Fairy Tail: I Don't Want to Be the Guild Master-Chapter 253: Don’t drink and drive

Then she glanced over at Rhodes with a mischievous smile as he quietly started eating.

"So... how'd it feel? Using Mira's lap as a pillow all the way here?"

"Cough, cough!" Rhodes nearly choked on his food. "W-what?! When did that happen?!"

Even Mira looked a little caught off guard. "Wait... did that happen?"

Cana grinned wickedly. "You didn't know? You were passed out the whole ride, using Mira's lap like your personal cushion!"

Rhodes stared at Mira, as if begging her to say it wasn't true.

Mira tilted her head innocently.

Rhodes felt his ears burn, and then his face fell. "I can't believe I slept through it..."

Mira narrowed her eyes. Shameless.

He took a moment to think. There really wasn't enough space in the vehicle. Unless Elfman had shifted around.

"Hahaha!" Cana burst out laughing and slapped him on the back. "It's been a while since you looked so flustered! You were way more interesting when you first joined the guild."

"Just wait till we're back. You'll be drinking your wine with water for a whole week."

"Big talk!" Cana huffed. "It's not like you control the guild's wine!"

But Mira added with a smile, "I actually think that's a great idea."

"What, no! Not you too!" Cana protested. "You two are totally ganging up on me!"

Happy raised a paw dramatically. "There's definitely something going on between those two!"

...

The next morning, Vina finally regained consciousness.

She hadn't expected to wake up again, let alone feel the warmth of sunlight through a window. When Rhodes and Elfman came in to check on her, Vina thanked them solemnly.

Rhodes didn't feel right accepting her gratitude. If anything, this mission was a failure.

They hadn't protected the Tears of Chris. The village had fallen.

If only they had set out earlier... but thinking like that didn't help.

Maybe things would've gone better because of their preparations. Or maybe, he and Elfman would've died.

Rhodes wasn't sure whether to feel grateful or guilty.

But in the end, the past couldn't be changed. There were no "what-ifs" in real life.

...

Later that day, Mal found his way to the hotel.

He and Vina, after surviving their near-death experience, shared a quiet moment, blaming themselves, comforting one another, slowly processing everything they'd been through.

Eventually, Vina asked about the village.

Mal brought a bit of hope with his answer. Over a dozen children had survived. Their parents had hidden them before the battle began.

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It wasn't much... but it meant their tribe still had a future. The siblings weren't alone anymore.

A blessing, hidden in tragedy.

...

After speaking privately for a while, Mal helped Vina into the hall to say goodbye.

"She should be resting," Mira said gently.

But Vina shook her head. "Right now, those children need us."

"What are you two planning next?"

"We'll rebuild," Mal said without hesitation. "But it's not safe here anymore. For now, we'll accept the Council's protection and resettle somewhere else. Once we understand what the Dark Guild Grimoire Heart was after... we'll return."

Mal's tone was steady, mature, nothing like the hot-headed youth they'd met before. Something in him had changed.

He stepped forward, reaching into his coat and pulling out a cloth pouch.

"Here, your reward."

Rhodes and Elfman glanced at each other but neither moved to take it.

"Our mission failed," Rhodes said. "If anything, we should be apologizing to you. And besides, you're the ones who need the money now."

Mal shook his head. "No. Don't forget. Father changed the mission details before he passed. You saved us. You fulfilled his final request."

"Please accept it," Vina added softly. "If not as a reward, then as a thank-you, or even as a way to help cover the medical costs. Think of it as helping us carry out Father's last wish."

At that point, it wasn't just money anymore.

Rhodes paused for a long moment, then slowly took the pouch.

"All right. But if you ever need anything, come to Fairy Tail. I'll keep an ear out for information on the Dark Guild and the Tears of Chris."

With that, the siblings gave a final bow. They walked away, steady in step despite everything they'd lost.

From here on, the future of Monotropa rested on their shoulders.

...

After a day of much-needed rest at the hotel, the group prepared to head back to the guild.

Rhodes, who had been eyeing the magic four-wheeler with obvious curiosity, finally spoke up.

"Can I try driving on the way back?"

He hadn't touched one of these since passing his license test, if you could even call that "passing." His last attempt behind the wheel had been... well, fatal.

No one objected. After all, they were all mages. Even if he flipped the thing into a ditch, they'd walk away with little more than bruises.

Rhodes climbed into the driver's seat with unearned confidence, only to freeze the moment he saw the dashboard.

There was no steering wheel.

Just a joystick.

And maybe... a pedal?

He glanced back awkwardly. "Uh... Mira? Mind giving me a quick lesson?"

Happy promptly zipped out of the passenger window. "We'll take Natsu on a scenic crab tour, thanks!"

Mira stepped out of the car, gave a brief rundown on magic input, ignition flow, and motion sensitivity... only for Rhodes to tug her down beside him.

The seat was basically a magical love couch. Cozy for one, snug for two.

Rhodes clearly didn't mind.

Mira was suspicious whether he actually couldn't drive, but she didn't seem to mind either.

The four-wheeler jolted to life, lurching like a toddler learning to walk. It wobbled. Sped up. Slowed down. Swayed dangerously left.

Then right.

Definitely not road legal.

Fortunately, once they made it out of town, the path evened out—and so did Rhodes's driving.

Cana knocked on the window, scolding them like a mom at a PTA meeting. "You're weaving all over the road! Reckless!"

"You drove drunk yesterday!" Rhodes shouted back.

"A valid point," someone muttered inside.

As the car rolled on, one of the questions still hanging in the air remained unanswered.

Why had Grimoire Heart attacked the village in the first place?

According to what the Council had intercepted, "The villagers were living on land where the 'Zeref Key' has long rested."

...

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