Lust is a Knife Above the Head

"Not bad, but..."

Erza took two steps forward, leaped up, planted a foot on the river crab's head, and vaulted straight over it toward Rhode.

"The best way to deal with this type of mage is to attack the mage himself!"

"Huh?" Having barely ever fought before, Rhode could only watch helplessly as Erza rushed at him, completely at a loss.

He only saw the sword in Erza's hand vanish, her right hand curl into a fist, and then pain exploded in his forehead. His vision went black, and he toppled backward.

Erza landed lightly and faced Rhode. "Come on. Attack me with everything you've got!"

"No, no..." Mira carried a medicine box over to the side and waved with a smile. "He can't get back up anymore."

"Just as expected!" The onlookers had been somewhat surprised by the river crab's charging speed, but this outcome did not surprise them at all.

After all, even if they had taken Rhode's place, they might not have done any better.

Still, that made Rhode's strength difficult to judge. Erza had probably botched this one.

"For a newcomer who has only just learned magic, his magic power is quite impressive, and he's very proficient with his spell. But his combat experience... is practically zero."

Makarov could see it clearly. Rhode had the potential to become one of the guild's pillars. As for combat experience...

As long as he stayed in the guild, that was the one thing he would absolutely never lack.

"Gray, give me a hand." Mira held open a small bag in front of Gray.

"Hm? Sure." Gray clenched his right hand into a fist and pressed it into his left palm. "Ice Shape: Ice Pack."

A frosty blue glow of magic lit up, and the bag in Mira's hands was swiftly filled with ice.

"I'm done for... That was so embarrassing..." Rhode sat on a round stool in front of the counter, questioning his life choices.

"Rhode, raise your head."

Rhode did so instinctively, and something cold landed on his forehead.

"Hisss..." Rhode strained his eyes upward. It seemed to be an ice pack, carefully wrapped in a towel.

Mira leaned down behind him until their eyes met, smiling as she said, "Don't move around. A little cold compress will make the swelling go down faster."

"Thanks." Rhode reached up to hold the ice pack himself.

Mira could see his disappointment. "There's nothing embarrassing about losing to Erza. She's one of the strongest people in the guild, after all."

"But I chanted for so long and summoned such an awesome crab, only for her to take me down in one move! And she used her fist—she didn't even need her sword!"

Mira tilted her head. "Did you want her to use her sword? Erza is the kind of person who hardly knows how to hold back in battle."

Rhode imagined a bloody scene. "Then... maybe that isn't necessary."

Bang! Someone heavily set a large object down on the counter.

Still holding the ice pack, Rhode turned to look, then involuntarily sat up straight. "Miss Erza...?"

"Just call me Erza. And I need to apologize to you." Erza held her left fist against her chest, her face full of remorse.

"I'm sorry. I hit you too hard. To strike a companion who asked for a sparring match with such force... I'm truly awful. I was practically bullying a new guild member!"

Rhode was startled by her solemn attitude and hurriedly waved his hands. "No, it wasn't that bad. It hasn't gone that far."

"No, your forgiveness only makes my wrongdoing stand out even more." Erza opened the large box she had placed on the counter, and a mountain of items inside rolled out in all directions.

At a glance, there were bandages, adhesive bandages, iodine, painkillers, anti-inflammatory medicine, and all sorts of other medical supplies.

"I bought every medicine for external injuries in the pharmacy. Please use as much as you need!"

"No, I've only got a bump on my head. It just hurts a little."

"Is that so? My actions have caused you such a headache. Please, let me find some way to make it up to you."

Did I say something wrong in the common tongue again? Rhode looked to Mira for help.

Mira was enjoying the show far too much and explained with a smile:

"That's just Erza's personality. She can be a little particular. If you don't accept the medicine, she'll bandage you herself, you know~"

Before Rhode could speak, Erza suddenly understood. "I see! Only by bandaging you myself can I properly express my apology!"

"No, really—"

"Requip!"

A flash of light passed, and Erza had already changed outfits. Her nurse uniform perfectly highlighted her excellent figure.

"Ooh~ ooh~ ooh~" A chorus of wolf whistles rose through the tavern, and quite a few men's eyes turned into hearts.

Everyone was used to seeing Erza in armor, but upon suddenly seeing her in a nurse uniform, they realized that aside from her terrifying combat strength, Erza's looks were also first-rate.

If they had not been afraid of getting beaten up, old lechers like Wakaba and Macao would probably have already latched onto her.

"Good, let's begin the bandaging!" Erza picked up a roll of bandages.

"No, really... um, that won't be necessary..."

Rhode's traitorous heart began pounding. It took less than a second for him to go from resisting to half-heartedly going along with it.

As Erza began unwrapping the bandages, Rhode inwardly condemned himself for his lack of resolve, but it quickly turned into regret...

"Aaaahhh!!!"

As professional as Erza looked, her technique was just as unprofessional. She somehow made a roll of bandages function like rope.

Normally, for an injury as minor as Rhode's, all he needed was some swelling medicine on the bump. Even being overly cautious would only mean wrapping it a few times.

But somehow, Erza's bandages ended up around Rhode's neck, tied his arms down, and then began winding around his legs...

She was treating him like a bound prisoner!

"Mur—cough cough cough..."

Rhode was being strangled so badly he could barely breathe, but some people in the tavern seemed even more excited, looking at him with unconcealed envy.

"Stop, Erza! Rhode's going to die!"

It was Mira's first time seeing Erza treat someone's injuries too. She had not expected her to be so brutal.

Fortunately, she stopped Erza before Rhode's eyes rolled back.

Erza apologized solemnly, "I'm sorry. I'm a little out of practice with treating injuries."

But you're very skilled at killing people.

Rhode's eyes brimmed with "emotion." "No, you're excellent. Thanks to your treatment, my forehead hardly hurts anymore."

"Really?" Erza's eyes sparkled.

Rhode nodded seriously. "Absolutely. Thank you for your treatment! I'll leave the rest to my natural recovery."

He was certain that his forehead really did not hurt much anymore—compared to his arms, at least.

Rhode felt like his bones were about to break. Were bandages supposed to be this sturdy? They could practically crush someone's bones.

"That's wonderful." Erza may have believed him. Satisfied, she changed back into her armor, left behind the huge box of medicine for external injuries, and departed.

Rhode rubbed his arms and stared at the ceiling, reflecting on himself. "Lust is a knife above the head."

After this ordeal, his soul would surely grow a little.

Mira covered her mouth and snickered.