21 Chapter 21 : I’m back!

Magnolia Town

"It's been a year, yet the streets seem unchanged," Kyros couldn't help but smile as he gazed upon the familiar thoroughfare.

Having spent seven years in this world, Magnolia Town had become his sanctuary. With his prolonged absence, a yearning for it had naturally taken root within him.

Suddenly, a passerby caught sight of Kyros and, startled, widened his eyes in horror.

Swiftly turning, he bellowed, "Danger! Kyros's returned!"

"What?! Kyros's back!"

"Kyros's back! Scatter!"

"Scatter! Scatter!"...

In an instant, the clamor of an alarm echoed throughout Magnolia.

[Om~~~! Ding Ding Ding! ]

[Attention to all residents of Magnolia Town! Attention! Kyros has returned! Kyros has returned! ]

The townsfolk fled at the mere mention of Kyros's return, as if they'd encountered a dreaded foe.

The smile on Kyros's face froze abruptly.

Lucy, bewildered, inquired, "What's happening? Why are they fleeing?"

"Happy" explained, "Lucy! Rumor has it that when Kyros first joined the guild, he used magic to incapacitate the entire town, instilling a deep fear of him among its inhabitants."

"The entire town?!" Lucy exclaimed incredulously, astounded by Kyros's power.

Annoyed, Kyros muttered, "It happened so long ago, yet they still remember. These folks are overly cautious."

After a while, they arrived at the gates of the Fairy Tail guild.

"Wow... it's massive," Lucy marveled at the guild's grandeur.

"Welcome to Fairy Tail!" "Happy" greeted Lucy warmly.

*Bam!*

The doors of Fairy Tail swung open as Natsu burst in.

"I'm back!!"

"His voice outside confirms it, Kyros's returned!"

"It's been over a year since his last outing!"

"Welcome back!"...

The guild members gathered around to welcome Kyros.

As an S-rank mage renowned for his kindness, Kyros was naturally beloved among the guild's ranks.

Natsu grumbled, "Hey! What about me, you lot?!"

"Hey, Natsu, you blend right in with the background, I almost didn't spot you," Gray teased, deliberately needling Natsu.

Enraged, Natsu retorted, "You asking for a fight, Gray?!"

"Come and get it if you dare, you jerk!" Gray, despite being an ice wizard, had a fiery temperament, particularly when it came to his interactions with Natsu.

"Let's go!"

Natsu charged forward, engaging Gray in a heated scuffle.

"This is ridiculous! Can't you settle things without resorting to brawling?" Lucy couldn't help but voice her frustration upon witnessing Natsu and Gray's altercation.

"Happy" waved dismissively. "Just let them be. This is nothing new."

Kyros approached Mirajane with a greeting. "Mirajane, I'm back."

"Huh! So you remember how to return after all! I thought you'd run off and start a family with some girl out there," Mira snapped at Kyros, clearly displeased with his year-long absence from the guild.

Kyros chuckled wryly. "No, I went to complete a mission."

"What mission? Don't think I don't know. Your assignment was completed long ago," Mira retorted. She had stepped back from the front lines, focusing on logistics and aiding Guild Master Makarov in guild management.

While Kyros's tasks were notably challenging—SS-level missions—they seemed effortless for him.

Mira had anticipated Kyros's return, but he had only communicated with the guild master via magic crystal, taking on additional tasks without returning to the guild itself.

After a year of wandering and absence, Mira's stern look towards Kyros was hardly surprising.

Feeling a mix of embarrassment and helplessness, Kyros couldn't fully explain his actions of protecting the guild and its members.

"Hmph! I'll let you off the hook this time, since you just returned," Mira conceded, seeing Kyros's awkward expression.

Spotting Mirajane, Kyros's face lit up with a smile. Although they were all guildmates, Kyros's bond with Mirajane and Erza was unique.

As Kyros and Mira conversed, what had initially been a scuffle between Natsu and Gray escalated, engulfing the entire guild in chaos.

"That's enough!"

"I've had it!"

"Argh!"

"You guys are insufferable…"

Despite the prolonged confrontation, there was no clear victor. After all, they were all mages, itching to unleash their magic.

As everyone geared up for a magical showdown, Natsu's voice boomed with excitement, "Let's show 'em what we've got!"

But just as the anticipation peaked, a commanding voice cut through the commotion.

"Enough! Can't you all hear me? You're acting like a bunch of imbeciles!"

A massive silhouette loomed in the guild hall, commanding attention from all.

Lucy's voice quivered with dread, "That's... that's enormous!"

The bustling guild fell into an abrupt silence.

Mira greeted with a mixture of surprise and relief, "Ah, Guild Master, you're here."

"Guild Master?!" Lucy gasped, incredulous that this towering figure was indeed the head of Fairy Tail - larger than life in more ways than one.

Kyros piped up, offering his own greeting, "Welcome back, Guild Master."

"Hmph. Took you long enough, you troublemaker," came the gruff response.

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