Right now, this guild was absolutely not the one in Edward’s memories—the one famous throughout this country, and even this continent, composed of a vast number of powerful Mages.
And members who were reckless, comparable to terrorists, forming a kingdom, or even the number one Mage guild on the continent.
Right now, it was still somewhat obscure.
It was so obscure that, apart from the famous Guild Master, one couldn’t pick out many capable Mages.
Not much fame meant few commissions, which naturally meant less money.
No money meant no renovations, though even with money, renovations weren’t guaranteed.
As a result, the guild was just a dilapidated little building that looked quite old, with the smell of alcohol permeating the structure.
Edward remembered that the Guild Master, Makarov, seemed to be the child of one of the guild’s founders, so this little building…
must have had a history of seventy or eighty years…
It was antique-grade!
Wouldn’t it collapse suddenly?
The guild’s main material was clearly wood; its sturdiness and durability certainly couldn’t compare to cement or brick and tile.
Creak — Ah —
Listen to that harsh sound as the wooden door, like that of an old tavern, was pushed open.
A wave of heat rushed out, even brushing the stray hair on Edward’s forehead!
He couldn’t help but squint and turn his head.
And when he looked up again, scene after scene of unsightly images began to assault his eyes!
It was five o’clock in the afternoon.
Even for a professional bar, it was just the time when customers were starting to arrive.
Yet, inside the Fairy Tail guild, a large group was already lying around in twisted poses.
Some were lying on tables mumbling nonsense, some were hugging table legs and giggling on the floor.
There was even someone completely naked!
And he was upside down, head and feet pointing down, with only his waist resting on a bench.
He didn’t know where this grown man got such good flexibility, but wasn’t it a bit too rude to point your bird at people!
“I, I’d better leave.”
Seeing that Lisanna was unfazed, her humming not even going off-key, and that she walked inside with practiced ease,
Edward, a grown man, felt his mouth twitch and began to retreat.
They said the environment one grows up in has a huge influence on a child.
Lisanna…
Lisanna was truly pitiful, but she was already beyond saving!
And there was a saying: every man for himself when disaster strikes.
Edward had better find a way to save himself first!
Thinking of this, he turned to run.
But before he could even take a step, a black shadow emerged from the darkness like a viper!
It opened its bloody maw and deftly used Bite on Edward’s waist and abdomen.
Immediately!
An irresistible force came from it.
Edward was dragged toward the bottomless abyss by that giant python without any room to resist!
No — —
Bang!
The entrance to Fairy Tail was clearly unguarded, yet it shut heavily with a strange, loud noise.
But passersby outside didn’t even have the interest to take a look, just burying their heads to continue on their way.
Even if it was another world, the world was cold and people were fickle!
…
Hu ~ Hu ~
Inside Fairy Tail.
The sound of drunken revelry continued one after another, as if they wouldn’t be woken up even if the sky fell.
Edward’s wails were naturally even more insignificant.
His vision blurred.
When he steadied himself, he had already arrived in the deepest part of the guild, at the tavern’s bar counter.
Uh…
On the bar counter sat a very short old man.
It was his elongated arm that had snatched Edward over just now, just like that rubber man.
Although the old man was awake, his face was flushed, and his eyes were unfocused.
He was still holding a glass with about a third of the drink left in his hand, occasionally giggling “Hehe.”
Edward:…
“Um… I was just lost…”
“What kind of joke is that!”
Edward’s cautious words hadn’t finished before he was angrily interrupted by the short old man wearing funny pajamas!
“I… was that considered a joke just now?”
Edward looked at Lisanna, who had arrived here unnoticed, a smile still on her chubby little face.
“I don’t know~”
Edward:…
“Um, Guild Master, I…”
“That bastard from the second generation! He dumped the guild on me without a word! I, where do I have the talent to be a Guild Master…”
“Now, now outsiders laugh at me, saying I turned the guild into a nursery! And saying things like letting a minor work as a tavern waiter!”
“And, and saying that once I, hic! Once I die, Fairy Tail will disband!”
“They! They don’t know a damn thing!”
“Kids, kids are, are the best! Kids are the best… They, they are all good children, good children! You, you are also a good child, you are also…”
“Hey! Wait! You wait! I’m not here to join the guild! Wait a second, don’t stamp yet! No! Even if you stamp, don’t just stamp anywhere! There! Not there!”
“Yamete — —”
…
Half an hour later.
Edward left the guild, pouting with the Fairy emblem on the left side of his face.
The reason it took so long wasn’t because Makarov was drunk until now.
After stamping the emblem on him, that guy had completely passed out.
Edward once suspected if he was acting.
But then he thought, what was there for others to covet from him anyway.
Edward considered it mental compensation and went to the kitchen to eat some leftovers.
Although it was cold, the taste of meat and seasoning gave him great satisfaction.
It was just that the moment he thought of the tattoo on his face, his mood turned bad again!
Unfortunately, Lisanna didn’t know where the tool to remove the emblem was, so Edward had to go again tomorrow.
By then, whether he decided to stay or seek another path, at least that emblem shouldn’t be stamped on his handsome face!
After saying goodbye to Lisanna, who waved her little hand to see him off, Edward followed his decent memory and a vague premonition.
He soon returned to the location of the secret realm entrance.
He tentatively reached out a hand.
Sure enough, there was a slight resistance, and as he continued to apply force, the membrane quickly broke.
His vision blurred, and although the scenery was more or less the same, all lush trees,
Edward knew he had returned to the Pokémon world.
Seemingly to welcome his arrival, a lump of bird poop fell from the sky!
Edward keenly dodged to the side and gave a long middle finger to the Spearow chirping happily in the sky!
Although the spaces were different, the time flow of the two worlds seemed to be equivalent.
The sky outside was getting dark, and it was also past dusk inside.
And regardless of where it was, the night was always a bit more dangerous.
After all, ferocious carnivores liked to come out at night.
Relying on his agile movements, Edward flipped up a tree in a few moves.
He waved his hand to drive away a curious Paras.
He reached out and picked a plump fruit from a branch in front of him.
He simply rubbed it on his clothes and put it in his mouth.
Crunch ~
Hiss ~~~ So sour!
But it was suitable for cleansing the palate.
He hadn’t eaten oily food for so long, and then ate too much at once.
His stomach was really a bit uncomfortable and needed to be settled.
Besides, Edward was not a picky eater, and even less a person who liked to waste.
While eating, he called out to the existence suspected to be the system, or the owner of the secret realm, or a manager of some sort.
But there was absolutely no response.
Helpless, he could only say softly,
“Open the newbie gift pack!”
[Ding! Command received from host. Confirming again, do you wish to receive the newbie mission rewards!]
“Confirm.”
[Rewards distributed! Please check!]
[Ding! Congratulations, you have obtained the secret realm expansion reward, you have unlocked the terrain — — Cave.]
[Ding! Congratulations, you have obtained one Poké Ball.]
[Ding! Congratulations, you have obtained one secret realm entrance reset permission.]
[Ding! Congratulations, you have obtained 1000 potential points.]