Fairy Tail: I Don't Want to Be the Guild Master-Chapter 311: Travel safe

"It worked. Want to see what it can do?" Mira offered the flute to Erza for safekeeping.

Erza looked puzzled. "How do you demonstrate a curse spell, exactly?"

Mira smiled. "Because what I gained wasn't just the curse. I'll try it out—it's not dangerous."

"Hold on." Rhodes leaned in and whispered something to her.

Mira's cheeks turned red. She raised her hand and gave him a light smack on the arm.

She knew exactly what Rhodes was worried about. So, to reassure him and everyone else, she temporarily canceled the Take Over. Her appearance returned to normal, showing clearly that it was still her. Then she reactivated Lullaby's Take Over again.

"There. Satisfied?" she huffed, glaring at him. It was such a simple fix, why did he have to ask such an embarrassing question?

Rhodes shook his head seriously. "Nope. What if Lullaby used transformation magic to trick us?"

Natsu blinked, completely lost. Erza gave Rhodes a nod of approval for his caution, while Gray muttered that the creepy flute probably didn't have enough brains for that kind of deception.

Mira rolled her eyes at him. He was a Take Over wizard too, how could he not tell the difference between Take Over and Transformation?

Left with no choice, Mira leaned close and whispered something into his ear. Her cheeks were burning.

Rhodes grinned, satisfied. "Okay. I'm convinced now."

The others braced themselves for the demo.

Though, in truth, there wasn't much bracing needed. Mira cleared her throat and began to sing a simple melody—soft, open syllables like a singer warming up.

"Aaah~~ Aah-aah-aaah~~"

Even with just a few notes, her voice was beautiful, calm and melodic, with a peaceful undertone.

But beauty wasn't the real issue.

The moment the sound drifted through the air, everyone around her suddenly started yawning. Their eyelids drooped, and a wave of drowsiness washed over them.

"Huh...?"

Lucy and Happy, who had just wandered into the edge of the crater to watch, collapsed to the ground immediately, snoring softly.

Erza, Natsu, and Gray were fighting to keep their eyes open, but because Mira stopped singing just in time, they managed to stay awake.

Rhodes, however, wasn't as lucky. Mira had clearly aimed that last note right at him. He swayed on the spot... then collapsed face-first with his eyes shut.

Mira quickly stepped forward and caught him in her arms. Cradling him gently, she used her free hand to ruffle his hair, tug on his ears, and pinch his cheeks playfully.

"I told you not to ask. I told you not to be so suspicious. I told you not to be so annoying..."

Rhodes remained limp and quiet in her embrace, completely unresponsive.

Erza massaged her temple and let out a sigh. "That's some serious magic power. It feels like Mystogan's sleep spell."

Mira chuckled. "Well, it is Lullaby. This is how it was always meant to be used. And if it were cast on an enemy? They'd never wake up."

Gray muttered, "Mira's getting scarier and scarier..."

He glanced over at Natsu, who had fought like a maniac earlier, and then at Rhodes, who now summoned armies of monsters and had powerful earth magic.

Even Mira's abilities had taken a huge step forward.

'If I get chosen for the S-Class trial this year... and I end up against any of them...'

Gray clenched his fists. 'If I don't work harder, I'll be left behind.'

Looking down at Rhodes' helpless form, he asked with some concern, "Is Rhodes okay?"

Mira smiled softly. "He's fine. His magic's just completely drained. That's why he was so easily affected." She brushed his hair again. "Let him sleep for a while."

Though she said that, her hands didn't stop. By now, Rhodes' hair was a tousled mess, and his face had been poked and prodded into a faint pink.

Gray hesitated for a moment before asking, "Is... is that really the case?"

Mira nodded confidently. "Of course it is."

With that, Gray fell silent. 'It's a couple thing,' he thought. 'They can mess around however they want... it's not like she'll actually hurt him or anything.'

Still, one question lingered in his mind: 'How exactly did Rhodes fall in love with Mira in the first place? It's not like he didn't already know what she was like before...'

"Ahahaha! Rhodes is so lame!"

Natsu was grinning from ear to ear. A small flame flickered to life in his palm. "Want me to wake him up with this?"

Mira shook her head. "No. That would hurt him."

"Then how about I just singe his bangs a little?"

"No," Mira replied firmly, brushing a hand through Rhodes' messy hair. "I like his hairstyle the way it is."

The fire in Natsu's hand sputtered out. "Fine. Let me squish his face a bit, then!"

Mira wrapped her arms around Rhodes protectively. "Nope. He's mine."

"So stingy," Natsu muttered, crossing his arms and sulking like a kid.

Gray patted him on the shoulder. "Come on. Go check on Lucy and Happy."

"Oh! Right, Lucy!" Natsu's eyes lit up. He jogged over, crouched beside her, and gave her cheek a gentle poke.

'How should I tease her this time..'. he thought, as a mischievous grin spread across his face and flames returned to his hands.

But just as he was about to act, Lucy murmured something in her sleep.

"Fairy Tail... I like it the most..."

Natsu froze, staring at the peaceful smile on her lips. His grin softened into something far gentler.

He quietly placed Happy in Lucy's arms, then carefully lifted her up, cradling her in his arms like a princess.

Meanwhile, Mira had finished smoothing out Rhodes' hair and was now holding him the same way, gently and without a trace of hesitation.

Erza watched the two couples, Mira with Rhodes, and Natsu with Lucy, then turned her gaze slowly to Gray.

Gray noticed and immediately broke into a cold sweat. "W-Why are you looking at me like that?"

Erza stretched out her arms eagerly. "Should I carry you out too?"

Gray's face turned bright red. "N-No thanks! I can walk just fine!"

Erza gave a disappointed sigh, visibly let down.

Mira gave Erza a mischievous suggestion. "Just knock Gray out and carry him back."

Gray's eyes widened in alarm. "Hey, don't give her weird ideas!"

But Erza's expression lit up with realization. "Ah... that could work!"

"Wait—no, it couldn't!" Gray shouted, already backing away.

With panic in his eyes, he turned on his heel and bolted. 'There's no way Erza's got any kind of romantic reason for this,' he thought frantically. 'She just wants to match Mira and Natsu!'

But even so... the idea of being knocked out and slung over Erza's shoulder like a sack of potatoes was too humiliating to bear. He could already picture Natsu laughing at him for an entire year.

Thankfully, Erza didn't chase after him.

A moment later, Gray came running up to Makarov and ducked behind him for cover.

"What's going on?" the old master asked, raising an eyebrow.

Gray straightened up and tried to act cool. "Nothing. Lullaby's been dealt with. I just came to check in and ask what you want us to do next."

Makarov's face lit up. "Seal it up and hand it over to the Council. You kids did a fantastic job this time."

He was beaming with pride. His guildmates had done so well, and now he could hold his head high in front of the other guild masters.

As for Lullaby... after the beating it just took, Makarov doubted the cursed flute would be a threat ever again.

"Master," Erza said as she arrived, handing him the cracked flute, "this is for you."

"Thank you. Good work," Makarov said, accepting it. He planned to deliver both the flute and Kageyama to the Council himself.

He looked over at Rhodes, Lucy, and Happy, all asleep. "And those three?"

"They're fine," Mira reassured him. "Just asleep."

Makarov studied Rhodes' face for a second. 'Is he really asleep, or just knocked out?' He decided not to ask.

"Come on in. There are some spare rooms, get a good rest."

But Mira shook her head. "Thank you, Master. But we're heading back tonight."

"Huh? Why the rush?"

"I didn't let anyone know I was coming," Mira explained softly. She looked at Makarov, then down at Rhodes in her arms, and finally over to Erza. "With the four of us gone, the guild... might be in chaos."

Makarov broke into a cold sweat.

He thought about Fairy Tail... without Erza, Mira, Rhodes, or Natsu around.

He gave a dry laugh, eyes wide with sudden fear. "Right. Very good point. Travel safe!"