— — — — — —
When Kazuma arrived at the guild hall, he didn't hear the usual rowdy noise that always filled the place. Today, the guild was unusually quiet.
"What the hell… why's it so quiet today?"
He stared at the big double doors for a moment, then shrugged and kicked them open. The doors slammed to the ground with a loud bang!
Everyone inside turned to look. Practically the entire guild was here—Erza, Mira, Natsu, Gray, Happy, Lucy, Cana, and plenty more. Only those out on missions were missing.
Every face was serious, more than Kazuma had ever seen. They'd already heard the news from Master Makarov.
"Kazuma, you bastard—!"
Natsu, hot-headed as always, couldn't hold back. The moment he saw Kazuma, he charged forward and swung a fist—Only to get punched straight in the stomach a second later.
"Ugh! I—I wasn't trying to fight you this time!" Natsu coughed, clutching his stomach. "I just wanted to say… congrats on becoming an S-Class Mage! But don't get cocky—I'll catch up soon enough!"
He forced out the last words, pressing his fist weakly against Kazuma's chest before collapsing like a rag doll.
"Oh. My bad," Kazuma said, scratching his head. "I thought you were picking another fight. You can't blame me—you're always doing that."
He looked down at Natsu with a half-grin. "Next time, if you're congratulating someone, maybe don't raise your fist that high. You might live to finish your sentence."
He shrugged and added, "Anyway, since it's a good day, let's forget it."
He hoisted Natsu up and tossed him toward Happy. "He's all yours, buddy."
"You're so infuriating!" Lucy groaned.
"Yeah! He's the one who messed up, and somehow it sounds like Natsu's fault!" Gray muttered.
"Doesn't even sound a little sorry," Cana added.
The guild burst into laughter and chatter again. Just like that, the usual chaos was back.
"Kazuma, you little brat!" Makarov finally couldn't hold it in anymore. "Would it kill you to open a door like a normal person? Why do you always have to kick it down? What did the poor door ever do to you?!"
"The door's there to be kicked," Kazuma said with a grin. "Walking in normally's just boring."
"You…" Makarov sighed, rubbing his temple. "Forget it. I give up on you."
Then his voice rose, loud and proud. "Listen up, everyone! I know I told you already, but I'll say it again for the record—starting today, Kazuma becomes Fairy Tail's newest S-Class Mage!"
"This makes him the sixth S-Class in our guild! Give it up for him!"
The guild erupted in cheers and whistles.
Makarov's eyes softened as he looked at Kazuma. When he'd first brought the kid into the guild, Kazuma had barely known how to use magic. And now, in just a blink, he was standing among the strongest. Time sure flew… The memory of their first meeting still felt like yesterday.
"I knew it!" someone shouted. "I told you Kazuma would be S-Class one day!"
"Yeah, but can you believe the Master actually made an exception for him? First person to get the title without taking the S-Class trial!"
"Kazuma, you're the best!"
"Man, if I'd just trained harder, maybe I could've—"
"Oh, shut it. We've known each other for years, don't start bluffing now."
"Hey! Stop exposing me in public!"
As usual, the guild's "celebration" quickly devolved into loud bickering and friendly punches.
"I remember Erza passed her S-Class trial when she was fifteen," Cana said thoughtfully, swirling her drink. "Mira was sixteen, Laxus seventeen… no one really knows about Mystogan."
She sighed. She'd taken the trial more than once herself but never made it through. Maybe she never would. Still… she had her reasons for wanting that rank—personal ones tied to her father.
"Don't stress it too much," Mira said gently, pouring her a drink. "You're still part of Fairy Tail, S-Class or not."
"Thanks… but I still want to earn it someday," Cana said, gulping down half her glass. Then she plopped herself on the table, cross-legged, raising the mug again. "There. Now it feels right."
She grinned. "The flavor's better when you drink it like this!"
"Wait—Erza became S-Class at fifteen?" Lucy gasped. "That's insane! Back then I was still in school!"
"Yep," Cana nodded. "And Mira here was called 'The Demon' back in the day. She used to fight with Erza every single day."
Lucy blinked in disbelief. "Hot-tempered? Fought Erza? Mira did that?"
She glanced between Mira's gentle smile and Erza's calm expression. The idea of the two of them brawling was beyond her imagination.
"Oh, stop it, Cana," Mira said, laughing softly. "That was a long time ago. It's embarrassing to talk about now."
But behind her smile, there was a flicker of sadness. That old nickname wasn't something she took pride in—it was a reminder of regret. If she hadn't been so reckless back then… maybe Lisanna wouldn't have—
"Sorry," Cana murmured quickly, realizing she'd touched a nerve.
"It's fine," Mira said with a shake of her head. "You didn't do anything wrong."
Lucy, sensing the heavy mood, quickly jumped in. "So, uh, if Erza became S-Class that early… does that mean she's stronger than Kazuma?"
Erza shook her head. "No. I don't think I could beat him."
"I've been training with magic since I was a kid," she explained. "Becoming S-Class early was natural for me. But Kazuma… he was just an ordinary person a year ago. He learned everything from scratch."
"In a single year, he's reached the very top of Fairy Tail. Other than Gildarts, I doubt anyone could say for sure they could defeat him. His talent… is on another level."
Lucy's eyes widened. "One year? He went from normal human to S-Class in just one year?!"
"That's… that's ridiculous," she whispered. "Completely insane…"
"It sounds unbelievable," Mira said softly, "but, Lucy, if you knew what he went through this past year, you wouldn't think so."
"In one year, most of us might take on missions for a month or two at most. Kazuma? He spent the entire year out there — non-stop. He only came back to turn in quests, eat, then head right back out. He never took a single break."
"You've done a few missions yourself, Lucy. You know how dangerous they can get. Every one of his jobs was life-threatening. One mistake and he could've died."
No one in Fairy Tail knew Kazuma's struggle better than Mira. She'd asked him before — why push himself that far? Why risk his life over and over when things were finally peaceful?
And his answer had burned itself into her memory ever since.
"A whole year without rest…" Lucy murmured, thinking back to their first meeting — Kazuma facing down an entire human trafficking ring by himself.
Then the next mission, when he fought off hundreds of white apes alone.
The third time, he'd gone up against the guards and mercenaries of a noble's mansion.
The fourth, he single-handedly wiped out a dark guild.
Every mission had been impossible — and he'd made it look easy. But she realized now that "easy" came from relentless, punishing effort.
"I think I get it now…" Lucy said quietly. "If you work that hard, there are only two outcomes — either you die on a mission… or you become so strong that nothing in the world can threaten you anymore."
"But why?" she asked, frowning. "Why take that risk at all? It's not like he's short on money."
"If you ask me," Kazuma's voice came from behind her, calm but firm, "it's simple."
He walked over and sat beside her.
"Life's like sailing in the open sea. Danger and trouble are waves — endless, unpredictable. Just because it's calm now doesn't mean it'll stay that way forever. And when the storm hits, I refuse to drift helplessly."
"I won't watch everything I care about get swallowed up. I'll master everything with my own hands. This world will move as I command. Whatever I forbid from happening — won't happen. Even if a god stands in my way… they'll fall like anyone else."
Lucy turned to him, eyes wide. There was no arrogance in his tone — just absolute conviction.
(If Gilgamesh were here, he'd give Kazuma a nod and say, "Not bad.")
"Then what if you keep pushing, and in the end… you still fail?" Lucy asked softly.
Her words trembled a little. She couldn't help but see herself in these words.
Kazuma grinned. "If I fail, then I'm already dead. And if I'm dead, why should I care what happens after? Let the world drown for all I care — it won't matter to me anymore."
Even failure didn't frighten him. Because if he fell, it would be after giving everything he had. And that was enough.
"You jerk," Lucy muttered, pouting. "I was trying to have a serious talk."
She started pounding his shoulder with her tiny fists — but then she smiled too. He wasn't wrong.
Even if she failed, she could at least say she'd tried — that she'd fought back against her fate, lived by her own will, even if only for a while. That was worth something.
The laughter spread, and soon the guild's usual warmth and noise returned. Some mages went off on jobs, others stayed behind to drink and gossip.
Kazuma, meanwhile, headed upstairs to check the S-Class mission board.
"…Huh? Only one left?"
He frowned. The only remaining one was titled The Cursed Island. "Man, S-Class jobs really are rare."
He grabbed the paper and brought it downstairs to Mira. "Hey, Mira, why's this one still here?"
"Because everyone else already took theirs," Mira said, scanning her clipboard. "Mystogan and Laxus came back recently and each took a job. Erza too. This one's the only one left."
She leaned over the counter. "The pay's low, and even though it includes a bonus gold key, no one wanted it. Only a celestial mage would find it useful — and we don't have many of those."
She handed him the mission details, then added in a more serious tone, "But be careful. That island's strange. Rumor says people who stay there too long turn into demons. And its location's vague — we don't even have proper coordinates. You'll have to ask around at the port to find a boat."
"Oh, and one more thing," she said, smiling. "You taking Lucy with you?"
"Nope," Kazuma said immediately. "That girl's too curious for her own good. She'd spend half the time screaming and the other half slowing me down."
"Fair enough. This one sounds dangerous anyway," Mira said with a nod.
It was an unspoken guild rule: veterans sometimes brought rookies along to help them learn the ropes — partly to train them, partly to keep them from getting themselves killed. But this time, maybe it was better if Lucy sat it out.
"Aw, don't say that!" Lucy popped up behind them, grinning sheepishly. "I can help! Please, Kazuma—take me with you! I don't even want the reward, just let me touch the gold key, maybe try summoning with it, and then I'll give it right back! I promise!"
Her eyes sparkled with desperate enthusiasm.
"Nope. That key's going in my collection," Kazuma said flatly. "Not lending it, not selling it, not even showing it."
Lucy pouted dramatically. "Come on! If you agree, I'll do anything you want. Anything~."
She brushed her hair aside, crossed her arms under her chest, and gave him her best seductive look.
Kazuma stared blankly. "…Virgo, tie her up. Use the special pose."
"Yes, sir! The special pose!"
Out of nowhere, Virgo appeared and wrapped Lucy, eyes gleaming with delight.
"Why do you even know how to do that?!" Lucy screamed, struggling.
Before Kazuma could respond, Cana stepped forward. "Wait. Please… let me take this mission instead."
Her voice was steady, serious. "You can have all the reward money. Hell, I'll even pay you if I have to. Just let me join your team."
She clenched her fists. She'd failed so many times at the S-Class trials that she'd almost given up — almost left the guild altogether.
But Kazuma's words earlier had reignited something inside her. She wanted to push herself to the edge, to face fear head-on, to break past her limits — even if it meant risking everything.
Kazuma studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. Let's call it a personal commission. You can pay me fifty thousand. Deal?"
Cana smiled faintly. "Deal."
Not bad, he thought. Another mission, a partner who wanted to improve — and a little extra cash on the side.
[Ding!]
[First S-Class mission accepted. System upgrading... Advanced Mission Board unlocked.]
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