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13.44% Fairy Tail: I Absolutely Refuse to Be the Guild Master / Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Combat Training

Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Combat Training

The fight was set to take place in the guild's backyard. Originally, Loke wanted to have it out on the street in front, but Rhodes refused.

He figured that he'd only been learning magic for a few days and would most likely lose. Getting beaten up in public? No thanks—he still had his dignity.

However, even after choosing the backyard, things weren't much better.

Someone shouted, "Newbie Rhodes' first fight, challenging Loke!" and suddenly almost everyone in the guild's bar came to watch the excitement.

"Not fair, Loke! I wanted to fight the newbie too!" Natsu barged his way forward through the crowd, small flames even spitting out of his mouth.

"Well, there's nothing I can do; it's just my natural charm." Loke pushed his glasses up with his index and middle fingers, a confident glow radiating from his face.

"Ah~ Loke~~" Two of his female fans screamed in excitement.

This guy even had a fan club when fighting; Rhodes couldn't help but be jealous... I mean, annoyed at the bad influence on the guild.

They stood facing each other, about 4 meters apart. Rhodes looked seriously at Loke, grudgingly admitting that the man was a bit better looking than him.

The audience gathered in rows just outside the doorway, standing closely to observe, not worried about getting accidentally hit.

"Alright, both sides, get ready—" Makarov stood at the front of the crowd. "Betting on Loke, one to one! Betting on Rhodes, one to ten!"

The crowd eagerly placed their bets, and Rhodes almost tripped. "Master, why are you..."

He thought the guild master was here to serve as a referee and make sure nothing went wrong. Turns out he was running a betting pool?

"Ah, since Kana isn't around, I'll be taking care of the betting this time. No need to worry!"

Of course, if the head isn't upright, the branch won't be either!

"Alright, bets are in! You two can start!"

Rhodes glanced at the trays in front of Makarov. Loke's tray was piled high, while his only had three bills in it.

"Good luck, Rhodes."

One of those bills was a gesture of friendship from Mira.

"Go, newbie! Beat up Loke!"

The other two were from Macao and Wakaba, who just wanted to see Loke get beaten—and because the higher odds made it more thrilling.

"Wait!" Rhodes raised his hand, "Master, 30,000J! I'm betting on myself to lose!"

"Nope, match-fixing is strictly prohibited," Makarov rejected him outright, waving his hand. "Fight starts now!"

Rhodes, having lost his chance to make money, could only grab his necklace and prepare to chant.

"Holder type, huh? Well, so am I." Loke showed his rings.

"...Holder magic or not, haven't I been practicing my magic in the guild for days? This isn't your first time seeing it, is it?"

"Sorry, I don't make a habit of observing other men," Loke said with a smirk.

"..."

This guy really deserved a beating!

"I am the one who bridges the two realms, thou—"

"Wait, wait!" Loke shivered after hearing the first line of Rhodes' incantation.

He immediately called for a stop. "Are you a Celestial Spirit Mage?"

"No, but Master said it's somewhat similar." Rhodes showed his necklace. "See, I'm not using a Celestial Spirit key."

"Yeah... yeah, that's true, haha..." Loke laughed awkwardly. In his fluster, he didn't even notice that Rhodes' magical tool wasn't a key.

"Want to keep going?"

"No... No, thanks." Sweat beaded on Loke's forehead, and he hurriedly ran out of the backyard.

"I'm suddenly not feeling well. Let's have a rematch some other time. Goodbye!"

"Huh?"

"Awww~~~" Everyone who bet on Loke winning looked dumbfounded.

"What's wrong with Loke?" The people who lost money started complaining.

"Loke~~" The two girls chased after him.

"Oh my~ What luck! I joined just once, and I won already?" Mira touched her cheek with one hand, clearly pleased.

Makarov also made a good bit of money this time, but he was a bit concerned about Loke. Was he really that sensitive just because it was similar to Celestial Spirit magic?

Macao and Wakaba were overjoyed, arms around each other's shoulders. One-to-ten odds—they'd just won several days' worth of drinking money:

"Well done, newbie! You beat Loke in one shot!"

Happy the cat commented, "Aye! But he didn't even fight."

"Hahaha!" Natsu leapt out joyfully. "Just in time, I'll fight in Loke's place!"

"No, Natsu." Erza placed her hand on Natsu's shoulder.

"Rhodes has only been practicing magic for a few days. Sparring is to test his strength. You hit without restraint, so I'll take his place."

Before Rhodes could react, his opponent had changed—into someone seriously tough.

"Erza, are you serious?" Affected by how Natsu and Gray acted these past few days, Rhodes felt a bit intimidated.

"Of course." Erza's face was completely earnest. "Even if it's to thank you for your care before, I'll give it my all."

"Please definitely do not give it your all!" Rhodes didn't misunderstand the key phrase in this life-or-death moment.

Erza paused, then smiled. "Don't worry, I understand. I won't hit a guildmate too hard."

"...Gray and Natsu would definitely disagree."

Rhodes gave up struggling. No matter who he fought, he'd still lose. Compared to the reckless Natsu, Erza might actually go easier on him.

"Master, open the betting! I'm betting on Erza!"

"Me too!"

"Hurry, Master!"

"I refuse." Makarov shook his head.

If Natsu was in, there'd at least be people betting on Rhodes, but with Erza? Forget it. With everyone betting on her, how was he supposed to pay out?

"Erza, go easy on him!"

"Rhodes, try to survive!"

"We'll remember you!"

Rhodes: ...

Isn't this just a sparring match? Did it have to be this extreme? Rhodes' heart was unsettled by these people.

"Good luck, Rhodes."

Rhodes felt a bit of warmth in his heart. At least Mira's attitude hadn't changed, and she was still encouraging him...

Wait, why was she holding a medical kit?

"Alright, round two—Rhodes vs. Erza. Begin!"

As Makarov's voice fell, Rhodes couldn't afford to worry anymore. He grabbed his necklace:

"I am the one who bridges the two realms, thou—summoned creature of the summoner's rift, answer my call and cross the gate! Canyon Swiftcrab!"

The incantation had been slightly adjusted compared to earlier, making it better suited to Rhodes' magic. The summoning process was also much smoother.

Ripples spread across the ground like water, and the canyon swiftcrab, entirely green, emerged.

"Ohh~~ Is that another one of Rhodes' summons? Looks strong!"

"I thought he was going to send Porro against Erza!"

"Don't joke around. If it's a fight, obviously you'd send the decorative Porro back."

Erza was very respectful of the rules, patiently letting Rhodes finish his chant before spreading her hands. "Requip!"

A magical sword appeared in her hands.

Rhodes pointed at Erza, issuing his command to the crab: "Charge!"

Clack, clack. The crab's claws clicked twice, and it charged at Erza, its movements creating an afterimage.

Rhodes had seen the power of this move; it could easily smash through a courtyard wall. But... for these guild members who were used to destruction, this was probably pretty ordinary.

Still, it was a decent opening move.

Erza made her judgment in an instant: "A speed type, is it?"


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
ahan5000 ahan5000

Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!

Chapter 26: Chapter 26: The Dagger Above Desire

"Not bad, but..." Erza took two steps forward, leaped up, stepped on the river crab's head, and soared over it straight toward Rhodes.

"Against this type of mage, the best method is to attack the mage themselves!"

"Huh?" As someone who had hardly ever fought before, Rhodes watched helplessly as Erza lunged at him, completely at a loss.

He only saw Erza's sword disappear from her hand, her right hand clenched into a fist. Then came a sharp pain on his forehead, his vision went black, and he fell backward.

Erza landed lightly, facing Rhodes. "Come on, attack me with all you've got!"

"No, no..." Mira walked over with a medical kit, smiling and waving her hand. "He can't even stand up anymore."

"As expected!" The onlookers were a bit surprised by the river crab's sudden charge speed earlier, but not at all surprised by this outcome.

Because even if they went up themselves, they wouldn't necessarily do better than Rhodes.

This made it difficult to judge Rhodes's strength. That Erza, she really messed things up.

"As a newcomer who just started learning magic, his magical power is quite good, and he's fairly proficient with magic. But his combat experience... is almost zero."

Makarov saw clearly that Rhodes had the potential to become a core strength of the guild. As for combat experience...

As long as he stays in the guild, that's the one thing he definitely won't lack.

...

"Gray, lend me a hand." Mira opened a small bag in front of Gray.

"Hmm? Sure." Gray clenched his right fist and pressed it against his left palm. "Ice-Make: Ice Pack."

A pale blue magical glow appeared, and the bag in Mira's hand was quickly filled with ice.

"It's over, so embarrassing..." Rhodes was sitting on a round stool in front of the counter, questioning his life choices.

"Rhodes, lift your head a bit."

Rhodes instinctively complied, and something cold landed on his forehead.

"Hiss~~" Rhodes tried hard to look upward; it seemed to be an ice pack, thoughtfully wrapped in a towel.

Mira leaned over from behind him, met his gaze, and said with a smile, "Don't move. Applying a cold compress will reduce the swelling faster."

"Thank you." Rhodes reached up to hold the ice pack himself.

Noticing his dejection, Mira said, "Losing to Erza is nothing to be ashamed of. After all, she's one of the strongest in the guild."

"But I chanted such a long incantation, summoned such a cool crab, and she took me down in one move—using just her fist! She didn't even use her sword!"

Mira tilted her head. "Do you wish she had used her sword? Erza is the kind of person who hardly knows how to hold back in battle."

Rhodes imagined a bloody scene. "Well... that's not necessary."

Bang! Someone forcefully placed a heavy object on the counter.

Holding the ice pack, Rhodes turned to look and involuntarily sat up straight. "Erza... Miss?"

"Just call me Erza. And I want to apologize to you." Erza placed her clenched left fist over her chest, her face full of remorse.

"I'm sorry, I was too heavy-handed. To use such force against a comrade requesting a spar—I'm truly terrible, practically bullying a guild newcomer!"

Rhodes was startled by her earnest attitude and hastily waved his hands. "N-no, it's not that serious."

"No, your forgiveness only highlights my wrongdoing." Erza opened the large box she had placed on the counter; the piled-up items inside scattered out.

At a glance, there were bandages, adhesive plasters, iodine, painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, and various medical supplies.

"I've bought all the trauma medicine from the pharmacy. Please feel free to use them!"

"No, it's just a bump on my head. It only hurts a little."

"Is that so? My actions have caused you such a headache; please allow me to find a way to make amends."

Did I mess up the common language again? Rhodes looked helplessly at Mira.

Mira was enjoying the spectacle and explained, "That's just how Erza is; she can be a bit serious. If you don't accept those medicines, she'll insist on bandaging you herself~"

Before Rhodes could speak, Erza suddenly realized, "I see! Only by personally helping you bandage can I express my apology!"

"Really, there's no need..."

"Requip!"

With a flash of light, Erza had completed her transformation; a nurse's outfit perfectly accentuated her figure.

"Oh~ oh~ oh~" A chorus of wolf whistles echoed in the tavern, and many men's eyes turned into heart shapes.

Having grown accustomed to seeing Erza in armor, suddenly seeing her in a nurse's outfit made everyone realize that, aside from her intimidating combat prowess, Erza's looks were top-notch.

If they weren't afraid of getting beaten up, old perverts like Wakaba and Macao would probably have already approached her.

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

"Really, no... um, there's no need..."

Rhodes's heart betrayed him by beating faster; it took less than a second for him to go from refusal to hesitant acceptance.

Watching Erza unwrapping the bandages, Rhodes began to blame himself internally for not being firm, but soon it turned into regret...

"Ahhhhh!!!"

Erza's attire was as professional as her technique was unprofessional; she used the roll of bandages more like a rope.

Normally, for a minor injury like Rhodes's, just applying some ointment on the bump would suffice; at most, wrap a few turns of bandage.

But somehow, Erza's bandages wrapped around Rhodes's neck, tied up his arms, and then she was about to wrap around his legs...

She was entirely aiming to tie him up like a criminal!

"Attempte—cough cough..."

Rhodes was being strangled to the point of breathlessness, but some people in the tavern seemed even more excited, looking at him with extreme envy.

"Stop it, Erza! Rhodes is going to die!"

It was actually Mira's first time seeing Erza treat someone; she didn't expect it to be so brutal.

Fortunately, she intervened before Rhodes passed out.

Erza solemnly apologized, "Sorry, my skills in treating others are a bit rusty."

But your skills in killing people are quite proficient.

Rhodes was 'moved' to tears. "No, you're excellent. Thanks to your treatment, my forehead doesn't hurt much anymore."

"Really?" Erza's eyes sparkled.

Rhodes nodded earnestly. "Absolutely true. Thank you for your treatment! I'll leave the rest to my own recovery."

He was certain that his forehead really didn't hurt much anymore, especially compared to his arms.

Rhodes felt he was about to suffer a fracture. Are bandages supposed to be this strong—almost able to break bones?

"That's great, then." Erza seemed to believe him. Contentedly, she switched back to her armor, left the big box of medical supplies, and departed.

Rhodes rubbed his arm, looked up at the ceiling, and reflected, "There's a knife above the character for 'lust'."

After this ordeal, his soul should have grown.

Mira covered her mouth and giggled.


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
ahan5000 ahan5000

Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!

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