In all the years Riyao had been growing up, his footsteps had always remained within the small confines of Magnolia, and he had never once stepped foot out of this town.
He leaned boredly against the noisy bar of Fairy Tail, listening to Cana and Gray excitedly recounting their travel experiences on the way to Fairy Tail. In his past life, although he wasn't exactly a shut-in, he hadn't traveled much either. Those strange and vivid landscapes were like a small flame, making Riyao's heart itch with longing, wishing he could rush off to distant places immediately.
As longing welled up in his heart, his eyes darted around, locking onto Makarov who was slowly pacing past. The young boy immediately rushed forward and, without a word, bent down to hug the old man's short legs. He clung to him completely, throwing away all dignity with utter thick-skinned persistence, acting like a spoiled child in a soft, clingy voice: "Old man Good Master The world is so big, with flowers everywhere and thousands of miles of mountains and rivers. I've never seen them in all my years growing up. Just let me go out and see the world~ Please?"
Makarov was tangled up so much he couldn't move. Looking down at the little rascal hanging off his leg, he felt both helpless and annoyed. After several attempts to shake off the clingy kid who was grabbing his pants, he finally had to concede defeat.
The moment he got permission, Riyao's face instantly shed its fawning and obedient expression. His smile vanished completely, his change of face so fast it was staggering. He let go, his posture agile and his eyes full of joy, responding with high energy: "Alright! I'll go check the request board right now and pick a few requests suitable for a long journey!"
The guild members watching the spectacle nearby witnessed this seamless operation and instantly burst into waves of laughter, teasing the clever and cunning boy one after another.
Only Makarov was left stunned in place, left disheveled in the wind by this sudden contrast. He raised a hand to support his forehead, watching Riyao's back as he scurried toward the mission board, sighing long and hard with a heart full of regret: "Sigh, this brat... When I first picked him up in the outskirts, he was so quiet and clean. I was full of joy, thinking I'd found a worry-free and obedient good child. I must have been blind."
Macao, who was leaning against a wooden pillar and had seen the whole thing, couldn't help but laugh out loud. He walked forward and followed up on the Master's words: "Master, don't be so sentimental. How is this a good child? From start to finish, he's clearly just a mischievous, quirky little demon king that nobody can control."
Riyao had just skipped over to the mission board and hadn't even stood still before two small figures moved upon hearing the news.
The young Cana and Gray's eyes immediately lit up. They took small, quick steps, trotting all the way after him and stopping breathlessly in front of him.
The two of them had been itching for a long time. Right now, both were still just half-grown children with immature magic power. Makarov strictly forbade them from taking on any formal Mage requests alone; they could only stay in the guild to play and train.
They couldn't take missions, but they could follow others.
The two exchanged a look and approached together by unspoken agreement, looking at Riyao expectantly. Even if they were just following behind him to run errands, act as assistants, or help out, being able to leave the familiar guild, see the scenery outside, and experience an adventure was simply the best thing ever.
Gray pursed his lips, showing a bit of shy anticipation. Cana was even more direct, grabbing Riyao's hem, her eyes full of desire to go far away, wanting nothing more than to follow this partner on an unknown journey together.
Riyao rubbed his chin and said, "I can't make the decision either. Why don't you ask the old man? If he agrees, then I have no problem."
Hearing this, Gray and Cana immediately understood. They exchanged a look with perfect chemistry and, imitating the way Riyao had just acted shamelessly, rushed over to Makarov. One on the left and one on the right, each firmly hugged one of his short legs, tangling him up tightly.
Makarov was pulled so hard by the two little ones that he couldn't even move his feet. Flustered and annoyed, his face wrinkled into a ball: "What are you two brats up to now! Let go quickly! If you keep pulling, my pants are going to be ripped off!"
With his cold little face pressed against the cloth, Gray looked up with clear eyes, pleading in an obedient and serious tone: "Master, just let us go out to play with Riyao—no, I mean, go out for experience. We'll definitely be quiet along the way, listen obediently, and never cause trouble."
Beside him, Cana spoke in an even softer voice, shaking his leg and acting sweetly: "That's right, that's right, Master Grandpa, please! We really want to go out and see the world together~"
The surrounding guild members laughed until they were doubled over, watching the three little rascals take turns manipulating the Master, finding it extremely amusing. Makarov looked at the two little tots hanging off his legs and felt like his head was twice its normal size, his heart full of helplessness.
Looking at the two little ones on his legs who refused to let go, and then at the gloating Riyao nearby, Makarov was completely out of options. He could only let out a long sigh and raise his hands in surrender. He put on a stern face and gave repeated instructions several times before finally relenting, allowing the three little ones to form a team to go out. However, he made a hard rule that they could only take the easiest, most danger-free simple requests, and they were not allowed to run around or overreach.
Riyao was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately bounced over to the mission board to search. He soon plucked off a thin piece of request paper and quickly brought it before Makarov's eyes.
The content of the request was very simple. In short: go to Hargeon and perform Healing Magic for a noble who had contracted a stubborn illness.
He rubbed his small hands together, his eyes curved as he tested the waters: "Look, old man, this job only requires treating an illness. There's no danger at all, and it's not that far from Magnolia. It's just right, isn't it?"
Makarov carefully scanned the location and requirements of the request. After confirming that the entire journey would be safe and sound, he finally nodded slowly, picked up a pen to leave his mark, and officially approved the trip.
"Let's go, let's go!"
Riyao turned and called out to Gray and Cana, urging them to quickly pack their small bags. The three of them talked, laughed, and played all the way to the train station at the edge of town.
On the way, Cana's gaze fell on Gray, and she immediately started her frantic roasting mode. Gray's old habit had flared up again—stripping anywhere and everywhere.
"Gray, can you please wear your clothes properly! It's so ugly! You're so messy, it's embarrassing to go out!"
Gray was roasted until his face was bright red. He hurriedly tried to fix his clothes, too embarrassed to speak.
Beside them, Riyao suppressed a laugh and quietly took out his camera to snap a photo, silently capturing this extremely awkward and dark history moment of Gray's, carefully tucking it away in his palm. A flash of cunning crossed his eyes as he secretly plotted in his heart:
I'll save this for now. Later, when I meet that Juvia who follows Gray around every day, I can use this image to tease her. Maybe I can even squeeze out some benefits!