"Ouch!"
While contemplating his future training plans, Rhode suddenly heard Natsu's wail.
"Why did the old man hit so hard today!"
Then came Hapi's voice: "Natsu felt pain? That's a lie, right? But the President just used Fire Magic!"
"If you're afraid of pain, behave yourself!"
Makarov scolded Natsu a few times, watching the surrounding red glow slowly fade as he fell into deep thought.
Flames that can make Natsu feel pain are definitely no ordinary fire.
Rhode felt a bit guilty as he returned to the tavern, sitting on a stool at the counter to rest.
He saw Mira seemed not too busy and inquired, "Natsu got beaten up again, this time because of what?"
"Because he fought with Nabu and almost burned down the bulletin board." Mira looked at the big bump on Natsu's head, finding it more amusing the more she looked.
Burning the bulletin board really deserved the beating; Rhode's guilt decreased by 99.99%.
Due to the "Investigate the Volcano Monster" mission last time, Natsu had been a bit irritable these few days.
He was full of hope thinking there was a clue about Fire Dragon Igneel, but it turned out to be a fire salamander residing in the volcano.
Although the mission was successfully completed and no big trouble was caused, Natsu was still unsatisfied.
Since then, he and Hapi hadn't taken any new missions for ten days.
Rhode also contributed a bit, which made sure Natsu's excessive eating and drinking these days didn't lack living expenses.
Mira pondered for a moment and asked, "What's with the President's magic?"
"How did you know I knew?"
"The President also knows Fire Magic, but it's the most basic kind, and that was completely different just now."
"As expected of Teacher Mira." There was nothing to hide, so Rhode said, "That was a special ability of the wild monster I summoned today."
Mira pretended to be angry: "Now calling me Teacher Mira, but didn't ask me to watch when you were testing new magic?"
"Because it's a new wild monster, although all the wild monsters so far obey me, there's a possibility the new one might go berserk."
Not only when summoning new wild monsters, Rhode also didn't plan to involve her when receiving new ones.
Unless she could restore to S-Class level, or he would regret it terribly if she got hurt in case it really went out of control.
He just felt a bit embarrassed to always trouble the President.
Would invite him for a drink next time... Oh, recently the President was restricted by Mira from drinking, so never mind.
Heartless Rhode.
"Using 'obey orders' here feels a bit weird." Mira thought for a while, but couldn't think of a substitute term immediately.
She smiled wryly: "You've almost made me speechless."
Rhode patted his chest: "Don't worry, in the future I'll take the responsibility to teach you the common language."
"Spare me." Mira laughed, "Then maybe go learn from Laki."
"Do the two of you always have to drag me into your flirtatious banter?" Laki put down a few freshly collected glasses, made a girlish praying pose, and said somewhat dreamily,
"Ah~ this is what they call love, like a tornado, sometimes even affecting those who admire it!"
"Laki~" Mira was already accustomed to Laki's 'nonsense', and not even blushing.
Rhode remained expressionless, just wanting to tell her to speak more if she could.
"By the way, Sister Mira, what's up with Erza today? She seems so listless." Laki pointed to a corner of the guild.
Rhode asked puzzled, "Is Erza in the guild?"
If Erza were in, how could Natsu dare act so recklessly, and need the President to intervene?
Rhode looked puzzled in the direction Laki pointed.
Erza was sitting with her head down, appearing to stare at the table, with her scarlet hair hanging down the sides.
She sat completely still, devoid of energy, exuding an aura of decline.
After staring at her for a few seconds, one might even feel this person has faded, turned grayish-white.
Mira said a bit sympathetically, "Erza encountered a small incident during her mission."
Laki incredulously asked, "Really? She's Erza! The Erza!"
"Because even Erza has things she's not good at handling." Mira seemed to run out of sympathy and couldn't help but laugh.
Then she said a bit hesitantly, "But would talking about it like this not be great?"
Rhode looked at her expression; she clearly had that 'want-to-say' face, in such times, just saying 'I promise not to tell anyone' would then...
As expected, Laki understood gossip, immediately grabbed Mira's hand: "Telling just us wouldn't be an issue, I promise I won't tell!"
She glanced at Rhode.
Rhode, not liking to engage in such gossipy behavior, declared righteously: "I promise too."
As long as it doesn't spread, it's not gossip.
So, the three leaned in and whispered.
"What?!" Laki was so surprised she almost screamed, but luckily she held back, whispering, "Erza got confessed to?"
Rhode was concerned whether Erza had a murder case on her hands: "What about that person? Are they still alive?"
Laki said, "Hey, shouldn't you ask who it is first?"
"That person..." Mira paused for effect, piquing their curiosity, "is Mr. Yiye from Blue Pegasus."
"Ah~ it's that handsome guy from Blue Pegasus..." Laki's envious voice abruptly stopped, asking somewhat fearfully, "One, One Night?"
Mira confirmed, "Yes, after completing her task, Erza took a rest at a tavern on her way back and encountered Mr. Yiye.
That Mr. Yiye seemed to have seen Erza when he accompanied the President to a routine meeting and fell in love at first sight."
"Ah... well... poor Erza."
Laki didn't know what kind of person One Night was, but since he was one of Blue Pegasus's signature mages, she had seen his photo before, and could only say he left a deep impression.
Rhode too, Mr. Yiye was one of those individuals one finds hard to forget after just one glance.
Although it's unfair to judge someone solely by their appearance, among all the information he gathered, what stood out most was his looks, which are hard to control.
"Since Mr. Yiye only confessed and said some mushy things, didn't do anything too excessive.
And he himself isn't a bad person, so Erza didn't have much recourse."
Mira's tone mixed sympathy with a bit of schadenfreude, "Being entangled by a strange person can indeed be frustrating.
Erza could only escape back, zoning out there, not even in the mood to repair her armor damaged in this battle."
Rhode introspectively thought, he shouldn't be a 'strange person.'
Then he began to sympathize with Erza.
Speaking of which, Loki got beaten half to death when pursuing Erza, but One Night made Erza sick yet had nothing happen...
Clearly, Loki really deserved a beating, while One Night is truly a good guy.