4:00 PM.
The sun was setting.
The sky was bathed in a fiery red glow.
Cocoyashi Village, East Blue.
Joy and excitement filled the air.
The shadow that had loomed over the village for seven years was finally lifted.
For the villagers of Cocoyashi, today was the best day of their lives.
The village square was packed, buzzing with energy.
A feast celebrating the village's rebirth had been prepared—only the guest of honor was missing.
But…
"Still not back yet?"
"Miss Mira, where did the Guild Master go?"
"Guild Master Sullivan hasn't returned yet? We really want to thank him in person!"
Villagers like Windmill Ajian spoke up one after another.
"Now, now—please be patient, everyone. The Guild Master should be back soon!" Mira smiled as she spoke.
No sooner had her words fallen…
BOOM!
A loud rumble echoed from the distant sky.
Startled, the villagers tensed.
"The Guild Master is back!"
Mira grinned.
Before anyone could react—
A flash of lightning!
Sullivan suddenly appeared in the center of the square.
The villagers of Cocoyashi first exchanged surprised glances.
Then, in an instant, they surged forward like a wave, their gratitude nearly drowning Sullivan in a sea of thanks.
It wasn't until Nami stepped in that the crowd finally calmed down.
Ajian, Nojiko, and other village representatives stayed behind to keep him company with drinks.
"Mr. Sullivan, thank you so much for your help. We can never repay your kindness, but I offer you this toast!"
A burly villager with short, graying hair stepped forward and downed his drink in one go.
"This was Nami's request. I simply did what needed to be done," Sullivan replied with a smile, raising his glass in return.
"From now on, even if you want me to climb mountains of blades or walk through fire, I won't hesitate!"
Drunk and teary-eyed, Ajian pounded his chest.
"Yes, yes, Mr. Ajian, the Guild Master wouldn't ask you to go that far," Nami said with a laugh.
"Mr. Ajian, everyone—"
At that moment, the village newsstand owner burst in, waving a newspaper and shouting:
"Colonel Nezumi from the 16th Marine Branch... he's been taken out! He was colluding with Arlong!"
"Nezumi's been taken out too?"
"Good!"
"That's amazing!"
"Justice at last!"
The villagers were thrilled.
In some ways, their hatred for the corrupt Marine Nezumi was even greater than their hatred for Arlong's crew.
Unlike the villagers, who were overjoyed—
When Nami heard that Nezumi had been eliminated, she immediately turned her gaze toward Sullivan.
She seemed to have already guessed where Sullivan had gone earlier that day.
"Could it be… Guild Master Sullivan…"
Ajian and Nojiko also put the pieces together.
And in the next second, their suspicions were confirmed.
When they learned that Sullivan was the one who had taken down Colonel Nezumi…
A new wave of excitement swept across the entire square.
Alongside the gratitude and cheers, Nami, Ajian, and Nojiko couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.
Because of their situation, Sullivan had now become a wanted man by the Marines.
"It's just a mere bounty, nothing worth worrying about. What's important now is celebrating the village's rebirth, isn't it?"
Sullivan smiled calmly, unfazed.
To him, being placed on a wanted list was only a matter of time.
"But… Guild Master, didn't you once tell Erza to avoid conflict with the Marines whenever possible?"
Mira asked.
"I did say that, but that was in regard to the righteous ones within the Marines. It doesn't apply to scum like Nezumi.
More importantly…"
"We're all family. Fairy Tail will never allow harm to come to its family. That rat who preyed on the weak and showed no remorse—how could we let him roam free?"
Sullivan said firmly.
"Of course not!" Mira agreed without hesitation.
"Family, huh…"
Nami lifted her glass, her eyes glimmering as a gentle smile curved on her lips.
After three rounds of drinks, and a few too many snacks…
Night fell.
The feast came to an end.
Now that Sullivan carried an 80 million bounty, it wasn't safe for him to stay in Cocoyashi Village for long.
If word got out, it could bring unnecessary trouble to the villagers.
As the townspeople tearfully waved their farewells…
The Fairy Tail ship slowly sailed into the distance.
"My wallet's missing!"
"Mine too!"
"Could it be Nami?"
"Where is that girl, anyway?"
"Take care, Nami!"
"Don't forget to come visit us often!"
The villagers laughed and cursed good-naturedly.
"They're gone…" Windmill Ajian sighed with a tinge of loss.
"Don't worry. Nami's found the best companions. Let's just look forward to her wonderful new life."
Nojiko smiled gently.
At that moment—
Aboard the Fairy Tail ship.
"Alright! That makes you an official member of Fairy Tail, Nami. Welcome to the guild!"
Mira stowed away the magical stamp.
"This is unbelievable!"
Nami stared in amazement at her arm.
The place where Arlong's tattoo once was… had now been replaced with the Fairy Tail emblem.
The entire process had been painless—one stamp to erase the past.
"Now then, Nami, get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow, it's time to start working to pay off your debt!"
Sullivan said with a smile.
"Come on, Guild Master!" Nami pouted. "You said we're all family. What's this about paying debts between family?"
She blinked playfully.
"Besides, Mira already told me—Guild Master, you want to go to the Grand Line, and you need a navigator. That's why you came up with that ridiculous 'commission fee' in the first place!"
Nami thought she had him figured out.
But…
"Wrong, Nami. Even among family, debts should be clearly accounted for. So… work hard! You've still got 1,999,999,999 berries left to pay!"
Sullivan replied seriously.
"WHAT?!"
The little money-lover's face crumpled instantly.
Late that night.
Nami sat at her desk, writing in her logbook.
Bathed in moonlight, she gazed at the Fairy Tail mark on her arm, a smile unconsciously blooming on her face.
"Mom… Belle-Mère… my second life is about to begin. I know the future is full of surprises waiting for me!"
Nami closed her journal and drifted peacefully into sleep.
In her dreams—
She saw a world bathed in gray mist, filled with flickering magical lights.
As a member of Fairy Tail, how could she not have magic?
Every person accepted by Sullivan into the guild was given a chance to awaken their own magic power.
At this very moment…
The magic awakening within dreaming Nami was about to begin—