I'm not Jellal but just Some Guy with a Mustache

Chapter 07: I'm Just a Teenager Boy with a Mustache

Chapter 07: I'm Just a Teenager Boy with a Mustache
Fanfic by: Geraint
(Nero's POV)

It's been more than two years since I last set foot in the Fairy Tail guild, and now I'm finally back—though not because I missed anyone.

Truth be told, I've never really cared much about joining a guild. My real passion? Chasing down delicious recipes across Fiore. Unfortunately, good food doesn't come free, and to fund my culinary adventures, I occasionally have to take up guild quests—especially the ones that offer ridiculous payouts.

This last quest? A breeze. Thanks to the overpowered magic I inherited from Lolibaba—specifically Fairy Glitter—I had no trouble wiping out the enemies. They didn't stand a chance.

After wrapping things up, I caught wind of a rumor—a whisper of a legendary secret recipe passed down through the generations. Naturally, I chased it. Four months of wandering town to town on foot across Fiore, following every scrap of gossip. In the end, it turned out to be just that—a rumor. But it wasn't all for nothing. Along the way, I gathered tons of simple yet mouthwatering recipes from all kinds of local restaurants. A fair trade, in my opinion.

Yaaawn.

I stretched and let out a long yawn. Man, I'm beat. I could sleep for a week straight.

These days, I use the hidden chamber beneath the guild—the place where they used to keep Lumen Histoire, or Fairy Heart—as my personal room. Somehow, being there feels... comforting. Maybe it's the lingering presence of Lolibaba. In that space, I never feel alone. It's the closest thing to home outside Tenrou Island.

Arriving at the Fairy Tail guild, I pushed the doors open and walked in. As expected, the place was lively—too lively, if you ask me. All eyes turned to me the moment I stepped inside.

I spotted Uncle Makarov sitting on the counter, sipping something that looked like... orange juice?

"Nero! Why did that quest take you so long? Your grandmother was worried sick!" he barked, frowning.

I shrugged lazily. "Finished the quest early as usual. Took my time hunting for recipes. Anyway, here's the report." I pulled a stack of papers from my bag and handed it over.

He grabbed it and started reading. Within seconds, his expression twisted in disbelief. "Th-this..."

"Just the things I managed to gather about the western continent. I didn't go deep—I'm not suicidal." I yawned again. "Anyway, I'm hitting the sack."

I turned around and headed toward the stairs leading to my secret underground room.

"This kid..." I heard him mutter behind me.

The Next Day
(Erza's POV)

I walked into the guild and immediately noticed Master at the counter, chatting with Gildarts. He looked like he was nursing a massive headache.

Concerned, I approached. "Master, is something wrong?"

He flinched. "Oh—Erza. No, no. Just... Guild things." He cleared his throat. "Right, Nero came back yesterday. He should be out soon."

"Really? Why did that quest take him so long? I was worried," I admitted.

He sighed. "Apparently, it turned into a recipe-hunting expedition."

...

Of course it did.

"Well, I'll wait for him."

A few minutes passed. I was standing near the request board, watching the guild bustle with life, when an annoying voice called out to me.