initially at the villa serving as the gathering point, and then seeing him again briefly after the Oración Seis's surprise attack ended, the final time she saw him was when the subjugation was already concluded.
Three times. Yet she never saw Ichiya cast a single spell. To this moment, she still didn't actually know what his magic was. Was it 'Sparkle Magic'?
"If Ren-san ever comes to Blue Pegasus in the future, we will receive you well and let you experience the Pegasus's renowned hospitality," Hibiki added with a charming wink.
Ren smiled upon hearing this. "Alright, I'll definitely visit if I get the chance."
"Lamia Scale also welcomes Ren-dono, and all the members of Fairy Tail as well," Jura added solemnly. "Sherry, Lyon, let us depart."
"Then we shall impose upon you at that time."
Soon, after exchanging a few more pleasantries, the three guilds separated. They walked in different directions, returning to their respective homes, carrying the news of their victory and the heavy truth about Cait Shelter.
As the Fairy Tail group began their trek back, the forest slowly gave way to the rolling hills leading toward the coast.
Erza walked beside Ren, glancing at his profile. He carried the sleeping Wendy with a gentleness that contrasted sharply with the terrifying power he had displayed earlier.
"You are looking more and more like a Guild Master," Erza said softly, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Hmm?" Ren looked at her.
"The way you handled Jura and the others," Erza explained. "Diplomatic, humble, yet commanding respect. I feel that the Master's decision was correct; you are indeed the most suitable candidate to become the next Guild Master. Despite possessing such immense strength, you are not arrogant and treat everyone equally. That quality alone surpasses many."
"No! I don't want to look like a Guild Master," Ren sighed, adjusting Wendy slightly. "It sounds exhausting. But... since I'm the designated successor, I must do something for the guild."
His expression turned slightly more serious as he looked ahead.
"The people who came here—Jura and Ichiya—are the elites of their respective guilds. When the current Guild Masters of Lamia Scale and Blue Pegasus retire, the next Guild Master will undoubtedly be chosen from among them. Jura is essentially confirmed, and Ichiya... well, he has the seniority."
Ren paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Befriending them now is very necessary. I think this is also one of the Old Man's goals in forming this Allied Force. This mission wasn't just about defeating a Dark Guild; it was a display of the future power dynamic of Fiore."
Erza blinked, surprised. "This... I hadn't thought of that at all..."
"It's politics, Erza," Ren chuckled. "Others might not be clear about my strength, but Makarov certainly is. After all, whenever I return from an S-Class mission, I have to report the details to the Old Man. He knew exactly what he was doing sending me here."
Ren recalled the moment Makarov had passed the position of Guild Master to him in private. At the time, the old man had said Erza was still too young. Ren looked at her now. Indeed, although Erza appeared very reliable and fierce in battle, she was still just a 19-year-old girl. Her perspective was focused on the immediate 'right and wrong', not the long-term political landscape.
The Regional Guild Alliance was not a loose organization, nor was it just a place for old men to eat, drink, and brag at regular meetings.
Although there were no restrictive rules and regulations, it was undoubtedly an organ of power that influenced the Magic Council and the distribution of jobs across the kingdom.
"Six years ago, Jose Porla challenged Makarov," Ren continued, his voice low. "Although it seemed like an action taken while drunk or out of jealousy, how could a powerful Ten Wizard Saint truly be drunk on such a decision? Jose merely wanted to defeat Makarov to gain the leadership position in the Regional Guild Alliance and assert Phantom Lord's dominance."
"The result was that he failed, and he never attended the regular meetings again," Erza murmured, realizing the depth of the situation.
"Exactly. And this operation established the leadership position of the younger generation," Ren concluded. "By leading this alliance to victory, we've ensured that even when the guild succession happens, Fairy Tail will still remain the undisputed strongest guild in Fiore."
"What are you two talking about? Why don't I understand any of it?"
At this moment, Natsu walked up, looking bewildered. He scratched his head, completely failing to grasp what Erza and Ren were discussing. Politics? Leadership? He just wanted to know when they were eating.
"It's nothing; it doesn't concern you," Ren said dismissively. "Just focus on not destroying the next town we enter."
He turned to the white cat flying silently beside them. "Carla, pack your things and leave with us."
"Okay," Carla nodded. Her small face was somber. She was sad about the disappearance of the Cait Shelter Guild Master and the truth of their home, but having Wendy join Fairy Tail was indeed the best option now. Wendy needed a home, not a ghost town.
Happy immediately trotted over, holding a fish he had inexplicably acquired. "Let me help you, Carla! I can carry your luggage!"
"I don't have luggage," Carla said coldly, flying higher to avoid him.
A few hours later, the group boarded a freighter to cross the sea back to Magnolia.
"Ah, ah... The sea breeze is so comfortable on the ship! Wow! Transportation is amazing!!"
Natsu ran back and forth on the deck of the freighter, jumping around like an excited child.
Normally, the moment Natsu stepped onto anything that moved, he would be reduced to a motion-sick puddle of misery. But earlier, seeing his suffering, Wendy had cast a spell called Troia on him, which temporarily cured his balance sense.
"Stop running! How many laps have you done? You're so noisy, it's annoying! Wendy, can't you dispel that magic?"
Gray shouted irritably, leaning against the railing. He was shirtless, of course. "He was quieter when he was vomiting!"
"What are you talking about, you jerk?!"
Natsu stopped, looking horrified at Gray when he heard him suggest that Wendy dispel the magic. "That guy is too cruel! Wendy, don't listen to the ice princess!"
"Haha!"
Seeing this lively banter, Wendy couldn't help but laugh. The sadness in her heart lifted slightly. These people were loud and chaotic, but they were warm.
"Although missions with Ren are quite dangerous, it seems the bigger the storm, the more valuable the fish."
Lucy sat on a bench nearby, happily looking at the set of keys in her hand.
"Three Golden Zodiac Keys—Scorpio, Aries, and Gemini," she counted, her eyes sparkling. "And one Silver Key, which is Caelum, the Chisel."
Caelum was a very powerful weapon-type Celestial Spirit, capable of transforming into cannons or swords. Its destructive power was even higher than some of the Zodiac keys.
She had happened to run into Angel, whom Ren had defeated, while escaping from the collapsing Nirvana. Seeing the keys scattered on the ground next to the unconscious dark mage, Lucy had conveniently 'liberated' them.
"Angel treated them like tools," Lucy whispered, clutching the keys to her chest. "But I'll treat them like friends."
These spirits had all willingly signed contracts with her on the spot. Now, she already had nine Golden Zodiac keys in her possession. She only needed three more—Libra, Pisces, and Ophiuchus (if that counted)—to complete the collection.
"Wendy and Carla are really going to join Fairy Tail, right?"
Happy flew over to Carla's side, hovering persistently. Happy was the happiest about them joining the guild; this way, he could spend more time with Carla. This was the first time he had encountered a true member of his own kind—an Exceed—and she was a cute female cat. He didn't want to miss the chance.
"Carla, do you like fish? This ship smells like fish!"
Carla crossed her arms and looked away haughtily. "I'm only going with her because Wendy said she wanted to go. It's not because I want to join your barbarous guild."
"Aye! She's shy!" Happy cheered.
"I'm really looking forward to joining Fairy Tail!!"
Wendy looked at the sea, the wind blowing through her blue hair. She looked very happy. Although she had experienced the pain of separation, Wendy was very strong. She knew that Master Roubaul wanted her to live on, to find new happiness.
She clutched her dress, her eyes shining with determination. "I'll do my best!"
Upon arriving back in Magnolia, the group headed straight for the guild hall. The familiar noise of brawling and laughter spilled out onto the street before they even opened the doors.
Ren pushed the heavy wooden doors open.
"We're back."
The chaos stopped for a second as everyone looked up.
Ren stepped aside, revealing the small girl standing nervously behind him.
At the Fairy Tail Guild, surrounded by her new family, Wendy took a deep breath, bowed deeply, and said in a clear voice:
"Hello everyone, my name is Wendy, and this is Carla. Please take care of us."
[Akarin Note:
Your Support Keeps This Story Alive!
If you're enjoying this novel, your support means the world to me. Simple actions like leaving a review, power stone, comment, or sharing the story let me know you're out there. It's the greatest motivation for me to keep updating until the very end and ensures this project continues.
For those who wish to support me more directly, you can join my Patreon at [patreon.com/AkarinTL]. As a thank-you, you'll receive access to 50 advanced chapters.
I hope I am still worthy of your support. My life truly depends on this... haha, I know I'm so shameless.]