The guild hall was like a boiling pot, with the clanging of colliding tables and chairs, the boisterous laughter and horseplay of the Mages, and even the sizzling sounds of residual magic all mixed together. Every inch of air was steeped in Fairy Tail's unique vibrant atmosphere, making one's head throb but also radiating warmth.
Riyao leaned against the second-floor railing, his fingertips slowly tracing the wooden request board, his gaze sweeping over yellowed and new mission papers.
When the request for Galuna Island caught his eye, his fingertips paused, a playful curve appeared on his lips, and a mischievous glint flashed in his eyes. He had already sketched out a villainous script in his mind, thinking it would be very interesting to stir things up on the island.
He withdrew his hand, not touching that request at all. Although Sagittarius is one of the Zodiac, he refused it.
His gaze continued to move, finally resting on the Hundred Year Request in the furthest corner. The paper was so old it had yellowed, labeled "Hundred Year Request," with no detailed description, not even the mission content.
Riyao's eyes deepened. He knew this was the mission Gildarts would challenge later, the Five God Dragons mission.
Twirling the firewood stick bracelet, his thoughts drifted to other continents: the Western Continent, Alakitasia, had an empire created by Zeref, with a generally high quality of Mages; the Northern Continent, Guiltina, was even more terrifying, with monsters like the Five God Dragons.
Compared to them, the Eastern Continent, Ishgar, seemed like an unsophisticated backwater. The Council was riddled with holes by the three Dark Guilds, and the later-appearing Four Heavenly Kings of Ishgar were directly defeated by that Eight Dragon Dragon Slayer Mage, Serena.
He suddenly tilted his head, wondering if there was a Southern Continent. If a force capable of easily crushing the Black Dragon and trampling Zeref were to pop up one day, it would be lively. Perhaps they were descendants of native demons and gods...
Thinking of the native demons of Galuna Island, and the Battle Princess among the Twelve Shields of the Western Continent, who claimed to be a descendant of the God of Time, these were clear pieces of evidence.
Even a curse could keep Zeref alive to this day, so gods must possess eternal life. But why are there only legends, and no one has ever seen them? It's as if some force deliberately blocked the news. Could they really be in the Southern Continent, or hidden in an alternate dimension like the Spirit World?
"Tsk, why am I thinking about this?" Riyao shook his head, shaking off those wild thoughts, picked an S-class request, and then trotted downstairs directly to the Master's office.
When he pushed open the door, Makarov was slumped in his large office chair, puffing on a pipe, his reading glasses slipped to the tip of his nose, flipping through a weekly Sorcerer magazine.
Seeing Riyao enter, he raised his glasses, discreetly put the magazine away, and his gaze fell on the request form.
"Subjugate the Stone Titan?" Makarov sat up straight, tapping the paper with his fingertips, his brows furrowed. "Your magic and life energy combined are indeed strong, but your offensive ability has always been a weakness. This Stone Titan is tough-skinned and thick-fleshed; can you handle it?"
Riyao placed the request form on the table, shrugged, and grinned: "Don't worry, old man, I'm just going to try out a newly developed magic, and it's a good chance to test its attack power. If I really can't beat it, I can always run, right? With my knack for survival, a Titan-class monster can't take me down."
Makarov stared at him for a while, twirling his pipe in his hand twice, then finally sighed in relief: "Alright, you're allowed to take it. But let me say this now, no matter how important the request is, it's not as precious as your life. If you really can't beat it, retreat immediately. Don't push yourself!"
"Of course!" Riyao patted his chest, assuring him, "No one cherishes their life more than I do. Do I look like someone who seeks death?"
Makarov snorted, but a relieved expression appeared on his face: "You rascal, I still trust you."
As Riyao walked out of the Master's office, a blue figure "whoosh"-ed over, its furry paws hooking his collar, its wings flapping and tickling his cheek. "Riyao!" Happy's voice was crisp and clear, rubbing against his neck and making it itch.
"Happy! You actually abandoned me!" Natsu's loud voice followed close behind. He stood with his hands on his hips not far away, his cheeks puffed out in anger, looking exactly like a helpless husband, with even a few strands of his hair standing on end.
Riyao laughed and hugged Happy, rubbing him. No wonder this little guy always clung to him; when Happy was still an egg, he would occasionally infuse the eggshell with life energy, so now the little guy carried a bit of his aura.
If Lisanna and Natsu were like parents, then he was the grandfather; intergenerational affection was perfectly normal.
Happy was purring comfortably in his arms when a soft gasp suddenly came from nearby. Lisanna was lying on her side on a long chair, her fingertips touching the corner of her eye, her voice drawn out, like a resentful woman who had been abandoned: "Happy, how could you be so heartless..."
Lisanna, who was originally a bit mischievous, had also become a little drama queen under the influence of Riyao, the master drama queen.
Happy was instantly bewildered, scratching his head with his paws, his ears drooping, his round eyes darting around. Clearly, having only been born recently, he couldn't handle such complex "emotional disputes."
Riyao couldn't help but laugh, walked over and ruffled Lisanna's hair, then tucked Happy into her arms: "Alright, my apologies." Lisanna giggled, holding Happy, but Natsu was still glaring at Happy, looking displeased.
"Oh, Natsu is so pitiful," Cana said, leaning over with a cup full of beer, a mischievous smile on her lips, intentionally dragging out her words.
On the other side, Erza and Mirajane were staring at each other across an aisle. Their eyes met in a clash, and the air pressure around them dropped a few degrees, as if sparks were about to fly.
Seeing this, Riyao scurried over to Mirajane, put his arm around her shoulder, and said with a grin: "Mira Want to go on a date with me"
Their "standoff" was instantly interrupted. Mirajane's shoulder stiffened, her cheeks flushed "whoosh," like a startled kitten whose tail had been stepped on, she swung her fist and hit him: "You, what are you talking about, you jerk!"
Erza's face also turned a deep red, her eyes wide. Her fingers unconsciously tightened on her skirt, and her mind had already started imagining for Mirajane and Riyao: skipping from holding hands on a date directly to the scene of them being buried together in the earth, her ear tips so hot they could smoke.
Riyao looked at the flustered Mirajane, sighing inwardly, thinking how cute she was. Tsundere truly never goes out of style.
Lisanna, holding Happy, leaned in, her eyes sparkling as she chimed in: "Ambiguous~"
Happy also clicked his tongue, adding in a childish voice: "They're having an affair~"
Bang! Bang!
Mirajane raised her hand and gave both the person and the cat a flick on the head. Lisanna cried "Ouch" clutching her head, and Happy squatted on the ground, holding his head, his ears drooping. Riyao secretly gave a thumbs-up from the side, his shoulders shaking as he tried to hold back his laughter.
"Why did you hit Happy and Lisanna!" Natsu suddenly rushed over, waving his fists, looking like a heroic rescuer. But as soon as he got close, Mirajane gave him a flick on the head.
Bang!
Natsu squatted on the ground, clutching his head, tears welling up in his eyes.
Seeing this, the people around all whistled and pretended to look elsewhere.
Cana sipped her beer, stifling a laugh. Gray chewed on an ice pop, rolling his eyes. Levy hid her ancient script book behind her face, with "The Story of Snow White's Stepmother and the Seven Calabash Brothers" tucked inside.