After finishing their meal, Bartolo resumed his herb-gathering work.

Meanwhile, Rayne found a quiet spot to rest and recover his stamina.

As for Kanna, she began chasing insects around, her small figure darting through the valley.

It wasn't until Bartolo packed up his tools that Rayne called Kanna back.

On the way home, aside from scaring off a few wild monsters that crossed their path, nothing eventful happened.

By the time the sun began dipping below the horizon, the trio finally returned to Magnolia Town.

However, due to the reward money, Rayne couldn't head straight back to the guild. Instead, he followed Bartolo to his house.

"Rayne, here's your payment for the job."

Bartolo handed Rayne a burlap sack that jingled lightly as it moved.

"...Alright. We'll be heading off now."

After briefly checking the contents of the bag, Rayne looked up at Bartolo.

"Remember, you promised to visit sometime. I'll be waiting."

Bartolo didn't mind Rayne's cautiousness—in fact, he approved. If Rayne hadn't counted the money, Bartolo would've reminded him to always settle payments openly. After all, money matters should always be clear between both parties to avoid trouble later.

"I'll take you up on that offer soon, Mr. Bartolo."

Rayne hooked the bag onto his belt and offered a small smile.

"Heh, no trouble at all!"

Bartolo waved his hand cheerfully. It wasn't often he met a young person he liked—one who was both respectful and eager to learn.

"Then we'll be on our way."

With a nod, Rayne left without further delay, leading Kanna back toward the guild.

"Makrov found himself quite the promising kid this time."

Bartolo watched their retreating figures, his earlier skepticism completely overturned. Then he turned and headed inside to process his herbs.

"30,000 Jewels… I'll keep 10,000 for expenses and return the rest to the guild master."

"This mission helped me gauge my current limits. Now I can take on slightly tougher jobs."

"I just hope there are still good requests left…"

As he walked, Rayne mentally calculated his finances.

Unlike in games, quests didn't endlessly refresh in the real world. Without suitable jobs, he'd have to kill time at the guild—which explained why members like Wakaba and Macao were often just hanging around.

But when on a mission, disappearing for days (or longer) was normal.

Take Gildarts, for example—one of Fairy Tail's strongest mages. Rayne still hadn't met him since joining. According to Master Makarov, he was off on an S-class job, but by now, he should've returned.

"If he's not back yet, he's probably fooling around somewhere."

Makarov had muttered that last part under his breath, but Kanna's sharp ears caught it. She'd later asked Rayne what it meant, forcing him to dodge the question awkwardly.

"Hopefully, there are still decent jobs left. If not, I'll check for new postings tomorrow."

While Rayne wasn't picky—especially since he wanted to repay Makarov—a well-paying, low-effort job would be ideal.

Noticing Rayne deep in thought, Kanna stayed quiet, obediently hopping along the cobblestone path.

"Seriously?! That thing was even tough for me to handle!"

"You're exaggerating! That kid seems pretty mild-mannered."

"Yeah, come on, Wakaba. You're joking, right?"

"I'm dead serious! Why would I lie?"

"Then Laxus is gonna have a field day when he gets back. He's been holding back for a while now."

...

Lost in his thoughts, Rayne only snapped back to reality when the noisy chatter reached his ears. Without realizing it, he'd already arrived at the guild.

But something felt off.

The moment he stepped inside, the lively clamor died down. Dozens of eyes locked onto him—filled with shock, disbelief, and a mix of other unreadable emotions.

"…?"

Blinking, Rayne glanced behind him, but there was no one there.

When he turned back, the guild members quickly averted their gazes—though they still stole occasional glances.

"What's going on?"

Puzzled, Rayne walked further in, Kanna in tow.

"Oh, nothing! We were just betting on who'd return first, and Wakaba lost to all of us," Macao explained smoothly.

The others shot him incredulous looks before quickly shifting their attention to Wakaba.

"You bastards!"

Wakaba glared at Macao, mouthing the words silently.

"You don't want Rayne finding out you were tailing him, right?" Macao mouthed back, grinning.

"…Damn it!"

Wakaba's anger faltered as he recalled the sight of the Moonlight Bear being slammed into a cliffside. If Rayne found out he'd been spying… would he get punched into next week?

Then again, he'd been on official guild business—Master's orders! Maybe he could just expense the damages…

With that thought, Wakaba conceded defeat via a grudging nod.

"Rayne! How'd the job go?"

Makarov, still perched on the counter, smiled warmly at him.

"It's done," Rayne replied, stepping forward to complete the mission paperwork.

"Oh, and here's 20,000 Jewel to repay you."

He pulled out the money pouch, but Makarov raised a hand.

"No need to rush. Keep it for now—make sure you've got enough for yourself first."

He wasn't hurting for cash and didn't mind waiting.

"I'd feel better returning it now."

Rayne's tone was firm. He hated owing people—if he could pay it back, he would.

"Alright, alright."

Recognizing the stubbornness in the boy's voice, Makarov relented and accepted the money, tucking it under the counter. Then, as if making casual conversation, he asked:

"So, Rayne… run into any trouble on the job?"

The guild members perked up, ears practically twitching.

"Just one monster."

Rayne noticed their stares and instantly understood. So that's why they're acting weird—it's about the Moonlight Bear.

To him, the fight hadn't seemed particularly remarkable. Back in the East Forest—where Porlyusica lived—the monsters were weaker, so he'd assumed the bear was just a slightly tougher opponent.

But judging by everyone's reaction… maybe it wasn't so simple after all.