When they stepped into the guild hall, the massive request board was still empty—too early for anyone else.
Sheets of paper covered it, dense as scales. From the fading ink and yellowed corners, you could guess urgency and difficulty at a glance.
Cana pointed to a lower row with practiced ease. "Here. This section's usually for newbies—easy starter jobs. Stuff like hauling stock for a general store, weeding orchards…"
As she spoke, her finger tapped a notice with a cute dog's head sketched on it. "See? This one's perfect for you."
[Missing Doberman "Zebby."]
Shane rubbed his chin, eyes lingering on the lost-dog flyer.
The reward wasn't great, but it was safe and didn't require leaving town.
Problem was, finding one dog in all of Magnolia meant knowing the streets inside out. Otherwise you'd pour in time and effort for lousy returns.
Then he remembered the tall clocktower he'd seen in the city center. From the top, you could see everything.
With Clairvoyance, tracking a dog wouldn't be hard.
But using a great hero's Mystic Eyes… to find someone's dog?
That's kind of tragic…
"Arash would just be happy his powers help someone," Shane thought with a wry smile, and shook it off.
Right now, food and shelter came first. They needed a job that paid well enough to let them breathe for a while.
He quietly felt out his own changes. Thanks to Saber's Phantasm constantly loading his body, his agility felt ready to tip into D tier.
Only Mana stayed stuck at E, stubborn as a rock.
That was the weakness he most wanted to fix.
In this world, Mana strengthened both spells and the body. It was the fastest way to size up a mage's true power.
And for Shane, there was another angle: more Mana meant longer True Name releases.
But the warm current didn't boost Mana—only self-training would, and that meant time. A lot of it.
If they were constantly taking jobs out of town, rapid progress felt impossible.
As he frowned over it, Erza tugged his sleeve and whispered in his ear, "Shane… that naked weirdo from yesterday is back."
Shane blinked out of his thoughts and looked up.
Black spiky hair, only boxer shorts, swaggering straight toward them.
"Hey! You two rookies!" the boy strode up, slapped his palm, and declared, "I noticed you yesterday. How dare you not introduce yourselves to Gray-senpai first!"
Shane's mouth twitched. He wanted to say, I noticed you—the performance-art guy in his underwear—and instinct told me to avoid you.
Didn't expect the guy to come to him.
Cana palmed her face. "Gray, when did you get so full of yourself?"
Levy, beside her, flushed and pointed timidly. "G-Gray… your… your clothes…"
"Hm? Since when?" Gray finally looked down and realized he was basically naked.
He mulled it over all of two seconds before brushing it off.
"Whatever, not important! Anyway—duel me, newbie!" he yelled.
Shane saw it plainly: no malice, just a surplus of energy and nowhere to put it.
Unfortunately, he was in a life-or-death phase with his wallet.
"Sorry, we're about to starve. No time to play. Why don't you ask her?" Shane jerked his chin at Erza.
Her eyes were already brightening; she leaned forward, clearly itching to fight someone her age who wasn't Shane.
"That doesn't matter!" Gray waved it away, staring at Shane instead. "Gildarts says you're strong. Duel me!"
He ignored Erza's battle-hungry sparkle and locked onto Shane.
The commotion drew attention fast. Morning boredom plus drama made for a quick crowd.
"Oho, Gray bullying newbies? Shameful."
"Fight fight fight! Let's see what the rookies are worth!"
"Gray, if you lose I'm mocking you for a year!"
With the crowd egging it on, Shane sighed and scratched his cheek. "If we wrap it up quick…"
"If you beat me, I'll treat you to a week of meals!"
Before the words finished, Gray was already in stance—back lowered, right fist pressed into his left palm with a thump, cold air rippling around him.
"You said it," Shane's eyes lit up. Unexpectedly good deal.
Since they were indoors, space was tight; he skipped the crimson bow.
He ripped off the cloth wrapped around his right arm. With a pulse of will, it glowed and shifted, hardening into two dull-edged black katanas in his hands.
"Oh? Holder-type mage?" someone nearby murmured.
Gray moved first, stamping forward, fist shooting for Shane's face.
Fast—by normal standards, very fast.
Erza, watching, frowned slightly.
Why does… that look so weak?
She'd been sparring with Shane nonstop—especially lately, after his Strength and Endurance had both ranked up, she spent most bouts getting hammered.
The slightest lapse brought wave after wave of relentless attacks, no room to breathe, forcing total focus.
Gray's strikes, by contrast, looked slow, light, and full of openings.
If it were me… sidestep, crack his ribs with the hilt, then…
A dozen ways to end things flashed through her mind. Spoiled by brutal fights, this little duel felt underwhelming.
If everyone our age here is like this… she thought, that's going to be boring…
In the ring, the fight went on.
Shane didn't counter right away. He slid his feet, tilted his body, letting Gray's fist slip past with ease. Gray only pressed harder, fists and kicks laced with chill, but he couldn't even brush Shane's coat.
"Tch!" Gray's impatience spiked. He crossed his hands and shouted, "ICE MAKE: Hammer!"
Cold surged; a massive ice warhammer formed midair and swung down toward Shane's head.
He wasn't done. "ICE MAKE: Floor!"
Frost raced out from his feet, turning the surrounding boards into slick ice.
Another ice-maker… Shane's eyes narrowed; his face finally shifted serious.
He remembered that purple-clad mastermind at the Tower—her magic had been ice too.
~~~
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