Chapter 5: Fairy Tail
After testing the effects of the Equuleus Bronze Cloth, Moen didn't linger at home for long. He headed out toward the Fairy Tail guild.
Moen's daily routine rarely changed — home, guild, and forest.
He would rest at home, train at the guild, and explore in the forest. Since he had already gone into the forest earlier that Morning, he planned to spend the afternoon training at the guild.
His home wasn't far from the guild — just a few streets away. In fact, from the third-floor window of Moen's room, he could see the large signboard of the Fairy Tail guildhall.
Naturally, this made sense — it was the guildmaster's home, after all, and it wouldn't be far from the guild itself.
The streets of Magnolia Town were clean and well-kept, with a charming Western aesthetic straight out of a light manga. Cobblestone roads lined with rows of shops and street stalls gave the place a lively marketplace feel. Merchants shouted cheerfully, their voices mingling in the bustling air.
"Uncle Drew, how's business today?"
"Aunt Kelly, is my new outfit ready yet?"
"Miss Phil, I'd like a bouquet, please!"
As Moen walked down the busy main street, he greeted vendors left and right with a bright smile. He took this route every day and had long since become familiar with everyone. The stall owners responded with warm enthusiasm — they all knew him.
This particular street was Magnolia's most vibrant shopping district — packed with permanent shops and temporary stalls, like a bustling town square.
Because his house was just steps away from the commercial area, many of the older merchants had watched Moen grow up.
Unlike Laxus, who had gradually grown more distant and rebellious over the years, Moen remained kind-hearted and steady, earning the affection of the townsfolk.
He had grown up surrounded by goodwill and warmth.
"Here you go, little Moen. Thank you."
Phil, the flower girl in her worn clothes and carrying a basket of blooms, smiled as she handed Moen a freshly bloomed bouquet of roses. Her freckled face lit up as she picked out the brightest ones.
She knew that every time she came by, Moen would buy a bouquet — not because he needed one, but because he wanted to help her finish selling quicker.
"Moen, heading to the guild? Catch!"
A fruit vendor nearby called out, tossing Moen a red apple with a grin.
"Hey, thanks, Uncle!"
Moen caught the apple mid-air and took a hearty bite — juicy, sweet, and refreshing.
He gave the vendor a thumbs-up and showered him with a few compliments, brimming with genuine gratitude and good cheer.
As the grandson of Makarov, and a member of the Fairy Tail guild, Moen had naturally become somewhat of a local celebrity.
After all, Fairy Tail was the only wizard guild in Magnolia — and one of the most renowned across the entire Kingdom of Fiore. The guild was practically a symbol of the city itself.
Its prominence could be seen in its location — right at the heart of Magnolia. The Fairy Tail guildhall was impossible to miss.
Taking the bouquet in one hand and munching on his apple with the other, Moen waved goodbye to the vendors and crossed a few more streets until he finally arrived at the gates of the guild.
The Fairy Tail guildhall was massive. A tall outer wall surrounded a three-story building that looked more like a medieval fortress than a clubhouse.
Above the entrance hung a large sign with the name Fairy Tail, and just beneath it — the guild's emblem: a fiery, swooping mark that looked like both a flame and a tail.
Every Fairy Tail member bore this emblem on their body — a symbol of identity and pride, signifying their place in the guild.
Moen bore the guild mark as well — a solid black emblem stamped on his left shoulder. It stood out clearly whenever he wore sleeveless clothes or went shirtless.
He stepped into the courtyard and walked through the open doors of the Fairy Tail guildhall. There were no guards, no barriers — anyone could come and go as they pleased.
After all, at its core, a wizard guild like Fairy Tail functioned as a kind of freelance agency — a place where wizards accepted jobs posted on the guild's request board in exchange for rewards and bounties.
A place like this was never meant to be shut off from outsiders. On the contrary, visitors were welcome. In fact, there were guild staff specifically assigned to greet clients and handle incoming job requests.
As Moen passed through the front doors, he was greeted by a wave of boisterous noise.
The first floor of the guildhall was an open hall — a lively, bustling space where guild members gathered for meals, accepted jobs, and hung out together. It was open to all guild members.
Long tables and chairs were scattered throughout, and a bar-like counter stood at the back, behind which multiple job request boards were mounted. The entire space gave off the feel of a true "mission hub," where Fairy Tail's wizards would gather.
The second floor of the guildhall was reserved for S-Class missions — high-level assignments only elite mages could accept.
As for the basement, it was off-limits to everyone except the current and former guild masters.
"Moen! I heard you knocked out the new kid? Is that true? What, are you picking on rookies now?"
As soon as Moen entered the guildhall, someone called out to him — a blue-haired man in a white coat, grinning as he spoke. Clearly, news traveled fast. He already knew about Natsu getting knocked out.
Although the first floor was open to the public, the Fairy Tail wizards who lingered here always remained alert to new arrivals. The last thing they wanted was someone causing trouble in their guild.
"Uncle Macao, don't say it like that. We were just sparring. You make it sound like I'm some kind of bully who picks on new guys."
Moen rolled his eyes and shot back with mock annoyance.
"Uncle?! Hey, I'm not even thirty yet, you little punk!"
Macao Conbolt clutched his head dramatically like he'd just been hit by a bolt of lightning. He insisted he was in his prime — definitely not some middle-aged uncle.
"Haha, come on, it's not wrong to call you that. You're twenty-nine — almost thirty — and didn't you just say you're about to become a dad?"
Next to Macao, Wakaba Mine, a man with slicked-back brown hair and a pipe in his mouth, let out a booming laugh.
"What are you laughing at?! You're no better! You're already a full-on uncle yourself!"
Macao shot back immediately, and before they even finished their sentences, the two were already tangled in a dramatic scuffle, punching and kicking each other like a pair of squabbling kids.
"…"
Moen covered his face in exasperation.
He had seen this routine more times than he could count. Macao and Wakaba had been bickering like this since Moen was a child — it was just part of the daily chaos of Fairy Tail. He was used to it.