The moment the orange glow of dusk began to drown beneath the horizon, every instinct in my body screamed the same warning.
Leave the forest.
Now.
The Eastern Forest was an entirely different world after sunset.
During the day, it was merely a hunting ground teeming with monsters and wild beasts.
No amount of confidence could erase that fact.
I put my staff away and broke into a sprint, weaving between towering trees with practiced footwork.
Fallen branches snapped beneath my boots as I dashed through the undergrowth, my breathing growing heavier with every passing second.
Sweat dripped from my brow, yet I refused to slow down.
I had already gathered everything I came here for.
There was no reason to tempt fate by lingering another minute.
A distant howl echoed through the woods.
Then another.
My pace quickened.
The fading light stretched long shadows across the forest floor, making every bush resemble a lurking monster and every rustling leaf sound like approaching footsteps.
My senses remained sharpened to their limits, constantly scanning my surroundings while my ears searched for the slightest sign of pursuit.
Just a little farther…
The familiar scent of damp earth slowly gave way to the crisp breeze flowing from the open fields beyond the treeline.
The trees suddenly parted.
Golden grass greeted my eyes, swaying gently beneath the evening wind, and beyond them stood Magnolia Town, its countless lanterns flickering to life one after another like stars descending upon the earth.
“…I made it.”
Only then did I realize how tense my shoulders had become.
The hand gripping tightly finally loosened as I released a long, exhausted sigh.
“…Thank the gods.”
A small smile escaped my lips.
Everything had gone exactly as planned.
I had entered the forest at noon, followed the route I had mapped in advance, gathered everything I needed without wasting unnecessary time, and most importantly…
I finish the job.
Preparation had once again proven itself to be worth more than blind courage.
No matter how strong a mage became, arrogance was often what dug their grave.
I had no intention of becoming another cautionary tale told over drinks at the guild.
With my nerves finally settling, I adjusted the bag hanging over my shoulder and walked toward the town gates.
The lively sounds of Magnolia gradually replaced the eerie silence of the forest.
Merchants hurried to close their shops while children laughed as they chased one another through the streets.
It was almost enough to make me forget the oppressive atmosphere I had escaped only minutes earlier.
Without wasting another moment, I headed straight for Fairy Tail.
The familiar building stood proudly at the center of town, just as noisy as ever despite the late hour.
Bursts of laughter, drunken cheers, and the occasional crash of broken furniture spilled through the open entrance.
Business as usual.
Normally, I would have smiled at the sight.
Pushing open the heavy wooden doors, I stepped inside and ignored the familiar chaos surrounding me.
Several guild members greeted me, but one look at my expression was enough for them to realize something was wrong.
I didn’t stop walking.
My destination lay at the far end of the guild hall.
Guild Master Makarov stood atop the counter, speaking with someone when his gaze drifted toward me.
The playful smile that usually rested on his face faded almost instantly.
Our eyes met.
He studied me for only a brief moment before his years of experience spoke for him.
“…You’ve got something important to report.”
It wasn’t a question.
I gave a silent nod.
Without another word, Makarov climbed down from the counter and motioned with his hand.
“My office.”
The guild hall seemed to grow quieter as nearby conversations slowed, curious eyes following the two of us.
Whatever news I carried It wasn’t something that should be discussed where everyone could hear.
The moment I stepped into the guild master’s office, the lively noise from the guild hall faded behind the heavy wooden door.
Only silence remained.
Master Makarov sat behind his desk, his small figure somehow filling the entire room with an overwhelming presence.
His eyes met mine, and with a simple nod, he gestured for me to sit.
I quietly took the seat across from him.
“So,” he said, folding his hands together.
“Tell me everything.”
I took a slow breath before recounting the mission from the very beginning.
I spoke of the preparations I had made before leaving Magnolia, the route I had chosen, and the hours spent carefully scouting the forest instead of rushing in blindly.
I described how strange it felt to find far more Grey Wolves than the quest had reported, enough to make even an experienced mage hesitate.
From there, I explained the battle.
How the pack tried to cornered me.
How every spell, every step, and every decision became in the fight.
And finally…
The unbelievable encounter with the White Tiger.
I told him how an enemy that should have been another obstacle had, through a series of impossible circumstances, become a temporary ally.
Even as I spoke, it still sounded absurd to my own ears.
Yet I left nothing out.
There was no point hiding anything from the Guild Master.
Throughout the entire story, Makarov remained silent.
He didn’t interrupt, nor did he question my decisions.
He simply listened, his expression growing more serious with every word.
Only after I finished did the room fall silent once more.
“…I see.”
He slowly stood from his chair.
Without another word, he walked around the desk until he was standing right in front of me.
“H-Huh?”
Before I could react, his small hands grabbed my shoulders.
He checked my arms.
My legs.
My back.
Even the side of my head.
His sharp eyes searched every inch of me, as though expecting to find some hidden injury I had failed to notice.
After confirming I wasn’t missing any limbs, his brows knitted together into a deep frown.
Then—
Thunk!
His fist lightly knocked against my forehead.
“Idiot!”
His voice echoed throughout the office.
“You should’ve turned back the moment you realized something was wrong! Ask the guild for reinforcements! Or abandon the quest entirely!”
His eyes narrowed, filled with frustration.
“I don’t care if it leaves a stain on your record. A failed quest can be taken again. A dead mage can’t.”
His voice lowered, but somehow carried even more weight. This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
“You were supposed to be the smart kid.”
I froze.
Of all the reactions I had imagined praise.
Scolding for teaming up with a monster.
Questions about the White Tiger.
Never had I expected genuine anger.
For a moment, I didn’t know what to say.
Then it finally clicked.
He wasn’t angry because I had failed.
He was angry because I had nearly died.
“…Sorry.”
That single word escaped my lips almost on its own.
Makarov let out a long sigh before shaking his head.
“…Just don’t make me worry like that again.”
The tension that had filled the room suddenly disappeared.
Then, just as quickly as the old man had become furious…
He burst into laughter.
“WAHAHAHA!”
His booming laugh echoed through the office.
“But…” He grinned from ear to ear.
“Congratulations, kid! You survived a mission far beyond what anyone expected from someone your age.”
He walked back to his desk and picked up the quest report.
“Originally, this was only supposed to be a C-Class quest.”
His eyes scanned the paper before looking back at me.
“But considering you fought an opponent well above your level, survived an unexpected monster outbreak, and defeated far more Grey Wolves than the request originally listed…”
He smirked.
“I’ll personally upgrade this quest to B-Class.”
For a second I thought I had misheard him.
“…Really?”
“Really.”
A wide smile spread across my face before I could stop it.
B-Class completion.
It wasn’t just the reward or the recognition that made me happy.
It was the feeling that someone had acknowledged everything I had endured.
More than that…
As I looked at the old man pretending to organize papers to hide the concern that still lingered on his face, warmth quietly spread through my chest.
Besides Father and Mother…
There was someone else who genuinely cared whether I came home alive.
For some reason that realization made the B-Class promotion feel like the second greatest reward I had received that day.
The conversation eventually came to an end, but there was still one thing left to show him.
Without another word, I reached into my storage bag.
A pale-blue magic circle flickered beneath my bag before one massive corpse after another crashed onto the office floor with heavy thuds.
Thud!
Thud!
THUD!
The room fell silent as the bodies of the wolves piled up.
Master Makarov’s eyebrows twitched.
His calm expression slowly gave way to a deep frown as he stepped forward, inspecting one of the carcasses.
Kneeling beside it, he ran a hand through its coarse silver-gray fur before examining the oversized fangs and thickened muscles.
“…These aren’t ordinary Grey Wolves.”
His voice became noticeably more serious.
“They’re Alpha Grey Wolves.”
The guild master’s gaze snapped toward me.
“…How in the hell did you manage to kill this many of them?”
I simply shrugged, trying and failing to hide the smug grin creeping across my face.
“Maybe I’m just that strong.”
Bonk!
“Agh!”
Makarov’s fist landed squarely on the top of my head.
“Don’t get cocky, you damn brat!”
I rubbed my aching head while laughing despite myself.
“Ow… Worth it.”
“Hmph.”
Although he grumbled, I could see the corners of his mouth twitch upward ever so slightly.
After letting out a long sigh, Makarov pointed toward the mountain of wolf corpses.
“Leave them in the guild’s storage out back. Someone will butcher and process them later.”
He folded his arms.
“As for your quest, come back tomorrow. We’ll calculate everything properly, and you’ll receive your reward then.”
His eyes shifted back toward the wolves.
“So… what do you want done with these?”
I looked over the pile of Alpha Grey Wolves for a moment, already imagining what they could become.
“I want the pelts and the bones.”
I tapped one of the wolves with my boot.
“The meat and everything else is yours to decide, Master.”
I shrugged.
“You could sell it to merchants, preserve it for guild funds, or even throw a feast and feed everyone. I don’t really mind.”
Makarov raised an eyebrow.
“And what exactly are you planning to do with the pelts and bones?”
A smile spread across my face.
“I’ve got a few ideas.”
I crouched beside one of the wolves, resting a hand against its massive skull.
“The bones should make excellent material for daggers, knives, or maybe even a few custom weapons if I find a skilled craftsman.”
My fingers brushed against the thick silver fur.
“As for the pelt… I want it turned into a coat.”
“A coat?”
“Yeah.”
I chuckled to myself.
“A trophy.”
I glanced down at the wolves, remembering the battle that had nearly gotten me killed.
“A reminder of the first truly reckless… unbelievably stupid… and somehow successful quest I’ve ever completed.”
For a brief moment, Makarov simply stared at me.
Then one word escaped his mouth.
“…First?”
I met his gaze and flashed a carefree grin.
I shoved my hands into my pockets.
“The first.”
I looked toward the guild hall’s entrance, where countless request boards still waited to be filled with adventures.
“Who knows? There might be plenty more stupid ideas waiting for me in the future.”
A vein bulged on Makarov’s forehead.
“…Please don’t say that like it’s something to look forward to.”
I only laughed.
Somehow, judging by the exhausted look on the old man’s face I had a feeling this wouldn’t be the last time I’d give him a headache.
The following day, I didn’t return to the guild until the sun was already hanging high overhead.
For the first time in years, I had completely overslept.
The battle against the Alpha Grey Wolves had drained every ounce of strength from my body.
Every muscle ached the moment I woke up, reminding me just how close that fight had been.
So, for once, I skipped my usual morning routine.
No training.
No meditation.
I simply dragged myself out of bed, enjoyed a leisurely breakfast, washed away the grime of yesterday’s battle, changed into a fresh set of clothes, and headed straight for the Fairy Tail guild.
The streets of Magnolia were already bustling with life when I arrived.
Pushing open the familiar wooden doors, I was immediately greeted by the lively chatter of mages, the clinking of mugs, and the unmistakable smell of ale.
Some things never changed.
And right where I expected him to be…
Master Makarov was already seated at the bar counter, casually drinking in broad daylight.
“…Master.” I walked over with a helpless smile.
“Isn’t it a little early to start drinking?”
Before taking a seat, I gave Dalia a small nod in greeting.
She smiled warmly and returned the gesture before continuing with her work behind the counter.
Makarov merely snorted.
“Don’t worry about me,” he replied, waving his mug dismissively.
“Worry about yourself.”
He hopped down from his stool and jerked his thumb toward the hallway leading deeper into the guild.
“Come on. Let’s head to the back.”
“…Got it.”
Curious, I followed after him.
The storage room was much quieter than the bustling guild hall.
The moment we entered, my eyes landed on two neatly organized piles laid across a large wooden table.
On one side were the pelts and bones of the Alpha Grey Wolves, carefully cleaned and separated.
On the other rested stacks of fresh meat, preserved surprisingly well.
Makarov folded his arms as he noticed my gaze.
“We finished processing everything this morning.”
He picked up one of the thick gray pelts before tossing it lightly toward me.
“The pelts are in decent condition, but…” He pointed at several long tears running across the hide.
“Looks like your fight wasn’t exactly gentle.”
I awkwardly scratched my cheek.
“…Yeah.”
“If you want these turned into a proper coat or armor, take them to a professional craftsman. They can repair the damage before working with them.”
He then picked up one of the enormous wolf bones.
“As for these…” A grin spread across his face.
“I know a smith who specializes in monster materials. He can turn these into a fine weapon. Better than letting them gather dust.”
That certainly sounded worthwhile.
“Thank you, Master.”
I carefully stored away the pelts and bones before turning toward the remaining mountain of wolf meat.
“The meat is all yours,” I said.
“Just leave me about ten pounds.”
Makarov raised an eyebrow.
“Only ten?”
“My father and mother are returning home today.”
A faint smile appeared on my face.
“I want them to taste it.”
“…Heh.” The old master’s expression softened for just a brief moment.
“Fair enough.”
He nodded without objection.
“We’ll keep the rest for the guild. The cooks are going to love this.”
After collecting everything I needed, we returned to the guild hall together.
The lively atmosphere resumed the moment the door opened.
Several guild members glanced our way before returning to their conversations.
Makarov climbed back onto his stool before reaching beneath the counter.
“This request was issued directly by the guild,” he began, placing a heavy leather pouch onto the bar with a satisfying thud.
“That means the guild is responsible for your reward.”
He pushed the pouch toward me.
“And considering the danger involved…” he continued, stroking his beard, “…I’ve officially classified it as a B-Rank quest.”
I’d expected it already since he told me about it last night.
“You handled a pack of Alpha Grey Wolves, gathered valuable materials, and, more importantly…” His expression turned serious.
“…you brought back information regarding that White Tiger.”
He gave the pouch another push.
“So don’t complain.”
I picked it up instinctively.
It was surprisingly heavy.
Makarov grinned.
“Inside is your reward.” He raised two fingers.
“Two hundred thousand Jewel.”
He leaned back with a smug smile.
“That’s the payment for completing the quest, the difficulty bonus, and the value of the information you brought back.”
For a brief moment, I simply stared at the pouch in my hands.
“…”
That was far more money than I had ever expected to earn from a single job.
.
.
.
.
<Hey!
New Author here!
i just want to tell anyone who is reading this, thank you for taking a little time for reading my creation, this is just a little hobby for me.
hope you enjoy it and any comment, suggestion and opinion don’t be shy to tell me.
just be kind as much as possible that’s it thank you and i hope you have a nice day!>
<tried editing some of this chapter, and it ended become shorter, i hope you enjoy this chapter.
Thank you and have a great day.
and for whoever you are reading this, you are doing a great job and keep going!>