https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-117-The-Powerful-Gray-and-the-Strange-Rod/12810350/
Chapter 116: Traveling with a Freak
Chapter 116: Traveling with a Freak
"Amazing!" Wendy exclaimed, her face full of admiration as she looked at the plan in Gray's hands. "So this is how powerful mages in big guilds complete their missions."
Sherry shook her head. "No, I’m starting to think this guy isn’t a normal mage at all."
Gray confirmed, "Rod, are you serious about this?"
"What else would I be?" Rod replied, then added, "Oh, it’s natural that the intel isn’t detailed since it’s an investigation mission. We can work on it bit by bit."
"No, that’s not the issue. I..." Gray hesitated, then steeled himself. "Never mind, I’ll read through it seriously."
Rod breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that while Gray often fought with Natsu, he was much more level-headed than Natsu.
At least, most of the time.
He rummaged through his backpack and pulled out a small cloth bag with the Fairy Tail emblem, handing it to Wendy and Sherry.
"Give these a try. They’re Fairy Tail’s special Pocket Poro Treats, a popular snack lately."
They were essentially small cookies, improved by Mr. Cook to match the taste of Poro Treats. They could be enjoyed with a drink or as a snack with tea.
"Cute!" Wendy was immediately drawn to the cookies’ appearance. "And they taste great too."
Sherry reluctantly said, "Not bad."
Both were quite adorable.
Rod smiled and turned to look out the window at the landscape starting to move by.
This was his first time on a train in this world. He had only wandered around the station before, observing the city’s layout while getting familiar with it.
Once the train left the station and settled into a steady pace, it felt similar to an old green train.
Considering the world’s haphazard technology, it was quite impressive. He hadn’t noticed whether the train was powered by magic or fuel.
Sherry looked at the excited Wendy and the curious Rod. "Why do you look even more curious than Wendy?"
Rod replied, "Because this is only the third time I’ve left Magnolia, and the first two times were in different directions."
"Wait, what???"
Wendy and Sherry were both surprised, and even Gray looked a bit taken aback.
He knew Rod took few missions, but he didn’t realize it was that few.
"Why are you so surprised too?" Sherry didn’t know where to start with her criticism. "And why is a seasoned mage following a newbie’s plan?"
"Things like this don’t depend on seniority," Gray said without any airs of being a ‘senior’ mage. He waved the plan in his hand. "Since the Master trusts Rod’s abilities, I just need to trust him. Besides, Rod is very strong."
"Hehe, that’s embarrassing to hear in person."
Rod thought back to the last time Natsu and Happy had trusted him unconditionally.
Even though he had jokingly won Happy’s support with a fish, Natsu had never doubted him, only complaining about his talkativeness.
If Natsu’s trust was due to his simple-mindedness, then the more composed Gray certainly wasn’t like that.
Feeling a secret warmth in his heart, Rod said, "How about a few more compliments?"
Gray scowled. "Get lost, it’s gross."
"Awesome." Wendy’s eyes sparkled, the atmosphere in Fairy Tail was fantastic.
Sherry huffed and turned away, muttering that yesterday it was idiots and their friends, and today it was freaks and their friends.
And they were still idiots.
The train clattered along, and Rod, like Wendy, watched the autumn scenery with excitement.
Sometimes Wendy would point out a flock of geese flying in the sky, and other times Rod would point out a strangely shaped tree.
Occasionally, they would miss what the other was pointing at, and both would feel a bit disappointed.
Despite the seven or eight years between them, Rod and Wendy found common ground on the train. Perhaps it was because neither of them had traveled far from home much before.
In contrast, Chelo and Gray seemed to be at each other's throats. Chelo couldn't stand Gray's habit of stripping off his clothes at any moment, while Gray found it difficult to talk to this "female Happy."
Amid the harmonious yet cold atmosphere, the train arrived at Hargeon Station.
Rod gathered his belongings. "We're getting off, Wendy. Don't forget anything."
"Okay~" Wendy turned around, showing Rod her small backpack.
"Need help with that?"
"I can manage."
Gray tucked the plan he had been reading into his bag and asked Chelo, "When did those two become so close?"
"Who knows?" Chelo replied, "Maybe he's just really good at fooling girls."
Gray shook his head. "No way. He's not like Loki."
But he did hear that Rod had a thing for Mirajane... Gray wondered how things would have played out two years ago.
Rod patted Wendy's shoulder and pointed behind her.
Wendy turned and looked, then said cheerfully, "Chelo, you and Mr. Gray get along well too. That's great."
"Who would want to be friends with a pervert like him?"
"Who would want to be friends with someone who keeps calling others perverts?"
The two of them fell back into their usual state of mutual disdain, and Wendy looked a bit troubled.
"Ha ha ha..." Rod laughed, realizing that Gray's personality also had its share of awkwardness.
"Come on, let's buy the boat tickets."
Gray strode forward, and Chelo, still pouting, quickened her pace to overtake Rod and Wendy, only to end up walking alongside Gray again.
They glanced at each other, then both slowed down, sped up, and stopped, waiting for the other to go first...
"What do you want, anyway?"
"You're the one who's being weird!"
Chelo was so frustrated she practically flew into Wendy's arms.
Gray looked annoyed too, and with a crab-like walk, he went to buy three tickets.
Rod pointed to the ticket booth, telling Gray to pick up his clothes, while he looked at the tickets. "The boat doesn't leave for another hour. Want to grab some snacks?"
They would definitely have lunch on the boat, and since Gray's bag didn't look like it contained any food, and the snacks Rod had brought weren't enough to share, he suggested they explore a bit.
Hargeon wasn't as bustling with magic as Magnolia, and mages were rarely seen here.
Gray, however, knew the place well and led them through efficient shopping. He said he had been here on a mission before.
According to him, the entire city had only one shop that sold magic items.
But Hargeon was a port city, and its prosperity came from fishing and transportation, offering a different kind of vibrancy compared to Magnolia.
The group followed Gray, though their shopping was less efficient because a couple of them were curious about everything.
Rod had never been here before, and Wendy had been too worried about missing the magical parade last time to stay long.
Chelo, on the other hand, was curious but didn't want to show it too openly.
When Chelo asked Wendy to buy two fish, Rod silently mourned for Happy.
It seemed she didn't dislike fish; she just didn't like fish from Happy.
This kid's romantic life might be even more complicated than his own.
"Let's get some snacks. Pine nuts, almonds, sweet potato chips... How about some dried plums... Hmm?"
Rod held a red dried plum, only to see Wendy hop back ten meters and peek at him from behind a wall.
Wendy tried to say, "I... I'm fine!"
Alright, got it. There's a problem, and it's a big one.
Rod put the dried plum back and bought only the other dried fruits and preserves.
Was this kid afraid of sourness or just didn't like plums?
(End of Chapter)
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