The Purgatory Sub-Dragon was annoyed by people calling it such an arrogant name, and Natsu was not happy about others looking down on Igneru.
Both had combative personalities, so the matter was simple: if you don't agree, let's fight!
So Natsu stepped up.
And then Natsu was down.
The Purgatory Sub-Dragon hit harder than the Mountain Sub-Dragon, its tail, thicker than a human's waist, swung over and hit him just like that.
The big claws, capable of casually grabbing a person, also slapped him just like that.
Although ordinary flames couldn't hurt Natsu, the Purgatory Sub-Dragon didn't even need to use flame to deal with him.
Rhode called out to his own people, telling it to go easy.
But the Purgatory Sub-Dragon didn't care; if it needed to beat him, it would. Dragon kids are tough, and this young guy didn't know that.
Originally, Rhode wanted to spar with Natsu in his Purgatory Sub-Dragon form, but in the end, he could only carry Natsu back.
If he didn't carry him, River Crab would.
"Sorry, he hit too hard." Rhode looked at the bruises on Natsu, with bumps all over his head, feeling a bit guilty.
Hapi had already forgiven him for Natsu: "It's okay, Natsu ends up like this occasionally during training too."
He was referring to a bizarre training regimen to enhance Natsu's resistance to being hit—tying Natsu to a tree and letting stones roll down the hill towards him...
An absurd training method.
Rhode had seen it once before, and when it comes to devilish training, Natsu's was even more devilish.
"That annoying dragon, I'll definitely get him back... it hurts!" Natsu tried to sit up noisily but hit his injury on the River Crab's shell, grimacing in pain.
Rhode pressed him down: "Just lie down quietly, you'll be home soon."
Natsu and Hapi's home was located outside the city, a self-built house at the foot of a little hill, and the surrounding area... let's just say it's quite lush.
Even branches were growing out of the house's exterior walls.
It was clear they didn't care much about their house.
Inside, it was even more chaotic, with dumbbells of various sizes lying around, clothes, towels, and various bottles and jars scattered all over, leaving barely any room to walk.
Hapi led the way, while Rhode carefully carried Natsu through the obstacles.
But the 'obstacles' that Rhode was careful to avoid were things Natsu casually kicked or stepped over.
Hapi pointed casually: "Just put him here."
Rhode looked: "A hammock, are you sure?"
"Yeah, just toss him up, it's fine."
After all, his injuries weren't too severe, and Natsu's skin was thick.
"Alright, then." Rhode released Natsu, letting him flop onto the hammock.
Natsu not only didn't cry out in pain but soon began to snore softly, seeming like he'd be bouncing around again once he woke up.
"Here's some potion for external injuries; help Natsu apply it later." Rhode left a bottle of remedy before he left.
The night was deep, the streets quiet, yet the streetlights were still on, and many tiny insects were swirling around under the light, with some bumping into the lampshades.
By tomorrow, there would likely be many insect corpses at the base of the lamppost, adding to the cleaner's workload.
Rhode rarely walked the streets alone, no River Crab, no Warm, and without Mira for company.
At this time, they were probably having a good time, weren't they?
Wonder what kind of activities happen at a girls' pajama party.
Bats flew overhead, hunting for flying insects in the air.
Rhode, feeling bored, took off a shoe and tossed it up.
Soon a bat flew towards the shoe, diving following its descent.
But as it got closer, it skillfully veered off.
As a child, he heard that tossing a shoe might catch a bat, and he and his pals tirelessly tried it, yet no one ever succeeded.
Rhode chuckled, jumping to pick up the shoe to toss it again, then picking it up again...
Simple pleasures.
No one would know the Fairy Tail Strategist would play such childish games when he's alone.
The next morning, Rhode first picked up the clothes hung on the balcony, his, Mira's, and a bedsheet.
He didn't know if Mira returned home yesterday; this morning, he couldn't go over for breakfast.
He decided to just pick up the clothes and give them to her later.
Thinking about it, he remembered he also had a set of clothes at Mira's place he never retrieved.
Consider it a hostage exchange.
But after finishing his morning exercises and heading to work, he thought that he'd go to Mira's place tonight to retrieve his clothes.
Tomorrow night, he'd go to Mira's house to deliver hers.
The day after... The day after Elfman should almost be back, then think of another excuse to invite her over, like "my Poro can do a backflip, wanna see…?" or something.
As he mused over this and that, he arrived at the guild entrance, finding Kana leaning against the wall, her hair disheveled, clothes a bit dirty, holding a bottle, and pouring alcohol into her mouth.
But only a few drops came out of the bottle, leaving Kana unsatisfied as she licked her lips: "Finally, someone showed up, I thought the guild was sealed by the Advisory Council."
"When did you come back? Quite early." Rhode pulled out the key to unlock the yard gate and then the hall door.
"Came back last night, took a nap at the doorstep, woke up finding half of the bottle's contents spilled, so I came to the guild," she had said.
Quite a lot in just one sentence.
Was she so drunk she didn't even make it through the door last night? Then didn't even freshen up in the morning, just rushed over to the guild for a drink?
"Fell asleep at the doorstep... that's something." Rhode didn't know what to say. "What about Loki?"
"That disloyal guy went straight back to the Star Spirit Realm after finishing the task, said he'd come to play after a break."
"Did you get into trouble this time? Like owing a booze debt and putting it on the Advisory Council's tab or something?"
"How could I get into trouble every time? I'm not Natsu. Plus, the Advisory Council hasn't resumed operations; the tavern wouldn't even recognize their tab."
"…Did you actually try?" Rhode was a bit stunned, just teasing her, and didn't expect Kana actually dared to attempt it.
"Stop nagging, didn't end up owing anything anyway." Kana followed Rhode to the counter, not caring if the seat was clean, patting the table, "Hurry and get me a drink, been waiting forever, take it from the reward."
Kana's last task was the same as Erza's team—taking down the Dark Guild, with the reward being collected from the guild here, so she's still broke for now.
Rhode sighed: "Wait a moment, I'll check the kitchen."
"Aren't there so many on the wine rack? Hurry, or I'll get it myself."
"Just sit quietly for a bit, those aren't suitable for morning drinking."
"Tch… as if it matters when to drink." Despite her grumbling, Kana didn't actually get the drink herself.
Rhode brought out a small jug and a small dish from the kitchen.
He set down a dish of Poro Delicacies, holding the wine jug in his arms: "Have something to eat first."
"..." Are all guys with girlfriends this caring? Kana picked up a Poro Delicacy that resembled a biscuit, munching it with a crunch, mumbling, "I've already eaten, hurry and give me the wine."
Rhode brought a small wine cup, pouring her a serving: "Mr. Cook's homemade rice wine, just a little to warm your stomach and chase away tiredness."
Kana raised it to her nose, it smelled good, but when she drank it, the alcohol was too mild, although quite delicious.
After two Poro Delicacies and two cups of rice wine, Kana felt much better.
Though outside she could drink anytime with no one to nag her, it was still best in the guild.