Having too much information sometimes isn't a good thing, because it affects one's mood.
Facing an S-Class Mage instead of possibly facing one, the pressure on Kana was completely different.
She had been beaten up by two out of these three people.
If Laxus, who is four years older than her, hadn't passed the exam early, it might have been another defeat.
Rhode was relatively calm, as he had already been preparing for the worst-case scenario.
Now, he just knew a little more about the three S-Class Mages.
Laxus, the powerful Thunder Mage; Mystogan, the enigmatic Illusion Mage; and the one Kana least wanted to face, Erza.
Erza was just too versatile, mastering both melee and ranged attacks, using her armor to employ various Elemental Magic, and even executing different Combination Skills.
If you must compare, Erza is almost a fully upgraded version of Kana.
If she had to go against her, Kana's only advantage would be having one more teammate—the same teammate who had been knocked out by Erza with one punch five months ago.
With this in mind, Kana's confidence waned even more.
"Though the opponents are monsters, if you want to become an S-Class Mage, you must have the determination to become a monster on the same level as them."
Rhode tried to maintain optimism in strategy while encouraging his teammates, "Since you can participate in the exam, it means you have the potential to stand with them.
You might still be a bit behind them, but that gap can be filled by your companions. What you can't accomplish, your companions will complete for you.
I think the President wants participants to choose partners not only to test their synergy. This is also the most important philosophy of our Guild."
"Becoming... a monster like them... companions to fill the gap…" Kana repeated Rhode's words, suddenly feeling she wasn't qualified to be S-Class.
She never thought about becoming very strong or turning into some kind of monster. She just wanted to pass the exam so she could have the right to call Kildas 'Dad'.
What it really meant to be an S-Class Mage was something she had never seriously considered.
For someone like her...
"A real man!" Elfman was moved to tears, "Becoming S-Class is what makes you a real man, Kana!"
Rhode wished he had such an immediate effect when talking about Lisana with Elfman.
Mira reminded him, "Kana is a girl, you know."
And does being S-Class have anything to do with being a man?
Elfman was taken aback, recalling that his older sister was also S-Class, and quickly added,
"Sister is also a real man!"
Mira kept a smile, her small fists clenched tightly—this brother was beyond help.
But right now, Kana was more important.
Mira gently patted Kana on the back, "You got lectured by a newbie, Kana."
Newbie? Kana looked at Rhode. Right, Rhode had joined for less than half a year, and she had been here for a whole 11 years. Whether it was determination or anything else, she shouldn't fall short compared to a newbie.
Rhode had already put so much effort into her request that she couldn't let his hard work go to waste.
Kana gathered her spirits, "This time, I must defeat them and pass the exam!"
"Then let's start the practice." Rhode said, "Let's first simulate a fight against Mickey and Joy."
The simulated opponents were naturally Mira and Elfman.
Mira had a little know-how in close combat, so playing Mickey was not a problem; Elfman's fighting style was somewhat similar to Joy's.
Besides, it was just everyone showing moves, not real fighting.
Most of the time, Rhode and Kana would make a move and then pause, considering how the others would respond, with Mira and Elfman stepping into the corresponding positions.
Then they would reverse roles.
When simulating Mest and King, it was the same procedure, but Mest's magic was tricky.
Everyone just tried to think about where the opponent would teleport to and helped Kanaplan where to set the traps.
Basic training aside, the three simulation battles roughly confirmed the combat strategy for the first encounter.
In the next five days starting tomorrow, it's time to focus on enhancing Magic Power and figuring out how to deal with the three S-Class Mages.
Today was another fulfilling day.
After parting with the others, Rhode went home, took a hot bath, and comfortably lay in bed.
The unscrupulous Rhode ordered Warm to turn off the light, closing his eyes.
A few minutes later, he suddenly opened his eyes and sat up:
"Three reflections on myself: Have I been mentally controlled? Have my memories been altered? Am I still myself?"
Good, no problem.
Rhode lay back down and continued to sleep.
In the dark, Warm blinked—has the master gone crazy? Will there be any Poro Delicacies to eat in the future?
…
As they trained and prepared anxiously for the exam, time flew by quickly, and before they knew it, the exam day had arrived.
By now, it was mid-December, and the weather was getting colder. Rhode wore a coat similar to Mira's and strutted around the Guild.
Then, together with Kana, he headed to the station to gather.
Before leaving, he left the coat at the Guild for Mira to keep and changed into another set of winter clothes himself.
——Heading out for an exam inevitably means battle, and battle inevitably means getting hurt. Getting a little hurt wasn't the issue, but if the clothes got damaged, he would feel heartbroken.
Mira found it both infuriating and amusing but could only help store his clothes and gently remind him to be careful.
In fact, Rhode had wanted to wander around the Guild's warehouse to relax and ease his mind.
But today, the warehouse door had four additional locks and a 'No Entry' sign.
"The President's on the second floor, huh." Rhode sighed, forced to depart empty-handed, feeling unsettled.
He and Kana were the last group to arrive, while everyone else had gone straight to the station and had been standing around for a while.
Marcus wanted to chat with everyone but had his mouth covered by Wolian, who was afraid he might spill their secret plan.
Makarov counted the people and, upon confirming they were all there, waved his hand, "Everyone's here, ready to depart."
Kana asked, "Aren't we waiting for Laxus and them?"
"They've already left early; there's something to set up at the exam site," Makarov said, "Any more questions, quickly ask before departure."
Rhode raised his hand, "Can I go back and get some…"
"No, next question." Makarov didn't even listen; the things stored in the Guild weren't for use against their own, especially not during the exam.
"Hmph." Rhode felt like the President was targeting him.
With the S-Class exam so tense, they won't even let him borrow a few Crystal Balls to relieve some pressure.
Mest, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly appeared at the door of the train, biting the entrance, "I wonder... what a train tastes like…"
Rhode was baffled, what the heck? What's going on?
"Won't you damage your teeth doing that?" said muscle-bound Joy concern laced in his voice.
As soon as he opened his mouth, three teeth fell out of Joy's mouth, rolling off the platform.
"Joy, your teeth!" Mickey put her hands on her hips, "Honestly, this is a public place, can't you change your bad habit of losing teeth so easily?"
Losing teeth is considered a 'habit'?
"Hahaha…" Marcus suddenly remembered a funny joke, "If all the teeth Joy lost were stringed together, would they be enough to make a necklace? Enough or not?"
Rhode leaned over and whispered in Makarov's ear, "President, are you really taking these people on the train?"