"Count Kabe, this is a personal letter His Majesty ordered me to deliver directly into your hands.
Now that my mission is complete, please permit us to take our leave."
After receiving the letter, Kabe did not immediately open it. Instead, he looked at the resolute Royal Guard officer and nodded in thanks.
"You've all worked hard traveling this far. Stay safe on the road back, and please convey my greetings to His Majesty as well."
"Thank you, my lord. Your greetings will certainly be delivered."
After speaking, the officer gave another respectful bow before turning around and leading his soldiers out of Fairy Tail in perfectly synchronized steps.
The moment the group left, the previously silent guild instantly exploded into chaos.
Macao rushed over in two quick strides, jumped up, and hooked an arm around Kabe's neck while speaking with blatant envy.
"Kabe, you bastard are seriously impressive now.
Not only is the king personally writing letters to you, even the Royal Guards are treating you with respect."
Mickey, still wearing her usual leopard-print skirt, curiously leaned over beside Kabe and stared at the envelope in his hands.
"The king's basically your future father-in-law now. What's he writing to you for? Don't tell me he's urging you to marry the little princess already?"
The moment those words came out, the entire guild lit up with excitement. Everyone immediately started egging Kabe on, demanding to know what was written inside the letter.
Amid all the noise, Kabe first pried Macao's arm off his neck before planting a kick squarely onto his backside.
"Get lost. Keep your filthy man-body away from me."
"Kabe, you color-loving, friendship-forgetting bastard!"
Caught by the other guild members before he could fall, Macao clutched his butt and cursed loudly.
Ignoring the idiot completely, Kabe flicked Mickey hard on the forehead and threatened,
"Quit stirring things up. If Erza and the others hear this nonsense, just wait and see how I deal with you."
"Hiss... damn you... you only dare bully us..."
Rubbing her forehead while sucking in cold air, Mickey grumbled indignantly.
"Alright, stop yelling. Let me see what this letter says."
As he spoke, he reached to open the envelope while the surrounding guild members eagerly leaned forward in anticipation.
Then something awkward happened.
The envelope had been enchanted.
It could not be opened normally at all.
Seeing Kabe's embarrassed expression as he prepared to forcibly tear it open with brute strength, Mickey, who often used her magical bird Pii to deliver letters, quickly stepped forward to stop him.
"Don't do that. If you forcefully break this kind of magic, the entire envelope will self-destruct."
As she spoke, she took the envelope from Kabe and carefully examined it for a moment before offering a solution.
"This is my first time seeing a royal letter, but noble families often use similar magic.
Didn't the royal family give you a crest symbolizing your status as a count? Press it against the wax seal and it should open."
"Ohhh... so that's how it works."
Kabe suddenly understood.
He quickly took out the silver crest and followed Mickey's instructions.
Sure enough, the instant the crest touched the wax seal, the envelope emitted a faint magical glow.
Immediately afterward, the illusory figure of King Toma appeared above the envelope, and his gentle voice echoed throughout the guild hall.
"Kabe, my loyal minister. It has been many days since we last met, and I have thought of you often.
Thanks to your efforts this year, the kingdom's influence within the magical world has grown even greater than before.
Fiore has been known as a kingdom of magic since its founding, and I myself hold deep admiration for magic as well.
Now that the year's end approaches, I have been inspired to host a grand gathering for all mages across the nation on January fifteenth of next year in the royal capital.
As a member of Fiore's greatest guild and a pillar of the kingdom, I hope you will not be absent from such a grand occasion.
Thus, I personally send this letter in hopes that you will lead your guild's finest mages to the capital next year so we may celebrate this magnificent event together.
The detailed arrangements will be separately conveyed to Master Makarov after the New Year.
I hope you will not refuse."
At that point, King Toma's projection nodded toward Kabe before completely fading away.
Meanwhile, everyone present, including Kabe himself, had already been left utterly stunned by the contents of the letter.
The very first thing that surfaced in Kabe's mind was the Grand Magic Games that the Fiore Royal Family would eventually host in the future.
If this really was the Grand Magic Games...
Then it was happening several years earlier than in the original timeline.
Then another thought suddenly struck him.
Makarov.
According to the old man's earlier words, this year's S-Class Trial had been postponed until mid-January.
Wasn't that exactly the same time as the tournament?
'That old geezer... don't tell me he's planning to combine the S-Class Trial with the tournament itself?!'
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