"Zeref?!"
Makarov's voice rose sharply, sounding exceptionally clear in the somewhat empty guild hall, attracting Cana to look over curiously from afar.
He stared intently at Shane. "What business could you possibly have with Zeref?"
Shane put on an honest and simple smile, as if he completely didn't hear the warning in the Master's words.
"I read in those travelogues and legends in the library that the Black Mage Zeref seems to have created many...
Um, existences similar to the 'Emotion Demon' I encountered in Shirotsume City last time. So..."
"So?" Makarov narrowed his eyes.
"So I want to know, Master, do you know any clues or whereabouts of Zeref's other demons? Even a little rumor..."
"I don't know! Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you!" Before Shane could finish, he was interrupted decisively by Makarov.
The little old man was simply exasperated at this moment.
He counted on his fingers. In total, he had taught Shane two important things:
First, don't get involved with those Dark Guilds in the gutter. Second, absolutely, absolutely do not touch anything related to Zeref!
Good heavens, how long had he been behaving?
Wiping out a Dark Guild before was one thing, but now he actually wanted to jump into the big pit of Zeref on his own initiative!
Makarov felt his blood pressure rising, deeply feeling that he, who once thought Shane was a "worry-free good kid," was ridiculously naive.
"Please, Master! Just a tiny clue is fine!" Shane put his palms together, his attitude earnest.
This wasn't him pretending; he was truly anxious.
The reason he was obsessed with the traces left by Zeref was really because the two previous triggers of the "Book of Heroic Spirits" trials seemed to be related to Zeref.
This made it hard for him not to make an association—could it be that only events highly related to Zeref could trigger the trials?
He had currently accumulated one authority. Once the trial of "Initiation" was completed, it would be two.
He was longing to trigger another new trial to unlock new screening authorities of the Book of Heroic Spirits so he could gain stronger martial power.
But Makarov was determined this time. No matter how Shane pestered him, or even swore he was just curious and would never take risks, the old man kept a straight face, completely unmoved.
Shane was anxious enough to scratch his heart and lungs. His gaze inadvertently swept past the direction Laxus had left just now, and he suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
"Master, um... if I may ask boldly, do you not have a very good relationship with Laxus?"
"Hmm?" Makarov glanced at him calmly, wanting to see what trick this kid could pull. "So what if I don't?"
Laxus being in his rebellious phase was known to everyone in the guild.
"Then what if I say I have a way to improve the relationship between you and Laxus?" Shane puffed out his chest, trying hard to pretend he was very confident.
"You?" Makarov snorted. "What way could you have?"
Shane hadn't thought of any way at all, but he absolutely couldn't show weakness at this moment. He bit the bullet and vowed:
"You saw it just now too. Laxus and I played table tennis back and forth; we get along pretty well, right?
How about this? I help you repair the grandfather-grandson relationship, and you tell me some intelligence about Zeref. How about it? Fair trade!"
"Is that so..." Makarov pondered for a moment, his fingers tapping lightly on the edge of the glass, a thoughtful expression on his face. "If you really can..."
Seeing that there seemed to be hope, Shane was overjoyed and hurriedly struck while the iron was hot. "Rest assured, leave it to me! Absolutely no problem! It's on me!"
"But!" Makarov's tone suddenly changed, the thoughtfulness instantly replaced by disappointment. "I refuse!"
Immediately after, without waiting for Shane to react, the little old man jumped down and knocked on his forehead thump thump thump three times in a row.
"Idiot! What parent would let their own child go to die!"
Shane covered his head, extremely aggrieved. They were chatting nicely; why did he turn hostile so suddenly?
But he needed something from the other party, so he could only suck in a breath and continue striving. "Master, you know my strength. I'm not going to die; I just want to..."
"No means no!" Makarov interrupted again, his attitude firm.
But even so, Shane was still relentless. Makarov was pestered by him until he really had no choice, and finally relented a little:
"Fine! If you can pass the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial in the guild, I'll make an exception and tell you all the intelligence I know about Zeref!"
"Really?!" Shane's eyes lit up.
He was still somewhat confident in his own strength. Except for possibly having no bottom line against that monster-like Gildarts, he felt he had the power to fight anyone else in the guild.
"Why would I lie to you?" Makarov rolled his eyes, poured himself another glass of alcohol, and sipped leisurely.
"Then when does the assessment start?" Shane rubbed his fists and wiped his palms, somewhat unable to wait.
Makarov just gave him a light glance and spat out three words: "You're not qualified."
"Why?!" Shane felt like cold water had been poured over his head and asked in dissatisfaction.
The little old man chuckled, a bad smile of a successful scheme on his face. "Did you not look at how many commissions you've completed in total since joining the guild? You haven't even accumulated enough for the most basic assessment qualification, and you want to take the S-Class Mage exam?"
He patted Shane's shoulder, his tone carrying a meaning of "you're still too young." "It's too late to cram now. Wait until next year!"
I've been calculated!
Shane stared incredulously at this old fox who was calling himself "parent" and Shane "child" just now.
A bouncing check, and he was dismissed.
But since the agreement had been reached, going back on it now would make him seem unreasonable. He could only hold back a stomach full of sulking under the Master's proud gaze of "ginger gets spicier as it gets older" and exit in humiliation.
---
Returning to the residence, Shane buried his head in the kitchen, turning grief and indignation into culinary skills, clang clang clang, making six dishes and one soup, filling the small table to the brim.
Erza followed the scent over. Rarely seeing Shane suffer a setback, a happy expression couldn't help appearing on her face.
Shane shoveled rice into his mouth, eating fiercely with his head down.
He also felt that he couldn't muddle along like this anymore. He had to do some commissions properly to improve his evaluation and seniority in the guild.
At the very moment he made this decision concretely—
Buzz!
The Book of Heroic Spirits in his mind flipped, and lines of new small characters made of fire patterns emerged.
[Trial: Pillar]
[A mainstay needs recognition. Obtain the qualification for the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial and successfully pass the assessment.]
"Hmm, a trial?" Shane's eyes widened instantly. He never expected the new trial to appear in such an abrupt form.
Previously there was no reaction at all, but as soon as he made up his mind, the pages responded...
This sudden surprise made Shane completely confused about what the trigger condition for the trial was.
Was it because the S-Class assessment had some connection with Zeref, or was the nature of all trials random, merely relying on the strong will of him, the "Book Holder"?
Or, both?
Shane didn't understand the meaning, but in any case, if he wanted to become S-Class, he really couldn't continue slacking off. It was time to take the identity of "Mage" seriously and treat work seriously.
So, for the whole next week...
Shane did nothing.
He perfectly continued his previous lifestyle, staying at home, going back and forth to the guild library.
Two points and a line.
Until this night, he washed up early, went to bed, and closed his eyes.
All around was silent, consciousness gradually sinking.
Then, that familiar, scorching fire...
Arrived as expected.