"Actually, someone asked me to come here, saying there's something they want to talk to me about." Reby complained, "It's so mysterious, but after waiting so long, no one's here."
Mira quickly answered, "I guess it's Jet."
Rhode said, "It should be Troy, I'll bet a thump on the head."
"Alright."
The two of them looked at Reby with burning eyes.
"Don't bet on such things." Reby said helplessly, "It's Dabulin."
"Dabulin..." Rhode had a deep impression.
He's the one who wants to join the Lane Engine Squad but doesn't know any magic.
He's not even a member of the guild.
The President once said he could join the guild as long as he started learning magic, but he gave up before even starting.
However, he often hangs out with Jet and the others, chatting.
If Rhode had to summarize his impression of him in two words, it would be unkempt and idle.
Now it seems, saying something like wanting to join the Lane Engine when he clearly has intentions toward Reby.
This time, suddenly asking Reby out in such a place, he must be planning to make a move.
Mira, looking regretful, said they should have hidden, all because of Rhode. No more good food for him next time.
She smiled warmly and said, "Reby is really popular."
"No way, if you talk about being popular, no one in the guild can compare to Sister Mira."
"It's not that exaggerated." Mira laughed and asked, "Have you been waiting here long?"
Reby said, "We agreed to meet at two in the afternoon, and now it's almost three."
To take the initiative to ask someone out and then be late by an hour... isn't this standing someone up?
Rhode, trying to think positively, said, "Maybe something came up that delayed him?"
"Probably, I'll wait a little longer and then head back." Though thinking this way made her feel a bit shy, Reby could probably guess why Dabulin asked her to come here.
Even if she were a bit slow, seeing Rhode and Mira's expressions should make it clear.
Reby had no extra feelings for Dabulin, she just wanted to clarify things when he came over.
However, if he never came, maybe it meant he gave up, which would be easier.
"Then we'll head back to the guild first." Mira waved her hand to bid Reby farewell.
Within seven steps, Rhode came up with the perfect plan to use Stone Beetles to disguise as a rockery and sneak back to watch.
If Mira still wanted to gossip.
But she seemed to have no such intention and kept moving until they were completely out of Reby's sight.
Rhode asked curiously.
"No need to peek, I think I've already got it figured out."
"What?"
"You'll find out in a bit." Mira looked at him, closing one eye playfully.
"Keeping secrets isn't a good habit."
"Hmm... come a little closer."
Rhode leaned in, and Mira flicked her finger, thumping him on the forehead.
"Wow..." Rhode clutched his forehead; that one was a bit hard, his forehead felt like it had been hit with a small hammer rather than just flicked.
Mira laughed, "That's for losing the bet just now."
"But you didn't win either, now bring your head here!"
Mira thought about it, changed her pace to small quick steps, and then simply started running.
That's so childish...
Rhode chased after her.
...
Demon Mirajane's strength was too much. Beast Tamer Rhode only 'barely' caught up to her at the guild entrance, placing his right hand on her shoulder.
Both panted slightly, their hearts pounding.
Mira might have felt a bit embarrassed, while Rhode felt it was too thrilling.
Luckily, the residents didn't mistake him for some pervert attacking Mira along the way and beat him up.
Mira covered her forehead with both hands, looking at him pitifully, "Can it be put off first?"
"...Okay." Rhode couldn't resist her gaze.
Before entering the door, Mira took out a hair tie to re-tie her bangs.
Rhode suspected she was worried her forehead would be red from flicking, making it impossible to do that hairstyle.
For everyone in the guild, seeing them coming and going together was nothing new.
People even napped leaning against each other, so what's a bit of shopping and dating?
Laki complained, "Finally back, we were so busy at noon, almost couldn't keep our lungs functioning."
She probably meant they were too busy to breathe!
"Sorry, sorry, the scenery in the park was too good, couldn't help looking a bit longer."
"Hmph, so it was because the park scenery was nice?" Laki didn't believe it at all.
After returning, Mira didn't rush to work but pointed a spot out to Rhode.
"Dabulin? Why is he in the guild?" Rhode was a bit confused.
Wasn't this the guy who asked Reby out and then stayed in the guild drinking with Jet and them?
What's going on?
Reby is so pitiful.
Mira seemed to have guessed the reason and went with Rhode to remind Dabulin.
"Well..." Dabulin scratched his head, Rhode could see dandruff falling, "Originally, I asked Reby out to confess to her."
"What?" *2
Jet and Troy slammed their mugs down.
"You bastard!"
"What's the result?!"
The two of them thumped the table, urgently wanting to know the outcome.
However, Dabulin said slowly, "Because confessing seemed troublesome, I didn't go."
"No way..." Rhode was a bit dumbfounded; could he really find that troublesome?
Mira snickered; that's exactly how it was.
Jet and Troy relaxed a bit, but then got angry again, "So you're saying Reby was waiting for you in the park for an hour while you were here drinking?"
"I didn't mean to... It's just that going to the park specifically to explain also seemed troublesome..."
"You jerk..." Jet and Troy gnashed their teeth but quickly let it go.
Because that's just how Dabulin was, he didn't intentionally mess with Reby, it's just that when it came to the moment, feeling trouble made him reluctant to act.
He meant no harm but his laziness was deeply ingrained.
Jet sighed, "I'll go tell Reby."
Troy didn't argue about it but glared at Dabulin menacingly, "You, make sure you apologize properly!"
When Reby came back, Dabulin apologized under Troy's supervision.
His attitude was fairly sincere, but everyone knew he probably wouldn't change.
Reby was good-tempered and had a decent understanding of Dabulin, so she forgave him easily.
If Rhode were to deal with someone like that... fight and curse, then get over it; or simply stop hanging out with him in the future.
...
Perhaps training requires a balance of work and rest, for the following days, Rhode's training efficiency greatly improved.
By early April, when Rhode explored the Summoner's Rift, a new monster finally appeared in the Dragon Pit.
It was entirely purple, with two huge pincers, a long tail behind, a single horn on its head, and wings like a carapace on its back that, when spread open, revealed a large purple eye underneath.
Although the appearance was somewhat different from the version he had seen, there was no doubt that it was the Canyon Vanguard.
Three Void Nest Insects and the Canyon Vanguard stood together in the Dragon Pit, looking somewhat crowded.
Rhode became increasingly curious about what would happen when the big dragon appeared.
The next day, he hurried to find the President.
"Going outside the city again?" Makarov found it a bit troublesome, "Is it very large?"
"It's not about size," Rhode said, "the newcomer is special; like those bugs last time, it's best at destroying buildings..."
Makarov suddenly became spirited: "Let's go with your idea! Outside the city!"