Chapter 388: Darkness, Enemies
Chapter 388: Darkness, Enemies
The boys were eager to play, while the girls, after applying sunscreen, took a moment to sunbathe and enjoy some ice cream before joining in.
Swimming, water fights, and even watermelon smashing were all part of the fun, but the most thrilling activity was undoubtedly beach volleyball.
Among the boys, Natsu stood out as the best player, as he was determined to win from the start.
Gray and Rod, on the other hand, faced some challenges, especially at the beginning of the game, as they couldn't decide whether to focus on the ball or the girls in their swimsuits.
After playing for a while and getting used to the situation, they gradually found their rhythm.
"You two are so lame! Haha..." Natsu mercilessly teased them.
Rod and Gray chose to ignore him.
The group enjoyed their lively activities for most of the day, and it was only when they felt hungry that they returned to the hotel for showers, meals, and a well-deserved rest.
But the fun didn't end there, as the hotel had an underground entertainment city (casino), and the group decided to take a short break in their rooms before exploring it.
"What are you doing here?" Mira asked, momentarily distracted, allowing Rod to sneak into her room.
Rod hugged her, "Because it's a rare opportunity for us to be alone."
Mila snuggled into his embrace, "But I want to take a nap."
Rod suggested, "Let's do it together."
Mira remained silent, staring at him.
Rod raised a hand, "I promise not to do anything."
The bright daylight made things awkward, and those rude guys might burst in at any moment.
Even if they didn't intentionally intrude, a fight could still lead to a wall being broken through, which wouldn't be surprising.
This was the only downside to being out with a group—certain activities became inconvenient.
With no other choice, Rod snuggled up with the soft, human-shaped pillow, and a nap sounded delightful.
However, Rod soon realized his mistake.
After falling asleep, Mira used him as a pillow, wrapping her arms and legs around him.
If it weren't for her gentle strength, Rod would have wondered if she had mastered some advanced locking technique.
Now, the question arose: what should a boyfriend do when his girlfriend is asleep? Should he give her a big hug and ask if she had a nightmare when she wakes up? Rod wasn't ready for that.
Instead, he quietly admired Mira's sleeping face, wondering if he could steal a kiss without being noticed.
Although he could kiss her while she was awake, doing so while she slept felt different.
Mira seemed to be sleeping soundly, and even gentle pokes and pinches didn't wake her.
Rod, feeling smug, thought that it was because she was in his embrace that she slept so peacefully. He gently hugged Mira and closed his eyes as well.
When he woke up, Mira was lying on the bed, propping her chin with one hand and staring intently at him with her big eyes.
Rod met her gaze and asked, "Do I look good?"
"Hmm..." Mira paused, then smiled, "No, you don't."
Despite her words, she continued to stare intently. Rod's eyes wandered downward for a moment before returning to hers, "What time is it?"
"We've overslept. Elusa and the others are probably already having fun," Mira said as she sat up on the bed, taking Rod's hand. "Let's change and go down."
"Okay." Rod was pulled up by her, and with a swish, he changed his clothes flawlessly, his transformation magic becoming more and more proficient.
Mira opened her suitcase and searched for suitable clothing, saying, "Shouldn't I learn transformation magic too?"
"Sure, I'll teach you," Rod replied, "But isn't shape-shifting magic more convenient? You can even create clothes you don't own."
"But I have to maintain it with my magic power, and it's quite tiring, even though it's not much." Mira said, "I can't just transform into a nice outfit and then ask you to put the Insight Crown on me."
Rod laughed and said, "That's not a bad idea either. Wearing a beautiful evening gown, surrounded by red and blue lights, you'd be the center of attention."
"Only Elsa would go to the trouble of changing into a dress just to go to the casino."
In the end, Mira only took a casual outfit, and asked Rod to turn around so he couldn't peek. Before, she would either send him out or change in the bathroom herself. Rod tried to find a direction to look, but unfortunately, there was no mirror.
"Done."
When Rod turned around, Mira had already changed into a simple short-sleeved shirt, paired with light blue denim shorts, and black high-heeled sandals.
She gathered her hair to tie it up but then let go and turned around, "Help me with this."
Rod smiled, "Sure."
However, just as he took a step forward, darkness engulfed his vision.
It was pure darkness; even Mira, who was right in front of him, was completely invisible.
"Coo-coo~"
"Ah!"
In that instant, Rod heard a strange bird call, followed by Mira's startled cry as she bumped into him.
A powerful force pushed Rod and Mira together, breaking the door behind them as they fell onto the corridor floor.
The darkness quickly dissipated, and as they stood up, they realized they were already surrounded by three strange individuals.
Mira covered her stomach with one hand and stood back-to-back with Rod, not waiting for him to ask, "I'm fine, be careful."
"Mhm." Now wasn't the time for unnecessary chatter. Rod carefully observed their appearances, pondering their origins.
The sudden darkness and the silent ambush left no doubt that they were enemies, and their target was clear: the two of them.
Rod felt like he had seen these people somewhere before...
One was a woman in a kimono, holding a red samurai sword. Her pink hair was styled into two loops on her head, resembling a hairstyle called the 'Tsuridashi Hime Kamiko.'
Another was a burly man with his upper body bare, his neck resembling an owl's, and he wore a rocket backpack, probably a propulsion device of some sort.
There was also a man with long black hair that reached the floor, wearing dark-colored lipstick and carrying an electric guitar. His entire appearance gave off a heavy metal vibe.
"The Skull Society?" Mira recognized the emblem on their bodies and clothes, "It's the Assassins' Guild."
Rod added, "To be precise, it's the Assassins' Guild, and they are among the best, a special guerrilla unit called the Three Ravens."
These three alone, in one war, had assassinated all the officers in the enemy's army.
The long-haired man strummed his guitar, producing a discordant sound. He flicked his long hair and praised, "As expected of the Fairy Strategist, your intelligence is impressive."
The owl-like man who had emerged from the room let out a strange cry, "Coo-coo! We are warriors of justice, and everything we do is to eradicate evil."
Mira exclaimed in disbelief, "You call yourselves warriors of justice when you're hired killers?"
"There's no need for pointless arguments." The pink-haired woman took two steps forward in a stance resembling the butterfly step. Her wooden clogs made a clacking sound with each step.
"My name is Magpie, and I'm here on orders to pay you a visit. Please give us your guidance."
(End of Chapter)
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