https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-48-The-Pilferer-s-Feast-in-Development/12810263/
Chapter 47: Worm, Have You Gotten Fatter?
Chapter 47: Worm, Have You Gotten Fatter?
"It's not that. Our country doesn't have nobles or royalty. The ability to study for such a long time is probably due to policies, order, and productivity. Of course, family support is also very important..."
Rod suddenly stopped speaking. Apart from the first few days after he arrived, he dared not think about these things, nor did he want to bring them up.
The Guild Master told Rod that if he went out more, he might find clues about the 'spatial magic' that brought him here. If not, the guild would be his home. Just like Natsu, who has been searching for his adoptive father, Igneel, for six years since his disappearance. Natsu is still trying to find his beloved family, but he has also found new family in the guild.
Rod doesn't know the full story behind Natsu's situation, but he suspects it's different from his own. He might never have the chance to return.
'But it's not all bad. This is a magical, dreamlike world with many beautiful landscapes to explore.'
Rod told himself this, then threw himself into work, reading, and training, putting those thoughts aside and focusing on living his life.
Mira found it hard to imagine the kind of country Rod described. A place with a good life and order, where even ordinary children can go to school until they are adults. Such prosperity without a king or nobility... is that even possible?
She didn't press any further, as Rod had stopped speaking when he mentioned his family.
Without waiting for her to offer comfort, Rod finished his drink in one gulp and stood up. "Take care of Levy. I'm going to practice a bit more."
Mira nodded, only reminding him, "Don't overexert your magic."
...
The days in August were long. When Rod finished work and headed home, the sky was still bright.
As he walked, he waved his hand to summon Worm and gave the ungrateful creature a good rub to relieve some stress.
"Snore~" Worm made a disgruntled sound. It was too hot, and it wanted to go back to cool off.
"Wait a moment. Have you grown a bit?"
"Snore?" Worm looked confused.
"I feel like the first time I saw you, you were smaller... Maybe half the size."
He hadn't noticed before because they were together every day, but with Worm being away more often lately, he realized it was growing.
"Don't rush off yet. I'll weigh you to have a comparison for next time."
"Woof~" Worm's small horns drooped. It felt like its owner was getting revenge, and the weighing was just an excuse.
"Rod!" Two familiar figures were waiting for him on his way home.
"Jett, Droy? What's up?"
Rod stopped. To be honest, after witnessing their failed confessions earlier, he felt a bit awkward seeing them now.
Droy stuttered, unable to speak, but Jett, being straightforward, said, "We're here about Levy!"
"Huh?" Rod thought for a moment. "You want me to keep it a secret?"
Jett shook his head. "Not at all. It's just a failed confession; there's nothing to be ashamed of!"
"Actually, it would be best if you could keep it a secret," Droy mumbled quietly, but Rod didn't hear him and only got a glare from Jett.
Jett got to the point. "The thing is..."
Rod summarized, "So, you two rushed into confessing because I've been spending more time with Levy, making you feel threatened?"
Droy added, "And it seems like Levy is always so happy when she's with you."
Of course, they were all happy. Didn’t they know how joyful learning could be?
"You’re overthinking it. Levy is simply enjoying the pleasure of acquiring new knowledge. She genuinely loves anything related to texts."
Troy was unsure. "Really?"
Rod said, "You’ve grown up with her. Don’t you know how much she loves studying texts, like ancient scripts and such?"
Jett felt a bit embarrassed. "When she’s researching those things, we’re either sleeping or hiding far away..."
Rod stroked Worm's small horns, speaking with certainty. "I’m sure Levy doesn’t have the kind of feelings for me that you’re worried about. I don’t feel that way about her either. I’m not into that type."
Jett and Troy felt like crying. It seemed they had done something foolish.
"Go ahead and cry if you need to. Once you’re done, think about how to handle your relationship with her. Levy has already clearly rejected you."
Rod bid farewell to the two love-struck individuals, feeling relieved inside.
Thankfully, these two weren’t the kind to cause a scene. Otherwise, he might have faced some melodramatic scenarios like, "I don’t believe you unless you prove it to me," or "Defeat us, or you’re not allowed to get close to Levy."
It was so much easier to deal with people who spoke their minds and understood things right away.
On his way back, Rod saw a vendor packing up his watermelon stand.
He shamelessly asked the vendor to weigh Worm, then left without buying a watermelon.
Damn, why are watermelons so expensive? When I earn a lot of money, I’ll buy two at once, eat one, and share the other with my guildmates.
Rod noted down Worm’s weight, bought some cookies Worm liked, and sent him back to the Howling Abyss to cool off.
...
After work, Rod followed his usual routine: physical training, punching the heavy bag, taking a shower, doing a bit of housework, and then sitting at his desk to organize the information from magazines.
He had finished reading the nearly sixty magazines Laki lent him last week and hadn’t returned them yet.
He had originally planned to make a clipping album, but since they weren’t his own, he decided against it.
Rod gritted his teeth, determined to return the magazines tomorrow.
He was currently flipping through the two weekly magazines he had bought this month, which cost about as much as a few beers—still affordable for him.
This week, Sorcela introduced a magic guild called Mermaid Heel, a guild with only female members.
Apparently, this guild was very popular, and many male mages applied to join, all of whom were rejected.
A few stubborn ones ignored the warnings and persisted in pestering the guild members daily.
As a result, they were knocked out, dressed in frilly dresses, heavily made up, and tied up at the guild’s entrance for a day and a night.
After that, mages generally agreed not to underestimate the women of Mermaid Heel just because they were all female.
And they certainly didn’t want to provoke them lightly.
The highlight was the introduction of the prodigy mage, Kagura, who excelled in both swordsmanship and gravity magic, surpassing all her peers in the guild. She was expected to become a pillar of Mermaid Heel in the future.
Her classic bob hairstyle and a large sword reminded Rod of a woman named Mei.
Thinking about the past, Rod believed he had moved past the phase of being infatuated with fictional characters.
He silently noted down the information about Mermaid Heel and Kagura, put the magazine aside, and began his daily meditation.
Magic Power +1 +1 +1...
The time spent in practice was fulfilling and enjoyable.
(End of Chapter)
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