**Chapter 20: Have I Been Offended?**
"Burp~~~!!" Kaito let out a satisfied burp.
"Guild Master? What do you need me for?"
"Bang!" Almost everyone in the guild face-planted onto the floor.
Veins bulged on Makarov's forehead. In such a serious moment, during such an important announcement from the Guild Master himself, this brat hadn't even been listening.
Erza spoke with an envious expression, "This year the Guild Master only selected one person to participate in the S-Class Mage Promotion Exam. Congratulations."
"Oh! Huh?" Kaito finally reacted. S-Class Mage Promotion Exam? He had only been in Fairy Tail for less than a year. In terms of seniority, it shouldn't have been his turn at all.
Kaito pointed his index finger at Makarov and asked, "Guild Master? Are you sure you didn't misread the name? It's really me?"
"You little bastard!"
Kaito put his hands on his hips and laughed arrogantly, "Hahaha~! The Guild Master really has good judgment! He knows I'm the strongest mage in the guild! Those ordinary missions are simply beneath me. The S-Class Mage position is definitely mine!"
Makarov said unhappily, "Hmph! Stinky brat, you haven't officially become an S-Class Mage yet. Passing the S-Class Exam is not that simple."
"Eh, it's pretty much the same."
"Sigh! Looks like I wasn't chosen again this year!"
"Isn't it Kaito? Even though he's strong, he's still too young. I thought the Guild Master would make him wait another two years before letting him take the exam."
"Kaito earning this chance is well-deserved. The rest of us should work harder next year."
"Congratulations on earning the qualification."...
Although Kaito had one bad habit, he was actually very well-liked in the guild. Many people came forward to congratulate him on obtaining the qualification.
Suddenly, a voice full of suppressed anger rang out, "I disagree!!"
Kaito's first reaction was, "What the hell? This isn't a wedding, why is someone shouting 'I disagree'?"
"?!"
Everyone was shocked and turned toward the source of the voice. They saw Makarov's grandson, Laxus, walking forward step by step with a face full of fury as he glared at the Guild Master.
"Laxus?!"
"Laxus!!"
"Laxus also has the strength to compete for S-Class."
"Laxus is the Guild Master's grandson. He inherited powerful magic power from the Guild Master, who is one of the Ten Wizard Saints."
...
Guild Master Makarov frowned. "Laxus, what are you doing?"
"I worked so hard this year and completed every mission without a single failure. Why didn't I get the qualification to advance to S-Class?!" Laxus's voice was filled with anger and disappointment. He had been certain he would be chosen this year, yet he hadn't even made the list.
The only person selected was a kid several years younger than him who had joined Fairy Tail just one year ago.
His extremely arrogant personality simply could not accept this. Why? Why did he not even qualify while this guy did?
He had completed missions more perfectly and was stronger than this guy. In what way was he inferior?
As the grandson of one of the Ten Wizard Saints, being beaten to S-Class by a younger outsider would be an utter humiliation in the eyes of others.
Makarov sighed. "Sigh! You're still too young. Next year…"
"You said the same thing last year!" Laxus angrily cut him off.
Then he pointed straight at Kaito. "Your reason doesn't make sense at all! I'm young, but this guy is several years younger than me! He acts without thinking and causes trouble on almost every mission. How could I possibly be worse than him?!"
"Uh... Have I been offended?" Kaito pointed at himself with his right index finger and turned to ask the people beside him.
Erza, Natsu, Mirajane, and the others all nodded in agreement without hesitation.
Makarov was left speechless by Laxus's words. Although Kaito's missions often ended with some problems, the process was never wrong, and his mentality was far more mature than Laxus's.
Laxus might look normal and complete missions perfectly, but mentally he was probably on the same level as Erza, Natsu, and Gray at best, and far behind Kaito.
As Laxus's grandfather, Makarov had been quietly observing all this time. Unfortunately, because of his excessive pride and isolation, Laxus hadn't grown much in the past year.
"Then what do you want to do?"
Laxus pointed at Kaito and declared, "A duel! I want to duel him! The winner will be the one who earns the right to take the S-Class Exam!!"
Boom!
Laxus's words were like a bomb exploding in the guild. Everyone immediately started discussing heatedly.
"What?! Laxus wants to duel Kaito! The result will decide who gets the S-Class qualification!"
"Oh my god! This is going to be huge! Kaito is strong, but Laxus is no pushover either!"
"I've never seen Kaito fight Laxus before!"