The regular meeting lasted for three days.
Aside from attending the first day with Master Makarov, Cain spent the remaining two days locked in his room, cultivating his magic.
Makarov saw Cain’s hard work and dedication.
While he was proud, he was also a bit worried.
After all, a child should act like a child.
Being cooped up in a room all day wasn’t good for him.
He needed to go outside and play.
So, Cain found himself shooed out onto the streets.
Makarov had originally tried to give him some pocket money, but Cain insisted he had his own.
Seeing this, Makarov didn’t push the issue.
Walking down the street, Cain felt like there wasn’t much to see.
Suddenly, a rhythmic clanging sound caught his attention.
With nothing better to do, Cain followed the noise and found himself standing in front of a blacksmith’s forge.
Just as he was about to leave, a few scenes from his past life flashed through his mind.
He remembered Goku doing weight training on his way to Namek in Dragon Ball, and Rock Lee dropping his training weights in Naruto.
Should he get some weights forged and start resistance training too?
Just as he was getting excited about the idea, he remembered all those ‘experts’ in short videos from his past life claiming that excessive heavy lifting at a young age stunted growth.
Cain definitely didn’t want to end up short.
If he grew up to be a little stump like Ichiya from Blue Pegasus, how was he supposed to build his harem?!
Then again, this was a magical world.
Things probably didn’t work the same way here, right?
Ultimately, Cain didn’t enter the blacksmith shop.
It wasn’t that he had abandoned the idea of weight training; he just decided to head back to the inn and ask Makarov first.
The Guild Master would definitely know the best way for a wizard to train safely.
After wrapping up his socializing with the other Guild Masters, Makarov returned to the inn, his mood brightening at the thought of seeing little Cain.
He wondered if the boy had fun playing outside today, or if he had run into anything interesting.
Perhaps because of what he had been through, Makarov always felt that Cain was far too mature for his age.
It gave the old man a bit of a headache.
“Yo, little Cain!
Did you find anything fun to do out there today?” The enthusiastic response he expected never came.
Cain was currently in the middle of a set of push-ups in the center of the room.
Judging by the puddle of sweat on the floorboard, he had been at it for quite a while.
Makarov was slightly surprised, but at the same time, it felt completely on brand.
In just three short days of knowing the boy, he had already realized how insanely disciplined this eight-year-old was.
Finishing his last push-up, Cain stood up and wiped the sweat from his face.
“Welcome back, Master.” Seeing the bright, happy smile on Cain’s face, Makarov swallowed the scolding he was about to deliver.
He could only sigh helplessly.
“You…” “By the way, regarding the Bureau of Magical Development…
I’ve already spoken with Bob, Goldmine, and the others.
We’re going to officially petition the Magic Council to launch a full investigation into the Bureau.” “My good friend, Yajima, will also speak up during the Council meeting.
With the combined pressure of multiple Guild Masters and a sitting Council member, the other councilors won’t be able to put up much resistance against launching an investigation.” “It won’t be long before you can see your friend again.” This matter had been heavily weighing on Cain’s mind for the past few days.
Although he knew the Master would help, not having a concrete answer had kept him on edge.
Hearing Makarov’s words, Cain literally jumped for joy.
Unable to contain himself, he ran forward and hugged Makarov tightly.
“Master, thank you so, so much!” As to why Makarov didn’t just storm the Bureau of Magical Development and rescue everyone himself?
Cain completely understood.
Makarov was a Guild Master; he had a lot of responsibilities to consider.
If Makarov dragged him along and launched a frontal assault on the Bureau, leaving aside the catastrophic collateral damage of two Wizard Saints clashing—which would likely level the entire facility and kill the hostages anyway—there were the political consequences to think about.
What did it mean for a legal Guild Master to launch a terrorist attack against a direct subsidiary of the Magic Council?
Was it an open rebellion?
The aftermath would almost certainly result in Fairy Tail being forcibly disbanded.
If they didn’t want to disband, their only option would be to become a Dark Guild.
So, the fact that Makarov managed to rally the other Guild Masters to apply political pressure was already an incredibly difficult and monumental feat.
“Hahaha, we’re family now!
No need for all that.
Alright, go take a bath.
Tomorrow, we’re heading back to Fairy Tail!” “Okay, Master!
I’ll go wash up!” Watching Cain skip happily toward the bathroom, Makarov smiled.
That’s the kind of smile a child should have.
Those bastards at the Bureau really deserve to rot.
The next day, after a train ride lasting several hours, Cain and Makarov finally arrived in Magnolia.
Compared to Clover Town or that small village near the Bureau, Magnolia was incredibly prosperous and bustling.
The streets were wide and spotless, the architecture was tall and exquisite, and the pedestrians walking by all had happy smiles on their faces.
For Cain, who was seeing a thriving fantasy city in this new world for the very first time, it was a dizzying, breathtaking sight.
The street vendors were also incredibly enthusiastic when they spotted Makarov.
“Yo!
Master Makarov, is this a grandson you found wandering outside?” “Master, want a mug of the new ale?” “Master Makarov, while you were gone these past few days, your guild members nearly tore the whole place down!
Hahahaha!” At first, Makarov replied with cheerful laughter.
But when he heard they had almost torn the guild down, his smile froze.
He hurriedly grabbed Cain’s hand and broke into a dead sprint toward the guild hall.
The surrounding townsfolk couldn’t help but roar with laughter at the sight.
Led by Makarov, they soon arrived in front of the Fairy Tail guild hall.
Cain looked at the building, which felt more like a rowdy tavern than a wizard’s guild.
The chaotic, booming noise inside was too loud for the walls and doors to contain; it spilled out into the streets.
Familiar with Fairy Tail’s signature style, Cain wasn’t surprised in the slightest.
Makarov kicked the double doors open.
“You bastards!
I barely step foot in town and I hear you’ve been tearing the guild apart!” Makarov’s roar caused the commotion to pause for a second.
A middle-aged man with a pompadour, holding a beer in one hand and resting his other arm around a blue-haired man, looked over.
Seeing Makarov, he cheered, “Oh!
The Master’s back!
Time to start the banquet!” Wakaba’s shout triggered a deafening cheer from everyone in the hall.
But for some inexplicable reason, two guys in the crowd suddenly started arguing.
Then, they started throwing punches.
Slowly, the brawl expanded from two people to engulf the entire guild.
The escalation was so fast it gave you whiplash.
Staring at the absolute chaos unfolding before them, Makarov slowly turned his head stiffly.
He stuttered, “C-Cain…
if I said this…
this is just a welcome ceremony…
w-would you believe me?” “No.” I’m doomed.
Makarov practically hallucinated the image of Cain turning around and walking away.
But Cain’s next words instantly brought the petrified Master back to life.
“A guild this lively…
it’s really great.” “Gahahahaha!
That’s right!
Come here, Cain, let’s get your guild mark stamped!
What color do you want?
And where do you want it?” Makarov slapped away a brawling guild member who flew too close, dragging Cain to the bar and picking up the magic stamp.
“Hmm, gold, please.
And right here on my right arm.” Smack!
A golden Fairy Tail guild mark now proudly rested on Cain’s right arm.
Looking at the insignia, a bright, genuinely happy smile spread across his face.
Ding.
Joined a guild.
System activated.
Unfortunately, no such prompt echoed in his head.
By now, Cain was slowly accepting the cold, hard reality that he truly did not have a cheat system.
“EVERYBODY, STOP!” A booming, thunderous voice shook the very foundations of the guild hall.
The brawling wizards froze instantly, slowly looking up at their Master, who had grown to the size of the ceiling using his Giant magic.
Seeing that everyone had quieted down, Makarov deactivated his magic, shrinking back down to a tiny old man.
He raised his mug high.
“Let us welcome our newest member…
and start the banquet!” “YEAAAAAAH!!!” Watching the scene unfold before him, Cain murmured, “This is great.” He raised his glass of juice and happily joined the chaotic banquet.