"Uh...I, I...although I already decided on my partners, if you absolutely have to go, I…"
Ren's face turned scarlet. Under the teasing smiles around him, he finally blurted out, "I'm sorry! I have someone else I'd rather team up with!"
"Ohhh~?" Mira asked with exaggerated curiosity. "And who might that be?"
Everyone crowded closer, their eyes gleaming with interest. "Who is it? Who?"
Ren wanted to turn away, but to his left was Jenny, to his right was Hibiki, and standing in front were Ichiya and Eve. He was completely surrounded.
"MEN~" Ichiya said earnestly, "At times like this, an honest man is the most charming, Ren."
"I… I know, Master Ichiya." Ren took a deep breath, summoning his courage. "I want to invite my girlfriend, Sherry from Lamia Scale. Her magic is a perfect match for mine, no, even aside from that, I just want to be with her."
Eve actually cheered. It was rare to see Ren speak so directly about his feelings.
If only they'd connected with Lamia Scale through the magic network sooner.
"Very good, I approve!" Ichiya declared with a dazzling smile. "I'll personally speak to Master Ooba!"
Hibiki clapped Ren on the shoulder. "Don't worry. If Ichiya-sensei handles it, even Master Ooba won't be able to refuse."
"Please, Big Brother Ichiya!" Ren said gratefully.
"Ah, it's only natural." Ichiya struck a bodybuilder pose, muscles glinting somehow under perfect lighting. "You, who are so shy yet can still speak your heart under my guidance, such honesty, and the fragrance of your love with Miss Sherry, I shall protect them with my life!"
Ren was so moved he dropped to one knee, hands clasped to his chest. "Mr. Ichiya!"
Hibiki sighed dramatically. "Sensei, just how handsome do you plan to be today?"
Jenny sparkled. "As expected of Senior Ichiya!"
Eve knelt beside Ren, raising both hands toward the heavens. "Big Brother Ichiya, you're the very soul of Blue Pegasus!"
Ichiya turned, shifting into a new pose. "MEN~!"
The three men, and Jenny, lined up side by side, swaying in rhythm as they chanted, "Ichiya! Ichiya! Ichiya!"
Rhodes held Mira close, trembling slightly. "Do you think… we should join in too?"
Mira patted his arm, deadpan. "What do you think?"
He could feel her shiver. Goosebumps, no doubt.
"Honestly," Rhodes whispered, "I was a little moved just now."
"Me too," Mira admitted softly.
The couple fell silent. They truly did respect Ichiya's care for his guildmates.
But join that group? Absolutely not.
Unfortunately, others didn't share their restraint.
"Ichiya! Ichiya!"
The chant grew louder as more Blue Pegasus members joined in, their voices echoing through the hall.
"Ichiya! Ichiya!"
Even the visiting clients, swept up by the enthusiasm of all those handsome men and gorgeous women, began shouting along.
For a moment, the entire guild was filled with sparkling unity, and Ichiya's name.
Mira smiled softly. "If Lucy were here, she might join them."
Rhodes, pitching his voice high, imitated her: "'No way!' That's exactly what she'd say to you."
Mira laughed, resting her cheek against his chest.
She missed home.
Coincidentally, so did Rhodes.
The two stayed in the guild for only one more day before setting off for Magnolia.
They had left in early January and returned in mid-March.
From winter's chill to the warmth of spring, their honeymoon had lasted nearly three months.
True to their principle of seeing things through, they took ordinary transportation back instead of teleporting or flying.
When they finally stood before their home again, both of them felt as though years had passed.
They stared at the building in front of them.
"Where… is this?"
"Did we come to the wrong place?"
They looked around, the street was familiar, the neighbor's house was exactly the same.
So the real question was: this strange building in front of them… was it really their house?
The young couple exchanged bewildered looks.
"Did our memories get tampered with?" Rhodes asked half-seriously.
Their house should have been a simple two-story wooden cottage. Instead, a pristine three-story Western-style mansion with white walls and a red roof stood proudly where their home used to be.
Mira blinked. "I… did say once in a family meeting that I wanted a house like this, but, was this supposed to be a surprise?"
"Maybe Elfman and Lisanna secretly renovated it while we were gone?" Rhodes guessed.
Both of them stared at the house for a long moment, then shook their heads in unison.
No. It definitely wasn't that simple.
"Let's go to the guild first," Rhodes suggested.
"Okay." Mira nodded.
Neither of them dared to knock on the door.
The guild, thankfully, looked the same as ever. The spring air was warm, and the outdoor tables were bustling again.
As they approached the entrance, Kinana stepped inside with an empty tray. Max was slouched against the bar counter, rocking his chair back on two legs.
When Kinana opened the door, Max happened to glance up, and froze.
His eyes went wide. "Oh no. Oh no, this is bad! The Demon Couple, no, Rhodes and Mira are back!"
The entire guild went dead silent for half a second, then chaos erupted.
Chairs toppled, mugs crashed to the floor, someone yelped, "We're doomed!" and another coughed violently after choking on their drink.
Rhode's eyebrow twitched.
'Max,' he thought darkly, 'it's one thing to scream like that when the Council shows up, but when we do?'
'And Demon Couple? Seriously?'
From the commotion inside, even his heels could tell something was off.
Beside him, Mira smiled sweetly and tugged on his sleeve. "Walk slowly," she murmured. "Let's see what they're panicking about."
As they lingered by the entrance, a few passersby recognized them.
"Hey, it's Duke Rhodes! And Lady Mira!" someone called out. "Is it true that nobles in Joya can marry multiple wives?"
Mira turned toward the speaker with her gentlest smile, one that could freeze fire.
The poor man immediately felt that, even in mid-spring, the weather had turned very cold.
After a few polite words with the crowd, they finally stepped inside.
The noise had quieted...too quiet.
Elfman and Lisanna hurried out, their smiles shining a little too brightly. "Sister! Brother-in-law! Welcome home!"
Rhodes and Mira stared at them.
The siblings' smiles wavered… then stiffened entirely.
Before anyone could say another word, Natsu burst through the doorway like a meteor, sending Elfman and Lisanna spinning to either side.
"You're just in time!" he yelled, flames sparking in his fists. "Let's duel, Rhodes! Mira!"
From somewhere inside the guild came a chorus of panicked shouts.
"Idiot! Who was supposed to be watching Natsu?!"
"We did tie him up! He burned through the ropes again!"