Fairy Tail: I Don't Want to Be the Guild Master-Chapter 22: Mystogan

Rhodes returned to the counter alive.

Mira greeted him with a playful smile. "So, how was it? Erza's hug?"

Rhodes rubbed his forehead, still feeling the dull ache. "Solid as a rock."

"I can't tell whether you misspoke or just stated the obvious," Mira giggled, covering her mouth as amusement sparkled in her eyes.

"Why does she always wear armor?" Rhodes muttered, rubbing the sore spot. If Erza hadn't been wearing armor just now, it might have been embarrassing, but at least he wouldn't have a splitting headache.

"Erza has been like that since she was a child. Other than when she bathes or sleeps, she rarely takes it off," Mira said as she leisurely wiped the counter.

Then, as if lost in thought, she added softly, "Maybe it's because she feels uneasy."

"Someone that strong can feel uneasy?"

Rhodes found it hard to believe. He always thought he was the most anxious one in the guild. Until he learned proper magic, he didn't even have the confidence to leave Magnolia.

"This kind of thing isn't about strength. It's about the heart," Mira said quietly, wrapping her right hand around her left arm. For the first time, her usual brightness dimmed, replaced by a look of quiet sorrow.

"Many of our Fairy Tail comrades carry heavy burdens—pain, trauma, hardships," she continued.

"Even me. No, even you, Rhodes."

Mira lifted her gaze, meeting his directly.

"I'll never forget the confusion and fear in your eyes when we first met."

Rhodes looked into her gentle blue eyes. For once, there was no teasing, no mischief, no amusement at his expense. Instead, there was understanding. A sadness that mirrored his own.

Had Mira also been through something painful? Something heavier than she let on?

"I don't want to leave that impression," Rhodes said after a moment. "Even if I'm not that strong yet."

Then he changed the subject. "Is the Guild Master not here today?"

Mira seemed to shake off her own thoughts and smiled again. "He's upstairs on the second floor, writing an apology letter."

"Oh," Rhodes responded absentmindedly, until his brain caught up. "Wait. The Master is writing an apology letter? To who?"

"The Magic Council," Mira said nonchalantly. Her amusement was back, the twinkle in her eye unmistakable.

"Apparently, Gray got reported for 'sexual harassment.'"

"Gray?!"

Rhodes instinctively wanted to defend him. Gray's not that kind of guy! But then, he thought about it again.

That guy does have a serious stripping problem.

"So he actually did it?"

"Of course, nothing inappropriate actually happened," Mira said with a playful smile. "He just, well... accidentally stripped completely naked while escorting a government official's carriage."

Rhodes glanced over at Gray, who was now lounging at a table, casually chatting with people—wearing only his shorts. Yeah, that tracks.

"The client's wife and daughter were in that carriage," Mira added, clearly enjoying the story.

"If Gray hadn't taken down a group of bandits along the way and protected them flawlessly, this wouldn't have just ended in a simple complaint."

"Then why is the Master writing the apology for him?" Rhodes couldn't help but feel bad for Makarov. The old man took care of everyone in the guild, yet he always had to clean up their messes.

"Because Gray is a member of Fairy Tail. Any action he takes during a job reflects on the guild as a whole," Mira explained.

"The guild handles the aftermath, makes amends when necessary, and, of course, it's up to the Master to decide how to discipline Gray afterward."

She glanced up at the second floor with a fond look. "The Master is like a father to all of us, especially to the ones who grew up without a home."

"A responsible head of the family..." Rhodes murmured, admiration in his eyes.

"You too, Rhodes... Hey?"

Before Mira could finish her thought, Rhodes suddenly felt his vision blur. A wave of drowsiness crashed over him, and before he could react, he collapsed.

Mira barely had time to catch him before her own knees buckled, and she slumped onto the counter.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

"That's weird... why am I suddenly... so... sleepy..."

All around them, the tavern grew eerily silent. One by one, guild members who had been drinking, laughing, and brawling just moments ago fell unconscious—some slumping onto tables, others crashing onto the floor.

Warm, who had been playing with Happy, rolled onto his back on the table, his heart-shaped belly exposed as he dozed off.

"This feeling... is it Mystogan?" Erza resisted for a few more seconds before her body gave out, and she slumped onto the table, fast asleep.

Even Makarov, sitting on the second floor, wavered unsteadily. His tiny frame swayed as drowsiness overtook him.

The old guild master leapt down from the railing, landing gracefully on the first floor despite his age. He narrowed his eyes, watching as a figure strode in.

"You... how long are you going to keep pulling this stunt?"

The intruder wore a black turban, a long flowing cloak, and a scarf covering the lower half of his face. His confident steps barely made a sound as he entered the guild hall.

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

Without another word, he walked to the mission board, grabbed a request, handed it to the Master for approval, and immediately turned to leave.

"Honestly, hurry up and dispel the magic," Makarov sighed.

"Understood."

The moment Mystogan stepped out of the guild's front door, his figure vanished—erased from existence like a sketch wiped clean.

At the same time, the unconscious guild members stirred awake all at once.

"Damn it! Was that Mystogan again?"

"That guy—his sleep magic is always way too overpowered!"

Groans and complaints echoed through the tavern as everyone shook off their sudden slumber. Natsu, on the other hand, wasted no time charging straight for the exit.

"Mystogan! Come fight me! You coward, you always pull this trick and run!"

Rhodes, meanwhile, slowly opened his eyes and found himself sprawled on the floor. He blinked in confusion, his chest still feeling oddly heavy.

"Ah, sorry, I'll get up now."

Mira, who had apparently collapsed on top of him, sat up gracefully and offered Rhodes a hand.

"I was trying to help you, but I didn't expect it to be Mystogan's sleep magic," she said apologetically.

Rhodes took her hand and pulled himself up, but his expression remained blank, his mind still processing what had happened.

"It's okay, Rhodes," Mira reassured him gently. "This is Fairy Tail. Mystogan is our comrade. He meant no harm."

Her tone was light and soothing, but as she held Rhodes' hand, she noticed the cool dampness of his palm. His fingers trembled slightly before clenching into a tight fist.

Mira's eyes softened. He's anxious...

She held his hand between both of hers, trying to reassure him.

Rhodes pressed his lips together, then gently withdrew his hand and balled it into a fist.

"I know. I'm fine," he said quietly.

Something was definitely wrong.

Being caught off guard and suddenly losing consciousness without any power to resist—it was a terrifying experience for Rhodes.

The sense of security he had slowly built over the past few days, enjoying the guild's lively and cheerful atmosphere, was now shaken.

There are still many things in this world that I don't understand... and they're probably even more terrifying than I realize.

Mystogan was an ally, but if someone as powerful as him existed within Fairy Tail, then there had to be enemies of equal strength out there too, right?

Rhodes took a few deep breaths, forcing himself to steady his racing heartbeat.

Sensing his unease, Warm hurried back and clung to his leg.

A familiar warmth radiated from the little Poro's heart-shaped belly. Rhodes sighed and picked him up, feeling the soft fluff in his arms.

Oddly enough, the little creature gave him a small sense of security.

Fear comes from the unknown and from weakness, Rhodes thought. He lifted Warm to eye level and looked into its round, blinking eyes.

If he was afraid, then the solution was simple—he just had to become stronger.