Makarov's aged face showed obvious fatigue and confusion as he raised his hand to signal for silence.
He didn't look at Ryoma, nor did he spare another glance for his grandson in the ice sculpture. He just waved his hand, his voice imbued with a deep sense of powerlessness.
"Take him... move him to the room inside."
The noisy chatter in the Guild Hall ceased abruptly, and everyone watched the old man who had toiled for the guild his entire life.
Makarov's decision surprised everyone, but no one raised any objections.
Rather than having Laxus displayed here like a symbol of shame, letting him reflect alone in a room was perhaps his final act of grandfatherly affection.
A few bolder male members exchanged glances, then carefully worked together to lift the heavy ice sculpture and carried it toward the guild's internal lounge.
Ryoma had no objection to this. After all, his goal had been achieved.
'Being confined is better than being paraded around. The old man is still soft-hearted.'
Thinking this, he turned around, ready to find a place to rest.
'Finally, some peace and quiet.'
He didn't want to deal with a Lightning Bomb that could explode in the guild at any moment every day. Now, he should be able to live a few peaceful, leisurely days.
However, as soon as he turned around, the surrounding chatter resumed, and this time the focus of the conversation was entirely on him.
The result of his defining battle was that almost everyone in the guild now regarded him as the Strongest.
'The Strongest?' Ryoma felt a headache coming on listening to the whispers.
This title was not an honor for him, but a warning of massive trouble.
This meant that Makarov would have even more reason to dump the Guild Master's mess onto him in the future.
'Spare me. I just want to be a slacker who eats and waits for death. Protecting the people I want to protect is enough. Whoever wants to be the Guild Master can do so.'
He decided that if Makarov ever brought this up again, he would find a way to slip away immediately, never giving him a chance to speak.
"Ryoma, you bastard..." Natsu had approached without him noticing. "Fight me."
"No time."
Ryoma refused succinctly, bypassed the battle maniac, and headed straight for the bar counter.
He was more concerned now about whether this turmoil had truly subsided.
'Laxus is sealed. The Civil War shouldn't happen now, right?'
He sat by the bar counter, ordered a glass of ice water, and pondered.
Thinking of the magic spell he had used to freeze Laxus, his confidence grew.
That wasn't ordinary Ice Magic, it was an improved version he created by combining his understanding of Ice Magic with Space-Time Magic, referencing some principles of Iced Shell.
This was not merely an ice seal, but a miniature Space-Time Loop.
The solid ice would constantly reset on the temporal level to its most resilient state. Any damage caused by an attack would be smoothed out by the reset time flow the instant it occurred.
Unless Laxus's Magic Power could instantly erupt with strength far exceeding Ryoma's to completely shatter the ice seal and escape, he would remain trapped until Ryoma actively released him.
'At Laxus's current level, he won't get out even if I give him ten years.'
Ryoma was quite confident in the strength of his creation.
Thinking this, he relaxed and began looking forward to the upcoming Harvest Festival.
Time flew by, and Magnolia Town welcomed its grandest annual celebration, the Harvest Festival.
The entire city was immersed in a sea of joy. Colorful decorations hung on both sides of the streets, and every household was preparing for the evening's Fantasia Parade.
The Guild was especially lively, with everyone making final preparations for the evening's main event, the Fantasia Parade.
Ryoma stood on the second-floor corridor of the guild, watching Natsu and Gray fighting fiercely downstairs again over the style of the Float decorations, while Lucy weakly complained, and Erza sternly directed everyone to move materials.
Everything seemed peaceful and routine. But for some reason, Ryoma felt a subtle, lingering unease in his heart.
He felt that Laxus had been subdued too easily, his calmness was abnormal.
'Am I overthinking it?' He frowned.
'Is the inertia of the plot that strong? The guy's been frozen into an ice pop, what waves can he possibly make now?'
To completely dispel his doubts, he turned and walked toward the depths of the guild, to the room specially used to confine Laxus.
He pushed the door open. The room was dimly lit, and the massive ice sculpture stood silently in the center. Laxus maintained the posture he was in when frozen, eyes tightly shut, motionless, like a lifeless statue.
Ryoma walked up and reached out to touch the ice surface. The bone-chilling coldness and the stable Space-Time Power contained within confirmed to him that the magic was perfectly fine, with no signs of damage.
"It seems I was overthinking it."
Ryoma gave a self-deprecating smile, turned, left the room, and gently closed the door.
He planned to find a quiet corner, read a book, and spend the festival leisurely.
This Harvest Festival should pass peacefully.
The moment the door closed behind him, the tightly shut eyes inside the ice sculpture in the center of the room opened without warning.
Laxus's pupils no longer held the previous fury and resentment, only an abyss of coldness and calculation.
"Ryoma..." Laxus whispered in a voice only he could hear.
His body couldn't move, but his thoughts were crystal clear.
'You think this can stop me? How naive.'
The corner of his lips curled into a sinister arc where no one could see.
'My true methods don't rely only on myself.'
'Freed, Evergreen, Bickslow... my Thunder God Tribe, hurry back.'
He closed his eyes, as if waiting for the curtain to rise on a good show.
'I will prove to everyone that I am the only one who can lead Fairy Tail to become the strongest. I am right.'
Meanwhile, on the busiest Commercial Street in Magnolia Town.
Mirajane was carrying a large shopping basket, accompanied by Makarov, who was also carrying large bags and packages.
"Master, it's so lively."
Mirajane watched the stream of people on the street, everyone's face filled with festive joy, and couldn't help but exclaim.
Upon hearing this, Makarov puffed out his chest, looking proud. "Of course. The Fantasia Parade hosted by our Fairy Tail is a spectacle that reigns supreme across the entire Kingdom of Fiore."
His words were full of pride, as if he could already see the grand spectacle of the parade tonight.
Mirajane smiled and nodded.
Looking at the busy figures preparing for the celebration, she suddenly remembered something and spoke with a hint of emotion, "If only Laxus could participate too."
The moment the words left her mouth, the cheerful expression on Makarov's face instantly froze, replaced by gloom. He stopped walking. His short figure looked somewhat lonely on the bustling street.
"Don't mention him again."
His voice was a bit hoarse, carrying suppressed anger and deeper sorrow.
"He should stay in that room and reflect properly."