If it were an ordinary person saying, "I'll pay a hundred years of rent upfront," Weston would have simply dismissed him as an upstart who didn't know how the world worked.
After all, human lifespans aren't exactly measured in centuries.
A normal situation involves a tenant paying a deposit plus the first month's rent—paying for three months at the start.
But Licht was a dragon, after all. Weston could understand why he would have such a mindset.
However...
"A hundred years of rent isn't a small amount! Do you have any money?"
"None!"
Licht answered bluntly.
Weston was speechless: "...You're so self-assured for someone with zero money?"
Licht gave a cold snort: "I am a noble dragon!"
"Do you know what a dragon's life is like?"
"Eat when hungry, sleep when tired. If the urge strikes, go out, knock a female dragon unconscious, bring her back to the nest, and leave once it's over!"
"As long as you are strong enough, you can do whatever you want!"
"As for money?"
"That's something only weak humans use!"
"To our mighty Dragon Race, that stuff is too small to even use as toilet paper!"
Why is there this faint, inexplicable surge of envy in my heart...
Weston remained silent for a long time before suddenly asking: "Are your dragon butts really that big??"
Licht glared at him: "What do you think?"
"...I guess they are pretty huge! Speaking of which, how much do you dragons have to eat before you actually have a bowel movement?"
"The amount varies, but I usually go once every three days."
"Then your digestive capacity isn't great!"
Wait, no, how did the topic shift to this?
"Ahem..."
"In short, if you want to rent a house and live in a human town, you have to pay rent!"
Licht frowned: "Can't I just sleep on the street?"
"What?! Sleep on the street?! Of course not!!"
Weston let out a startled cry, while simultaneously delivering a hand-chop to Licht's forehead: "Magnolia is a passionate, warm, civilized, and prosperous city! Whether orphans or the elderly, everyone receives proper care and has the opportunity to work!"
"In such a great town, how could creatures like vagrants exist on the streets?!"
Licht gave Weston a strange look out of the corner of his eye.
He felt there was a double meaning in Weston's words, mainly because he once again sensed a faint trace of malice in them—though this time, the malice wasn't directed at him.
"Then, what do you suggest I do?"
Having enjoyed the service of 'Meow Meow Delivery' once, Licht was unwilling to give up this lifestyle. No matter what, he wanted to stay.
Finally, the time had come to reveal the true motive!
Weston smiled and extended his right hand toward Licht: "Join our guild and become my son—ah, no, become my partner!!"
"You want me, a dragon, to join a human magic guild?"
"Your ideas really are reckless!"
"Will the others in the guild agree?"
In Guiltina, most magic guilds were antagonistic toward dragons.
Licht had clashed with many magic guilds in the past, and those usually ended in one-sided exterminations. Consequently, he had doubts about whether he could actually join.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk..."
"You still haven't shifted your perspective!"
Weston shook a finger and said earnestly: "In Ishgar, the conflict between humans and dragons isn't as severe as in Guiltina."
"If everyone knew a dragon was becoming a guild partner, I imagine they'd be more happy than resistant!"
Is that so?!
Licht wondered privately.
"Faced with a creature that can easily kill them with a single finger, they can actually smile and make friends with it?"
"You humans of Ishgar really are a strange bunch!"
Weston gave a faint smile: "Really? I think it's quite normal!"
"And I believe that no matter the world, continent, or race, there will always be humans like that!"
Licht pursed his lips, choosing not to comment on Weston's sentiment.
...
"Let's welcome our new guild member, Licht! Cheers!!!"
"OHHHHHH!!!"
In the guild, Weston prepared a simple welcome party for Licht.
However, to minimize controversy, Weston temporarily refrained from making it public that Licht was a dragon.
After the banquet, he took him to the registry to stamp the guild emblem.
"A magic emblem representing the guild?"
"I think I've seen similar things on other human Wizards before!"
"But your emblem seems a bit different?"
"If I'm not mistaken, there's other magic laced into it!"
Hearing this, Mavis, who was in charge of stamping the newcomers, looked up in surprise, her eyes sparkling: "How impressive, Otaku-kun! You're the first person in the guild to notice..."
"Wait a minute! What's with 'Otaku-kun'?!"
Mavis didn't explain the odd nickname she had heard from Weston. She simply explained the special nature of the guild emblem with a smile: "There is magic within it that can link the hearts of guild partners together. As long as you have it, no matter how dangerous the situation, you can feel the strength of your partners!"
"With Otaku-kun joining the guild, our power has become even stronger!"
Licht clutched his head in a breakdown, his face twisting as if he had eaten something foul: "Stop calling me Otaku-kun! Where did that name even come from? It sounds terrible! Also, your answer is basically non-existent!!"
"It's actually an improvement on Maguilty Sense magic!"
Weston stepped forward to explain: "Magic is the power of the heart. Once wills are synchronized, magic power can be shared to a certain extent."
"Using the guild emblem as a magical medium, I have connected the wills of our partners on a certain level."
"This way, if a partner faces a life-threatening crisis, they can borrow the magic power of other partners to a certain degree!"
Maguilty Sense magic is a technique that can link the magic of everyone within a specified range and send it to one location; its range is large enough to extend across an entire continent.
Meredy once used this move against Acnologia in the original work.
Compared to the original Maguilty Sense, Weston's method had certain limitations—for instance, the upper limit of magic power a member could borrow was tied to their own strength, and it couldn't be used unless they were in a desperate situation...
But in exchange, there were many advantages!
First, magic can be borrowed actively without needing others' consent. Second, the magic is very stable and doesn't require constant magic consumption to maintain.
"With this Maguilty Sense magic in place, the Wizards of Fairy Tail effectively have a trump card to 'awaken' during critical moments!"
"It greatly guarantees their safety!"
☰