Fairy Tail: I Don't Want to Be the Guild Master-Chapter 293: Encounter

"Do you think it's real this time?" Mira asked as she placed the grilled fish Happy had ordered down in front of Warm.

Rhodes leaned back and replied, "It's a bit cruel to say this about Natsu, but... probably not. If a real fire dragon showed up, it would've been all over the newspapers already. And Krov's not exactly the most reliable source."

Rhodes reached out and tore off a piece of fish to taste. Not bad. No wonder Happy was obsessed with it.

When he reached for another bite, Mira smacked his hand away.

"Stop it! Dinner's almost ready, and you're fighting Warm for food with greasy hands."

"Huuu~" Warm rubbed its head affectionately against Mira's palm. This hostess was way too nice.

"Hey, were you talking about me?" Krov returned from chatting with some guildmates, dropping off his mission paperwork.

He caught sight of Rhodes holding out his oily fingers like a spoiled kid, while Mira patiently wiped them clean. Then he glanced at Warm gobbling down food nearby.

The scene looked oddly like a cozy family of three.

Rhodes handed over Krov's task form and teased, "We're just saying you'll get what's coming if you spread fake rumors."

Krov blinked, confused. "Why am I getting blamed? I only heard it from someone else!"

Mira smiled sweetly as she finished wiping Rhodes' hands and asked, "Krov, what do you think Natsu's personality is like?"

"He's totally going to think I tricked him," Krov mumbled, his confidence shrinking. "It's fine. I'll just explain when he gets back."

"Good luck," Mira encouraged her gently.

Somehow, that made Krov even less certain about his chances.

"Maybe I should just grab another mission and disappear..." he muttered.

Rhodes, sensing Mira's subtle mischief, decided to add more fuel to the fire:

"What, you're scared of Natsu? If it were me, I'd fight him head-on. That's the manly thing to do."

"Why are you suddenly talking like Elfman?!" Krov stiffened his neck stubbornly. "Who's scared?! I'll wait here!"

Rhodes sighed dramatically.

'If everyone in this guild were this honest, Fairy Tail would've gone bankrupt ages ago.'

"When Natsu gets back," Rhodes said casually, "let's go visit Wendy at the Cait Shelter."

"Where did that come from?" Mira tilted her head curiously.

"I promised I'd tell her when I could summon dragons," Rhodes said, "and I promised I'd visit when I had time."

Mira propped her chin up with one hand, putting on a sorrowful expression.

"Rhodes just loves making promises to girls. Poor me~"

Rhodes couldn't help but laugh helplessly. "Don't be ridiculous. Wendy's just a little kid..."

Mira chuckled, trying to fake a jealous pout, but the target of her jealousy was just too innocent for it to stick.

"Anyway, let's wait a few more days," she said with a smile, "at least until the start of the month."

"Alright then, just find some time to show Natsu the mountain dragon," Mira said with a giggle, "and then you can sneak off without him."

"Sounds good~" Rhodes agreed easily.

Visiting Wendy could count as a little trip too—and naturally, it'd be even better if it was just the two of them.

On the first anniversary of their meeting, Rhodes gifted Mira a bouquet of soft pink roses.

A small gesture to commemorate the day they met, and to celebrate how far their love had come.

Mira's face lit up in pure surprise. They'd spent the whole day together, yet she hadn't noticed when or how he managed to buy flowers in secret.

'If he's this sneaky now... what if he hides his money in the future?'

The thought made her puff out her cheeks slightly.

So, to "warn" him, Mira gave Rhode a long, lingering hug and an even longer kiss.

They stayed locked together until both of them were completely out of breath before they finally broke apart.

...

July 2nd was an ordinary day, at least on the surface.

If there was anything special about it, it was that it was Wednesday, the day when the latest issue of Sorcerer's Weekly hit the stands.

But this week's cover stunned everyone.

At first glance, it seemed like a typical swimsuit model, a striking redhead. But a closer look revealed the truth: the delicate face, the Fairy Tail guild emblem on her arm, and the massive headline beside her...

Fairy Queen — Erza!

The legendary Fairy Queen had released a swimsuit photo shoot!

The news hit like a thunderclap across Fiore. Old gentlemen who had long since despaired of seeing another swimsuit edition from Mirajane suddenly found new hope.

Sales of the magazine skyrocketed at a terrifying pace.

Newsstands, bookstores, everywhere was packed with people scrambling to get a copy.

Meanwhile, over in Hargeon.

A petite blonde girl slumped dramatically onto a bench, waving her arms and legs in a tantrum.

"Ahhh... what's wrong with everyone here!" Lucy Heartfilia groaned in frustration.

"The shop owner only agreed to knock off 1,000J, and those guys lining up wouldn't even give up a single copy! Has my sexiness become so meaningless?!"

After sulking for a while, she draped her right arm across her forehead like a tragic heroine.

"I have to read this week's issue! I heard the Fairy Queen's swimsuit photos are inside! Ugh—fine! I'll try another bookstore. This time I'll definitely get it!"

Just as she psyched herself up to move, a group of excited girls ran past her:

"Lord Fire Dragon is here in Hargeon!"

"Lord Salamander! The famous wizard!"

"Quick, let's get his autograph!"

"Salamander? Isn't that someone from Fairy Tail?" Lucy muttered, surprised, and followed the rushing crowd curiously.

Not far away, Natsu and Happy had also heard the commotion, and they were dashing toward the noise at full speed.

Back in Magnolia.

Over the next two days, all the guild's "problem children" trickled back one after another.

Cana, Levy, Elfman, they each turned in their mission paperwork with carefully innocent expressions, as if they had flawlessly completed their tasks without a hitch.

But Makarov, with the instincts of a seasoned veteran, knew better.

From long experience, he understood: the worse the disaster, the harder they pretended nothing happened.

Still, seeing the guild bustling again, he decided to let it slide, for now. They could always write a few more self-criticisms later.

After all, the fact that the ways they caused trouble had changed, that was a kind of growth, too.

Makarov chuckled to himself, savoring the fine wine Mira and Rhodes had gifted him with a small, satisfied sip.

His heart felt especially full today.

It was rare to see Mira, who usually restricted him from drinking all day, actually bringing some wine.

Makarov's face gradually turned rosy as he sipped his drink, clearly enjoying himself.

He leaned lazily against the counter, gazing at the two young people in front of him, who were supposed to be working but were really just finding excuses to flirt, and let out a tipsy burp:

"You two... hiccup~"

Rhode sand Mira both looked up at him, curious.

Makarov chuckled and continued drunkenly,

"When are you getting married?"

Mira's face immediately flushed bright red. She lunged forward and snatched the wine bottle from Makarov's hands:

"Master, you've had too much again!"

Makarov protested with half-lidded eyes:

"Not even close. Why'd you steal my wine? Don't you want to be with Rhodes..."

"Of course I do!" Mira blurted out, before realizing what she'd said. Her face turned even redder as she quickly grabbed his wine glass too.

"No more drinking this month!"

Makarov sobered up a little, startled by her fierceness:

"N-Nooo..."

Meanwhile, Rhodes was secretly giving the old man a thumbs-up.

'Well played, Master.'

All that was left now was to save up a little more money, and defeat Mira head-on in a duel.

'Then... maybe it would be time.'

"You're not allowed to laugh!" Mira pouted at him.

"I'm not laughing," Rhodes said, lips twitching uncontrollably.

He really couldn't help it.

Just as the old man was happily watching the young couple bicker, a postman burst into the guild and handed over a thick, heavy package.

The words written on it, "To Guild Master Makarov", hit Makarov like a thunderbolt.

The old man stared at the package, pale-faced.

He knew this kind of thing far too well, but this time, the thickness was terrifying!

Even Mira recognized it instantly. She smiled sweetly and teased:

"Master, aren't you going to open it?"

Rhodes waved a hand in front of Makarov's blank face: "Master, you alright?"

Makarov straightened up stiffly and croaked: "No, I'm fine."

He tucked the thick package under his arm, hopped off the counter with surprising agility, and marched toward the second floor with the solemn air of a man going to his execution.

'Some things were better faced alone.'

Just as the old man disappeared upstairs, Max, Fairy Tail's resident loudmouth, came running into the guild, shouting excitedly:

"Have you heard?! It's all over this morning's news, Natsu wrecked half the port in Hargeon!"

"What?! Really?"

"That's so like Natsu! Hahaha!"

Hearing the news, Makarov stumbled slightly, but without missing a beat, he gritted his teeth and marched even faster up the stairs.

Rhodes let out a long sigh. "Here we go again..."

"Maybe we should go check on Master?" Rhodes suggested, glancing upstairs. "I'm a little worried he might collapse from the stress."

He wanted to follow, but, well it probably wasn't a good idea to disturb the old man right now.

"I don't think the master wants us barging in at a time like this," Mira said gently. Seeing Rhode's concern, she added with a smile,

"I'll sneak up and check on him later, don't worry."