Fairy Tail: Starting with Fairy Queen Erza

"The original! You're still the best."

"Unlike these rascals, who don't know how to be considerate of the elderly at all."

"I wonder who taught them this?"

Although Makarov couldn't feel Mebis's touch, his weathered eyes were still brimming with tears, as if he were about to burst into sobs at any moment...

Yes, indeed, among all the guild leaders, only Mavis, the first guild master of Fairy Tail, truly understands how exhausted and tormented he, as a fellow guild master, is every day!

"After the initial reassurance..."

"It's as if I've drunk deeply from the legendary fountain of immortality."

"I feel younger and full of energy..."

"I can still serve as the guild master of Fairy Tail for another hundred years."

As Makarov spoke, he leaped to his feet, hands on his hips, looking smug.

"Old Ma, you said it yourself, that you'd stay in the Fairy Tail guild master position for another hundred years! I heard it, everyone heard it, you can forget about retiring within the next hundred years..."

Ian placed his right hand behind his ear, palm open, as if listening intently, and made it seem as if he had memorized everything Makarov had just said, and that no matter how Makarov denied or pretended in the future, it would be useless.

"Forehead……"

Upon hearing this, Makarov's old face stiffened, and his lips broke out in countless dry patches.

"Damn it, it seems my retirement plans will have to be postponed again."

Makarov looked up at the sky, tears welling in his eyes, and spoke through gritted teeth.

No one can understand the pain in Lao Ma's heart!

Sigh, Old Ma, Old Ma...

"You must be Ian and Gildarts?"

"Warold mentioned the two of you earlier..."

"Fairy Tail guild owes its current strength to your hard work."

At this moment, Mavis seemed to notice Ian and Gildarts. She floated lightly in front of them and first loudly praised them a few times.

Then, Mavis changed the subject, putting her hands on her hips and pretending to be fierce, but because of her soft and cute appearance, she couldn't really be ruthless and remained in an adorable posture...

She thought herself profound, but was still incredibly adorable, as she lectured the two of them: "But from now on, you absolutely cannot do anything like abandoning your child outside again~ Think carefully about how heartbroken and sad it is for children to be abandoned outside and never see their parents?"

"Yes, sir, President Mavis~"

"We have begun to reflect on what you have said..."

Ian and Gildarts stood at attention, looking like they were humbly seeking advice.

After being criticized by Mebius, the two promised her that they would never make the same mistake again...

Although Ian was itching to complain to Mavis, "Actually, First Lord, your beloved eldest son, 'Magic King' August, has also been abandoned by you and is currently serving as a commander in the Alvarez Empire on the Western Continent! Don't you really want to go and see him?"

Well, if you look at it this way...

The tradition of Fairy Tail losing children is a long-standing one.

It's not exactly a fine tradition, though.

But those who are not family will not enter the same door.

cough cough...

However, Ian considered August's safety...

At the same time, he also wanted to prevent the calming curse on Mavis, which had finally subsided, from flaring up and killing everyone present. So he had no choice but to temporarily suppress his anger.

However, Ian secretly vowed that he would reveal today's experience to the public sooner or later.

We'll wait until he completely resolves the 'An Shen' curse and this problem.

"Speaking of the old man..."

"When will the second round of the S-rank Archmage exam for our guild start again this year? We're getting impatient."

Laxus sat in the shade of a giant tree with lush foliage, arms crossed, and looked up at Makarov not far from him, asking a question.

"Cough cough..."

"When we're in the guild, don't call me grandpa, address me by my title!"

Makarov looked over at the sound of the voice, and upon seeing that it was Laxus who was speaking, he first coughed twice tactically, and then corrected Laxus's way of addressing him with a cold and serious expression.

After doing all this, Makarov slowly turned around and looked at the first guild master, Mavis, with a beaming smile and a fawning expression, saying, "Guild Master Mavis, I treat all my guildmates equally. I would never give Laxus any special treatment just because he is my grandson."

"This old guy actually used me as a scapegoat, as a greeting gift to the First Generation?!"

Lacussas took it all in, his brow furrowed and veins bulging on his forehead.

"Grandpa, hurry up and continue the S-rank Archmage assessment!"

Everyone's waiting.

Just then, Miradje, dressed in very light clothing, appeared beside Makarov and made a request to him.

"Okay, let's begin..."

Makarov smiled and earnestly replied to Miradje's request.

"No, is there something wrong with my ears?!"

"Miraj didn't call you Chairman either, did he?"

At that moment, Laxus felt like he was about to shatter...

He was surprised to find that he seemed to be ostracized.

However, the person who ostracized and bullied him was not just any member of the guild...

On the contrary, his guildmates respected him and everyone acknowledged his strength.

It's not Ian and Gildarts either, the two tyrants feared by everyone outside the guild...

Instead, it was his grandfather, Makarov Doraeus, the guild master, that annoying old geezer.

"Can you compare to Mirajane?"

Upon hearing this, Makarov rolled his eyes dramatically and said, rather speechless.

"..."

Lacusa was momentarily numb and didn't know what to say.

In the end, it was the first president, Mavis, who couldn't stand it any longer. She walked up to Makarov and said softly, "Please treat Lacussas well."

"The first president was simply an angel."

Laxus's gaze towards the First Generation changed upon hearing this; a glint of light appeared in his eyes.

"Laxus, quickly thank the First Lord."

Upon hearing this, Makarov looked at Lacusas Education.

"You don't need to tell me, you old geezer, you're wicked..."

Lacussas glared at Makarov and then said angrily.

"Cough cough..."

"In short, in Fairy Tail X778, the second round of the S-class mage examination has officially begun!"

"First, the four groups of contestants who successfully passed the previous round—Lacusas Dolea, Erza Belserion, Mirajane Strauss, and Gray Fullsta—must assemble in front of me within thirty seconds..."

After Makarov finished speaking, he quickly recited the thirty numbers.

"Thirty, twenty-nine, twenty-eight... three, two, one."

After Makarov finished reading the last number, the people standing in front of him were Laxus, Mirajane, and Erza, but Gray was not among them.

"Where is the Grey? Where did Grey go?"

Makarov looked at the missing Gray and asked in confusion.

"Gray probably won't be able to make it. He's currently in the passageway, fighting Natsu and Leon."

In response, Ian looked at Makarov and explained.

"Is that so?"

"If you can't come, then forget it."

"Gray can't even beat Natsu and Lyon right now..."

"I should practice more before thinking about passing the S-rank Archmage exam."

Makarov then announced Gray's elimination.

"So Laxus, Mirajane, and Erza, you three listen up..."

"Next, you will engage in a four-way free-for-all with Uru from the 'Ten Saints'."

"The two winners will successfully pass this year's Fairy Tail guild's S-class mage assessment and become the guild's newest S-class mages. That's all."

Makarov, with his hands behind his back, explained the rules for the second round of testing to Lacussas and the others.

Yeah, no wonder Makarov eliminated Gray so easily...

This second round isn't a test of luck, but of true ability.

Let's not even talk about Uru, who's at the level of the 'Ten Saints'...

The chaotic battle between Mirajane, Laxus, and others is something Gray can't interfere with right now! With Gray's current strength, the best outcome would probably be being sent flying by the aftershocks of their fight. Being eliminated outright would likely be Gray's most dignified way to escape.

"Looks like it's time for my splendid solo show."

"Eresh, watch closely as I defeat them..."

"Laxus and Mirajane, let's settle this once and for all!"

Erza smiled, gripped her knight's sword, its blade pointed directly at Laxus and the others, and spoke with utmost confidence.

"Go Erza!"

Ereshkigal waved her little hand at Erza, who was walking alone, and shouted excitedly.