"Haha."
Gildarts scratched his messy hair, looked at the still-boyish teenager beside him, and couldn't help but sigh with feeling.
"Suddenly having someone this young as a 'peer'… that's a pretty weird feeling."
Hearing that, Macao and Wakaba—still questioning their life choices—looked at each other.
And then the two of them realized an even more soul-crushing problem.
Because Shane was usually so low-key in the guild—and his strength was so absurd—people kept subconsciously forgetting how old he actually was.
"Wait… how old is this kid again?" Macao swallowed, his voice dry.
Wakaba shakily held up a hand to estimate. "Like… twelve or thirteen?"
"..."
"A twelve- or thirteen-year-old S-Class mage?"
The realization hit them like a bolt of lightning.
They looked at Shane, then looked at themselves—
and a deep, tragic sense of I've basically lived my whole life for nothing welled up.
"And it's not just Shane…"
Wakaba blew out a smoke ring, eyes gloomy as he looked toward the red-haired girl quietly standing next to Shane.
"Erza too—she beat us while she was seriously injured, and she's around that age as well, right? At this rate… she'll probably surpass us and hit S-Class in a year or two."
"..."
Macao clutched his chest, utterly dead inside.
"So boring… suddenly being a mage feels so boring."
He was starting to regret coming to this exam at all.
Getting beaten down by Erza and being reduced to background décor was one thing—but getting repeatedly crit-struck mentally by genius juniors on top of that was just cruel.
"Come on, old buddy."
Wakaba could see what he was thinking. He sighed and forced out some comfort.
"Look on the bright side. We can't compete with those two monsters, but at least… Cana, Gray, and Natsu still can't beat us. We've still got some veteran dignity."
"Yeah… true…"
Macao started to nod, feeling just a little better.
"But…"
Gildarts suddenly leaned over, wearing an expression that screamed I'm only saying this for your own good, and cheerfully stabbed them in the heart.
"With the potential those brats have… if you don't work harder, getting surpassed is probably just a matter of two or three years."
Pfft.
The truth really is the sharpest blade.
Macao and Wakaba completely shut down, squatting there in gray despair, too broken to even argue.
But Gildarts' words also sparked a strong sense of urgency in them.
If they really ended up getting casually surpassed by idiots like Natsu and Gray in the future…
"Then… that actually sounds kinda… nice?"
Macao suddenly snapped back, eyes lighting up.
"They're guildmates. If they get stronger, it brings glory to Fairy Tail! We can be the solid support in the back—sounds great!"
"Yeah, yeah—glory, glory," Wakaba chimed in immediately, caught by the vibe.
The moment they decided to "lay flat," the world opened up.
Their gloom vanished instantly. They even started humming smugly.
They were long-time seniors everyone in the guild knew! If Fairy Tail was strong, that meant they were strong too, right?
"..."
Shane watched their emotional rollercoaster and twitched at the corner of his mouth.
"In situations like this, aren't normal people supposed to get fired up like 'I'm gonna work hard and never let the juniors surpass me'?"
He silently complained in his head.
Fairy Tail's core members really had a terrifyingly "stable" mindset.
"Congratulations, Shane."
Erza walked up and said seriously.
Even though she was frustrated about losing, she was still genuinely happy to see Shane earn recognition.
"Congrats to you too. Next time you'll definitely be fine."
Shane smiled back—then, a little impatiently, sank his consciousness into the Book of Heroic Spirits.
But the page for the [Pillar] trial was still gray. There was no "Completed" text.
"Looks like… it needs the guild master's official confirmation."
Shane pulled out of the mental space, disappointed.
"Let's go. We're heading back."
He glanced at Erza, who looked a bit drained, and didn't waste words—he simply wrapped an arm around her waist.
"Hold tight."
"Mm."
With that brief exchange, his wings spread and the two of them shot into the sky.
"I'll lead—follow me out of the canyon!"
Shane called down from the air, turning into a guide as he flew toward the canyon exit.
"Tch. Flying really is convenient."
Gildarts watched the silhouettes pass overhead, a bit jealous.
"You don't have to worry about getting lost."
…
With Shane acting as a "human navigation system" from above, the group quickly traversed the maze-like canyon and reached the entrance.
It was noon, the sun high overhead.
Makarov was already waiting at the exit with his hands behind his back.
His eyes scanned everyone fast.
No Laxus.
"So… the result's already decided."
For a moment, the old man's eyes dimmed—a grandfather's quiet disappointment.
After all, Laxus was his own grandson, and he'd secretly hoped the boy would pass.
But that sadness was quickly replaced by the pride of a guild master.
If even Laxus had been beaten, then it meant—
someone had definitely earned Gildarts' recognition.
Seeing the guild's kids grow into people who could stand on their own made Makarov proud, regardless of blood.
Shane folded his wings and landed smoothly with Erza.
"Master."
Makarov looked at the spirited boy before him and broke into a bright smile.
He didn't need to ask—Shane's confidence said everything.
And although the others looked rough, they were energetic and unharmed, which meant the exam hadn't gone sideways.
"Good! Since we've got a result, stop standing out here in the cold!"
He threw an arm wide, loud and heroic.
"Back to the guild! We're having a banquet!!"
"Yeah!!"
Gildarts immediately raised both hands at the word "banquet."
It was his favorite part of coming home. Period.
Behind them, Macao and Wakaba picked up their pace too.
They badly wanted to leave this emotionally traumatic place and go drown their sorrows in guild booze.
…
That night.
Fairy Tail was blazing with light and noise.
"Ahem!"
Makarov stood on the bar, hoisting a huge mug, his face flushed with excitement as he announced to everyone:
"Tonight, we're celebrating something big!"
"Today—after a strict exam, and with Gildarts' recognition—"
"Fairy Tail has produced the youngest S-Class mage in guild history—"
"SHANE!!!"
"Now, let's…!"
"Cheers—!!!"
The hall exploded.
Cheers roared like a tidal wave. Streamers flew, beer foam sprayed everywhere.
"Damn it!! Shane actually did it!!"
Natsu planted a foot on a table, flames puffing from his mouth, furious and fired up.
"I'm gonna get stronger too! Next year! Next year I'm taking the S-Class exam and beating him!"
"Stop talking big, flame-brain!"
Gray scoffed, but the fighting spirit in his eyes was just as intense.
"The one who'll surpass him is obviously me!"
Meanwhile, at the edge of the chaos…
Cana sat alone in a corner, staring toward the bar.
There, newly promoted S-Class Shane had Gildarts' arm around his shoulders, the two laughing and clinking cups like brothers.
Gildarts' smile looked happier than Cana had ever seen—like he truly approved of this younger mage.
"..."
Cana's fingers tightened.
"So… is it only when you become S-Class that he'll look at you like that? That he'll care?"
"If that's the case…"
She lowered her head.
From under the table, she pulled out a hidden bottle of strong liquor, popped the cork, and gulped a mouthful down.
The burning liquid slid down her throat like fire—igniting something inside her too.
"I've decided."
She wiped the corner of her mouth, eyes sharper than they'd ever been.
"Even if I have to give everything…"
"No matter what… I'm becoming an S-Class mage!"
"I'll make him see me!"
…
Meanwhile.
Shane, still smiling and responding with his fruit juice to all the congratulations around him, sank his focus deep into his mind.
Because at the exact moment Makarov publicly declared him an S-Class mage—
the silent Book of Heroic Spirits finally stirred.
[Trial Quest: Pillar (Completed)]
[Bearer of the Book—As an S-Class mage of your guild, you have proven yourself.]
Seeing the words appear, Shane's grin split wide, pure satisfaction flooding his chest.
After months, the "authority points" he'd been drained of to pull Lancer were finally paying back.