Natsu and Hapi returned to the guild.
At this time of the year, the lake's surface was already beginning to freeze. Natsu had broken through a thin layer of ice and fallen into the cold water.
When he got back to the guild, he was still soaking wet.
Out of sympathy, Rhode asked, "Do you want to go take a bath and change into some dry clothes?"
"Huh?" Natsu looked puzzled, then suddenly flamed up like a Super Saiyan, drying his clothes and hair in seconds.
This Fire Dragon Slayer Magic is really convenient, not afraid of heat in summer, nor cold in winter.
Rhode waved his hand: "Forget I said anything."
"Natsu, you're so mean," Hapi complained, "You fell into the water and didn't even catch us some fish."
"..." Rhode was speechless. I thought you chased after him because you were worried, but you just wanted him to catch fish.
"I didn't jump in the water on purpose! It was Erza..." Natsu grumbled angrily, although he quickly felt guilty. Although it wasn't intentional, he did make the first move.
He looked at Rhode with admiration: "I can't believe you can team up with Erza."
After finishing her tasks, Mira also curiously asked, "So, how does it feel teaming up with Erza?"
Rhode recalled the scene in his dream where Mira slapped him flying and felt that her current smile was a death smile.
Hey, didn't Natsu's recent experience match exactly with what happened in my dream? If Erza can do it, maybe Mira can too.
No, no, no, that's impossible.
Rhode pondered for a moment and said, "Overall a reliable partner, especially during fights."
Natsu nodded in agreement. Of course, having Erza on his side during a fight would be super reliable.
Rhode remembered the scene: "Regardless of offense or defense, she's incredibly strong... I hardly had to participate, and the battle was over."
"Huh? Isn't that terrible?" Natsu was shocked. Teaming up with Erza means no fight?
Before Rhode could understand why Natsu thought that was terrible, he heard Natsu resolutely say: "I'll never team up with Erza in the future!"
Mira thought for a moment and asked: "But if Erza asks you, would you refuse?"
"Of course I... of course..." Natsu deflated, realizing he wouldn't dare refuse.
Rhode looked at Mira, thinking she's skilled at making the energetic Natsu calm down. Learned a lesson there.
After Natsu and Hapi wobbled away, Mira continued to press: "Besides fighting, haven't you noticed that Erza's personality is rather cute?"
"I guess..." Rhode pondered for a moment and said with a smile, "Thinking back on all my teaming experiences, the most enjoyable one was teaming up with Miss Mirajane."
"Is that so?" Mira said with a sweet smile, "Would you want to team up again in the future?"
"I do, I'd love to finish work today and then team up to train, go shopping tomorrow, and have dinner the day after..."
Rhode suddenly realized, "Wait, now that I think about it, aren't we 'teaming up' to work every day in the guild?"
Mira laughed, "I don't think that's the right use of the term 'teaming up'. Do you want to go 'give it a spin' and check the dictionary?"
Rhode narrowed his eyes at her: "That's not how you use 'give it a spin.'
Mira covered her mouth, giggling.
Rhode felt this woman was up to no good, intentionally mocking him by mimicking how he used to speak.
More please.
After finishing work that day, Rhode dedicated himself to his daily training with great enthusiasm.
Not because Mira was accompanying him, but because he truly felt the benefits of increased magic power.
If he had enough magic power, wielding hundreds of weapons with a wave like Erza, he could turn Requip Magic into the King's Treasure Vault or Infinite Sword System.
Plus, the high rewards associated with high-difficulty tasks are truly tempting.
If he always handled tasks worth tens of thousands, buying a home in Magnolia would take so many years of hard work.
But if a single task's reward is in the millions, he could buy a decent house in just a few months.
—Why not just marry into the Strauss family? Mira is pretty much a little rich lady with a house and savings...
"What are you thinking about?"
Thinking about peaches (not really).
"Thinking about my next training goals."
"Could it be you're feeling more pressure after realizing Erza's strength?" Mira asked, "It seems like you're more diligent training today than before."
"Um... maybe because I saw some cruel things." Rhode recalled the townsman who was harmed, "Suddenly realized this world isn't quite like I imagined, so I need to get a bit stronger."
Initially, Rhode felt everywhere was dangerous, leaving town could get him trampled by wild beasts, better to stay in.
Later, learning magic made him quite stronger, occasionally taking on tasks, plus the cheerful guild atmosphere and Magnolia's peaceful and prosperous life made him think outside wasn't so dangerous.
Isn't it supposed to have happy endings? This place seems much more peaceful than the worlds of Pirates and Fire Shadow he knew.
But the recent Black Magic Sect task, the previous bandit suppression task, and the one before that, catching a Dark Guild task, made Rhode realize that Magnolia's prosperity and stability might be thanks to Fairy Tail.
And those villages and towns without a Mages' Guild, life might not be that good. Many dangerous individuals secretly stir up trouble, even sacrificing lives to summon demons.
Rhode doesn't have a grand ambition to change the world, that's the King's concern.
He just wants to become strong enough to protect those he cares about.
Currently, there are about a hundred people Rhode wants to protect, and he knows these people have always been protecting him too.
...
Early the next day, Rhode reported to the guild on time.
Mira felt his mood seemed a bit off.
"Did something happen?" she asked while polishing a glass.
Rhode said, distressed, "My son is about to die."
Crack~ The wooden beer mug cracked in Mira's grip, but she calmly set it down: "Son?"
"Yeah, I have three potted plants on my balcony. I usually take care of them like sons and occasionally talk to them."
Rhode said painfully, "But I couldn't look after them while I was out these past few days, and when I got back last night, they were all wilting."
"..." Mira sighed in relief, so he was treating plants like sons.
Who knew Rhode had such a strange hobby?
—Of course, taking care of plants isn't odd, it's just calling them sons that's a bit...
But there are indeed people who treat plants like children to care for, maybe it's not that weird?
Mira thought for a moment and suggested, "Why not ask Troy for help?"
"Right, he's always caring for plants. I'll go back!" With that, Rhode dashed out of the guild.
Mira wrinkled her nose and pulled out the attendance sheet.
He made a big deal out of plant illness, huh, marking him absent.
A few seconds later, Mira crossed out the record, it was just a short while outside, not serious enough for absence.
Besides, didn't he say goodbye before going, hmm, I'll let him off this time.