Open, Door Connecting to Another World!

"Good morning, Miss Mirajane, Miss Laki."

When Rhode arrived at the guild, Mirajane and Laki were already wiping down tables.

Even though they had cleaned them last night, they still had to wipe them down again before opening for business.

"Good morning, Rhode."

Mirajane's smile was as bright as ever. "Also, you don't need to use honorifics. Just call me Mira like everyone else."

"Same here, just call me Laki."

"Mira, Laki?" Rhode tried calling them, then said politely, "Then I shall be so bold."

Mira corrected him, "You're not at a point where you need to use 'bold' in this context."

Laki held her face, her purple hair covering half of her hand, with a narcissistic expression:

"Perhaps Rhode wants to express that he sees us as princesses or queens?"

Rhode denied it, "Sorry, nothing like that."

After helping out a little, Rhode sat at the counter and ate breakfast, a simple combination of milk and a sandwich.

It was much cheaper than the curry rice he ate yesterday, but it tasted great.

He wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but even though it was the same food, it tasted even better the day he woke up—maybe he was just too hungry then.

As Rhode leaned against the counter, enjoying his breakfast, he watched the people who entered the guild one after another.

The clothing styles in this world were very diverse, featuring Chinese qipao and mandarin jackets, Japanese kimonos and yukatas, as well as European dresses and tailcoats.

Modern, simple casual wear like the sportswear Rhode was wearing was also not uncommon.

In addition to these, there were some quite peculiar outfits. For example, there was a pretty girl now, with two horns on her head, wearing a tiger-striped, chest-high slit long skirt, tiger-striped arm sleeves, tiger-striped long boots, and even claw-shaped soles on her shoes.

The whole person looked like a small tiger with long horns, exuding a wild beauty.

"That's Miki, Miki Chicken-tiger," Mira introduced. "She has the nickname Ogre Princess."

"Huh?"

"Rhode, you've been staring at her since just now. Could it be..." Mira's expression turned gossipy, and she excitedly offered Rhode some advice, "Miki really likes fighting. If you're interested, go challenge her to a fight. If you can win, she'll definitely see you in a new light."

"No, it's not..." There were too many points to refute in that statement. Rhode organized his thoughts properly and said, "I just thought her attire was unusual, and... aren't you all mages? Why do you like fighting?"

Mira asked curiously, "Shouldn't mages be good at fighting?"

"Mages..." Rhode fell silent. Was his perception strange?

Come to think of it, in the few days he'd been at the guild, he often saw people fighting, fists flying.

Yesterday, he even saw the Guild Master punch two guys who had overturned tables straight into the floor...

Are the mages in this world not going down the path of close-quarters combat like battle-mages? —

The tavern wasn't usually too busy in the morning. After Makarov arrived, Rhode began his first magic lesson.

"Generally speaking, to use magic, you need something called magic power."

"Magic power is a special kind of 'qi.' It exists within our bodies and is also widely present in nature."

"When the 'qi' within our bodies and the fluctuations of 'qi' in nature align, magic will manifest."

"To achieve this, a considerable amount of mental strength and concentration is required..."

Since Rhode knew nothing about magic, Makarov had to start with the most basic things.

As for deeper theories about emotions, souls, and the power of the 'heart,' those would have to wait until Rhode's magic training reached a certain level, or until he comprehended them himself.

"Does my body have magic power?" Rhode had always worried about this. He wasn't even a person from this world.

Fortunately, Makarov reassured him, "Of course, it does. It's just not very easy to detect right now."

"It's not easy for ordinary people to discover and strengthen the 'qi' within their bodies. The usual method is meditation."

"However, for you, you can try to feel magic power through another method first."

Rhode asked, "How?"

"First, focus your attention on the pendant and try to call out to it in your heart. Then, try the incantation I modified from Celestial Spirit Magic."

Makarov taught Rhode the incantation word for word, and Rhode repeated it like a parrot.

"Once you remember it, try it."

"Here?" Rhode looked worriedly at his companions in the tavern. "Will it cause trouble?"

Makarov said, "Don't worry. With your current magic power, you won't be able to summon very powerful beings. Even if you could, you wouldn't be able to maintain it."

"..." Rhode didn't like that answer at all.

But since the Guild Master said it was okay, he would do as he was told.

He gripped the pendant of the necklace, staring intently at the gold and blue icon. After a few seconds, he seemed to truly feel some connection between himself and it.

Rhode quickly recited the incantation: "I am the one who communicates the path between two realms. You, creature of another world, answer my call and cross the threshold!"

The pendant emitted golden and blue light, and magic gathered in the air. Rhode tightened his grip on the pendant and shouted the final words:

"Open, gate to the other world!"

BWWWOOOOMMM~~~

A deep and majestic sound effect rang out, and a blue vortex appeared before Rhode, twinkling with starlight.

Through this vortex, one could feel the cold air of another world and hear the sound of a cold wind whistling past cliffs.

Amidst this cold and肅杀 atmosphere, a figure leaped out from the vortex.

The magical light and sound attracted the attention of most people in the tavern.

This must be a powerful and ruthless creature!

That's what everyone thought, and Rhode thought so too.

However, when the vortex disappeared, all that remained on the ground was a palm-sized, furry white object.

"Urrrru?" the little creature let out a strange cry, seemingly confused.

But soon, its gaze fixed on Rhode. It then stuck out its large pink tongue and, with its short legs, scurried towards Rhode, hugging his calf.

Rhode was a bit stunned. He looked at the little furball and found it somewhat familiar. He bent down, picked it up, and examined it closely.

Dark, beady eyes, a round body. White, soft fur like a sheep, a pair of curved little horns on its head, and a long tongue sticking out like a puppy's.

Rhode placed it on the counter and petted its head. The little creature comfortably rolled over, revealing its heart-shaped pink belly.

"Poro?" Rhode recognized the adorable little creature based on his experience wandering the Howling Abyss.

"Urrrru~" the little Poro's voice was filled with happiness, looking as if it had found its meal ticket.

Rhode: "..."

This thing I summoned with magic doesn't seem to be what I imagined!