Chapter 105: Ah...

"This one tastes good, and so does this one. That one over there is also okay, but it might not suit your taste."

Mira had indeed finished her tasks and came out to stroll around the festival, asking Warren to help contact Rhodes.

So Rhodes became the tour guide.

Holding several snacks in her hands, Mira smiled and asked, "I was thinking of taking you around the festival. Why is it now you who is taking me around? You even know the taste of food from every stall."

"Because I just accompanied Wurm and tried almost everything on this street."

Rhodes pulled a bitter face; if he'd known, he wouldn't have been so greedy earlier. It would have been much more enjoyable to share the food with Mira now.

That darn Wurm caused both his wallet and stomach to feel strained.

Mira looked over the entire street, estimating the number of snack stalls. "You've had a tough time."

"Well, I did agree to take care of it." Rhodes had already sent the well-fed Wurm back to sleep. "By the way, is there anything else to do at the guild?"

Mira said, "I just finished assigning everyone's tasks for the parade, and we also need to prepare the celebration banquet."

"Looks like there's nothing for me in the Magical Parade." Rhodes felt a little disappointed but thought it was reasonable—he was a newcomer, after all.

Mira asked curiously, "Why do you think you don't have a task?"

"Because no one told me to do anythi..." Rhodes looked at Mira. "Oh, this is something you're in charge of?"

"Yes, so I'm here to tell you." Mira smiled sweetly and scooped a big spoonful of shaved ice into her mouth from her cup.

"Mm~~~" She closed her eyes, raised her hand to gently tap her head. "So cold, so cold."

A bit cute.

"Then what do I need to do? Do I really have to release wild monsters?"

"More or less." Mira explained in detail what Rhodes was responsible for. The task wasn't difficult but might be a bit troublesome.

But since everyone was contributing, Rhodes had no reason to refuse.

"You agreed surprisingly readily. To show my appreciation... hmm... I'll treat you to something to eat." Mira took out a box of dumplings from the bag hanging on her wrist and handed it to Rhodes.

"I'd love to eat, but..." Rhodes made a pained expression. "Thanks to Wurm, I can at most have one or two bites of shaved ice now."

"Shaved ice is fine too." Mira took back the box, scooped a spoonful of shaved ice. "Ah..."

Mira, are you serious?

Rhodes hesitated for 0.0001 seconds and then modestly ate it. "Mm, it's delicious."

Mira's ears turned a bit red; fortunately, her long hair covered them. She suddenly felt something was off.

Just now, she had casually...

It's okay; it's just feeding someone a bite.

It's nothing; Erza used to bathe with Natsu and Gray when they were kids.

All small matters.

Mira quietly scooped a small spoonful of shaved ice into her own mouth, then thought about whether to change the spoon.

Forget it; it's already like this. Specifically changing it would be strange.

Besides, last time at the café, they had even swapped cups; it's no big deal.

This shaved ice, this shaved ice... is really delicious.

"That's Miss Mira!"

"Look, it's Miss Mira!"

"So beautiful! Not only in gowns, but she also looks gorgeous in casual clothes!"

Mira smiled and waved gently at them, looking a bit like a celebrity.

Rhodes felt delighted. Beautiful, right? I think so too.

"Just now doesn't count," Mira suddenly said.

Rhodes was puzzled. "What doesn't count?"

"Treating you to food. That just now doesn't count. I'll properly treat you in a few days."

"Sure." Rhodes agreed first and then asked, "Why did you suddenly want to treat me?"

"Because you've invited me several times; it's about time I return the favor." Mira thought for a moment and added, "Let's consider it a celebration for winning the contest."

Last month, Rhodes had been learning Take Over magic from Mira and occasionally used thanking her as a reason to ask her out.

Sometimes for some dessert, sometimes for a cup of coffee, sometimes maybe just to go out for ice cream and then return.

So when he invited her out to the festival, he spoke so naturally without any particular reason.

Alzack is too timid.

Now being invited by her instead was a pleasant surprise. And moreover...

"The contest results are out?"

"Yes. Marcus hurried to tally up the votes. Although we're planning to announce the results and post the vote counts tomorrow, such things are always told to me in advance."

Mira playfully winked, as if saying she felt a bit embarrassed to have such privilege.

"Then congratulations, Miss Mirajane, the most beautiful wizard of Fairy Tail."

The little rich girl has won 500,000J prize money, becoming even richer—I want to latch onto her.

Mira smiled and said, "It's because Erza didn't compete seriously."

"No, I think she was very serious."

So serious that she almost cut down the entire audience.

Thinking back to Erza's expression at that time—it was the same as when she punched him during their first sparring session—the look of someone who believes they will definitely win.

The two didn't stroll outside for too long.

As Mira said, there were still things to do for the Magical Parade and preparations for the celebration banquet after the parade.

Later, everyone would return to listen to the guild master's instructions, but there were many things that couldn't be done without Mira, the capable manager.

Actually, accompanying her while she worked wasn't bad either.

"Fireworks—are the fireworks ready?"

"They've already been transported to the designated location, and the City Hall has arranged personnel to help."

"What about the costumes?"

"They've been distributed; everyone can change into them before departure!"

"Any issues with the floats?"

"They've been decorated and are ready to go at any time!"

As Mira checked off each preparation item, when she asked about the floats, an incongruous voice sounded:

"'I have a problem! I don't want to ride on the float!' Aye, that's what Natsu said."

Mira said, "Happy, take Natsu to find Rhodes and have him act together with him."

"Aye!"

Mira originally saw that Natsu was unwell and wanted him to rest, but he insisted that he couldn't be left out of something everyone was participating in and was determined to join.

Mira had no choice but to assign the most unreliable person in the guild to partner with the most reliable one.

Actually, Rhodes also had concerns, but he didn't bother Mira with them and instead went to find the guild master:

"If everyone is participating in the parade, what about security? Won't someone take the opportunity to cause trouble?"

"At times like this, if anyone dares to cause trouble, there will be thunder in Magnolia's sky."

"Uh?" Rhodes wanted to ask the master if he could speak plainly.

But Makarov sighed himself:

"Don't worry. Besides the city's security team maintaining order, I've also arranged for Laxus and the Thunder God Tribe to be in charge of security, and Mystogan will be keeping an eye on the parade throughout."

If we rewind time by a few years, he might proudly introduce Magnolia's common weather to Rhodes—sunny turning to Laxus.

Unfortunately, that child has increasingly disliked participating in the Magical Parade he loved as a kid.

But since this parade concerns Fairy Tail's reputation, even for the sake of appearances, Laxus wouldn't want anything to go wrong with the Magical Parade.

So with security entrusted to him and the Thunder God Tribe, there's no need to worry.