Fairy Tail: I Don't Want to Be the Guild Master-Chapter 19: A Restricted Area in the Guild?

"Laxus?"

Mira stepped in front of Rhodes, raising an arm to shield him.

"Rhodes is a new guild member—he joined just the day before yesterday. He was just practicing his magic."

Laxus let out a sharp sneer. "Magic? That? Don't make me laugh."

"What use is such pitifully weak magic?"

Warm trembled in fear, instinctively curling up.

Rhodes frowned. This was, without a doubt, the worst attitude he'd encountered in the guild so far.

Even Porlyusica, who openly claimed to despise humans, still treated the wounded with care in her own way.

But Laxus?

He didn't just seem cold—he radiated condescension, looking at Rhodes like he was an insect beneath his boots.

Rhodes had no intention of causing trouble so soon after joining.

He took a deep breath and chose diplomacy.

"If I disturbed you, I apologize."

Laxus' smirk deepened. "Figures. Not just weak in magic, but weak in personality too."

His tone was filled with utter disdain, as if the very idea of Rhodes existing in the same guild as him was offensive.

"I really don't get why the old man bothers taking in guys like you."

Then, Laxus turned his gaze downward—not just to Rhodes, but to everyone in the tavern.

"There are already enough weaklings in Fairy Tail."

His eyes narrowed in contempt, voice dripping with scorn.

"Why are these kinds of people even allowed to call themselves my companions? Huh?"

His words ignited fury across the room. The entire tavern tensed—especially Natsu and Gray.

The two, who had been keeping themselves in check under Erza's watchful presence, suddenly slammed their fists onto the table and stood up.

"The hell did you just say!?"

The sharp clank of glasses being set down echoed from other tables.

All eyes turned to Laxus, their expressions filled with disapproval and rising anger.

"Tch. That guy is still the same arrogant bastard!"

From the counter, Erza had stopped chatting with her friends. Her voice cut through the tension like a blade.

"That was uncalled for, Laxus."

Laxus' gaze met Erza's, and the air between them turned electric.

For a moment, it was like a sword had been unsheathed.

"Oh?" Laxus' lip curled in amusement.

"So, you're siding with these pathetic weaklings now, Erza?"

Just as things threatened to explode, a powerful voice intervened.

"Enough!"

Makarov, who had been lounging lazily before, was suddenly alert and sober.

With a sharp slap, he smacked a mission request onto the counter.

"Laxus." His voice was firm. "This request has your name on it. Go handle it—now."

Laxus turned to his grandfather, expecting a glare, but Makarov didn't even spare him a glance.

"..."

Laxus exhaled sharply through his nose, his fists clenching.

Finally, he clicked his tongue in irritation and snatched the mission paper off the counter.

"Tch. What a waste of time."

Without another word, he strode out of the guild, slamming the doors behind him.

As soon as he was gone, a wave of tension eased slightly, but the mood was still heavy.

Everyone was still watching the door, murmuring discontentedly.

Natsu looked like he was ready to sprint after Laxus for a fight, but Gray reacted instantly, locking an arm around his neck.

"Cool it, flame brain." Gray muttered, holding him in place.

"Grrr! I just wanna knock that smug look off his face!"

"And you'd end up electrocuted in ten seconds."

Natsu clicked his tongue in frustration, but stayed put.

As Laxus exited the guild, two men and one woman silently rose from their seats in the corner of the tavern and followed behind him.

A heavy silence lingered in the air for a moment after they left.

Gradually, the tension dissipated as conversations resumed. The guild members returned to their seats, the noise slowly rising back to its usual lively atmosphere.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to cause trouble for everyone."

Rhodes felt that there was definitely something off about Laxus, but today's confrontation had started because of him.

It would probably be best to practice magic in the courtyard next time.

"It has nothing to do with you."

Laki pouted, crossing her arms.

"That guy's always like this. If he wasn't the guild master's grandson, he would've been kicked out ages ago—"

"Laki!"

Mira gently cut her off.

She wasn't defending Laxus' attitude, but Makarov was already carrying the weight of Laxus' behavior. There was no need to say something that would make him feel worse.

Rhodes blinked in surprise. "Wait—he's the master's grandson?"

His eyes flickered between Laxus, who had stormed out moments ago, and Makarov, the small yet powerful guild leader sitting nearby.

'I don't see the resemblance at all.'

"Yeah," Mira confirmed. "But—"

Makarov sighed, his gaze lingering on the guild doors where Laxus had disappeared.

"Sorry. It's my fault Laxus turned out this way. Don't take what he said to heart."

He sighed heavily, voice filled with unspoken regret.

Rhodes waved his hands awkwardly.

"No, no, you don't have to apologize, Master."

He could already guess the story behind Laxus just from the way everyone reacted.

A child growing up under constant pressure, always hearing, "You're Makarov's grandson. You're destined for greatness."

At first, it probably didn't bother him. But over time, Laxus must've grown frustrated.

Wanting to be acknowledged for his own abilities, not just his lineage.

Rhodes recalled a similar character from another world.

Konohamaru from the next studio over was like that too. Except Laxus took the rebellious phase way too far.

Rhodes tried to recall anything about Laxus' future but came up blank.

Still, if Tatsuya had said it was a happy ending, then this guy would probably find his way back, eventually.

The guild's usual bustling energy gradually returned.

Laughter, shouting, and the occasional clinking of glasses filled the air again.

Outside, the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple.

Night had fallen over Magnolia.

The guild's lights flickered to life. Only a handful of guests remained in the tavern, chatting softly over their drinks.

Rhodes grabbed a broom, ready to start sweeping the floor alongside Laki.

"I'll take care of the downstairs alone tonight," Laki said apologetically. "I came in late this morning, after all."

"Then I'll head upstairs," Rhodes offered.

Laki immediately stopped him.

"No, Mira is the only one who cleans the second floor."

"Huh?" Rhodes tilted his head in confusion. "Mira's been working hard all day. I don't mind helping."

"Rules are rules," Laki insisted, shaking her head.

"Only certain people are allowed upstairs. Everyone else is strictly forbidden from going up."

"Why?"

Rhodes couldn't help but feel like this was straight out of a martial arts novel—a forbidden area within the guild?

Laki sighed before explaining.

"Because there's a special request board on the second floor. It holds high-risk S-Class missions."

"S-Class?"

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"Yep. They're extremely difficult missions with huge rewards, but if you mess up, you could lose your life."

Her expression grew serious.

"Only S-Class wizards are allowed to accept them. That's why the second floor is off-limits to the rest of us."

It made sense.

S-Class wizards were probably the strongest members of the guild.

Rhodes thought for a moment before asking, "So they're the only ones allowed upstairs?"

Laki sighed helplessly.

"It's not just about that. The real issue is... the number of reckless idiots in this guild."

Rhodes immediately understood.

With a guild full of hot-blooded mages, it was probably a necessary rule.

"Ah... makes sense," he muttered, recalling the chaos that unfolded earlier in the day.

The members of Fairy Tail were... enthusiastic, to say the least.

Take Natsu, for example.

The guy was as impulsive as they came, and he was the protagonist.

It wouldn't be surprising if one day he snuck upstairs and tried to take an S-Class mission just for the thrill of it.

This rule might've been made just for people like him.

No wonder they only trusted Mira—the most level-headed person in the guild—to handle anything upstairs.

"By the way, how many S-Class wizards are in the guild? And who's the strongest?" Rhodes asked, his curiosity piqued.

Laki tilted her head in thought.

"Hmm..." Laki thought for a moment. "Setting aside the guild master, the strongest should be that one older guy. But he went on a mission two years ago and hasn't returned since."

"Two years?!" Rhodes was shocked. "What kind of mission lasts that long? Is he okay?"

Laki immediately waved her hands, shaking her head.

"No, no, don't worry. Gildarts is basically a walking disaster. He's ridiculously strong—like, 'monstrous' strong. I don't know what kind of mission he's on, but there's no way anything could happen to him."

Her confidence in this Gildarts guy was unwavering.

Seeing that, Rhodes decided not to worry about it too much.

Instead, he pressed on.

"What about the others?"

"Other than him, the S-Class wizards are Laxus, Mystogan, and Erza."

She paused, before correcting herself.

"No, actually, there are only three now."

"Who's the strongest among them?"

Laki shrugged.

"No idea. You've already seen Laxus and Erza. As for Mystogan... well, you probably won't see him. He rarely shows up, and as far as I know, the only person in the guild who's ever seen his real face is the master."

'Another mystery guy.'

Rhodes mentally added Mystogan's name to his list of intriguing people.

But the real trouble was still Laxus.

Rhodes couldn't help but think about how satisfying it would be to see someone teach the guild master's arrogant grandson a lesson.

Laxus seriously needed to be humbled.

That being said, Rhodes glanced at his current summons: Poro.

Canyon Scuttler Crab.

Yeah. That wasn't happening anytime soon.

...

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