"Congratulations, Ur."
"With an overwhelming advantage, you have won this year's 'King of Fairy Tail' contest, earning the title of 'Fairy Tail's Most Handsome'."
Makarov stood on the stage. As the Guild Master, he personally presented the trophy and the prize money to Ur. He asked kindly, "So, Ur, as this year's winner, do you have anything you'd like to say to everyone?"
"Anyway, no matter what next year's Harvest Festival competition is—whether it's a fighting tournament or an arm-wrestling contest... the champion title will be mine. All of you better be prepared!"
Trophy in hand, Ur declared loudly to the crowd of Fairy Tail wizards below.
"OHHH!!"
"Just you wait, Ur!"
"We definitely won't let you defend your title! Damn it!"
"Change of plans! Next year's ultimate goal is just one thing: take down Ur and snatch the champion title!"
As Ur's voice fell, the entire Fairy Tail guild erupted. The wizards roared to the sky, expressing their competitive fire against Ur.
"Wow."
"That was quite the speech."
Below the stage, the chief editor of Sorcerer Weekly, who served as one of the judges, listened to Ur's declaration and exclaimed excitedly. "Great, great, GREAT! I'm really looking forward to it. I'll definitely return to Magnolia for next year's Harvest Festival to cover Fairy Tail's events again."
"Ugh."
"I have a feeling next year's Harvest Festival is going to be a huge headache."
Makarov tilted his head back and sighed weakly. He wondered why his guild attracted such chaotic individuals.
Although, to be fair, Makarov himself wasn't exactly a well-behaved saint in his youth. He used to make Master Precht jump in anger constantly.
---
After the Fairy Tail "King of Fairy Tail" contest concluded successfully.
"Ouch, ouch, OUCH!"
As the champion, Ur skipped the post-contest interview and photoshoot with the Sorcerer Weekly editor, handing that opportunity over to Macao. Instead, she grabbed a first-aid kit and went to patch up Ide.
As for Ide, his brawl with Gildarts had unsurprisingly left him covered in bruises. Of course, Gildarts wasn't in any better shape.
"Just bear with it a little, Ide."
Ur was currently applying alcohol-soaked cotton swabs to Ide's wounds, making him grimace in pain.
"By the way."
"Ur, where did your guild mark go?"
While Ur was treating his wounds, Ide subconsciously glanced at her hands. He noticed they were fair and clean—the guild mark Makarov had stamped on the back of her hand when they first joined was gone. Curious, he asked her about it.
"Oh?!"
"You mean the Fairy Tail mark?"
"Since having it on the back of my hand was too conspicuous, I changed its location."
Ur rolled up her sleeve, revealing a blue guild mark stamped on her left forearm.
"Eh?"
"Can we just change the location and color of the mark whenever we want?"
Ide looked at the black mark on the back of his left hand, then at the blue mark on Ur's forearm. He asked curiously.
"Of course."
At that moment, Makarov strolled over to Ide's side and nodded.
"Then why didn't you tell us something so important when we first joined?"
Ide looked at the old man and questioned him.
"Nonsense."
"When you first arrived, you looked like you were scared out of your wits by the guild members and planned to leave as soon as possible."
"Under those circumstances, how could I have time to let you leisurely pick your emblem colors and locations?"
"If we had followed the standard procedure slowly, you lot would have run away long ago!"
"So naturally, I had to 'trick'... I mean, recruit you promising seedlings into the guild first!"
Makarov argued plausibly.
"Ugh."
Ide fell silent. Makarov's logic was sound; it was hard to argue against it.
"Anyway, Master, I want to change the color and location of my mark too."
Ide stated his condition.
"Wherever you want it, whatever color you want, figure it out yourself."
Hearing this, Makarov deftly tossed the guild stamp to Ide, letting him handle it.
Ide proceeded to stamp a blue mark on his left forearm, matching Ur's.
---
For the rest of the day, Ide and Ur chose to enjoy some free time. pushing a stroller, they took Ultear and Erza for a stroll through the streets, buying many snacks and goods that were only sold during the Harvest Festival.
Of course, Ide and Ur had invited Irene to join them, but she declined, citing her dislike for crowds.
Time flew by, and soon it was evening.
It was time for the Fairy Tail Fantasia Parade.
As the champion of the "King of Fairy Tail" contest, Ur naturally stood at the very top of the main float, serving as the face of Fairy Tail for the citizens of Magnolia.
As for Ide and Gildarts, both covered in bandages, they were relegated to doing grunt work behind the float.
"Ide, is married life... happy?"
After a long silence between the two men at the back, it was Gildarts who spoke first, breaking the quiet. He turned to Ide without warning and asked.
"Eh?"
"Gildarts, are you serious?"
Ide asked back.
"Of course."
"I just... met a girl recently. She makes me feel like I want to marry her."
Gildarts explained, looking a bit bashful.
"Marriage is definitely happy. I wish you happiness, Gildarts."
Ide chuckled softly and offered his blessing.
"Thanks for the kind words."
Gildarts smirked slightly, seeming to have made up his mind.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
At that moment, fireworks shot into the sky one after another, dispelling the darkness of the night!
Simultaneously, Makarov appeared at the very top of the float. He extended his right index finger toward the sky and shouted loudly:
"Fairy Tail will always be here!"
Even if we are not physically here, even if we are far apart, the hearts of Fairy Tail's wizards will always be connected, protecting each other forever.
This is what it means to be a wizard of Fairy Tail. We are family.
---
Back on the mountain.
"Boring."
Porlyusica looked at the greeting cards and gifts Ide and the others had left for her. The corners of her mouth turned up slightly as she shook her head.
---
Inside the flower shop.
Irene watched the fireworks illuminating the night sky, a small smile playing on her lips.
"So beautiful."