Chapter 542: The Kingdom’s Recognition
Elfman charged up to the guild’s front counter, mission form in hand, and slapped it down.
"Mission complete," he declared. "I’ll take this one next!"
While registering the new request, Rhodes raised an eyebrow. "You’ve been awfully efficient lately."
"That’s because I fly," Elfman said, tapping his chest proudly. "Cuts down on travel time. Now hurry up!"
Rhodes blinked. "Wait, you can fly? Since when?"
"Legion. Back in Edolas, I tried a Take Over on one of those things, I’m heading out!" Elfman grabbed the freshly stamped form and bolted without another word.
Rhodes paused, trying to recall the creature. Legion... wasn’t that the big flying brute with no magic? All muscle, pure strength?
Actually, that kind of fit Elfman perfectly.
Still, he hadn’t seen the transformation yet. No telling how strong it was in action.
With only three days left until the S-Class Exam selections were announced, the guild had entered a frenzy. Those hoping to qualify were working themselves to the bone. Missions were flying off the board so fast, all that remained were the toughest of the tough, high-difficulty requests, long-distance travel jobs, or tedious labor assignments with no hope of finishing before the deadline.
Even Nab, the human statue by the board, had noticeably reduced his idle standing time.
"Rhodes! Barrel of ale!" Cana’s voice rang out as she slapped a stack of bills onto the bar.
She seemed more relaxed these days. Her relationship with Gildarts had stabilized, and she no longer carried that constant tension in her shoulders. By all logic, she should be drinking less now.
But no, if anything, her tolerance had just gotten scarier with age.
Rhodes turned to haul out a fresh barrel and instinctively checked the inventory.
She’d only been hanging around the guild quietly for a few days... and it was already time to restock the ale.
Her drinking power was monstrous.
Just then, the guild doors were flung open with a bang.
"Bad news!" Vijeeter shouted, stumbling inside in a panic. "There’s an army heading toward the guild!"
Laki, nearest to the entrance, called out, "Army? Is it the Council again?"
Vijeeter shook his head frantically. "Not the Council. It’s the King’s Army!"
"What?!"
"Did Natsu blow up another noble’s mansion?!"
"No way, this has Gray written all over it!"
"Could Loke have flirted with a royal princess?!"
"What are you talking about? Loke’s back in the Celestial Spirit World!"
"Someone get the Guild Master!"
"No need," came Makarov’s voice, calm but firm. "I heard everything."
Whenever chaos erupted, it seemed Makarov’s ears were sharper than a Lacrima.
He stepped forward, arms crossed behind his back, and nodded. "Let’s go meet them."
Fairy Tail’s members surged out the front door behind their master, a mix of curiosity and anticipation buzzing in the air.
Rhodes, Mira, Erza, and Gildarts were naturally among them.
Ordinary townsfolk gathered behind the guild members, drawn by the commotion and eager to see what kind of trouble Fairy Tail had stirred up this time.
From the end of the street, two neat columns of soldiers dressed in striped Fiore uniforms advanced at a steady pace. Strangely, they didn’t stop when they reached the guild’s front entrance, they simply marched right past it.
Only when the ornate royal carriage following them rolled to a halt directly before the guild doors did the soldiers pause. With military precision, the front and rear guards turned on their heels to face the guild, flanking the carriage like statues.
An elderly man stepped down from the coach. He was no taller than Makarov, though his presence was just as commanding. Soldiers surrounded him like a wall of steel.
The Mayor of Magnolia, who had evidently been trailing the procession, hurried over. He ducked past the soldiers and squeezed behind Makarov, leaning close to whisper, "Master Makarov, that man is Mr. Denton, the Minister of State for the Kingdom of Fiore."
Makarov gave the smallest of nods. "Much appreciated."
Denton’s face remained stern, his eyes sharp beneath a furrowed brow. Yet when he spoke, his tone was formal and respectful.
"May I ask, are you Makarov, Guild Master of the Fairy Tail Guild?"
"I am," Makarov replied, stepping forward calmly.
"I am Denton, Minister of State for the Fiore Kingdom. By direct order of His Majesty, I have come to express the Kingdom’s gratitude and deliver a royal commendation to Fairy Tail for its extraordinary service."
A wave of relief swept through the mages. So they weren’t here to cause trouble, no army brawl today. Some even slumped visibly, shoulders relaxing after having mentally prepared for the worst.
Among the crowd of onlookers, murmurs quickly broke out.
"Commendation? Did he say commendation?"
"Oh! It must be for what happened in Edolas!"
"Of course! Fairy Tail saved the whole city!"
The Mayor quickly shushed the crowd, motioning for silence. The soldiers held their formation with impeccable discipline, and the tension in the air shifted to anticipation.
Minister Denton lifted an elegant, gem-inlaid box, holding it up as he addressed everyone in a clear, unwavering voice:
"The Kingdom of Fiore has long stood for peace. For 162 years, we have proudly maintained our status as a permanently neutral nation.
"However, just last month, without warning or provocation, our kingdom suffered a covert invasion from Edolas. Magnolia itself was nearly lost.
"In that time of crisis, the Fairy Tail Guild rose without hesitation. Braving danger and sacrifice, you not only defended our people but resolved a foreign conflict that could have dragged Fiore into war.
"In addition, you brought back invaluable practical magic technology that promises to accelerate the Kingdom’s development in ways we could not have imagined. Your contributions will be remembered for generations.
"Therefore, by decree of King Toma E. Fiore, I hereby award the Medal of Peace and the Legion of Honor to all members of the Fairy Tail Guild!"
As Denton’s voice faded, dozens of soldiers stepped forward and raised their instruments. With practiced precision, they began to play a solemn and ceremonial melody.
The crowd, which had been on the verge of erupting into cheers, fell into an unexpected hush. The dignified music seemed to command silence.
Makarov walked forward a few paces, and Denton personally fastened both medals, the Medal of Peace and the Legion of Honor, onto his chest.
Though the awards were meant for the entire guild, it was only fitting that the Guild Master receive them on behalf of everyone.
Just then, two reporters appeared from the crowd, snapping away with flashing cameras. The moment was officially being recorded in history.
When the music came to a close, the soldiers who weren’t playing instruments began to applaud in unison.
The residents watching nearby quickly joined in, clapping with growing excitement and admiration.
The Fairy Tail mages, however, stood frozen in place.
Legion of Honor... sure, that was believable.
But the Medal of Peace?
A strange silence spread across the guild members as many began to mentally review the chaos they’d caused over the years, property destruction, street fights, wild brawls, and Natsu being Natsu.
Was this... really a peace medal?
Several of them began to sweat slightly, guilt flickering across their faces.
But that moment of introspection didn’t last long.
The sound of applause all around them soon swept them up. Then someone whistled. Then someone else joined. In the next instant, the guild burst into cheers and raucous noise.
Of course, only Fairy Tail would turn a solemn royal ceremony into a full-blown celebration, complete with whistling.
Denton paused as if he wanted to say something else, then decided against it. He’d heard all about Fairy Tail’s unique... culture. Better to let them be.
Standing a little to the side, Rhodes silently reflected on Denton’s speech. Comparing it with what Lahar had said before, it was clear the Magic Council had plenty of criticisms about how Fairy Tail handled things.
But the Kingdom?
The Kingdom was clearly pleased.
The Medal of Peace...
Fiore had maintained its position as a permanently neutral state for over 160 years. In that context, the award made perfect sense.
Fairy Tail had handled everything, fought battles, settled disputes, and resolved crises, outside of Fiore’s borders. From the royal family’s perspective, that was a best-case scenario.
So, whatever opinions the Council might hold, the Kingdom had made its stance clear.
And with the valuable magic technology salvaged from the Edolas airship, it was unlikely even the Council would dare stir up trouble now.
Denton, having offered a few final words of praise on behalf of the King, did not linger. With a sharp command, he and the honor guard turned and marched away in perfect formation.
Just as the carriage disappeared down the street, Makarov’s voice boomed out with enough force to shake the windows.
"Alright, brats, it’s party time!!!"
"YEAH!!!" the guild roared in unison.
...
Bonus @2000
Read Chapters /Keepsmiling818