The Accidental Savior

The Fairy Tail guild hall was alive with noise as usual, but to Nick Romero, it felt like a blur. Members laughed, argued, and swapped stories of their missions, the room buzzing with a chaotic warmth that could only belong to Fairy Tail.

Nick, however, wasn't part of the action—yet. He stood awkwardly near the bar, clutching his satchel and glancing around at the unfamiliar faces. No Mirajane, no Natsu, no Gray, no Erza. Just the older guild members—people he only vaguely remembered from the manga.

"Well, this is great," Nick muttered under his breath. "No pressure at all. Just a room full of seasoned wizards waiting to judge me."

"Talking to yourself already?" a gruff voice said, startling Nick.

He looked up to see Wakaba, a guild veteran with a mustache that seemed to have its own personality, leaning on the bar. Beside him stood Macao, his drinking buddy and fellow guild member, who gave Nick an easy grin.

"Don't mind Wakaba," Macao said, clapping Nick on the shoulder. "He's just mad because he got kicked off his last mission for smoking too much."

"Hey!" Wakaba shot back, pointing a finger at Macao. "I'll have you know it was a strategic break! Smoke calms the nerves."

Nick snorted before he could stop himself, earning a wink from Macao.

"Relax, kid," Macao said. "You're with Fairy Tail now. We don't bite... usually."

"So, what can you do, kid?" Wakaba asked, raising an eyebrow. "You don't exactly look like the dragon-slaying type."

Nick tightened his grip on his satchel. "I can do magic. Music magic, to be exact."

Wakaba and Macao exchanged a look before Wakaba smirked. "Music magic, huh? What do you do, sing the monsters to sleep?"

Nick bristled. "No, but now that you mention it, that's not a bad idea."

Macao chuckled. "Easy, Wakaba. At least he's got some guts showing up here. We've had weirder magic in this guild before."

Nick took a deep breath. "I know I'm not ready for missions yet, but I'm willing to work. I just need a chance to train and figure things out."

Macao rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Well, we could use some help around here. The bar doesn't clean itself, and Master Makarov's patience for spilled ale is wearing thin."

Nick blinked. "You want me to clean the bar?"

"Hey, you're the one who said you needed work," Wakaba said, puffing on his pipe. "It's that or mop the floors."

Nick sighed. "Fine. Bar it is."

Nick quickly realized that working at the Fairy Tail bar was an adventure in itself. Cleaning glasses and fetching drinks wasn't hard, but dealing with the guild's rowdy members was another story.

"Hey, kid! Where's my refill?" a burly man shouted, waving an empty tankard.

"Coming!" Nick called back, struggling to carry three drinks at once.

Another guild member leaned over the bar, grinning at him. "You're gonna need muscles if you want to keep up around here."

"Yeah, well," Nick muttered, setting the drinks down, "maybe I'll start by bench-pressing your ego."

The man burst out laughing, patting Nick on the back hard enough to make him stumble. "You'll fit in just fine, kid."

Nick Romero sat at the bar, staring at the juice in front of him like it contained the answers to life itself. The hum of the Fairy Tail guild filled the room around him—laughter, arguments, and the occasional crash. But Nick's mind was focused on one pressing problem: he was homeless.

"You look deep in thought for someone who's supposed to be celebrating," Macao said, sliding onto the stool beside him.

Nick exhaled, his shoulders slumping. "Yeah, well, it's hard to celebrate when you've got nowhere to sleep tonight."

Macao raised an eyebrow. "What about the nursery? We've got a couple of extra beds in there for people recovering from missions."

Nick blinked. "You mean I can just stay there? For free?"

"Within reason," Macao said with a grin. "Don't worry, kid. Nobody's going to throw you out on the street. Fairy Tail takes care of its own."

Nick felt a wave of relief wash over him. "Thanks. I'll take it."

"Good choice," Macao said, clapping him on the back. "Just watch out for Wakaba's snoring if he ends up crashing in there, too."

The nursery, as it turned out, was a small, quiet room tucked away in a corner of the guild hall. It had three simple beds, a few shelves stocked with first-aid supplies, and a small window that let in a sliver of moonlight.

Nick tossed his satchel onto one of the beds and flopped down beside it, staring up at the ceiling.

"Alright," he muttered to himself. "This isn't so bad. A roof over my head, a steady job, and a chance to figure things out."

He pulled out his flute, running his fingers over its smooth surface. "I've got a long way to go, but at least I'm not starting from zero."

he next morning, Nick reported to the bar for his first shift. He quickly learned that working at Fairy Tail's bar was less about serving drinks and more about surviving the chaos.

"Kid! Another round over here!"

"Hey! That's my plate!"

"Who put a chair on the chandelier?!"

Nick ducked as a flying tankard sailed past his head, landing in a spectacular crash against the wall.

"Rule number one," Wakaba said, puffing on his pipe as he leaned against the bar. "Don't get caught in the crossfire."

Nick gave him a flat look. "You don't say."

Despite the madness, Nick found a strange rhythm to the work. He wiped glasses, fetched drinks, and dodged projectiles like his life depended on it. By the end of the day, his legs felt like jelly, but he'd survived.

When his shift ended, Nick retreated to the guild's backyard—a quiet space where he could experiment with his magic. He pulled out his flute and began playing a soft melody, letting the magic flow naturally.

As the notes filled the air, faint wisps of light appeared, forming a shimmering barrier in front of him. The barrier pulsed gently with the rhythm of his music, but it was clear that it wasn't meant for offense.

"Great," Nick muttered, lowering the flute. "So I can make a magical nightlight, but I can't fight back. That's helpful."

He tried switching to a faster tune, hoping for a more aggressive result. The light shifted, creating bursts that flickered harmlessly in the air.

"Yup," Nick said, exhaling sharply. "Still useless for fighting."

The Wives System chimed in, its glowing screen appearing in front of him. "Reminder: Music magic excels in support and defense, enhancing allies and mitigating damage."

Nick glared at the screen. "Yeah, I got that part. But what happens when I'm the one getting attacked? Do I just serenade my way out of it?"

The AI ignored his sarcasm. "Supplementary skills such as physical combat or additional magic types are recommended to complement your abilities."

Nick paused, considering the suggestion. "So you're saying I should learn how to fight, too?"

"Correct!"

Nick sighed, leaning against a tree. "Alright. Guess I'll need to find a teacher."

The next day, Nick approached Macao and Wakaba at the bar.

"Hey," he said, trying to sound casual. "Does anyone here teach swordsmanship?"

Macao raised an eyebrow. "You thinking of picking up a blade?"

"Yeah," Nick admitted. "Music magic is great and all, but I need something I can actually use to protect myself."

Wakaba chuckled. "Well, Gildarts could probably teach you a thing or two... if you can survive the first five minutes."

Nick's face fell. "Great. Anyone less... terrifying?"

Macao thought for a moment. "There's an armory in town. They might have someone who can give you the basics. But be warned—learning to wield a sword isn't as easy as it looks."

Nick nodded. "Got it. Thanks."

As Nick scrubbed glasses behind the bar that evening, the Wives System pinged to life, its glowing screen appearing just above the countertop.

"Alert: Minor instability detected in the multiverse. Issue localized and under control."

Nick frowned. "What kind of 'instability' are we talking about here? Do I need to duck and cover?"

The AI responded cheerfully, "No immediate danger detected. The disruption was caused by lingering Chaos energy. All affected areas will stabilize before key plotlines begin."

Nick narrowed his eyes. "That's... oddly convenient."

"Your presence is intended to minimize such disruptions," the AI explained.

Nick set down the glass he was cleaning. "Alright, explain something to me. Why send me as a kid? Wouldn't it have made more sense to send me as a teenager? You know, old enough to handle myself?"

The AI's tone shifted slightly, as if attempting to sound wise. "Your age aligns with the timelines of critical worlds. For example, arriving as a teenager would hinder your ability to assist Tanjiro and Nezuko in Demon Slayer or to support Bell Cranel in DanMachi."

Nick tilted his head. "So... you're saying this is all about timing?"

"Precisely!" the AI chirped. "Your current stage allows you to lay a strong foundation for future growth and relationships."

Nick sighed, leaning against the bar. "Great. So I'm basically the multiverse's intern. Fantastic."

That night, after the guild had quieted down, Nick sat alone at the bar, staring at his flute.

He thought about the road ahead—the guildmates who hadn't joined yet, the worlds he'd have to visit, and the challenges waiting for him.

"I've got a lot to learn," he murmured. "But I'll figure it out. One step at a time."

The flute glinted faintly in the dim light, a small but steady reminder of his progress.

With a deep breath, Nick stood and placed the flute back in his satchel. Tomorrow was a new day, and there was still so much to do