The Women of the Guild are Tigers

Erza, with her stern exterior and intimidating aura, was actually this thoughtful, bringing back local specialties for her companions?

Rhode found himself curious about what was inside the gift box... it couldn't possibly be armor, could it?

"I'm opening it now!"

Laki placed the gift box flat, gently pulled the ribbon tied in a bow, and lifted the lid.

"What is this thing?" Rhode couldn't recognize what was inside for a moment.

It wasn't armor, but it was indeed a metal object. It looked like a statue of a woman?

No, a statue shouldn't have strange gaps and a handle.

As Rhode was wondering, Laki had already grabbed the handle and opened the 'metal statue,' revealing its terrifying spikes within.

Unexpectedly, Laki's expression wasn't one of horror, but of delight: "Ah! It's an Iron Maiden!"

She stroked the cold metal, a blush actually appearing on her face: "This is amazing!"

"Iron... Iron..." Rhode's tongue felt tied, his head buzzing, and he unconsciously took half a step back.

This thing was an instrument of torture, wasn't it? They said it was a local specialty! What kind of place has torture devices as a specialty?

Why would anyone give someone an Iron Maiden as a gift?

And Laki could carry this thing back without changing her expression; she must have innate strength like Kana, right?

The biggest question was, why were you so excited, girl?

Mira, on the other hand, smiled sweetly: "My, my, Erza's gift is so thoughtful."

Thoughtful? More like devious!

"No, um, Mira..." Rhode chose his words carefully, "Are you sure this is a gift, and not some kind of death threat?"

"How could it be? Laki's favorite things are all sorts of torture devices. This finely crafted Iron Maiden is the best gift for her."

Mira tilted her head, "Oh? Didn't I tell you? Laki has a collection of many torture devices in her room."

"..." You only told me that Laki's collection was interesting and that I should visit it if I had the chance.

Rhode realized a serious problem: the girls in the guild, like Juvia, Kana, Laki, Erza...

While they were all beautiful, they were also all intimidating.

Only Levy was cute and had a good personality. Mira, though a bit cunning, was mostly gentle.

He just didn't know if there were other sides to them he wasn't aware of.

In the afternoon, things were a bit more relaxed, and Rhode had time to practice his magic again.

Erza seemed to have nothing to do and came to the guild to chat with a girl with long green hair.

Thanks to her, the tavern was unusually quiet.

However, according to Mira, this quiet only lasted for a short while after Erza returned, and soon everyone would be rowdy again.

Levy was reviewing the pronunciations she learned in the morning with a small notebook. Whenever she saw Rhode pause his training, she would come to him to learn a few Chinese character strokes.

During this time, Makarov also helped Rhode revise his summoning spells.

Normally, Celestial Spirit Mages would call out the names of Celestial Spirits and use the corresponding keys when summoning them.

Rhode, however, only had a pendant that connected to different summoned beings. Currently, he could only distinguish them by calling their names.

Once his magic became more proficient, most of the lengthy incantations for the initial spells could be omitted, and he could just call their names. He would only use the initial spells when he felt he had new summoned beings.

"Toad, Three Wolves, Six Birds, Stone Monster..." Rhode counted on his fingers the wild monsters he might summon next, feeling that he was still a very long way from the Big Dragon and Little Dragon.

He didn't know if any of the common wild monsters were particularly strong, but judging by the size of the River Crab today, even weak monsters like the Three Wolves and Six Birds in games would be considered ferocious beasts just by their size when summoned.

For Rhode, the most important things right now were to increase his magic power and improve his magic proficiency.

His meditation time was limited each day, so he couldn't rush the magic power aspect. That left magic practice as the only option.

Rhode grabbed Warm, who was freeloading at the tavern, and started practicing with the 'dismissal' spell, which was used to cancel summons.

"I am the one who communicates the path between two realms. You shall obey my will and return to the abyss, Poro!"

After finishing the incantation for the dismissal spell, Warm's figure gradually became transparent and finally disappeared completely.

"Success!" Rhode was delighted that he succeeded on his first try.

He immediately began chanting the summoning spell again:

"I am... Pass through the gate! Open, gate of the abyss, Poro!"

A magic vortex appeared and then vanished, and Warm reappeared before Rhode.

"Excellent, let's do it again!"

"...Return to the abyss! Poro!"

"...Open, gate of the abyss, Poro!"

"……Return……"

"……Open……"

Rhode practiced magic over and over, tirelessly, and Warm could only cooperate.

It was fine at first, but after many repetitions, it became boring, and the little guy grew more and more casual.

One moment it appeared standing, the next sitting, and then lying on its back, trying to cross its legs but failing…

Warm found it annoying, but Rhode couldn't help it; it consumed so little magic.

If he were summoning a River Crab, with Rhode's current magic, he could only manage two summons at most before needing a rest, making repeated practice impossible.

"Ugh~ Ah, ah… Achooo~~~"

After countless practice sessions, Warm reappeared in the tavern and let out a huge sneeze.

Its long tongue had already retracted, and a long stream of snot hung down.

Rhode's first reaction was, "So you have a nose."

Warm forcefully sniffled, turned around, and presented its backside to Rhode, its small horns drooping—it was a little angry.

While the Howling Abyss was in the harsh grip of winter, the Kingdom of Fiore had already entered summer. Going back and forth between the cold and heat so many times was enough to make even a Poro catch a cold.

"Ah, ah, I'm sorry, it's my fault."

What should he do if Poro got angry?

Rhode thought for a moment and tentatively said, "Mira, I'd like a fried egg…"

Warm's drooping horns perked up.

"…And a bowl of tomato and egg soup?"

Warm spun around with a whoosh, sticking out its tongue again, its happiness practically written all over its face.

Although he hadn't fully figured out Warm's preferences yet, eggs were definitely among Warm's favorite foods.

"So easy to please." Rhode skillfully reached out to pet its head, horns, scratch its chin, and rub its belly.

Mira smiled and helped him place the order, but a slightly jarring voice called out from above:

"Finally quieted down? You, you've been really noisy since just now."

Rhode looked up. The speaker was a blonde young man with a lightning-shaped scar over his right eye.

He wore something like headphones, a brownish-yellow top, and a coat draped over it—even though it was summer.

At this moment, he rested his hands on the railing of the second floor, looking down at Rhode with an unfriendly expression.