Fairy Tail: I Don't Want to Be the Guild Master-Chapter 265: Battle

The client really lucked out. Hiring an S-Class wizard for less than 100,000J? Bargain of the year.

"Oh, by the way," Erza added, "I heard Mira regained her S-Class title?"

Mira smiled sweetly as she glanced at Rhodes, who was busy scribbling down notes. "Yes, my magic is back in full."

"That's wonderful." Erza looked genuinely happy. "Want to spar after I return? It's been a while."

"Sure," Mira replied cheerfully. "A good workout sounds nice."

"I've missed those days," Erza said, her tone almost nostalgic. "Alright, when I'm back, we'll set a time. As for the place..."

"If you two are going to fight seriously," Rhodes cut in, "then definitely not near the guild. If anything else gets destroyed, the Master might cry."

He still felt a little guilty about yesterday's incident. The last thing he wanted was to be responsible for another round of reconstruction.

"Let's decide on the location when you return," Mira suggested.

"Sounds good."

Erza walked off, thoroughly satisfied. A mission that offered strawberries and a promised duel with Mira? Perfection.

Mira watched her go, then smiled thoughtfully. "It's funny... we can actually talk about fighting now without getting into an actual fight. I guess we've both matured."

"You've definitely changed a lot," Rhodes replied, naturally taking her hand in his. It was becoming a bit of a reflex.

"But it's less fun this way." Mira mused. Then an idea lit up in her eyes. "Why don't we use the strawberries Erza brings back as a wager? Winner takes the Top-Sweet Strawberries."

"But they're hers. You'd have to beat her just to steal her prize. Who's going to agree to that?"

"Others might not," Mira said with a confident smile, "but Erza will."

She knew her too well.

"I mean, just imagine her expression if I win and take the prize she worked so hard to get."

Oh. So it wasn't really about the strawberries, it was about the priceless look on Erza's face.

"Devil."

Rhodes gave his honest opinion, but Mira didn't get mad at all. After all, she was a devil.

But then, as if something had crossed her mind, she asked quietly, "If my personality now were still like it was back then, would you still like me?"

"Hmm..."

Thinking about it logically, if Mira had kept her old attitude fierce, brash, always picking fights then when Rhodes first woke up in this world, she might not have been the one to greet him. Maybe she wouldn't have been the one who cared for him so gently either.

If all he'd seen of Mira was her clashing with Erza, he might've mentally put her on a "do not approach unless you want to die" list.

And if there hadn't been a chance to truly get to know her, he probably wouldn't have understood the softer sides of her personality at least, not anytime soon.

Still, this wasn't the kind of question that needed a logical answer.

So instead of speaking, Rhodes wrapped his arms around Mira from behind. He rested his chin gently on her shoulder, lacing his fingers between hers.

"I think... even if you were the way you were back then, I'd still be drawn to you."

Even a demon can melt a little at times like this.

"Really?" Mira asked softly, like she didn't quite believe him.

"Really," Rhodes said without hesitation. "If you don't believe me, how about you put on your old outfit and we find out?"

Mira tilted her head and gave him a playful bump with her shoulder. "Nice try. So that's your angle, trying to talk me into changing clothes, huh?"

"Ow." Rhodes winced. "Your head's hard, you know that?"

He rubbed his chest and grinned, tossing the question back at her. "Alright then, if you were still like before, would you still like me?"

Mira paused, then slowly slipped her hand from his grip and wrapped it gently around the back of his.

"I'd probably find you annoying at first," she admitted, smiling. "But I think I'd still fall for you. It might just take longer. And the confession..." Her lips curled up in a mischievous smirk. "It'd be much more intense~"

"'Intense,' huh..." Rhodes chuckled, already imagining it.

If it were the old Mira, she probably would've grabbed him by the collar and shouted:

"Did you hear me? I said I like you! We're dating now! And if I catch you flirting with anyone else, I'll break your legs!"

"Huh~~"

Mira let out a slow breath.

"This... actually sounds a little exciting."

"Ahem."

Right on cue, just as the atmosphere between them was reaching peak sweetness, an all-too-familiar voice interrupted.

Because of course, nothing nice can ever last in peace at Fairy Tail.

Mira slipped out of Rhodes' arms and gently pushed him back toward his seat, cheeks still a little pink.

Laki had entered the room.

She looked composed, but anyone who knew her well enough could tell, she was practically vibrating with emotion.

She'd been rooting for Rhodes and Mira from the sidelines all this time, more anxious than either of them about their slow-burn romance.

But now that it was official and the couple started showing their affection so openly... something inside her stirred with unexpected frustration.

People are just funny like that.

Rhodes raised an eyebrow and looked at her.

"You know, the infirmary's got cough syrup if you need help clearing your throat."

Laki didn't respond. She only stared at Rhodes for a long moment, then silently pointed to the newly repaired wall.

Rhodes paused.

He had a bad feeling about this.

"You ever heard of those old punishments where people got burned at the stake?" he said slowly. "It's that kind of..."

Laki's eyes lit up. In the most terrifying way possible.

Rhodes immediately regretted bringing it up. It had sounded cool in his head. Now that she was actually considering it?

Creepy.

Thank goodness Mira didn't have weird hobbies like that.

Right?

Wait. Did she?

Now that he thought about it, he'd only ever sat in her living room the few times he visited. He hadn't seen her bedroom yet.

He really needed to find a reason to get a look inside. Just in case.

Mira caught him zoning out and turned her head. "What are you thinking about?"

Rhodes blinked and quickly pivoted.

"I was wondering if we should do a joint mission sometime soon. Just the two of us, like how Alzack and Bisca do it."

Mira gave a soft smile. "I'd like that. I'll keep an eye out for something good over the next few days."

She paused, then added, "But first, I want to fight Erza properly once she gets back. I promised her."

Rhodes nodded.

...

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