The operation to "Wipe Out the R-Organization" earned Layla two Celestial Spirit Keys.
The other six, including Descartes, also received rewards from the academy. However, since they didn't have a specific need for treasures like Layla did, they were given cash. The amount was roughly equivalent to the payout of an S-Class mission from Fairy Tail.
On the night they received their rewards, the seven of them gathered once again at their usual restaurant for a small celebration.
After a few rounds of drinks, Descartes suddenly extended an invitation to the group.
"Hey, what do you guys think about joining Fairy Tail?"
"Joining Fairy Tail?"
Caught off guard by Descartes' sudden move, everyone froze in surprise.
Descartes nodded with a grin. "Yeah, yeah... once you join 'Fairy Tail,' we'll be comrades for life!!"
Hey, hey... this guy is clearly too drunk! We've only known each other for a month; talking about 'comrades for life' is a bit reckless!!
Watching Descartes' face flush red, the others felt a collective headache. However, since the invitation had been formally extended, they began to consider the question seriously.
"Ahem..."
Serena was the first to speak up, trying to be as tactful as possible. "Well... I'm not trying to talk trash, but the current Fairy Tail really isn't that attractive."
"The life I want isn't staying in one place playing house with a bunch of weaklings. I want to constantly challenge the strong and surpass myself until I become number one in the world!"
Saying "not that attractive" was already a peak display of emotional intelligence for Serena. In the past, he would have just said Fairy Tail was pathetically weak.
Descartes understood Serena's meaning, but he didn't mind. "Don't worry about my feelings. The current Fairy Tail is indeed not what it used to be; it's going downhill, that's a fact."
"But that's exactly why I want to make it great again!"
Descartes didn't want to grow up to teach at Fairy Academy like his father, grandmother, or great-aunt, nor did he want to join the Council like his grandfather and spend his old age contributing to world peace. It wasn't that the academy or the Council were bad; it was simply that he yearned for a high-stakes, colorful life of adventure more than teaching or maintaining order.
Fairy Tail was undoubtedly the best choice!
However, he was well aware that the guild was currently in decline, largely because it lacked powerful wizards for a long time. If you looked at a magic guild as a person, this year's Fairy Tail was like a seventy-year-old man—diminishing and nearing the end of its life.
In fact, the signs were there. Even though it still held the title of "Number One Magic Guild in Fiore," it was losing ground compared to newer guilds like "Lamia Scale" and "Blue Pegasus." Without strong Wizards joining, it would likely fall from grace within two or three years.
Of course, the future wasn't completely void of talent. Gildarts would graduate in a year, and Descartes himself in two, providing the guild with two "pillars." But that would only be a temporary resurgence.
What about a few years after that? The Wizards coming out of Fairy Academy at that point would be people like Macao and Wakaba—solid, but with a clearly visible ceiling.
So, Descartes planned to recruit a group of elite Wizards—just as his great-grandfather and the first master of Fairy Tail, Weston, had gathered the "First Generation Fairies"—and use their collective strength to build a brand new Fairy Tail!
And right now, those powerful Wizards were sitting right in front of him! Descartes didn't want to miss his chance.
"I want Fairy Tail to regain its former glory and become the face of Fiore's magical world once again!"
"I want every wizard to have a look of awe and admiration when they hear the name Fairy Tail!!"
"I want the guild to be glorious for another fifty years under my leadership!!!"
Descartes grew more excited as he spoke, eventually standing up, looking as if he were radiating holy light.
The group: "..."
The air was silent for several seconds. Finally, Descartes couldn't hold the pose any longer and sat back down.
"Well? Say something! Otherwise, this is really awkward!"
Aside from Gildarts, the others exchanged glances and gave their replies one by one.
"I... I can do it!!" Layla was the first to raise her hand.
Descartes was overjoyed, reaching out to tightly grip the girl's hands. "Really?!"
"Um... yeah, really!" A blush crept onto Layla's face, but she didn't pull her hands away. "Actually, I've been considering joining Fairy Tail lately—maybe even transferring to Fairy Academy once this exchange is over!"
Ever since she found out that Magnolia held almost all the Gold Zodiac Keys, she knew her life was tied to Fairy Tail. Rather than agonize over it, it was better to just dive in.
"I don't really care either way." Silver set down his glass and smiled faintly. "I haven't planned out my future yet. If I still haven't decided by graduation, I'll give your proposal priority."
Ur spoke next. "Same here. If I can find a good man in Magnolia, staying wouldn't be out of the question."
Gildarts immediately got excited. "Me, me, me! I'm the good man you're talking about, Miss Ur!!"
"Hehe..." A flirtatious man's words shouldn't be believed for a second!
Serena followed up. "As for me, I already said my life's goal is to challenge the strongest; only then can I prove my worth!" He paused, then added, "No... as a Dragon Slayer, my true goal is only one thing: hunting dragons!"
"Specifically the legendary Acnologia. Only by killing it can I prove I am the strongest Dragon Slayer in the world! Until then, I will constantly search for its trail."
Serena's words filled the group with a sense of solemn respect. Killing Acnologia? Now that was an ideal! It sounded way cooler than "revitalizing a guild."
Just as Descartes thought hope was lost, Serena suddenly shifted his tone.
"However! Even if I'm chasing Acnologia, I need a place to land sometimes. I don't mind calling Fairy Tail my 'home,' but don't get your hopes up about me staying at home for long!"
What a twist!
You tsundere, would it kill you to just say yes directly? Honestly, you made me sad for nothing!
Descartes regained his smile and nodded repeatedly. "I understand, totally understand!"
Gildarts also laughed and threw an arm around Serena's neck. "Well said! I completely get where you're coming from! In fact, we're basically the same type of person—I also want to spend a lot of time traveling!"
Serena's eyes lit up. "Oh? Do you have a goal you're chasing too?"
"Of course!" Gildarts laughed heartily. "Every beautiful young lady in the world is my goal!"
"Tch, what a pervert!" Serena immediately pulled away, his face full of disdain. "I am definitely not the same type as you!"
"What about you, Bluenote?" Even though this teammate was a "mute gourd," he was still on Descartes' recruitment list.
Bluenote agreed quite bluntly. "I can join, but you must guarantee you'll make the guild number one in the world. If there's ever a day I think you can't do it, I'll leave!"
"Hahaha... then you're never leaving for the rest of your life!"