Chapter 21: Guild Daily Life
"By the way, this is a gift for you. You might need it someday." Dino Maxim pulled out an elegant black water-drop necklace from his backpack and handed it to Mirajane.
Mirajane's eyes lit up when she saw the gift. Of course she wasn't hurting for jewelry, but this was the first time Dino had given her something like this. Had this battle-obsessed idiot finally gotten a clue? She accepted it happily, a warm smile spreading across her face.
Suddenly, Guild Master Makarov's voice boomed through the guild: "SILENCE, YOU BRATS!" A massive figure loomed over the guild hall, and the raucous noise died down instantly.
"So big!!" Lucy gasped, her jaw dropping.
Then Makarov shrank back to his usual diminutive form.
"So small!!!" Lucy's eyes bulged comically, and she nearly fell over in shock.
Makarov hopped lightly into the air, executing a few flips before landing perfectly on the second-floor railing. He clutched a thick stack of papers in his hand. "Alright! Let me see what kind of mess you've made for me recently. Look at how many complaints the Magic Council has sent!" He waved the documents dramatically.
"First—Gray!"
"Huh?"
"You did fine taking down that smuggling ring, but afterward you wandered around town naked and ended up stealing someone's underwear off their clothesline!"
Gray's face turned bright red. "Well… it's not like being naked is a crime…"
Elfman shook his head. "Then don't strip in the first place!"
"Ugh! Elfman! You used excessive force against the very person you were hired to protect during your mission!"
Elfman rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "He said real men don't need college degrees…"
"Cana—you falsified your expense report to go drinking and downed fifteen barrels of wine, then tried to charge it to the Magic Council!"
"Loki… you seduced Council Member Reggie's granddaughter, and now a talent agency is demanding compensation!"
"And Natsu! You eliminated the Devon bandits but destroyed seven houses in the process. You knocked down the historic clock tower in Lupinus Village, burned down the church in Freesia, caused property damage in the town of Onibus, and there's also complaints about Alzack, Levy, Reedus, Warren, Bisca…"
"And last but certainly not least—Dino, you bastard! You disappear for half a year without a word, then the moment you show up there's a tsunami and earthquake! Half of Hargeon Port was leveled because you dealt with some third-rate mage?!"
Dino winced, unable to argue. Honestly, those small fries hadn't been any challenge at all, but he'd gotten too used to training in wide-open spaces where he could cut loose. Plus, his temper had been running a bit hot that day.
"You idiots constantly get me chewed out by those Council stuffed shirts… But you know what? Those pencil-pushers can go to hell!"
Fwoosh! All the documents in Makarov's hand burst into flames.
"Listen up! All power that surpasses common sense is born from common sense itself! Magic isn't some miraculous force—it's the harmony between the flow of energy within our bodies and the natural world around us!"
"Magic is forged by pouring your entire soul into it! If you're constantly worrying about what those bureaucrats think, your magic will never grow stronger! Don't fear those Council cowards! Walk the path you believe in! That's the Fairy Tail way!!!"
"YEAH!!!" The entire guild erupted in cheers, fists pumping in the air.
"Dino! Get over here, you brat!" Makarov called out while perched on the bar counter.
Dino approached with a grin. "Master, it's been a while."
"You disappear without a trace for six months, then cause that much chaos? Still, you handled that business well—the Council didn't complain too much this time."
"What else can those windbags do besides run their mouths? Though I didn't expect them to have so many informants. They found out pretty quick."
"You think the Council's full of complete idiots? But seriously—show some restraint next time. A few of those old geezers have had it out for you for years."
"Don't worry, I know my limits."
"Dino! Get over here and drink with us!" Elfman shouted. "And tell us what you've been up to these past six months!"
"Coming! But first, you explain how you ended up beating up your own client."
"N-no way! Let's tell the newbies about that time you almost demolished the Magic Council building instead! Now that's what a real man does!"
"You were way too young to remember that properly."
Dino sat down and joined the conversation. Laughter and teasing filled the air as they swapped stories and called out each other's embarrassing moments. Half a year wasn't especially long, but plenty had happened during that time. The guild had welcomed several new members, and these moments—right here—were what Dino treasured most.
"Dino! Natsu! Look—I'm officially part of Fairy Tail now!" Lucy proudly displayed the guild mark on the back of her hand, beaming with joy.
"Congrats, Lucy!"
Wakaba looked at Dino with a knowing smirk that only men share. "Where'd you find such a cutie? She's got an incredible figure too."
Dino blinked, caught off guard. He honestly hadn't paid much attention before, but now that he looked properly… Lucy's proportions really were something else. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple.
"Ahem! You perverts better behave yourselves and not scare away our new member!" Mirajane shot them all a sharp glare, her eye twitching in irritation.
"But Miss Mirajane looks adorable when she's angry…"
"I'd give ten years of my life to marry Miss Mirajane…"
Elfman crossed his arms proudly. "My sister will only marry the manliest of men. You guys don't stand a chance. The only one I approve of is Dino! Only he's qualified to be my brother-in-law!" Ever since the S-Class promotion trial four years ago, when Dino had easily defeated six opponents in a row, Elfman had become his biggest fanboy and constantly referred to him as his future brother-in-law.
"SHUT UP, ELFMAN!" Mirajane's face turned completely red as she yelled at her brother.
"Ohohoho! Someone's embarrassed! Someone's embarrassed!" The guild members started teasing her with exaggerated grins.