Internet Magic in Fairy Tail

Chapter 235: Chapter 235: Teaming Up!

Everyone was stunned by the announcement: Nate would be a judge for the S-Class exam.

"Does this mean we'll have to fight him?"

The S-Class exams changed every year, usually consisting of three stages. However, one stage always involved facing one of the guild's S-Class mages as a judge.

The thought of possibly fighting Nate...

The women's group seemed relatively calm, but the men's group teetered on the edge of despair.

Mirajane, ever mischievous, stirred the pot with a playful yet slightly devious smile:

"This time, there are six judges, including Nate."

"They are myself, Erza, Laxus, Mystogan, Gildarts, and, of course, Nate~."

"Do your best, everyone! We'll meet you in the second stage."

Even in two-on-one scenarios, the odds of winning against any of those six were slim to none.

"They'll go easy on us, right?"

If not, would anyone even stand a chance?

Some quietly thought that encountering Nate might be their best bet. Surely, he would be the kindest of the proctors and perhaps let them off easy.

Erza, ever serious, encouraged the group with a determined expression:

"Unlike previous years, this time multiple participants can pass. Don't lose heart! Show the resolve of Fairy Tail's mages!"

Mystogan nodded in agreement. "There's still a month before the exam begins, so choosing the right partner is critical."

Laxus grinned wickedly. "Climb your way up to me, Natsu. Let's see if you can make it."

Natsu, who had just picked himself up off the floor, glared at Laxus. That mocking tone made him itch to fight on the spot.

"Quiet down."

Makarov, standing atop the balcony, waved his hand to restore order before continuing:

"This year's exam will once again consist of three stages. Passing all three will earn you the title of S-Class mage."

"I'll now reveal the details of the 'first stage'!"

The guild hall immediately fell silent as everyone strained to listen intently.

Nate glanced at Mavis, who stood beside him, and activated Telepathy magic.

[Nate]: First stage—this was your idea, wasn't it, First?

[Mavis]: Of course!

Mavis puffed up her cheeks proudly. "Don't forget the strawberry cake you promised me, Fourth!"

Back on the second floor, Makarov continued:

"The exam will take place at the guild's sacred ground, 'Tenrou Island.'

"Each participant will be randomly teleported to a location on the island."

"Your objective is simple: meet with your partner as quickly as possible."

"Once you've regrouped, head to the second-stage location. Reaching it will count as completing the first stage."

'That simple?'

Nate's first thought was that it seemed easy, but he quickly realized the hidden challenges.

At first glance, the rules seemed straightforward. If participants preselected their partners and agreed on a meeting point beforehand, they could immediately head to the destination once the exam started. In theory, all eight pairs could pass the first stage.

But that was unrealistic.

During the exam, every team would technically be competitors. Encountering other participants could lead to clashes, as eliminating rivals would naturally give a team an advantage.

Moreover...

'There's still a month before the exam starts. Why reveal the rules so early?'

The answer hit Nate immediately.

[Nate]: You're devious, First. This is a game of intelligence and strategy. The exam's already begun, hasn't it?

Mavis puffed up her cheeks again, clearly displeased. "How is it devious?"

The First had spent a great deal of time crafting these rules.

In this peaceful era, the guild members didn't value intelligence or strategy enough—especially people like Natsu and Gray, who were all brawn and no brains.

As Fairy Tail's "Tactician," Mavis wanted to emphasize the importance of information and planning.

Back in the guild hall, the participants were deep in thought after hearing the first stage's rules.

'Find a partner. Agree on a meeting point. Regroup as quickly as possible...'

This exam was completely different from anything before.

Mirajane added with a sly smile:

"For this year's exam, participants are prohibited from using the Magic Net for communication."

"But you are allowed to use the Pokémon you've trained~."

"That's all for now. The rules for the second and third stages will be revealed on the day of the exam."

After the announcement, everyone dispersed.

...

Makarov jumped down from the second floor and called out, "Nate, come with me. We need to discuss your role in the exam."

"Understood, Master."

Nate followed, curious about what his role as a "special case" might entail.

As they descended the steps in front of the guild hall, Makarov began to explain:

"About your part in the exam... well, we actually didn't prepare anything."

"What?" Nate blinked in confusion.

"There's nothing prepared," Makarov said with a chuckle. "Honestly, there's no point. With your strength, you don't need an exam..."

The old man continued with a grin:

"Even the First couldn't come up with a way to test you. So, once the exam concludes, you'll officially be an S-Class mage."

Nate considered this for a moment. It made sense—if someone of his caliber couldn't pass, it would only mean the test was flawed.

"Instead, you'll participate as a judge. During the exam, I'll need you to use your Flying Thunder God magic to randomly teleport the participants across Tenrou Island."

"Got it."

Having given his instructions, Makarov departed, leaving Nate to reflect on his role.

As the Master walked away, Nate thought about the Second Guild Master, whom Makarov had cleverly sent off to the Western Continent. Hopefully, the absence of Precht wouldn't cause any issues during the exam.

"Where could he be now? I should consider adding a map feature to the Magic Net, one that lets me track user locations in real-time."

Making a mental note to work on this [Satellite Map] feature later, Nate's thoughts shifted to another potential complication: Zeref.

If events followed the original storyline, Zeref might appear on Tenrou Island during the exam.

"Should I scout the island ahead of time?"

Nate was curious about the legendary Black Mage. Still, there was no rush—there was a month left before the exam. He could check closer to the date and figure out how to deal with Zeref if he was there.

Even if Zeref's presence didn't automatically summon Acnologia, it wasn't worth the risk.

The last thing Nate wanted was for Fairy Tail to be sealed away for seven years.

"Looks like I'm taking on the role of a babysitter here..." he sighed and turned back toward his apartment.

Creating more Pokémon seemed like a better way to spend his time.

...

Back in the guild hall, the chosen participants were busy finding partners.

"Ah, if only I could team up with Nate!" Lisanna sighed.

'You're not even in the exam...' Carla rolled her eyes but held her tongue.

Instead, she turned to Wendy.

"Wendy, have you decided who you want as a partner?"

Mirajane approached with a gentle smile. "Wendy may not be the strongest fighter, but her healing abilities make her an invaluable partner. I'm sure many people will want to team up with her."

Wendy slumped onto the table, overwhelmed. Passing the S-Class exam wasn't something she was particularly concerned about, but she knew she needed to give it her best for the sake of her future teammate.

'Who should I choose?'

Before she could decide, several people began gathering around her.

...

On the other side of the guild hall, Lucy was also deep in thought.

"Ultear will probably team up with Meredy—they're inseparable. That leaves Cana, Juvia, Wendy, Levy, and Evergreen..."

She glanced around, spotting Cana playing with her cards. Curious, Lucy walked over.

"Cana, are you doing a reading?"

"Yeah..." Cana answered, her voice trailing off.

Seeing Lucy approach made Cana feel a bit nervous. She knew Lucy was Nate's girlfriend, and she had teased her plenty of times before. If Lucy found out she'd been calling Nate "Daddy"... Cana might just dig a hole and bury herself.

"Why are you blushing?" Lucy asked, puzzled.

"Uh... it's hot in here!" Cana quickly deflected, shifting the topic. "Want me to do a reading for you? My predictions are always accurate!"

"Sure, why not?" Lucy said, intrigued.

Following Cana's instructions, Lucy drew a card.

"Well? What does it say?"

Cana stared at the result for a long moment before cautiously asking, "Do you come from a wealthy family? Like, 'super' wealthy?"

"Huh?" Lucy's eyes widened in shock. 'How could she know that?!'

She quickly shook her head. "No way! My dad's practically broke! I can barely pay my rent!"

That made more sense to Cana. She frowned and muttered, "Then it must be your boyfriend who's rich..."

"Is Nate rich?" Lucy wondered aloud. "He probably is... I've never seen him work."

Clutching her face in her hands, Lucy nearly cried. "I still owe him so much money!"

"Why couldn't the wealth card apply to me?" she whined.

Cana shook her head. "Impossible. You radiate poverty."

Lucy finally burst into tears.

"Don't worry about it," Cana said, patting her shoulder. "By the way, want to team up for the S-Class exam?"

"Really? You'd choose me?" Lucy asked, surprised.

'Of course!' Cana thought to herself. 'You're Nate's girlfriend, and Nate is my "Daddy." If we team up, there's no way he won't go easy on us.'

Her mind raced with excitement.

'This plan is foolproof!'

~~~

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