Fairy Tail: I Don't Want to Be the Guild Master

"Your Majesty, the Exceed have been captured. Only about a hundred escaped and are currently on the run. The Second Legion Squad has been dispatched to pursue them."

Upon hearing Hughes' report, King Faust's suspicions were confirmed, Shagotte's so-called divine power was nothing but a fabrication.

He had long set his sights on the immense magical energy that the Exceed possessed. And now, at last, it was within reach.

But for Faust, this was still not enough. What he truly desired… was infinite magic power.

According to the years of research conducted by him and the Chief of Staff, the key to that limitless energy lay in fusing two very specific magical sources: the massive magic crystal mined from Earth Land, and the living magic of the Exceed.

Unlike the inert crystals or artificial energy used in Edolas, the magic in Earth Land humans and the Exceed was alive. 

While individually the amount of magic may not be overwhelming, when fused together, by wagering the lives of every Exceed and every person from Earth Land, it could trigger a miraculous reaction. A bottomless well of magic power.

That was the theory Faust placed his faith in. And he intended to make it reality.

Now, everything was in place. All that remained was to activate the Dragon Chain Cannon, the colossal weapon capable of slamming the floating Exceed island into the crystal mountain. But to power that cannon, he needed a specific spark…

The magic of a Dragon Slayer.

Faust's eyes gleamed with intensity. He raised his hand and gave the order: "Bring the Dragon Slayer back. No matter what it takes."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Hughes saluted and swiftly left the throne room.

He already knew where to find the Dragon Slayer.

The chaos from this morning had been thoroughly investigated. The intruders had come to Edolas for a single purpose: to restore their world's magic. Their most likely destination was obvious, the floating island above the magic crystal repository.

However, knowing what those three had accomplished in the capital, Hughes understood that ordinary troops wouldn't stand a chance.

"All Legion Units, prepare for deployment! Third Magic Warfare Division! Special Warfare Troop! All hands to the airships!"

This "Special Warfare Troop" was a newly assembled elite unit, comprised of surviving members from the First, Second, and Fourth Divisions, the same soldiers who had somehow survived encounters with the terrifying Mira and her monstrous little brother.

In desperate times like these, every able-bodied fighter mattered.

With Hughes' command, every remaining combat unit in the capital began to mobilize. The skies over Edolas quickly filled with motion. Hundreds of mechanical soldiers, Legions took off in waves, their armor gleaming like dull metal clouds, rising ominously above the city.

Behind them, fifteen warships soared into formation, forming a tight wedge like migrating birds headed into battle.

All told, more than three thousand soldiers had been deployed.

And this time, they brought something extra, the Angel Cannon.

Originally designed to subdue and capture the Exceed, this powerful weapon had since been modified. Hughes was confident it would also be effective against the Magicians from Earth Land. After all, they too carried magic in their bodies.

This would be no ordinary confrontation.

To achieve infinite magic, they would have to defeat the sibling duo that had shaken the capital and capture the Dragon Slayer alive.

At the edge of the floating island, Fairy Tail stood ready, every member prepared for battle.

Shagotte had warned them with a heavy heart: she had foreseen a massive offensive by the Kingdom of Edolas targeting this very place. She urged them to flee while they still had the chance.

But Rhodes, hearing the estimated number of incoming troops, didn't seem too worried. Still, out of caution, and to ensure the safety of Magnolia and its citizens, he made a quick trip back to the now-repaired guild building.

When he returned, he was carrying a large box in his arms.

The moment Makarov saw it, his expression changed drastically. "What do you think you're doing with that!?"

"To protect Magnolia," Rhodes replied calmly.

Makarov's mustache bristled in alarm. "Protect Magnolia!? That's a city-destroying weapon, not a shield!"

"Why not use it that way?" Rhodes shrugged. "Just scatter them around the perimeter, layer on Freed's enchantments, and I guarantee not a single enemy will break through."

What Rhodes had retrieved was none other than the legendary Lightning Lacrima.

Inside the wooden crate were dozens of perfectly round magic crystals, each about the size of a clenched fist. A soft yellow glow pulsed from within each one, and floating in their cores were tiny, golden lightning bolts, like captured sparks frozen in time.

To the untrained eye, they looked like harmless glass marbles. But to those who knew… these weren't toys. These were weapons of mass destruction.

Makarov's face turned red with fury. He stomped his foot so hard the ground shook. "You brought out those things?! Do you even know what you're handling!?"

Of course he knew. These were the exact same lacrima that Laxus had once prepared during the Harvest festival, intended to activate the terrifying magic.

Once released, the lacrima would rise into the sky and expand to over two meters in diameter. When linked together, three hundred of them, they would form a deadly constellation of thunder orbs hovering above the city, each capable of releasing devastating lightning strikes.

Laxus had originally planned to use the magic to force Makarov into a final battle if his hostage plan fell through. Though the magic was never activated in the end, the danger it posed was seared into everyone's memory.

When Laxus was expelled, the lacrima had been confiscated and sealed away deep in the guild's vault, under strict control.

Now, not many people had the clearance to access them... but Rhodes' fiancée happened to be one of the few who did.

In Rhodes' eyes, if the Thunder Palace could destroy a city, it could just as easily protect one.

He even argued it had a built-in defense mechanism, anyone who attacked the floating lacrima would trigger a backlash. Even to stop the Thunder Palace, the enemy would need to destroy every single orb, meaning they'd have to sacrifice at least 300 top-tier magic users.

To him, it was the perfect deterrent.

But that didn't mean Makarov approved.

"Put those things back, now!" Makarov bellowed. "As long as I'm here, Magnolia doesn't need this kind of protection!"

"Master, it's just a precaution," Rhodes tried to explain. "We might not even have to use them."

"No excuses!" Makarov practically leapt into the air. "That's an order! And Mira, don't let him near the vault again."

"Yeah, yeah." Rhodes sighed and finally gave in, hoisting the box back into his arms. He didn't want to argue with the old man, especially not now. Besides, he had a backup plan anyway.

"Okay, Master~" Mira chirped sweetly as she walked alongside him, smiling as if nothing had happened, even though they both knew this wasn't over.

The truth was, Makarov had said the same thing before. And every time, somehow… the key to the vault in Mira's hand would just happen to fall somewhere, or accidentally end up in Rhodes' pocket. Total coincidence, of course.

As they walked back toward the guild, Rhodes leaned in slightly and started whispering, clearly in the mood for a little playful gossip.

"Master really is stuck in his ways."

Mira nodded politely. "Mm."

"He can totally be replaced, you know."

"Mm-hmm," Mira hummed again, her smile deepening.

"Forget it," Rhodes muttered. "Let's just make him write self-reflections every day until he turns a hundred."

Mira giggled like a mischievous fairy. "And we'll make sure he finishes each reflection on the same day! If he slacks off, no sake!"

"Pfft—haha!" Rhodes burst out laughing.

The two of them, full of love for their guild master yet thoroughly enjoying plotting his 'colorful retirement,' strolled back hand in hand. They were a picture of two good kids respectfully scheming against their grumpy grandfather.

Magnolia, too, had gradually come back to life.

Even the mayor had reappeared and, after exchanging a few words with Makarov, had taken up the task of organizing the local militia and calming the citizens. But before leaving, he quietly reminded the guild, "Keep an eye on Gildarts."

Across the town, the rebuilding was in full swing.

Natsu, Gajeel, Wendy, and Gemini were still working diligently on repairs. At their pace, it wouldn't be long before they finished restoring the last of the damage.

Several townspeople, seeing the young mages working so hard, even came forward with snacks and cool drinks to cheer them on.

Elsewhere, Fairy Tail mages on lookout duty were also receiving waves and smiles from the locals.

Even in this foreign world, the troublemakers of Magnolia brought an overwhelming sense of security wherever they went.

It was a rare moment of peace, the kind of peace that only came after chaos.

But just as the laughter echoed and spirits were high, on the distant horizon, a dark shadow began to drift closer.

...

Bonus @400

Read chapters ahead @patreon.com/Keepsmiling818