Chapter 59: The Demon Among Us
Chapter 59: The Demon Among Us
Mira wore a long yellow dress adorned with beige ribbons and bows, simple yet elegant and beautiful.
She held a guitar, her gaze sweeping over the audience below, who were clapping and cheering.
When she noticed a certain food lover who had just put down his utensils and waved at her, Mira smiled warmly, bowed to the audience, and then took her seat.
She gracefully crossed her legs, perfectly concealing what shouldn't be seen, and then gently strummed the guitar strings.
A small bird flew in, its head transforming into a microphone, hovering in front of Mira.
The prelude began, and Mira entered her performance mode. The hall fell silent as everyone focused on the music.
Finally, she opened her mouth and sang a gentle, healing song with a clear and melodious voice.
Mira was so engrossed in her performance that her expressions and tone changed with the emotions of the lyrics and the melody.
She poured her heart into the song, touching the hearts of everyone in the room.
Even the other talented singers present couldn't help but give her a heartfelt round of applause at the end.
"May I spread my wings and soar higher, higher."
"I believe in you so much."
"From now on, let's weave our beautiful memories together."
The final lines were particularly impactful for Rod.
Logically, the song seemed to be written for all the guild members.
The most touching lines were:
"Because I have a place to return to, because I have someone waiting for me."
The guild was everyone's home, and there were always people waiting for them to come back.
Fairy Tail was such a place.
...
After finishing her song, Mira bowed and exited the stage, then went backstage to find Rod.
"How was it? I just started learning the guitar, so I was a bit worried about embarrassing myself."
"Of course not, it was beautiful. You played and sang so movingly," Rod said. "A few of the journalists were almost in tears."
"Really? That's a bit much."
"Not at all," Rod said, grabbing an empty plate and placing a few dishes in front of her. "Are you hungry? I tried these and they taste great."
Not only did they taste good, but they also didn't have much sauce, syrup, or fish bones, which made them easier to eat.
Rod's selection was meticulous, considering both her taste and her image in such a setting.
"Thank you."
Mira, who often took care of others, could appreciate being taken care of.
"Delicious," Mira said, her eyes slightly narrowing. When it came to recommending food, Rod was completely trustworthy.
Rod chose some dishes he hadn't tried yet and casually asked, "Do you have any other plans after this?"
"Just a quick hello to some familiar editors," Mira said. "But it's probably better to wait until the celebration is over before leaving. And..."
"And?"
Mira blinked her eyes. "And there's Jenny's closing performance. Aren't you looking forward to it?"
"Not particularly, but out of respect for Mr. Hibiki, I should appreciate her effort. Otherwise...
Otherwise, if she asks which of her outfits was the most eye-catching today, and I say a yellow long dress..."
Rod glanced at Mira. "I feel like she might kill me."
Mira looked at her own outfit and laughed, a bit mischievously. "Why not just say that?"
A demon.
But it sounded interesting, and Rod also laughed mischievously. "Sure, why not."
With two demons in the audience, Jenny in the backstage area shivered.
...
The celebration continued until around ten o'clock in the evening.
The official ceremonies, speeches, and employee interactions wrapped up well before nine o'clock. The remaining time was dedicated to socializing, drinking, and a bit of rowdiness, though it was still far tamer compared to the chaos within the guild.
Rod accompanied Mira through the necessary formalities and then returned to his room to rest. Mira had a few drinks that evening, her cheeks slightly flushed, but thankfully, she wasn't drunk. Because of this, there were no unexpected late-night surprises.
The only noteworthy thing was that he managed to unlock Mira's post-bath pajama outfit, but that was hardly worth mentioning.
The next morning, they tidied up and set out together, hiring a carriage with a covered compartment that could shield them from both the sun and rain. Rod confirmed that the driver was an ordinary person and that the two horses looked healthy and in good condition.
Mira was used to his cautious nature and waited quietly for him to finish his inspection before paying the driver and boarding the carriage.
Unfortunately, they didn't run into Jenny on their way out of the capital, and the prank plan was left unfinished.
"The downside of traveling by land is that the Canyon Swift Crabs are too conspicuous," Rod commented, though he still sent out two river crabs to scout ahead and behind.
"Going by boat would mean traveling upstream, and today's weather isn't suitable for sailing," Mira explained, ignoring the issue with the Swift Crabs and focusing on why they chose the carriage.
Handling such trivial tasks as renting a carriage was also a small but valuable experience for Rod to gather.
"Oh, and this is for you," Rod said, pulling a paper bag from his backpack.
Mira was about to say that her handbag already contained a Burst Magic Crystal, so she didn't need to carry anything else. But when she opened the paper bag, she found not a magic book, but a small black crossbody bag.
"Ah, this is the envelope bag from that shop yesterday?" Mira exclaimed, pleasantly surprised. "When did you get it?"
"I went for a morning jog and passed by the shop," Rod explained, though it was more of a deliberate detour. "It's a thank-you gift, but I'm not very familiar with your tastes."
He wasn't, but he remembered that Mira had worn the bag twice during her competition with Jenny. Jenny might have missed it in her anger, but she could have used it as a reason to request a penalty.
"Thank you, I love it!"
No wonder he hadn't broken a sweat when he returned from his "morning jog." Mira clutched the bag and the paper bag together, her eyes crinkling with delight.
"I'm glad you like it," Rod sighed in relief, pleased that his reasoning was correct and the gift was well-received.
Just as Rod was about to say more, he suddenly froze and called out, "Stop the carriage, stop the carriage!"
The driver pulled the reins firmly, and the two horses neighed softly as the carriage slowed to a halt. Mira, who had been sitting sideways, leaned forward slightly due to the inertia but quickly regained her balance. She asked, "What's wrong?"
Rod replied, "There are people blocking the road ahead."
Mira lifted the curtain hanging over the carriage window and looked outside, only to see a relatively flat but slightly winding dirt road. Looking further ahead, she could only see a small hill and no sign of anyone.
"Where?" she asked, puzzled.
Rod explained, "About a kilometer ahead, there are two people. One is holding a magic wand, and the other has a flute. They're both mages."
"A kilometer away..."
Mira thought about the Canyon Swift Crabs Rod had sent out, impressed by their reliability as scouts.
(End of Chapter)
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