"Don't think about running away~ Laxus~"
"In your current state, you're still thinking about Laxus?"
Rhode patted Natsu's head, "Come challenge me, let's see how I hang you up and beat you."
"Aye! I'm betting on Rhode to win!"
Now that Hapi knew Natsu would be fine, he showed no mercy in pestering him.
Natsu began to weakly bicker with Hapi.
Hapi got more spirited the longer they argued, thinking that a fight with the current Natsu would be no problem.
Rhode opened up the cloth bag, inside were bags of medicinal powder, and a note detailing instructions and dosages.
"How did she notice?"
Recently, the training had been a bit excessive, but he frequently used the Crown of Embers for recovery. He also applied some topical ointments and potions, and didn't feel any discomfort.
"Rhode, you smell so strongly of medicine, it's making me want to throw up."
Scent? Rhode sniffed his own arm, then extended it toward Hapi, "Does it smell?"
Hapi sniffed: "No smell of fish."
"Not asking about fish!"
It must be a very faint smell, only Natsu could notice it when up close, did Granny Porlyusica smell it too?
Or did she notice my complexion was off, or perhaps some muscle stiffness?
Looks like the life recovery function of the red buff isn't omnipotent, can't overdo it.
...
When he returned to the guild, the floor and furniture were back in their original state, clearly Laki's handiwork again.
Natsu listlessly followed Rhode and Hapi into the guild, swaying like a walking corpse.
"Are you okay, Natsu?"
As soon as they entered the guild, someone expressed concern for Natsu's health, but he ignored it.
Hapi answered for him: "Aye! Granny Porlyusica said a few days of rest will do it."
Seeing Natsu aimlessly following him, Rhode kindly brought him to Erza's table.
"Erza, I have to work, can you take care of Natsu for me?"
"Leave it to me!" Erza pulled Natsu over.
Rhode heard a "clang."
He touched his forehead, recognizing the familiar sound of a head striking armor.
Hahaha... Rhode didn't laugh out loud.
When he returned to the counter, Mira greeted him, then asked, "Is Natsu okay now?"
Rhode nodded: "Yeah, he'll just be weak for a bit, he just needs more rest."
"That's good. What's that?" Mira saw the cloth bag in Rhode's hand.
"Granny Porlyusica suddenly shoved her medicine at me."
Mira paused her work for a moment: "Pushing yourself again?"
Rhode felt inexplicably guilty: "Not really, just trying some regular extreme training before."
Mira looked at him: "How do those two words, regular and extreme, go together?"
"Hmm... my universal language is not quite..."
"Rhode." Her tone wasn't strong, but he could sense her displeasure.
"I'm just trying to find a way to get stronger quickly, I've been holding back these days, maybe soon I'll find the most suitable training intensity."
Hopefully, he'll find a balance before running out of the medicine.
Seeing Granny Porlyusica's stance today, Rhode was still a bit scared. If he accidentally wrecks himself from overtraining, he wouldn't even know where to cry.
Just thinking about Laxus nonchalantly dealing with Natsu today made him feel that if he stopped working hard, beating him and Mystogan would be a pipe dream.
Looking at the medicine bag in his hand, but there's enough to last a while, he'll keep training for now.
Mira didn't say anything, and Rhode felt a bit awkward: "Um... aren't you going to say something?"
"What?" Mira was writing something in the logbook, not even raising her head, "You're right, with logic and plans for the future, all very good."
"...Oh."
Rhode felt the atmosphere was wrong, he should say something.
Reason with her? But she'd already said he was right.
Apologize? Apologize for what?
Make a joke? He'd just been called out once already.
Try to charm her? No, the relationship wasn't there yet.
Ignoring it was the least favorable solution.
Just then, Mr. Cook's voice rang out: "Table 6, roast lamb, four seasons pizza."
"Coming." Rhode placed the cloth bag on the counter, made his way to the kitchen to fetch the food.
He carried the tray around the counter, stopped in front of Mira, hesitated for a moment, then quietly said, "Thank you."
Mira's pen paused, she looked up at Rhode's departing figure, her expression softened significantly.
...
After a busy day, it was finally closing time.
Rhode and Mira, along with the others, tidied up the tavern. Recently, Sally and Iz had been around, unable to go on missions, so they helped out in the tavern instead.
After finishing the chores, everyone bid farewell, and Rhode made his way to the backyard.
Laki asked, "Going to train again?"
"Yeah, been so busy these past few days, hardly had time for magic practice during the day."
Rhode said, "You guys lock up, I'll leave directly from the backyard later."
"Take this!" Rhode transformed into a Swift Crab, practiced the attached skills a few rounds, then dispelled the magic.
"Summon: Wild Monster Soul: Shadow Wolf!"
Light dapples flashed over Rhode's body, he grew taller, fur sprouted on him, and he fully transformed into a werewolf.
He'd summoned a Two-headed Wolf, though he didn't grow a second head, a wolf-shaped shadow hovered around him.
Rhode could, with just a thought, command the shadow to lunge for someone like directing his own limbs.
In this form, his Power and body coordination were enhanced, he could stealthily move through shadows, and his sense of smell was vastly improved, especially sensitive to blood scent.
Maintaining the Shadow Wolf form for a while, Rhode dispelled the magic, leaving enough Magic Power for the next summoning.
Then he began high-intensity training with the backyard equipment.
He trained until he was almost out of strength, then lay on the ground panting, summoning a Crimson Marked Tree Monster to apply the Crown of Embers to himself.
"I'm exhausted, I'm just torturing myself for no reason."
Determination is determination, complaining is complaining.
Rhode closed his eyes, silently waiting for the Crown of Embers to take effect.
The feeling of the recovery effect easing the soreness was actually quite comforting.
So comfortable it felt like someone was gently wiping the sweat from his face with a warm towel...
Rhode opened his eyes: "Mira? You haven't gone home yet?"
Mira crouched beside him, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she said:
"I had to inventory the liquor stock and organize tomorrow's order list, so it took some time. I heard you in the yard, so I came to check."
Rhode believed her, that she just came to look, and had towels and potion ready, was perfectly normal.
Mira's grip gradually tightened, "What, are, you, laughing, at?"
"Ouch, ouch, ouch!" Rhode reluctantly contained his amusement, "I was thinking... you're not going to tell me to stop for a bit?"