The Fairy Queen, Erza, is the technically second female lead of the Fairy Tail anime, but her popularity rivals the first. Kevin was a fan of Erza's character, so he recognized her immediately.
This was his first time seeing Erza in person. She wasn't at the Guild when he joined, likely off on a mission.
"What's going on?"
"It seems Erza wants to take on an S-Class request, but the Master refused her."
"S-Class?!"
S-Class requests are extremely challenging, life-threatening jobs even for S-Class Mages, where a single mistake could be disastrous.
Unless it's an exceptionally powerful S-Class Mage, like Gildarts, even S-Class Mages rarely take on S-Class requests.
"Master! I am confident I can complete this S-Class mission!" Erza insisted to Makarov. She had been an S-Class Mage for three years, passing the exam at fifteen, making her the youngest S-Class Mage in Fairy Tail Guild history.
After becoming S-Class, she patiently honed her skills, knowing her strength wasn't sufficient for S-Class missions. She planned to take one last year, but Mira's incident postponed it. Now, at eighteen, she's ready.
Hearing a newcomer completed an S-Class mission on their first try reignited her competitive spirit. She, an S-Class Mage, hadn't completed one, yet a newcomer had.
So she decided to challenge herself with an S-Class mission.
"No! This job is too dangerous. It's not about confidence; it's about strength."
"I have the strength to complete this mission!"
"You stubborn girl, why are you so pigheaded?!" Makarov slammed the table in frustration.
Elfman muttered, "Why does this scene feel so familiar?" He glanced at Kevin. A few days ago, Kevin had a similar conversation with the Master.
"Master, I'm not being stubborn. I truly believe I can complete this job."
Makarov sighed, "S-Class requests aren't simple. This request has been posted for over two years. In that time, seven or eight powerful Mages attempted it, and none returned. Do you see why I won't let you go now?"
"What?!"
"Seven or eight Mages all failed?!"
Everyone in the Guild was shocked. Mages capable of taking S-Class requests were powerful. Such a dangerous S-Class mission caused concern.
"Master, I still want to try and challenge it!" Erza insisted. Every mission has its dangers; only by constantly challenging oneself can one break through limits.
"You child, why can't I get through to you?" Makarov was furious.
Noticing Kevin at the request board, Makarov thought: This kid has always eyed the second-floor missions.
"Alright! I agree."
"Really?!" Erza was surprised. She didn't expect the Master to agree.
"But there's one condition!"
"What condition?"
"You cannot go alone. It's too dangerous. I'll assign someone to go with you; only then will I feel at ease." Makarov pointed at Kevin: "Kevin, you go with Erza!"
Kevin was stunned, pointing to himself: "Me?!"
"Eh—————?!"
Everyone in the Guild was surprised by Makarov's decision.
Kevin, a newcomer, had just completed one S-Class mission. Was he really taking on a second? It seemed exaggerated.
"That's right! It's you, kid. Haven't you always wanted to do S-Class missions? I'm giving you a chance. Go with Erza. Are you doing it or not?"
**Ding! Do you accept the S-Class mission: Sword of Legend? Mission reward: one ten-pull gacha!**
"Do it! Do it! Do it!" Seeing the system prompt, Kevin immediately raised his hand and shouted.
How could he not? One S-Class request equaled 10 A-Class requests. Plus, doing 10 A-Class requests required too much running around. One S-Class mission was more convenient.
Kevin quickly approached: "Master, I'll do it!"
"Erza, this mission will be completed by you and Kevin. If you don't agree, then I can't allow you to go alone," Makarov said. S-Class requests were too dangerous. Although Erza was strong, the risk of failure was high. Kevin, though a newcomer, had experience completing S-Class requests. Based on Elfman's description, while Kevin's stamina was lacking, his full power ranked among top S-Class Mages.
If not for fearing arrogance, he could even be made an S-Class Mage directly.
Only by sending Kevin with Erza could Makarov feel at ease.
"I agree!" Erza didn't hesitate. She wasn't reckless. A safer mission completion method was welcome.
"Hello, I'm Erza. Nice to meet you." Erza extended her hand to Kevin.
Kevin shook her hand: "My name is Kevin. Nice to meet you."
"Hmm, I've heard of you. You single-handedly defeated the Phantom Bandit Gang. Very reliable!"
"It was just a coincidence."
"S-Class missions aren't completed by coincidence. If you have time, we can spar sometime."
"Uh... alright!" Kevin saw the strong desire to win in Erza's eyes, determined to defeat him.
"Kevin, take a look at the mission." Makarov handed over the request form.
Kevin examined it. This was his first time seeing an S-Class request form.
A large red 'S' marked the form, emphasizing the mission's danger.
**"Sword of Legend (S): In a temple deep within the Great Forest west of the Sobeya Kingdom, there is a legendary sword. Pull out the Sword of Legend and return it to the Sobeya Royal Palace."**
"The mission doesn't seem that complicated!" Kevin remarked.
Makarov said seriously, "The simpler the mission, the more dangerous it is. Seven or eight powerful Mages have already fallen on this mission."
"I don't know much about the mission, but I do know about the Great Forest west of the Sobeya Kingdom. Its official name is the Western Great Forest, but it also goes by another name: the 'Demon Beast Great Forest'!"
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