Chapter 18 - Team Mael

---Next Day---

Getting out of my bed at sunrise, I walked downstairs to see the siblings saying their goodbyes to their parents. Having shared a bed as a family for one last night, I was happy they made their peace with things. Seeing their mother whispering something to Mirajane and Lisanna they both immediately started shouting at her with bright red faces. Their mother gave me a wink, and their father gave me a nod of approval.

'Well that confirms I have a foot in the door at least.', I thought with smile.

Going into the kitchen to make something to eat, I looked at my options in the pantry. Hearing the sound of people walking around upstairs I figured the other guests were waking up. Erza and company had crashed in spare rooms I had as the Guild Hall was full. According to Makarov, Yajima and other Council Members were working to reunite people with relatives, or rehome people. Till all of that was settled, Erza's group would stay here with me.

"Time to start the process of making a team.", I muttered to myself, "Sure eventually the guys will break off most likely, but the girls should stay. Women like reliable men after all, and I am as reliable as they get."

My plan was to use these next two years to get to know people before jumping to the Avatar World. Making a team, taking quests, and making memories was main goal for the time being as it was important to build a foundation for the future. The romantic stuff could wait a while as none of the women I was interested in were old enough to date...aside from Irene.

"What you doing Mael?", Lisanna asked walking into the kitchen.

"Figuring out what I want to eat this morning.", I replied with a smile.

"Did someone say food!", Millianna shouted running into the kitchen, "Where is it!! I want yummy food!!"

"Calm down Millianna.", Erza laughed running after her, "We have to show some respect, we are just guests after all."

Pouring myself a bowl of cereal, I got out of the way so others could making their meals. As I sat at the table eating Irene stumbled downstairs all disheveled. She looked like an utter train wreck, and she was groaning like an old man.

"Everything okay?", I questioned with concern.

"I haven't slept on a bed in decades...I messed up my back.", she complained trying to stand upright, "Can your magic do anything for that?"

"I can try.", I replied using Ark on her.

Sure enough the pain immediately went away as her back corrected itself, and she let out a sigh of relief.

"Let me tell you something...getting old sucks.", she laughed as she looked for something, "Do you guys have coffee? I really want a cup, I haven't tasted it in thirty years."

"No...none of us needed it.", Mirajane stated.

"Be grateful.", Irene remarked, "Eventually you will need it just to function in the mornings."

After everyone had something to eat, I pitched the idea of making a team. As expected, the siblings were onboard with the idea but the others weren't so sure. Irene was still in the process of replenishing her magic supply so it would be a few days before she was able to fight again. The other kids weren't sure they were really ready for fighting monsters, most of them had only the very faintest knowledge of how to use their magic.

"You guys know there are other sorts of quests than Monster Slaying Quests, right?", Elfman told them, "There are things like walking pets, washing windows, and delivering packages that we can do."

"Hmm...", Erza replied glancing at her friends.

"I mean if it's stuff like that, we could do that for now. We are going to need money in the future...we can't rely on Mael forever.", Simon said.

"I could!", Millianna giggled, "I could sleep in the Sun all day long!"

"You are going to have to work Millianna.", Sorano sighed, "You can't just mooch off him forever."

Agreeing to make a party for the time being, we got changed and went to the Guild Hall. Getting them registered as Guild Members, everyone went over to look at the Quest Board to pick our first quest as a team. As I was about to walk over, Makarov told me to hang on.

"Mael, I am promoting you to S-Class Mage. Honestly if there was a higher rank I would promote you to it.", Makarov stated as he crossed his arms, "Not only that...the Magic Council has made you a member of the Wizard Saints, specifically Rank 10. Once they finish the paper work you will get a few pieces of equipment to carry with you."

"Seriously!? Isn't that kind of sudden?", I asked, "I don't think there is a precedent for making a five year old a Wizard Saint."

"Well you slayed seven Demons, completely overwhelmed the Magic Council, and you saved all of Magnolia...if I didn't promote you it would reflect poorly on Fairy Tail. Yajima and the other Council Members also want you to have the position as it opens a lot of doors for you.", Makarov chuckled, "Now then, since you are S-Rank, the Magic Council has quests for you to complete."

"Say what now...", I said watching him drop a stack of papers next to him, 'Now I understand why I got suddenly promoted.'

"These are all quests that the Mage Faction was trying to push through that the Chairman Togo blocked. They are using this opportunity to push them through, and it was approved by everyone in the Council. All of these quests come with high bounties so that should make it worth your time.", Makarov told me, "Not only that, it will help improve Mages in the public eye."

The Quests included slaying Deliora, rooting out several Dark Guilds, and even slaying a Dragon. As I was looking everything over, Laxus came over with an irritated attitude.

"Gramps, you can't be serious!", Laxus shouted, "You are just going to promote him like that!?"

"I am Laxus, my decision is final. If you think he is unable to do the work, you can challenge him yourself and find out. I know you just got back this morning, but-", Makarov started to say.

"Fight me!", Laxus snapped, "Or are you to-"

Spinning around, I flicked him in forehead. Watching him sail across the room, he crashed into some tables and let out a groan of pain. The Thunder Legion members stared at me for a few moments before rushing over to Laxus.

"You get one go a day.", I teased them, "See you lot tomorrow!"

Stowing the stack of papers in my storage, I explained to my team that I had to go do some higher ranking quests. Promising to take them out for something to eat tonight to make up for it, they laughed and said they understood. Flying out the door in my Angelic Form, I headed off down the coast to locate Deliora.

A short time later, I found him walking down the coastline. Marching through the water, it seemed like he was aimlessly wandering around with no purpose. He wasn't far from where I vaguely remembered Gray was living so I arrived before he lost his parents. The village was in the middle of evacuating as they knew Deliora would arrive shortly. Seeing me flying overhead, the beast roared and attempted to strike me midair.

"You are far too weak to be trying to start a fight with me!!", I chuckled swinging Rhitta downwards.

Bisecting him with a brilliant orange flaming arc, Deliora fell apart and returned to being ethernano particles. Pulling out the job posting for killing Deliora, I grinned realizing I had just made over 500,000 jewels for that one swing. Since Deliora had been causing damage to several countries over the past few decades, many countries put money into the pot to take him out.

'Makarov was right, I will be rich after this.', I thought.

Seeing the villagers waving at me, and shouting words of thanks I flew down to talk to them. Before I could open my mouth several people were already thanking me and shaking my hands. When I was eventually able to speak, I told them that it was no problem at all and that the Magic Council sent me to deal with him. Asking the Village Chief to sign off that I killed it, he was more than happy to help.

Looking around the group of faces, I saw Gray with his family on the edge of the group. Now that his family wouldn't die, I was curious what would become of him. His original purpose in learning magic was to get strong enough to kill Deliora so his future was wide open. Now that he would likely have new goals in life, I wondered what would become of Juvia.

---Danmachi World, Labyrinth Level 4, 3rd Person POV---

Trudging behind their fellow teammates, Bella and Lily were exhausted. Since joining the Astraea Familia they had been doing a lot of physical training to get stronger. Carrying backpacks with them, the two of them were a bit upset at how things were progressing. It wasn't that their treatment was bad, it was just they never understood how tough it was to carry everything they needed on them. Mael had always used magic to carry their things so it never occurred to them how heavy everything was.

"Mael must be really, really strong.", Bella stated.

"Yeah...he carried all your household items to Orario, didn't he?", Lily inquired.

"Yeah, it was nice because we didn't have to leave anything behind.", Bella replied with a sad expression, "I wish Mael was here...I miss him."

"Yeah...it's not as much fun without him around.", Lily agreed, "No nice warm meals, no head pats, and things are scarier now. It was better with him sleep in the next room...it feels like someone is watching our home now."

"Yeah...I been feeling that way too.", Bella said, "It's uncomfortable..."

Overhearing their conversation, Ryuu glanced over at Alice who wore a complicated look. The entire Familia knew that the Evilus were keeping watch on them, but they couldn't tell the two girls. Astraea had promised Zeus to keep them in the dark as long as possible so they wouldn't be afraid. With Mael gone away to train, Bella and Lily only had them to rely on so it was important for them to work hard to get stronger.

"They are going to find out eventually.", Kaguya whispered, "I know our Goddess wants to keep them in the dark, but what if they go looking for the source of their feelings? We can't watch them 24/7, if they-"

"I don't like it either, but we have too...', Alice replied, "If we tell them, what good is it going to do? They will walk around like they have to constantly watch their backs. The two of them haven't been with us for even a week yet."

Whispering among themselves between killing monsters, the team made their way down to the fifth level. Not far behind them, several High Level Adventurers from various Evilus Familias were following them cautiously. Their activities in the Dungeon had been slowed thanks to the intervention of some unknown entity. Several parties had gone missing without a trace leaving the Familias severely underpowered.

Currently the Evilus suspected that the entity down in the Dungeon was actually one of the Astraea Familia members, but they had come up empty so far. Surveillance hadn't turned up anything, and the people they had watching them were becoming irritable. Having to watch them 24/7 really took a toll on their sanity...well at least a few of them.

"Damn it!! I just want to go get a drink, and have some fun in the Red Light District!!", one of the men following them muttered, "I am sick of this shit."

"I understand, but orders are orders. The Captain just broke up with her boyfriend so be grateful we are here. Last time that happened she killed two of the newbies and a veteran.", his comrade said.

"What does she expect, she is a fucking bitch.", the first man chuckled, "She may have a good figure, but that nasty personality ruins it. I'd date her if she wasn't an asshole."

"I am an asshole, am I?", a voice spoke from behind them.

Turning around, their Captain was standing there staring daggers at them.

"Lord Thanatos has recalled you all, we are done observing them for now. We have enough information to confirm the ones killing our people aren't them.", she told them, "Also...I want to have a word with Chase. I want to discuss just how bad of an opinion you have of me."

The first man gulped realizing that he was in for a world of hurt...or even death.