The forced change in the weather had consumed an immense amount of magic. If not for the Fairy Heart, Shun would never have dared such a feat.
His actions immediately became the talk of Magnolia, and the resulting rumor drew nearly everyone in town to line up for a taste of the new restaurant's menu. The food left patrons speechless, struggling to form coherent sentences.
"That was amazing, Shun!" Lucy exclaimed, coming over to offer her praise.
Watching his daughter act so boldly, Jude finally came to his senses. Changing the weather… He had never even heard of such magic. Seeing the reactions of the other mages—even Guild Master Makarov's stunned expression—made it clear this was no ordinary phenomenon. Only now did Jude truly understand who he was dealing with, resolving to be more respectful from now on. He quickly returned to guiding his staff, ensuring everything was ready for the grand opening.
Makarov had invited a host of his old friends, who arrived with their guild members in tow. Bob from Blue Pegasus, Wolfheim from Quatro Cerberus, and the masters of Lamia Scale all made an appearance.
"Makarov-chan, we thought the opening might be postponed, so we were prepared to just stay at our inn," said Bob, the often-flamboyant master of Blue Pegasus. For once, his face was unusually serious. "But… what was that incredible event? How is that brat so strong?"
"Gildarts alone made your guild the strongest in Ishgar…" another added.
Makarov, who was still reeling from the display, seized the opportunity to boast. "He was a clueless kid with potential, but as his elder, it's my duty to guide him toward the light!" The nearby Fairy Tail members could only sigh at their master's grandstanding, leaving the group of guild masters to their own table.
Overall, the opening was a resounding success. How could it not be? Shun's cooking skills were in a tier of their own.
—
Later, on the second floor of Fairy Tail—a space reserved for S-Class mages and the guild's most dangerous quests—Shun stood before the job board. He was examining the ten-year quests. Only two remained after Gildarts had recently completed one.
Hmm, I could probably handle the hundred-year quest, but… Shun's real goal wasn't the reward; he wanted an excuse to spend time alone.
His plan was simple: complete a ten-year quest quickly, then use the extended absence to freely explore another world without anyone questioning his whereabouts.
"A perfect plan," Shun muttered to himself.
"What's perfect?" a voice chimed in. Mavis had approached. Though not an S-Class mage, as the guild's founder, she had free rein of the second floor.
"I'm taking on a quest. I need some time to myself," Shun explained seriously. "During that month I spent in a coma, I remembered my past… I need to figure out what I want to do now."
"I see. If you're in doubt, you're always welcome to find me," Mavis said with a smile, patting her chest. "I am a mom, after all." She seemed to cherish the title. She then moved to hug him, but due to her short stature, the gesture ended with her awkwardly embracing his leg.
Shun smiled down at her. "Oh? You've actually grown a bit. You'll continue to grow now that your curse is lifted."
"Huh? Really?" Mavis beamed.
"Yes, you're almost a whole inch taller. It's been four months since the curse was broken, so my mom is still in her growth phase, huh?" he teased.
After a bit more light-hearted teasing, Mavis asked, "So, have you decided on a quest?"
"Not quite. There are only two options. One is to defeat a monster that's been lurking in the Agnes River for years. Its strength is obvious, but the harder part will be finding it. The other is to deal with a Celestial Spirit who was banished to the human world for causing chaos. He's rumored to appear only during a blue moon… and he causes those near him to lose their memories." Shun sighed at the last part. "It probably won't affect me, given the difference in our magic power, but dealing with memory loss feels wrong, especially after I've just regained my own. I'll take the first one."
"Be careful," Mavis said, more out of tradition than concern. She didn't believe anyone could beat the current Shun—except for one infamous black dragon.
"I will," Shun replied with a smile.
The system hasn't spoken since that day, he thought. Even if I don't help save its world, it can't do anything to me. Expecting my help just because it helped me… and it called me a fool over and over. Isn't it the bigger fool? He chuckled inwardly.
Their search for Makarov led them to Shun's own restaurant, where they found the Guild Master happily eating from a bucket of SHFC.
"Hey, Guild Master. I'm taking a quest," Shun announced. "You can inform the client that a powerhouse with a one hundred percent mission success rate has accepted their request." He was as humble as ever. His perfect record was largely due to his rarity in taking missions; if you never go on one, you can never fail.
"Huh? A quest? You?" Makarov sputtered, almost dropping his chicken.
"What kind of mission is it? A ten-year one?" he asked, taking another surprised bite.
"Just accept it, Makarov. You saw how he changed the weather," Mavis interjected. Lately, she had become protective of Shun, often shielding him from Makarov's scolding—a habit that greatly amused Shun and chipped away at the Guild Master's dignity.
"Alright, approved. When are you leaving?" Makarov relented.
"Soon. In about a week," Shun said.
"I see. Be sure to tell your followers properly. Otherwise, I'm the one who will suffer," Makarov grumbled, already imagining himself being hounded day and night for information on Shun's whereabouts.
"I will. Bye." With that, Shun and Mavis took their leave.
Since Mavis had been living in the Fairy Tail female dorm, Shun made a request. "Could you live in my room and look after the place until I get back?" And so, Mavis moved into Shun's house.
When they arrived home, they found a small crowd waiting, as expected. Elfman, Lisanna, Ultear, Mira, Sorano, and Yukino—who had been brought by Sorano—were all there. Ur, feeling a little embarrassed to show up now that Shun was healthy, had mostly stopped attending such gatherings. Shun patiently explained to each of them that he would be back soon. Elfman, in particular, had become one of Shun's biggest fans. He reminded Shun of a certain green haired barrier user from One Piece.
After much persuasion and a promise to bring them along on a future mission if they grew stronger, Shun was finally ready to depart.
"I've already paid the rent for a year in advance. Don't let any strangers in, and remember to lock the door when you sleep," he reminded Mavis, who was now settled in his room. The motherly concern earned him a playful bonk on the head.
Now, for my next journey… it can only be one world, Shun thought. With a final wave, he shot into the air and vanished in a flash before everyone's eyes.