Even though Makarov's smile was almost crooked with happiness, the request to hold a banquet was rejected.
These days he has important matters to attend to — the exam venue needs some remodeling, and he must plan it in advance.
Then there's the issue of an S-Class candidate becoming one of the Ten Wizard Saints...
He has to think about how to adjust the exam rules.
Even without a formal banquet, everyone still surrounded Rhode for a while to make some noise.
But after they started, these unreliable people soon forgot about Rhode as the main event, turning it into just a noisy gathering.
So Rhode soon managed to get away.
"Good work." Mira said with a cheerful smile, pouring Rhode a glass of water.
Rhode drank it in one gulp, then looked at her and said, "Not just hard work, but also very hungry."
"Ah, haven't you had lunch yet?" Mira asked quickly, "What would you like to eat? I'll make it for you."
There were quite a few things he wanted to eat, but Rhode just stared at Mira without saying anything.
Mira followed his gaze, lowered her head, blushed, and softly scolded, "Be serious!"
Rhode reluctantly averted his eyes, squeezed her hand under the counter, and said, "Just make something simple."
"Okay, it'll be ready soon." Mira walked away with small steps, noticing her heart racing again.
Rhode also felt something wasn't right. When Mira withdrew her hand, he was a little reluctant to let go. This kind of 'symptom' hadn't happened for a while.
He felt now, much like when they first clarified their relationship. He couldn't bear to let her go whenever he touched her, wanting to stick together all the time.
The difference now was that he would unconsciously recall some memorable scenes and longed to take her home.
Rhode patted his own face and muttered to himself, "Is it really this intense?"
"What's that?" A young girl's voice suddenly chimed in.
Rhode was startled, realizing it was Lisana. He counter-questioned, "What was that?"
Lisana sat down at the counter, resting her chin on her hands, gazing into Rhode's eyes: "Of course, I'm curious about what you said to Sister Mira that made her blush so much."
Rhode truthfully replied, "She asked what I wanted to eat, I said just make something simple, that's all."
"Liar, what's there to blush about a thing like that?"
The truth is always hard to believe... Rhode said helplessly, "If you don't believe me, go ask her."
"Asking won't help, you two are in cahoots." Lisana made a sad face, as if her sister had abandoned her.
"Yes, yes." Rhode brushed it off.
One should say she truly is Mira's sister, Lisana's acting skills are exceptionally good.
If he hadn't been regularly baptized by Mira's acts like looking pitiful, pretending to be angry, or pretending not to be angry, Rhode might have believed her.
Lisana, dissatisfied with Rhode's dismissive attitude, switched to a wheedling attack: "Lord Rhode~ no, Brother-in-law~ dear Brother-in-law~"
Rhode was unmoved; after all, no little sister-in-law could call sweetly like Mira did this morning with a single "husband."
But isn't this girl just as curious as her sister? To conjure up such a weird title as Brother-in-law for a bit of gossip.
Watching Lisana gradually pout in discontent, Rhode only said, "When you find a boyfriend, you won't have to ask me everything."
Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Lisana got excited: "Is it something only couples talk about? Brother-in-law, quickly tell me!
"By the way, I thought Sister Mira was acting strange today, spacing out sometimes, what happened? Was she thinking of you after you parted?
"Also, the clothes Sister Mira wore today, I've never seen before. Could it be... some kind of token of love that she kept and was reluctant to wear?"
Lisana's questions flew out like machine-gun fire, somewhat overwhelming Rhode, but simultaneously offering a bit of delightful information.
Precisely her various speculations... she's indeed still a child.
Mira came out carrying a big bowl of ramen, decisively stopping her: "Lisana, stop asking and let him eat properly."
"That was fast?" Rhode was a bit surprised, making instant noodles wouldn't be this fast, would it?
"Actually, this was Wakaba's order, but he's busy now, so I'll give it to you first." Mira said righteously, "Otherwise, it won't taste good if it sits too long."
When it came to showing her wifely prowess versus letting Rhode go hungry, Mira indeed couldn't bear to let him go hungry longer.
Lisana showed an admiring look, as expected of her sister, her bias was openly obvious.
Wakaba indeed didn't have time now; he was just arguing with Macao over whether this issue's cover girl Jenny Lealight had a better chest or buttocks.
Then, as they argued, they broke into a fight, utterly disregarding meals.
Rhode decisively accepted his wife's goodwill, as that was also an act of helping others, anyway, Mr. Cook would make another one.
...
Later, Natsu returned to the guild after completing a task for dinner.
But during the wait, Lucy went to have a chat with Natsu, and then...
"What?!!!" Natsu suddenly felt like the sky was falling.
Missing the medal awarding ceremony was one thing, missing the celebration banquet was another, but...
He and Hapi were just away from the guild for a day yesterday, how did Rhode become one of the Ten Wizard Saints?
He was bitterly working hard to qualify for the S-Class exam, while Rhode sat in the guild every day, how did he become one of the Ten Wizard Saints?
No, just a few days ago, he even took time to train with Rhode, got beat up by the Purgatory Sub-Dragon, then beat up by Mira, and then together by Rhode and Wendy's teamwork...
Natsu thought Rhode was able to beat him easily with Wendy's help, but how did he end up on the same level as the old man?
He was determined to knock down Rhode, Kana, Gajeel, Gray... all those who might become his opponents as he prepared for the S-Class exam, how did someone suddenly skip a level?
"Rhode! Duel with me!"
"Sure."
In the past, when Rhode wanted to fight Natsu, Natsu never shirked, and now Rhode wouldn't refuse Natsu either.
Unfortunately, even though Natsu said he wanted a duel, Rhode always felt like he couldn't let go.
Transform into Canyon Vanguard to deal with it was enough.
Switch to the Cloud Sub-Dragon form and with speed advantage secure a one-hit victory; switch to Mountain Sub-Dragon form to crush with defense and power.
Purgatory Sub-Dragon form... unless Natsu insisted, only a fool would use Fire Magic against Natsu.
The defeat in a duel didn't dampen Natsu's fighting spirit. Although Rhode is strong, he feels he can become even stronger.
Lose, then return to training, there's time before the formal exam, with some hard effort, it's doable.
Gray and Alzack returned, and after hearing about Rhode, also lamented inwardly.
The pessimistic ones are now thinking about giving up, the optimistic ones are considering that Rhode might not need to take the exam at all.
As for Elfman:
"Men... men should!"
Rhode thought, dear brother-in-law must be happy for him.