"I want to join the guild," I said plainly, watching his reaction. And I wasn't disappointed. Like a cartoon character, the surprise was plastered all over his face.
The atmosphere, which had grown slightly tense because of my presence, suddenly relaxed. These people are so easy to let their guard down.
After the initial shock, he didn't even bother asking the usual questions—like why I wanted to join the guild or where I came from.
"Of course, we'd be happy to welcome you. What's your name?"
"Medusa. I'm Medusa Gorgon," I replied confidently. I had hesitated earlier, unsure what name I should use in this world—my name from Earth, Medusa, or simply Gorgon.
In the end, I had decided to use the full name Medusa Gorgon. As an orphan, my name had been chosen by the father who left me at the orphanage after my mother died—at least, that's what the information I managed to obtain claimed.
I had considered changing it before, but by the time I reached the legal age, it was already the name people had known me by for years. Changing it would've only complicated things.
With that name, I now accept that I am Medusa. And I do not deny my monstrous side as a Gorgon. That's my nature—part of who I am.
Makarov didn't seem surprised by the name, which likely meant there was no myth or legend of Medusa in this world.
"Follow me," he said, turning his back and heading toward a corner of the guild hall where an empty table stood.
Once we sat down, he began to speak. "My name is Makarov, and I'm the master of the guild. Here, we're like a family. We accept people no matter their differences."
He said this while sipping from a drink he had secretly grabbed on our way to the table. So, even though he sounded serious, there was something slightly comical about it all.
"There's no test or formal procedure to join our guild, but I'd like to know if you have any experience you'd be willing to share."
Actually, I understood why he was talking in circles. It was because of my aura.
Once you reach a certain level of strength, it's easy to sense the hidden intentions of others. I have the blood of the Gorgon—a monster or rather, something akin to a demon in this world—as well as my Mad Enchantment, which I've been suppressing.
Still, no matter how hard I try to hide it, it's something innate—something that comes from within me. It's one of the reasons why people think I'm from a dark guild. I give off this... disturbing energy.
On top of that, the number of humans Medusa has killed and drained of blood is impossible to calculate. And I—who am her—still carry that murderous aura.
I don't really know how to explain it. I didn't bother creating a 'background story' because, at my level, I didn't think I'd need to lie. At the same time, I don't see any reason to reveal my true origin either, especially since it could lead to serious consequences.
"My situation is very complicated," I said, looking him directly in the eyes. "I'd rather not explain. But I can promise you one thing—I won't do anything that could harm or endanger the guild or its members."
That was the only thing I could genuinely promise. And if Makarov is anything like I remember him from the manga, he's a kind old man who understands more than he lets on.
Just as I thought, he took another sip of his drink before pulling out a marker from who knows where.
"Well then, welcome to Fairy Tail."
I extended the back of my hand, the same spot where Lucy had received her mark in the anime. And the moment he pressed the guild mark onto me, I was shocked.
It wasn't just an ordinary mark—it felt more like a bond. Due to my divine blood, I have high sensitivity to spiritual energy. I could feel it clearly: a connection had formed between me and the spirits of many others.
It was as if, somehow, I could draw strength from the spirits of others. And if I remember correctly, magic in this world is tied to spirituality.
I didn't lose myself pondering it for too long. I'll study it in detail later. For now, I have other things to consider.
I don't have a house. I don't have money. Technically, I don't need food to survive. I could sleep outside without fear. But absolutely not.
I'm in a magical world filled with different kinds of food just waiting to be tasted. Thanks to my abilities, I can eventually enjoy wealth and experience the life of luxury.
"Do you have a library here?" I asked Makarov before he could inform the others about my joining and begin the inevitable celebration.
Whether it's me from Earth or the part of me that is Medusa, I've never been a very social person. I don't like talking to people unless I really know them.
And parties like this—surrounded by strangers while being the center of attention—are definitely not for me.
He looked at me strangely, which was understandable—after all, Fairy Tail was known as a guild full of brutes, especially considering the fact that Levy hadn't joined yet.
"We do have one, of course. Do you want to read something?" he asked, apparently a little curious.
I shook my head before answering. "No, I'm not looking for a specific book. I just like reading in general, so I'd like to know what kind of books can be found in the Fairy Tail library."
"Then you've asked the right question. The guild has one of the best libraries in all of Fiore," he boasted. At least he said one of the best and not the best.
But thinking about it more deeply, it wasn't actually a lie. If I remembered correctly, there were texts in there about the Dragon King Festival, Lost Magic, and even Zeref's experiments.
He got up, and I followed him just like earlier. In truth, the real reason I wanted to visit the library was because, even though I could speak their language, I still couldn't read or write it—let alone choose a mission on my own.
I also wanted to understand how magic in this world really worked without drawing too much attention to myself. If I didn't learn at least the basics, life would become increasingly complicated, especially since magic was used in everyday life here.
And no, it definitely wasn't because I planned on repeating the same trick I used back on Earth when I didn't have a home—hiding in a corner until everything closed just to get some sleep.
The library turned out to be quite small, tucked away in a little corner on the first floor. It wasn't exactly how I remembered it, but luckily, it was neatly organized.
"Hmm, not bad. There aren't as many books as I expected, but it's still decent. Alright, I think I'll spend some time here," I said firmly, cutting off any chance for Makarov to speak. I grabbed a random book and fixed my eyes on it, pretending to read as attentively as possible.