Aito didn’t really feel like talking to anyone right now.
Any shift in his attention only made his headache worse.
Still, the little girl’s thoughts had caught his attention.
‘Her dad?
Could this girl actually be Gildarts’s daughter?!’ Aito’s gaze naturally settled on the girl named Cana.
She was already quite pretty and would definitely grow into a beautiful woman.
However, her features didn’t resemble Gildarts much, and even their hair colors were completely different.
Still, inner thoughts rarely lied.
Maybe she simply took after her mother?
But…
Gildarts hadn’t gone out of his way to greet his supposed daughter earlier.
That was a little strange.
“Oi, newbie!
Why are you spacing out?
We asked your name!” “Idiot Gray!
Be a little more polite.
You’re going to scare him!” Cana chopped Gray on the head with one hand.
The two of them seemed pretty close.
“My name is Aito…” Since this involved his savior Gildarts, Aito forced himself to focus.
Then he pointed behind Gray at the underwear he’d somehow taken off and twitched his lips.
“Uh…
shouldn’t you put your clothes back on?” “Huh?!
When did that happen?!” “…” To be fair, Aito had been a little frightened when Gray walked toward him while expressionlessly taking off his underwear.
Judging from Gray’s reaction, he hadn’t even realized he’d stripped himself.
Aito could also confirm that Gray’s mind hadn’t registered what his own hands were doing.
‘Developing such an incredible habit at this age…
What a hopeless kid.’ As Gray awkwardly pulled his underwear back on, he hurriedly changed the subject.
“Aito, right?
Uh…
do you have a family name?” Aito would’ve liked to say his surname was Ai.
After all, the dozen or so years of memories from his previous life were much clearer than the six years he’d lived in this one.
“A family name?
I’m not really sure.
I’ve been called Aito ever since I was little.” “Huh?
Aito, then you—” ‘What’s your relationship with Gildarts?’ Aito “heard” what Cana wanted to ask before she could say it.
But at that exact moment, Guild Master Makarov and Gildarts happened to come downstairs, swallowing the question before Cana could voice it.
Everyone’s attention shifted toward them, leaving Cana no choice but to stop.
“Brats, eyes on me!
I’ve got an announcement!” Makarov leaped onto the bar counter on the first floor, raised both hands, and grinned with narrowed eyes.
“First!
Let’s welcome the newest member of our guild—little Aito!” Under Aito’s slightly horrified stare, Makarov’s tiny hand suddenly expanded and scooped him up, placing him directly on the counter.
[Giant Magic] It was one of Makarov’s signature forms of magic, allowing him to enlarge his entire body or individual parts of it.
“Little Aito is a naturally awakened Mage with incredible potential!
Everyone, make sure you take good care of our little genius from now on!” “Ooh!
Now that’s one impressive newcomer!” “The guild’s future is in your hands, kid!
Hahahaha!” “Come on, newbie!
Show us a trick!” ‘This guild really is noisy…’ Aito rubbed his temples as the enthusiastic voices made his head throb again.
He managed to put on an awkward but polite smile.
“And I’ll be visiting the Magic Council for a few days to handle some business.
Keep an eye on the guild—and especially Gildarts!
All right, that’s everything!
Dismissed!” “Oi, Gramps!
What’s that supposed to mean?!” “Don’t worry, Master!
We won’t let Gildarts cause trouble!” “See you, Master!
Gildarts, get over here and have a drink!” “Hahahahaha!” “…” Not a single person seemed worried or curious about their Guild Master’s sudden departure.
Within seconds, everyone had gone straight back to making a racket.
Makarov was clearly used to it.
He turned toward Aito with a warm, grandfatherly smile.
“Haha, don’t mind them, little Aito.
They may look unreliable most of the time, but when it really matters, you can count on them.” “You’ll get used to everyone eventually.
From now on, just relax and think of this place as your home.” ‘I hope he’s a good kid.
Please don’t let these idiots corrupt him.’ ‘Hey!
Even you don’t believe what you’re saying!’ Aito had plenty to say in his head too.
Unfortunately, nobody else could hear his complaints.
“Airo!
Come give our newest member his Guild Mark!” Makarov called toward the guild’s barmaid.
A well-built young woman approached while holding something that looked suspiciously like a stamp.
“A Guild Mark…
Is it like a tattoo?
Do I have to get one?” Aito instinctively shrank back.
For some reason, the Fairy Tail emblem looked strangely familiar.
He felt like he’d seen it somewhere before, but the memory refused to surface.
Airo smiled and explained.
“It’s not a tattoo.
A Guild Mark is a special magical seal, and it can be removed.
So, where do you want yours?” “…Then put it on the back of my shoulder.” Aito reluctantly pulled his clothes down from his right shoulder, exposing the pale skin beneath.
He really didn’t want anything resembling a tattoo somewhere he could constantly see it.
Better to put it somewhere out of sight.
“Got it~” Airo swiftly pressed the stamp down and left a cute pink Guild Mark on his shoulder.
Apparently still unsatisfied, she excitedly squeezed the boy’s soft arm and burst into an exaggerated laugh.
“Children really do have the best skin~” ‘He’s so cute!
I want to take him home and raise him myself~ He’s definitely going to grow into a handsome man.
Hehehe~’ ‘Miss, your thoughts are getting dangerous.’ Aito nervously edged closer to Makarov.
The Guild Master nodded in satisfaction.
“Airo, I’ll leave Aito with you for now.
I don’t exactly trust Gildarts to look after a child.” “No problem, Master~ I love kids.” Airo excitedly scooped Aito into her arms and spun around on the spot.
“Aww~ What a good boy!
He’s way cuter than Gray!” Gray: “???” Aito suddenly found himself buried in something incredibly soft, while the pleasant scent of the young woman surrounded him.
He blinked.
‘You know…
being a kid again might not be so bad.’ At that moment, Gildarts, who had already knocked back several drinks with the others, wandered over and shouted at Makarov in protest.
“Oi, oi!
Master, I can’t pretend I didn’t hear that!
Aito and I have been living together for several days!
How exactly am I bad at taking care of kids?” Makarov didn’t even bother answering him.
Instead, he looked at Aito with an expression filled with guilt and sympathy.
“Child…
you really suffered, didn’t you?
It must have been a difficult journey.” “…” Still nestled in Airo’s arms, Aito gave him a sorrowful yet strangely relieved expression.
‘Camping on the roadside with a sloppy, horny middle-aged man…
Who could possibly understand my suffering?’ “You little brat.
I took perfectly good care of you.” Gildarts clicked his tongue but didn’t seem particularly bothered.
Resting one hand on the counter, he turned to Airo with a flirtatious grin.
“Airo-chan~ It’s been a while.
You’ve gotten even prettier.
How about going on a date with me tonight?” “Nope.
I have a boyfriend now, Gildarts.” “Huh?!
Since when?!
Damn it!
Who’s the bastard…
No, I mean, who’s the lucky bastard who managed to—” Aito’s gaze moved between them before finally landing on Cana, who stood nearby with a complicated expression.
He wanted to know what the little girl was thinking right now.
‘Dad is amazing, but isn’t he a little too flirtatious…?
No.
He’s just a shameless womanizer!’ ‘Dad seems to take really good care of Aito.
Could Aito actually be my little brother?’ ‘Forget it.
I’m definitely going to tell him about Mom today!
I have to ask whether he still remembers her…’ ‘But…
even if I ask him, what difference will it make?
Mom told me he was a wanderer who would never stop for anyone…’ ‘If I tell him I’m his daughter…
will he stay for me?’ ‘But Dad is such a powerful Mage, while I’m…
I’m so weak.
Would he even want to acknowledge me?
I’d only hold him back.’ ‘Mom…
what am I supposed to do?’ “…” Cana’s tangled thoughts flooded into Aito’s mind all at once.
The heaviness behind those emotions made him suck in a sharp breath.
‘What a mess you’ve made, Gildarts.’ ‘Who would’ve thought my lifesaver was actually such a scumbag?’ ‘Man…
I really didn’t want to learn a secret like this.’ Just then, Aito’s eyelid suddenly twitched.
[Telepathy Magic LV4, 214→230/10000000] …