Fairy Tail: I Don't Want to Be the Guild Master-Chapter 285: Erza Argument

"Mira! Rhodes! You're finally back!"

Makarov was so excited he leapt straight from the second floor.

He was so fired up that he didn't even land properly, he went face-first into the ground.

Then again, he was one of the Ten Wizard Saints. At 88 years old, falling two stories only made his face turn a little red.

In true Makarov fashion, he bounced up like nothing had happened and immediately tried to cling to Rhodes' thigh, ready to sob.

(If he hugged Mira instead, he'd probably be kicked across the room.)

Makarov sometimes fantasized about having a newcomer join the guild who was beautiful, had a good figure, a sweet personality, and wasn't ready to kick him into next week.

"Master, it's not like we've been gone that long. Just a few days, right?"

Rhodes said, awkwardly patting the old man's back, still not quite used to dealing with Makarov as casually as Mira and Natsu did.

"It felt like a century!" Makarov wailed.

"Do you know what I've been through while you were gone?! Erza kept forcing me to actually work as Guild Master! She wouldn't even let me drink unless I finished my paperwork!"

Rhodes tilted his head thoughtfully.

"Isn't that... a good thing? Didn't Mira often restrict your drinking too?"

"It's not the same!" Makarov cried dramatically.

"When Mira restricts me, I can at least sneak a drink! But Erza.... Erza draws her sword the moment I so much as touch a bottle!"

"Ohhh..." Rhodes nodded seriously.

Good thing to note: when Mira forbids drinking, it's 'under the table.' When Erza forbids drinking, it's 'under threat of decapitation.'

"And that's not all!" Makarov sniffled.

"She even graded my self-criticism reports! If there was even one typo, she made me rewrite the whole thing, saying my 'attitude wasn't sincere enough'!"

Rhodes gave a small wince of sympathy.

"Yeah... that's a bit much. Self-criticisms are just to satisfy the Council, not... an entrance exam for a Magic Academy."

"Exactly!" Makarov's eyes lit up, like he had finally found someone who understood his pain.

One complaint after another poured out as Makarov tearfully listed everything Erza had "oppressed" him with over the past few days.

In truth, if this had been any other guild, Erza's actions would have been considered perfectly normal, maybe even a bit lenient.

The problem was... this was Fairy Tail.

Here, "normal behavior" felt like being subjected to cruel and unusual punishment.

Rhodes now fully understood why the entire guild had cheered so loudly when he and Mira walked back in. Everyone had been praying for Mira's return so Erza would finally step down from her substitute duties.

Meanwhile, the "tyrant" herself was chatting calmly with Mira by the bar.

"I think you look really good in that uniform, Erza," Mira said with a smile.

Erza's cheeks tinted pink. "Really? I stayed in it because... I liked it too."

"It suits you! But... why the sudden decision to be a waitress?" Mira asked curiously.

"Because you and Rhodes asked me to help with guild management," Erza said, solemn as ever.

"And being a waitress is part of managing the guild's daily life."

Mira blinked, then chuckled softly.

"You really don't have to take it that seriously..."

"No. I gave my word to help, and I must fulfill all my duties properly!"

Erza's voice was firm with her usual unshakable sense of honor.

Mira thought for a moment, then a mischievous idea sparkled in her eyes.

"In that case," she said sweetly, "I happen to have another part of my job you could help with."

"Really? What is it?" Erza asked, curious.

"Modeling!" Mira said brightly.

"Actually, the magazine sent a letter a few days ago inviting me to shoot a swimsuit feature for the July issue."

"Swimsuit feature...?" Erza repeated slowly.

"Mhm," Mira nodded.

"But lately, I've been thinking of turning down those kinds of offers. Still, it'd be rude to refuse outright. So..."

Mira smiled slyly. "Maybe I could introduce them to you instead?"

"Is that really alright?"

Erza was genuinely a little interested in the idea, though she hadn't exactly volunteered for it.

In fact, the magazine had probably never dared to approach the Titania of Fairy Tail directly.

After all, Erza was the Fairy Queen, who would casually invite her to a swimsuit shoot?

Mira's plan had succeeded perfectly. She smiled sweetly and said:

"Of course! I'm really looking forward to seeing Erza's swimsuit photo."

Rhodes wasn't paying full attention to the conversation at first, until he caught Mira's expression out of the corner of his eye.

That mischievous smile. The one that meant she was definitely plotting something.

He didn't even need to hear the details. He just knew.

Rhodes sighed internally.

Oh well. As long as Mira wasn't plotting against him again, it should be fine.

From Makarov's tearful complaints and Erza's serious debriefing, Rhodes and Mira quickly got a clear understanding of the guild's current situation.

To be honest, Erza's management ability was impeccable. All the accounts were neat. The mission records were detailed and spotless.

No tasks had been mishandled.

It was just... her personality was a bit too serious.

Whether it was official guild matters or minor daily affairs, Erza tackled everything like she was preparing for war.

By comparison, Mira's style was much more relaxed. She mostly let everyone run wild, watched the chaos with amusement, and sometimes even fueled it herself if it meant more fun.

In a way, Erza was like a strict father, while Mira was like a kind and indulgent mother.

Judging from the guild members' reactions, it was obvious. Everyone was praying that the "strict father" would hurry back to work outside, and that the "kind mother" would stay home and spoil them.

Mira and Erza agreed to contact the magazine editor the next day, and Erza immediately began preparing to hand the guild's responsibilities back over.

Meanwhile, Rhodes flipped through the mission records from the past few days, just to see for himself how things had been going.

And honestly... he was surprised.

Listening to the president and Erza earlier, it sounded like complete chaos had broken out. But looking at the mission outcomes?

Not a single mission had failed.

For example, Loke had successfully completed an escort mission for a famous female artist. Along the way, he even heroically stopped a group of creeps from harassing her... though admittedly, he personally roughed them up a little too much.

Still, mission accomplished. And he somehow managed to charm the granddaughter of a councilman in the process.

And then there was Natsu.

During a job to subdue the Devon Bandit Clan, Natsu had absolutely flattened the enemy. Captured every single one of them.

Unfortunately, he also flattened three houses and a historic clock tower in the process.

Rhodes stared at the record, horrified.

Would the payment for this job even be enough to cover the damages?

Mira, sitting beside him, chuckled lightly.

"Actually, I think Natsu did restrain himself this time. Back in the day, he would've burned down the whole street."

Erza wore a heavy expression, her voice filled with guilt.

"So, you're saying Natsu didn't even give it his all during that mission? I specifically told him to go all out when working!"

Rhodes stared at her, baffled by the logic.

He finally grasped the bizarre brain circuits running between these two.

'Forget it. At least Mira was still normal.'

He might as well save his breath and just complain directly: "So you're the real culprit then!"

Erza immediately countered, serious as ever: "No, Rhodes, I think the problem lies with you."

"Huh?"

Rhodes blinked in confusion. "I've been away for the past few days. How could it be my fault?"

Erza crossed her arms and said solemnly: "This has been going on for quite a while."

She thought back carefully before explaining:

"It all started when you began assisting Mira with the mission desk. You gradually got into the habit of helping everyone analyze their assignments, suggesting where to start, warning them about terrain risks, telling them how to avoid collateral damage, advising on how to fight more safely."

"Isn't that a good thing?"

Rhodes asked, completely puzzled.

"I just want everyone's jobs to go smoother. Fewer injuries, fewer unnecessary accidents. What's wrong with that?"

Erza nodded slightly but continued:

"Of course, from the results, it is a good thing. But the problem is... it's something they should learn to think through on their own.

When we take on a mission, we should fully assess it ourselves, fight with everything we have, and complete it through our own judgment. That's what I mean when I say going all out!

By guiding them step by step, even if it's for their safety, you're encouraging them to stop thinking for themselves. Over time, they'll start to think, 'Just do what Rhodes says.' And while that might reduce accidents short-term, in the long run... it weakens their growth."

Rhodes frowned deeply.

He hadn't intended anything like that. He never once thought about controlling anyone or stifling their progress.

He just wanted them to come home safely.

He hadn't expected Erza to accuse him from this angle.

But thinking about it seriously, she wasn't wrong either. It wasn't about good or bad intentions, it was a difference in perspective.

Was Natsu already being influenced by him without realizing it?

And if Natsu was affected, what about the others?

...

Bonus @2400 💎💎

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