Rhode handed both the task sheet and the IOU to Mira: "The task is considered complete, but we couldn't get the payment."
Mira asked curiously, "What happened?"
Rhode explained the situation with the client's home.
"Since you judged it that way, then there's no problem." Mira laughed, "Keep the IOU safe."
Rhode waved his hand: "Keep it with you, leaving it in the Guild is fine too. I'm worried about losing it if I take it home."
"Alright." Mira didn't refuse, "Task confirmed completed, can you tell me about how it went?"
Elfman said, "Sister, I want to go home and rest first."
"Hmm, I bought apples and persimmons yesterday; they're in the living room."
"Got it."
Mira watched Elfman leave, then asked Rhode, "He seems really tired. Do you want to rest for a bit?"
"I don't need to." Rhode hesitated a little, "Elfman has a bit of a special reason."
Promised to take him out to relax, but ended up wearing him out—the feeling of not being able to account to a caring parent.
Mira asked with concern, "Are you guys injured?"
Rhode shook his head, "No."
"That's good." Mira laughed, "No matter what happened, just feel free to tell me."
"Woo woo woo…" Natsu rushed in full of energy from outside the Guild, slapping the task sheet on the counter, "Mira, I completed it!"
Hapi flew over holding a new task sheet: "Aye! This is the next task!"
"Alright~" Mira registered them.
Rhode asked, "Don't you need to rest a bit?"
"No time to rest! Huh? Rhode, you're here?" Natsu seemingly just noticed him, "I won't lose to you in completing requests!"
"I'm not competing with you..."
"Let's go, Hapi!" After seeing Mira finish the registration, Natsu dashed out.
"Aye!"
Rhode chuckled, it's good that he's back to his energetic self: "By the way, Natsu didn't break something again, did he?"
Mira thought for a moment, "Probably not? During this season, even Natsu would be extra careful with the requests."
So he's ordinarily clumsy on purpose?!
Makarov strolled down from the second floor: "Rhode's back, how did it go this time?"
"Not bad, although there were some minor issues, the client was very satisfied in the end."
"That's good." Makarov was pleased too; Rhode was indeed quite reliable.
"Oh, President, I brought back some unique herbs from the area. Could you pass them to Granny Porlyusica?"
Rhode recently decided not to pay Granny Porlyusica for medical treatment anymore, feeling that she would beat him out if he brought money.
It's better to bring back special herbs or seeds each time he travels far. Just like the time he brought back a bag of seeds from the Cat Transformation Inn.
This way, it's less likely to be rejected; it satisfies the elder's interests and slightly increases the Guild's medicine reserve.
Plan successful.
Mira finished her work, picked up a coat: "Rhode, can you come out with me for a bit?"
"Hmm… okay, what about here?"
Mira looked at Makarov: "President, we're heading out for a bit. It's yours to handle."
"Mhm." Makarov hopped up on the counter and sat cross-legged, with a hand propping his chin, he felt like he shouldn't have come down.
With fewer people at the Guild, the two of them going out together became more noticeable.
Wakaba envied, "Mira, how about considering going on a date with me occasionally?"
"Isn't your wife treating you well?" Mira lifted a hand with a sly smile.
"No, no, no…" Wakaba saw what she was about to do, "Please don't turn into that!"
Mira stopped her hand; she wasn't much inclined to transform now either.
Rhode thought to seek Wakaba for advice on battle techniques when he's free.
The battle experience of a veteran Mage is very valuable; perhaps he could quickly point out the flaws in his 'ambushing while surrounded by wild monsters' tactic.
The weather in Magnolia was getting cooler, and winter was approaching.
Custom-made coats at the tailor's were going to take over a week to complete, and by then it would be around time to wear them.
Mira wore only a short jacket over her usual dress when going out.
Rhode didn't quite understand this style of dressing, wondering if she had any magic specifically for warming her legs.
Recalling the previous experience on the snowy mountain, when magic power is sufficient, it seems like cold resistance is naturally better?
Business on either side of the street hadn't decreased due to the cold weather; instead, there were more vendors selling seasonal fruits and vegetables.
Winter clothing was displayed prominently in clothing stores, and some Magic Shops launched various magic tools for winter heating or heating water.
The hot items are, of course, products recommended by Wizard Weekly.
Rhode remembered it's Wednesday, the day the new issue of Sosala was released. Also, it seemed like it's been a while since Mira had a photo shoot.
While disappointed, surprisingly he felt more delighted.
Heh, men.
"Are we buying something?" Rhode hadn't asked what they were doing today before going out.
"Yes, a light in the Guild is broken, last year's heater doesn't work well, and we plan to try a different model this year, and then..."
Mira listed out the items needed, many were small tasks, but she remembered them all.
Her serious expression made her look especially beautiful.
As an assistant managing nearly all the Guild's logistical affairs, she was like a grand housekeeper who managed to organize this bustling Guild orderly, largely thanks to her efforts.
Rhode was somewhat curious who handled these tasks before. Was it the President?
"There really are a lot of things to do before winter."
"Of course." Mira stopped walking, "Let's start here first."
"Alright…?" Rhode looked up, wasn't this a café.
"Didn't I say I'd treat you to coffee before?" Mira smiled, "Or should we come next time?"
"Let's do it this time." Rhode thought, since they came, he should give her some face.
The two found a place to sit and ordered their favorite coffee and snacks.
They chatted about some Guild gossip, and Rhode finally brought up the matter with Elfman.
Although he promised not to tell others about his crying… does Mira count as 'others'?
After a brief conflict, Rhode decided to skip that part to save Elfman's dignity.
"So that's what happened." Mira thought carefully, feeling it should be considered a good thing, "Thank you."
Rhode gave a bitter smile, "I was still thinking how to explain it to you."
"This is a very important process." Mira said seriously, "Elfman and I should be the ones thanking you."
Mira even wondered if this person had a plan for helping Elfman.
Rhode gently shook his head; this time it was just coincidental.
Mira inquired with concern, "By the way, you said you wanted to earn living expenses, right? What will you do next since you didn't get the payment this time?"
Rhode thought for a moment, "I'll try taking some requests within Magnolia, occasionally experiencing that might be nice."