Internet Magic in Fairy Tail (Re-upload)

Hello! Bleam here! As some of you may already know, the fanfic got a copyright strike.

For new readers, here's Chapters 1-5 of [Internet Magic in Fairy Tail] to get you interested. Chapters 6-240 are available on Scribble Hub. You can find it by searching for "Internet Magic in Fairy Tail" under my name, "Bleam", at "ScribbleHub(.)com".

This upload will be on my alt account, Bleam2.

Thank you for your continued support!

———

Chapter 1: The Internet Magic

"May I ask your name?"

"Nate."

"Nate-san, you just mentioned that you wanted to join our guild?" Mirajane smiled warmly in the reception room.

She was pleased that a new mage wanted to join Fairy Tail.

"Yes."

"Are you a mage?"

"I believe I am." Nate shrugged, a helpless smile on his handsome face.

What kind of answer is that? Mirajane blinked in confusion.

"May I ask what kind of magic you specialize in? Sorry, I don't mean to pry, but it's required for guild registration."

"You've probably never heard of my magic."

"Could it be ancient lost magic?" Mirajane asked, a little curious.

Ancient magic was always associated with power and mystery. It had special strengths beyond ordinary magic. In her guild, there was already a mage who mastered the "Fire Dragon Slayer Magic," a type of ancient lost magic.

"My magic is called the Internet."

"The... Internet?" Mirajane tilted her head, puzzled. She could understand the individual words, but together, they didn't seem to make sense.

"Ah!" Fearing the other party might feel embarrassed, Mirajane raised a finger as her quick-thinking mind made a connection: "Is it a magic similar to a spider spinning a web? Using threads to create a net? That sounds like powerful magic."

You're too kind. So cute, I want to marry her, Nate thought as he shook his head. "No."

"Eh?" Realizing she had guessed wrong, Mirajane looked apologetic and whispered, "Sorry, I really haven't heard of it."

"No worries, it would be surprising if you had." Nate took a small cloth pouch from his pocket, opened it, and pulled out a silver ring. "This is my magic."

Nate handed the ring to Mirajane. "Once you put it on, you'll understand."

Mirajane studied it carefully with her soft gaze. It was a beautiful ring, made from a magic metal she didn't recognize. It was light in her palm.

"Any finger will do. It's not dangerous, don't worry," Nate added.

"I understand." Mirajane's smile was warm and kind, like candlelight. She placed the ring on the middle finger of her left hand, her pale and slender fingers gleaming softly.

"This is a magic item, isn't it?" Mirajane tried to channel a faint thread of magic into the ring. "It requires magic input. It's a very well-made artifact."

In this world, magic had long been integrated into people's daily lives. There were countless magic items, many of which could be used by ordinary people. But items that required magic input could only be used by mages.

"Mirajane-san, you should be able to see it now..." Nate began to explain, but before he could finish his sentence, Mirajane gasped, covering her mouth in surprise.

In front of her, lines of text floated in the air.

"Magic text? But it doesn't seem to be... I can't sense any magic energy from the letters," she whispered in astonishment.

[Welcome to the world of the Internet.]

[Please enter your Internet nickname.]

[Nicknames cannot be changed, so please choose carefully.]

[Nickname: ______]

Mirajane looked up at Nate, who smiled back at her.

"In the Internet, your nickname is like another name. I suggest not using your real name."

Following his advice, Mirajane thought for a moment and decided to use "The Departing Traveler" as her nickname.

[Nickname confirmed.]

The floating text burned away in flames, but they were not magic flames, leaving Mirajane even more curious. Even illusionary flames usually had some trace of magic.

After the text disappeared, a semi-transparent interface appeared before her, filled with words and images. Mirajane's attention was drawn to a particular line of text.

[I'm preparing to list all the magic in the magic world. I'm now inviting like-minded friends to join!]

"You can tap on what you want to view with your finger," Nate guided her.

Mirajane followed his instruction and tapped with her finger. The screen changed.

[Thanks for the invite, currently in the Celestial Spirit World. Just finished a battle with the Celestial Spirit King. Not too familiar with magic, feel free to add your knowledge below.]

[Is the poster crazy? Magic is so vast, even a lifetime wouldn't be enough to catalog it all. It's a complete waste of time.]

[Jumping in, I'm the legendary black mage Zeref, currently trapped in a secret dimension. Send me 100,000 J, and once I break the seal, I'll teach you invincible ancient magic!]

[The one above is a scammer. Don't trust him!]

Mirajane's eyes fluttered as she carefully read the post. Seeing the name "Zeref," she couldn't help but be startled. But the post later called it a scammer.

"These are...?" Mirajane asked.

"Probably scammers," Nate said, scratching his chin. "Zeref is the legendary founder of black magic. He's been dead for who knows how many years."

In truth, Nate himself had left those comments using alternate accounts. But Mirajane, unaware of this, thought they were written by real people who, like her, had entered the Internet using the ring.

"This magic is amazing," she remarked. "It's somewhat like telepathy magic, but instead, the Internet communicates through text."

After reading a few more posts, Mirajane began to understand how it worked. She paused for a moment, then gently furrowed her brows.

"No, it's different. It doesn't seem like real-time communication," she noted. "There's even a post about free food distribution at the Kardia Cathedral... but that was last week."

The Kardia Cathedral occasionally distributed free food, but the timing was irregular.

Nate, serving as her guide, explained, "There are other sections too. Look at the top right, next to your name, there's a 'Daily Check-In' feature."

Curious, Mirajane tapped the Daily Check-In button.

[Check-in successful. You are the 101st person to check in today and have received 10 points as a reward.]

"What are points?" she asked.

"They're a currency I created for the Internet. You get points every day you check in. The higher your rank, the better the reward."

"Like the Jewels currency we normally use?"

Mirajane nodded, feeling a bit happy. "Just by tapping, I earned 10 points. Nate-san, you're going to go bankrupt at this rate."

Nate thought, people who haven't been through the Internet age are so easy to fool. "Yeah, I'm going broke fast."

Mirajane smiled sweetly and asked, "Since it's a currency, can you use points to buy things?"

"For now, you can only use them to play games."

"Play games?"

Nate stood up and sat beside her, guiding her through the process. They entered the games section.

Mirajane saw three different titles:

[Poker]

[Mahjong]

[Fruit Ninja]

Filled with curiosity, Mirajane clicked on Mahjong.

[Matching...]

[Match successful!]

The screen shifted to a Mahjong-playing interface. As a first-time player, the system introduced the rules. Mirajane was quick to learn, and the game began.

One game, two games...

Mirajane bit her lip, her face showing a hint of determination. The rules were simple, so why couldn't she win?

Three games, five games...

A long time passed.

Mirajane, blushing slightly, held her face. "Sorry... I lost everything."

The system prompted, [You don't have enough points to continue.]

Nate, who had been watching her play the entire time, felt his blood pressure rise. With a 100% losing rate, if you didn't lose everything, who would?

Feeling embarrassed, Mirajane quietly asked, "Nate-san, could you give me another 10 points? I can buy them from you with J currency."

Nate was speechless. Is this the start of a pay-to-win player? He realized he had made the right move developing those games.

Chapter 2: Tremor Magic

"Finally won a game!"

"Congratulations."

The sky was darkening. After Nate generously used his developer privileges to transfer 1,000 points into Mirajane's account, she finally won her first game of Mahjong.

Nate didn't charge her for it. At this stage, the Internet was just getting started, and it was too early to start "harvesting" users.

Mirajane decided to treat Nate to a meal as a way of expressing her gratitude.

"Oh... is it that late already?" After the excitement of winning, Mirajane noticed the sky outside and said apologetically, "Nate-san, I'm so sorry to have taken up so much of your time."

"It's fine. I'm happy that you like my magic," Nate said, shaking his head. "And there's no need to be so formal—just call me Nate."

Mirajane smiled and nodded. "I understand, Nate. Anyway, welcome to Fairy Tail!"

In this world, magic was generally divided into two classifications: "Holder Magic" and "Caster Magic." Nate's magic clearly belonged to the former, as it required magic items to be used and was thus categorized as Holder Magic. In contrast, Caster Magic mages strengthen their own magic power through training and manifest magic directly, known as Caster Magic.

The Internet was a new type of Holder Magic. Mirajane had a feeling that it could bring great change to the world of magic.

She took out a magic seal. "Nate, where would you like the guild emblem?"

"On the back of my hand."

"What color?"

"You can choose the color too? Let's go with blue."

Nate removed his glove and exposed the back of his left hand to her. With a gentle press of the magic seal, the guild emblem was instantly imprinted.

"It's getting late. I'll take my leave for today."

"Alright, take care."

...

After saying goodbye to the guild's waitress, Nate left. He had rented an apartment near the guild for 70,000J per month. It came with hot water and furniture—a very reasonable price.

Back home, as he filled the bathtub with hot water, Nate eagerly opened the system.

[Task: Acquire one Internet user.]

[Reward: Paramecia-type Gura Gura no Mi (Tremor-Tremor Fruit).]

[Task completed!]

Claim reward?

Yes.

[Detected that the user is not in the One Piece world, converting reward...]

[Paramecia-type Tremor-Tremor Fruit → Caster Magic Tremor Magic!]

A surge of vast magic knowledge flooded Nate's mind. In an instant, he had mastered a new magic.

Standing beside the bathtub, Nate closed his eyes tightly and only opened them after a long while. He raised his right hand, and a faint white glow enveloped his fist.

"The Devil Fruit power has been adapted to this world's rules and turned into magic?"

"The only difference..." Nate mused. "Devil Fruit powers use physical strength, while magic consumes magic power."

Nate's lips curled into a satisfied smile. Magic power—something he had in abundance! His magic power wasn't particularly extraordinary yet, but...

All Internet users, when they used the Internet, consumed a small amount of magic power. Ninety-nine percent of it was used to maintain the Internet itself. The remaining one percent... flowed through the "network" into Nate's body, where it accumulated.

One percent might seem insignificant, but if enough people used the Internet, all those small contributions would build up, and his magic power could reach unimaginable levels!

[Host: Nate]

[Age: 20]

[Race: Human]

[Magic Power: ★☆]

[Magic: Internet, Tremor Magic]

Two classifications of magic—one Holder Magic, one Caster Magic.

"The Internet doesn't have any combat applications yet, but the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit is comparable to Super Magic."

Nate undressed and sank into the hot water. Above regular magic, there was "Super Magic," which stood for "Superior Magic," far more powerful than ordinary magic.

With the Tremor-Tremor Fruit's power, causing tsunamis, triggering earthquakes, or destroying a town would be easy. It certainly deserved the title of Super Magic!

As he pondered, a new task appeared.

[Task: Maintain 80 active users for three consecutive days, with an average daily usage time of two hours.]

[Reward: 1,000 rings.]

"Eighty daily active users? Two hours of daily usage? That doesn't seem too hard."

Lying in the bathtub, Nate stroked his chin in thought. Fairy Tail had a large number of members, at least a few hundred. If he gave each one a ring, it would be easy to meet the daily active user goal.

However, he only had 100 rings. They came from a beginner's package, including the Internet magic itself. One of the rings he wore himself, with full developer privileges. Of the remaining 99, he had given one to Mirajane, leaving 98 to distribute.

This meant that even if he distributed all the rings, he would need to ensure that 80% of the users spent at least two hours a day on the Internet for three consecutive days.

"Should be doable." Based on Mirajane's behavior today, Nate felt confident that the task wouldn't be too difficult.

Speaking of Mirajane, Nate immediately opened the Internet and searched for the ID "The Departing Traveler."

Online (Currently playing Mahjong).

Nate chuckled. This task was a sure thing—he didn't even need to do anything. With a click, he sent a friend request.

At the same time, in the women's dormitory at Fairy Tail, unlike Nate's 70,000J per month apartment, the women's dormitory cost 100,000J a month. As a former S-Class mage, Mirajane wasn't short on money, so she naturally chose better living conditions.

At this moment, Mirajane was also soaking in a bath, playing Mahjong while bathing. She had grown a bit addicted to the game. Suddenly, a small red dot appeared next to the [Private Messages] icon in the upper-right corner of the interface.

"Huh?"

Mirajane tapped the red dot, and a notification popped up.

[User "Sigma Male" has sent you a friend request. Would you like to accept?]

[Message: It's Nate.]

"Sigma Male is Nate's Internet nickname? What does Sigma mean?" Mirajane blinked her pretty eyes. So there was a friend-adding feature? She hadn't known.

After accepting the request, a chat window appeared.

Sigma Male: "Still playing Mahjong?"

The Departing Traveler: "How do you know?!"

The Departing Traveler: "Ah... does your magic have surveillance features?!"

After sending that message, Mirajane's face turned red. She was in the bath! Wasn't everything being seen? She quickly sank deeper into the bubbles, leaving only half her face above the water.

Sigma Male: "Friends can see if you're online, and if you are, it shows what you're doing in parentheses."

"Is that how it works?" Mirajane whispered softly, exploring the friends list and, sure enough, saw her only friend. Sigma Male, online (Idle).

Phew—

Mirajane breathed a sigh of relief and quickly typed.

The Departing Traveler: "Sorry, I misunderstood. I'm really sorry."

Sigma Male: "I'm heartbroken that you doubted my me..."

The Departing Traveler: "I'm truly sorry, Nate... What can I do to make it up to you?"

Sigma Male: "...Treat me to two meals? I'm not really upset; I just rented a place and have no money left for food."

Mirajane paused, then chuckled as she typed.

The Departing Traveler: "Got it, I'll treat you to a meal! There are plenty of requests at the guild, I'll keep an eye out for you."

Sigma Male: "Thank you, Waitress-san."

Seeing the "waitress" title, Mirajane couldn't help but smile brightly. People had called her that before, but chatting through the Internet felt completely different.

Sigma Male: "The other two games are fun too. You should give them a try."

Sigma Male: "I'm going to rest now. Goodnight."

Mirajane was startled and hurriedly replied.

The Departing Traveler: "Goodnight, see you tomorrow."

She then stared blankly at the chat window for two minutes with no further response. Mirajane puffed her cheeks slightly in annoyance but then thought Nate must have fallen asleep.

"The other games, huh?"

As the Mahjong game finished, Mirajane followed his suggestion and opened the infamous Poker. And she continued playing until the early hours of the morning.

...

Nate wasn't actually going to sleep; he had work to do. After getting out of the bathtub, he dried his hair and body, threw on a bathrobe, and sat down at his desk. He activated the magic programming interface.

"Writing code before crossing into this world, still writing code after crossing." A born coding prodigy!

Nate joked to himself. His programming skills were decent—he had even won a college competition. Compared to coding on a computer, the programming and development functions of Internet magic were much simpler.

"Let's develop a [Library] feature."

"Allow users to scan and upload the contents of magic books..."

"In the future, it'll be much easier to learn new magic!"

After a night of hard work, he didn't sleep until 3 a.m.

When he woke up the next day, it was already noon. Without even eating, he quickly washed up and headed for the guild.

He really was out of money for food. Time to find the waitress for a free meal!

Chapter 3: Guild Master

Nate's transmigration occurred a month ago. He arrived in the city of Magnolia, home to the Fairy Tail guild. After receiving the Internet Magic from the beginner's package, Nate spent his time doing odd jobs while researching the magic.

Fortunately, thanks to the occasional free food distribution at the Kardia Cathedral, he managed to save up enough to rent an apartment. Now that the rent was paid, he had less than 10,000J left in his pocket.

He could be considered the poorest transmigrator.

However, things were already looking up. By joining Fairy Tail as a mage, he could now take on jobs and earn money.

…

At noon, Nate walked into the guild and was immediately greeted by its lively, noisy atmosphere. It felt more like a rowdy tavern than a mages' guild.

The guild hall was spacious, large enough to fit four or five basketball courts. A large crowd had gathered around the bar, all clamoring at Mirajane.

"Hey, Mirajane, let me try it for a bit."

"Let me try that ring too!"

"Come on, Mirajane, it's too much for one person to keep all to herself."

"This magic called the Internet looks really interesting!"

Faced with the crowd's demands, Mirajane could only smile awkwardly.

"This is Nate's ring. Without his permission, I can't let you use it."

"I have to return the ring to him when he arrives. If you want to try it, you'll have to ask Nate."

The crowd didn't give up, and someone curiously asked:

"Hasn't the newcomer arrived yet? I really want to meet him."

Nate stepped toward the bar, speaking as he approached, "Once the ring is infused with magic for the first time, it binds to the user. No one else can use it. It recognizes the magic power, and everyone's magic power is unique."

"You're finally here, Nate." Mirajane stood up and greeted him warmly.

"You don't have to return the ring, it's a gift for you. Consider it a thank-you for treating me to a meal."

"Really?" Mirajane's eyes sparkled.

Now that Nate had arrived, the crowd immediately surrounded him.

"Hello, newcomer, my name is Macao."

"I'm Levy McGarden, welcome to Fairy Tail, Nate."

"I'm Cana. Hey, newcomer, do you have more of those rings? Could you give me one too? Don't play favorites—I'll treat you to a drink~"

The closest one was a bold woman holding a bottle of alcohol, even in the middle of the day, clearly intrigued by the ring.

Nate recognized many familiar names, but most were minor characters he didn't know well. Still, since they were all members of the guild, it meant they were mages. And as long as they wore a ring and used the Internet, they would enhance his magic power.

They were all high-quality "crops."

"Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Nate, the newcomer. As a token of my introduction, I'd like to give each of you a magic ring as a gift."

In response to everyone's enthusiasm, Nate took out a cloth bag and began distributing the rings one by one. Those who received the rings thanked him happily and quickly wandered off to explore the Internet.

In no time, more than half of the 98 rings were gone.

Once the crowd dispersed, Mirajane approached with a plate of food.

"Nate, you probably haven't eaten yet. This is for you."

Not being shy, Nate thanked her and sat at the bar to enjoy the meal.

"You've given away so many magic rings... now you really won't have money for food." Mirajane looked at him helplessly.

"Why are you worrying for me?" Nate chuckled. "Are you regretting offering to treat me?"

"Don't worry. As long as you come to the guild, I'll treat you to a meal."

Mirajane smiled sweetly, then noticed that Nate had pushed the remaining rings toward her and asked curiously:

"What's this for?"

"If anyone else wants one later, could you hand them out for me?"

The guild had hundreds of members, but not all were present today. There were still 20 or 30 rings left. Nate simply entrusted the rest to Mirajane, leaving it to the hostess to distribute them.

"You're giving them all away?" Mirajane was a bit stunned, not understanding Nate's actions.

"I believe the greatest feature of the Internet is sharing."

"Sharing?"

Nate replied while enjoying his meal, "Yes, sharing."

"For example, if I want to find a book on 'photography' or 'scanning magic,' I'd need to visit a library and search through the categories, which is quite troublesome."

"So, I'm planning to add a 'Library' feature to the Internet. This will allow everyone to freely upload books, whether magic texts or adventure novels."

"In the future, anyone with a ring can quickly search and find whatever content they want, anytime, anywhere."

"Knowledge doesn't diminish through sharing. On the contrary, it sparks more wisdom through exchange."

Mirajane listened with bright eyes, a sense of admiration rising within her.

Sharing knowledge, benefiting the public. So that's why he needed more people to join the Internet?

"A truly great dream."

"I've been working on the library module all night, but I've run into some problems." Nate sighed. "In my vision, ring holders should be able to use the Internet's built-in scanning function to scan books page by page and then upload them to the network."

"You don't know scanning magic?" Mirajane smiled gently. "There should be a book on scanning magic in the guild's library on the second floor."

"Can I go up there?"

"Nope, only S-Class mages can access the second floor. You're still a newcomer, Nate."

Mirajane covered her mouth and giggled. "But I'll help you look for it. Just wait here."

With that, she turned and headed upstairs.

Nate watched her disappear up the stairs, then casually glanced at the bulletin board nearby. The board was covered with various job requests, and any mage wanting to take on a task could simply tear off a request slip.

There was also a bulletin board on the second floor with far fewer requests, but all of them were S-Class missions.

"I need to start making money. Is there a job here that can make me a quick fortune?"

Nate stood and walked over to the bulletin board.

The requests varied greatly: clearing out Yetis from a mountain, repelling a group of robbers, searching for lost important documents, escorting a merchant caravan to its destination... All sorts of tasks.

The jobs in a mage guild were like those of a "jack-of-all-trades" office.

The rewards ranged from 50,000J to 200,000J.

Not quite enough...

Nate was looking for a large payday that would set him up for years.

"I remember there's an S-Class request that's especially easy."

"It involves going to a cursed island, breaking the curse, and restoring the villagers to normal."

"If I remember correctly, the reward is 7 million J, plus a Zodiac Key as a bonus."

Nate stroked his chin in thought. He remembered the storyline from *Fairy Tail.* Although he'd forgotten some details, he still recalled the main plot.

This S-Class mission was particularly simple—all he had to do was destroy the "moon."

With his Tremor Magic, it would be no more than a single punch.

One punch, and he'd earn 7 million J!

"Too bad it's an S-Class mission. I can't take it." Nate frowned, contemplating whether he should ask Mirajane to pull some strings for him. But knowing her, she'd definitely refuse. A newcomer taking on an S-Class mission? That's a death wish—Mirajane would surely think so and stop him.

"Ah, ah... you're the newcomer, Nate?"

Suddenly, a voice called out behind him, followed by a fake cough.

Nate turned and looked down.

He saw a short old man greeting him with a wave.

"Hey there, newcomer. I'm Makarov, the Guild Master."

Makarov Dreyar, one of the Ten Wizard Saints.

"Good afternoon, Master." Nate naturally recognized him.

"I've already heard about you from Mirajane this morning."

Makarov appeared kind and benevolent. "Your Internet Magic is fascinating. It's a completely new form of magic. Did you create it yourself? It's an absolute stroke of genius."

He didn't hold back on the praise. When he saw Mirajane's demonstration this morning, even he was astonished. He immediately realized how innovative and revolutionary this magic was.

A genius! A true mage prodigy!

"Connecting people regardless of distance, allowing communication even between different countries and cities. The name 'Internet' is brilliant."

Makarov was full of admiration.

"Thank you for the kind words, Master. I'm just standing on the shoulders of giants," Nate said humbly.

The Internet Magic had been given to him by the system. All he did was set up a forum and create three mini-games within its basic framework.

"No need to be modest."

Makarov smiled. "I heard from Mirajane that you're a bit short on money. Since your magic doesn't have much combat potential, it might be hard for you to complete tasks."

Hearing this, Nate's heart stirred, and he immediately said, "Master, actually, I've acquired another magic."

"Oh? You have a second magic?" Makarov was taken aback. So young, and not only had Nate created an incredible new magic, but he had also mastered a second one?

Nate nodded. "I think I can handle an S-Class mission. Could I be promoted to S-Class soon?"

Makarov doubted his ears. A newcomer who had just joined the guild was already thinking about becoming S-Class?

"It's good to be ambitious, but S-Class missions aren't a joke. One mistake in judgment, and it could cost you your life." Makarov warned gravely. He didn't want to see such a talented mage meet an early demise.

In fact, he was even willing to secretly fund Nate, giving him enough money to live comfortably so he could continue studying Internet Magic.

"What's your second magic?"

"Earthquakes."

Nate demonstrated on the spot. With a light punch of his right fist, the air shattered like a mirror, and in an instant, the ground shook violently.

Makarov lost his footing and fell on his backside, staring in shock.

The newcomer wasn't just a genius—he was a monster!

Chapter 4: S-class mission

The sudden earthquake caused the guild building to shake violently.

The mages, who were engrossed in the Internet, were startled as the tables and chairs trembled.

"What happened? Is it an earthquake?!"

"Ouch...! I hit my forehead on the edge of the table! It hurts!"

"What's going on? Uh, Master? When did you arrive?"

The mages, who had been deeply absorbed in the Internet, finally noticed Makarov standing nearby.

The earthquake came and subsided quickly.

Nate had deliberately controlled the power to minimize any real damage.

"That's my second magic: Tremor Magic," Nate said calmly.

"Quiet!" Makarov stood up, patting his back and coughing awkwardly.

Everyone immediately fell silent.

But in the next second, Macao reacted, exclaiming in shock, "Nate, was that earthquake caused by you?"

"I was demonstrating my other magic to the Master," Nate nodded. "Sorry for startling everyone."

Everyone was left speechless.

"Tremor Magic?"

"Hey, hey, this newcomer's a monster!"

"I just thought of Gildarts. Could there be another one like him?"

"Gildarts? His super-level Destruction Magic, *Crush,* is indeed monstrous!"

"Nate, is your Tremor Magic also considered Super Magic?"

Dozens of incredulous eyes were fixed on Nate. It seemed another powerhouse had joined the guild!

"Quiet, and get those overturned tables and chairs back in order," Makarov scolded, huffing.

But when he looked at Nate, he couldn't help but smile.

"Nate, you were holding back the power of that earthquake, weren't you? Good boy, much more considerate than that idiot Gildarts!"

"That guy causes massive destruction every time he returns, and I have to endure constant scolding from the Magic Council because of it."

Just thinking about Gildarts made Makarov fume.

Some of the guild's troublemakers would demolish buildings every now and then. One day, they might even destroy an entire town!

Nate chuckled to himself. Poor Makarov, always getting chewed out by the council after Natsu and the others wreak havoc.

"I can feel that your Tremor Magic is incredibly powerful. If you unleashed its full strength, what could it do?" Makarov asked seriously.

Nate thought for a moment and decided to answer truthfully. He hoped to quickly qualify as an S-Class mage and then solve the "moon" problem with one punch, earning a nice 7 million J.

"If I were to go all out..."

"I could create a tsunami that would flood Magnolia City."

"If I triggered an earthquake, it could reduce the entire city to ruins."

As soon as he said this, Makarov fell silent, dumbfounded, unable to speak for a long time.

The other mages, who had been righting the tables and chairs, overheard the conversation and couldn't help but swallow nervously.

Confirmed! Another Gildarts!

No, even scarier than Gildarts!

"Master?" Nate asked, seeing Makarov's stunned expression. "About the S-Class mage qualification?"

"Follow me to the second floor," Makarov sighed, feeling a headache coming on.

He didn't doubt the truth of Nate's words, but the process of becoming an S-Class mage required a formal assessment. As the guild master, he couldn't just bend the rules and let someone bypass the process, or others might try to follow suit.

Nate followed Makarov to the second floor of the guild. Compared to the bustling first floor, the second floor was quiet, with no one around.

Makarov led Nate to a bulletin board and pointed to the three remaining requests.

"These are the S-Class missions that only S-Class mages are allowed to take. Right now, there are three available."

The first request was to destroy the dark guild *Ox's Horn* and capture its guild master alive.

Reward: 9 million J.

The second request was to search for the Gonassen Ruins and retrieve a magic book that recorded lost magic.

Reward: 8 million J.

The third request was to go to Galuna Island and lift the curse affecting the local residents.

Reward: 7 million J, with the bonus of a Zodiac Key.

That's the one! Nate immediately locked onto the third request.

He glanced at the other two out of curiosity.

*Ox's Horn?* Never heard of that dark guild.

A search for a magic book? No intel on that; not interested.

"Master, I think this task suits me perfectly." Nate smiled lightly and immediately tore down the third request.

Makarov opened his mouth, completely stunned. He had brought Nate here to show him the difficulty of S-Class missions, hoping it would deter him.

Instead, it only made him more interested?

"Wait, Nate!" Makarov hurriedly stopped him.

"Master, you wouldn't want me taking on ordinary tasks and accidentally destroying a town or two, would you?" Nate blinked, his naturally mischievous tone emerging. "I'm not very good at controlling the power of my Tremor Magic yet."

You're incredibly skilled! You can trigger an earthquake without damaging the guild, and you say you're not proficient?

Makarov fumed. He had thought Nate was a well-behaved kid, but now he realized he was another troublemaker.

"Even so, rules are rules. To become an S-Class mage, you'll have to wait for the official assessment."

"Since you've said that, Master, I guess I'll just go downstairs and take on a regular task. Who knows, maybe I won't even make any money and end up losing some instead..." Nate sighed and turned to leave.

"Wait!" Makarov sighed, feeling defeated. "Alright, you win! I just don't want to hear endless complaints from the Council."

The thought of letting Nate take on an ordinary task... like searching for a lost cat and accidentally demolishing the entire town... sent a chill down his spine.

It wouldn't be the first time something like that had happened. In fact, the guild's troublemakers had done things like that more than once. Looking at you, Natsu!

Fortunately, Natsu wasn't around the guild these days. Otherwise, the thought of him and Nate teaming up was too terrifying to imagine.

"Master, are you agreeing?" Nate asked, pleased.

"No, to become an S-Class mage, you must follow the guild's rules," Makarov said seriously. "But I'll make an exception and allow you to try an S-Class mission."

After a pause, he added, "As for the request in your hand, if you fail, don't bring up such unreasonable demands again."

"Understood, Master. I guarantee success."

Nate was very satisfied. Whether he became an S-Class mage didn't matter to him. What mattered was earning 7 million J with one punch.

With 7 million J, he wouldn't need to take on any more tasks. He could just relax at the guild and do nothing.

Sitting at home would be enough to collect magic power as more people used the Internet.

At that moment, Mirajane came out of the second-floor library, holding a magic book.

"Huh? Nate? Master?"

Mirajane blinked in confusion, wondering why Nate was on the second floor.

Nate saw the magic book in her hand and approached her. "Thanks."

"Huh? You're welcome," Mirajane reminded him. "This magic book should be helpful to you, but be sure to take good care of it. You'll have to return it when you're done."

"Got it." Nate stored the magic book and turned to Makarov, saying, "Well then, Master, I'm off to complete the task."

With that, he quickly headed downstairs.

Mirajane looked puzzled for a moment, then suddenly realized something and said urgently, "Master, Nate's magic doesn't have combat power. It's not suitable for—"

"His magic is very powerful. Without a doubt, it's Super Magic," Makarov said calmly. "Mirajane, I'll be leaving for a while, so I'm counting on you to take care of the guild."

"Are you going to the Master's routine meeting?" Mirajane asked, still confused.

"No..." Makarov sighed helplessly. "That kid is going on an S-Class mission alone. I can't just let him go. I'll secretly follow him."

If Nate were to die during the mission, Makarov wouldn't be able to forgive himself since he was the one who granted permission.

He planned to intervene if Nate's life was in danger.

Yes, perfect! When the time came, Nate would be grateful and appreciate Makarov's thoughtful care, transforming from a troublemaker back into a good, obedient kid.

Experience beats youth after all, Makarov thought smugly.

Chapter 5: Meeting Natsu and Happy

That afternoon, Nate used what little money he had left to buy a map and confirm the location of Galuna Island. Since the island was overseas, he first had to take the magic train to the port city of Hargeon and then board a ship to Galuna Island.

Although the journey wasn't too far, unfortunately for Nate, his wallet was nearly empty, leaving him with less than 1,000J.

At precisely 1:00 p.m., Nate passed through the ticket gate and boarded the train for his journey.

In the world of Fairy Tail, magic technology relied on magic power and lacrimas. The magic train wasn't as fast as a high-speed rail, but it was much quicker than a regular train. It was expected to arrive around 7 or 8 p.m.

Nate found his seat and, as usual, preferred sitting by the window. The journey would be long, and he didn't bring much luggage, just a magic book.

There weren't many passengers in his carriage, just a dozen or so people. Nate wondered if they could even make back the operating costs or if lacrimas, as an energy source, were cheaper than he thought.

Pulling his gaze back, Nate opened the magic book, quietly reading during the journey. It was a book on "photography" magic, explaining the principles of the magic in detail, as well as how to learn it. It wasn't too complicated—certainly not as difficult as advanced mathematics.

Math—if you don't get it, you just don't get it. If it doesn't make sense, it's like listening to a foreign language.

This magic book, however, was much simpler. Nate could understand it without anyone needing to explain it to him.

Engrossed in the book, Nate didn't notice when the train slowly began to move.

Suddenly, the ring on his finger flashed for a brief moment. Someone had sent him a private message.

He infused a bit of magic into the ring, and a semi-transparent interface appeared before his eyes.

The Departing Traveler: Nate!!

The Departing Traveler: Are you doing the S-Class mission from the second floor?

The Departing Traveler: I heard from the Master. Are you out of your mind!?

As expected, it was Mirajane. After all, she was his only friend.

Nate smiled slightly. What a kind and gentle girl.

Sigma Male: Thanks for worrying. I'm really strong.

Mirajane responded almost instantly.

The Departing Traveler: I know you've mastered a second magic already! The guild members said it's Super Magic!

The Departing Traveler: You didn't even tell me yesterday...

The Departing Traveler: But strength doesn't matter. S-Class missions are extremely dangerous. Please be careful!

The Departing Traveler: Oh, by the way, the Master is secretly following you. If you're in danger, just call out for help.

Makarov had no idea that Mirajane had ratted him out.

Nate was stunned for a moment, surprised that Makarov would follow him. He felt a little touched. He looked around the train carriage but didn't spot him.

Well, Makarov was one of the Ten Wizard Saints, so it wouldn't be easy for Nate to detect him.

Sigma Male: Don't worry. If I run into trouble, I'll call for the Master.

The Departing Traveler: You're unbelievable... Don't be reckless like this again, okay?

Then, Nate saw a notification.

The Departing Traveler invites you to join the chat group "Fairy Tail Bonds of Love." Accept?

Huh? They've already created a chat group?

He accepted immediately. As soon as he entered, the chat messages flowed like a waterfall.

Macao: Did Nate really take an S-Class mission?

Buy Me a Drink: That's what the waitress said.

Faster Than Anyone: A test from the Master? Even if he has Super Magic, jumping straight into an S-Class mission seems too aggressive.

What to Draw Today: I feel like there's something between Nate and Mirajane… Did anyone else notice? I don't need to explain the significance of giving someone a ring, right?

Dance with Me: But he gave a ring to everyone. What are you trying to say, Reedus?

What to Draw Today: Call me by my nickname online, you idiot.

And then the conversation veered off course.

Nate was speechless. Humans really love gossip, and it seems mages were no different.

The Departing Traveler: Stop making things up. You're going to cause trouble for Nate. The rings are just magic items to access the Internet.

The Departing Traveler: I still have over 20 rings left. Anyone who hasn't gotten one can come to me to collect theirs. They're from Nate, so be sure to thank him!

Wakaba: Our guild waitress is in a hurry. Smirk.jpg

The Departing Traveler: Wakaba, I'll tell your wife you've been smoking again. Smile.jpg

Wakaba: I'm sorry, Mirajane-sama!

Macao: Speaking of, the Galuna Island mission goes through Hargeon, right? Yesterday morning, Natsu asked me about the Fire Dragon. I heard the Fire Dragon appeared in Hargeon, so he went there.

Macao: They might even run into each other.

Nate, who had been quietly reading, raised an eyebrow. Natsu in Hargeon? A Fire Dragon?

Could this be the opening scene of the storyline?

At that moment, Mirajane sent him another private message.

The Departing Traveler: Sorry, Nate. Don't mind what they're saying in the group.

Sigma Male: I mind very much. It'll take five meals to make it up to me. Doghead.jpg

Seeing the first sentence, Mirajane was startled. After reading the second part, she rolled her eyes.

Sitting behind the bar at the guild, she quickly typed a reply.

The Departing Traveler: Come back safe, and I'll treat you to the best meal. Smile.jpg

These people were learning quickly; they were already using emojis like pros.

Nate responded with a "pinky promise" emoji and then set the conversation aside. Ignoring the gossip in the chat group, he went back to his book.

Magic was far more interesting to him.

...

At 7 p.m., the train finally arrived in Hargeon. Nate, holding his magic book, slowly walked out of the station. The port city at night was brightly lit.

"It's already late, so there probably aren't any ships to Galuna Island tonight. I'll have to wait until tomorrow."

Nate patted his pocket. After buying the map and the ticket, he had a little over 3,000J left.

So, where would he stay tonight?

Wait, forget about where to stay—what about dinner?

He should've asked Mirajane to pack him a bento for lunch.

"Poor planning."

As he walked through the city at night, Nate pondered how to gracefully get a free meal. Could he perform some magic to cover the cost of dinner?

Paying was out of the question; freeloading was the only way he could survive.

He soon entered a restaurant that looked pretty nice. Finding a table, Nate had just sat down when he noticed a tuft of pink hair and a blue-skinned cat at the next table.

A person and a cat were happily feasting on a large dinner.

Nate whispered softly:

"Igneel."

Suddenly, the activity at the next table froze.

Natsu, with a piece of meat still in his mouth, asked, "Happy, did you hear 'Igneel'?"

"Aye, I heard it."

The blue cat replied indistinctly, munching on a fish.

"Must've been my imagination."

Natsu went back to devouring his meal.

A figure sat down across from them.

"Good evening, you two."

Nate smiled. "Want to know where Igneel is? Treat me to dinner."

Score! Another free meal!

Natsu and Happy looked up in unison.

"Who are you?"

"You mentioned Igneel?"

Nate casually removed his left glove and held out his hand to them.

On the back of his hand was a blue guild emblem.

"I'm Nate, a mage of Fairy Tail. Nice to meet you, Natsu, Happy."

...

Next Chapter starts at Chapter 241....