Chapter 179: The Newcomer, Tono
Chapter 179: The Newcomer, Tono
Mira was delighted by Rod's response.
She tucked the letter away, saying she needed to think about it.
The magazine was left on the counter; she remembered that Rod enjoyed reading the news.
After the New Year, the guild resumed its normal operations, and Rod returned to his regular training.
...
Three days later, a young boy wearing glasses entered the guild. He had a round face, a buzz cut, and carried a large backpack, giving off an air of innocence.
He looked around, then made his way through the noisy tavern to the front desk.
Mira greeted him, "Hello, are you here to post a job request?"
"No, my name is Tono, Tono Rabis. I just turned 15, and I specialize in Light Magic," Tono introduced himself neatly. "I want to join the guild."
"Ah, I see. Hello, I'm Mira," Mira replied. "Please wait a moment while I fetch the Guild Master."
"Feel free to take a seat," Rod said after Mira left, stepping up to greet the newcomer. "I'm Rod, I joined the guild six months ago, so I'm still pretty new myself. Don't be shy."
"I know who you are, the strongest new member, right?" Tono said with a smile. "I've been following the news about Fairy Tail."
"Is that so? Ha, that journalist was just exaggerating. You might be the strongest new member when you join. So, would you like something to drink?"
Rod could tell that Tono, who followed Fairy Tail's news and still wanted to join, was a true fan.
Tono sat down on a stool and said honestly, "Just water, thank you."
Rod poured Tono a glass of water, and the Guild Master, Makarov, returned with Mira.
Tono's induction process was as simple as Rod's. Makarov asked a few basic questions and then branded the guild's crest on his arm.
This was the first time Rod had witnessed a new member joining the guild, it felt... a bit strange.
"Does that mean I'm a seasoned mage now, having seen a new member join?"
Makarov glanced at him but didn't say anything.
Seasoned mage?
His task count had only moved from second to third from the bottom.
Mira played along, "So, Rod, do you want to try guiding a new member?"
That sounded interesting, Rod asked, "Can I?"
To be safe, Makarov inquired, "What do you plan to teach him?"
Rod looked at Mira and smiled, "Just like how you guided me. I can help him get familiar with the process of taking a job, meeting the client, and completing the task."
Tono was pleased; he didn't know that new members were guided by seasoned mages, and being guided by the strongest new member sounded very reliable.
Rod thought for a moment and added, "I can also share some personal tips, like..."
"Alright, I've made my decision. Tono will be guided by Levy," Makarov said firmly. "You mentioned you like history, right?"
"Yes, but Master..."
Makarov said, "Don't worry about it. You two aren't a good match."
Rod felt slightly offended.
Mira covered her mouth to hide her smile. The Guild Master was probably worried that a new member guided by Rod would end up running around with explosive magic crystals.
She patted Rod's back as a comfort and said to Tono, "Come with me, I'll take you to Levy."
Makarov added, "Don't look at me like that. In a few days, you might have a job."
"Just for me? What kind of job needs to be reserved for me?" Rod thought for a moment, wondering if it was another Council matter. Those guys were a bit of a pain.
"The details aren't clear yet, we need more information," Makarov said. "In any case, try not to go on any long trips for the next few days."
"Alright," Rod felt a bit uneasy.
Makarov, knowing Rod's character, tried to reassure him, "Don't worry. If you do have to go, we'll find you a reliable partner."
Rod felt even more uneasy. If the Guild Master was already looking for a partner, it must mean the job was particularly troublesome.
Makarov shook his head and walked away, his hands behind his back. He still had a report to write.
Natsu, that idiot, had gone out to catch a few thieves and ended up demolishing seven houses. The summons from the Council had already arrived before he even returned.
Headache.
When Mira returned, she found a worried-looking Rod.
"What's wrong? Did the Master say something to you?"
"No, it's just that I might be getting a big problem dumped on me."
Mira smiled. "That's because the Master trusts you."
"Trusting me, but not letting me take on new recruits."
"Well, well..." Mira wasn't sure how to respond. Actually, she thought it might be a good idea to let Rod handle the new recruits.
"Ah, let's not talk about it." Rod asked, "Didn't Levy go on a job? Why did the Master tell Droy to follow her?"
"Levy just got back today. You were in the back yard, so you didn't see her," Mira explained. "Actually, they had a bit of an incident during their mission. Jet is in the hospital now, and Droy is taking care of him."
"Really? What happened?"
Mira said sympathetically, "It seems Jet wanted to show off and accidentally triggered a hunter's trap meant for wild beasts. Levy and Droy had to protect him while completing their mission."
Rod found it hard to comment. As the saying goes, trying to show off and ending up showing your ass.
"Should I go to the hospital to see him?"
"Better not. Levy said Jet doesn't want anyone to see him in such an embarrassing state."
Mira smiled sweetly, "If you really want to go, remember to bring Laxus with you."
"..." Mira, you're showing your devilish side.
"By the way, how's that thing coming along?"
"I'm going to the Sorcelia branch the day after tomorrow. The Master hopes I can help restore Fairy Tail's positive image a bit."
Mira laughed. She knew the Master was a bit anxious about the mess Natsu had made, so she decided to do something about it.
Rod had originally planned to go with Mira.
But he didn't get to wait until the day after tomorrow. The next morning, he was called to the Master's office with a serious expression on the Master's face.
Besides a worried Mira, there was also... Erza.
Rod immediately felt a sense of foreboding. Team up with Erza? This must be a big deal.
Makarov said seriously, "This mission is somewhat dangerous. If you think it's too difficult after I explain, you can choose to refuse."
Rod glanced at Erza and guessed, "An S-Class mission?"
Makarov shook his head. "It's not quite S-Class, but if it were rated lower, it would be too dangerous for others and could even be life-threatening."
Erza said, "If it's worth your serious consideration, it must be an important mission. Go ahead and tell us."
Rod nodded, knowing that if the Master was so concerned, it must be something that couldn't be ignored.
Makarov slowly explained, "A black magic cult, called 'Shadow of the Fiend,' has appeared near the northern coast of the kingdom. They worship the dark mage Zeref and have been kidnapping children from nearby villages to use as sacrifices to summon a demon named Carniphila from Zeref's Book. Your mission is to arrest the cult members and rescue the innocent children.
"Since the enemies may possess dangerous black magic like Bone Shattering, Blood Corruption, and Death Curses, and their summoning ritual, if successful, could escalate the mission to S-Class or higher, we need Erza to go.
"Given that we need to both fight and protect the children, I'm worried Erza might be overwhelmed. That's why... Rod is the best choice."
A trivial detail: Droy's shoes, Macao's vest, and Macao's son Romeo's vest all had an S symbol, suggesting they were from the same brand of clothing.
(End of Chapter)
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