"I'm back!"
Pushing open the guild's front doors, Silas Frost stepped inside.
"Oh, Silas is back! How was your first A-rank punitive mission?"
"Welcome back!"
"Looks like it went smoothly."
"Wow, it's only been a few days give us a break!"
The guild was as lively as ever, voices rising in cheerful banter as Silas returned.
Looking around, however, he noticed Master Makarov's familiar figure was missing. After submitting the commission paperwork, Silas asked aloud, "Where's the guild leader, Grandpa?"
"There's a regular council meeting," a waiter explained. "He had to attend. But he should be back soon tomorrow at the latest."
"Ah, I see. Being the guild master is really troublesome," Silas muttered with a nod.
From his system's storage, he pulled out a small bag and carried it over to Erza.
"Erza, I collected these scales from the Lizardmen. You can use them to forge new armor."
"Then I'll accept them."
Erza took the bag without hesitation. Between friends, there was no need for formality.
Both of them had magic that devoured resources like firewood.
Silas needed gold to carve and draw cards. Erza needed rare metals and materials to forge specialized armors. Through her Requip magic, she was constantly collecting resources to create armors tailored for different kinds of battles.
But every set of armor required massive investments of both money and materials. Even after forging, each one demanded repeated testing, adjustments, and improvements. It was an endless cycle of costs a bottomless pit for jewels.
Silas had no perfect solution. The only idea he could cling to was simple: he had to become an S-Class mage as quickly as possible.
On the second floor of the guild, S-Class commissions awaited. By comparison, even the richest A-rank jobs on the first floor rarely exceeded one million J. S-Class commissions, however, started at three million J and the sky was the limit.
Of course, the difficulty of those jobs was equally staggering. Even for an S-Class mage, completing one could take a very long time.
At present, Silas already understood how difficult S-Class jobs truly were. Even at the fastest pace, it was normal for Master Makarov to spend a week on one. Sometimes, an S-Class commission could even take seven or eight months to complete.
After handing the Lizardman scales to Erza, Silas found an empty seat, ordered a meal, and sat down. As he ate, he pulled up his character interface.
Name: Silas Frost
Level: 11
Body: 29 + (184)
Strength: 30 + (173)
Agility: 30 + (201)
This mission had proven his theory: fighting against magical beings provided him with experience. Whether the opponent was a mage or a monster, as long as they wielded magic, defeating them could raise his level.
"If that's the case," Silas thought while chewing, "then I'll have to choose my missions carefully. Prioritize punitive jobs."
He tapped his chopsticks against his bowl in thought.
"First choice: subdue monsters to level up. Second choice: take down bandits and Dark Guilds. But… those jobs are highly lucrative, and they usually require teams. Doing them alone would be suicide."
In the world of Fairy Tail, subjugating bandits and destroying Dark Guilds had always been a thorny problem. These groups often had large numbers, and for a single mage, going alone meant certain death.
The bigger the group needed, the more the reward had to be divided sometimes making the risks outweigh the benefits.
Eventually, the Magic Council had passed a new bill: after a successful punitive mission against such forces, all of the organization's finances and valuables would be claimed as spoils by the team. The guild would distribute them internally, and not through equal division of the mission fee.
When this ruling first came out, it drove countless mages into a frenzy. For a time, Dark Guilds and bandit groups were struck hard by the sheer number of attacks. After all, no matter how small an organization seemed, their hidden wealth was unimaginable.
It turned ordinary punitive jobs into irresistible opportunities.
Of course, the dark forces weren't foolish either. Once they learned of this policy, they began emptying their treasuries and abandoning valuables whenever they sensed pursuit, leaving nothing behind for their attackers.
Some mages saw this policy as positive.
For Silas Frost, though, it was still uncertain but worth testing someday.
After finishing his meal, Silas pushed aside the bowl and chopsticks. Suddenly, a thought struck him.
"Wait… I've been in Fairy Tail for over two years now, right?"
He turned toward a guildmate at a nearby table, who was drinking heartily, and asked through a mouthful, "This year… it's 777, isn't it?"
When the man gave a confirming nod, Silas froze for a moment.
So the time had finally come.
The year 777 the turning point of everything.
The dragons vanished.
Natsu joined Fairy Tail.
Mystogan left for Edolas.
Wendy met Mystogan, then entered Cait Shelter.
Layla Heartfilia died, triggering the Eclipse.
The script of history played out clearly in Silas's mind.
He gave a bitter smile. With his current strength, he had no right to interfere in such events.
"At the very least… I need to pass the S-Class trial. Only as an S-Class mage can I even begin to consider whether I have the power to change anything."
That was his silent resolve.
For now, the priority was simple: level up, draw stronger cards, and enhance his own power.
As for the grand storyline… he could only take it slowly. He couldn't change it yet.
Even with Layla's tragedy what qualifications did he have to intervene? He couldn't even step into the Tower of Heaven. Jellal, perhaps, might be within his ability to confront one day. But Bryan? A single hand from that monster could swat Silas aside. To go charging in now would be suicide.
Just as these thoughts circled in his head, the guild doors suddenly burst open, carried on a wave of youthful vitality.
"So awesome! Is this your guild master, old man? He's really so amazing!"
At the voice, Silas looked up.
A boy with short, cherry-pink hair bounded inside, a white scarf wrapped tightly around his neck. Behind him followed Makarov, wearing a jester's hat and carrying his staff.
Silas's eyes narrowed slightly. The boy was unmistakable Natsu Dragneel.
The gate of Eclipse had opened. Layla Heartfilia was gone.
"What a pity…" Silas sighed softly. Part of him mourned that Lucy had lost her mother so young. Another part lamented that he had not found Wendy in time. In his heart, he guessed that by now, she must already have been drawn into fate's cruel web.
Mystogan had already taken Wendy to Cait Shelter.
But what about Natsu…?
Should Silas tell him the truth that Igneel, the dragon Natsu had been desperately searching for, actually resided within his own body?
Where, exactly…?
Silas shook his head. "No… better not. If I say anything, I'll have to explain how I know. That'll only stir up trouble."
It was safer to stay humble, to keep a low profile. Drawing too much attention would only bring headaches.
So, after careful thought, Silas decided not to speak. Better to let events unfold naturally. When he had at least reached the strength of an S-Class mage, then maybe he could consider altering the flow of fate.
For now, it was better to remain still, to grow quietly.
Yet, in this world… the more you tried to avoid stirring up trouble, the more it seemed to come knocking on your door.
....
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