The Magic Merchant in Fairy Tail

Rubber is an insulator and immune to lightning. At least, that's what Kira had learned from One Piece. Whether this is scientifically accurate or not, well, this is a magical world now, so who cares?

It wasn't the first time the guild members had seen Kira wield bizarre magic items, but even so, the sight of his rubber shield left them stunned.

"Rubber shield... seriously? You even have something like this?"

To be fair, the shield was rather niche in its utility—practically useless against anything but lightning magic. It was clear Kira had specifically created it to counter Laxus. Its effectiveness even outshone Erza's Thunder Emperor Armor when it came to lightning resistance.

Of course, it did. Why would Kira sell someone equipment better than the gear he kept for himself?

"Besides," Kira thought smugly, "Erza's armor is for fighting, while my shield is strictly for defense. Priorities matter."

"I haven't fought you in ages," Kira said, grinning. "What do you say, Laxus? Want to go another round? I'm in the mood for some fun."

Laxus' fists clenched, veins pulsing on his forehead. "Just what I wanted! Come on, Kira! Today, I'll show everyone who's really the strongest in Fairy Tail!"

"The strongest? Between the two of you?" Erza stood, her eyes narrowing. "Don't get ahead of yourselves—you're underestimating the rest of us!"

The air between the three became charged, tension rising like a storm about to break. Lightning crackled faintly around Laxus, Erza's armor shimmered ominously, and Kira's relaxed smile belied the growing magical energy swirling around him.

The guild members felt the pressure immediately, their excitement tinged with nervousness.

Markov's face turned pale. "Stop it! What do you think you're doing? You'll tear down the guild!"

"Old man, this guy started it!" Laxus snarled. "If Kira thinks he can humiliate me, he'd better be ready to face the consequences!"

Kira placed a hand on Markov's shoulder, his voice calm. "Relax, Master. This is Fairy Tail. We all love a good fight—it's nothing to worry about."

Despite his words, the glint in Kira's eye was unmistakable. For someone who typically stayed out of fights, his eagerness now felt contagious.

Nearby, Natsu fumed. "Hey, Kira! You said you were tired when I challenged you earlier! What gives?!"

"Obviously, that was just an excuse," Happy chimed in, rolling his eyes. "He didn't want to fight you."

"But the president's right," Kira said, stepping back and suppressing his magic. "Fighting here would cause too much damage."

He turned to address the guild.

"Everyone!" he shouted, jumping onto the bar for attention. "The Harvest Festival is just around the corner, and frankly, the same old beauty pageant is getting stale. Let's spice things up this year!"

Markov's ears perked up, and a sense of dread crept over him.

What is this guy planning now?

The guild members broke into animated discussions.

"Hey! Beauty pageants are fun!"

"Yeah! Who doesn't love the girls competing?"

"What's Kira cooking up? Is it a fight?"

"Kira always has the craziest ideas..."

Kira waved his arms to silence the chatter.

"Quiet down!" he shouted. Once the room fell still, he grinned mischievously and declared, "This year, let's host a competition to determine who's the Strongest in Fairy Tail! Everyone participates, except for the Master!"

The room fell silent, everyone staring at Kira.

He can't be serious, Markov thought, already feeling a headache forming. These lunatics will destroy Magnolia.

After a few seconds of stunned silence, the guild erupted into cheers.

"Yeah!"

"That sounds awesome!"

"Count me in!"

"What kind of competition? A free-for-all?"

"I've been waiting for something like this!"

Markov buried his face in his hands as the chaos unfolded. Why did I raise such troublesome kids?

Kira turned back to Laxus, his grin widening. "What do you say, Laxus? Let's settle this during the competition."

Laxus met his gaze with a wild smile of his own. "Just what I want!"

The two shared a charged look, the rivalry now set to play out during the Harvest Festival.

The guild buzzed with excitement. Even Lucy, who had initially been overwhelmed by the guild's energy, couldn't help but smile. "It's going to be an amazing festival this year..."

"Who do you think will win?" someone asked.

"It's hard to say," came the reply.

Markov let out a weary sigh, muttering to himself. "This is going to be a disaster..."

As the guild's chatter swirled around her, Lucy leaned against the bar, watching the commotion. She turned to Mira, curious about something she'd heard earlier.

"Mira, what did the Master mean when he said Natsu couldn't go to the second floor?"

Mira smiled patiently. "Oh, that's where the S-rank missions are posted. They're incredibly dangerous quests, where even a small mistake can mean death. Only wizards who've earned the Master's trust are allowed to take those jobs."

"S-rank?!" Lucy's eyes widened.

"Only six people in the guild are qualified," Mira continued. "Even though the rewards are high, most people don't even think about taking them. No amount of money is worth risking your life."

Lucy nodded, forcing a nervous laugh. "Y-yeah, I'll pass on those missions for now..."

As she glanced around at the energetic guild members preparing for the upcoming competition, Lucy couldn't help but think: What kind of guild have I joined?

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