Chapter 98: What to Do
Chapter 98: What to Do
"Stop running, Laxus!"
"You're in no shape to think about Laxus!"
Rod patted Natsu's head, "Why don't you challenge me? I'll show you how it's done."
"Yay! I bet on Rod to win!"
Now that he knew Natsu was fine, Happy didn't hold back in tormenting him.
Natsu began to argue with Happy, but his voice was weak and listless.
Happy got more and more into it, thinking that even in this state, Natsu could still put up a fight.
Meanwhile, Rod opened his cloth bag, revealing several packets of medicine and a note detailing their usage.
"How did she figure it out?"
He had been training hard lately, but he often used the Ember Crown to recover. He also applied some external ointments and potions, and didn't feel any discomfort.
"Rod, you smell like medicine. It's making me nauseous."
Smell? Rod sniffed his own arm and then held it in front of Happy, "Do you smell anything?"
"No fish smell."
"I didn't ask about fish!"
It must be a very faint scent, only noticeable up close. Natsu and Granbull must have picked it up, but how did Porlyusica notice?
Or did she notice something off about his complexion or muscle stiffness?
It seems the Red Buff's life recovery isn't all-powerful. He couldn't push himself too hard without consequences.
...
When they returned to the guild, the floor and furniture had already been restored, thanks to Laki.
Natsu followed Rod and Happy into the guild, looking like a zombie, his steps unsteady.
"Are you okay, Natsu!"
Someone called out to Natsu as soon as they entered, but he didn't respond.
Happy answered for him, "Yay! Granbull said he'll be fine after a few days of rest."
Seeing that Natsu had no direction and was just following him, Rod kindly led him to Erza's table.
"Erza, I need to get back to work, can you take care of Natsu?"
"Leave it to me!" Erza took Natsu under her wing.
Rod heard a 'clunk' as Natsu's head collided with Erza's armor.
He rubbed his forehead, recognizing the familiar sound.
Ha ha ha... Rod didn't chuckle.
When he returned to the bar, Mira greeted him and asked, "Is Natsu okay?"
Rod nodded, "Yeah, he'll just be weak for a while. He needs more rest."
"That's good. What's that?" Mira noticed the cloth bag in Rod's hand.
"Granbull suddenly gave me these medicines."
Mira paused her work, "Pushing yourself again?"
Rod felt a bit guilty, "Not really, just trying some ordinary extreme training."
Mira looked at him, "How do 'ordinary' and 'extreme' go together?"
"Um... my common language isn't... great..."
"Rod." Her tone was light, but her displeasure was clear.
"I'm just looking for a way to get stronger quickly. I've been more careful lately, and I think I'll find the right training intensity soon."
Hopefully, he could find a balance before the medicines ran out.
Thinking about how casually Laxus had dealt with Natsu today, Rod knew he couldn't stop pushing himself. If he did, it would take even longer to beat Laxus and Mystogan.
Rod looked at the medicine packets in his hand. They would last a while, so he might as well keep training.
Mira fell silent, and Rod felt a bit awkward. "Um... Aren't you going to say something?"
"What?" Mira wrote something in the register without looking up. "You're right. Your reasoning is sound, and your plans are well-thought-out."
"…Oh."
Rod felt the atmosphere was off and thought he should say something.
Should he reason with her? But she already agreed with him.
Apologize? It wouldn't make sense to apologize out of nowhere.
Crack a joke? That had already been shut down once.
Try to comfort her? That wouldn't be appropriate, given their current relationship.
Ignoring the situation was the worst option.
At that moment, Mr. Cook's voice rang out, "Table 6, roasted lamb chops, and a seasonal pizza."
"Coming up." Rod placed the cloth on the counter and went to the serving station to pick up the order.
As he carried the tray around the counter, he paused in front of Mira, hesitated for a moment, and then whispered, "Thanks."
Mira's pen paused, and she looked up as Rod walked away, her gaze softening considerably.
...
After a busy day, it was finally time to close up.
Rod and Mira finished tidying up the tavern. Sally and Izu had been around these past few days, so they couldn't go out on missions and decided to help out at the tavern instead.
After finishing the chores, everyone said their goodbyes, and Rod headed to the backyard.
Raki asked, "Going to practice again?"
"Yeah, it's been busy lately, and I haven't had much time to practice my magic during the day."
"Lock up the place. I'll head out from the backyard in a bit," Rod said.
"Activate!" Rod transformed into the Swift Crab form and practiced the small skills that came with it before releasing the magic.
"Activate—Monster Soul—Shadow Wolf!"
Flashes of light enveloped Rod, and his form grew taller. His body sprouted wolf fur, and his appearance changed entirely into that of a werewolf.
He had absorbed the essence of a two-headed wolf, but instead of growing a second head, a shadowy wolf form now circled around him.
With a mere thought, Rod could command the shadow wolf to lunge and bite, as if it were an extension of his own body.
This form not only enhanced his strength and coordination but also allowed him to move stealthily in the shadows. His sense of smell was greatly heightened, especially for the scent of blood.
After practicing in the Shadow Wolf form for a while, Rod released the magic, conserving enough mana for the next summoning.
He then began an intense training session using the various equipment in the yard.
By the time he was nearly exhausted, Rod lay on the ground, gasping for breath, and summoned a Crimson Mark Tree Monster to cast Ember's Crown on himself.
"Exhausted. I must be crazy to do this to myself."
Determination was one thing, but complaining was another.
Rod closed his eyes and waited for Ember's Crown to take effect.
The soothing sensation of life restoration gradually eased the aches and pains, making him feel comfortable.
So comfortable, it was as if someone was gently wiping the sweat from his face with a warm towel…
Rod opened his eyes. "Mira? You're still here so late?"
Mira was crouched beside him, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I had to take inventory of the drinks and prepare tomorrow's shopping list. It took a bit of time. When I heard your voice in the yard, I came to check on you."
Rod believed her. It was normal for her to check on him, even bringing a towel and preparing a potion.
Mira's grip tightened. "What are you smirking about?"
"Ouch, ouch, ouch!" Rod forced himself to stop smiling. "I was just thinking… weren't you going to tell me to stop?"
(End of Chapter)
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