Chapter 1009: [1009] : Agreement

...

’This whole situation is full of holes,’ Makarov thought, his mind racing.

He watched Alice and Little Lucy seamlessly blending in with the chaotic guild members. They were already laughing and cheering like they had been part of Fairy Tail for years. He could feel it in his gut—they weren’t bad people.

Makarov finally made his decision, deciding to test Shin’s bold claim. "Are you absolutely certain you can resurrect the First Master? What kind of magic do you intend to use? Do you need specific tools or rare artifacts?"

Shin nodded slowly. "Of course. I am completely confident. I have a one hundred percent success rate when it comes to bringing her back. My word is my bond."

Hearing the absolute certainty in Shin’s voice, Makarov’s internal debate finally ended. Even if Shin failed to resurrect Mavis, the sheer power he wielded would be an incredible asset. If Fairy Tail ever faced a true crisis, having someone capable of shattering space itself could save countless lives.

After all, Makarov knew he was getting old. He couldn’t protect his ’children’ forever.

Makarov nodded solemnly. "If that is the case, I won’t press the issue any further. I officially approve your entry into Fairy Tail."

Shin smiled, turning around to share the good news with Alice and Lucy—only to find the space beside him completely empty.

He blinked in confusion. Where did they go?

He scanned the noisy guild hall and immediately spotted them. They were already sitting at a table surrounded by mages, eating, drinking, and laughing as if they had lived here their whole lives. Little Lucy’s naturally sweet personality made her instantly likable, and Alice, with her regal composure, handled the boisterous crowd effortlessly.

Shin felt a sudden wave of sheer annoyance. ’Did they already know this old man was going to say yes??’

He turned back to Makarov, pointing an accusing finger at the two girls. "We came here together, yet somehow they didn’t have to lift a finger to pass the interview, while I had to negotiate my way in. I really thought they would back me up."

Makarov chuckled at Shin’s exasperated expression. "They are young girls, after all. Did you really want them begging on your behalf? Regardless, you are officially one of us now."

Makarov pulled out the guild’s magic stamp. In a flash of light, the iconic Fairy Tail emblem was permanently marked onto Shin’s arm.

Shin traced the mark with his thumb. "Since I am officially a member now, I am rather curious... how did you end up dealing with your grandson?"

Makarov let out a long, heavy sigh. "Thanks to you, he realized the error of his ways. He decided to leave Fairy Tail on a journey of atonement. I honestly had no other choice but to let him go."

Makarov looked up at Shin, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I still owe you a great debt for stopping him without killing him. But honestly... considering Laxus’s immense strength, the fact that your little fiancée defeated him so effortlessly speaks volumes."

"However," Makarov continued, his tone shifting into something far more perceptive. "You are clearly the one pulling the strings. Someone as powerful as you choosing to lay low... that is incredibly rare. Watching you handle this situation... it feels like I am talking to another old man."

Makarov pulled out a chair at a nearby table and gestured for Shin to sit.

"Despite your youthful appearance," Makarov said as he took a sip of his drink, "I have a strong feeling you are actually quite old. You carry a specific kind of maturity—a weariness that these hot-headed kids simply don’t have."

Shin was momentarily speechless. He wasn’t that old—he just had a mountain of life experience and happened to know the entire plot of Fairy Tail. That knowledge naturally made him seem omniscient.

But since the old man had already built up this grand image of him, Shin decided to just roll with it.

"You caught me, Master," Shin lied effortlessly. "I am actually around the same age as you. I simply use a specialized magic to maintain my youth."

"I figured as much," Makarov laughed, clearly pleased with his own deduction. "It is rare to find someone my own age I can actually talk to on the same level. Watching these kids grow up fills my heart, but it can be exhausting. I assume the ’fiancée’ story is a cover, then? Did someone entrust those two girls to your care?"

Shin shook his head, keeping the lie going. "I simply view them as my younger sisters. Knowing my true age, nothing romantic could ever happen between us. In my eyes, they are just children."

Makarov nodded understandingly, completely buying the narrative.

"Since you are a veteran mage of my caliber," Makarov offered suddenly, "how would you like to be the Vice-Guild Master? I can announce it to everyone right now."

Shin immediately waved his hand dismissively. "I am a selfish man, Master Makarov. Being a Guild Master carries far too much responsibility and baggage. I don’t have the patience for that kind of burden. I am used to living freely. So, I will have to politely decline."

Shin glanced around the room, ensuring no one was eavesdropping, before leaning in closer.

"Let’s get back to the matter of your First Master," Shin said, his tone turning serious. "While arriving here was purely coincidental, resurrecting her actually benefits me as well."

"You see, I need to know the truth about fairies and elves. I believe that knowledge is the key to finding my way back home."

Makarov’s eyes widened. Shin had just casually dropped a massive piece of the puzzle.

"If that is true," Makarov whispered, his voice trembling slightly, "then you aren’t just from another country. You are from a parallel universe, aren’t you?"

Makarov had lived a long time—he knew about the existence of Edolas and the concept of alternate worlds.

"I know parallel worlds exist, and I know the mages there can be powerful," Makarov muttered. "We actually have a member from a parallel world in our guild right now. But I never imagined a monster like you could cross over. If you are desperately searching for a way back, that means you are currently trapped here."

"And if you needed a place to hide," Makarov concluded sharply, "it means you have absolutely no idea how you ended up in Earth Land to begin with."

Shin remained perfectly composed. He had to admit, Makarov’s deductive reasoning was terrifyingly sharp.

"There are an infinite number of parallel universes," Makarov sighed, rubbing his temples. "I won’t bother asking which one you came from. The details don’t matter anymore. You are here now, and that is enough for me."

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