Chapter 28: Rainy Days, Time to Feel Emo

A new day arrived. Rhodes awoke to the pitter-patter of rain. As soon as he got out of bed, he felt a wave of soreness and stiffness in his legs.

Perhaps because he was provoked yesterday, or maybe he had quietly made up his mind about something, Rhodes had gritted his teeth and ran until he collapsed on the ground, unable to get up.

He even had to specially summon the Canyon Swift Crab to wrap him up with its antennae and carry him home.

Before going to bed, Rhodes deliberately applied a cold compress with a wet towel and found some anti-swelling medicine from the big box of supplies that Erza had given him.

Looking back now, it's fortunate he had such foresight.

Dragging his aching legs to the bathroom to take care of personal matters and wash up, Rhodes decided to apply some more medicine afterward.

"Oh no, I forgot to bring in the clothes!"

Rhodes went to check the balcony. Sure enough, it had rained heavily last night, and all his clothes were soaked.

He had to bring them in and soak them in a basin along with the sweaty clothes he had taken off yesterday.

Staring at the basin for a moment, Rhodes reluctantly sat down to wash the clothes.

He had no choice; besides these two sets and his pajamas, he only had one set left in the wardrobe. Every time he opened it, it felt empty.

If any accidents happened, Rhodes would immediately face the awkward situation of having no clothes to wear.

"I'll buy a couple more sets when I have more money."

Rhodes washed and wrung out the clothes, hanging them temporarily in the laundry room.

He pondered for a second about taking them to the guild to have Natsu dry them but immediately dismissed the idea—the risk was too great; he couldn't afford to gamble.

After the morning rush, Rhodes finished tidying up and went downstairs, ready to head to the guild.

However, not only did the rain show no signs of letting up, it seemed to be getting heavier. Even Goodman hadn't come to set up his stall today.

Opening the front door, Rhodes realized a new problem—he hadn't bought an umbrella.

"This is so hard..." Rhodes let out a sigh of frustration.

"Whirrr~"

At the critical moment, Worm pulled out an umbrella from a corner on the first floor.

"Great job!" Rhodes praised, summoned the River Crab, opened the umbrella, and jumped on to head to the guild.

Before leaving, he didn't forget to leave a note for Goodman about borrowing the umbrella without permission.

The Canyon Swift Crab walked leisurely down the street according to Rhodes's instructions. Not only did it not mind the rain, it actually found such an environment more comfortable.

Rhodes sat cross-legged on the highest point of the crab's shell, tilting the umbrella towards the direction the raindrops were coming from.

In the rain, the streets of Magnolia were much quieter. The usual morning hawkers were absent, and only a few pedestrians passed by sporadically.

They either held umbrellas or wore raincoats and rain boots, hurrying through the puddles.

Rhodes had seen many such scenes before he crossed over, but... he looked down at himself and felt out of place here.

Yes, after all, he was an outsider who didn't belong to this world.

But this slight sentimentality completely vanished when he arrived at the guild entrance.

Because at that moment, Laki was walking slowly from the northwest intersection, holding a wooden umbrella, wearing wooden boots, and carrying a wooden box in her other hand.

Her long purple hair swayed gently, appearing very amiable amidst the rain.

On the other side, Gray was also walking over from the other direction, holding an exquisitely crafted large ice-crystal umbrella.

Raindrops flowed down the umbrella surface, neither freezing nor melting the ice umbrella, merely adding beaded curtain-like decorations to it.

Noticing Rhodes and Laki, Gray casually raised his hand. "Yo!"

Laki energetically responded, "Morning!"

"Morning!" The Swift Crab vanished, and Rhodes stood firmly on the ground. Looking at the two companions who were as 'unusual' as himself, he couldn't help but smile.

This is the meaning of the guild's existence, isn't it?

The three walked into the guild entrance. Laki looked at the floor at the doorway. "Feels like we'll have to keep mopping today."

Rhodes thought about how places like cafeterias and supermarkets handled rainy days and suggested, "How about laying some cardboard sheets at the entrance?"

"Good idea, let's do that, but..." Laki decided to use magic. "Wood-Make: Pure Love—Spotless!"

Swish, swish, swish... Thin wooden planks appeared inside and outside the guild entrance, and the upward-facing sides were intentionally made quite rough.

"Maker magic is really convenient," Rhodes sighed once again, and couldn't help wanting to complain about that ridiculous spell name.

She might as well have called it "Clean Soles—Spotless" or something.

There wasn't much to do in the morning. After being busy for a while, Rhodes went to find Gray.

"Natsu's weakness?" Gray blurted out, "Hot-tempered and impulsive—a fire-breathing idiot."

"However..." Gray thought for a moment. "That's true in normal times, but in battle, it's another story.

"Often his instincts are as sharp as a beast's. If you fight him seriously, it's quite troublesome."

Although he calls him an idiot all the time, and their personalities and magic don't get along, if Gray had to seriously evaluate Natsu, he'd definitely give him high marks.

Unless it's in front of Natsu.

"That's it then, I'm definitely going to get beaten up today," Rhodes worried. "Isn't there any practical, obvious, and immediate weakness?"

"Right, Natsu scheduled a duel with you today!" Gray smacked his palm, interested in helping someone beat up Natsu.

"If you're talking about obvious weaknesses, there's one!" Gray said. "That guy is helpless with vehicles. If you can create a vehicle under his feet, you'll definitely win!"

"Good idea, but I don't know Maker magic!"

"I'll teach you right now!"

"Right now?"

"That's right, right now!" Gray excitedly raised his hand, and his shirt disappeared. "Do as I do..."

Rhodes glanced at Gray's bare upper body. "Sorry to bother you, but I think I'm not suited to learn Ice-Make magic."

Becoming a weirdo just to beat Natsu... Rhodes felt it wasn't worth it.

"..." Gray, just posing with his right fist against his left palm, looked puzzled at Rhodes, who was fleeing in panic. "Huh? I haven't even started teaching yet."

Taking advantage of Natsu not being around, Rhodes decided to find a quiet place to meditate for a while.

"Rhodes," Laki called out to him, handing over the wooden box she had brought. "Inside are the magazines you wanted."

Rhodes felt the weight in his hands; more than fifty magazines weren't light. "Thanks... but why doesn't this box have an opening?"

"Because it was raining, I was worried they'd get wet, so I didn't make an opening," Laki said. "When you get to a place where you can relax, just give the box a good hit."

"...I see. You thought of everything."

Does she mean I should just smash it open when I get home? Rhodes, who hadn't fully mastered the common language, took a moment to understand her meaning.

Also, so this box was something she made before heading out. Wood-Make magic is really practical for daily life.

Rhodes put down the box, ran to the library entrance, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes to meditate.

Feeling his magic power growing bit by bit, Rhodes felt the joy of progress.

He didn't know when the next summon would come, but by then he should have some offensive capabilities, right?