Rhode chose to take on this mission after careful consideration.
First, there's the compensation. 300,000 J split among three people means 100,000 J each.
— Hapi is an official mage bearing the Fairy Tail Badge, a comrade, who will contribute during the mission and deserves a share.
This money will alleviate Rhode's rent worries and even allow for some comfort next month.
Secondly, there's the safety issue. According to the information provided by Mira, the danger level of this mission isn't high.
Furthermore, teaming up with Natsu offers decent safety assurances; it's just a matter of handling some wild beasts, nothing too serious.
Rhode could almost see the 100,000 J waving at him—provided Natsu doesn't cause trouble again, like demolishing a village or something.
This point must be especially noted!
The process of accepting the mission completed, the three split up.
Natsu needed to head home to pack, Hapi went to rent a carriage, and Rhode also had to pack and do a bit of preparation…
Even when in a team, one cannot be careless.
Mira watched Rhode walk towards the warehouse and said helplessly, "Borrowing things again?"
Rhode chuckled awkwardly, "Cautious and well-prepared, right?"
Mira corrected, "Preparedness averts peril."
"Oh, right."
Mira thought to tell him it wasn't necessary, but since it was Rhode's first extermination mission, she'd let him be.
A few minutes later, Rhode came back empty-handed, a bit of grievance on his face.
"What's wrong?"
"The President wouldn't open the warehouse door. He said having Natsu along is dangerous enough, adding a Bursting Magic Crystal might make the village disappear."
Rhode felt a bit wronged, "I'm using it for self-defense, not a terrorist attack."
Mira couldn't help but laugh, "Just make sure to keep a close eye on Natsu, don't let him go wild."
"Ah…" Rhode waved his hand, "I'm off."
Mira waved back, "Take care on the road."
Once Rhode exited the guild doors, Mira withdrew her gaze, and Laki pounced on her from the side, dragging out her voice:
"Ta~ke~ ca~re~"
Mira scolded, "Laki, what are you doing this time?"
"It's not me, it's you, Sister Mira~"
Laki lowered her voice, asking, "So, how are things progressing with you and Rhode?"
"What?"
"Love, romance!" Laki made a heart-holding gesture with a dreamy look,
"The talented newcomer of the guild and the guild's star girl, spending time together and falling in love over an escort mission…
Then, training hard to protect her, working tirelessly to take care of her, and their feelings developing rapidly leading to marriage's blissful hall…
Ah, such a romantic love story!"
Mira said helplessly, "Stop making things up; you've even scrambled the sequence of events and cause and effect."
"Beautiful poetry always makes slight modifications to the rhythm of life," Laki defended her theory,
"Speaking of which, you must have noticed it, Sister Mira. The way Rhode looks at you is different from how he looks at anyone else."
Mira lightly shook her head, "Maybe he's just grateful for my little kindness to him before."
Laki denied it, "No way, Reby and I have lent Rhode things and answered his questions. We've seen grateful eyes, but they weren't shining… like that."
"Stop spouting nonsense; there are customers who want their drinks. Hurry up."
"Alright, alright~"
Laki left, and Mira lowered her eyes. Even Laki said so.
That day during the festival, Jenny told Mira something backstage:
"You should know how much dating affects the popularity of models like us, right? It'll plummet."
Popularity doesn't matter at all; the problem is herself.
Mira wasn't some clueless young girl; she could feel Rhode's feelings for her.
Part of it was gratitude, part of it was camaraderie, the other part...
How could this be possible?
Rhode is the best newcomer this year, or rather, in recent years.
The President described him as a "genius in Summoning Magic," able to maintain large numbers of summoned creatures in battle in a short time.
He is meticulous and conscientious in his work, persisting in daily training, and continuing to work hard despite setbacks.
But what about herself?
Reckless, getting complacent after passing the S-Class exam, and taking her siblings on adventures self-importantly.
In the end, even Elfman had to fight with his life to take on the Beast King, and ultimately, even… even Lisana couldn't be protected.
She also became this weak state.
Keeping a smiling face every day isn't because she has forgotten sadness, but because she hopes Elfman no longer blames himself, hopes he can overcome his psychological shadow, and hopes that her companions aren't worried.
As long as Elfman can let go of the burden and live well, that's enough.
As long as her companions don't think of that sad event when they see her, but instead gain a little good mood, that's enough.
As for herself, be it pain, sadness, or loss of power, it's all deserved, the punishment for her arrogance.
Love? Happiness? Even a new family?
These things aren't meant for someone like her.
But Rhode's feelings...
"Mira, two beers over here!"
Mira closed her eyes and opened them again with her usual smile, "Coming right up!"
What should she do?
...
"What exactly do you want?"
Rhode sat in the carriage looking at Natsu; he and Hapi had been waiting for almost ten minutes.
Hapi also complained, "Too slow, Natsu."
"W-wait a minute; I'll be right there, I can do this!"
Natsu took a deep breath, made a standing long jump stance, ready to hop onto the carriage at once.
However, before jumping, Natsu's movements abruptly halted:
"Maybe I should just walk. You guys… hey, Hapi, what are you doing? Let me go!"
Hapi spread his wings, grabbed Natsu's shoulders, lifted him up, and tossed him into the carriage, then shouted, "Driver, let's go!"
"Giddyup!"
The coachman was getting impatient too. In such hot weather, they were taking forever to get on.
"Let go… urgh…" Natsu stopped struggling, leaning on the carriage floor with a pale face, weakly saying, "L-let me down…"
Rhode quietly moved away from the direction Natsu's mouth pointed, "Getting motion sick to this extent is ridiculous, right?"
Hapi remarked, "Aye! Natsu is completely helpless with transportation."
"I heard Gray mention it once, but I didn't expect it to be this serious."
Rhode mischievously poked at Natsu's puffed cheek and heard a soft 'mmph', quickly withdrawing his hand.
He suddenly felt uneasy again, "Isn't this completely losing combat capability?"
"Aye! You can do anything to Natsu now. Like this, this, and this…"
Hapi pulled on Natsu's cheeks, tied his hair into a topknot, rolled around on his back, making a mess.
"Hapi…" Natsu gasped weakly, "Stop the carriage… I won't forgive you…"
"Aye! Driver, definitely don't stop the carriage!"