Fairy Tail: I Don't Want to Be the Guild Master-Chapter 298: Mira: Actually, I have a little savings

Macao had been injured, and Natsu and Lucy eventually found him in a cave.

Two Vulcans were stationed at the cave entrance, which had been partially blocked by ice. Strangely enough, the gorilla-like creatures showed signs of higher intelligence, standing guard with surprising discipline.

When Macao saw Natsu and the crab arrive, his face lit up with a mix of relief and embarrassment.

Watching from the crab's vision, Rhodes exhaled in relief. "That old guy actually managed to flip one over... but it's good he made it back."

Once they confirmed that Macao's life wasn't in danger, Natsu grinned and gave the crab's "eye" a wave of thanks.

Rhodes smiled. "For all his recklessness, that guy's pretty thoughtful when it counts."

Since they needed to be careful with Macao's injuries, the group moved slowly on their return.

That evening, after wrapping up guild work, Rhodes set aside his training to take some medicine and wait for them along the return path. Naturally, Mira came with him.

On the way, she hesitated before speaking. "There's something I've been meaning to ask you." ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

Rhodes raised an eyebrow. "Ask away."

Mira looked serious, her voice soft. "You mentioned once that you wanted to settle down in Magnolia, right?"

"I did," Rhodes nodded and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. That wish had only grown stronger these past few months. Even after everything, dragons, disasters, and prophecy, he couldn't keep living like he was just passing through.

Mira's eyes flickered. "Then... can I ask how much you've saved?"

Rhodes gave her a cheeky grin. "Wife checking the bank account already?"

"You're shameless," she huffed, wrinkling her nose.

Laughing, Rhodes said, "Between a few high-paying missions, my monthly salary, which got raised again, and the small requests we've taken together, I've saved a little over four million Jewels."

He wasn't hiding anything. In truth, every Jewel he earned was documented in the guild's ledgers, and Mira was the one who processed most of it. If she really wanted to know, she could've estimated the total herself.

That realization suddenly made him think: after marriage, he might need to find a way to stash some secret spending money. He could just say Warm was eating more than usual.

"And why the sudden interest?" he asked.

"Actually... I've saved up a bit too." Mira held up two fingers to gesture a rough amount. "About this much."

Rhodes was genuinely surprised, but not because of the amount. "Wait... does that mean...?"

Was she just offering to share the burden of buying a house? Or was she hinting that he should hurry up and propose?

Seeing his stunned expression, Mira grew flustered. "I found out recently that Elfman's been saving too. I think... he's assuming I'll kick him out one day."

"Oh... so he's planning to move out on his own, and you were thinking about keeping him at home, not just saving for a place with me."

Rhodes smiled, understanding now. The siblings were just thinking about each other.

Mira lightly punched him with her small fist. "That house in Magnolia was our first home, me, Elfman, and Lisanna. It holds so many memories. Kicking Elfman out would be way too cruel."

'That's what being an older sister was like,' Rhodes thought. Sure, she teased and scolded Elfman, but when it really mattered, she always put him first.

And Elfman, for all his manly talk, was working hard quietly for his sister's sake.

"That's why I wanted to talk with you," Mira said, her voice trailing off. "I just thought... we..."

She faltered. Saying it aloud would basically mean proposing. Even though she was the bold one when it came to love, this was different.

And she hadn't prepared anything, no flowers, no rings.

"I get it," Rhodes said softly as he wrapped Mira in a warm embrace.

Meeting Mira was, without question, the greatest stroke of luck in his life.

"Let's keep working hard together, for our family, and for everything ahead of us."

Mira thumped him playfully a few times while in his arms. "That's so unfair, saying something like that now."

Rhodes grinned mischievously.

Still holding her close, he was already making plans in his head, like stopping by the jewelry store a few more times to figure out exactly what kind of ring she liked.

It was just an ordinary evening, no fancy dinner, no flowers, no moonlight on the sea. But on that quiet night, the two of them made an extraordinary promise.

Maybe that's what real romance looks like, the quiet kind that only ordinary people share.

"Brother Rhodes! Sister Mira!"

Under the dim glow of the streetlamps, Romeo's small figure stood at the end of the road, tears in his eyes. The moment he saw them, he quickly wiped his face, trying to appear strong.

Rhodes walked up and gently patted the boy's head. "Don't worry. Natsu, Happy, and Lucy found your father."

"Really?" Romeo's eyes lit up instantly.

"I confirmed it with magic. They're on their way back right now."

Just hearing the word "magic" was enough to reassure Romeo—it had that kind of power.

"How is he? Is Dad okay?"

Rhodes used a simple transformation spell to summon a medicine kit. "He's hurt, but nothing serious. A little bandaging, and he'll be just fine."

Romeo looked like he was about to cry again, but before Mira could even say anything, he clenched his fists and tried to hold it in.

"It's normal for wizards to get hurt. Coming back safely with scars after finishing a mission is an honor. I won't cry. Crying would disrespect Dad's efforts."

Mira knelt down and gently wiped his cheeks. "Did your dad tell you that?"

"Yeah... at least I think he did. Right?"

Mira chuckled and nodded. "Of course. And not just any wizard could say something that cool. Your dad's an amazing wizard."

"Yeah!" Romeo beamed, his tears giving way to a proud, radiant smile.

Rhodes remembered how just a few days ago, Romeo had been mocked by other kids.

'As a father, there are things you just have to protect. You'll understand when you and Mira have a kid of your own.'

That's what Macao had said.

Looking at Romeo now, Rhode felt like maybe he finally understood a piece of what Macao meant.

Still... if it were him, he might handle things differently. He'd want to teach his kid not to get caught up in meaningless comparisons in the first place.

But maybe... that kind of thinking only works until you become a parent yourself.

In the distance, two large crabs carried three people and one blue-cat steadily across the street.

Unnoticed by ordinary eyes, three wolves faded into the shadows and vanished.

"Dad!!" Romeo rushed forward. "Dad, I'm sorry—I shouldn't have—"

Macao, ignoring his soreness, jumped down and swept his son into a tight hug. "I'm the one who should apologize. I made you worry."

"It's okay," Romeo murmured, clutching his father's coat. "Because I'm the son of a wizard."

He glanced back at Mira and Rhodes, who were smiling at him warmly. "The son of a great wizard."

Macao's heart swelled with emotion. He let go, crouched to Romeo's height, and gave him what was, in that moment, the coolest smile he'd ever seen.

"Next time those little punks laugh at you, just say this, 'Can your dad take down eighteen monsters?'"

"Yeah!!"

...

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