With the conclusion of the S-Class exam and the selection of new S-Class Mages, the Fairy Tail guild in Magnolia had entered a completely new era.
Ankh, who had become a pillar of the guild at a young age, had begun taking on more S-Class missions.
These missions frequently took him to various other countries across the continent.
And from some unknown time, a resounding title began circulating among insiders in the continent's magic community.
"Grim Reaper."
"When you spot those deadly, crimson eyes staring at you in the chaotic, hellhole zones where people are being slaughtered left and right, you know that incredibly hot Mage from the Fiore Kingdom has arrived—that's the legendary Fairy Grim Reaper!"
Somehow, legends about the Grim Reaper spread through the magic community at a plague-like speed.
It was said that although this Mage was exceptionally good looking, he always wore a fanged demon mask, and few had ever seen his true face.
Because this Grim Reaper turned every enemy who saw his true face into corpses...
Though there were also rumors that some bystanders had glimpsed the Grim Reaper's true appearance.
That single, fleeting glance was enough for everyone to bestow upon him the honor of being called "exceptionally beautiful."
These mysterious and eerie rumors have also cast a special, hazy veil over the guild to which this "Grim Reaper" belonged.
One of the two strongest guilds within the Fiore Kingdom, and already showing signs of reaching the pinnacle—that was Fairy Tail.
....
It was the year X782.
Magnolia town was busy as usual, full of life, when a guy who looked like he'd been traveling forever finally stopped in front of the guild hall.
He was draped in a black robe with golden patterns, the hood covering most of his face, faintly revealing half of an oni mask beneath...
The black-robed figure extended a hand from beneath his garment, then pushed the door open with practiced ease and stepped inside.
The guild hall remained as boisterous as ever, with no signs of quieting down even when they noticed someone entering.
The man seemed to let out a soft chuckle, then slowly removed his hood and reached up to take off the mask...
The moment the man revealed his strikingly handsome face, it was as if all the beautiful things in the world instantly lost their meaning.
Even the brightest starlight seemed to dim for a moment.
It was hard to imagine that such an ethereally beautiful man would appear in this rowdy guild hall!
At the exact moment the man revealed his face, Natsu, who had been eating fire at the counter, suddenly caught a familiar scent and sprang up from his seat in excitement while shouting joyfully.
"It's Ankh!"
"Really? Ankh is back?" Happy, who was sitting beside Natsu, suddenly spoke up, asking him with equal delight.
With their outburst, the entire guild fell into an unbelievable silence for a moment, followed by an even greater uproar like crashing waves!
"Ankh is back!"
"He's been gone on this mission for a full six months... sniff... Ankh finally came home!"
"This is our very own 'Fairy Grim Reaper'—he's seriously so hot!!"
In that instant, old members and newbies alike looked at the guy with genuine awe, like he was a superstar at a fan meet.
At nineteen, Ankh had this captivating, mature aura that was way stronger than it was four years ago.
Even though he was still unbelievably good-looking, his face was more defined, more masculine, not as pretty and delicate as when he was fifteen.
Ankh looked at the crowd pressing around him, warmly welcoming him back, and couldn't help but smile contentedly.
Though missions outside were tough, returning to the guild always gave him a sense of coming home.
"Ankh! Fight me!"
A familiar, loud roar echoed, and Ankh looked up just in time to see a guy whose fists were literally spitting fire leaping down at him from above!
Ankh just shook his head, like, Seriously, Natsu? He drew a magic circle with one hand and slammed it straight onto the ground!
Natsu, who was still hanging in the air, suddenly got crushed by a massive pull of gravity, smashing right through the sturdy wooden floor.
Smoke curled up from his head, and he was knock out cold instantly...
Happy flew over, holding up a little wooden sign that said "K.O."
He gave Ankh a nervous look.
"Aye! Natsu got one-shot again."
Natsu's body, or maybe his main character willpower, was truly bizarre—he could barely win a fight inside the guild, but he was nearly impossible to beat in a real battle outside.
'That protagonist magic was seriously terrifying...'
Ankh bent down and yanked Natsu out of the hole he'd made in the floor.
"I heard all about it, Natsu the 'Salamander'. I never thought you'd make such a name for yourself too."
But Natsu was already completely unconscious, showing no reaction to Ankh's praise...
Ankh turned to Gray, who had approached him and remarked with a sigh.
"Looks like you've matured a lot too—you undress even faster now."
Gray, as usual, was bare-chested and scratched his head sheepishly while saying.
"Oh, not really..."
Ankh then spotted Cana holding a liquor barrel, approached her, and gently ruffled her hair as he whispered.
"Haven't told him yet?"
Cana silently shook her head before lifting the barrel to take another swig.
After the exam four years ago, though Cana never understood how Ankh had learned her secret, she began treating him as an outlet to vent her inner anguish.
She would confide all her sorrows in him, and thus their bond grew strong.
Regarding this matter, Ankh had once suggested she simply tell Gildarts directly, but Cana refused.
The girl remained as stubborn as ever, determined to become an S-Class Mage to earn the right to stand alongside her father.
To Ankh, that reasoning was just straight-up crazy.
For Cana to become an S-Class Mage, she'd have to beat people like Natsu and Gray, and... come on.
Everyone who knew anything knew those two were basically walking cheat codes.
If Ankh hadn't barely seen Gildarts all year because of missions, he would have totally spilled the secret ages ago.
Seriously, between a father and daughter, what problem can't be fixed by just talking?
Why put yourself through all this stress?
Adding to all this drama were his sister Erza and the three Strauss siblings.
Ankh was feeling totally drained just keeping track of everyone's issues.
He thought his own life was complicated, but turns out every girl in the guild had some major drama going on...
"Oh, by the way, where are Erza and Mira?"
Cana, her eyes a little fuzzy from the alcohol, mumbled.
"Mirajane took Lisanna shopping. Erza's off on one of those super-long missions."
Ankh nodded.
After him, Laxus, Erza, and Mirajane all became S-Class Mages pretty quickly.
With the missions getting harder and taking way longer, they barely saw each other anymore.
It sucked, but it was just the way things went.
Luckily, after finishing this mission, Ankh planned to hang around the guild for a while.
"Ankh, you're back."
Ankh quickly bowed his head when he saw the Guild Master, Makarov.
"The mission wrapped up faster than expected, so I came back ahead of schedule."
"Good job," Makarov said, nodding with a small, proud smile. "You probably already know why I called you back this time, don't you?"
Ankh smirked with a mix of mocking and bored disdain in his voice.
"The Council finally caving and giving me that 'Wizard Saints' title?"
Makarov nodded, looking pleased.
"No matter how long they dragged their feet, the title still ended up being yours in the end, didn't it?"
Four years ago, right after Ankh became an S-Class Mage, he blew up in the magic world.
He'd stopped huge evil plots that could have messed up the whole kingdom multiple times.
Those huge wins definitely earned him the right to be one of the Ten Wizard Saints!