As Makarov had said, Laxus's coma did not last long. He woke up almost as soon as he entered the guild.
"Let me down quickly!"
Realizing that he was being carried by someone, Laxus immediately flushed with shame. Since that incident, he had always aimed to be strong. But now he had been reduced to being carried back by someone.
"You brat, you woke up as soon as you came back. Are you doing this on purpose?" Macao let go of his hands and looked back at the displeased Laxus, also with a displeased look on his face.
After landing, Laxus's legs went weak and he almost sat on the ground. Fortunately, he managed to stand up by holding onto the table. Although he had woken up, his magic power and stamina had not recovered so quickly.
"I'm not that bored," he said with dissatisfaction, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over the others.
There was no ridicule or sarcasm as he had expected. He, who had always believed that the guild only needed the strong, had been defeated by a 'weakling' he had always looked down on. After being defeated by Rayn, he had even thought about his future in the guild. He had expected to be met with looks of ridicule and sarcasm, and even words of being unworthy of being Makarov's grandson.
However, none of this happened. Everyone's expression was the same as usual, as if they didn't care about him at all. Because of that incident, he, who was extremely sensitive to emotions, could tell that this was not a pretense. This made Laxus's heart feel a mix of emotions. He was both relieved and disappointed by being ignored.
Perhaps because his weakness had affected his emotions, for a moment, he didn't even know what expression was on his face.
"Even if you show that you're about to cry, I'll give up on that 100,000," the annoying voice came from the side.
"I'm not about to cry!" Laxus suddenly looked up and glared at Rayn.
Only then did he realize that there were only himself, Rayn, and the inseparable little brat at this table. As for the others, they had all gone to the side and started drinking heavily. His heart immediately relaxed a little.
"Hmph, it's just 100,000. I don't care!"
With no one else here, Laxus immediately became confident, raising his head slightly and saying proudly.
"I know, I know. So where's the money?"
Looking at Laxus, who had recovered a lot of his spirit, Rayn rolled his eyes. He had been thinking about whether to comfort him, but now it seemed that he had worried for nothing.
"I'll give it to you later!"
100,000 Jewel was not a small amount. What's more, it was for a fight just now, so Laxus naturally wouldn't carry it with him.
"Hmph," Rayn hummed happily.
He was filled with the relief of having paid off his debt, and the Jewel that seemed to be piling up.
"I lost this time, but I won't give up! Next time... I will definitely be the one to win next time!"
Clenching his fists tightly, the blonde boy's face was full of stubbornness and unwillingness. He admitted his defeat, but he was still not convinced. If his grandfather hadn't told him not to use that magic, he would definitely have been the one to win!
"I told you, your only chance to win against me was that night."
"No matter how hard you try in the future, it's impossible for you to surpass me!"
"All you can do is hope to see my back! And chase after me with those who have been left behind by me!"
Rayn also put away his happy expression, his whole body shining with confidence as he responded to Laxus's unwillingness.
For a moment, Laxus felt an extreme impact. The boy's confident words, as if announcing a predetermined fact, were deeply embedded in Laxus's heart, even shaking his will.
His gaze met the bright eyes directly.
"Wow... isn't Rayn going a bit too far?"
"Oh no, if this continues, will Laxus be unable to recover?"
"If it were me, I would definitely cry!"
"Master, should we stop him?"
The others, who seemed to be drinking but were actually secretly listening, put their heads together and whispered. Then they all looked at Makarov.
"No need. Rayn said to leave it to him."
Thinking of what Rayn had said before, Makarov shook his head. Rayn's words seemed to be a blow to him, but his, Makarov Dreyar's, grandson, was not the type to give up easily! After all... Laxus Dreyar was his proudest grandson!
Since the master had said so, the others didn't say anything more. They maintained their drinking posture and pricked up their ears.
A stinging pain came from the center of his clenched fist. The back of his fist, due to excessive force, the coagulated blood scab also seeped out blood. The pain was like a flame spreading in Laxus's heart.
The flame of unwillingness burned in the depths of his eyes. The pride of his youth made Laxus's will firm again.
"I also said, I'm Laxus!"
The gloom in his pupils was dispelled by the flame. Laxus's eyes were bright. He pointed a thumb at himself and said without showing any weakness.
The people who were drinking inexplicably paused, looking down at the wine in their hands.
"If we keep this up, will we be surpassed by them soon?"
"As seniors, that seems a bit embarrassing."
"Why don't we work hard occasionally?"
"At least as seniors, we don't want to be surpassed so easily."
"These days, who wasn't a genius once?"
Macao and the others whispered, and their expressions gradually changed.
"I didn't expect that kid to actually make these guys feel a bit of a rush," Gildarts said, leaning back in his chair and taking a small sip of wine, a look of surprise in his eyes.
Perhaps because they had been mages for too long, or perhaps because of the long-lasting training, but their magic had not improved at all. The passion Macao and the others once had had gradually dissipated. Although they still carried out missions, they had neglected their own magic training for a long time. The improvement of their strength could be seen in a year. It was even a good thing if it did not regress.
Now, under the stimulation of Rayn and Laxus, it seemed that this stagnant water had been re-injected with vitality. Although he didn't know how long this vitality would last, it was better than the dead silence before.
In the crowd, Makarov's mouth curved up slightly. He drank his wine with satisfaction and thought to himself, "That's how it should be. For the persistence in your heart, run! Go forward! Chase after the fairy in your eyes!"
"If you fall down and get covered in bruises on the way, or if you get lost on the way, this is your home."
Rayn's confidence and arrogance, and Laxus's unyielding pride, were not things that needed to be corrected in his eyes. What Fairy Tail wanted was not an obedient puppet, but a real 'fairy' who would embark on an endless adventure to find the invisible tail!
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