"This is a feather headdress just like the one President Robin Lu from the Cat Transformation Inn wears. With it on, you'll be the chief of our Fairy Tail."
After storing the dangerous items securely, Rhode opened his large box.
"Do I wear it like this?" Makarov eagerly put it on, trying to strike a few dignified poses.
But a few seconds later, he couldn't help but laugh, twisting left and right to show off the gift he received to everyone.
"Hahaha! What on earth is that, President!"
"Is this a comedy performance?"
The already short president had a headdress so exaggerated that his head seemed bigger than his body.
And with the old man twisting unceremoniously, it soon entertained the entire guild.
"Rhode, is there something for me?" Laki asked expectantly, "Is there anything special from the Cat Transformation Inn..."
"Don't think about it, there's a gift for you, but it's definitely not an instrument of torture." Rhode pulled out a wooden mask, with sharp fangs resembling a demon. It was the most ferocious and terrifying thing he could find in the village.
"Wow, the detail is exquisite." As a user of Wood-Make Magic, Laki instantly noticed the highlights of this mask.
And although it's not an instrument of torture, this demon mask fits well with the atmosphere of her room, hanging on the wall without feeling out of place.
Rhode turned over one item after another, giving Lidas a set of ancient-style brushes;
Reby received a parchment written in the ancient language of the Nirubit race;
Troy got seeds of the unique plants near the Cat Transformation Inn;
Jet received shoes worn during Nirubit hunting;
Erza got a wooden old-style armor, more decorative than practical, worn during celebrations;
Then there was the beast tooth necklace for Elfman, face paint for Nabu, wine for Kana, bow and arrow for Alzack, and so on.
For those he was familiar with, he specially selected suitable gifts.
For those he wasn't too familiar with, he prepared small ornaments, bracelets, headscarves, veils, and the like.
For Mira, naturally, it was a beautiful set of clothes, with matching bracelets, anklets, earrings, and even hair ties.
It's a pity the style was more for summer, and it was already late autumn, not quite suitable for wearing now.
So Rhode also prepared a shawl, useful for the cooler weather, and which could be paired with the outfit if she really wanted to wear it.
Mira smiled brightly while holding the items in her arms, clearly liking them.
Laki, watching as Rhode distributed the gifts, was too lazy to comment on whom he treated specially.
She tried to express her thoughts with her eyes.
"Don't look at me like that, I don't know other people's clothing sizes." Rhode said righteously.
But revealed more issues.
"Yes, yes, we know you often shop together and even know each other's clothing sizes."
Mira lightly patted Laki, but also realized her relationship with Rhode seemed a bit close.
She wasn't sure what to do with the current situation.
Thinking back to the harvest festival, she had even said she wanted to invite Rhode out to eat...
Feeling troubled yet a bit expectant.
Laki, satiated with gossip, noticed something strange in the box: "What are those pieces of wood for?"
Rhode replied: "Just some ordinary wood, paired with flint, to give to Natsu when he comes back."
Natsu wasn't at the guild, he seemed to have enthusiastically gone out to work after getting rid of the aftereffects a couple of days ago.
Laki was puzzled: "What does this count as?"
"Kind of like flames brought back from afar?" This was the best solution Rhode could come up with.
Wood and flint from the Cat Transformation Inn, so the flame it produces should count as from there, right?
Hopefully, Natsu would like it.
"Those fish bones aren't foreign fish for Hapi, are they?"
"That's a fishbone decoration, considered an artifact." Rhode thought Hapi would like anything from Carla's guild.
He wanted to ask Carla to personally make something for Hapi, but was refused.
Giving something Carla made for him to Hapi didn't seem quite right either, so it was left at that. Poor Hapi.
"To celebrate Rhode's and Gray's safe return, and celebrate my commendation from the Advisory Council, let's have a feast!"
"Oh oh oh!!!"
The president's suggestion was immediately met with everyone's cheers, as most of the guild members loved a lively gathering, and everyone was in a good mood.
"Another feast? Why do I feel like we've been having feasts constantly lately?" Rhode felt the feasts had suddenly become frequent.
"Because before departure, there was a celebration feast for the Magical Parade, and after departure, there was a welcoming feast at the Cat Transformation Inn. We've just been having feasts constantly lately."
Gray waved his hand, causing his top to disappear, and immediately mingled with the crowd, "Anyway, cheers!"
Mira placed a wine glass into Rhode's hand: "Let's control it a bit this time."
But there was no controlling it.
Once the atmosphere picked up, it quickly turned into glass after glass being raised.
The president was in a great mood today, one moment pulling Rhode, the next moment dragging Gray, showing off everywhere.
Even though the guild was full of his own people, it was unclear what he was showing off.
Anyway, after saying a few words, his glass would be filled by someone.
Everyone laughed and made noise, as expected, it went on until the wee hours.
Rhode got a bit too drunk again.
In a daze, he saw Mira change into the clothes he gave her and ask how she looked.
"Beau...tiful!"
Rhode remembered he should have said that.
...
Sunlight streamed through the window onto his face as Rhode covered his head and sat up: "Ah... I'm not drinking this much again!"
"Hot milk or warm water, which do you want?"
"I want them all!" Rhode realized that the person in front of him wasn't a hallucination.
Mira had indeed changed into the Nirubit attire, the top slightly cool, so she draped on a shawl, though her slender waist was still revealed openly.
A slightly lavish golden necklace replaced her original crystal pendant, and she had specially braided her hair to match the outfit.
The sleeves were separate sleeve covers, but the shoulders and arms, which should have been exposed, were partly covered by the shawl, making her look more dignified.
The skirt had a slightly high hem, revealing the guild emblem as she moved.
The socks only covered the heels, seemingly existing solely to set off the anklet, showing a section of her fair upper foot and toes lightly moving with unease.
"First time wearing this style of clothing, feels a bit unusual." This year's most popular model, Miss Mira, took a few steps somewhat awkwardly.
Rhode felt his hangover discomfort ease considerably: "It looks really pretty, even better than the actual Nirubit people."
"Really?" Mira twirled lightly, her eyes smiling, "It's about time to change out of it."
"Changing already?"
"It's not that quick, wearing summer clothes in late autumn feels weird."
Besides, everyone else is about to wake up.