Fairy Tail: I Don't Want to Be the Guild Master-Chapter 391: Simon, Enemy? Friend?

Rhodes was a little winded from the fight, so he summoned another Brambleback to handle cleanup.

These three were no ordinary thugs—they were infamous assassins with deep ties to the underworld. Rhodes couldn't afford to take any chances.

Once he confirmed they were down for good, he let out a breath of relief and sent two crabs to patrol the beach perimeter.

The battle had cost him nearly all his summoned wildlings, and it left him with a nagging sense of vulnerability.

He and Mira both had injuries, not too serious, but noticeable enough.

Reflecting on the fight, Rhodes muttered, "Was I too cruel?"

"Cruel?" Mira raised an eyebrow. "No. That's called being smart. They came here with the intent to kill us."

"Right," Rhodes nodded.

By now, the beach was deserted. All the tourists had fled when the battle broke out. Only two were left standing, and three lay unconscious on the sand.

Rhodes glanced around, alert. "Something's off. We should head back to the hotel. With that much commotion, Erza and the others must've noticed."

Mira nodded, already sensing the same thing. "If they haven't come running, they might be in trouble too."

The two broke into a sprint, heading toward the hotel.

Suddenly, a swirling black vortex appeared in their path, and from within it stepped a tall man. His right arm was bare, a white turban wrapped around his head, a black eyepatch covered his left eye, and a thick iron ring circled his chin like a brace.

The moment he appeared, he gave a slight nod of approval.

"As expected from the Fairy Strategist and the Demon Mirajane. You even defeated the Trinity Raven."

Rhodes immediately recognized the swirling black magic. It was the same dark aura he'd sensed in the hotel room before the battle.

"Take over: Mountain Dragon Soul!"

"Wait—! I'm not your enemy!"

"Roar of the Mountain Dragon!"

Not an enemy? This guy practically rolled out the red carpet for the assassins to ambush Mira. He helped them before the fight, hid during the whole thing, and now wanted to show up and say he wasn't an enemy?

Rhodes wasn't buying it. Whoever wins—you side with them? That's not how Fairy Tail rolls.

Simon barely raised a hand in defense. A vortex of dark magic flared to intercept the blast, but Rhodes' rock storm shattered it instantly and sent him flying.

"Guh!" The man's turban was torn off, his clothes shredded, and he hit the ground with a painful grunt. Bruises quickly bloomed across his arms and torso as he coughed hard.

Rhodes frowned, unimpressed. For someone who dropped in like some mysterious big boss, his strength was underwhelming.

"I... cough... I was one of Erza's old comrades..." the man wheezed.

Rhodes cast a skeptical glance toward Mira.

She shook her head. "I don't recognize him. Maybe he means before Erza joined Fairy Tail?"

"Yes... that's right," Simon winced, clutching his chest as he pushed himself upright.

Rhodes wasn't letting it go that easily. "If you're an old friend of Erza's, why did you help those Trinity Raven attack us?"

"That dark spell wasn't meant for you," Simon replied, finally catching his breath. "Its purpose was to capture Erza. Trinity Raven were just assigned to stall you two."

"Excuse me?"

Without missing a beat, Rhodes summoned Brambleback again. It lifted Simon into the air with one claw, gripping him tightly, ready to squeeze with a single word.

Even if it sounded like he was hiding something, Rhodes wasn't about to trust a stranger just because he said a few soft words.

"You'd better explain yourself. Clearly," Rhodes warned, voice cold.

"Please... just hear me out—"

Before Simon could finish, four figures burst out of the hotel entrance. Natsu led the charge, shouting, "Rhodes! Mira! Erza and Happy have been kidnapped!"

Lucy, panting, caught up behind him. "Mr. Rhodes! Miss Mira!"

"Are you both okay?" Gray followed close behind. Running beside him was a blue-haired girl in a flowing dress—Juvia.

Juvia Lockser. Formerly one of the Element 4 of Phantom Lord.

Her presence wasn't a surprise. Ever since she'd been released by the Magic Council, she'd been quietly watching over Gray from a distance.

Just a few days ago, she'd secretly bought a necklace shaped like the Fairy Tail emblem and started wearing it close to her heart. She was still working up the courage to officially ask to join the guild.

She had changed so much that those unfamiliar with her wouldn't have recognized her at first glance.

But Rhodes and Mira weren't focused on Juvia right now. Their eyes widened at Natsu's words.

"Erza and Happy were kidnapped?!" Rhodes repeated.

"A weird cube guy blindsided me and snatched Happy!" Natsu growled, fists shaking. "Damn it—I let my guard down!"

"Yes!" Lucy chimed in urgently. "Erza and I were attacked! There was a blonde girl with dark skin who used some kind of card magic, and a catwoman too! And..."

She abruptly pointed at Simon, who was still trapped in the claws of the tree monster. freewёbnoνel.com

"Ah! That's him! He was with them!"

Gray's expression turned icy as he got a better look. "You bastard. You're the one who attacked me! If I hadn't used a substitution spell—"

He stormed up to the man, glaring. "Who are you?!"

"Gray-sama, please wait!" Juvia stepped between them, placing a hand on his chest. "He might not be the enemy."

She explained quickly, "I know dark magic when I see it. The caster who used it earlier—this man—he deliberately attacked your substitute instead of you. He knew you used molding magic to switch out."

Natsu wasn't convinced. He stepped forward, eyes burning. "You jerk! Give us back Erza and Happy!"

Voices overlapped, accusations flying, but Rhodes quietly processed it all.

So while he and Mira were being ambushed by the Tritinty Raven, the others had also been attacked.

Erza and Happy had been taken. But Natsu, Gray, Lucy, and Juvia had all come out of it unharmed.

Rhodes glanced at Juvia, noting the Fairy Tail emblem on her necklace. Anyone targeting Fairy Tail should've considered her a target, too. And yet...

They left her alone?

That was strange.

If the attackers were after the guild, Juvia should have been taken out too.

How exactly was Erza captured while the others weren't?

Was there some sort of special magic involved?

And then there was this man—Simon—with his iron chin, conveniently popping up now.

He'd helped the enemy set up their ambush, yet also helped Gray maintain a fake-out?

He aided in Erza's abduction, yet claimed to be her former comrade?

It was like he was trying to sabotage the enemy from within while still helping them.

A double agent?

"Don't get flustered. Listen to me first!" Rhodes spoke with urgency and clarity, his words cutting through the tension like a blade. "Do you know which direction they went?"

"That way!" Natsu pointed out over the open sea. The horizon stretched wide and empty—no ships, no sails, nothing but the endless ocean breeze.

"Mira, find us two small boats—big enough to carry everyone. We're heading out immediately."

"Lucy, summon one of your more reliable Celestial Spirits. Send them to the nearest town to find a communication lacrima and report everything to the Master."

"Natsu, Gray, tell me everything you know about the people who attacked you."

Whoever had managed to capture Erza wasn't just some random thug. This was someone dangerous. They couldn't afford to waste time.

Until they knew the enemy's goal, Erza and Happy could be in serious danger. They needed to move fast—and be ready for backup.

As Rhodes calmly issued instructions, the group's earlier confusion and panic began to settle. His leadership grounded them.

Rhodes then turned to the blue-haired girl standing slightly apart from the others.

"Juvia... you..."

He hesitated. She had been an enemy once. The safest course might be to ask her to step away, but she was strong. And from what he'd seen recently, she didn't seem hostile at all.

Juvia stepped forward, her voice resolute. "Juvia wishes to help. Juvia... wants to join Fairy Tail."

She'd once whispered those words to Gray in secret. Saying it now—openly, even in front of Mira, the one who'd once defeated her—felt much easier.

Rhodes looked to Gray for guidance.

"Bring her," Gray said simply. "Juvia just stood up for me. I trust her."

"My Lord Gray~~~!" Juvia squealed, stars in her eyes, forming a heart shape with her hands.

Gray let out a heavy sigh. "Or maybe I don't."

"Alright then," Rhodes nodded, hiding a smirk. "Juvia, you'll be responsible for watching him." He gestured toward Simon, who was still bound in the monster's grip. "We still can't fully trust him. Interrogate him on the way."

He looked over the team.

"Let's move."

...

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