Fairy Tail: I Don't Want to Be the Guild Master

"Why is that?" Princess Hisui asked, puzzled. "I remember reading in Sorcerer Magazine that you were one of Fairy Tail's most anticipated newcomers."

Lucy scratched her cheek with a wry smile. "That's true, but I'm still just a newcomer. The Grand Magic Games only allow five people to represent a guild, right?"

Although Lucy could be vain at times, she was self-aware enough to know where she stood. She wasn't about to delude herself into thinking she could crack Fairy Tail's top five.

"Technically, there's also a substitute," Hisui pointed out. "So that makes six."

Lucy counted on her fingers, then slumped. "Even with six, I don't stand a chance."

Seeing Hisui's confusion, Levy chimed in helpfully, "Our guild alone has five official S-Class Mages. And that's not even counting the reserves. Even if Lucy-chan summoned Aquarius, she might only barely qualify for the top ten."

Levy had already been generous with that estimate. In truth, even without the S-Class Mages, Fairy Tail still had the Thunder God Tribe, Natsu, Gray, Gajeel, Juvia, Elfman, Cana, and more, all of whom had grown immensely over the past six years. Without serious effort, Lucy would struggle to even snag the substitute spot.

"I see," Hisui murmured, nodding slowly. "But I believe if Lucy works hard, she definitely has a chance."

Of course, Hisui's understanding was… different. To her, as long as Lucy placed among the top ten, that was already enough. After all, her family hosted the Games. Changing the rules from "five contestants" to "ten contestants" wasn't impossible. More participants would mean more magic power to collect, and that was exactly what she needed.

The subject drifted away after that, and Lucy began showing Hisui around the guild. But when they returned, they were greeted not by music or laughter, but by utter chaos.

The party had devolved into an all-out brawl.

From what Lucy could gather, it started because someone accidentally stepped on someone else's foot while dancing. But in Fairy Tail, the tiniest spark could ignite a wildfire. Now tables, chairs, bottles, plates, and bowls flew through the air as guildmates went at each other with gleeful abandon.

Lucy instinctively flipped over a table and crouched behind it, hugging her knees. "Quick, hide here!" she urged, waving frantically at Hisui.

The princess froze in place, wide-eyed. "W-what… what is this?"

To her, a ball meant elegance, etiquette, and harmony. How could a party transform into a battlefield?

"Don't worry," Lucy said casually, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. "It's just a little scuffle. Everything'll be fine once everyone's knocked out."

Hisui: "…"

'Normal fight? What part of this was "normal"? If this was just roughhousing, why did it only end when everyone collapsed? Was every Fairy Tail party this brutal?'

Her thoughts were interrupted by Lucy's shriek. "Aaah!"

A familiar voice followed: "Ahhhh~~~!"

Natsu's body came flying across the room, smashed straight through Lucy's table, and landed squarely on top of her.

"Wha?!" Lucy's muffled cry was cut off as Natsu's head lifted from between the "pillows" of her chest. He blinked in confusion, wondering why that crash hadn't hurt, then instantly bolted upright, shouting, "Loke, you bastard! Take this!" He dashed back into the fray without another thought.

Lucy slumped against the wall, eyes rolled back and limbs twitching.

"Lucy! Are you alright?" Hisui cried, horrified. What happened to 'everything will be fine'?!

"I'm... I'm… fine…" Lucy wheezed weakly, barely conscious.

'Fine?' Hisui stared at her in disbelief. 'This was attempted murder! How could anyone call this "fine"?!'

She turned desperately toward Makarov, only to find him sprawled across the bar counter, hugging a wine bottle and snoring drunkenly.

"At a time like this?!" Hisui almost screamed. Then she remembered: the Council! There were Council members present! Surely they would step in and restore order.

Princess Hisui's eyes darted around the guild hall in disbelief. "Why… why are the Councilors fighting too?!"

Of all people, Captain Lahar and Doranbalt had joined in the chaos, Doranbalt had even smashed Lahar's glasses clean off!

'This can't be right…' At a time like this, the Princess thought, she should look for the most dependable person in Fairy Tail, the legendary Mr. Rhodes. Surely he would be putting a stop to all this madness.

But when she turned her head, her jaw nearly dropped. Rhodes was calmly seated at a table, eating as if nothing unusual was happening. Even worse, Mirajane was right beside him in her wedding gown, chatting and laughing with guests as though this weren't a full-blown battlefield.

'This is your wedding party! It's about to collapse into rubble! Can't you take it even a little seriously?!' Hisui's inner voice screamed, but her etiquette as a princess kept the words from escaping her lips.

Her thoughts were interrupted when danger came crashing straight at her. Literally.

This time, it was Loke, sent flying through the air, his trajectory aimed squarely at the Princess.

At first, Loke considered correcting his course with a graceful landing. But then, realizing his target was a beautiful woman, he quickly reconsidered.

'No, this is fate! If I protect her at the last second, I might spark a new romance. Perfect!'

Unfortunately for him, his fantasy ended in the blink of an eye.

Before he could reach Hisui, a powerful kick struck him in the back, sharp and merciless, the unmistakable strike of a high heel. With a pained grunt, Loke was launched even faster than he'd been flying before, slamming into a stone pillar and embedding himself there with a crash.

Groaning, he pried himself free, disheveled and clutching his shoulder. "So this lady isn't ordinary after a..."

His words died on his lips.

It wasn't the princess who had kicked him. It was Mirajane, still in her wedding dress, casually adjusting her skirt with one hand and holding a forkful of cake in the other.

Noticing Loke staring, Mira gave him her sweetest smile.

"—"

Loke instantly understood. No wonder it hurt so much. He forced an awkward but polite grin, then promptly turned his head away and ran back to chase Natsu instead.

"I'm sorry you were frightened." Mira turned to the princess, her voice gentle. "Are you hurt?"

Hisui quickly shook her head, still dazed. "N-no… I'm fine."

'So this… is the power of a demon,' she thought, goosebumps rising on her arms.

Rhodes strolled over leisurely, only for Mira to shoot him a look. "Didn't you say you'd be protecting the princess?"

Clearly, she suspected Loke's reckless stunt hadn't been entirely unintentional. After all, this was the same man who once tried pursuing Erza, and even a Councilor's granddaughter. Of course he'd dare try his luck with royalty.

Rhodes just pointed to the faint, nearly transparent magic shield shimmering in front of the princess and laughed. "See? She was perfectly safe."

"But it's still scary like this," Mira huffed. "It feels more reassuring if you personally step in front of her."

Rhodes shrugged. "That's something I only do for you."

Mira narrowed her eyes. "Funny, because you did step in for Wendy."

Rhodes chuckled, scratching his cheek. "You remember too clearly… Are you seriously jealous of a child?"

Then, with a teasing grin, he added, "Well, if we have a daughter in the future, you'll have plenty of chances to get jealous."

Mira's cheeks flushed crimson. She turned her head, pouting, "I won't have one for you!"

Princess Hisui: "…"

'What in the world are you two talking about… in front of me… an unmarried woman?!'