Time passed in the blink of an eye.
Two months later, an argument erupted inside a house in Magnolia.
Smack!
Laxus slammed both hands onto the desk, his face flushed with anger.
“Old man, why won’t you approve it?
“I already told you—I’m strong enough!”
He stared across the study at his grandfather, Fairy Tail’s Guild Master, barely concealing his impatience.
Makarov maintained a stern expression as he examined the request sheet in his hand.
The job involved clearing a mine of monsters.
“I’ve heard that a new Beast King has recently appeared in that region,” Makarov explained.
“The creatures inside this mine are also more dangerous than the weak monsters you usually deal with.”
Laxus’s frown deepened.
“Do you think I’m three years old?
Of course I’ll avoid the Beast King.
This is still just a low-level job, isn’t it?”
All he wanted was to complete more jobs and build up his experience as quickly as possible.
Why did the old man insist on standing in his way?
Makarov sighed helplessly.
“You may take the job, but only if you bring a partner.”
Laxus froze, then clenched his fists as indignation spread across his face.
“Why?
I don’t need anyone’s help.
I’m already strong enough.”
He struck his chest with one hand.
“I don’t want some guy following me around and saying, ‘Of course you can do it—you’re Makarov’s grandson!’
“I can already handle harder jobs by myself, so why are you forcing me to form a team for this one?!”
Makarov closed his eyes and shook his head, his expression remaining firm.
“Say whatever you like.
I will not allow you to accept this job alone.
Find a partner, then come back to me.”
He held out the request sheet.
Laxus lowered his head without another word, took it from Makarov’s hand, and left the study with disappointment written across his face.
Only after the door closed did Makarov’s shoulders sag.
Their relationship had never been the same since he expelled Laxus’s father from both the guild and their home.
Ever since then, Laxus had begun avoiding him whenever possible and gradually distancing himself from the other members of Fairy Tail.
Makarov had only insisted on a partner because he was worried the boy might be injured.
He had never expected Laxus to become so furious.
“Why did things turn out like this?”
…
Outside the house, Laxus managed to calm himself somewhat, though his brow remained furrowed as he walked through the streets.
Passersby sensed the foul mood surrounding him and wisely gave him a wide berth.
He simply could not understand it.
He could finally control the magic inside his body, and his strength had been improving steadily.
Why did Makarov still believe he could not complete the job alone?
Even worse, whenever people praised him, they always spoke of him as Makarov’s grandson.
No one ever recognized Laxus for his own achievements.
How was he supposed to remain calm?
Before he realized it, he had arrived at the guild.
Several Mages were already drinking despite the early hour.
Laxus pressed a hand to his forehead, feeling another headache coming on.
He needed a partner.
‘What a nuisance.’
Macao and Wakaba were immediately disqualified.
If he went with an adult, he would never be able to prove that he could handle the mission himself.
He needed someone weak enough not to interfere, preferably someone who would simply stay out of his way.
Laxus scanned the guild hall and eventually found two people who barely met his requirements.
The first was Cana, sitting alone at a wooden table with several tarot cards spread before her.
She eagerly awaited the results of her morning fortune, hoping for something favorable.
The other option was…
Laxus looked toward one corner of the guild hall.
Ron and Reedus were sitting together, sketching on several sheets of paper spread across their table.
“Ron, you’re improving at an unbelievable rate,” Reedus said, marveling at the drawings.
He wore a black top hat and a white long-sleeved shirt.
At this point in his life, he still possessed a slender build.
“No, it’s only because you’re such a good teacher, Reedus-san.”
Ron smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head.
For once, he was not wearing an outrageous costume.
He had dressed in an ordinary T-shirt like any other child.
Ron soon noticed someone staring at him and turned his head.
It was Laxus.
Laxus regarded him with a complicated expression, but the moment Ron looked back, he instinctively turned his face away.
For reasons he could not explain, seeing Ron always stirred a strange fear inside him.
Whenever he spotted the boy from a distance, he usually went out of his way to avoid him.
Truthfully, he was reluctant to choose Ron.
Unfortunately, Ron was currently the best candidate.
Laxus glanced toward Cana.
Apparently, she was dissatisfied with the result of her divination and had collapsed listlessly across the table.
She was still rather young, and he had never spoken to her before, so he had no idea what kind of person she was.
His encounters with Ron had never been pleasant, but everyone in Fairy Tail seemed fond of him.
That had to mean he was reasonably easy to get along with.
Laxus took a deep breath and mentally prepared himself to overcome his fear.
His cold expression returned as he walked directly toward Ron and Reedus’s table.
Reedus looked surprised when Laxus approached.
Once he noticed that Laxus had stopped beside Ron, he realized the boy must have come to speak with him.
Taking the hint, Reedus excused himself and went to deal with something else.
Laxus looked down as Ron resumed sketching.
He appeared to be drawing some kind of…
monster?
It resembled a frog, except a large bulb grew from its back.
Despite being a monster, it had an oddly adorable appearance.
Two completed drawings lay nearby.
One depicted a red lizard with a flame burning at the tip of its tail, while the other showed a blue turtle standing upright.
Laxus stared for a moment, then placed the request sheet directly over Ron’s finished sketches.
“Hey, Ron.”
“What is it?”
Ron looked up.
Laxus immediately turned his face away again on instinct, then continued speaking while presenting only his profile.
“This job requires traveling outside Magnolia.
Do you want to form a team and come with me?”
Ron’s eyes widened as he stared incredulously at the side of Laxus’s face.
This was remarkable!
During their last few chance encounters, Laxus had fled the moment he saw him.
Now he had approached Ron voluntarily—and even asked him to form a team?
‘Did you eat something you shouldn’t have?’