The Nirubit clan has disappeared.
But Wendy said no, starting today, she is the Nirubit clan.
She may not always stay on this land, but she has learned many Nirubit skills. She will take these skills to many places and pass them on to suitable people.
Maybe in a very distant future, there will be Nirubit everywhere.
What does it feel like to lose someone important? Mira, Gray, Leon, Jie Li, Hibiki... many people present have firsthand experience and can empathize with her.
Mira and Erza accompanied Wendy to organize President Robin Lu's "belongings" and also planned to select a suitable stone to erect a monument in the village.
Others, following President Robin Lu's wishes, decided to stay at the Cat Transformation Inn for an extra day or two, leaving only after confirming Wendy was okay.
"It's okay, you don't have to," Carla felt that having a few of Fairy Tail's lively members was enough and that they needn't bother the others.
Jura said, "It's fine. In the previous routine meeting, it was mentioned 'to strengthen the connections between guilds.' Taking this opportunity to get more familiar with everyone isn't a bad thing."
An excuse fit for the Ten Wizard Saints level.
Carla turned her face away: "Whatever."
Rhode translated: "She's saying 'Thank you.'"
Carla glared at Rhode: "I didn't say that!"
Rhode continued to translate for her: "She's saying, 'I'm too embarrassed to say it, but you're too talkative.', oh, this one's directed at me."
Carla stomped her foot, her face flushed with red: "How did you come up with that?!"
"She said..."
"Enough!" Carla interrupted Rhode, spread her wings, and flew off.
She regretted not spending more time with Wendy instead of staying to host them!
Everyone laughed good-naturedly; with the passing day, Wendy and Carla both felt much better, and a little joking was fine.
Hapi looked at Rhode with admiration; he wanted to learn that.
Rhode patted Hapi's head: "Just like I can't help Jet and Troy, I can't help you, but keep it up. Why don't you learn from those two?"
He was referring to Pegasus's Ren and Lamia Scale's Jie Li.
These two are both tsundere, yet their relationship is progressing rapidly for some reason.
By noon today, they had developed to the point of serving rice to each other and then arguing over 'You eat first' for a long time.
Rhode found the arguing unbearable, so he and Mira mimicked the two's expressions and actions right in front of them, shaming them into quietly eating.
"There's something going on~" Hapi looked at the quarreling couple and unconsciously said his catchphrase.
Then he silently turned around to leave, deciding to go catch some fish, something he could visibly work on.
Everyone had their own tasks; some helped Wendy deal with matters at the Cat Transformation Inn, some were organizing reports for this mission, others were gathering ingredients to solve logistical issues for everyone.
Perhaps the company of everyone was very helpful, or maybe some lively folks caused enough commotion, or maybe Wendy took President Robin Lu's last words to heart as her smile gradually increased over the past few days.
Today marks the third day since the disbandment of the Cat Transformation Inn.
Today, Rhode's task was hunting, preparing enough meat for over a dozen people.
Just as he was about to leave, three golden lights landed in front of him, transforming into four peculiar figures.
One was a pink-haired beauty dressed in white wool, with a pair of horns on her head.
One pair was entirely blue, bald twin children about as tall as Hapi.
The other was a scorpion person with a long tail trailing behind them.
Rhode didn't recognize the pink-haired wool girl, but he had seen the other three (two?):
"Are you Gemini and Scorpio's Star Spirits? And... Aries?"
Rhode was slightly wary but did not overreact.
According to Lucy, Oracion Seis's Angel summoned the Star Spirits of Gemini, Scorpio, Aries, and another from Bootes Constellation.
It's pretty much confirmed that the Cloaked Lady who helped save the child alongside Mira back then was Angel.
However, according to the Celestial Spirit Contract rules, when a Star Spirit's owner is arrested or sentenced for a crime, the contract is voided.
Just like Virgo's Star Spirit Balrog back then, these few should now be free.
While Rhode was observing them, they too were observing Rhode, mainly eyeing the Fairy Tail emblem on his clothes.
"That's right, I'm Scorpio's Scorpio, hey ya—yea!" Scorpio raised his thumb, index, and little finger, making a gesture resembling a rapper's pose.
The two little blue people jumped around, saying, "Bili-bili! I'm Jemi (Mini), we are Gemini's Gemini!"
The pink-haired wool girl timidly said, "Sorry! I'm Aries's Alyes, sorry!"
Great, with just one sentence from each, Rhode basically understood their personalities.
Without waiting for Rhode to ask, Scorpio directly said, "May I ask if Miss Lucy is here? We want to become her Star Spirits."
As he spoke, he displayed the golden key with the Scorpio mark in his palm, and both Gemini and Alyes showed their respective keys, indicating that they hadn't signed a contract with anyone yet.
"!" Rhode could hardly believe his ears, Star Spirits coming on their own to sign a contract?
After thinking it over, Virgo's Balrog had also entrusted Hapi to hand over her key.
What kind of fortune's child is Lucy, the protagonist with the main character aura?
Fortunately, although Rhode entered through learning Celestial Spirit Magic, he wasn't a true Star Spirit Mage, or he'd probably be envious of Lucy's serendipity to death.
"Please wait a moment; I'll go call her."
A Star Spirit without an owner requires little vigilance because, besides exceptions like Loki, Star Spirits generally aren't allowed to interfere in Human Realm affairs before signing a contract.
Lucy lived in a house not far behind Wendy's.
For some unknown reason, Natsu and Gray were fighting there today, and Lucy, accustomed to it, covered her skirt watching their antics, pondering whether to immediately retreat or watch for a bit before leaving.
It wasn't until an ice block hit her forehead and knocked her down that she was sure she should have left sooner.
"Can't you two fight somewhere else?" Lucy complained as she propped herself up.
The upright gentleman Rhode covered his eyes: "Lucy, someone's looking for you."
Lucy looked curiously at Rhode's hand, suddenly jumped up, covering her skirt and shrieked: "Aah—"
"Rhode, you're just in time! We haven't settled scores from last time!" Natsu recalled being ambushed and temporarily left Gray to charge toward Rhode.
Rhode refused to fight him now: "Don't mess around, I have things to do."
"Who cares!" Flames burst from Natsu's fist.
Rhode sighed: "Mountain Dragon Soul."
Natsu felt a blur in front of him, a pain on top of his head, and he collapsed to the ground, his limbs twitching slightly.
Rhode blew on his fist and looked at Gray: "You're not going to join too, are you?"
"...No, I'll pass." Gray wasn't as stubborn as Natsu, just a bit sullen, saying, "How did you become so strong so quickly? Are you still training hard every day?"
Rhode gazed up at the sky: "If Erza became your girlfriend, you'd work as hard as I do."
"...Spare me."