Fairy Tail: I Don't Want to Be the Guild Master-Chapter 146: Mira’s Favoritism

After Rhodes finished paying his respects, Mira knelt once more in front of the tombstone and whispered softly to Lisanna.

Rhodes gave Elfman a small nod and quietly stepped away, waiting outside the cemetery.

A long while later, he saw Mira rise to her feet. She placed her hand gently on the tombstone, her fingers lingering for a few moments before she finally turned away.

The three of them walked back toward the guild together, the atmosphere heavy with silence.

"I'm okay," Mira said quietly.

"Yeah," Rhodes replied, matching her tone.

Mira glanced at him. "I thought you might say something like 'it's in the past,' or tell us not to be sad."

Rhodes shook his head. "That was my plan at first. But standing there at her grave... even I couldn't help but feel sad."

The tombstone bore the dates X768–X782—Lisanna had only been fourteen when she passed.

By the laws of Fiore, she wouldn't have even been considered an adult until this year.

It was a life cut tragically short, a wound that was painful for those closest to her, and deeply regrettable to everyone else.

When Rhodes saw the pain in Mira and Elfman's expressions at the cemetery, he found himself unable to offer any shallow words of comfort.

Now, walking beside them, he exhaled slowly. "Master Makarov once said that grief is born from life and love. I can't stop you from feeling sad—that sadness is proof of your love for Lisanna."

"'But we remember the dead not to drown in sorrow, but to remind ourselves to cherish life and to keep moving forward with resolve.' That sounds like something Master would say next, doesn't it?" Mira looked up at the sky.

"What do you think, Elfman?"

"As a man, no matter what happens, you've got to keep living—and keep moving forward."

Rhodes smiled faintly. "That's the best thing you could say."

Still, if it were truly that easy, neither Mira nor Elfman would still be struggling to Take over magic after all this time.

As they neared the guild, Mira's usual smile returned. "Thank you, Rhodes."

He shook his head. "Don't thank me for being reckless."

"How could I not?" Mira laughed. It wasn't often that Rhodes let his emotions take the lead.

And besides, hadn't he acted perfectly proper at the cemetery? He had honored Lisanna with sincerity.

After a pause, she asked, "It might get really busy soon... can I count on you to help out a little more?"

"Of course! Rhodes, former tavern waiter, now officially promoted to assistant to the assistant of the guild master," he announced proudly. "Will there be a raise?"

Mira grinned. "Unfortunately, that position doesn't actually exist, so... no raise!"

The three of them stepped into the guild together, and Rhodes continued with mock indignation:

"If this promotion doesn't come with a raise, I'm filing a complaint!"

"Complaint received—and denied!" Mira replied with a wink.

Rhodes raised his hand in mock protest. "I'll escalate it to the senior council, the inspection team, and the treasury office!"

"Those are all me! Complaint rejected again!" Mira swatted playfully at his arm, laughing. "But as compensation, I'll buy you a coffee."

Rhodes made a dramatic face. "That's even worse! You're working me overtime and bribing me with caffeine? Sounds like I'll be stuck working all night!"

"So what if it's inhumane? I'm a devil, remember?" Mira tried to look menacing, but her cheerful smile betrayed her. "So, are you coming or not?"

"Of course I am." Only a fool would say no.

Suddenly, Elfman stopped. "Rhodes, wanna spar?"

"Huh? Why?"

"No idea. I just really feel like fighting right now."

The guild erupted into chaos as soon as they heard.

"Get him, Elfman!"

"Go for it, Elfman!"

"It's your time to shine, Elfman!"

"Mind your own business!" Rhodes shouted, then added, "We'll fight tonight."

A wave of disappointment swept through the guild. Just when they thought Mira and Elfman were back to normal and a good brawl was about to start, Rhodes had to go and delay it.

The crowd grumbled. One frustrated patron hurled a wine glass.

If you don't want to fight, someone else will make you!

Rhodes casually swatted the glass away with one hand. With the other, he gently nudged Mira toward the counter where Master Makarov was—away from danger.

This only seemed to rile the crowd further. Bottles, plates, and anything not nailed down started flying.

Rhodes snatched a stool, spun it a few times with flair, and used it to expertly block the projectiles with a series of satisfying cracks. Then, with practiced confidence, he slammed the stool down and rested one foot on it.

"I have some experience with flying objects," he declared smugly.

"RHODES! You jerk!" Gray stood up from the ground, rubbing his back. The stool had been yanked out from under him.

Rhodes didn't even glance his way, instead gazing off dramatically into the distance. "I don't fight naked men."

Gray blinked. "Wait, when did I—?"

"Forget the details! Get him!"

Someone shoved Gray forward, and the crowd surged. The guild exploded into chaos.

Rhodes had experience dodging flying objects—what about flying people?

"No fair! Where's the honor in that?!"

He didn't know who punched him, but he kicked back instinctively. Someone else kicked him, and he countered with a swift elbow.

A full-on brawl erupted: one man versus over twenty. It was pure madness.

Gray, flattened early on, was stepped on three times before rising to his feet. By then, he'd completely forgotten about Rhodes and tackled the first person he saw.

Elfman, who had originally wanted to spar with Rhodes, got hit from several sides and likewise forgot his initial plan.

What had begun as a collective mission to punish Rhodes devolved into a free-for-all. No one knew who they were fighting or why. It was just fists first, questions later.

Eventually, someone lost restraint and cast a spell.

That was the cue for others to follow suit.

"That's ENOUGH, you brats! Do you want to destroy the guild?!"

"Thunder Emperor's Spear!"

Makarov and Erza's voices boomed over the din. A giant spectral hand came down from Makarov, slamming half the combatants into the floor. Meanwhile, a surge of blue lightning from Erza left the rest twitching in a heap.

Rhodes was among those face-first in the floor.

"Aye aye..." Mira stood by the counter, watching with her usual amusement as chaos resolved itself. Her eyes eventually fell on Rhodes, sprawled dramatically in a crater with a resigned look on his face.

Thanks to being pushed near Master Makarov earlier, she hadn't been hit by any wine bottles—or by Elfman.

A few minutes later, Rhodes sat sullenly at the bar as Mira gently dabbed potion on his bruised face.

"I got careless. Should've slipped out before Master lost it," he muttered, regretting staying for a few extra punches. He'd gotten greedy for damage output.

"Let's not make this a habit," Mira said, patting his shoulder gently before disappearing into the kitchen.

She returned with two boiled eggs, peeled and still warm.

"Tilt your head back and look up."

Rhodes obeyed, leaning back against the counter. From this angle, he noticed how pretty Mira looked.

She gently pressed the warm egg to his bruised eye. It rolled slightly, soothing the tender spot.

They really went all out this time. His eye was seriously swollen.

It stung, but Rhodes couldn't help but chuckle. All things considered, this fight had gone pretty well for him. He didn't feel like he'd lost—at least, not in the ways that mattered.

The rest of the guild, now licking their own wounds, scowled at the sight.

Forget black eyes—some had swollen foreheads, chipped teeth, and even busted lips.

Since when did Mira treat injuries like that with so much care?

Damn it, Rhodes!

Let's fight again!

"Huh?" Erza, still in her Thunder Empress Armor, turned her head.

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Everyone instantly fell silent.

Forget it, next time.