"It's only been a short while since I last saw you, but it looks like Erza has shot up in height again."
"And Ultear is blossoming into a truly elegant young lady. You're going to be a grown woman before we know it."
Ide pulled his two daughters, Erza and Ultear, into a warm embrace, hugging one on each side. He pulled back slightly to examine how much they had changed.
"Since you were already back, Father, why didn't you send word? That was incredibly rude of you!"
Erza, a "Little Scarlet" who had inherited both Irene's flowing crimson hair and her domineering personality, clenched her small fist and pounded on Ide's chest, puffing up her cheeks in anger.
"Now, you're really accusing me wrongly."
As he spoke, Ide placed his hand on top of Erza's head. He gently ruffled the crimson hair she had so carefully styled, laughing softly.
"The moment my training ended, I didn't even say a proper goodbye to Senior Warrod. I came straight back to Magnolia just to see you two. Doesn't that show how deeply I missed you?"
"Father! I've told you so many times, don't mess up my hair!"
Erza struggled to break free from Ide's large hand. She kept her small face stern as she held out a hand toward him, demanding, "Also, Father! Why don't I see the gifts you prepared for me and Big Sister Ultear?"
"Uhh."
"How do I explain this..."
Ide's expression froze for a second. He scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"I came back in such a rush that I... temporarily forgot to prepare gifts. But don't worry! I promise to make it up to both of you later."
"Hmph."
"See? Father doesn't care about us anymore."
"Ultear is so sad... so heartbroken..."
"Unless Father pays for the newest dress I want, I don't think I can be consoled."
At that moment, Ultear, who had been silent, suddenly rubbed her eyes. She put on a performance of exaggerated "grief," crying out her complaints to Ide.
"You little..."
Ide's eye twitched. Since when was Ultear this sly?
Wait, both Irene and Ur were very simple, straightforward people. Who on earth did this child learn to be so manipulative from?
It had to be those guys in the guild, right?
Thinking this, Ide reached out and poked Ultear's forehead firmly.
"Alright, enough. Compared to 'gifts,' I think it's time for Father to check on your recent homework! I hope you haven't been slacking off on your training while I was away in seclusion?"
"Ugh."
The moment Ide assumed the stance of a strict parent checking academic progress, Ultear immediately lowered her head.
She looked just like a child caught without her homework, staring silently at her toes. She spoke in a weak, small voice.
"Father, you must be exhausted from your journey, right? Why don't you rest for a few days first? It won't be too late to check your daughters' homework then."
"Heh."
"The thought of seeing my daughters' growth gives me all the energy I need. I'm not tired at all."
Ide chuckled. He saw through Ultear's little scheme instantly.
Please, he used to pull these same tricks himself.
"Erza, Ultear, come outside the guild with me."
Ide patted them both on the shoulders, deciding to take the test outdoors.
As he looked up, he noticed Cana standing nearby, watching Erza and Ultear with curious eyes. Ideally, he smiled and beckoned to her.
"Cana, you come along too."
"O-Okay."
Cana nodded slightly. She hadn't expected to find children her own age in a wizard guild where everyone else looked so fierce and terrifying.
"Father, who is this cute little sister?"
Erza followed Ide's gaze. seeing Cana, she couldn't help but ask.
"This is Cana. She's Gildarts' daughter."
Ide introduced her.
"What?!"
"She's Uncle Gildarts' daughter?"
As Ide's words fell, both Erza and Ultear wore looks of pure shock. They couldn't believe their ears.
Ideally, they never imagined that this adorable little girl could be the offspring of that Gildarts.
By this time, Cana had obediently walked up to Erza and Ultear. She bowed politely and introduced herself.
"Hello. My name is Cana. Cana Alberona."
"I am Erza Belserion."
"And I am Ultear Milkovich."
After Cana's introduction, Erza and Ultear responded with their own names.
"Cana, how old are you?"
Erza stepped up to Cana. She used her hand to measure the height difference between them, asking with a face full of anticipation.
"I'm eight years old this year."
Cana counted on her fingers for a moment before answering seriously.
"Yes!"
"I'm finally not the youngest anymore! I have a little sister!"
Hearing that Cana was only eight, Erza rejoiced instantly, forcefully adopting Cana as her younger sister right then and there.
"Father."
"Cana had better be Uncle Gildarts' daughter."
Beside Erza, Ultear looked at Ide with a smile that wasn't quite a smile, her tone carrying a clear warning.
"What kind of person do you take your father for?"
Ide asked, utterly speechless.
"Ide! I heard you're back!"
"Come out and fight me!"
Just as Ide was about to test his daughters' skills, the heavy doors of the Fairy Tail guild were kicked open.
A young boy with spiky blond hair sprinted in, charging straight toward Ide.
"Laxus!"
But before the boy could get close to Ide, Erza made her move.
She drew the longsword at her waist and stepped directly into the blond boy's path, shouting his name.
"Erza?"
The blond boy—Laxus—glanced at Erza and sneered coldly.
"I don't want to fight a loser like you today! The one I want to challenge is Ide."
"You're just relying on being older than me."
"Cut the crap and fight! To defeat you once and for all, I asked Mother to teach me a brand new Enchantment!"
"Enchant: Insulator!"
As she spoke, Erza imbued her sword with an insulating property. Moving like a gale, she slashed straight at the blond boy.
Yes, Erza had inherited Irene's Enchantment Magic and Ide's swordsmanship.
"Bring it on!"
"Lightning Dragon's Iron Fist!"
Laxus laughed loudly and met her attack head-on.
BOOM!
The moment they clashed, a visible shockwave exploded outward from the center of the impact, sending ripples through the air for ten meters around them.
Although Erza and Laxus were young, their magic power had already reached the system's rating of LV5, approaching the threshold of LV6.
In any other guild, wizards of this caliber would already be candidates for S-Class promotion.
This was the terrifying future of Fairy Tail.
"Huh?"
"Is this... is this what wizards are?"
As for Cana, she was completely stupefied. The sheer power displayed by these children went far beyond anything she had ever imagined.