"That voice...?"
As the alluring voice echoed through the guild, the entire Fairy Tail hall dimmed slightly...
A woman with hair like moonlight, golden and beautiful, stood silently before Makarov, smiling gently. But even this faint smile caused Makarov's heart to stop momentarily. Compared to Selene, Makarov felt a sense of suffocation.
"Se... Selene?!"
Makarov's face paled, his body trembling slightly, and his expression became panicked. He had completely forgotten about Selene, the living ancestor of the guild.
"Master, who did you say were the participants for this year's S-Class Wizard Exam?"
Selene, with her enchanting face, looked at Makarov with eyes full of affection, speaking in a voice as gentle as moonlight.
"Ahem... Everyone, I must apologize. I made an error earlier. This year's S-Class Wizard Exam will also include our guild's goddess, Selene..."
"Actually, Selene, even if you didn't participate in the exam, I would have awarded you the title of S-Class Wizard. So, you see..."
As one of Fairy Tail's two privileges, Makarov was willing to break the rules and directly grant Selene the title to avoid any trouble she might cause.
"Oh my~"
"You're too kind. Won't others be jealous?"
Selene said, taking out a folding fan and opening it to cover half her face, revealing only her enchanting eyes as she smiled at the guild members.
"No, no..."
The guild members, whether they were participants or not, shook their heads frantically, indicating they wouldn't dare be jealous of Selene.
Of course, no one in the guild dared to provoke someone who could tear Gildarts apart. Well, there might be one person, but fortunately, that person wasn't present.
"In that case, it's decided~"
Selene smiled contentedly. She had no real interest in the S-Class Wizard Exam but couldn't stand being ranked lower than Irene Belserion, who was also an S-Class Wizard.
"Phew... Luckily, I'm smart!"
"Master Mavis, Master Precht, I protected Tenrou Island!"
Makarov's smile widened, feeling relieved that his efforts had paid off and Selene was appeased.
"Oh my~"
"Master, I recall not having such exemptions back in the day."
"Why does this shameless woman get one?"
"Master, care to explain?"
Just as Makarov was about to relax, a brilliant light filled the guild, and a pair of boots stepped in. Following the boots were long, shapely legs, a seductive figure, and a head of crimson hair. The woman's beauty was stunning from every angle, truly mesmerizing.
The woman was none other than Irene Belserion.
"Ah! The only woman in the entire Fairy Tail guild who dares to provoke Selene has appeared!"
The guild members held their breath, staring at the crimson-haired woman in silent awe.
"What's wrong with everyone?"
"Why does everyone look so afraid?"
"Who are those two beautiful ladies?"
Sitting near the platform, Wendy, who was enjoying the Fairy Tail S-Class Wizard Exam for the first time, asked the mages around her in a whisper.
Due to Irene and Selene usually attacking Gildarts from a distance or through portals, Wendy had never seen them in person until now, making her curious about their identities.
"Wendy, since you're new, you wouldn't know…"
"In Fairy Tail, we have different levels of mages. There are those like Wakaba and me, the regular mages, who can only take on A-rank missions at most..."
Macao sat beside Wendy, explaining softly.
"Above us are the backbone of the guild, the S-Class Wizards. They are the foundation of Fairy Tail in this country..."
"By the way, excluding Master Makarov who no longer takes on missions, we have eight active S-Class Wizards: Gildarts Clive, Evan Belserion, Ur Milkovich, Laxus Dreyar, Erza Belserion, Cornuke, and Mirajane Strauss..."
As Macao explained, Wakaba, puffing on his pipe, added details to Wendy and Carla.
"Wait, isn't that only seven S-Class Wizards? You said there were eight," Carla pointed out after counting.
"That's because..."
Wakaba began, trying to build suspense.
"Let me continue..."
Macao interrupted, eager to clarify.
"Macao!"
Wakaba grumbled but let Macao speak.
"We count one separately because this person is far above the others. If the seven I mentioned are potential top wizards, this person is on a different level, the true strongest wizard in Fairy Tail. She is Irene Belserion, the beautiful crimson-haired woman who just arrived."
Macao introduced Wendy and Carla to the woman who had everyone holding their breath.
"By the way, Irene is Evan and Erza's mother."
"You probably guessed, considering they all share the Belserion name."
"The Belserion family is the strongest in Fairy Tail, with all three members being S-Class Wizards..."
Wakaba added, emphasizing the family's strength.
"Gulp..."
"Evan and Erza's mother!"
"Stronger than Evan, the strongest wizard in Fairy Tail, Irene Belserion..."
Wendy stared at Irene, swallowing hard. Knowing Evan's strength, it was hard for Wendy to imagine someone stronger.
"Truly powerful and beautiful!"
Wendy admired Irene, convinced that strength and beauty were correlated.
"Oh my~"
"Little girl, don't listen to these two."
"The strongest wizard in Fairy Tail isn't Irene but me."
As Wendy stared at Irene, her view was suddenly blocked.
"Eep..."
Wendy squealed in surprise.
"Such a cute girl~"
"Sniff sniff~"
"Ah, you're a Dragon Slayer?"
"Let me guess, you're a Sky Dragon Slayer, right?"
"How is Grandeeney?"
Selene, who had embraced Wendy, released her and smiled gently.
"Huh?"
Wendy looked up at the woman with moonlight-like platinum hair and enchanting eyes. She was stunned by Selene's beauty and the fact that she mentioned Grandeeney.
"Do you know Grandeeney?"
Wendy asked excitedly.
"I've heard of her~"
Selene smiled, nodding.
"Do you know where Grandeeney is?"
Wendy mustered the courage to ask.
"I'll tell you after the exam~"
Selene patted Wendy's head, glared at Macao and Wakaba, and walked towards Irene.
"Uh..."
Macao and Wakaba shivered under Selene's glare.
"There she is, the only one in Fairy Tail who can rival Irene for the top spot, the mysterious woman who lives in obscurity, S-Class Wizard, Dragon Slayer Cornuke's mother, Selene!"
"If the Belserion family is the strongest, Selene's family is the second strongest..."
"Regardless of who they are, they are monsters. Don't mess with them. Even the guild master isn't as scary as these two women."
Macao and Wakaba warned Wendy.
"But I think they're nice people?"
Wendy was confused by everyone's fear of Selene.
On the other side...
Selene and Irene faced each other, the guild's atmosphere turning icy.
"Um, excuse me..."
Caught in the middle, Makarov felt crushed by the tension, and he turned to Evan for help.
"If Selene wants the S-Class title, why not participate in the exam? It should be easy for her."
"I'm sure Irene won't mind if Selene follows the rules and passes the exam."
Evan suggested, trying to mediate.
"Indeed~"
Irene nodded in agreement.
"Phew, thank you, Evan. Tenrou Island is saved!"
Makarov sighed in relief, planning to declare Selene the winner once they reached the island.
"Oh my~"
"Evan, calling me 'Selene-senpai' makes me feel old~"
"Just call me Selene. As for the exam, I'll participate."
Selene smiled, agreeing to Evan's suggestion.
"All's well that ends well..."
Makarov wiped his forehead, relieved.
Just then, Irene spoke.
"Fairy Tail's S-Class Exam isn't easy~"
"Selene, I hope you truly pass."
Irene smiled sincerely.
"Hmph, I don't need your concern."
Selene scoffed, not believing Irene's sincerity.
"Hmph~" Irene smiled coldly, turning to Makarov. "Master Makarov, as an S-Class Wizard, I should be a judge for this year's exam, right?"
"I'm sorry, Master Mavis!"
"I'm sorry, Master Precht!"
"I'm sorry, Fairy Tail predecessors!"
"I've failed, Tenrou Island can't be saved..."
Makarov teared up, imagining Tenrou Island's destruction.