The Harvest Festival is Magnolia's most important traditional holiday.
Every year on October 6, to celebrate the harvest, Magnolia holds a grand magical parade. People put on colorful costumes and march through the streets in groups, circling the city in celebration.
As Magnolia's only Mage Guild, Fairy Tail joins the parade every year, putting on magical performances to celebrate with everyone.
"Grandpa, aren't you joining the parade?"
"I promised to watch it with you this year."
"Oh, right."
The little boy dashed toward the parade, chanting, "Ah—I really want to join Fairy Tail soon!"
"You're still too young." Behind him, the old man followed with a kindly smile.
The pair, one old and one small yet the same height, soon reached the curb, but the crowd was so thick they couldn't squeeze through.
Seeing his grandson's disappointment, the old man smiled and suddenly puffed into a round, cuddly giant, plucking the boy and setting him on his head.
Watching the costumed procession—especially a team performing magic as they marched—the boy brightened instantly.
"Those are Fairy Tail's Mages."
The old man beamed proudly. "How's Grandpa's guild, Laxus?"
"So cool…"
Perched atop the old man's head, the boy gazed in awe. "Amazing, Grandpa!"
"My grandpa's the best guild master ever!"
In the next instant the obedient boy morphed into a cold-eyed, arrogant youth. "Old man, step down. Fairy Tail is mine now."
Makarov's eyes snapped open. Staring at the familiar ceiling, he exhaled slowly.
When did you become like this… Laxus? The elderly sleep little. Though Makarov's body is unusually hale, he is still eighty-eight; most men his age are long buried.
Once startled awake, sleep won't return.
He gazed at the pale dawn, blank for a while, then remembered: today is the Harvest Festival. He had better reach the guild early before the youngsters pull some crazy stunt.
Two years ago Natsu and Happy's "Fire Dragon Destroys Main Street" still gave him nightmares.
Paying for damages was minor; the humiliation was not.
Fairy Tail might not chase fame, but they still had faces to save—especially in front of their hometown folks. After washing and dressing, Makarov hurried to the guild.
But looking at the barely lit sky, he realized he'd come too early; the rowdy kids were surely still asleep—no one would be here now.
"Sigh…"
"I'm really getting old."
While he hesitated, a faint aroma of food drifted from the guild hall.
At this hour… Mirajane?
She handled all daily shopping, and with the festival today, only that child would arrive so early.
Makarov slipped inside without a sound, opening the door just wide enough for his small frame.
The hall was empty, yet the scent grew stronger. Following it, he reached the wide lawn behind the guild—and there was Mirajane.
To his surprise, Hope was there too.
The two sat in wicker chairs around a makeshift stone stove, each cradling a steaming bowl of noodles.
Hope slurped a mouthful, sensed someone behind, and turned to see Makarov.
"Oh, Master, you're here early today."
While old and young stared, Mirajane waved. "Hope's noodles are great—want some?"
Such loaded words… Hope glanced at the silver-haired beauty. Ever since discovering her devious streak, he'd never underestimated her, wary of being pranked.
Since she offered, Makarov didn't refuse. He accepted the bowl Hope passed him and began to slurp.
Not bad—this kid can cook.
After breakfast and cleanup, dawn had brightened. Makarov and Mirajane headed to the outskirts' market to buy today's supplies.
Hope stayed behind; learning what the festival was, he'd planned a big surprise.
He looked toward an empty patch of lawn—seemingly bare, but a concealment rune hid a colossal magical mech.
Once the Phantom Lord Giant, it was now remodeled by Hope into the classic "Freedom" Gundam, powered by a giant auto-generating magic crystal he'd spared no expense to craft.
Hehe, I'm gonna blow everyone away!
Since returning from the Grimoire Heart campaign, Hope had spent every spare moment—save two daily hours decoding stolen spells—building the Gundam.
Now only final touches remained.
Just as he prepared to work, using the Sound magic pilfered from Erik, he "heard" an unfamiliar voice.
(The master and Mirajane have left.)
(No one will come for at least an hour—I can begin.)
Knows Mirajane and calls Makarov "master"… must be a guildmate, yet seems unaware Hope lives here… Better sneak a look.
Since the guild was wooden, Arc of the Great Tree let Hope merge perfectly with it.
He quickly traced the voice.
Outside the gate stood a long-haired man in grassy green locks, a teardrop mole beneath his left eye, dressed like a Western fencer, writing runes in mid-air with his rapier.
A Fairy Tail emblem glowed on the back of his left hand, yet Hope had never seen him.
What caught Hope's interest was the magic text forming a "Jutsu."
A Jutsu is a barrier spell that imposes a rule on anyone who enters; break the rule and you're trapped—unless smashed by overwhelming force.
Setting a Jutsu takes ages, useless head-on, but as a trap it's vicious.
Nearly an hour later the green-haired man finished; the Jutsu flared, cloaked the entire guild, then vanished.
Once he left, Hope emerged, curious, and examined the trap: an eighty-and-over ban—"No one over eighty or any statue may leave."
Feels aimed at the master… but what's with the statue clause?
Unsure, Hope decided to tweak the spell.
No one over eighty can leave, huh?
Let's flip it—only those over eighty may exit.
And no statues allowed inside the guild.
Hope rewrote the Jutsu far faster than the stranger had, then strolled cheerfully back to finish his "Gundam."
----------------------------------
I've already posted 70 new chapters on Patreon!
If you like the story and want to reaad more, please visit my patreon. Every support is very meaningful!
[patreon.com/Kazenova223]
Thank you very much!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"