"Welcome back, Erza. The president and Rhode went to attend the routine meeting." Mira said to Erza, "What's with the horn?"
"It's the horn of a magical beast I defeated. The local residents gave it to me as a souvenir." Erza seemed to like it quite a bit. "Anyway, I've heard they caused a lot of trouble again..."
The people involved in the fight stiffened.
Natsu and Gray let out Hapi's voice.
Erza scolded each of these troublesome children one by one, finally sighing, "Forget it, I don't want to talk about you today."
Lucy whispered to Reby, "Didn't she just talk about everyone?"
Reby chuckled wryly, "That's just how Erza is..."
She had just been mentioned too because she had caused trouble during the last mission.
But Kana was the most impressive one; she went to the tavern to drink and, not having enough money, put the bill on the Advisory Council's tab.
Who knows if it was done while sober or after getting drunk.
Erza really didn't want to talk much today; she had more important matters:
"Although I should discuss it with the president first, since he's not here, I'll handle it my own way. Natsu, Gray, I need your power for this task, help me out!"
"Erza teaming up with them?!" Those with a slightly normal mindset in the guild were quite shocked.
How much trouble is this gonna cause?
Mira tilted her head, "Would Erza, plus Natsu and Gray, be the strongest team in the guild?"
"Huh?" Kana looked at her, "Isn't the strongest team you and Rhode?"
Mira waved it off, "We don't count. I think Natsu and Gray together might even surpass me."
Kana, who had been beaten by Mira years ago, thought Gray and Natsu together still couldn't beat her.
Also, this statement...
"So in your eyes, Rhode is on par with Erza? Knowing that, I wonder if he'd be happy?"
"I think he would," Mira smiled.
After inviting Natsu and Gray, Erza pondered a bit:
"Actually, if Mira also came, it'd be more solid, but the guild still needs someone to look after it... Well, the three of us will be enough."
She wanted to go bother the Dark Guild, Iron Forest, and also investigate their motives... In such situations, teaming up with Rhode would feel more relaxing.
"Anyway, we'll set off tomorrow morning. You two get ready; I'll explain the details on the way."
"We haven't agreed yet!"
Natsu and Gray's objections were completely ignored by Erza.
"If we're short on people, may I recommend a newcomer for you?" Mira cheerfully introduced Lucy to Erza, "Lucy is on good terms with Natsu; maybe she could help mediate between Natsu and Gray."
Erza listened intently to Mira's introduction, "Hmm? Defeated a strong gorilla mercenary? I see, quite a strong newcomer."
"I feel like you might have misunderstood..."
Mira found it strange. She clearly told the same story, but for some reason, it always got conveyed differently by different people.
...
The routine meeting venue hadn't changed, it was still in that big villa on the outskirts of Kroba City.
It wasn't Rhode's first time here, so he didn't feel a bit nervous. Not only the place, but many of the presidents also seemed quite familiar to him.
In fact, the presidents found him even more familiar; they were the ones who first coined the title "Fairy Tail Strategist" for this new generation.
Why does Fairy Tail always have such outstanding young people? The presidents expressed their envy to Makarov.
Makarov especially enjoyed those gazes from them.
Therefore, once he arrived, he wasn't in a hurry to rest in the room, instead dragging Rhode around, gloating.
Rhode couldn't persuade the president, so he politely greeted acquaintances like the president of the Four-headed Hound, Goldman, and President Bob of Blue Pegasus.
"Rhode-chan~♡" President Bob was still the same, his friendliness almost intimidating,
"I heard from Hibiki and the others about last time; they owe a lot to you and Mira-chan."
"It's nothing; Mr. Hibiki and the others helped us a lot."
"Oh dear~♡, still so humble." President Bob gestured to the girl beside him, "This is our guild's Jenny, a very popular model just like Mira-chan."
"Jenny, long time no see."
"Long, time, no, see."
Jenny clearly remembered this cheater, gritting her teeth the moment they met, but she still maintained basic courtesy in front of the presidents.
"So you know each other, get along well~♡"
As the pre-meeting banquet began, the atmosphere gradually became relaxed and lively.
Jenny sat down beside Rhode, somewhat annoyed, "Are you really dating Mira Jane?"
"Yeah." Rhode couldn't understand why Jenny seemed so bitter. Could it be she's a rival too?
"To admit it so casually in public, don't you know that a model's popularity drops when they date?"
Rhode nodded, "Generally, that's the case, but my relationship with Mira has been public for a while now.
Even though she doesn't really care, isn't her popularity still quite high? She even topped some sort of ranking."
"..." Jenny felt stabbed in the chest, unable to understand why Mira's popularity didn't follow the norm and kept increasing, even taking her first place spot.
Rhode casually suggested a bad idea, "Why don't you try dating someone too? I think Mr. Hibiki is pretty good."
Find a strong girl to keep him in check, so he won't go flirting with others' girlfriends.
Hibiki indeed is good! Not just good, practically a perfect boyfriend... Jenny's heart raced.
She had heard about Mira Jane and Rhode from Hibiki, that's why she thought of checking things out at the routine meeting.
Actually, she wasn't sure why she came.
Maybe to seize the opportunity to boost her own fame?
Maybe to find out who the Fairy Tail Strategist is, and if they happen to share a name with the guy who used to throw Bursting Magic Crystals at her.
Or perhaps just because Hibiki mentioned Fairy Tail, she wondered if she could meet someone from Fairy Tail.
Jenny glanced at Rhode, who was a meter away, "Hey, I've been wanting to ask, why are you keeping so far from me?"
Rhode estimated the distance before saying, "Isn't it that far? About a meter, quite a normal social distance."
"Social distance?" Jenny posed attractively, "After all, I'm still a well-known model, aren't you at least a bit tempted to get closer?"
After all, we're not strangers anymore, being a bit closer won't kill you.
Rhode shook his head, "Nope. Like you just said, this is a public place; keeping a bit of distance is good.
If rumors spread saying Mira Jane's boyfriend is closely connected to famous model Jenny... that'd be life-threatening."
"Oh?" Jenny leaned closer with a mischievous smile, "I heard Mira Jane recently regained her 'Demon' status. Is this why you're so afraid?"
"No, what I meant is, if such rumors truly happened, Mira would certainly be reluctant to kill me. But since you're moving closer... the one who'd end up dead would be you."
"..." This conversation can't continue!