After the young saleswoman from the baby store sold the magic crystal to the magic item shop for a high price of 5 million J, the first thing she did was return to the baby store, give the store manager the 500,000 J she needed, and then promptly resigned.
Yes, she was now a millionaire and had no reason to continue working.
Not only that, she gave every employee in the baby store a 100,000 J bonus. Even after doing so, she still had 4 million J left—an enormous sum of money.
"My money! My money!!"
As for the store manager, she cried herself unconscious in the restroom. Just thinking about the magic crystal worth 5 million J that the former employee had sold, which should have been hers, caused her intense pain.
In her extreme rage, she even reported to the authorities, angrily accusing the former store clerk of stealing her magic crystal. But under the testimony of the other employees, she gained nothing. Instead, the guards gave her a strict verbal warning.
Ian knew nothing about this.
Three months passed in a hurry.
Time moved on to January of X698.
August and Ian had now officially settled in this small town.
In these three months, Ian discovered with surprise that the prices in this era were completely different from those eighty-plus years in the future.
Especially some magical materials from powerful magical beasts, which were sold at extremely high prices.
In the town's magic item shops, their main customers weren't ordinary people but wandering mages. This indirectly led to a situation where some convenient magical items used for improving daily life—items that Ian knew would be common in the future—were still mostly unheard of by ordinary townsfolk. They had heard rumors of such things but never actually seen them.
In response, Ian opened the town's first magic item store dedicated to public welfare.
He primarily sold magically enhanced household items: a magically powered washing machine, a magically powered automatic floor sweeper, a magically powered sewing machine, and so on—these "benefit-the-people" magic items.
This way, Ian wouldn't be in conflict with the town's other magic item stores, and he could still earn enough money to support his daily expenses.
In fact, Ian's idea was very successful. The moment his magic item store opened, it caused a sensation throughout the town. Every single magic tool he created with his enhancement magic sold incredibly well in the town and even in neighboring towns.
In fact, those who managed to buy his products could resell them at a 30% or even 50% profit. They were basically the "hot stock" of the magical world.
Despite this, people never tired of it. Every day, they lined up at the store to snatch whatever the store sold. Ian's shop was always sold out, daily demand far exceeding supply.
Of course, the success of Ian's magic item store also attracted many imitators in town. Unfortunately, their products were too crude compared to Ian's. Although they could sell theirs too, they couldn't create the vast market or supply chain that Ian's magic item store had.
"Boss, please make more!"
"Yes, boss! You sell too few items every day. I've queued up for a week and still haven't managed to buy anything!"
Inside the store, Ian held August in one arm, tiredly feeding the child, while also enduring the urging of countless customers.
"So annoying! I've already earned enough money. Maybe I should just close the shop."
With dark circles under his eyes, Ian looked at the customers before him and spoke irritably.
"Eh?! Close up?"
"No, boss, don't!"
"Just take your time making them!"
Hearing Ian's irritated voice, the customers panicked and waved their hands, trying to persuade him.
"In any case, today's goods are sold out. Everyone out!"
Ian rubbed his nose and, without giving them a chance to say more, drove all the customers out of the store. Yes, in the entire Violet town, Ian's was probably the only store daring enough to kick customers out if they so much as annoyed him.
"Phew…"
After all the customers left, Ian breathed a sigh of relief. With one arm holding August and his other hand massaging his temples, he realized things couldn't go on like this. The store had grown too big by accident, and he needed reliable help.
"If I go out to hire staff now, it'll be too troublesome. Besides, these hired employees wouldn't be entirely trustworthy. I can't rest easy using them."
"Therefore, there's only one solution…"
Thinking this, Ian took out a rolling pin, a black blade, and a shop attendant's uniform from his storeroom.
"Father, what on earth are you doing?!"
In Ian's arms, August watched curiously as Ian fiddled with these items. The boy's big eyes were full of confusion and wonder.
"Irene's Secret Technique: Personality Infusion!"
Without any hesitation, Ian suddenly unleashed a terrifying magical power…
He cast a high-level enchantment spell: Conceptual Attachment - Personality. By attaching personalities—one of a clerk, one of a warrior, and one of a chef—to these three items, he gave them life.
"Boom!!"
In the next instant, three charming girls appeared before Ian, each with different hair colors—white, black, and brown.
"Amelia, Tifa, Asuna, present our respects to Lord Ian and Young Master August."
The three girls knelt on one knee before Ian, speaking respectfully.
"What is this?!"
August, still in Ian's arms, gaped in astonishment at the scene. He was stunned by Ian's power and bold idea: directly attaching personalities to objects to create subordinates.
"Ah, I can't take it anymore…"
As for Ian, after using personality attachment thrice in a row, he felt utterly drained and plopped down onto the sofa behind him.
With his current strength, creating three personalities with strength roughly at the veteran S-class level—close to that of the "Ten Wizard Saints"—in one go was still very tiring.
Compared to Irene, the ultimate Enhancement Mage in the original story who could attach personalities to a million beings at once, Ian was still far behind.
"From today on, Amelia will be in charge of cooking and caring for August. Tifa will handle security. Asuna will handle sales! As for me, I'll focus on making products and training…"
Ian thought for a moment and revealed a relaxed smile.
Yes, the work arrangement was very reasonable.
"Understood."
Tifa, Asuna, and Amelia responded respectfully to Ian.
Although the three had different personalities, they all knew Ian was their creator. In other words, Ian decided whether they lived or died.
To Ian, they would never dare show any disobedience.
"August, from now on, others will take care of you from now on. Are you happy?!"
Ian said, lifting August high and asking with a grin.
'Actually, I'd rather stay with Father.'
August murmured in his heart.
"If you don't speak, I'll take it as a yes!"
Ian teased, smiling.
"…"
August fell silent. He hated that he was too young to speak. He couldn't voice his desires.
And thus, time flew by.
Five swift years passed.
It was now X703.
Setting aside the situation with August and Ian…
In the distant Magnolia Town:
According to Mavis's last wishes, Precht officially became Fairy Tail's second Guild Master.
In X700, when Makarov was three and a half years old, Yuri, for the sake of Precht's task of reviving Mavis, trained in God Slayer Magic and faked his death, wandering the continent of Ishgar. He infiltrated various libraries and forbidden archives of major powers in search of information and research reports regarding Ankhseram's curse.
By X703, when Makarov was six and a half, Rita, who had partially taught Makarov to speak and given him some ability to care for himself, entrusted him to Warrod and Precht. She also faked her death, trained in God Slayer Magic, and followed in Yuri's footsteps.
Yes, Yuri and Rita were true lovers; old Makarov was just an accident.
Back in Violet Town, where August and Ian resided:
"Master August, it's time to go home."
"Otherwise, Lord Ian will worry…"
Five years had passed, and August had grown from a weak infant into an adorable boy with a little tuft of hair on his head, somewhat resembling Mavis.
"Understood, Amelia."
August, who had been playing by the roadside, heard the maid Amelia's words. He immediately turned around and respectfully bowed, showing impeccable manners.
Even though August knew Amelia was not human, not even a living being, just a creation formed by Ian's high-level enchantment magic, he still respected her. After all, she had truly cared for him for a long time.
"Oh my, Young Master August is so cute and well-mannered. In the future, you'll surely grow into a handsome young man loved by all. By then, you'll charm girls all over the town, perhaps even all over the kingdom!"
Hearing this, Amelia blushed. Ignoring August's feeble protests, she hugged him tightly, rubbing her cheek against him and letting out giggles.
"Uh…"
August felt helpless.
And so, Amelia carried August all the way back to Ian's magic item store. Along the way, August tried to resist, saying he was no longer a child and could walk on his own. But it was useless; as a five-year-old, he was no match for a personality-attached creation like Amelia.
After five years—
Ian's magic item store had expanded multiple times from its original small storefront. It now occupied the most important block in Violet Town, its largest premises…
Even so, the store was always packed with customers. There were always lines of people waiting, even until closing time. Some customers started queuing at midnight, just to be the first inside at dawn.
Over these five years, Ian's magic items were no longer simple conveniences but symbols of trend and status.
As a result, countless knockoffs emerged, posing as Ian's store's products. Ian was forced to imprint an "I" magic character on all his products, a mark that couldn't be washed away, to distinguish them as authentic.
However, as your store grows bigger and you earn more money, you're bound to attract envious eyes.
Ian's store was no exception.
"Hey! Get your boss out here…"
"Our master wants to see him."
With the bustling crowd outside, a group of knights clad in fine armor rudely pushed aside the crowd and strode into Ian's magic shop. They shouted loudly at Asuna, who was managing the shop.
"Oh my~"
"So sorry, but our boss is out training and has no time for this."
Asuna glanced at the newcomers, her eyes filled with disdain. She didn't take these jumping clowns seriously and sneered coldly.
"This is not a request, it's an order!"
"Do you know who our master is?!"
"He's the marquis who rules over this region. Even your town's mayor kneels before him!"
The knight's face was arrogant, loudly revealing his master's identity.
"What, a marquis?!"
"Then this magic item store is finished, isn't it?"
"That old marquis is always arrogant and tyrannical. Anything he sets his eyes on, he takes by force. What a scum who bullies the weak—he should face divine punishment!"
"Shh! Quiet! That's the marquis, one of the top nobles of this kingdom. If he hears you, your life is over."
The townsfolk, originally angry at the knights' intrusion, trembled in fear upon hearing that their backer was a marquis. They knew they could never contend with a noble of that status.
"Heh, understand now?"
"Then call your boss out to come with us…"
The knight smirked. He loved seeing these commoners furious yet powerless. He and his master were part of the privileged class!
"Tifa, eliminate them."
As these knights wore arrogant grins, Asuna gave Tifa, the guard, a command.
"I've been ready for this."
In five years, as Ian's strength steadily improved, the three personalities he had created also grew stronger. Tifa's strength now reached the level of the "Ten Wizard Saints." Dealing with these knights would be child's play.
"Sorry, I'll be taking action now."
Tifa stepped toward the knights, eyes filled with contempt but still showing a hint of courtesy. It was like a strong person pitying ants.
"Huh?!"
"This little girl said she's going to take action against us?!"
"Hahahaha…"
Her words seemed to hit their funny bone. The knights pointed at Tifa and burst into laughter.
One of them even dared approach Tifa, leering at her with a lustful gaze, and sneered, "You said you'll take action against us? In what way? Haha! It's still daytime, I'm busy, but if it were night, maybe I'd spare some time for you~"
"Whoosh!"
Tifa ignored his filthy words. She simply raised her leg and kicked the knight's groin with full force.
"Thump!"
Everyone heard a soft thud…
Then, as if chicken and eggs had smashed together, the knight collapsed to the ground, foaming at the mouth, unconscious.
"Bitch, what are you doing?!"
"You courting death?!"
"Attacking a knight is a serious crime!"
The knights, seeing their comrade beaten, drew their swords in rage, glaring at Tifa.
"Hah…"
Tifa took a deep breath. In a flash, she appeared before the nearest knight. Her long, fair leg tore through the air and smashed into the knight's face. The knight, along with his now-distorted armor, was sent flying into the sky. For a normal person, this blow would be fatal.
"Number two…"
Tifa counted softly, then fixed her gaze on the third knight.
"A mon-…monster!"
"Run, run now…"
"Go report to the marquis!"
Realizing the huge gap in strength, the knights panicked. Even a hundred or a thousand of them wouldn't be Tifa's match. The woman before them was a genuine monster.
"Get lost, and don't come back!"
After the knights fled in disarray, Asuna held some salt, as if performing an exorcism, and scattered it at the shop's entrance, shouting at the fleeing knights.
After that, Asuna noticed Amelia and August standing outside. She immediately put on a friendly smile and said, "Oh, isn't this Young Master August? You're back from playing! Come on in~"
"Mm!"
In Amelia's arms, August nodded gently. At this moment, he understood the importance of strength. In this world, kindness alone doesn't guarantee good outcomes. Kind and weak people are bullied without mercy. Only strong and kind people can hope to receive kindness in return.
"Today's business ends here."
"Everyone, please leave!"
Once Amelia and August were safely inside, Asuna announced that the store would close for the day.
"Alright, alright…"
None of the customers complained. After the farce they had just witnessed, they no longer felt like shopping for magic items today.
"Asuna, is Father still training?"
After returning to the store, August looked at Asuna and asked.
"Yes, the Master is still working very hard."
Asuna sighed softly and nodded.
"Father is already very strong. Why does he still need to train so hard?!"
August's eyes were filled with confusion as he looked at Asuna.
"Well…"
"That's because the Master's enemies are even stronger."
Asuna didn't know how to explain it in detail, so she spoke vaguely.
"In any case, once you grow up, you'll understand."
Asuna said this while gently patting August's little head.
"When I grow up, huh?!"
August whispered softly.
In truth, at only five years old, August was astonishingly mature…
More importantly, at five years old, August's strength was already on par with S-class mages from a typical mage guild in the future.
This was extremely shocking.
What's more incredible was that Ian had never systematically taught August how to use magic. Ian felt that August was too young, and that it would be better for him to learn magic once he was older. But August's talent was simply too astounding. Just by occasionally watching Ian use magic, he learned and understood it himself.
One might say August was cursed by his own talent.
That evening—
After finishing his training, Ian returned to the store. He took August from Amelia's arms and asked, "How did you enjoy yourself today, August?!"
"Not bad…"
"Father, I have a request I'd like your permission for."
August looked up at Ian, his big eyes determined.
"What is it?"
Ian ruffled August's hair, amused at the boy's seriousness. He was only five—why act so mature? Look at Fairy Tail in the future: Laxus was almost twenty and still acted like a rebellious kid.
"I want to learn magic!"
August said seriously.
"You want to learn magic?"
"Why?"
Ian raised an eyebrow at the boy in his arms.
"I want to help you, Father, fight against your enemies."
August's face was firm, as if he had carefully considered his words.
"Hahaha…"
"That's too early for you."
Ian laughed, ruffling August's hair until it was a mess.
"But…"
August was unhappy. Aside from wanting to train magic with Ian, he also wanted to spend more time with him. Ever since Amelia took over caring for him, he'd been spending less time with Ian.
"Fine! I'll agree to your request to learn magic with me. As for helping me deal with enemies, come back in a hundred years!"
Ian laughed, agreeing to teach August magic, but he poked August's forehead and dismissed the idea of him helping fight enemies. That would be a joke—he's an adult! Needing a child's help would be embarrassing.
Even without Dragon Slayer Magic, Ian believed he could suppress all enemies!
Yes, until decades later, when Ian accidentally encountered Acnologia, he would shamelessly shout, "August, save me!"
"Great!"
August reached up to rub his little forehead… Ian's poke wasn't gentle, and it hurt enough to bring tears to the corners of August's eyes. Still, he was happy because it meant he could spend more time with his father in the future.
As long as he could stay with his father, he was happy.
The next day—
Ian took August to the back mountain of the town to start magic training.
"August, you have to start with the basics. Watch carefully—this is Molding Magic."
Ian planned to begin with the most basic form of magic he had learned: the Ice Make Magic he'd once picked up from Ur.
"Okay! Ice Make Magic!"
Watching Ian's demonstration, August imitated him perfectly.
"Boom!"
In an instant, centered around August, the entire back mountain turned into a world of ice and snow.
August formed animals, weapons, flowers, castles, humans…
He formed every imaginable shape in this world. If Gray specialized in weapons, and Ur and Ultear focused on plants, and Lyon on animals, then August's molding encompassed the entire world!
"Eh?"
For a moment, Ian was stunned. He wondered if he was hallucinating…
At only five years old, August was using Ice Make Magic for the first time—indeed, this was the first time he had ever tried learning any magic.
Yet his understanding of Ice Make Magic had already surpassed Gray, Lyon, and Ultear.
At the same time, the magical power within August's body skyrocketed, visibly approaching the threshold of the "Ten Wizard Saints."
"You call this being five years old?!"
Ian was utterly dumbfounded.