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

After returning to the guild, Yukino reported the completion of her mission, handled the follow-up tasks, and made some necessary preparations. She then planned to head to the prison to visit Sorano.

But before she could leave, two small cats blocked her path.

"Yukino~" A little green Exceed in a pink frog costume called out in a soft, childish voice.

"Frosch-sama?" Yukino crouched down with her usual politeness, gently stroking the Exceed's head. "What's the matter?"

"It's about Dobengal," Frosch said, tilting his head up. "Rogue said he's been acting strange ever since he came back… and Frosch thinks so too. Did something happen?"

Ever since Dobengal had returned, he had been training relentlessly. Whenever others asked, he would simply say his strength wasn't enough.

Training itself wasn't unusual, but what troubled people was how different his aura had become. The arrogance that once defined him was gone, replaced by a harsh, almost self-punishing intensity.

As one of the strongest in the guild, and counted among Sabertooth's top ten, Dobengal had every right to be proud. After all, Sabertooth was Fiore's number one guild, and by some people's reckoning, that meant their top ten ranked among the strongest in the nation.

He was already that powerful. So why was he acting like a man possessed? Was he aiming for the guild master's chair?

Though some disliked him, others were genuinely concerned.

Sabertooth's twin aces, Sting and Rogue, still cared about their comrades deep down. But the guild's culture didn't encourage open compassion, and both of them had reputations to maintain as cool, untouchable prodigies.

That left Frosch, Rogue's ever-loyal partner. Among Sabertooth's members, Frosch was probably the one who cared the most about his guildmates.

As for Sting's partner, Lector, the small red Exceed, he had already been thoroughly influenced by Sabertooth's harsh atmosphere. Though weak himself, he looked down on everyone except fellow Exceed Frosch and the guild's top members.

"Dobengal-sama?" Yukino thought carefully before answering. "He's simply found a new goal to pursue. That's why he's pushing himself so hard."

"A goal to pursue?" Frosch tilted his head again, looking adorably puzzled.

Lector, however, scoffed. "Don't tell me it's Sting. That would be a nice dream, but completely impossible."

In Lector's eyes, Sting was the strongest mage in the world.

Yukino smiled faintly. "No… it's someone even stronger than Sting-sama."

Her single sentence instantly stirred the guild.

Conversations stopped. Drinks were lowered. Everyone's ears tuned in.

After all, who could be stronger than Sting? Their White Dragon Slayer, their ace, their pride?

Lector was the first to explode. "What?! Who is it? Don't tell me he actually lost to someone outside the guild?!"

Yukino hesitated. She knew it was best not to mention the small clash that had happened between Dobengal and Rhodes.

But with so many eyes on her, she couldn't stay silent either.

Choosing her words with care, she said, "During our mission, we happened to encounter Lord Rhodes. He was traveling outside, and… we witnessed his magic firsthand."

"Dobengal-sama and I both came to the same conclusion. He's an opponent who can't be beaten. His strength is… beyond imagination."

She stopped herself before blurting out 'even Sting-sama can't compare.' At least she'd avoided saying it out loud.

But for Sabertooth, what she had already revealed was explosive enough.

"Lord Rhodes? The one who holds the last seat among the Ten Wizard Saints?"

"Wait, isn't he from Fairy Tail?"

"Fairy Tail again? Always stealing the spotlight, even daring to show off in front of Dobengal."

Yukino's chest tightened with disappointment. She had tried her best not to make it sound like a rivalry, but her guildmates immediately twisted it that way anyway.

'How… how can I make everyone take Fairy Tail seriously, instead of just treating them as rivals?'

The guild erupted in a cacophony of chatter.

Sting and Rogue, however, showed little reaction. They weren't especially interested in Rhodes.

What did matter more to them were names like Natsu and Gajeel.

Sting was eager to hear any news of Natsu's current strength, while Rogue quietly kept tabs on Gajeel's activities, though he would never admit it aloud.

As for whether Rhodes's power was truly as overwhelming as Yukino claimed, that could be confirmed later. If Dobengal himself vouched for it, then perhaps there was something to it. After all, to bring him down to such a state required no small amount of ability.

But before anyone could follow up, Sabertooth's guild master, Jiemma, strode out from the back hall.

His very presence commanded silence. Conversations died down instantly as his heavy footsteps echoed through the guild.

By the time Jiemma had settled into his throne-like guild master's chair, the hall was deathly quiet.

Even so, he had already heard enough. Resting his chin on one fist, elbow on the armrest, he spoke with cold authority:

"Fairy Tail has someone our Mage cannot even stand against? Who dares speak such pathetic nonsense in my guild?"

The crowd parted at once, leaving Yukino exposed in the center.

She bit her lip nervously. As a newcomer, she still struggled against the sheer pressure radiating from the man. "I—I'm sorry, Guild Master. I only mentioned something that happened during a mission. I didn't mean to overstep."

"Yukino~" Frosch mewed anxiously.

But Lector quickly tugged Frosch back, warning him with sharp eyes not to interfere.

"It's you again, newcomer." Jiemma's voice was heavy with disdain. "I should have already warned you last time, shouldn't I?"

Yukino forced herself to meet his glare, though her voice trembled. "No, Guild Master, it was just a simple conversation. I swear, I didn't do anything to disgrace Sabertooth."

She glanced around the room, hoping for support, but none came. Not a single guildmate dared to speak on her behalf under Jiemma's gaze.

Frosch wanted to say something, but his timid nature held him back, and Lector was already shaking his head fiercely.

If Dobengal had been there, he might have stepped forward to take some of the pressure off. But he was still buried in his relentless training.

Jiemma's expression darkened even further at Yukino's explanation. With a sharp motion, he pulled a document from his robes and flung it to the ground at her feet. The parchment struck the wood with a heavy thud.

"You dare say you've done nothing to disgrace Sabertooth? Then explain to me what this is!"

Yukino bent down, dread twisting in her chest, and picked it up.

It was an official notice from the Magic Council, addressed to Sabertooth. The letter was a verification request, confirming whether Yukino Agria truly belonged to the guild.

The reason: she had applied to visit a serious criminal in prison, and the Council had been required to confirm her identity before approving the request.

"This is, " Yukino faltered, her mind spinning. She couldn't understand why the guild master was so enraged. It was nothing more than an identity check, wasn't it?

Jiemma's voice rumbled with suppressed fury. "Answer me, Yukino. Why are you associating with the scum of a Dark Guild?"