Internet Magic in Fairy Tail

'Is there even any benefit to becoming the guild master?'

Nate pondered this but couldn't come up with anything.

All he could picture were the downsides: attending endless routine meetings, dealing with troublemakers in the guild, and, worst of all, writing apology letters to the Magic Council.

Nate had no desire to be the guild master.

It was obvious Mavis had discussed this with Makarov, given how she kept calling him "Fourth Master." The old man himself seemed eager to appoint Nate as the next guild leader, probably to finally free himself from the "apology letter hell" that came with the position.

"Nate, with your strength, it's only natural for you to become an S-Class," the guild master said, "and then next year, I could finally retire."

"So… you're planning to name me as Fourth Master next year?" Nate sighed, throwing up his hands. "Then I'd rather not take the test."

The best solution was to stop this at the source!

Hearing this, Makarov puffed out his cheeks and glared, half-joking but serious. "If that's the case, I'll just break tradition. With your reputation and strength, no one in the guild would mind if you were made Fourth Master tomorrow."

Nate looked helpless. 'Being so popular isn't always a blessing,' he thought, trying to find a way out. 'Someone, save me! I don't want to be writing apologies for the rest of my life!'

With Makarov looking at him hopefully and Mavis smiling encouragingly, Nate finally relented. "Alright, I'll take the test."

Though, if it came down to it and Makarov did insist on passing the position on to him, Nate thought he could always take it temporarily and hand it right back, as Gildarts had in the original story. Makarov had gone from Third Master to Sixth that way, after all.

"Handing over the guild to you would set my mind at ease," Makarov said with a smile, clearly pleased with the thought.

Mavis chimed in with a grin, "You can do it, Fourth Master!"

"Sure, I'll be the best guild master," Nate replied, thinking, 'for however long it takes me to pass it right back.'

"The next thing to discuss is the S-Class exam itself," Makarov continued, the excitement of retirement already glowing on his face. Just imagining the end of his apology letters to the Council was bringing him joy.

"And council meetings… let someone else handle them!"

"Following tradition, I'll choose several candidates who will face a series of trials, and the one who passes them all will earn the title of S-Class," Makarov explained.

Nate asked, "Is there only supposed to be one person who qualifies in the end?"

"Not necessarily," Makarov replied, shaking his head. "Typically, only one person passes, but it isn't set in stone."

The S-Class exam candidates varied each year, with only four or five people sometimes applying. But this year was clearly different.

"Here's the list of candidates eligible to take this year's exam," Makarov said, pulling a file from the desk. "It might still change, but take a look."

Nate accepted the file and scanned the list. 'Quite a few names on here!'

There was Natsu, Gray, Elfman, and Levy—all participating for the first time. Then Cana, who'd already taken the exam four times; this was her fifth try.

Among the newer members, Lucy, Juvia, Ultear, Meredy, Wendy, and Gajeel were also listed. Nate's own name was on there too, along with long-standing guild members like Macao, Wakaba, Freed, Evergreen, Bickslow, and someone named Mest.

'That's… a lot of people.'

Nate was surprised. 'Is it always like this?'

With so many participants, if only one person passed, it would be a real shame. Several candidates, like Freed, are incredibly powerful. Freed excelled at Letter Magic, and both Ultear and Meredy were former high-ranking members of Grimoire Heart.

Gajeel and Juvia had also both been S-Class mages in Phantom Lord, and Lucy, with her powerful Celestial Magic and nine of the Twelve Zodiac Keys, was hardly weak.

'With a lineup like this, Fairy Tail really is a guild of monsters.'

"Doesn't that seem like a lot?" Nate commented, setting the list down. "In past years, has the list ever been this long? You could practically set up four or five tables for a card game!"

Makarov chuckled but looked a bit troubled as he said, "That's actually why I wanted to get your opinion on how to handle this year's exam."

"Me? I'm on the list too, you know," Nate replied, feigning reluctance. He turned and glanced at Mavis. 'Let's pass the job to her!'

"First Master, why don't you come up with the exam rules this year?"

Mavis's eyes brightened immediately, her interest fully piqued. "Really? I can decide the rules?"

Makarov raised his thumb, laughing. "If it's First Master leading, then I know it'll be an amazing test!"

The two shared a quick look of silent understanding. 'When it comes to getting Mavis excited, we've got a perfect team.'

"Ahem." Mavis coughed into her fist, raising her index finger with a gleam in her eye. "Just leave it to me, Mavis Vermillion, Fairy Strategist!"

'She's calling herself "Fairy Strategist"… cute.'

Nate applauded and played along, "I expected no less from First Master! After you come up with a great test, I'll treat you to a strawberry cake."

'Cake?' Mavis's eyes sparkled for a moment before she caught herself, straightening with a self-satisfied smile. 'I'm not a glutton! But he'd better keep his promise about that cake.'

…

Nate left the guildmaster's office and descended to the tavern, where he noticed a stranger.

"Hey! Mest? It's been a while since you were last here."

Someone in the guild greeted him, clearly familiar with him.

"Yeah," Mest replied with a laugh, "I've been taking jobs remotely now that we've got the [Online Commissioning] board, so I rarely stop by the guild."

"Thanks to Nate, right? That Magic Net is amazing!"

'Memory magic?'

Nate couldn't help but wonder why 'he' hadn't been affected.

'Must work like charm magic; it won't work on someone who already knows the truth.'

And as it happened, Nate, as a traveler from another world, knew exactly who Mest really was. Seeing his name on the S-Class candidate list had already raised questions.

'Magic Council spy…'

With a quick move, Nate slung an arm around Mest's shoulders, grinning. "Been a long time, Mest! Let's catch up."

With that, he started leading him out of the guild, ignoring Mest's look of utter confusion.

"W-What?"

'Long time?' I don't even remember us meeting before!

~~~

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