Fairy Tail: I Don't Want to Be the Guild Master-Chapter 190: Why are you asking me again?

Makarov sighed, looking a little troubled. "I don't know when it started, but Erza suddenly stopped wanting to attend the regular meetings with me."

It wasn't just that she didn't want to go, she couldn't even stand hearing about it.

Every time Makarov brought it up, Erza's expression would immediately twist in discomfort, like she was about to be sick. He couldn't figure out what young people were thinking these days.

'Was it because I showed off too much?' he wondered.

'Well, maybe it was time to take someone else along to show off for a change.'

Mira leaned in close to Rhodes again, whispering in his ear, "Actually, it's because during one of those meetings, Ichiya from Blue Pegasus got a little... too friendly with Erza."

Rhodes instantly understood. He remembered how, not too long ago, Erza had been unusually uncomfortable after getting tangled up with Ichiya during a mission.

'No wonder she's trying to avoid it altogether,' he thought.

"So, what do you think? Should I go with the Master?" Rhodes asked.

Mira thought for a moment and said warmly,

"It wouldn't be a bad idea. Besides, the Master always ends up drinking way too much at these meetings. Sometimes he even gets drunk and causes trouble. You could help keep an eye on him."

"I'm not that bad!" Makarov huffed indignantly.

Mira puffed her cheeks and countered, "Of course you are. A few years ago, you got into a drunken brawl with Master Jose from Phantom Lord. Ever since then, he's refused to attend any meetings, and our relationship with Phantom Lord has been even worse."

"Bah, the relationship wasn't great to begin with," Makarov grumbled.

"And besides, he's the one who said the Phantom Lord Guild was stronger than Fairy Tail! I won the fight, didn't I?"

Rhodes didn't even know how to react to that. The old man looked genuinely proud of himself.

Master Jose was supposed to be one of the Ten Wizard Saints, still in his prime at the time and yet, even drunk, Makarov had managed to beat him senseless.

'Yeah. Our Master is seriously terrifying when he wants to be,' Rhodes thought with admiration.

But, looking around the guild now, with how chaotic it usually was, Rhodes couldn't help thinking:

'Maybe the reason the guild's so rowdy is 90% his fault... no, make that 100%.'

After all, most of the biggest troublemakers were personally picked up and recruited by Makarov himself.

His self-criticism wasn't exactly wrong.

"Is this really something to brag about, Master?" Mira puffed out her cheeks in mock anger.

"But you were the one cheering for me back then, little Mira!" Makarov protested, looking a little hurt.

"I remember you yelling something... pretty bold. Let me think..."

"Don't think about it!" Mira blurted, her face turning slightly red.

"That was because I was young and didn't know any better!"

Makarov put on a sly grin. "Well, I was young too!"

Mira crossed her arms and said with a smirk, "Sure, sure. You were only 82 years old at the time."

Rhodes suddenly froze. 'Wait, the Master was 82 when that happened?'

Feeling a surge of injustice, he blurted out, "That jerk Jose actually attacked an 82-year-old man? What a piece of trash!"

(Granted... it was Jose who got beaten up.)

Mira quickly corrected him, laughing, "An 82-year-old young man, thank you very much!"

"Oh, right, young man," Rhodes said with a grin.

"Still, Master, you're way too outrageous for a 'young person.' Getting into fights at meetings like that."

"You two..." Makarov groaned, dark lines forming on his forehead.

This perfect tag-team of teasing was really too much for him to handle.

Rhodes and Mira burst into laughter together.

Makarov hopped off the counter and headed upstairs to the second floor, already scheming about how to best show off to his old friends.

"Anyway, come with me to the station next Wednesday," he called out.

"Okay," Rhodes agreed, deciding it wouldn't hurt to see a bit more of the world outside Magnolia.

Still, one thing lingered in his mind, 'what exactly had Mira shouted back then?'

...

When he had free time in the morning, Rhodes practiced diligently. By noon, he went about his usual work at the guild. But in the afternoon, Troy sneakily dragged him out of the guild.

For the second time in his life, Rhodes found himself awkwardly sitting across from another man, sipping coffee. The scene reminded him of the time Alzack had done the same thing.

Sure enough, Troy hesitated a moment, clasped his hands together, and pleaded,

"Rhodes, please! Teach me how to win over Levy!"

"..."

Rhodes fell silent.

'Why does this keep happening to me? I'm still single too, you know!'

"Have you really not considered asking Loke about this?" Rhodes asked.

Troy shook his head. "If Loke actually had any good advice, Jet would've succeeded already."

'So he had asked already, huh...'

Rhodes sighed.

"Then asking me won't help either. You and Levy grew up together, you should know better than anyone what kind of guy she likes."

Troy looked embarrassed. "Well, we did ask her once a long time ago, but Levy couldn't explain it clearly herself."

Rhodes couldn't help but be confused.

'How did things end up like this? Childhood friends usually have such a head start! How did you and Jet manage to mess it up this badly?'

"Please, I'm begging you," Troy said earnestly. "You even managed to deal with someone as shy as Alzack. Just help me figure out a plan!"

Alzack and Bisca's situation lately could only be described as "progressing smoothly."

The two of them went out on jobs together every few days, practically functioning as a fixed team now.

The most uptodat𝓮 n𝒐vels are published on freёnovelkiss.com.

Although they always insisted to others that they were "just partners," everyone except clueless people like Erza could see what was going on.

Jet and Troy, of course, were filled with envy and jealousy.

But after the awkward incident with Levy a few months ago, they had only just managed to mend their friendship. Neither of them dared to act too rashly again.

After failing to get much help from Alzack, Troy had finally gathered his courage to turn to Rhodes for help.

Troy had seized the perfect opportunity while Rhodes was asking him to help take care of the potted plants.

"..."

Rhodes wanted to say this wasn't exactly a difficult situation.

Alzack and Bisca already had feelings for each other, it was just a matter of one of them taking the first step.

All Rhodes had done was help create the right opportunity.

But Troy and Levy, they had already formed a fixed team, practically spending every day together, yet there was still no progress.

You couldn't even call it slow.

In Troy's case, his love for Levy was entirely one-sided, the kind where if he took one step forward, Levy would instinctively take two steps back.

'I'm no love guru. What am I supposed to do with a situation like this?' Rhodes thought, rubbing his temples.

"Let me think..."

Rhodes paused for a moment before saying,

"My impression is that Levy's usually cheerful, but deep down, she can be a little timid and lacking in self-confidence, right?"

Troy looked surprised.

"How can that be? Levy's super strong, smart, and amazing in every way!"

"..."

There was no saving this.

Rhodes genuinely wanted to say goodbye right then and there.

'This guy's looking at Levy through the thickest rose-colored glasses I've ever seen.'

Troy, realizing something was off, quickly asked,

"Uh... well, what do you think?"

Rhodes thought carefully and said,

"I think Levy probably likes someone who feels mature and dependable. I can ask someone else to help get you some more specific hints. After that, it's up to you."

There was no way he was going to ask Levy directly himself, if it got misunderstood, things would get way too awkward.

He might as well have Mira ask. She loved this kind of gossip and matchmaking stuff anyway.

"Thanks! That's more than enough!" Troy said enthusiastically, feeling like he had already pulled ahead of Jet just by getting this much help.

"You're welcome. Just remember to take good care of my potted plants," Rhodes said with a sigh.

'Alas, for the sake of my three sons, even a father has to run around asking for help.'

...

Bonus Chapters @400 PS💎💎