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Chapter 460: Not Without Challenges
Chapter 460: Not Without Challenges
"Liar!" Lucy accused Rod.
Rod asked, "Who? I just made a bet with you."
Lucy thought for a moment and suddenly smiled triumphantly, "Then I win, there's no such task at all!"
"Who said we were betting on whether there's such a task or not? Weren't we betting on whether you could get the money or not?" Rod asked, "Did you get the money?"
"..." Lucy couldn't deny this question. She had indeed received the money, a whole 600,000 J, enough for eight months' rent!
She wouldn't have to worry about money for a long time, and even if she didn't work for a few months, it wouldn't be a problem.
But that was her rightful reward, and Rod had used it for a bet, which made her furious!
"You have to honor the bet!" Rod said enthusiastically, "That shop is right..."
"I know!" Lucy stomped her foot and left the guild, sulking and clutching her money.
However, as soon as she stepped out, her anger turned into laughter. She had earned so much money for the first time, and it would be nice to treat Miss Mira to some dessert.
If it weren't for her rationality, she would have spent the entire amount at the dessert shop, and Miss Heartfilia would have had to foot the bill.
She decided to buy two desserts! She would eat them with Miss Mira, and let that person watch!
Naive Lucy didn't understand the concept of showing off her relationship.
So when she returned, she was showered with affection, making her feel like the cake had lost its sweetness.
In the afternoon, Gray came to the guild for a visit, and Erza took the opportunity to maintain discipline before leaving to check on her armor that was being repaired.
Her battles were quite costly as well.
Rod casually handed over the rewards to Gray and Erza, drawing even more resentful stares from Lucy.
He ignored the resentment in Lucy's eyes and asked naturally, "Where are Natsu and Happy?"
"They're probably sleeping at home. Natsu likes to eat a lot and then sleep whenever he's injured," Lucy replied.
"Then when will they be here?"
"Probably... Why are you asking me?"
"Because they might just sleepwalk their way to your house."
"That's impossible..." Lucy herself was losing confidence. She sighed, "Do you know where to buy high-quality door locks?"
Rod asked with a smile, "Do you want a burglar-proof window too?"
Lucy slumped onto the counter, resigned to her fate.
...
In the late afternoon, around four o'clock, Rod and Mira decided to take a little break.
At this time, there wouldn't be many people coming to take on missions, and the tavern wasn't too busy either. After saying hello to Lachi and the others, the two of them set off before the sky turned dark.
Mira was wearing a pair of dark blue skinny jeans and a pink thin sweater with the Fairy Tail emblem in white. Her heart-shaped neckline revealed the necklace Rod had given her, and her long hair flowed freely.
From a distance, the short top and high-waisted pants made her legs appear exceptionally long.
As they left the guild, Mira was still looking at herself in a small mirror, seeking the opinions of those around her, "Should I try wearing a white beret next time?"
Rod surveyed her white hair, "Would black be better?"
"We'll see." Mira put away her mirror and naturally wrapped her arm around Rod's arm.
It was already a bit chilly in late autumn, and her outfit was just right for the weather. Their embrace seemed perfectly fitting for the season.
On the streets of Magnolia, the leaves of the roadside trees had already turned yellow, and although they had been cleaned up in the morning, they had fallen again by the evening.
Although they were supposed to be looking at a house, the two walked at a leisurely pace. With all the recent battles and missions, they hadn't had the chance to enjoy the autumn scenery in the city together.
They strolled down the streets, crossed small bridges, stopped by interesting shops, and paused to watch the returning ships at the harbor.
Rod and Mira walked unhurriedly, less like an unmarried couple house-hunting and more like an old married couple out for a walk.
Following Chico's address, the two found the house on Strawberry Street.
From the outside, it looked like a very ordinary two-story building, but it seemed a bit narrow, narrower than Rod's current rental.
Rod felt it was a bit too small, but since they had come all this way, he decided to take a look before making a decision.
He knocked on the door, and a middle-aged man in his fifties answered. He had short, salt-and-pepper hair and a trimmed beard, appearing quite energetic.
"Hello, we heard that this house is for sale, so we'd like to take a look," Rod said.
"Oh, please come in!" The man enthusiastically invited them in and called for his wife to brew some tea. The four of them sat down and chatted.
After a few words, the man suddenly recognized them, "You... aren't you mages from Fairy Tail? Oh, it's Miss Mira and Mr. Rod!"
The aunt also realized and showed a delighted expression, "Oh... it's you! I heard from Mrs. Minnie that you two are engaged. Is it true? When's the wedding? Oh, you must be looking for a place to live after marriage."
Mrs. Minnie was Vakaba's wife.
The aunt rambled on, and Rod saw a familiar glint of gossip in her eyes.
Mira happily chatted with the aunt, from guild gossip to their own lives, marriage, men, family, and children...
Rod and the man across from him couldn't get a word in, so they silently sipped their tea.
However, their conversation wasn't in vain; Rod learned through eavesdropping that the couple was selling the house because they planned to move to the royal capital.
Their son had started a business and made a fortune, settling down in the capital with a shop and a farm in the suburbs.
The couple intended to help their son and eventually retire on the farm.
— As they grew older, the bustling and exciting life in Magnolia was becoming less suitable for them.
Rod felt a bit guilty about the 'bustling and exciting' part, as their guild was partly responsible for that.
Additionally, he learned that the neighbor on the left ran a grocery store, the one on the right often rented out their house, and the family behind them had a large dog that could be intimidating...
The two women discussed all sorts of matters, big and small, even the friendliness of the neighbors.
Rod effortlessly gathered information about the surroundings without saying a word, and it was then that he realized Mira's gossip trait wasn't just a cute quirk but also a talent.
After chatting for a while, the aunt, reminded by her husband, took the two on a house tour.
Rod went upstairs and downstairs, and indeed, he still felt the house was a bit small and old.
Mira seemed to understand his expression and said she'd consider it before making a decision.
The couple didn't push further, and the man reminded Rod that someone wanted to buy the place to open a cafe, so he should think carefully.
The aunt, on the other hand, happily invited Mira to visit a newly opened hat and shoe shop in the downtown area.
After spending so much time there, the sky had darkened, and the two still had to go back to the guild for their evening shift.
A kind boatman on the river reminded the young couple strolling along the shore to be careful not to fall into the water.
Rod and Mira waved at them in gratitude and continued their peaceful moment together.
The night breeze blew gently, rippling the canal's surface, and Mira adjusted her collar.
Rod draped a coat over Mira and embraced her, "Am I being too picky?"
He used to think that the house-hunting scenes on TV were fake and exaggerated, but now he understood that no matter how good the owner's description was, there would always be something he didn't like.
Mira smiled and said, "Since it's going to be our future home, it's only right to be a bit picky. Don't worry, I know of two more places we can check out tomorrow."
She always had her unique sources of information.
(End of Chapter)
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