The morning arrived, and the floating paw-bubble drifted peacefully into the hometown of the Strauss siblings.
Shun was immersed in his book, his thoughts deep. As I grow stronger, I notice myself becoming more arrogant each day. But is that necessarily a bad thing? Not really. If I have the strength to back it up and don't go too far... it's actually quite fun!
"We've arrived back at the village," announced Ultear, the navigator. Her eyes were slightly red, and everyone could guess what had happened between her and Ur.
Not long ago, the Strauss siblings had bid a tearful farewell to this very place. Even though the villagers were somewhat crazy, it was still their hometown, filled with memories of their parents. And now, they were back.
"…"
They exchanged awkward smiles before landing safely, each aided by the paw-boots magic. Little Lisanna was especially excited to step on air. Since the foolish villagers were still away on their trip, the atmosphere was quite peaceful this time.
Ur, her eyes as red as Ultear's, was still wrapped in a blanket. As everyone aside from her was a child, there were no clothes in her size. After landing, she immediately went with Ultear to find something to wear. After all, she wasn't a pervert who enjoyed being unclothed... or was she? In the original timeline, she always shed her clothes out of habit as an Ice-Make mage, but that didn't make her a pervert.
While the others landed and "robbed" the sinful village, Shun remained on the paw-bubble. His reason was simple: this poor village had nothing to offer him. He had reached a 90% comprehension level of his magic. Once he hit 100%, he could create anything he desired, limited only by his magic power.
Reaching 100% comprehension of the 'Arc of Embodiment' was a significant feat. Some people spent decades barely reaching 50%. Rustyrose, the original user, was likely around 70%, and he was still formidably powerful, showcasing the immense potential of this magic.
"Hmm, should I pay a visit to Master Zero, who handed me that humiliating defeat last time?" Shun mused, dramatically exaggerating a past encounter that could, at worst, be described as a draw.
Just then, the others returned.
Ur was now dressed in black trousers, a red t-shirt, and a blue jacket that exposed her midriff. With her short hair, her overall appearance could be summed up in one word: tomboy!
"You look great, Miss Ur," Shun didn't forget to compliment her with a smile.
It caused a small blush to bloom on Ur's face, which then shifted into a guilty look. "Is it really okay to take items from this village without asking?"
"Ah, you don't need to worry about that," Shun said with feigned anger. "The villagers here are a bunch of lunatics. They tried to burn us alive just recently. Not wiping them and their village off the map is payment enough. We're entitled to take whatever we want."
"Now that I think about their insane words and their attempt to kill us, it makes me a little angry. Should I drop a spell on this village?" Shun added with a hint of manufactured 'rage.'
"Alright, never mind. Let's continue our trip back to the guild," Ur said, almost believing him.
Ultear, who was long accustomed to his antics, simply shook her head and told him, "Try to make it sound more natural next time."
The trip back to Fairy Tail was peaceful. Sorano, embracing her role as the big sister, spent the entire journey talking and playing card games with Elfman and Lisanna. The big sister of Fairy Tail was effortlessly spreading her influence to the future newcomers.
'Sorano… just how high is your ceiling?!!' Shun thought to himself, amused.
"By the way, Miss Ur, what are your plans?" Shun asked, turning to the Ice Mage with a gentle smile. "If you don't have any, you're welcome to come to Fairy Tail. A powerful mage like you would be a great asset."
"Well, I don't really have a plan," Ur admitted, scratching the back of her head. "Living with Ultear is the only thing on my mind right now…"
"Then you should join the guild. I'll be the Guild Master in a few years and will even have influence with the Magic Council. At that time, I can have Ultear's criminal records erased—though I doubt she even has any. You don't have to give me an answer now. Take your time." Shun finished his recruitment pitch, knowing it was ineffective to push too hard.
Only fools rush in, he thought.
"Yes, thank you," Ur replied with a grateful smile.
"We're almost at Magnolia," announced Ultear, the ever-competent navigator. The return trip was much smoother, largely because Shun's terrible sense of direction wasn't a factor; once he traveled somewhere, his magic power recorded the location, allowing him to teleport there accurately later.
"I almost forgot, you don't have a place to stay, and you're out of money," Shun said to Ur. "You can use my home until you get on your feet. With your strength, you could earn enough to buy a house within a month of doing missions." It was a fair assessment; Ur's current power was only slightly below that of Jose, the master of the Phantom Lord guild.
Shun extended the invitation on a whim, never actually thinking she'd say yes. To his surprise, he was met with a wall of resistance.
"Absolutely not!" Sorano and Ultear objected in near unison, joined by a rare, firm "No," from the typically quiet Mirajane.
"I have more than enough for both of us," Ultear insisted, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Shun held up his hands in a gesture of peace. "Alright, alright. It was just an offer, no strings attached. The invitation stands if you change your mind."
"Thank you," Ur replied, a genuine smile gracing her lips. She was genuinely touched by his kindness. "If I run into any trouble, you'll be the first person I bother."
As they flew over Magnolia, heading straight for the Fairy Tail guild, a peculiar sight unfolded below. A buzz of anticipation and dread filled the normally cheerful town. People were frantically pulling up cobblestones and moving flower pots to clear the main street.
"What in the world is going on down there?" Ur wondered aloud. The Strauss siblings leaned over the edge of the bubble, equally curious. They all looked to Shun for an explanation.
Shun sighed. "It's nothing too dramatic. It just means the so-called strongest mage of Fairy Tail is returning from a mission."
His words sent a ripple of shock through the group.
"The strongest in Fairy Tail?" Elfman asked, his eyes wide with doubt. For him, Shun was the pinnacle of strength—a true man among men. "Does that mean he's stronger than you?"
"I don't know. He earned that title before I joined the guild," Shun said, his casual tone easing the tension.
"Who is stronger…?"Elfman pressed, "Him or you?"
Shun paused for a moment, as if giving the question genuine thought, then offered a small, confident smile.
"Well, if he were to use all his strength he might cause me a little trouble."
Elfman's eyes narrowed. "But would you lose?"
Shun's smile didn't waver.
"Nah. I'd win."