Fairy Tail: This Healing Mage's hits hurt so much!

The noise from the guild hall grew louder and louder. The sounds of Macao and Wakaba drinking together, Guild Master Makarov's roar, and the clinking of various cups and plates intertwined to create a fairy tale.

Everyone was immersed in the joy of surviving the ordeal (meaning Sunbringer wasn't killed by Gildarts) and the revelry of getting free alcohol, and they poured into the hall in a grand procession.

No one noticed that two figures quietly stopped in the shadows of the corridor leading from the backyard to the hall.

"Hey, you brat, why are you pulling me like that? The old man said the first cup is free, if you're late you won't even get a sip!"

Gildarts, his cloak being held tightly by the Sunbeam, turned around and complained impatiently.

His stubble-covered face was filled with longing for ale, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

Riyao didn't answer immediately. Instead, he cautiously checked to make sure no one was paying attention to them before letting go.

He took a deep breath, and a strange blush suddenly appeared on his face, which had been somewhat pale from the battle and recovery.

He lowered his head, his hands were clasped together, his two index fingers poking each other nervously, and his body swayed awkwardly like a pretzel.

That posture made him look exactly like a young girl in love, about to confess her feelings to her crush, which gave Gildarts goosebumps.

"What... what's wrong with you, kid? Did your brain get damaged from the beating earlier, and now your nerves are all messed up?"

Gildarts took a half step back, looking at Sunrise with a wary expression, his hands crossed in front of his chest.

"I'm warning you, I'm only interested in mature, sexy older women. Don't you dare try to disgust me, you little brat who hasn't even grown his pubic hair yet!"

Riyao suddenly raised his head, his clear eyes suddenly filled with tears, as if he were about to cry at any moment.

He bit his lower lip and spoke softly in an extremely shy, even slightly trembling voice.

"Uncle...actually...actually..."

"What is it? Just say it! Don't look at me like that, it's giving me the creeps!"

Gildarts took another step back, his back now pressed against the wall of the corridor.

He, the strongest mage of Fairy Tail, who had never backed down even when facing a dragon, was now being forced to retreat by the gaze of a ten-year-old brat.

Riyao took a deep breath, as if making a tremendous decision, then suddenly closed his eyes and shouted, "Actually, you have a child!"

"Clang!"

It was as if a thunderbolt had exploded in Gildarts's mind. He froze on the spot, his eyes wide as saucers, and his mouth agape enough to fit a hobbit egg.

His face, which had been flushed from craving alcohol, turned deathly pale in an instant.

"Child...child?" Gildarts' voice trembled as he shakily pointed a finger at the Sunrise, his mind flashing wildly with images of his carefree and promiscuous life over the years.

Those voluptuous proprietresses, enthusiastic waitresses, and even some mysterious women whose faces I can't quite recall, encountered in the taverns of various towns...

He shook his head violently, trying to shake off those terrible thoughts.

Then, his gaze fell on Riyao again.

Looking at the handsome, blond-haired, blue-eyed boy with exquisite features, who, despite being only ten years old, was already a sure-fire troublemaker, Gildarts felt a surge of complex emotions that were hard to describe.

This kid... blond hair... even though I have orange hair, it's not impossible for hair color to change... those exquisite features... could it be inherited from his mother? That freakish magical talent and regenerative ability... he definitely inherited my superior genes!

The more Gildarts thought about it, the more likely it seemed, and his breathing became rapid.

With trembling hands, he walked step by step toward Riyao. His rough, large hands paused in mid-air for a long time before finally gently landing on Riyao's shoulders.

Gildarts' voice was terribly hoarse, and his eyes were even a little red.

"Who...who is your mother? Is she...is she alright? Why...why are you only coming to find me now?"

Seeing Gildarts's expression of grief and near-tears, Sunburst was secretly overjoyed, but he maintained his pitiful demeanor on the surface.

He sniffed, tears welling in his eyes, and said in an extremely aggrieved voice.

"Uncle...you...you really don't remember?"

As Sunrise spoke, he mentally screamed: This dialogue is so cheesy! But judging from Gildarts' reaction, he probably believes it! Hahahaha!

"Child...I'm sorry...it's all Daddy's fault..."

Gildarts finally couldn't hold back any longer and hugged Sunrise tightly, tears and snot streaming down his face.

"Your father has been away on missions all these years, neglecting you and your mother... You've suffered! From today onwards, your father will make it up to you! Anyone who dares to bully you, your father will blast them to smithereens with his shattering magic!"

Sunrise was almost suffocating under Gildarts's weight. He struggled desperately, finally managing to peek his head out from the sweaty, alcohol-smelling embrace, gasping for breath.

"Cough cough cough! Let go! Let go now! Are you trying to murder your... ptooey! Murder your guildmate?!"

Sunlight blushed and forcefully pushed Gildarts away.

Gildarts wiped away his tears, looked at Sunrise with loving eyes, and said softly, "My dear son, don't be afraid. Daddy will never leave you again. Come, Daddy will take you to the hall and announce this good news to everyone! I want the whole world to know that I, Gildarts, have such a wonderful son!"

As he spoke, he tried to pull Riyao toward the hall.

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Seeing that the joke had gone too far, Riyao quickly shook off Gildarts's hand, took two steps back, and the shyness and grievance on his face vanished instantly, replaced by an extremely irritating smirk.

"Uncle, aren't you overacting?" Riyao crossed his arms, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Who said he's your son?"

Gildarts froze, his outstretched hand hanging in mid-air, his expression frozen in a comical moment. He stared blankly at the Sunrise, his mind unable to process what was happening.

"Huh? Didn't you just say... I have a child? Could it be... you're here to collect debts for your mother?"

"What kind of debt are you trying to collect, you big dummy!"

Riyao rolled his eyes and said irritably.

"I only said you have a child, I didn't say that child was me! Your imagination is too wild! It's a waste of your talent not to write novels!"

"No...it wasn't you?"

Gildarts was struck dumb, completely stunned.

He looked at Riyao, then at his own empty hands, and a huge sense of loss instantly welled up in his heart.

That brief moment of fatherly love, as vast as a mountain, was like a colorful soap bubble, mercilessly burst by Riyao's single sentence.

"You brat! How dare you play me?!"

Gildarts realized what was happening and flew into a rage, raising his fist, as big as a sandbag, to smash it down on Sunbeam's head.

That little rascal, how dare he joke about something like this! He made him shed so many tears for nothing and almost embarrassed himself in front of everyone!

"Wait a minute! I'm not lying to you! You really have a child!" Upon seeing this, Riyao immediately covered his head and crouched down in defense, shouting loudly.

Gildarts' fist stopped an inch above Sunrise's head, the wind from the punch making Sunrise's golden hair a mess.

He glared at Riyao through gritted teeth and roared, "You dare spout nonsense? Believe me, I'll blast you to smithereens right now!!"

"I'm not lying!"

Sunrise peeked out from between his arms and looked at Gildarts's angry yet expectant face. He abandoned his joking thoughts and became serious.

"That child is in the guild; you just saw her."

"At the guild? I just saw him?"

Gildarts frowned, his mind flashing back to the crowd in the backyard earlier.

Macao? Vakaba? Impossible, those two old guys are older than me. Chairman Makarov? Even less likely!

Suddenly, a petite and adorable figure appeared in his mind.

Our award-winning actor, Riyao, quietly withdrew from the stage, leaving his achievements and fame hidden.