**Chapter 16: Fake News**
One year later
Fairy Tail Guild
The cheerful atmosphere was contagious, filling the guild with noise and energy. Some members carefully searched the request board for suitable jobs, while others focused on their favorite activities. Of course, most people were simply chatting, joking, drinking, and eating meat, as if this was the everyday life of a mage guild.
Suddenly, "Bang!" The door was slammed open and a person ran in with a terrified face.
He shouted at the top of his lungs, "Kaito is back!!!"
"What?! That guy's back already?! Didn't he take a mission in another country?"
"He's only been gone for a week!"
"He finished the mission way too fast!"
Everyone's faces changed instantly.
Not only was the "cheerful" atmosphere contagious, but "fear" spread even faster.
People immediately sprang into action. Those with food on the table stopped chewing leisurely and started shoving it into their mouths. Others chugged their drinks straight from the bottle. The member dressed like a flashy celebrity quickly stripped off his fancy clothes and changed into rags, going from superstar to beggar in seconds.
Valuable items were hidden away in places no one could see, and everyone tried to act like nothing was happening while chatting casually.
Then, the door was kicked open again with a loud "Bang!" Everyone's hearts skipped a beat at the sound.
Kaito walked into the Fairy Tail guild with a bright smile on his face and raised his hand in greeting. "Hey everyone! I'm back!"
"Kaito's back!"
"Welcome back!"
"Kaito, welcome back!"...
Every single person in the guild put on warm smiles and greeted him.
"I heard you caused another big scene! They say you wiped out another dark guild?"
"Big scene? It was nothing, really. Not worth mentioning. Besides, I didn't start it." According to Kaito's village tyrant rules, as long as he didn't throw the first punch, no matter what happened to the opponent afterward, the responsibility wasn't on him.
Kaito's gaze swept across the guild. Everyone held their breath. Then he asked, "Where's the Guild Master? I don't see him."
"The Guild Master was summoned by the Magic Council." The speaker gave Kaito a meaningful look.
"Oh! So he was called away by the Magic Council. Then I can relax. After all, the old man is getting on in years. It would be bad if he got lost and couldn't find his way home."
Everyone inwardly complained at the same time: "The Guild Master probably wishes he really had gotten lost."
"I'm hungry. Bring me my usual set."
Soon, a huge table full of food was placed in front of Kaito. He sat down and began devouring everything. Only then did everyone finally breathe a sigh of relief.
They exchanged glances, all seeing the same helpless look in each other's eyes.
Kaito was actually a good person with no flaws in his character. He was generous and always willing to help others. He was even kinder than most people in the guild, so he got along very well with almost everyone and treated them like brothers.
However, Kaito had one very bad habit: he loved "borrowing" things from his brothers and sisters.
At first it was fine, but over time it became a habit. Food, drinks, clothes, toys—if he liked it, he would take it without hesitation.
He always said "just a little," but Kaito's "little" usually meant taking almost half.
The closer people got to him, the more things he took. In simple terms, he loved "butchering the familiar." Many people regretted becoming too close to Kaito.
That was why every time Kaito returned, everyone became extremely nervous, afraid he would set his eyes on something they owned.
Before long, Guild Master Makarov walked into the guild with his hands behind his back and an expressionless face.
Seeing the Guild Master's face, everyone knew what had happened. Nine times out of ten, he had been scolded by the Magic Council again. The smartest thing to do now was to pretend they hadn't noticed.
Makarov spotted Kaito eating heartily and felt his anger flare up. He walked toward Kaito step by step, his body growing larger with every step.
Kaito was focused on eating. Eating was a sacred matter to him, so it was the only time he stayed truly quiet.
When he noticed a shadow covering him, he turned his head.
Still chewing, Kaito greeted Makarov, "Mmm~! Guild Master! Long time no see! You've grown so tall."
"Pfft~!" Everyone nearly spat out their drinks. Only Kaito would dare tease the Guild Master like that while he was clearly furious.
"Bang!" Makarov slammed a stack of papers onto the table in front of Kaito and roared, "You little bastard! Can't you stop causing trouble?! Look at all the mess you made this time! Because of you, I got scolded by those bastards from the Magic Council again!"
Kaito instinctively pushed both hands out and shouted in protest, "FAKENEWS!
Fake news! It's all fake news! This is clearly a conspiracy by the Magic Council to destroy Fairy Tail!"