Master, I'm sorry… once again I've embarrassed you. That bastard, how dare he…
Lying on the hospital bed, an IV drip at his side, warm tears soaking into the pillow, Makarov spoke in deep shame as Porlyusica tended to him.
As the Guild Master of Fairy Tail, he had failed time and again to protect the children of the guild. Not only did he end up needing the guild's protection himself, but even his own carefully nurtured grandson had become one of the culprits who plunged the guild into chaos.
"Aging is a terminal illness. I once believed I had conquered it… But it seems I haven't." Pai Pai's attention was completely elsewhere, not on Makarov's words.
Laxus had always been competitive and prideful, unwilling to let anyone look down on him. That came from his childhood of poor health and weakness—his hunger for dignity, his need to be respected.
He constantly used aggression to disguise his insecurities. His pursuit of power and influence was, at its core, all for that same reason.
For someone like him, the only way to break that pride was to shatter the thing he held in highest esteem. Only then would he lower his head and begin to see other things.
For Laxus, that usually meant being beaten down—beaten until he submitted.
And only after that, with someone's genuine guidance, might he finally feel a sense of belonging to something… enough to devote himself to it. Otherwise, he would forever place himself above others, treating the guild not as family, but as a tool for his dignity.
That was why Pai Pai chose to let things play out—to allow Laxus to experience it.
Of course, Pai Pai's original plan had been for Makarov to defeat Laxus. Natsu's strength was still a bit lacking. If Makarov had subdued Laxus and then, as his grandfather, reached out to him afterward, it would have been far more reliable.
But fate intervened. Makarov's body gave out, leading events to unfold almost identically to the original story.
That was why Pai Pai had spoken those words earlier. He had already excised the aging gene within Makarov's body and stabilized his injuries. For at least the next three years, Makarov's health shouldn't have faced any serious problems.
So why had this still happened?
"No one can conquer life and death—except a god," Porlyusica muttered, curling her lips at Pai Pai's remark.
"Godhood is only a comparison. If everyone possessed the power of the gods, then the gods would simply be humans. Before something is achieved, you can treat it with reverence, but you must never treat it as impossible—or fear it."
Pai Pai countered softly, though the words sounded just as much to himself as to her.
Porlyusica curled her lip again and chose not to argue further.
"It's fine. The doctor did a good job—your body has stabilized. With some rest and recuperation, you'll recover." This time, Pai Pai didn't use his abilities. He wanted to observe how Makarov's body healed on its own.
"I'll be in the library. If anything comes up, you can find me there." With that, Pai Pai left a final word before turning away.
"He's as cold as ever…" Porlyusica muttered unconsciously as she watched his departing figure. Though a member of Fairy Tail, Pai Pai's way of doing things always seemed out of place with the guild.
He was distant, treating every matter as though it were just a story unfolding before him—his calm as still as dead water, never rippling.
"No, the old man… he's a good person." Makarov refuted her, not to flatter Pai Pai nor to argue with Porlyusica, but because he truly believed it. A smile slowly spread across his face.
"The old man likes Natsu and the other lively young ones. He always supports them, always shields them. That is what matters most about being part of Fairy Tail.
We are family—family who help one another."
"But his kindness only extends to this generation of youths," Porlyusica replied dryly.
Makarov's smile faltered. It was true. Back in her era, Pai Pai had been a completely different person.
He was cold, focused, and uninterested in anything outside his immediate tasks. He isolated himself from others, never engaging with his guildmates—more like a backdrop than a true comrade.
"People can change, Porlyusica… even him." With a sigh, Makarov's expression brightened again, as though he could see Pai Pai playing around with Natsu and the others.
…Well, maybe not. Natsu was already enough of a headache on his own.
And speaking of headaches—just then, Natsu suddenly burst into the room, shouting at the top of his lungs:
"Master! Bad news! Something huge happened—I turned into a coward!!"
"Natsu, what are you talking about?" Makarov was thrown into confusion, but a sudden tension seized him. Please don't let it be another disaster…
"There are two of them! Two Fairy Tails!! Ahhh, this is bad!!"
Natsu's words were incomprehensible. Makarov, on edge, flung off his blanket and tried to get out of bed.
"You must be this world's Fairy Tail Master. Hello, I'm Lucy Ashley—from the parallel world of Edolas."
"Hello, I'm Natsu Dragion, also from Edolas. Please take care of us."
"Hello, I'm Gray Sorujue, from…"
One by one, people walked into the infirmary—similar, yet different from the ones Makarov knew. Their words left him utterly stunned. But the one most shaken was Porlyusica. The moment she heard the word Edolas, she froze in place, as though struck by lightning.
"Edolas! They're from Edolas?!" The word echoed endlessly in her mind, leaving her unable to stay calm.
"Master, these are members of Fairy Tail from Edolas. They're here visiting," Mirajane entered at that moment, speaking smoothly as though she had rehearsed this countless times.
"Here's what happened. Earlier, I asked the old man to…"
Only after Mirajane explained the situation did Makarov finally understand why these new arrivals seemed so different from the guildmates he knew.
Just as Mira had predicted, upon learning that another Fairy Tail had come from a parallel world, Makarov was overjoyed. He laughed heartily:
"Guests from afar must be celebrated! We'll throw a grand party. All the expenses are on me!"
Porlyusica frowned deeply. "So that's how it is… He is frighteningly strong."
Shaking her head, she left the infirmary, suddenly feeling as though a heavy cloud loomed over her head.
Moments after she left, loud laughter erupted from within.
"Kids! Let's have a banquet!!"
"Yeahhhh!!!"
"Master, you're not allowed to join. You need to rest!"
"Nooo! Don't stop me!!"
And outside the room, beyond the booming laughter, the old man's wails echoed across the skies.