Fairy Tail: I Don't Want to Be the Guild Master-Chapter 233: Bandages and Banquets

The Council had been surprisingly generous this time. The six million Jewels were paid on the spot. Splitting the amount among four people and two cats was straightforward. Makarov didn't take a share, but Rhodes joked he'd buy the master a drink, assuming Mira didn't stop him.

Carla insisted she hadn't contributed and didn't need a share.

But Erza and Natsu both reminded her that Fairy Tail always divided its rewards equally. That was just their way.

After dividing the reward, everyone said their goodbyes. Rhodes summoned a two-headed murk wolf to escort Wendy and Carla. It was hard to find a carriage near the Council grounds, so they could transfer to another ride along the way. With Rhodes' current magic reserves, there was no concern about travel distance.

Makarov looked like he wanted to say something to Wendy, but ultimately stayed silent.

Once Wendy and Carla left, the rest of the group returned to Magnolia riding on the scuttle crab.

Technically, a carriage would've been more comfortable, but Natsu protested so strongly that everyone just let him have his way.

...

"I'm ba—whoa!"

Before Natsu could kick open the guild doors, Makarov smacked him down with a swift flick.

"Don't wreck the guild the moment we get back!"

"Aye..." Natsu grumbled, turning into a defeated kitten.

The atmosphere inside the guild had been a little quiet, but the moment the doors opened, someone shouted:

"Master's back! And Erza! And Rhodes! And Happy, too! Are you all okay?!"

"Wait, where's Natsu?"

"What? He collapsed outside. I thought the Council locked him up!"

Mira, who had been silently worrying, smiled warmly. "Welcome back, Master."

"Everything's fine. Let's celebrate!" Makarov announced.

"YEAH!!!"

It was almost dinner time anyway, so a small party was the perfect excuse to lift everyone's spirits.

Rhodes knew Mira must be curious about everything that happened, so he made a beeline for her.

"Don't worry, we didn't get blamed for anything weird, and we even made a little profit."

"A little profit?" Mira raised an eyebrow. "With a smile like that, you're calling it little?"

"I'm not smiling because of the money."

Mira rolled her eyes and scoffed playfully. "Come help me prep for the banquet."

"Yes ma'am." Rhodes sighed dramatically. "No cooperation at all."

Laki chimed in mischievously, "Mira, this is the part where you're supposed to say, 'Why's that?' Then he says, 'Because I saw you,' and then you blush and say, 'Oh, you!' and he hugs you—then bam! Your hearts align, waves of emotion cross between you, and the love blooms under a starlit sky~~ so romantic~~"

She hugged herself dreamily, completely absorbed in her imaginary love drama.

Even Rhodes, usually thick-skinned, felt his face heat up. How could Laki be this detailed?

Mira shot Rhodes a glance, her cheeks pink, then gently bonked Laki on the head. "No more nonsense. Come help already."

The group headed toward the kitchen when Rhodes noticed a support pillar riddled with deep cracks. It looked like it might snap in half any second.

"Was there another fight in the guild? Why hasn't anyone repaired this yet?"

"Well..." Mira looked a little embarrassed.

Laki answered for her, "That was Mira's doing."

"Huh?"

"Yeah," Laki grinned. "People were freaking out after you got taken away by the Council. The stories kept getting more exaggerated, eventually, someone even suggested forming a team to break you out."

"And then... I lost my temper a little," Mira said sheepishly, brushing her cheek with one hand. "Maybe I went too far."

"Too far? It shook the entire guild!" Laki added dramatically. "It was like when Erza suddenly appears behind you out of nowhere!"

She gave Rhodes a playful nudge. "Scared yet, Demon~?"

"That's a shame," Rhodes said with mock regret, causing Mira to glance at him suspiciously.

"Mira must've looked amazing back then. I wish I'd seen it," he said, grinning. "Want to do it again?"

Honestly, Rhodes wasn't surprised Mira could crack a support beam with one hit. He'd seen her hoist a barrel of ale with one hand the first day they met. But it also reminded him that even in the absence of Makarov or Erza, Mira could still keep the guild in line.

The reason she didn't usually step in must've been... because she liked watching the chaos unfold. Even if it meant the occasional flying table.

Mira seemed a bit reassured by his tone, but she still turned down his suggestion. "There's no need to demonstrate that kind of thing."

"Then I'll just ask Reedus if he sketched it."

"I'll be mad."

"Forget I said anything."

Laki sighed and spread her arms. "Alas~ This man is beyond saving."

Meanwhile, everything was ready for the party. Tables were pushed together into several long banquet-style rows.

Mira, Rhodes, and Laki moved quickly between the tables, playing the role of waitstaff for the evening. They delivered plates of food and mugs of drinks with practiced ease, weaving through the sea of lively guild members.

Once everything was served and the final mugs poured, they grabbed their own drinks and gathered with the rest of the guild.

Makarov stood up, raising his glass high. "To a safe return and a mission completed—cheers!"

"Cheers!"

Rhodes lifted his glass to clink it with the others, but just before he could take a sip, a small hand swiped the mug from his grip.

He turned his head, only to find a glass of juice pressed into his hand.

"You're still healing. No alcohol," Mira said firmly.

"Got it," Rhodes replied with a smile. He gently tapped his juice glass against Mira's and drank a few gulps.

It was sweet, way better than beer, he thought.

That night, the party stretched late into the evening.

For the first time, Rhodes remained sober all the way through, but Mira looked a little tipsy.

Some people passed out from alcohol, others from sheer exhaustion, collapsing right at the tables, or on the floor. Wherever they landed, they stayed.

It was still early spring, and the guild's heaters hadn't been removed yet. With the windows and doors closed, no one had to worry about catching a cold.

"Are you alright?" Rhodes asked.

"I'm fine," Mira replied with a flushed smile. "I know my limits."

She was dressed in a sleek, black off-shoulder sweater that accentuated her figure. A white scarf was tied diagonally around her neck, and the soft pink flush on her cheeks gave her an ethereal glow beneath the warm lamplight.

"Is it always this chaotic after a party?"

"It's always like that," Mira replied nonchalantly. Then, grabbing his wrist, she said, "Come with me."

Rhodes blinked, confused, as she tugged him toward the infirmary.

"Sit. Your head bandage is coming loose."

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She carefully unwrapped the bandage, gently wiped the area with iodine, then swapped the wrap for a clean square patch.

"Still hurts?"

"A little."

He pulled off his shirt, revealing arms and sides wrapped in bandages like a mummy.

Truth be told, Natsu had more bandages than him. The guy fought like he had lives to spare.

Erza fared a bit better physically, though her armor took a beating.

So, while Rhodes and Natsu took injuries to the body, Erza took one to her wallet.

Mira covered her mouth in shock. The wounds were worse than she'd thought. "How did it get this bad...?"

"Don't worry. It looks worse than it is," Rhodes assured her. "Wendy healed most of it. Just a few surface wounds now. She said I won't even have scars."

Mira didn't respond. She stepped behind him to remove the rest of the bandages.

Her touch was careful, her movements close, but neither of them minded.

One was concerned.

The other was only concerned because she was.

...

Bonus Chapter @800 $tonks💎💎

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