The livelihood of a Mage in the guild depends on nothing more than taking requests to earn bounties. On the first floor of the Fairy Tail Guild hall, there is a request board filled with numerous jobs, with the highest bounty reaching one million J.
There is also a request board on the second floor of the Fairy Tail Guild. Compared to the one on the first floor, the number of requests is pitifully small, but the bounty for any single request starts at a minimum of one million J.
Ordinary requests on the first floor are strictly divided into five difficulty levels: A, B, C, D, and E. These are the training grounds for ordinary Mages. The lowest-tier E-rank requests are often filled with the essence of daily life and trivia: perhaps helping an elderly lady with mobility issues at the east end of town carry heavy winter wood, perhaps putting on an elaborate maid outfit to serve as a one-day host at a newly opened cafe on the street corner, or perhaps helping a wealthy merchant find a lost pet cat.
As the rank climbs to the highest A-rank, the level of danger rises accordingly. This includes subjugating incredibly fierce and dangerous magical beasts, venturing deep into fog-shrouded ruins for exploration, or even accepting assignments from the Council to wipe out unscrupulous Dark Guilds. A-rank missions are full of uncertainty; even veteran Mages can fail.
However, the requests on the second floor start at S-rank. Above that are the Ten-Year Quests and the Hundred-Year Quests. If one isn't careful, there is a very high likelihood of life-threatening danger.
Only those who have passed the guild's rigorous examination to become an S-Class Mage are allowed to take them.
Ten-Year Quests, as the name implies, are S-rank peak requests that have been posted for over ten years—even decades—and yet remain uncompleted by anyone.
As for the "Hundred-Year Quest"... that is no longer a simple mission; it can be called a graveyard for Mages. Over such a long period of time, many Mages have attempted to complete it. If one fails a Ten-Year Quest, they can still come back alive to brag to friends about the scenery along the way. But for a Hundred-Year Quest, for every Mage who went, there is a grave.
The Hundred-Year Quest can be said to be the ultimate goal of all Mages.
As the guild's strongest current S-Class Mage, Gildarts frequently takes on S-rank requests and even Ten-Year Quests.
As for the Hundred-Year Quest, for one, Makarov would not allow him to go to his death, and for another, he himself feels it's a bit beyond him.
In fact, during these years when Gildarts has been single-handedly upholding the guild's highest combat reputation, another S-Class Mage should have been standing on that second floor of the "Fairy Tail" guild—the floor that symbolizes supreme glory and strength. That person is Laxus's biological father and the flesh and blood of the Guild Master Makarov: "Ivan Dreyar."
One day, Makarov suddenly expelled him from the guild. No one knew the reason, not even his own son, Laxus. Laxus kept asking for the reason, but Makarov avoided the subject, which led to a certain consequence.
Riyao often looked up at the ceiling at a forty-five-degree angle and sighed helplessly: "What a pity, truly a pity. Just because of that terrible family environment and that unreliable father, he turned into his current self. Back then, where did that cheerful, smiling sunny boy go—the one who would follow Master Makarov around sweetly calling him Grandpa? And now? He's become a cool boy who only knows how to wear headphones and act brooding, with a paranoid personality and thorns all over. This is simply a great loss for the magic world, a distortion of humanity, a moral..."
Every time Riyao finished sighing, it would trigger a phenomenon:
"Bastard Riyao, go die! Lightning Dragons Breakdown Fist!"
"I understand, I understand it all. Boys will be boys. Monstrous Strength: Serious Punch."
→~←←
The two of them would naturally start fighting. As for why? Because Riyao deliberately sighed next to Laxus every single time.
Makarov sat at the bar, looking at Laxus with a complex gaze, while Gildarts leaned against the bar laughing loudly, his large hand rubbing Cana's head.
Cana disdainfully slapped Gildarts's hand away and said crossly, "Bastard Dad, haven't you stayed in the guild for too long?"
"Ah, little Cana, are you tired of your father?"
Gildarts clutched his chest, pretending to be in disbelief, and reached out a hand like a tragic hero. Cana was already immune; this was a trick Riyao had taught Gildarts, and it had been somewhat useful at first. From the emotion of their reunion a month ago, her feelings had gradually turned into disdain as she was clung to by Gildarts every day.
In particular, Gildarts had originally wanted to take Cana home to live, but the moment she opened that door—which wasn't even intact—Cana turned around and returned to the guild dormitory without the slightest hesitation. Riyao had a "just as I expected" look on his face, following behind to record the "beautiful life," and was also dragged away by Cana.
"Stupid old man, your house is renovated quite well; the ventilation is excellent, hahaha."
"You brat, what do you know? This... this... this is a renovation full of manly style."
"Brother Riyao, ignore him, let's go. I'm going back to live in the guild dormitory."
"Ah, Cana, don't go! Daddy will fix these holes right now!"
"Old man, is it possible that Cana is afraid of being smashed to pieces by her dazed old father when he goes to the bathroom in the middle of the night?"
"Bullshit, I'm not old!"
"Stupid Dad, is that the point?!"
Back to the present, Cana's tone softened a bit as she looked at Gildarts and said seriously, "Dad, I can manage on my own. You don't have to stay in the guild just for me. Everyone in the guild is here to keep me company."
Makarov added his support, "That's right. You have to give the child some space, or you'll suffocate her."
Gildarts's heart stirred. It would be a lie to say he wasn't tempted; it was his nature to love adventuring everywhere, seeing unseen scenery, and experiencing different local customs.
Under the persuasion of Cana and Makarov, Gildarts was about to set out on a journey again after a month.
At this time, after Riyao and Laxus finished fighting, Riyao ran over eagerly, patted Gildarts on the shoulder, and said earnestly, "You can leave, but did you forget something?"
Gildarts began brainstorming, thinking about unfinished wine, thinking about uncollected underwear, thinking about whether he had flushed the toilet.
He looked at Riyao with a puzzled face and asked blankly, "Forgot what? What is it? You brat, don't talk in riddles. If you're as wishy-washy as last time, I'll beat you."
"Stupid old man, Cana!"
"Are you saying I should take Cana on a request? No, no, that's too dangerous!"
Riyao rolled his eyes and curled his lip.
"Stupid old man, at least leave some living expenses for Cana! And then give me some alimony."
Gildarts slapped his forehead, suddenly realizing, "Oh right, I'll get it now."
"Wait, Cana's living expenses make sense, but what the hell is alimony for you? Is your skin itching for a beating again, kid?"
Riyao said righteously, "In case Cana gets a little injured in the future—which is fine—but if she's left with a scar, won't I have to step in?"
The two of them bickered, Makarov joined in, and Cana stood by the side smiling with her lips pursed.
In the end, Gildarts left a sum of money for Makarov to take care of Cana, as well as pocket money for Cana. As for Riyao, he received a punch from Gildarts and was currently embedded in the wall.
Gildarts set off on his adventurous journey, facing the morning sun.