"It's Dabulin." Makarov said slowly,
"There's no problem joining the guild, but if you want to join Reby's team, you'll need to ask her, Jet, and Troy."
Rhode looked at the person talking to the president—a short haircut, unkempt beard, eyes lacking spirit, and still barefoot deep into autumn.
He seemed to embody the word 'decadent'.
Rhode thought he recognized him from the tavern, possibly being quite familiar with Jet and the others.
Dabulin scratched the back of his head: "I already asked Reby, but she rejected me."
Makarov asked, "Why did she reject you?"
Dabulin replied, "Because I'm not a mage."
Rhode: "..."
Her team is meant to take on missions; what business do you have joining without being a mage?
Recalling how he joined the guild, Rhode suggested, "How about trying to learn some magic?"
"Can I?"
Makarov nodded; he would never refuse a child eager to learn magic: "What do you want to learn?"
"The same magic as Reby!"
"Three-Dimensional Text Magic, huh. Rhode, why don't you explain it to him?"
"Me?" Rhode was surprised. Wouldn't Reby be the one to teach normally?
Makarov nodded, "Go ahead."
"Alright then." Rhode organized his thoughts, "Three-Dimensional Text Magic involves writing with magic power..."
"Actually, forget it, it seems too troublesome."
Before Rhode could finish his sentence, Dabulin abandoned the idea at light speed, faster than Jet's rejected confessions.
"???" Rhode stared at Dabulin's departing back, not understanding if he truly didn't want to learn or if he just wanted Reby to teach him.
"Don't worry about it; that's just how the kid is; he'll give up the moment things get a little troublesome."
Makarov sighed, "Even if he joins the guild, he might end up like Nabu, never going out to work."
Rhode thought for a moment, "Somehow that sounds familiar."
"Because there was a time when the president was worried you'd become another Nabu too."
Rhode turned his head, "Mira, you're awake?"
"Yes, full of energy." Mira said, flexing her arm to display her vitality.
She had probably just washed her face, with some strands of hair still damp, adding a bit of playfulness to her movements.
Makarov continued, "That was just a normal concern, but now look how well you're doing, Rhode."
Rhode looked at him; when he stayed in, he was another Nabu, but when he earned praise, suddenly everything was great.
The president is such a hypocrite.
Makarov felt awkward under his gaze, and jumped down from the counter: "The guild is in your hands; I have to step out for a bit."
"President." Rhode called out, "I have two things I'd like you to deliver to Granny Porlyusica when you get a chance; they're a little something from Wendy and me."
The way he said it sounded odd.
Anyway, it was a cloak Rhode chose, a sachet Wendy made herself, and a package of herb seeds that Rhode suggested Wendy ask everyone to help gather.
Makarov tucked the items away and left.
Mira flipped through the account book and the registry, praising, "You did a great job."
Rhode smiled, "Of course! When I become an S-Class Mage, I'll come and steal your job, Miss Mira."
"Is that so?" Mira thought for a moment, smiling sweetly,
"In that case, maybe I should just fire you now, deduct your salary, and not pay you for your last mission."
Rhode feigned distress, "Abuse of power! Is there no one to stand up to this?"
"Oh yes, the one in charge of that is me as well." Mira sat down, intertwining her fingers under her chin, "Feel free to bring up any issues, Mr. Rhode."
Rhode posed dramatically, "Sigh, Demon Mira's evil influence has pervaded the entire guild, all power is under her control.
Even Fairy Tail's strongest rookie, Rhode, must temporarily submit and quietly seek opportunities for resistance.
But just wait, the power of the oppressed people is limitless, Mira's dark reign won't last long!"
Mira laughed, "You seem a lot chattier after going out, don't become like Marcus."
Rhode continued, "To prevent Rhode from escaping her grip, the malevolent Demon Mira even meddled with his growth direction."
Mira raised her hand as if to strike, making Rhode smile and stop joking.
...
After dealing with trivial matters, Rhode took advantage of his break to head to the backyard; it was about time to get back into his regular training routine.
This mission made him acutely aware of his shortcomings.
Teaming up with Gray and getting some assistance from the Strong Detention Team, they still struggled to annihilate a Dark Guild.
Moreover, Gray got a bit injured, though partly due to his own doing.
But compared to Erza, who nonchalantly took down an entire Dark Guild solo just to return early for dessert, he was far behind.
At least for the next half month, he wouldn't lack for living expenses, so he needed to train well.
First and foremost, maintaining and enhancing his physical and magic power was crucial; this is the foundation of all magic and shouldn't be neglected.
Then he needed to speed up his exploration of the Summoner's Rift to see if he could get the blue buff to compensate for his magic power's shortcomings.
And he also needed to practice new forms of Receiving Magic.
Time to get busy again.
By the time he got off work in the evening, Rhode planned to do some extra training; Mira naturally changed into her workout clothes and headed to the backyard too.
Rhode asked, "Are you still training at night lately?"
While tying her hair, Mira replied, "Of course, and don't underestimate my perseverance."
There was a peculiar charm when girls tied their hair.
As she finished tying her hair, Rhode asked, "What about Elfman?"
Mira complained, "He went out for work in the afternoon, claiming a man can't lose to you, even though he just got back the day before yesterday."
"... What does 'not losing to me' even mean? Anyone who takes two or more missions a month is already not losing to me."
Rhode said awkwardly, "He... doesn't have to work that 'hard', does he?"
He suspected Elfman was already preparing to become an obstacle for him.
Mira rolled her eyes at him, "You said you'd take a nice long break after finishing a task; how did it turn into intense training instead?"
Rhode laughed, "Well, this is also a kind of rest, right? Just being at the guild is already restful, mentally."
Rhode found that as soon as he returned to the guild, his whole being relaxed.
Of course, he'd still get a bit tense when others brawled, but that was a different kind of tension and didn't feel tiring.
Mira pondered, then asked, "Next time, want to try teaming up with Elfman?"
"Sure, when?"
"When you've rested enough."
"I..."
"No," Mira promptly changed her mind, "maybe when I think you've rested enough."
Rhode laughed, "Okay."
The two of them chatted while doing their warm-up routines, then began their respective training sessions.
Even though their training content was different and they didn't talk once entering focused states, nor were they always within each other's line of sight,
just knowing someone was there with him felt great.
Train, rest, wipe sweat, apply ointment.
Then, walk her home.
For some reason...
Without Elfman around, Rhode never seemed to have enough magic power to summon a River Crab.
Though it wasn't that he didn't know why.
The autumn night was slightly cool as Mira and Rhode walked side by side on the empty street, and after hesitating for a moment, she asked,
"Are you free tomorrow?"