The moment his words fell, the entire guild went dead silent.
"This hyperactive idiot brat..." On the second floor, Makarov leaned over the railing when he heard the commotion, his face dark as he muttered under his breath.
A beat later, the rest of the guild members burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha, Kabe, brat, are you having a delusional episode? If you can become the strongest in Ishgar, then I would already be one of the Four Heavenly Kings at the top of the Ten Wizard Saints."
"Exactly, little Kabe, if you want your big brothers to teach you how to fight, you have to ask nicely. That kind of line does not work on us."
"Hey, idiot brat, here, take this. Go buy yourself some milk and stop bothering us while we drink."
"Hahahahaha..."
...
Watching these stubborn uncles who were not moved in the slightest, Kabe stomped his foot in anger and shouted at them.
"Hey, all of you, do none of you have any ambition at all? This is a rare chance, you know. Someday you will be able to brag to outsiders that you were once the teachers of the future strongest mage in the world, me. You mean you are not even tempted?!"
Right now, nobody in the guild bothered responding. Everyone went back to what they were doing, not taking his words seriously at all.
At his side, Gray walked over with an expression that said he had seen this coming. He patted Kabe on the shoulder and comforted him.
"Forget it. Do not expect anything from these uncles whose souls have already rotted. This afternoon, just follow me. I will train you."
"Gray..."
Kabe looked at him, eyes shining with gratitude, tears almost glimmering in them.
Gray got goosebumps all over from that look. He shoved Kabe away and turned to the smiling barmaid behind the counter.
"Miss Evie, same as usual, one Gray Special Set for me."
He paused, then jerked a thumb toward Kabe behind him.
"And bring this guy... fifty regular meals. Sorry to trouble you."
"Got it. You two go grab a seat first."
Evie's lips twitched slightly when she heard the second half of that order.
...
Half an hour later, after Kabe had eaten his way through enough food to feed the entire guild for a day in one sitting, Makarov, who had just come downstairs from the second floor, regretted everything all over again.
'This glutton, I should have just left him in the forest and let him fend for himself!'
Kabe was completely oblivious to Makarov's mood. Hugging his round stomach, he let out a satisfied burp. While picking his teeth, he casually asked the Gray beside him,
"So, Gray, does the guild cover your meals too? Do you have to do jobs or anything? I mean, I have thick skin, but even I feel like eating for free every day is a bit much."
Gray stared at the guy in front of him who had just eaten his half-month food budget in one go. He had a mountain of complaints piled up in his chest.
"Unlike you, I am already a proper mage who can fully use magic. Outstanding mages like me do not get free food and board. All our living expenses come from taking on whatever jobs we can handle."
"For example?" Kabe pressed.
Gray did not hide anything. He listed them one by one.
"For example, someone's pet runs away and we have to help find it. Or some out-of-town visitors hire us to guide them around the city. Or rich people's kids in town need playmates their age. Things like that. There are a lot of small jobs like these. Take Cana, for instance. She is really good at card divination, so people from town post requests specifically asking for her to do readings all the time."
"Oh, so that is how it is."
Kabe suddenly understood. So after all this, he was the only one freeloading in the entire guild. The other kids his age could more or less handle some simple requests that did not cost the guild much.
In that case...
Kabe's eyes sparkled and he turned toward the bar where Makarov was.
But before he could even open his mouth, Makarov cut him off flatly.
"No. I do not agree."
The old man had heard their conversation, which was why he rejected him so decisively.
"Drop it, brat. Someone who only awakened magic yesterday does not count as a mage. You are a long way from being qualified to go out on jobs."
He took a proud sip of his drink, watching to see what kind of disappointed expression Kabe would show.
Instead, Kabe calmly dug at his nose and answered like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"What nonsense are you talking about, old man? There is no way I am letting go of such a great free food and lodging opportunity. Relax. Before I have the ability to protect myself, I will not step outside this guild even once."
"You... you damn brat, I never should have brought you back!"
Makarov jumped up and down in rage again, but Kabe had already turned away and stopped looking at him.
In truth, despite what he said, Kabe did want to experience what it was like to take a job.
However, since the Master refused, there was nothing he could do. Instead of throwing a tantrum and shamelessly pestering Makarov to assign him a job, only to end up causing trouble or losses for the guild due to his lack of strength and experience, it was better to honestly stay in the guild, get used to his own abilities, and only take jobs after he became strong enough, so he could pay the guild back.
Once he had thought it through, Kabe's smile returned. He raised his hand and shouted,
"Excuse me, another twenty glasses of juice, on the Master's tab."
Makarov: "Who is paying, you little brat?! Do not push your luck. Get out there and go practice your magic properly!"
The guild erupted in laughter again.
...
And so, Kabe spent his mornings in class and his afternoons training with Gray, Erza, and the others. After the first few days of discomfort, he more or less settled into this new world.
...
In the blink of an eye, a whole month passed.
That afternoon, after saying goodbye to Sister Mary and Levy's trio, the four of them were walking back toward the guild when Kabe, walking in the middle, suddenly declared loudly,
"I have decided. Today, I am going to take on my very first job since joining the guild!"
The other three jumped at his sudden announcement and all stared at him in surprise.
Cana was the first to speak.
"There is no need to rush. I only started taking jobs in my third year after joining the guild."
Kabe said, "That is because you joined young. You are our super senior who entered the guild at six years old."
Gray added, "What about me? I did not start taking jobs until more than half a year after I joined either."
Kabe shot back, "Shut it, defeated underling. You have been taking jobs for so long and it does not look like you have improved at all."
Gray exploded.
"What did you say?!!"