Fairy Tail: I Don't Want to Be the Guild Master-Chapter 175: Rhodes Doesn’t Lose Out

Rhodes had joined the guild in early July, and now it was the end of December. From the sweltering heat of summer to the chill of winter, Rhodes had spent half a year living in Magnolia.

Back then, he'd arrived alone, with no family, no one to rely on.

Now, he had friends, people to laugh and train with, companions to bicker and spar with, teammates who'd fought by his side.

And someone he liked.

At home, he'd even bought a few handy magical appliances and had slowly begun building a more comfortable life for himself.

When it came to strength, he was training hard to improve, reading as much as he could to expand his knowledge, and steadily taking on more jobs to build up experience.

As for feelings... the person he liked was around nearly every day, and the two of them had developed a kind of quiet understanding. Even something as small as sharing a cup of coffee together could leave him smiling for hours.

Sure, life still had its rough patches—but Rhodes found that he genuinely enjoyed the process of pushing through them.

Maybe it was because Mira had mentioned the New Year was approaching, but he found himself silently reflecting on everything that had happened over the past six months.

All in all, life was fulfilling. He felt happy. And with clear goals guiding him, every day felt energized and purposeful.

Mira leaned in a little and tilted her head to look at him. "Why are you suddenly smiling so much?"

"It's the New Year," Rhodes replied, still grinning. He noticed that they were both wearing the same couple's coat—coincidentally—and that only made him smile more. "Will everyone be gathering for a celebration?"

Mira thought for a moment before answering. "Well, some people celebrate at home, so it probably won't be as festive as the Harvest Festival."

Rhodes glanced at the snow-covered streets. "Yeah... the mood's definitely different. Doesn't feel as big of a deal."

Mira nodded. "That's because the Harvest Festival is tied to the most important time of the year—and the magic parade draws tons of tourists. It's always a huge event."

That made sense. The Harvest Festival had basically become a tourist attraction in its own right. The New Year, by comparison, was still more of a traditional, quiet holiday.

Still, even if it wasn't as over-the-top, it was definitely something worth celebrating.

Of course, the town of Magnolia didn't need much help being lively, because...

"Fire Dragon's Snow Fist!"

"Natsu! Quit blowing up snowmen! Those belong to the townspeople!"

"Chill, Happy! You worry too much!" Natsu rolled up a massive snowball. "Now check this out!"

"It's totally unfair to launch a sneak attack like that!" Happy flew up to the roof, flapped his wings, and swept a flurry of snow into the air.

"Snow Mist Attack!"

Natsu raised a snowball and shouted indignantly, "Happy! You can't call it a snowball fight if you're not even using snowballs!"

"What about stuffing rocks in snowballs?"

"That's even worse! That's criminal!"

As they bickered, they pelted each other with snowballs, making their way toward the guild, leaving a trail of chaos in their wake.

"The two of them are already at it this early in the morning..." Rhodes muttered, just before instinctively reaching out to pull Mira closer.

A snowball zipped past the spot she had just been standing in and splattered harmlessly on the ground behind her.

Caught off guard, Mira bumped into his chest and quickly straightened up, brushing her hair back behind her ear.

"It's just a snowball," she said with a smile. "No need to be so tense."

"I'm used to it," Rhodes replied calmly. "And besides, knowing those two, there might actually be rocks in there."

Mira glanced sideways at him, then turned to call out to the chaotic duo. "Natsu, Happy!"

"Aye, sir!" Happy chirped with a grin.

"Oh! Mira! Rhodes!" Natsu waved, snowball in hand, eyes lighting up with excitement. "Wanna join the snowball fight?"

"It does look fun," Mira said with a laugh, "but we've got errands to run."

Rhodes added, "And try not to break anyone's windows this year."

Sure, snowballs usually aren't strong enough to break glass, but this was Natsu. The guy could turn a snowball fight into a natural disaster if he tried.

Rhodes was a thoughtful person. He really didn't want to see Master Makarov forced to write another self-criticism letter to the Magic Council right at the start of the New Year.

Natsu pulled a face. "Ugh, you're starting to sound like Erza."

"Aye!!" Happy agreed, crossing his little arms.

Rhodes smirked. "If Erza were here, she'd already be in full snowman armor, and you two would be buried under a mountain of snowballs."

The two troublemakers exchanged horrified grimaces at the mental image.

Mira couldn't stop laughing. If she knew telepathy magic, she probably would've called Erza over just to join Natsu's chaotic snowball war.

After watching the two childish troublemakers disappear down the street, Rhodes and Mira finally began their actual shopping trip.

Aside from food and drinks, they also needed to pick up decorations for the upcoming celebration, and replace some of the guild's recently chipped tableware.

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Rhodes, ever the pragmatist, once asked why they didn't just use wooden dishes all the time and have Laki fix them when they broke. It would save money.

But Laki had only adjusted her glasses sharply and replied that she'd like to hang him up for that suggestion.

Rhodes wisely dropped the topic.

Porcelain plates and bowls were simply more pleasant to use, and besides, it wasn't like he was afraid of a few torture threats. Not really.

Per tradition, the merchants would handle delivery of the larger, heavier items. Rhodes only carried lighter things like decorative ribbons and streamers, which made him look more like a man out on a casual date than someone on guild duty.

After checking off the essentials, the rest of the trip fell into the category of... abusing guild errands for personal errands. No—let's call it an informal public outing. Or better yet—compensated shopping.

The streets were bustling and traffic was chaotic due to the festival. The two couldn't find a proper shortcut back to the guild, so they ended up looping through backroads and side streets.

By sheer coincidence, their route led them past Rhodes' apartment.

Goodman was out front, minding the shop as usual. When he caught sight of them, his eyes widened slightly.

"Well now, if it isn't Rhodes... and Miss Mirajane?" he said with a knowing smirk.

He took one look at their coordinated winter outfits, then shot Rhodes an amused glance full of unspoken assumptions. "You two... out doing a bit of shopping?"

Mirajane greeted him warmly. "Good afternoon, Mr. Goodman." She had seen him a few times in the tavern and knew he was Rhodes' landlord.

Rhodes gave a sheepish smile. "Just running some errands for the guild. And it looks like you're opening late these days."

Goodman shrugged. "Weather's colder now. Not much business early in the morning anyway."

Rhodes nodded. "That's right. Oh, by the way, I've got a heater at home. Want me to lend it to you?"

"Appreciate it, but I've already got one set up. No need to worry," Goodman replied with a chuckle. He motioned toward the items on his stall and gave Rhodes a conspiratorial wink. "Got some new stock in today. Want to take a look? These would make perfect little gifts for a special lady."

He was referring to a collection of hair accessories and bracelets, newly crafted by his wife. The designs were inspired by traditional weaving techniques Rhodes had shared with them previously, subtly infused into modern styles. They carried the charm of ancient craftsmanship without clashing with everyday outfits.

Rhodes was easily swayed. A few of the hair ties caught his eye immediately, delicate and well-made, and they felt just right for Mira.

Noticing Mira browsing the stand with clear interest, Rhodes didn't hesitate. He picked up a few he liked. "This red one matches the dress you wear sometimes. And this black one's thicker—it looks perfect for tying up a ponytail. Oh, and this one with the star charms... it's thinner, probably great for braiding."

He rambled on without realizing it.

Mira brushed her bangs aside, grabbed the black hair tie, and pulled her hair into a high ponytail. "Like this?"

She checked herself in a hand mirror. "Feels like an old hairstyle of mine."

"It looks good. That's what matters," Rhodes said, nodding in approval. Compared to her usual style, this one gave her a fresh charm. There was even a big bow on it—adorably bold.

Then Mira tried the red one. She swept her hair over one shoulder and tied it there, gently pushing her bangs to both sides. "How about this look?"

That hairstyle was dangerous.

"You look... very, very beautiful. Really elegant," Rhodes stammered, feeling his heart race. His mind was spinning, and for a split second, he seriously considered confessing right there and then.

He had whispered the word "elegant," but Mira still heard him. Her cheeks turned a faint pink.

She quickly let her hair fall loose again, acting as if nothing happened, and finally picked up the decorated hair tie he'd suggested earlier. "Braiding takes some time. Maybe I'll try it when there's a bit more leisure."

"Right. Totally." Rhodes nodded too quickly, then stepped in and bought all three hair ties before she could change her mind.

Goodman made a tidy profit that morning, but Rhodes didn't feel like he'd lost a thing.