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"Goku, excellent work, but you still need to keep pushing."
Makarov stepped forward and patted little Goku on the shoulder. "This World is vast; it holds several continents, and our guild is only one of hundreds of Mage guilds on a single continent."
"So there are plenty of S-Rank Mages in this World; it's not actually that big a deal.
Even the Ten Wizard Saints aren't necessarily the strongest; the title is more an honor than anything else.
There are Mages whose power rivals—or even surpasses—the Saints, yet they remain unknown."
Goku was still too young; Makarov feared that if the boy learned his true strength at such an age, he'd grow arrogant and look down on everyone.
And from that day on, he would stop improving.
So after praising him, Makarov made sure Goku understood the truth that "there's always someone stronger."
Besides, he hadn't lied to the boy.
Take, for example, the guild's S-Class Mage Gildarts Clive, a man who treats super-magic as everyday magic.
In raw power he'd long since surpassed Makarov; in a real fight, Makarov doubted many of the Ten Wizard Saints could beat Gildarts.
"So this World is packed with experts!"
At those words, little Goku's eyes sparkled.
For him, the more masters there were on the road of training, the better.
"Time's up—back to the guild for lunch."
Seeing it was already noon, Makarov—feeling his own stomach growl—ended the lesson and led Goku back.
For under-age Mages who can't yet take jobs, the guild provides free room and board.
The lodgings are in the guild dormitory, the meals in the guild hall.
The hall serves normal drinks and food.
"Eat your fill; we'll keep going this afternoon!"
In the hall, Makarov—proud of his new Disciple—was in excellent spirits.
Mirajane had just poured him a huge mug of ale; he chugged it in one go.
The regular gathering of guild masters was coming up, and he'd make sure those old friends who'd mocked him for having no successor learned how monstrously talented his new Disciple was.
"Let's eat!"
Hearing the master tell him to eat freely, Goku naturally didn't hold back and happily tucked in.
"Another plate!"
"Another plate!"
"Another plate!"
Gradually, every Mage drinking and boasting in the hall turned to stare at Goku, mouths falling open and staying that way.
"He can seriously eat!"
Half an hour later, Goku finally rubbed his stomach and let out a burp; the table in front of him was a mountain of dishes.
"Master, he just ate three days' worth of the guild's food reserves,"
Mirajane whispered to the equally dumbstruck Makarov.
Keep in mind that, even though members were often out on jobs, around twenty Mages were usually in the guild each day.
Goku had devoured more than twenty people's food for three days in a single sitting—terrifying.
Makarov's mouth twitched. "Looks like I'd better teach faster and get him out on jobs."
Goku's Giant Magic had only just begun; Makarov had planned to teach for another month or so before letting him team up for jobs and ease into it.
But if the boy ate free meals for half a month, the guild's already-tight coffers would be crushed under the weight.
So he decided to push hard these next few days and finish teaching all Giant Magic within a week.
Then he'd send Goku out on team jobs.
Once Goku could earn money from jobs, the guild would get a cut and no longer have to provide free room and board.
So, for the next several days, Makarov devoted himself entirely to instructing Goku in Giant Magic.
He passed on every scrap of knowledge and every Move he had about Giant Magic.
The same magic can evolve into different Moves in different Mages' hands.
Take, for instance, Gray of the guild, who uses Ice-Make Magic; his Moves can forge an ice blade or axe for close combat, or create ice arrows for long-range shots, even an ice cannon to blast foes apart.
Other Ice-Make Mages outside the guild also exist; though it's the same Ice-Make, their Moves differ from Gray's.
So when Mages of the same magic fight, they compare not only raw magic power but also magical Moves.
A powerful Move can let you challenge an opponent whose magic is stronger than yours.
Having raised his Giant Magic to the level of the Ten Wizard Saints, Makarov had naturally created many Moves of his own.
One week later, same clearing in the guild's woods.
"Giant's Fist!"
A golden magic circle appeared on Goku's right arm; the limb ballooned and smashed forward.
It was one of Makarov's original Moves, allowing partial enlargement of an arm without enlarging the whole body.
The arm could stretch like rubber and still deliver the titanic force of a giant limb.
Full-body enlargement was impressive but drained magic and could be clumsy.
In some fights, enlarging only a body part was more flexible.
"Giant's Foot!"
Goku leapt; his right foot suddenly grew and stomped the ground.
"Giant Headbutt!"
Grabbing a tree branch with both hands as though holding an opponent's wrists, Goku's head swelled and crashed into the trunk.
"Giant's Fury!"
With a roar, a huge golden circle flared beneath his feet; invisible power burst outward.
Trees and earth were pulverized wherever the ring passed.
"All right, Goku, I've taught you every Giant Move. Practice them well.
When I return from the meeting, I'll decide who you'll team with and what jobs to take for experience."
Watching Goku use ki magic to repair the devastated ground, Makarov looked deeply moved.
A week of instruction had let him see Goku's true caliber.
Though Goku had only begun Giant Magic and had just grasped the Moves, his foundation was superb.
The power he displayed sometimes made Makarov's heart skip.
Makarov even felt that, if only Giant Magic were allowed, he might not be able to beat the boy.
"Rest these next few days; wander town, chat with everyone, pick up some job know-how early on."
To get Goku self-sufficient as soon as possible, Makarov had spent every waking hour teaching.
Likewise, Goku had stayed in study mode the whole time.
He hadn't had a chance to bond with the guild Mages or explore the magic trade-city.
Lucy, also a newcomer, was already on friendly terms with everyone and had completed two jobs—though she hadn't earned much.
But she was at least a fully fledged Mage.
