"18 Valkans?" Rhode exclaimed in surprise, "Weren't we supposed to just defeat 3 of them?"
"Well..." Macao awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
"Actually, if we count the two Natsu took down, we encountered a total of 20—I seem to have accidentally stumbled into their gathering place."
"... Impressive."
Natsu tilted his head: "But I clearly defeated three of those monsters."
Lucy exclaimed in frustration: "I told you, that's my Star Spirit! It's Taurus of the Taurus Constellation! You'll have to apologize to him next time!"
"In any case, I owe you guys a favor this time."
After defeating 18 Valkans, Macao was reaching his limit; he had no confidence handling the remaining two.
Though he could temporarily hide in the cave, he was cold and hungry, his condition deteriorating. If Natsu and Lucy hadn't arrived, he was ready to make one last stand.
Natsu beamed: "Because we're companions."
Romeo politely thanked: "Thank you Brother Natsu, Hapi, Sister Lucy, and Brother Rhode and Sister Mira."
Mira said: "Let's talk tomorrow. Macao needs to rest now."
Rhode handed the medicine box to Macao: "Here, I'll have the River Crab take you back."
The group watched Macao and his son leave. Natsu jumped onto another River Crab's back: "Rhode, I'm borrowing this crab!"
"Go, go, tomorrow..."
"Charge!" Natsu didn't hear the latter part of Rhode's sentence and dashed off, with Hapi clutching Natsu's scarf, floating behind.
Though he could have the River Crab throw him back, Rhode felt the need to maintain a serious image in front of newcomers, avoiding stooping to Natsu's level.
Anyway, that matter could wait until tomorrow too.
"It feels like we've been through so much today." Lucy sighed, then bid farewell, "Miss Mirajane, Mr. Rhode, I'm heading back too."
Seeing her turn away without hesitation, Rhode casually asked: "Where are you going back to?"
"Huh? Of course... huh~~~~~" Lucy clutched her head, "Oh no! I haven't rented a place yet! What should I do?!"
This kid isn't just absent-minded.
Rhode increasingly felt that she was perfect for Fairy Tail.
Mira gently said to her: "If you don't mind, stay at my place tonight, and find a house tomorrow."
"Can I?" Lucy's eyes sparkled, "Thank you so much!"
Rhode gazed longingly at Mira, all he wanted to say was in his eyes.
Mira pushed his face away, indicating there was no need to speak those words.
Rhode reluctantly escorted both of them to Mira's house before returning.
After the usual training, Rhode lay on the bed, mulling his internal calculations.
Mira's savings combined with his were enough to buy a house comparable to the one he currently rented.
However, thinking about the future, it'd be best to invest in a larger property or consider remodeling or building upwards.
Either way, they would need additional funds.
But earning together would make it much easier, only needing to take on one or two higher-payout missions each month to save up within a few months.
A million-J-Class mission was most suitable, offering a good balance of reward and safety.
"Once we save enough money..." Rhode blissfully drifted into dreamland.
...
The next morning, at Mira's house, four people gathered around the dining table.
"Why is Mr. Rhode here?"
"Huh? You're freeloading at my girlfriend's house and asking why I'm here?"
"Sorry, I forgot!" Lucy blushed; she'd slept so comfortably that she almost treated the place as her own.
"But Mr. Rhode and Miss Mira sure do get along well, huh?"
Lucy slightly adjusted how she addressed Mira, indicating they'd gotten along well, even trying to tease her.
But compared to Kana and Laki, Lucy was quite naïve in teasing, as Mira snuggled up to Rhode and winked at her: "We're in love, so naturally we get along well."
"Lo... love..." Lucy's face flushed again, as the term was quite challenging for someone with no love experience.
Mira asked: "Lucy, have you ever been in love?"
"Of course I have! Th-three times!" Lucy nervously lied.
Much like Kana, prone to bragging on such matters.
Rhode chimed in: "Lucy seems to be quite a flirt; Mira and I found true love right away."
Lucy quickly retorted: "I-I'm not a flirt!"
This mischievous couple laughed; teasing newbies was fun.
Elfman was already used to it, finishing breakfast ordinarily: "Sister, I'm heading to the guild; want to work today."
"Alright, let us know when you've decided."
After he left, Lucy finally voiced what she'd held back all night:
"I can't believe Mr. Elfman is Miss Mira's brother."
"Is it that unbelievable?"
"Aside from the hair color, they look nothing alike."
Miss Mira is so gentle, beautiful, with fair skin, whereas Mr. Elfman is... completely opposite.
Rhode casually speculated: "Because Mira's stronger, she took all the good traits."
"That's too harsh." Mira playfully scolded Rhode, "Elfman is pitiful enough already."
Lucy quipped: "I think being described this way by Miss Mira makes it even sadder."
Lucy, unlike Elfman, wasn't as perceptive, and after finishing, she accompanied Mira and Rhode out.
Taking her status as a newbie into account, Rhode didn't mind her tagging along. He also checked in: "Have you figured out what to do for housing?"
"Well, Miss Mira mentioned the guild has a girls' dormitory, but the monthly rent is 100,000 J..." Lucy pulled a face; her funds were low, "I want to check outside first, and if nothing cheaper, I'll stay at the dormitory."
Lucy is lucky.
After searching for half the day, she found a place with a rent of only 70,000 J.
It's located by the canal, close to the shopping street.
In terms of convenience, it's an even better location than Rhode's rented house.
After negotiating the price with the landlady and getting the keys, Lucy excitedly ran back to the guild to fetch her luggage.
She planned to organize and rest properly today, starting her work as a mage tomorrow.
By afternoon, Natsu and Hapi, picking and choosing, selected a mission and approached Rhode.
"Retrieve a book from Duke Abar's house in Hiloci Gate City..." Rhode reviewed the mission details, puzzled,
"When I saw this task, I wondered, do we also handle theft?"
Mira said: "For normal cases of theft, certainly not. But if it originally belongs to the client and can't be retrieved through normal means, we can assist; such situations do arise sometimes."
"Alright, when do we head out?" Rhode asked Natsu, "If it's tomorrow, I'll show you something tonight that you'll find interesting."