"You've been staring at Mira since you walked in, haven't you?" 'Lucy' accused, "Prepare to face the wrath, you lecher!"
The irate 'Lucy' likely assumed Rhode was yet another person with dubious intentions towards Mira, the most delicate beauty in the guild, who needed protection.
She raised her leg for a high kick.
Rhode, already vigilant, wouldn't be caught off guard by her sudden attack, and raised his arm to block her leg.
"Hmm... I think you've misunderstood something." Rhode was somewhat taken aback, as the strength of the kick was surprisingly powerful.
Perhaps today's magic power wasn't cooperating, but the opponent was definitely not weak either.
Others were even more astonished than Rhode: "He blocked Lucy's attack so easily?"
"Are you kidding?"
"That's Lucy, who is as strong a candidate as Jet and Troy!"
"Strong candidate?" Rhode couldn't believe his ears, "Lucy, Jet, and Troy?"
"Do you have any objections?" Lucy retracted her foot, "What misunderstanding are you talking about?"
Rhode breathed a sigh of relief, glad that she was willing to listen. He explained:
"I mentioned earlier, I come from a world called Aslan, where we also have a Fairy Tail Guild, of which I am a member.
"In our guild, we also have Mira, Elfman, Lucy, Gray, who look quite similar to you, which is why I could call your name right away... However, judging by your reaction, are you particularly famous here?"
"Of course." 'Lucy' flashed a mischievous smile, "I'm the kingdom's most wanted criminal."
"Wanted criminal?"
'Lucy' looked at Rhode's reaction with interest: "Strange, isn't it? Our Fairy Tail is a Dark Guild."
To her disappointment, Rhode remained calm, sitting down beside a table at the doorway, resting his elbows on the table and clasping his hands under his chin.
"Well... how should I put it, perhaps we'll find ourselves in a similar situation someday. Ah..." Rhode sighed sorrowfully, "Let's get back to the original question, what do you define as magic here?"
"Aren't they the tools that make life more convenient, which anyone can use?" 'Lucy' answered Rhode's query.
However, the Lisanna who had suggested letting him in hid behind a column, listening from a spot Rhode couldn't see.
'Lucy' pursued further, "Isn't that how it is for you?"
"There's a bit of difference, I suppose. Part of it involves tools like you mentioned, while another doesn't require them—it uses the magic power within one's body."
"Within the body? How can there be magic power inside a person?!"
The group behind 'Lucy' reacted similarly, clearly a concept beyond their understanding.
"Everyone has it, even ordinary people possess magic power within. But if one doesn't learn magic, this magical power will remain dormant forever, dissipating only upon death."
Rhode, no longer a novice mage, could articulate these basics quite clearly.
"It's different here; people don't have magic power. To us, it's a non-renewable resource, and the magic in our world is depleting, destined to vanish entirely one day."
As 'Lucy' spoke, her tone carried some gravity, and the others' emotions were affected; they couldn't imagine a world without magic.
"Rest assured, Jubia, even without magic, I will protect you," the heavily clothed 'Gray' said tenderly to 'Jubia'.
Here, 'Jubia' was a confident and independent, mature woman who responded decisively:
"No need, Jubia can protect herself. You should take care of yourself first, Gray, starting with not wearing so many clothes."
What a peculiar place, Rhode found it quite unsettling.
Rhode glanced at the whip hanging from Lucy's waist; his discerning eye easily recognized it as a magic tool.
Reflecting on Lucy's earlier words about possessing magic being a crime, it became clear that it was due to magic power being non-renewable.
He asked, "So unauthorized use of magic is why you became a Dark Guild?"
'Lucy' retorted indignantly, "Sort of, the king decreed all Mage Guilds disband so he could monopolize Edolas's magic power, and those who refused became Dark Guilds."
Rhode nodded in understanding; based on what he had heard, these people seemed truthful, giving him more reason to trust the information he might gather here.
"Actually, I was accompanying Mira and Elfman—I mean, our Mira and Elfman—at Lisanna's memorial, when I unexpectedly ended up here..."
'Lucy' quickly interrupted him, "Wait, wait... What do you mean by Lisanna's memorial?"
"Well, our Lisanna passed away due to an accident two years ago."
"...I'm sorry." 'Lucy' apologized, though she sensed something amiss, and turned to search for Lisanna's figure but couldn't find her.
Hiding behind the column, Lisanna had covered her mouth, struggling to hold back tears so they wouldn't be heard.
Carrying a tray, 'Mira' trembled slightly, almost spilling the teacup.
She pursed her lips and gently placed the teacup on the table: "May I ask, what kind of child was Lisanna there? Were you close with her?"
Rhode shook his head, "I joined the guild after she was gone, so I've only seen her in photographs, although Mira told me, oh, I mean..."
'Mira' continued, "Your Mira."
"Yes, Mira told me Lisanna was a kind child, though occasionally a bit reckless. Elfman said she was the best sister in the world."
Lisanna's tears wouldn't stop no matter what; she crouched down, trying to wipe them away, not wanting anyone to see.
"No way!" The fierce 'Troy' still believed Rhode was suspicious, "If you didn't even know Lisanna, why would you accompany Mira and Elfman in remembering her?"
Rhode replied matter-of-factly, "Because I'm Mira's fiancé."
"..."
The guild went silent, dead quiet.
After a few seconds, a massive commotion erupted.
"What???!!!"
Nearly everyone exclaimed collectively, causing the entire treehouse to tremble.
Lisanna's tears and sobs even stopped abruptly; what had she just heard?
Standing before Rhode, 'Mira' held her face in her hands; was her counterpart already getting married?
The other girls in the guild teased 'Mira', a fiancé, huh? When they looked closely, he was rather handsome. Would their Mira find a boyfriend like this in the future?
Someone skeptically questioned, "Hey, you wouldn't have just said that to get Mira's attention, would you?"
"How could I make something like that up..." Rhode's Requip space did have Mira's pictures and photos of them together, but he couldn't use Requip Magic now.
He really should get a pocket watch to put a photo in.
He could only raise his wrist to show a hair tie: "I don't have other proof, so believe it or not, it's up to you."
Didn't seem to be lying.
Most people there seemed to believe him and eagerly asked how he had pursued Mira.
Lisanna debated whether to come out and ask for clarification.