Fairy Tail: I Absolutely Refuse to Be the Guild Master

Rhodes made it back to the counter alive.

Mira, smiling, asked, "So, how was Erza's hug?"

Rhodes rubbed his forehead, "Hard as a rock."

"Ah, I can't tell if you're using that phrase wrong or just stating a fact," Mira said, covering her mouth, her eyes twinkling with laughter that couldn't be hidden.

"Why is she always wearing armor?" Rhodes wondered. If Erza hadn't worn armor today...

Although it would have been a bit awkward, at least his head wouldn't be hurting.

"Erza has been like that since she was a child. Except for bathing and sleeping, she's practically always in armor."

Mira slowed her wiping motion, "Probably... because of insecurity."

"Someone as strong as her could still feel insecure?"

Rhodes always thought he was the most insecure one—he wouldn't dare venture beyond Magnolia until he properly learned magic.

"This kind of thing comes from the heart, unrelated to one's strength." Mira grabbed her left arm with her right hand, and her expression turned sorrowful.

"Our Fairy Tail comrades, many of them carry heavy burdens—trauma, pain, hidden sorrows..."

"Even I... no, even you, Rhodes... That look of confusion and panic in your eyes when we first met, I will never forget it."

"..." Rhodes looked into Mira's eyes. The pale blue pupils showed no mockery or teasing, nor her usual mischievous look when watching a scene unfold; instead, it was... a kind of empathetic sadness.

Did she too once experience that same helpless panic?

Or, as she said, was it an even heavier pain and trauma?

"I really don't want you to think of me that way. I mean, I'm not that strong."

Rhodes said this, then awkwardly changed the subject. "Is the Master here today?"

"He is." Mira composed herself. "He's upstairs on the second floor writing a letter of apology."

"Oh," Rhodes replied absentmindedly, then suddenly realized something was off. "Apology letter? The Master is writing an apology letter? Who's he apologizing to?"

"Of course, to the Magic Council." Mira smiled again as she spoke of this. "It's because Gray was accused of 'sexual harassment.'"

"Gray could never—"

Rhodes was about to argue that Gray wasn't that kind of person, but thinking about his stripping habit, it didn't seem entirely impossible.

"So he really did it?"

"Of course, he didn't actually do anything." Mira laughed, "It's just that while he was escorting a city official's carriage, he accidentally stripped completely."

Rhodes glanced at Gray, who was now chatting with others wearing nothing but his shorts. No wonder.

"The official's wife and daughter were in that carriage, too." Mira seemed to enjoy sharing the gossip.

"If it weren't for Gray fending off a group of bandits along the way and protecting them perfectly, the complaint wouldn't have been as simple as it was."

"Why is the Master writing it for him?" Rhodes felt a pang of sympathy for the Master. The old man had been very caring, and now he had to take the fall for Gray.

"Because Gray is a member of the guild. Everything he does while carrying out requests represents the guild."

"Which means dealing with the aftermath and apologies falls on the guild. Of course, the decision on how to discipline Gray afterward is up to the Master."

Mira looked up at the second floor gently, "The Master is like a father to everyone, especially for those of us who were once homeless."

"A responsible head of the family..." Rhodes looked on with admiration.

"You're part of this family too, Rhodes... huh?"

Rhodes didn't catch Mira's last words. He suddenly felt dazed, his eyes closed, and he collapsed.

Mira quickly caught him, but then she, too, began to fall.

"Strange, why do I feel so sleepy all of a sudden..."

After those two, everyone else in the tavern began to collapse as well—some slumped over tables, others fell straight to the floor. Even Worm, who had been playing with Happy, lay sprawled on the table, exposing his heart-shaped belly.

"This feeling... it must be Mystogan..." Erza held on for a few more seconds before she too slumped onto the table, asleep.

Even Makarov, upstairs, began to sway slightly, feeling drowsy.

The Master jumped over the railing to the ground floor. "You, how long are you going to keep this up?"

A man wearing a black hood, black cloak, and a face mask strode in.

"Sorry, I'll apologize to everyone when I get the chance."

Without waiting, he walked over to the bulletin board, picked a mission request, handed it to the Master for approval, and turned to leave immediately.

"Alright, hurry up and lift the magic."

"Understood."

As Mystogan stepped out of the guild door, his figure seemed to be erased by an invisible eraser, disappearing entirely.

At the same time, everyone in the guild suddenly awoke.

"Darn it! Was that Mystogan?"

"That guy, his sleep magic is still over the top."

Everyone started complaining. Natsu rushed out the door: "Mystogan! Come duel with me! Damn you, always doing this!"

"..." Rhodes woke up to find himself lying on the floor, with a bit of weight on his chest.

"Sorry, I'll get up now." Mira gently got up, not forgetting to reach out and pull Rhodes to his feet.

"I originally intended to catch you, but it turned out to be Mystogan's sleep magic."

"..." Rhodes took her hand, standing up, eyes vacant.

"It's okay, Rhodes. This is the guild, Mystogan is a comrade—he meant no harm."

Mira spoke softly, trying to comfort Rhodes. She could feel that his hand had gone cold and was covered in sweat.

This was a sign of extreme unease—was he really that terrified by a sudden sleep spell?

Mira clasped his right hand between her two hands, hoping to calm him.

Rhodes pursed his lips, gently pulling his hand away and clenching it into a fist: "I understand, I'm fine."

Of course, he wasn't fine. To suddenly lose consciousness without any defense, with no ability to resist, was terrifying for Rhodes.

The sense of stability he'd started to feel over the past few days due to the lively, cheerful guild atmosphere had vanished entirely.

—This world must still have many things unknown to me and frightening.

Mystogan might be an ally, but there were likely others just as powerful as him who weren't allies.

Rhodes took a few deep breaths, trying to steady his racing heart.

Worm seemed to sense something was wrong, ran over, and hugged Rhodes's leg.

The warmth from Worm's heart-shaped belly brought a bit of comfort. Rhodes bent down and picked him up.

Soft little Worm unexpectedly gave Rhodes a sense of safety.

All fears stem from the unknown and weakness. Holding Worm up to meet his gaze, Rhodes knew that if he was afraid, all he needed to do was get stronger.

Besides, he had a cheat—he could make it.