With the help of the River Crab, Natsu and Lucy had a much easier time climbing the mountain, although they were unlucky to get caught in a blizzard, which made the experience quite unpleasant.
Clearly, it was summer, but a snowstorm appeared so close to Magnolia, making Rhode feel a sense of time displacement.
"You seem to care a lot about Lucy."
During the afternoon break, Rhode's voice broadcast function would occasionally report Natsu and Lucy's whereabouts and current situation to Mira.
Mira finally couldn't help but ask this question.
There was no way to be completely honest.
Rhode carefully considered the most prudent way to say it.
"If you're planning to lie, then don't say anything." Mira glanced at his expression, lowered her head, took out her pen and ledger, trying to look busy.
But someone had already finished the accounts long ago, and she didn't really have anything to do.
Rhode grabbed her right hand, pulled the pen away, gently straightened her curled fingers, and held her hands in his:
"I can only say part of it, and the president is here anyway."
Makarov looked at Rhode, thinking it was just a little jealousy between a couple. Was it necessary for him to get involved?
Rhode said, "Actually, the first time I saw Wendy and the first time I saw Lucy, I had a sense of familiarity.
I feel that Wendy might join our guild for some reason in the future and when that day comes, something big might happen.
Maybe it will only affect a few people, or maybe our entire guild will be caught up in it.
I don't know what I can do in such a big event with my current capabilities, or if my meddling will lead things down a bad path…"
"You all know, I am… someone who suddenly appeared."
This was what Rhode was most worried about. He heard that the ending of Fairy Tail was a happy one, but what if things changed because of his interference?
If the guild could originally get through all sorts of difficulties peacefully, what would happen if things went south because of his presence…
Previously, he only thought he would slowly get stronger, following the main characters wouldn't go wrong.
But now, they're not just the main characters; they're comrades, very good friends, and important family members.
Even without mentioning Mira, Rhode could still remember the scene where Gray, feeling guilty for not being able to help when he asked for aid because he was away, came to apologize.
They truly regarded him as family. What would happen if something went wrong because of him?
With Wendy and Lucy's appearance, Rhode began to worry about such matters.
At this time, Mira was the one to hold his hand in return: "What is this, a prophecy?"
"Sort of, maybe a full-blown war with the Demon Heart, or a direct conflict with the Ghost, then targeted by the Advisory Council?"
Rhode felt the temperature from her palm, speaking his unreliable guesses, "In any case, something big is bound to happen."
Of course, something big would happen. Makarov knew more things than he did, such events might relate to the guild's top secrets or the Dragons' disappearance.
However…
"No need to worry about that, for one thing, you're not the only one who suddenly appeared, and not the only one who may have a heavy past. None of that matters."
Makarov smiled, "The most important thing is that we are now family, whether the big event you sense affects a few people or everyone, it's all the same to us.
Whatever happens, we will face it together. Things could get worse because of you? No, the more family we have, the stronger we become!
Fairy Tail has always been a guild made up of a bunch of troublemaking idiots, so don't be afraid of making mistakes. Like I said today, go ahead and pursue the path you believe in."
Makarov reached out his hand, with his index finger pointing up and his thumb spread wide.
The gesture meant: "Even if not in sight, even if far away, we will always be watching you, always by your side."
Rhode rubbed his nose, his voice changed a bit: "You're not trying to trick me into tears, are you?"
Makarov gave him a bright smile: "It's not bad to cry."
Rhode restrained himself: "Girlfriend's watching, it's embarrassing."
Mira hugged him from behind, speaking gently: "Just as well, I can wipe them for you."
Rhode placed his hand over hers, changing the topic: "Natsu and the others encountered Valken, two of them! They seem to be guarding something… it's a fight!"
He vividly imitated Natsu's tone: "Fire Dragon's Iron Fist! Beauti—"
A lovely word stuck in his throat as he saw Natsu being knocked away because the ground was slippery, with Hapi providing emergency rescue.
"Can this idiot be serious for once!" Rhode watched with his heart in his throat.
The two Valkens immediately targeted Lucy, but the River Crab took her and ran away quickly, she seemed quite frightened.
But she was a mage after all, and she took out a golden key.
"Lucy is summoning a Star Spirit! This is Taurus from Taurus Palace, right? Why is it a cow?"
Rhode had read books about Celestial Spirit Magic and knew the names of the Zodiac Star Spirits, but didn't know what they looked like.
It's said that they might change appearance according to the holder's opinion.
Rhode had some opinions about the cow holding a big axe, because after it appeared, it didn't immediately start fighting, but kept staring at Lucy's chest.
Only when it saw her wearing thick cotton clothes did it finally go to fight with a look of regret.
This guy seemed a bit unreliable.
One Valken got tangled up by Taurus, while the other kept chasing Lucy.
At this time, three Shadow Wolves jumped out from the shadows on the mountain wall, two normal wolves biting at the legs, making the Valken fall, and a Two-headed Wolf pouncing on its back to bite its neck.
Lucy seemed startled, but Natsu was a bit surprised when he came back.
Then he got angry right away, maybe because he remembered how embarrassing it was to be seen by Rhode just now.
Once Natsu got serious, the Valken was no match at all, even Taurus was punched back to the Star Spirit Realm by Natsu treating it as a magical beast.
Rhode was a bit disappointed at Taurus's performance, supposedly the strongest in the Zodiac in terms of strength.
There are only twelve golden keys in the world, and the summoned Star Spirit couldn't withstand a punch from Natsu?
(The thirteenth one is not known to many people, not within Rhode's knowledge range)
"Star Spirits' strength is supposed to grow with the user's magic power, right?"
Rhode recalled a piece of knowledge seen somewhere obscure.
"That's correct." Makarov said, "Is Lucy's performance unsatisfactory?"
"Yeah, maybe just slightly better than when I first summoned the Gorge Swift Crab." Rhode felt he could beat Lucy when he just had the Stone Beetle.
But what he was more concerned about was that while Star Spirits grow stronger with their holders, the wild creatures seemed to show no change so far.
Theoretically, they should increase in strength gradually as the 'game progresses', is his progress currently zero?