In the Kingdom of Fiore, the title of Ten Wizard Saints wasn't determined solely by magical strength. But even so, Makarov Dreyar's power was beyond dispute, a true powerhouse.
Even with Ur's pitifully weak magic sense, he could sense that Makarov's magic power was like an ocean sealed within a tiny bottle.
Immeasurable.
That said…
Makarov's height was almost a direct contradiction to his power.
By his estimation, factoring in the floppy sleep cap on the old man's head, Makarov might've just barely surpassed one meter in height.
"No wonder he picked up Giant Magic," Ur thought.
"With a height complex like that, anyone would."
After all, Giant Magic was incredibly flashy and powerful, but it had many drawbacks.
In the anime, Ur never once saw this tiny old man win while using it.
"Ohhh… Wakaba, you're back, eh… hic…"
"I'm back, Master. This is Ur—he's from the orphanage. He just learned magic and wants to join the guild," Wakaba replied respectfully.
Makarov was a bit of a lecher and often acted like a clown, but he was also a man worthy of deep respect, and Wakaba felt that.
"Hmm? Ur, huh?"
The old man squinted his droopy eyes, staring at Ur with confusion.
"I feel like I've seen you somewhere before…"
Ur: "…"
Wakaba: "…"
"Master… you forgot?" Wakaba leaned down and whispered, "You were the one who picked him up and brought him to the orphanage years ago."
A moment of silence.
Ur saw Makarov's expression freeze for a split second.
Then, just as quickly, he snapped back into motion, throwing an arm around Ur's shoulders and laughing loudly.
The old man suddenly burst into hearty laughter, clapping Ur's shoulder with surprising force.
"Aha! Of course! So this is you, all grown up now, huh? And already learning magic? Not bad, not bad! Hahaha!"
Smack! Smack! Smack!
Makarov's hands were small, but his slaps were like hammers, making Ur wince in pain.
"Is he taking revenge for forgetting me…?"
Eventually, the old man settled down, though a hint of embarrassment still lingered behind his grin.
"Since you've learned magic and are eager to join," Makarov finally said, shifting to a rare moment of seriousness, "Then as the Guild Master of Fairy Tail, I officially welcome you into our family."
That was the benefit of being from the orphanage; no vetting was necessary.
If you could use magic, you were in.
"Wakaba! Bring me the guild seal!"
"On it, Master!"
Wakaba quickly pulled out a stamp-like tool from behind the counter.
"What color do you want it in?" he asked.
"Gray. And please place it right here."
Ur pointed to the right side of his chest.
"Got it."
Wakaba didn't waste any time. He pressed the magical stamp to Ur's chest. In the next instant, a gray emblem appeared, a bird-shaped symbol with a sharp, arrow-like tail.
It was the Fairy Tail insignia.
This magical mark was unique.
Once imprinted, it would never fade unless the guild was destroyed or the person left the guild willingly.
From this moment forward—
Ur was officially a member of Fairy Tail.
Makarov's lips curled into a pleased smile.
He leaped off the counter and took a deep breath, preparing to shout,
"Alright, you brats! Let's throw a party! Welcome Ur to our family!"
It was a ritual Makarov always performed. Every recruit deserved a grand, noisy welcome.
But just as he drew in a deep breath, Ur casually raised a hand and asked, "Excuse me, Guild Master… Can I take on a mission now?"
Makarov choked mid-inhale.
Wakaba, who'd just taken a sip, spat his drink all over the floor.
"Cough cough cough!"
The two exchanged a look of disbelief.
Makarov finally forced down the breath he'd just inhaled and said, "Yes, yes… you can. But for now, you're limited to D-Class missions. As you complete more tasks, your rank will increase, and then you'll be able to take on tougher requests."
"Got it. Thank you, Master."
Ur thanked him earnestly and immediately walked off toward the task board. Makarov and Wakaba watched him go in silence.
"…Looks like this kid has his issues," Wakaba muttered under his breath.
"Mmm…" Makarov's tone grew serious.
"Most of us in this guild do. Just hope he finds peace here, like the rest of us."
They never once suspected Ur of faking or hiding anything. After all—
"Nobody in Fairy Tail ever works that hard or takes missions that seriously."
And those rare few who do?
They usually leave a trail of destruction so large it makes headlines.
Luckily, Ur didn't hear any of this.
If he had, he would've screamed bloody injustice!
All he wanted was to do missions, earn money, and top up his game balance. He wasn't carrying around some dramatic backstory or hidden trauma!
Really.
He was just a hardworking system user.
Nothing more. Nothing less.
D-Class missions weren't that different from temporary part-time gigs on Earth.
The only difference was that the pay was slightly higher.
The currency used in Fairy Tail was roughly on par with the Japanese yen, so most D-Class missions paid between 4,000 to 5,000 J—about 200 to 300 RMB (or around $30–40 USD).
Naturally, the ones that paid better usually came with a bit more grueling labor.
And the one Ur picked just happened to be one of those.