"Not bad, but..."
Erza took two steps forward and jumped, stepping on the River Crab's head, leaping over it directly towards Rhode.
"The best way to deal with this type of mage is to attack the mage directly!"
"Huh?" As someone who's almost never fought, Rhode watched Erza hurtle towards him, utterly at a loss.
He saw Erza's sword disappear from her hand, her right hand clenched into a fist, and then felt a pain in his forehead, his vision went black, and he fell flat on his back.
Erza landed lightly, facing Rhode, "Come on, attack me with all you've got!"
"No, no..." Mira walked over with a medicine box, smiling and waving her hand, "He can't even stand up anymore."
"Just as expected!" The spectators were surprised by the River Crab's charge speed but not at all by this outcome.
Because even if it were them, they might not perform better than Rhode.
It's hard to gauge Rhode's strength like this; Erza, that one, kind of messed it up.
"For a newbie who's just learned magic, his magic power is quite impressive, and his magic is proficient, but in terms of real combat experience... almost zero."
Makarov saw clearly that Rhode has the potential to become a core force of the guild; as for combat experience...
As long as he stays in the guild, that's one thing he'll never lack.
...
"Gray, lend a hand." Mira opened a small bag in front of Gray.
"Huh? Sure." Gray clenched his right fist, pressing it against his left palm, "Ice-Make: Ice Bag."
The ice-blue magic glow lit up, and the bag in Mira's hand quickly filled with ice cubes.
"I'm doomed, I screwed up..." Rhode was sitting on a stool in front of the counter, doubting life.
"Rhode, lift your head a bit."
Rhode did so instinctively, and something cool and chilly was placed on his forehead.
"Hiss~~" Rhode's eyeballs strained upwards; it seemed like an ice bag, carefully wrapped with a towel.
Mira behind him bent down to meet Rhode's gaze, smiling warmly, "Don't move around, apply a cold compress for a bit to reduce the swelling faster."
"Thanks." Rhode reached up to hold the ice bag himself.
Seeing his dejection, Mira said, "Losing to Erza isn't shameful at all. She's one of the strongest in the guild, after all."
"But I chanted such a long piece of words, summoned such a flashy crab, and got taken down by her in one move, using a fist no less, not even her sword!"
Mira tilted her head, "Would you have preferred she used a sword? Erza's that type who barely knows how to hold back in a fight."
Imagining the gruesome scene, Rhode thought, "Well, maybe not."
Bam! Someone slammed something heavy on the counter.
Rhode turned his head, still holding onto the ice bag, and involuntarily sat up straight, "Erza... Miss?"
"Just call me Erza, and I owe you an apology." Erza placed her clenched left fist on her chest, wearing a regretful expression,
"I'm sorry for being too rough, treating a companion's sparring request so harshly, I'm downright awful, bullying a guild newbie like that!"
Rhode was taken aback by her solemn attitude and hurriedly waved his hands, "No, no, it's not that bad."
"No, your forgiveness only highlights my misdeeds more." Erza opened the large box she placed on the counter, from which a mountain of supplies spilled and scattered about.
A quick glance revealed bandages, plasters, iodine, painkillers, anti-inflammatory meds, and all sorts of medical supplies.
"I've bought all the external injury meds from the pharmacy, feel free to use them!"
"No, it's just a bump on my head, hurts a little, that's all."
"Is that so? It seems my actions gave you such a headache; please, let me find a way to make up for it."
Did I misuse the common language again? Rhode looked to Mira for help.
Mira, who was thoroughly enjoying the scene, explained:
"That's just Erza's nature, she tends to take things a bit too seriously. If you don't accept the meds, she'll bandage you up personally~"
Before Rhode could speak, Erza had a sudden realization, "I see, only by bandaging you myself can I express my apology!"
"No, rea—"
"Requip!"
In a flash of light, Erza had changed outfits, a nurse uniform perfectly complementing her figure.
"Oh~ oh~ oh~" A wolf-whistle echoed in the tavern, as many men's eyes turned heart-shaped.
Having seen Erza mostly in armor, seeing her in a nurse outfit suddenly made it clear that aside from her intimidating battle prowess, her looks were top-notch too.
If not for fear of getting beaten up, the likes of Wakaba and Macao, those old perverts, might have already closed in on her.
"Alright, let's start the bandaging!" Erza picked up a roll of bandages.
"No, um, there's no need, really..."
Rhode's heart betrayed him by racing, shifting from objection to tacit agreement in less than a second.
As Erza began unrolling the bandage, Rhode's heart started to reproach his lack of will, soon giving way to regret...
"Ahhhh!!!"
As professional as Erza's attire was, her technique was equally unprofessional; she used the roll of bandage just like rope.
Normally, for a minor injury like Rhode's, you'd apply some swelling reducer at the bump, optionally wrapping it a few times.
Yet Erza managed to wrap it around his neck, bind his arm, and was about to wound it around his legs...
Yearning for a full-on prisoner binding!
"Suffocat— *coughs*"
Rhode struggled for breath as if suffocated, while some in the tavern seemed even more excited, looking at him with envious eyes.
"Stop it, Erza. Rhode's gonna die!"
Mira was also seeing Erza bandage someone for the first time and didn't expect it to be so fierce.
Luckily, she intervened before Rhode began to pass out.
Erza offered a solemn apology, "Sorry, I'm a bit rusty with healing people's injuries."
But your skills at killing are top-tier.
Rhode, 'touched,' responded with watery eyes, "No, you're great; thanks to your treatment, my forehead doesn't hurt much anymore."
"Really?" Erza's eyes sparkled.
Rhode nodded earnestly, "Absolutely, thanks for your healing! I'll leave the rest to my recovery abilities!"
He was sure his forehead didn't hurt as much compared to his arm.
Rhode felt he was close to a fracture; are bandages such sturdy things, strong enough to nearly snap a person's bones?
"That's wonderful." Erza, seemingly taking his word, happily returned to her armor, leaving behind the large box of medical supplies.
Rhode massaged his arm, looking up at the ceiling, reflecting to himself: "Lust leads to ruin."
Having gone through this ordeal, his mind felt a little more mature.
Mira giggled behind her hand.