I failed.
Just four simple words, yet they struck the guild like a sudden storm.
Even Natsu, Gray, and the others were left speechless, their expressions twisting with disbelief.
Though many of them didn't want to admit it, they all knew one thing:
Ches's title as an S-Class Mage wasn't just for show.
He had earned it through sheer combat ability and real accomplishments no exaggerations, no handouts.
And yet… a man like him had failed a mission that, while legendary, wasn't thought to be truly impossible?
"Is that so…" Makarov murmured, his voice low as his brows furrowed. "Even you couldn't manage it."
He was clearly surprised.
"What exactly happened out there?"
From his point of view, Ches might not be able to clear the mission in record time, but he should have been capable of completing it eventually. It was just a matter of patience.
That was the main reason Makarov had sent him out in the first place: Ches could get real work done, and more importantly, it kept him from loitering around the guild and causing a ruckus every day.
Ches didn't answer right away.
Instead, he let out a soft sigh and slid onto the bar counter, sitting there with a casual slump in his posture.
"Normally, there wouldn't have been any problems," Ches said, his tone surprisingly calm, like he was recalling what he had for lunch. "But I was unlucky. Just as I was wrapping up the mission… I ran into a giant dragon. Completely crimson."
His voice remained flat, almost indifferent, as if it were just another day on the job.
But inside Fairy Tail's guild hall, those words exploded like a magic-fueled bomb.
Gasps erupted from every corner.
"A giant crimson dragon? Hold on Ches, are you saying you ran into an actual dragon?! Like… not just in name, but the real, legendary kind?!"
"Wait, wait! Are dragons actually real?! Just how powerful would a monster like that be?!"
"Forget power! Did you seriously survive a dragon's attack?!"
The crowd swarmed around him like kids around a candy cart, voices overlapping in chaotic excitement.
Everyone wanted details.
Everyone talked at once.
And Ches, still lounging on the bar counter, seemed entirely unfazed by their reactions.
Meanwhile, Lucy, still new to all of this, stood frozen in place. Her eyes were wide, and both hands flew to cover her mouth.
A real dragon? That kind of thing was supposed to exist only in myth!
"Everyone shut up!!"
Natsu suddenly roared, his voice cutting through the commotion like a blade.
He stomped forward, eyes burning with intensity.
"Ches the dragon you met… was it Igneel?!"
Natsu shoved his way through the crowd, practically bouncing with energy as he rushed up to Ches, his eyes glowing with raw anticipation.
"Was it him? Was it Igneel?!"
Ches glanced at him casually.
His eyes, sharp and clear, seemed to pierce right through Natsu through his magic, through his soul as if he could see the very essence of Igneel, slumbering deep within.
"…That monster did breathe fire," Ches said calmly, "but unfortunately, its name wasn't Igneel."
The light in Natsu's eyes dimmed immediately.
But only for a moment.
In the very next second, his flame reignited fiercer than ever.
"Hey! You all heard that, right?! Dragons do exist! I wasn't lying I really was raised by the Fire Dragon King Igneel!"
His voice echoed with pride.
The rest of the guild exchanged awkward smiles. Of course, they'd always supported Natsu in their own way but after years of watching him chase the ghost of a dragon father no one else had ever seen, their enthusiasm had faded.
Still, the fact that Ches had seen a dragon with his own eyes… it was like fuel on Natsu's fire.
It gave him hope again.
His determination to find Igneel burned brighter than ever.
"So, Ches…" Mira stepped forward gently, concern softening her features. "Did you… really fight that dragon? Were you hurt?"
For a moment, Ches didn't answer.
Memories of that brutal, near-fatal battle surged up like fire in his chest.
His expression grew distant full of emotion… and just a hint of loneliness.
"Strictly speaking," Ches said, "that wasn't even a proper battle."
His voice dropped slightly, tinged with respect and frustration.
"That monster's power was overwhelming. Just one blast of Fire Dragon's Breath… and the entire monster army I summoned was completely annihilated."
He paused, eyes distant.
"I couldn't match it. Not even close. I had to use a magic card to slip away barely escaped from its claws with my life."
The guild fell silent for a moment, absorbing the sheer weight of what he'd just described.
But then Ches's tone shifted.
He turned to Mira, expression suddenly dramatic and serious.
"But… I was injured."
Mira's breath caught, her smile fading with concern.
Ches continued, placing a hand over his chest with flair.
"My fragile heart was terrified. I think I need a date with a beautiful lady to help me recover."
"…Is that so," Mira replied calmly.
Relieved that he wasn't physically hurt, she gave a small sigh then turned with a smile and raised a single elegant finger.
She pointed directly at Lucy, who had been quietly crouching in the corner like a background NPC.
"What a coincidence," Mira said sweetly. "Lucy happens to be a top-tier beauty. Gorgeous face. Killer figure."
"HUH?!"
Lucy jumped, eyes bulging with disbelief.
Completely innocent, totally uninvolved… and now, suddenly under fire?!
How did I become the sacrificial lamb here?!
Mira, did you seriously just sell me out?!
"Lucy, huh…" Ches tapped his chin, thinking aloud. "She's a bit silly, but… as a date, I guess she's acceptable."
Lucy's mouth twitched.
What do you mean 'a bit silly'? If you don't know how to talk to people, maybe don't talk at all! she shouted in her head.
"…Acceptable, huh."
Mira, standing tall behind the bar, adjusted her posture slightly. Her hands folded gracefully along the hem of her deep wine-red dress.
Her smile widened still sweet and elegant on the surface, but somehow… dangerous.
That kind of smile only a Fairy Tail woman could wear before delivering a magical beatdown.
Ches noticed instantly.
"Ah ha, ah haha… now that I think about it," he said, nervously scratching the back of his head, "I'm actually feeling a lot better. Yeah. My heart doesn't feel traumatized anymore at all. It must've healed the moment I stepped back into the guild."
Smart man. Immediate retreat.
Lucy's eyes narrowed as she quietly observed the entire exchange.
The irritation she'd felt from being randomly dragged into the situation vanished without a trace replaced by something else entirely.
Wait a minute… is there something going on between those two?
Oh, I have to ask Natsu and Happy about this later.
"Alright," Mira said gently, as if nothing had happened. "It's good that you're okay."
Makarov lowered his gaze, his expression casual but firm. He gave Ches a light wave of the hand.
"But Ches, I'll need you to give me a full report on the mission details."
"Come up to the second floor."
Even if the mission was labeled high-risk and had a reputation for chewing up anyone who tried it, failure still meant a blow to Fairy Tail's credibility. The client's trust had been broken, and damage control would be necessary.
Of course, Makarov wasn't overly concerned about paperwork.
What really caught his attention was the mysterious crimson dragon that Ches had mentioned.
A creature like that something only spoken of in legends he had never seen in person.
And the thought of such a being out in the world left him curious… and deeply uneasy.
Before Ches could even respond, someone had already made a move.
A blur shot past him Natsu, eyes blazing with excitement, sprinted toward the stairs leading to the second floor.
His hunger for dragon-related answers had completely overridden common sense… and guild rules.
Thump!
As expected, the moment he stepped foot on the stairs, a massive shadow fell over him.
A giant fist dropped from above, slamming him straight into the ground with a thud.
"Natsu!" Makarov barked, arms folded as he looked down sternly. "You're not qualified to come up yet!"
There was no mercy in his voice.
The real reason Makarov wanted to speak with Ches in private, away from the other guild members, was simple:
He was worried.
The idea that dragons truly existed could be a heavy psychological burden especially for the younger members. It might shake their confidence or make them fear they'd never be strong enough to climb the ranks.
Natsu, raised by a dragon since childhood, was an exception. He could handle it.
But the rules of the guild couldn't be bent for anyone.
Besides, knowing Natsu, even if he wasn't allowed to go upstairs now, he'd just end up pestering Ches relentlessly for answers later.
That was Ches's problem to deal with.
"Haha. Try your best to make S-Class soon, little brother Natsu~"
Ches chuckled as he walked past Natsu's crumpled form on the floor, tossing a smug jab over his shoulder.
"You bastard! After this year, I'm definitely going to be S-Class!" Natsu growled through gritted teeth.
But even with all that fire, he didn't dare push his luck with the Guild Master. He knew better than to challenge Makarov's authority head-on.
Seeing their loudest warrior back down, the rest of the guild members, while buzzing with curiosity, simply shrugged.
With exaggerated sighs and disappointed mutters, they returned to their seats, picking up their drinks and conversations like nothing happened.
But unlike the others, one person didn't sit back down.
They quietly followed behind Ches, step by step, up toward the second floor.
Makarov, noticing the presence behind them, glanced back briefly.
Then he said nothing… and looked away.
Although Mira's personality had drastically softened after that incident years ago, making her appear like nothing more than a gentle barmaid now, her status as a former S-Class Mage remained undeniable.
Even Makarov couldn't say much when it came to her choices.
"Hey, hey, Happy," Lucy whispered, leaning in close as she watched Ches and Mira disappear around the corner of the stairs. "What's the deal between Mira and Mr. Ches?"
Her inner gossip soul was burning, and she nudged Happy eagerly with her elbow.
"Does Lucy want to know~?" Happy asked with a teasing sparkle in his eyes.
He slowly raised a paw, then extended one little finger.
"Trade it for… a box of dried fish."
"A box?!" Lucy shrieked, immediately clutching the little pouch tied at her waist. "I haven't even paid my rent yet!"
She had just joined Fairy Tail, hadn't taken on any proper requests, and was living on next to nothing.
Where was she supposed to get the money to buy snacks for this greedy blue cat?
"Aye! Then I have nothing to say."
Happy turned his head with a smug grin, clearly enjoying himself.
"You damn cat!!" Lucy fumed, trembling with rage.
Want to read ahead, share your fandom thoughts, or just fuel my translation caffeine habit? Join me on Patreon here! :
patreon.com/Keep_ItUp