The President wasn't exaggerating; the food in this restaurant is indeed delicious, and the atmosphere is great.
There are certainly quite a number of beauties here too.
Although most of them are with male companions, indulging in visual treats like the President does once in a while isn't a big deal.
As long as you're not afraid of getting beaten up.
Rhode can guarantee that he wasn't looking around while eating, because just occasionally glancing at the person before him made him perfectly satisfied.
Today, Mira was wearing a long black dress, with no special decoration other than a ribbon around her neck.
Her hairstyle was the same as usual, except the small hairband tying her hair matched her outfit—black.
Simple, yet beautiful.
Mira suddenly stopped, wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin, and asked, "Am I eating messily?"
Rhode replied, "Not at all, it's... very normal. Why do you ask?"
Momentarily at a loss for words to describe how she ate.
She took a small mirror out of her purse: "Because you kept looking up, I thought I might have something on my face."
Is it possible that I was looking at you simply because I wanted to?
Rhode thought for a moment and said, "It's just that you always have this hairstyle, except when wearing a hat.
I was wondering what you'd look like with bangs down."
Mira blinked, took off the small hairband from the top of her head, let her bangs fall across her forehead, and smoothed them out neatly.
She checked the mirror and, seeing nothing wrong, lifted her head: "Like this?"
"..." Last time, it was just a glimpse and I thought it might look good; seeing it closely now, I'd call it stunning.
"So beautiful, I'd like Lidas to paint it exactly as it is... but he might not be able to."
Rhode couldn't help but wonder if her usual hairstyle was to seal away her overwhelming beauty.
Though, she already looked great.
"Oh dear, you're exaggerating."
Mira hastily tied her hair back, much to Rhode's regret.
Lunch finished in a pleasant atmosphere, and Rhode prepared to get up and pay the bill.
"Wait a minute." Mira stopped him.
"What's up?"
"That seems to be Loki."
"Loki?" Rhode wanted to say how every time they went out, they ran into someone familiar, but on second thought, it made sense.
"Running into Loki in a place like this is normal, right?"
Mira gave him a knowing look, you knew it was 'a place like this' too.
Rhode didn't feel guilty at all. I only realized it was this kind of place after I arrived.
"I can guess without turning around; this guy's probably brought two girls along again."
Mira denied it: "No, a third one just joined."
There seemed to be a hint of excitement in her voice; perhaps Mira's strongest magic wasn't Satan's Soul, but Gossip Soul.
"Three? Isn't that a battlefield?" Rhode got excited too, could this guy be in trouble?
"Quick, lend me the mirror!"
"Why use a mirror?"
"If he sees me, he'll run away, and there'll be no drama to watch. Hurry up!"
Rhode even scooted over to create space, patting the empty seat, "Come on, come join me."
Sure enough, Mira was also worried Loki would run, so she quietly 'sneaked' next to Rhode, pulling out the same small mirror.
The two of them snuck a look blatantly together.
They saw a girl next to Loki, and another sitting across from him, seemingly competing to feed Loki.
This enviable bastard.
The fun began when a third girl passed by outside, and seeing Loki on a date with others, burst in.
She was both angry and upset, questioning whether Loki's love for her was fake, or something like that.
Rhode silently regretted; this girl was too gentle, why didn't she slap him on the spot?
However, Loki adjusted his glasses and sincerely expressed his affection.
The girl's anger miraculously dissipated, and she affectionately clung to his arm.
This sparked displeasure among the other two girls, and it seemed the three were about to argue.
Loki whispered something in each girl's ear, and the first two girls blushed, smiling as they left.
Rhode was stunned: "How... did he do it?"
Mira gently shook her head: "Not sure, but Loki's definitely the strongest in the Guild when it comes to this."
Things that spread along a straight line.
The compact mirror isn't like a phone, viewing angles of Loki are limited, so the two had to lean very close to watch together.
So close that Rhode could smell the fragrance of Mira's hair; so close that when Mira gently shook her head, her hair strands brushed against Rhode's cheek.
Though they didn't witness the drama they hoped for, Rhode didn't feel it was a loss.
Mira found this quite amusing as well, so it wasn't a loss.
...
The next day, in the Guild's backyard.
Mira was earnestly explaining Receiving Magic word by word:
"The most important thing about Receiving Magic is proficiency, or rather control; being able to adeptly operate each of your forms is essential."
After having talked things over the previous day, Mira was no longer resistant to Rhode learning Receiving Magic.
And thus Mira became Mira-sensei once more.
As for the original instructor, one of the Ten Wizard Saints, and Fairy Tail's third generation President, Makarov...
He was sent off by Mira to write a report.
The old man couldn't comprehend why Mira suddenly became stern and even ordered him to quit drinking.
"There's a big problem, as the Magic Power consumption for Receiving Magic is much greater than that for Summoning, making it impossible to practice for long hours daily."
The best method of course is to increase Magic Power, but that takes a lot of time.
Even with Rhode's current limited Magic Power foundation, to see significant results, dedicated training for a few weeks is needed.
And to continue Rhode's comprehensive cultivation rhythm...
Mira thought for a moment: "In that case, you could try 'Partial Receiving', like just receiving in your arms, or only your legs.
This way, you can train each ability separately, and once you're familiar with it to a certain degree, then use 'Full Body Receiving' for training."
Elfman now frequently uses Partial Receiving.
For the same reason as Mira, he currently can't use Full Body Receiving.
Partial Receiving is less difficult than Full Body Receiving, and consumes less Magic Power.
Of course, its power is far inferior to Full Body Receiving.
In battle, it might not seem powerful enough, but it's just right for a novice to train with.
"That will work too." Rhode agreed it was worth a try, "Partial Receiving · Gorge Swift Crab's Soul · Right Arm!"
On Rhode's right arm, light spots flickered, and it was soon covered with a green shell, extending all the way to his shoulder.
It was indeed much easier!
He moved his right arm, and his strength had significantly increased.
Besides, the effect just now... made him feel like Iron Man.
Rhode stretched his left arm and used Partial Receiving again, the green shell extended from his arm to his chest.
"Your magic control isn't precise yet, but having just started learning, being able to use Full Body Receiving and Partial Receiving like this is truly impressive, Rhode."
Mira was somewhat impressed; she once troubled over not being able to change her arms back.
Rhode chuckled, not thinking himself remarkable.
The fast progress might be because the wild monsters completely obeyed his orders.
He didn't need to struggle with willpower or soul conflicts like other Receiving Magic users.
Hence, utilizing this strength from the wild monsters is far easier than other people's Receiving Magic.
Rhode practiced for a while, and Mira explained some tips she had summarized.
She also corrected Rhode's unnecessary movements in battle based on her experience, bit by bit.
"Mira~ there's a task here I'd like to take!"
"Coming right away."
They let Rhode train on his own until someone came to disturb them.
Whoosh whoosh, Rhode swung his arm, now a crab claw, a fine training it was.