"Eh?"
"That's really weird."
"Why isn't there a single S-Class job on the request board?"
Ide looked at the S-Class job flyer in Gildarts' hand, then glanced at the D-Class to A-Class jobs filling the request board. He was puzzled.
"Eh?!"
Gildarts looked at Ide's clueless expression. He scratched his head, then seemed to realize something. With a slight sigh, he said, "Ide, you really don't know anything, do you?"
"Since it's called an S-Class job, naturally, it's a mission that only the guild's S-Class wizards are allowed to undertake."
"After all, for other mages in the guild, S-Class jobs are simply too difficult and too dangerous."
"Therefore, to prevent guild members from taking on S-Class jobs privately for the high rewards and getting themselves killed, the Master keeps all S-Class and higher job requests on the second floor for safekeeping."
Gildarts explained.
"The second floor?"
Ide extracted another piece of intel from Gildarts.
"Yes."
Gildarts nodded, pointing to the stairs behind him that led to the second floor. "In our guild, there is a very strict rule! Only the Guild Master and the S-Class wizards are allowed to set foot on the second floor. Other members are strictly forbidden."
"By the way, I am currently the only active S-Class wizard in the entire Fairy Tail guild."
Saying this, Gildarts pointed at his own grinning face with immense pride.
"Heh."
"If even you can become an S-Class wizard, then I definitely can too."
Seeing Gildarts' smug expression, Ide scoffed disdainfully.
"That's exactly why I chose to team up with you."
Gildarts didn't argue. He genuinely acknowledged Ide's strength.
"Who said I'm teaming up with you?"
"But I'll gladly accept the job flyer in your hand."
Ide snatched the job flyer from Gildarts' hand and bolted without looking back.
"Hmm."
"Eliminate the Dark Guild, 'Black Serpent'?"
"Reward upon completion: 3,000,000 Jewels from the Magic Council?!"
"As expected of an S-Class job. The reward is more than ten times that of an A-Class job."
Ide was very satisfied with the job Gildarts had picked out. The money was definitely good.
As for the guild rules Gildarts mentioned? Ide had already thrown them to the back of his mind.
Besides, strictly speaking, Ide hadn't broken any rules.
First, Ide didn't go up to the second floor without permission.
Second, Ide didn't take the S-Class job without authorization. He snatched this flyer from Gildarts fair and square, based on his own ability.
"Ide, wait for me!"
Seeing Ide running away, Gildarts shouted angrily and chased after him out of the guild.
"Father."
"Ide is just a newbie, yet he took an S-Class wizard job without permission. According to the rules of Fairy Tail, shouldn't he be expelled?"
Once Ide and Gildarts were far away, Ivan emerged from a dark corner. He walked up to the bar where Makarov was sitting and asked.
"Oh?!"
"If it's Ide, just let him go."
"Barring any accidents, Ide will definitely pass this year's S-Class Wizard Promotion Trial."
Makarov was an open-minded Guild Master. Ultimately, the strict control over S-Class jobs was only to protect guild members from getting hurt.
As for Ide? His strength already rivaled the Four Gods of Ishgar. He was one of the wizards standing at the pinnacle of the continent.
Forget S-Class jobs; even SS-Class or Ten-Year Quests probably wouldn't trouble him.
"Tch~"
Seeing that Makarov had no intention of punishing Ide according to the "rules," Ivan clicked his tongue in annoyance but didn't say anything more.
---
After leaving the guild, Ide went straight back to the three-story building he rented with Ur and Irene.
Because Irene was tired of constant fighting and killing, she had converted the first floor into a flower shop. She spent her days tending to flowers, cultivating her sentiments, and making some money to support the household.
The second and third floors served as the living room, dining room, and bedrooms for Ide, Ur, Irene, and the two children.
"Irene, handle the guy outside for me."
"Ur, let's go! Time to do a job."
Ide burst into the building. First, he delegated the task of dealing with Gildarts to Irene. Then, he rushed upstairs, grabbed Ur's hand, and eagerly prepared to set off to destroy the Dark Guild.
"Okay."
At Ide's call, both Irene and Ur nodded almost simultaneously, smiling and saying "Okay."
"Huff, huff."
At that moment, a panting Gildarts burst into Irene's flower shop.
Upon entering, Gildarts saw Irene sitting amidst the flowers, beautiful as a blooming rose. His pupils constricted slightly. Then he shook his head and shouted, "Ide! Hiding behind a woman? Come out here and give me back my job flyer!"
"Little mouse, squeaking away~"
While Gildarts was shouting, Irene pointed a finger at a sign on the wall that read "No Loud Noises." Then she looked at Gildarts, her red lips curving into a cold smile.
"Eh?"
Gildarts froze. It was his first time facing Irene at such close range.
And in that moment of proximity, he finally felt it—the overwhelming magic power inadvertently leaking from her body.
"Shh~"
Gildarts seemed about to say something, but Irene was prepared. She placed a finger to her lips in a shushing gesture, then pointed her finger gently at him.
BOOM!
In a single instant, Gildarts—a young man who had already reached the "Inhuman" level—was transformed into a squeaking mouse without any ability to resist.
"Eh?!"
"I... I turned into a mouse?"
In this moment, Gildarts finally understood the meaning of "fear."
Meanwhile, Ide and Ur rushed past Gildarts, happily heading out on their date... er, to complete their S-Class mission.
"Irene."
"I'm leaving the house to you."
Before leaving, Ide called out to Irene.
"Okay."
Irene picked up a broom, swept the mouse-Gildarts into a dustpan, and dumped him into the trash can outside along with the garbage.
---
Time flew by.
About an hour later.
Lying in the trash heap, Gildarts finally transformed back.