Why are you protecting me?

Kana's combat skills differed from Natsu and the others, focusing more on grappling and throws.

He wondered if her incredible strength was a result of practicing by lifting barrels of alcohol every day.

Additionally, during the fight, Rhode noticed Kana raise her hands twice as if to poke his eyes and lift her leg once as if to kick his groin, but she stopped herself both times.

Rhode still broke out in a cold sweat. He'd need to think carefully about how to deal with such moves in the future. Boys needed to protect themselves when they were out and about.

Rhode took advantage of his free time to review the battle, quietly raising Kana's danger level by one notch.

Kana shook her empty alcohol barrel, "Rhode, a glass of beer!"

"Sure!" Rhode walked to the corner and picked up a barrel, then paused, "Kana? Did you say one glass or one barrel?"

"One glass, just one! Why are you so long-winded?" Kana glanced at Macao, who was arguing with Wakaba about parenting experiences.

Rhode poured Kana a drink, utterly confused, and then saw Kana's drinking speed slow down.

It was as if she could barely resist taking a sip to satisfy her craving.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Want to fight again?"

"We can fight again if you want," Rhode didn't mind getting more experience. "I just think something's a bit off with you."

"I think so too," Mira, smelling gossip, suddenly appeared. "Could it be that Kana has a boyfriend?"

"How could that be?" Kana flatly denied it, raising her glass. "Alcohol is my boyfriend!"

"So, you have someone you like, but you don't have the courage to confess. The guys who have been interacting with Kana recently... let me guess..."

Mira was particularly enthusiastic about such matters. She immediately set her sights on the people nearby. "It's Rhode!

Kana, you must have been moved by Rhode's unyielding spirit, and then today, you were captivated by Rhode's manliness during the fight!"

Kana breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing Mira still matchmaking as usual made her feel at ease.

Last month, Mira had said Wakaba had feelings for Laki... What nonsense. That guy clearly liked every beautiful and gentle girl equally.

Mature guild members knew that any gossip coming from Mira's mouth should first be ignored, then questioned.

Rhode wasn't mature enough and immediately denied it when she said it:

"Although I'm happy to be praised by you like this, Mira, my manliness today was already thrown to the ground by Kana's over-the-shoulder throw."

He looked at Kana's crossed legs as she sat sideways on the bar counter—he had almost been completely kicked away by Kana's high-heeled sandals.

"If it's not Rhode, then who could it be?" Mira pondered. "Did Loki make a move on you?"

"Does he have the guts?" Kana scoffed. "Besides, I don't like that type... Why are we talking about such a boring topic!"

Kana picked up her glass and strode away. She paused mid-stride, then slowed her pace, eventually sitting down at the table with her drinking buddies, Macao and Wakaba.

Mira pinched her chin, guessing, "Hmm... Could it be Macao?"

"The more you guess, the more ridiculous it gets, Miss Mira." Rhode admired her imagination. "Macao is almost twenty years older than him, isn't he?"

"You never know," Mira smiled, finally ending the topic. "By the way, will you accompany me shopping this afternoon?"

"Sure," Rhode agreed without hesitation, only asking curiously, "Isn't Mr. Cook in charge of shopping? He seems to like picking ingredients himself."

"Because Mr. Cook promised his grandson he'd go boating and fishing this afternoon, so he had to ask me."

Mira said, "He's already made a list, so we just need to be careful with our selection."

Mr. Cook, who was extremely serious about cooking, could relax his principles regarding ingredient selection for his grandson.

He was quite a good grandfather, one might say.

"No problem, leave the bag carrying to me." Rhode was clear about his role. Selecting ingredients, such a difficult task, definitely wasn't his responsibility.

"Miss Mira, are you going out?"

"Yes, I need to buy some things."

"Good afternoon, Miss Mira!"

"Good afternoon."

"Miss Mira, will you be featured in next issue of Mage Weekly?"

"Sorry, I haven't taken any magazine work recently."

Exiting the guild and passing through the residential area, Rhode immediately understood how popular Mira was.

Almost everyone who recognized her greeted her with a smile. Some offered simple greetings, while others took the opportunity to ask a question or two.

"You're so popular."

"Everyone is too enthusiastic," Mira sighed with a light laugh. "It can be a bit bothersome sometimes."

"Yes, yes, Miss Mira Jane Strauss, the big star. Next time you go out, should you consider wearing sunglasses and a mask to... stand out from the crowd?"

As they became more familiar with each other, Rhode spoke to her more casually.

"Good idea," Mira lightly clapped her hands. "But if I want to 'stand out from the crowd,' I could try transforming into your appearance—just the head."

"Spare me. I don't want to be known as 'Fairy Tail's cross-dressing mage' on Sosara."

Rhode conceded, noticing that Mira no longer corrected his misuse of words directly.

Mira smiled and walked alongside Rhode onto the stone arch bridge, crossing to the other side of the river. She pointed ahead.

"The shopping street is just one more intersection. Have you been here before, Rhode?"

Rhode shook his head. "Not yet. My activities have mostly been on the other side of the river. When I buy things, it's at the shops near the guild."

"Huh? You've been here for almost a month, haven't you? Haven't you explored the city at all?" Mira asked. "So what do you do after work?"

"Physical training, magic practice, meditation, reading, looking at magazines..."

Rhode thought about it and realized that everything he'd done these past few days was for survival and for a better chance at survival.

The only thing he could call leisure was playing music on the gramophone while doing laundry.

Even reading magazines was for understanding the world and gathering information.

Mira asked, "Don't you find it too tough?"

"It's okay. Learning magic itself is quite interesting," Rhode said.

"Besides, only through diligent training can I feel at ease... and have the ability to pay off that huge debt."

"Ahhh, debt can certainly be a headache," Mira said. "But you don't need to feel too much pressure. The Master is rarely short on money."

"The more it's like that, the more I want to pay it off quickly. The Master takes care of me too much," Rhode said helplessly. Often, pressure came from his own conscience.

This could probably be considered self-inflicted.

Mira smiled without saying anything. The Master treated Rhode the same as the other members, like his own child.

But Rhode didn't seem to realize it yet, or perhaps he hadn't adapted to it.

"Get out of the way! Don't block the path!"

As they were talking, they entered the shopping street. Just a few steps in, someone rushed towards them.

"Everyone move aside! Don't meddle!"

The person was holding a woman's handbag in one hand and a short knife in the other, threatening others to clear the way.

Behind them, people were shouting things like 'Catch him!' and 'Bag snatcher!'.

Seeing the person getting closer, Mira's beautiful eyebrows furrowed slightly. She raised an arm, shielding Rhode behind her.

Rhode: ???

Sis, didn't you say you weren't good at fighting? Why are you protecting me now?