"Laxus has awakened his Conqueror's Haki…In other words, my idea really was right. After giving him the seed of Haki, he's been recognized by the pirate world itself."
Rain watched Laxus standing there, lightning crackling around him, an overwhelming aura bursting from his body. It wasn't magic pressure. It wasn't Dragon Slayer instinct.
It was pure conqueror's spirit.
And seeing that finally explode out of Laxus, Rain felt a quiet spark of satisfaction.
At the very least… his crazy idea wasn't wrong.
"In that case, it really is possible to spread Haki training throughout the guild," Rain nodded to himself, pleased.
Honestly, he worked so damn hard for this guild. From systems to training to dragging half-dead idiots home from missions, he was basically the unpaid backbone of Fairy Tail at this point.
It really wasn't easy for him.
In the next few days, Rain followed the same method—giving members of Fairy Tail their own Haki seeds, one after another, letting them gradually adapt to the power known as Haki. Maybe the results weren't obvious yet, but once those seeds took root…
Rain believed Fairy Tail's overall power would leap to an entirely new level.
Fairy Tail was already a top-tier guild. With Haki added to their arsenal?
They would become the undisputed number one guild in existence.
"Rain, thank you for your hard work."
Makarov looked at him with teary eyes—literally teary eyes—wearing an expression so moved Rain wondered if the old man was acting.
Could he not be moved?
He knew how much Rain had done for this guild. Half the time, Rain was doing the guild master's job better than the actual guild master.
At this point, did Makarov even need to be president anymore?
"This is what I should do, Master," Rain said, scratching his cheek in embarrassment. "I'm a Fairy Tail member too, right? So the guild's strength is my strength."
He wasn't trying to brag. He just did what he could.
"Rain… how about… you become the fourth Guild Master of Fairy Tail?"
Makarov suddenly said, eyes shimmering—not with pride, but with excitement.
A little too much excitement.
Because in his mind, the pieces clicked perfectly.
Laxus? A reliable powerhouse with Overlord Haki.
Rain? The freak genius who carried half the guild.
Mira? Another monster-level support.
With all three grouped together, who in Magnolia would dare complain?
And more importantly…
Once Rain became the Fourth Master, Makarov would finally be free.
No more going to the Magic Council to apologize.
No more dealing with endless compensation forms.
No more managing his chaotic, destructive, disaster-summoning children.
In fact, he didn't say it, but in his heart:
"There's no more perfect plan than this!!"
"It's decided! Rain will be the Fourth Master!!"
"…"
Rain stared at Makarov, who looked like he was about to throw the Master's cloak onto him this instant.
The corner of Rain's mouth twitched uncontrollably.
"Are you seriously this impatient?"
Rain stared at Makarov, speechless.
It wasn't even suspicious at first… but seeing the old man acting like a kid waiting for recess?
Yeah.
Now everyone within a fifty-meter radius would know something was up.
"How about it?" Makarov leaned forward eagerly. "If you agree, I'll announce it right now. Rain becomes the new Guild Master! Don't worry, I won't interfere or get in your way. And if you don't know something, I'll teach you!"
He was becoming way too proactive.
Rain immediately backed up.
"Forget it, Master. I think we should wait a bit longer before deciding on the Fourth Master."
Seeing Makarov practically vibrating with enthusiasm, Rain waved his hands frantically.
Everyone in Fiore knew how chaotic Fairy Tail was.
He wasn't about to jump into that explosion willingly.
And besides…
Makarov was Fairy Tail.
There were strong wizards everywhere… but a better Guild Master than Makarov?
A Fairy Tail without him wouldn't even feel like Fairy Tail.
Without him, the place wouldn't be a guild — it'd be a demolition crew.
"Eh? Rain… you really don't want to?"
The excitement drained out of Makarov instantly.
Just moments ago, the old man was imagining retirement life: relaxing, drinking tea, not getting yelled at by the Council.
And now?
Instant depression.
"Well… how about I become your assistant first? I can help handle guild affairs," Rain suggested awkwardly, scratching his cheek. "Just to lighten your load a bit."
"That works too!"
Makarov agreed instantly.
Not even a pause.
Rain stared again.
Could he at least pretend to think about it?
With someone willing to help with paperwork, finances, council fines, and damages, Makarov would gladly worship the ground they walked on.
"Master, you know how good those idiots are at causing trouble," Rain continued. "For the sake of our sanity… I think every S-Class mage should help handle guild responsibilities too."
Because becoming an S-Class mage meant having the potential to become a future Guild Master.
And Rain had zero intention of suffering alone.
If he was working, Laxus was working.
Erza was working.
Mirajane was definitely working.
Nobody was getting away with peaceful afternoons.
"…I think that's a great idea," Makarov nodded seriously.
Then their eyes met.
And both of them slowly broke into matching sinister smiles—
the kind of smiles reserved for people about to throw their strongest wizards into administrative hell.
The S-Class mages were about to suffer.
Badly.
--
"Aaah–sneeze!"
Somewhere far outside the guild, both Gildarts and Laxus sneezed at the exact same time.
The two strongest men in Fairy Tail paused mid-mission, frowning with the same uneasy expression.
They didn't know what happened.
They couldn't sense any danger nearby.
And yet…
For some reason, they both felt that someone back at the guild was plotting something…
something specifically aimed at them.
As if a certain short old man and a certain troublemaking Rain were cursing their names at this very moment.
"…We are not going back this year," Gildarts muttered.
"Yeah," Laxus agreed instantly. "Not returning for the S-Class exam. Not dealing with the guild. Let's just keep doing missions."
A rare moment of perfect synchronization between the two.
"These two bastards didn't come back?!"
When Makarov received the report, he almost blew a vein.
He'd already prepared all the trials, obstacles, traps, and administrative nightmares for the annual S-Class Exam.
And the two biggest participants?
Gone.
Ran away.
"What am I supposed to do now?!" he yelled.
"Haaaaa…"
Makarov deflated like a balloon, rubbing his forehead.
Looks like he could only change the exam method this year.
He couldn't handle evaluating a dozen candidates all by himself.
He was old, okay?
Exhaustion could literally kill him.
So—
"It's been decided! This year's S-Class Wizard Promotion Exam will be: defeat an S-Class monster!"
Makarov announced loudly, arms behind his back, giving off a strict and authoritative aura.
The group of S-Class candidates standing before him—Natsu, Gray, Cana, Elfman, Levy, Lisanna, and the rest—straightened up immediately.
"However," Makarov continued, raising one finger, "you must all act alone. No teams, no partners."
A wave of murmurs spread through the room.
But before anyone could cheer—
"This doesn't mean you'll automatically become S-Class just by killing an S-Class monster."
"WHAT?!"
The entire hall exploded.
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