Fairy Tail: I Don't Want to Be the Guild Master-Chapter 319: Let’s Go Relax

"Should I say it's been a while, or that it's our first meeting?" Mira tilted her head, her gaze fixed on the masked figure in the black cloak before her. "Either way, it doesn't really count as a real meeting, does it?"

She wasn't the only one in the guild curious about Mystogan's face.

Scratch that, everyone was curious.

And not just curious, they wanted to punch him.

After all, anyone who got knocked out cold every single time he walked through the door would be at least a little upset. Even Master Makarov admitted Mystogan had his reasons, but that didn't mean they couldn't settle it with a fight.

Fighting was a form of communication in Fairy Tail, after all.

"Sorry," Mystogan said calmly, his voice muffled by the veil. "I have my reasons."

He was surprised by Mira's easygoing tone. But then again, she was an S-Class wizard. This much composure was expected.

As for the mask... well.

Last time he dropped his guard and trusted his magic too much, Laxus saw his true face.

He wasn't going to make that mistake again.

Mystogan quickly adjusted his posture and made his way to the request board. "Is the Master not here?"

"He was watching Natsu and Erza's duel in the courtyard," Mira said with a small pout. "But you kind of knocked everyone out and interrupted it."

"Apologies." Mystogan pulled down a job request from the board and handed it to Mira for approval.

She took it, scribbled his name into the registry, and looked up with a cheeky grin. "You sure I can't just get a peek under that veil?"

"I'd rather not. It would cause, complications."

"Then I'll just tell everyone you're horribly ugly," she said with mock innocence.

Mystogan paused mid-step.

Then, wordlessly, he kept walking.

Mira sighed dramatically, resting her elbows on the counter. "Tch. I'll really say it, too. Don't test me."

Whatever burden Mystogan was carrying, he clearly wasn't ready to share it.

Suddenly, a smooth, arrogant voice floated down from the second-floor balcony.

"Not gonna chase him down and throw hands? That's not like you."

Mira glanced up.

Laxus was leaning over the railing, arms crossed, electric eyes gleaming with challenge.

"Laxus?"

"I heard the demon came back," he said, smirking. "Guess the rumors were true. But... you've gone soft."

"If caring about my guildmates makes me weak," Mira replied with a small, serene smile, "then I'm fine with being weak."

"Tch. Lame excuse."

Before Mira could respond, the front doors burst open and a swarm of angry guildmates rushed in, shouting and looking for one specific person.

"Where is he? MYSTOGAN, SHOW YOURSELF!"

"Put us to sleep again?!"

"Just once, let me deck him before I pass out!"

Laxus didn't spare them a glance. His gaze stayed fixed on Mira.

"I heard you can't even beat Erza anymore," he said coldly. "Guess you're not worth my time either."

"What do you mean by that, Laxus?" came a sharp voice from the entrance.

Erza had returned.

She stepped into the hall just in time to hear him badmouthing both her and Mira.

"I mean I'm the strongest," Laxus said, full of self-satisfaction. "No one in this guild can touch me. Not Erza, not Mira, not Mystogan..."

His eyes flicked toward the ceiling.

"Not even that old man."

Behind the rowdy mob, Rhodes walked in with Lucy, having stayed behind to explain Mystogan's quirks.

Before Lucy had time to complain about Mystogan's weird behavior, she heard Laxus's declaration of the strongest.

"Who was that just now?" Lucy asked, blinking at the tall blond who'd just left.

"Laxus," Rhodes replied, glancing in the direction he disappeared. "One of Fairy Tail's five S-Class wizards. He's... probably in his rebellious phase right now."

He wasn't sure if it was normal to be acting like that at 23 or 24 years old, but he, Fairy Tail wasn't exactly a guild known for normal people.

"Wait, the same level as Miss Mira, Erza, and Mystogan? Then who's the fifth?"

"That'd be an old guy named Gildarts. I haven't seen him either," Rhodes said with a shrug.

Lucy's eyes widened. "You've been in the guild almost a year and haven't met him?"

"Yeah," Rhodes nodded. "Apparently, he hasn't been back in over two years."

He tilted his head, curious. "But wait, you remembered how long I've been in the guild?"

Lucy looked away bashfully. "I saw it in a magazine. You were listed as 'Fairy Tail's Strongest Rookie' or something like that. Joined the guild about a year before me, so... it just stuck in my memory."

She had been following news about Fairy Tail even before she joined. In fact, the year Rhodes joined the guild happened to be the same year she ran away from home. That made it even more memorable.

"Huh. So we're fated, then," Rhodes joked. He thought carefully, 'is being 'fated' to the main character is a good thing or a bad one.'

Meanwhile, across the room, Natsu had just finished looking around for Mystogan without luck. His eyes fell on Laxus instead.

"Hey! Fight me!" he shouted, pointing dramatically.

Gray let out an exasperated sigh. "Didn't you just finish fighting Erza?"

"Doesn't matter!" Natsu growled, still glaring up at the second floor. "Come down here already!"

Laxus smirked from the railing. "Sure. I'll fight you... if you can come up."

"Oh, I'm coming up alright!" Natsu said, charging for the stairs, only to be halted by Master Makarov, who stretched out one arm and stopped him like a roadblock.

"Hold it right there, Natsu," Makarov said firmly. "You're not allowed on the second floor yet."

Laxus grinned wickedly. "Yikes, rejected by the Master. Can't even set foot on the second floor, how are you supposed to fight me, Salamander?"

"Old man, come on!" Natsu yelled, struggling against the Master's surprisingly strong grip.

"Enough," Makarov said calmly, not even looking up from his drink. "Wait until you're officially promoted to S-Class."

"Laxus, that's enough," he added in a warning tone.

Laxus chuckled but didn't push back. He turned and left, clearly satisfied with having stirred things up.

The mood in the guild soured just a little.

It wasn't just the people Laxus insulted who were annoyed.

Even those who hadn't been targeted felt it.

Laxus hadn't even spared them a glance, only Erza and Mira existed in his eyes.

That stung.

And knowing that he was the Master's grandson, strong enough to possibly take over the guild one day, didn't help either.

At this point, even if Erza ran the show with her iron grip, it'd still be better than letting someone like Laxus inherit the guild.

If only Erza and Mira would just gang up and beat some sense into him. Or better yet... if Gildarts came back soon.

Otherwise... maybe Rhodes could step up?

He hadn't been in the guild long, barely a year but more and more people were starting to think: 'Maybe he's the most suitable one.'

Rhodes, of course, was completely unaware that his name was being whispered in hopeful schemes. He was off in his own thoughts.

It struck him how every time Laxus showed up, he managed to ruin the mood.

Even though he was Master Makarov's grandson, Laxus always gave off the vibe that he didn't quite belong in Fairy Tail.

That air of superiority, it clashed with the warmth and chaos the guild was known for.

Rhodes headed to the counter and gently took Mira's hand. "Did Laxus say anything rude?"

Mira smiled lightly and shook her head. "Not really."

So that meant: yes.

Rhodes leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, "What if we jump him on the way out? We'll grab Erza, Natsu, Gray, and Cana, throw a sack over his head, give him a good beating, and vanish."

Mira widened her eyes. "We can't do that! He only said a few words. It's not a big deal."

Rhodes looked thoughtful. "Still..."

Trying to brighten her mood, he grinned and changed the subject. "Anyway, did you get to see Mystogan?"

"I did," Mira replied, folding her arms with a pout. "But he was wearing a mask and wouldn't take it off."

"So he's probably super ugly underneath, huh?" Rhodes said with a straight face. "We should tell everyone."

Mira burst into laughter. 'Why is he just as petty as I am?'

"You want to get out of here for a bit?" Rhodes asked gently. He could still sense the slight heaviness in her expression.

"I'll pick out a mission for us. It's been a while since we went out together, and I promised we'd visit Wendy."

Mira blinked in surprise, then nodded. "Yeah... alright. Since it's for Wendy, I think the Master will approve."

"Sweet. I'll go find a good one!" Rhodes turned toward the job board.

...

Stones Plz 💎💎🫡