Fairy Tail: I Don't Want to Be the Guild Master

After the two finished their coffee, they headed off to buy the items Mira had listed.

It was just an ordinary shopping trip. Nothing out of the ordinary happened, and they didn't run into anyone particularly noteworthy.

Rhodes found that rather comforting.

Mira glanced at him, noticing the faint smile on his face. "Why do you look so pleased?"

"I was just thinking how nice it'll be to have a proper heater once winter hits."

Mira narrowed her eyes. "That's definitely not it."

Rhodes chuckled. "Then take a guess."

She paused, then shrugged. "Nope. Not playing along."

But her subtle smirk told him she probably already figured it out.

Rhodes kept grinning. Mira resisted the urge to kick him in the shin.

When the two of them returned to the guild, arms full of packages and chatting as they walked, Macao watched them with a wistful expression. They looked like a newlywed couple stocking up on essentials for their home.

He couldn't help but be reminded of his own younger days, when he and his now ex-wife had gone through that same cozy phase.

A little pang hit his heart. Too bad it hadn't worked out.

Wakaba, puffing out a cloud of smoke from across the table, looked at Macao suspiciously. "Why do you suddenly look like that? It's creepy."

"Who are you calling creepy, you old smoker?" Macao snapped, slamming a hand on the table before slumping down again.

Wakaba cracked his knuckles, ready to brawl, only to wince and nearly throw out his back. "Oi, what's wrong with you?"

Macao sighed dramatically. "Been divorced for years, man… Suddenly got the urge to find a girlfriend again."

Wakaba raised a brow. "Romeo's five now. Don't go making rash decisions."

Macao gave him a flat look. "What's Romeo's age got to do with me finding a girlfriend? I'm not trying to find one for him… Wait. Are you jealous because it's easier for me to date as a single man?"

"Jealous?! Of you? A walking wine bottle who reeks of booze?"

"What did you say?! You human chimney!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

From behind the counter, Rhodes and Mira leaned and watched the exchange unfold like an old familiar play.

"Even when most of the guild's away, things never get quiet around here," Rhode muttered.

…

Peaceful days passed quickly, and before anyone realized it, November was already coming to a close.

Since returning from the last mission, Rhodes had been unusually busy.

Aside from his regular shifts helping out in the tavern, he'd started taking on various odd jobs during his free time—small commissions like finding lost items, delivering goods, chasing off stray dogs, or dealing with rat infestations.

These kinds of tasks didn't pay well and weren't exactly glamorous, so a lot of them had piled up over time. Most wizards wouldn't bother with them.

Rhodes used to feel the same way. Back then, he'd rather spend his time training in the guild than chasing after rodents. But now that he was strapped for cash, every bit counted. He treated the work like a part-time job.

To his surprise, there were actually benefits to doing this.

Since many of the jobs had him zipping around Magnolia's streets, Rhodes now had a solid grasp of the city's layout. If a battle ever broke out downtown, he'd know exactly how to maneuver around.

Even better, word had spread among the townsfolk that Fairy Tail now had a reliable wizard who could take care of pests without demolishing buildings. A rare gem indeed.

Best of all, Mira's opinion of him seemed to rise just a little after seeing how quickly and earnestly he handled the guild's backlog of minor tasks.

"The economic crisis has been resolved!" Rhodes declared dramatically, collapsing onto the counter. His cheek squished against the wood, but his expression was one of pure relief.

"Thanks for your hard work." Mira tucked away the final task list and poured him a glass of water.

Rhodes sat up and exhaled with satisfaction. "It wasn't so bad. I'll be getting paid in a few days. Feels like things are finally turning around."

Just then, Laki chimed in with perfect comedic timing. "You know rent's due soon, right?"

Rhodes shot her a look. "You couldn't wait five minutes to say something like that?"

"And by the way," he added with a smug grin, "my rent's only sixty thousand J. That's half of what you pay."

Laki looked horrified. "What?! How'd you manage to get such a good deal?"

"Oh? So Laki thinks her landlord's charging too much?" Rhode teased, eyes gleaming. "I'll be sure to let Chiko know."

(Chiko, of course, was the daughter of the landlord who managed the girls' dormitory.)

"I didn't say that!" Laki exclaimed in horror. "And tattling is low, Rhodes! Super low!"

"Sister Mira!" she whined, "Aren't you going to scold him for this?"

Mira, ever calm, just smiled sweetly. "Well, he did exaggerate a little. He's only saving forty thousand J, not quite half."

"That's not the point!" Laki suddenly remembered something important—those two were in the same team.

After an evening filled with laughter and banter, Rhodes still made time to train alongside the Strauss siblings.

"Has Elfman gotten stronger lately?" Rhodes asked, rubbing his forearm.

He could feel the difference. Elfman's punches were hitting harder—both in his regular state and especially after activating his Take Over magic. Even when Rhodes blocked them, the strikes left a sting behind.

He wasn't sure if it was just raw power or if Elfman was holding a grudge over something.

Elfman cracked his knuckles and answered confidently, "That's because... I'm a man!"

As expected, asking Elfman was a dead-end, so Rhodes turned to Mira for an actual answer.

"His magic has definitely grown stronger," Mira said thoughtfully. "But Rod, you've improved too, haven't you?"

"Maybe just a little," Rhodes replied with a modest shrug.

Just a little.

…

On December 8, X783, a light snow began to fall over Magnolia.

That morning, Rhodes and Elfman headed to the tailor shop to pick up their custom-made winter coats.

As soon as Rhodes and Mira walked into the guild wearing coats of matching color and style, Elfman finally realized something.

"Wait a second... this was your plan all along, wasn't it?"

"What do you mean?" Rhodes replied innocently. "I'm just a poor guy who couldn't afford a decent winter coat, so I had to hunt monsters and bring the materials to a tailor."

"Yeah right…" Elfman squinted at him suspiciously. That particular tailor shop was known for quality—and high prices. Even with monster pelts, the labor alone cost as much as a store-bought coat.

"Don't be like that, Elfman." Mira smiled warmly. "I really like the coat you gave me. How about I make you one too, in a few days?"

"No need, sis. I already have plenty of clothes." Still, Elfman suspected she only went shopping with Rhodes to get something nice for him.

Now he wanted to go hunt another Labon himself and bring it back.

Mira tried on the coat briefly and then folded it neatly away. With the new heater installed in the guild, the place was already cozy and warm.

Rhodes took his coat off too and sat beside her, chatting about possibly adding the Fairy Tail emblem to the back. Maybe a smaller version on the chest would look cool too.

The guild hall was starting to feel lively again. Members who had been busy or away for missions had finally returned, and today it was bustling with as many people as the annual Harvest Festival.

Among the crowd, relaxed faces like Rhodes, Mira, and Elfman were in the minority. Most of the guild members were visibly anxious, pacing nervously or stamping their feet in anticipation.

Because today was the announcement day—the list of participants for the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial was about to be revealed.

Bang!

A burst of sound echoed like a handheld firework going off, and a large banner bearing the Fairy Tail emblem unfurled from the second-floor attic. Colorful streamers rained down through the air, fluttering above the crowd.

All eyes turned to the balcony, where Master Makarov stood tall.

Behind him stood three of Fairy Tail's most formidable S-Class mages: Erza Scarlet, composed and serious; Mystogan, shrouded in his signature mask; and Laxus Dreyar, with his usual cocky smirk.

A wave of murmurs rolled through the guild. It wasn't every day that three S-Class wizards and the guild master appeared together—it was an event in itself.

As the chatter quieted, Makarov's powerful voice boomed across the hall:

"According to the ancient tradition of Fairy Tail, I now announce this year's candidates for the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial!"

Tension skyrocketed.

"The first candidate is... Cana Alberona!"

"Alright!" Cana cheered, her expression a mixture of excitement and disappointment. She had been hoping to see Gildarts today, but there was no sign of him.

"The second candidate... Mest Gryder!"

"He made it, just as expected," someone in the crowd nodded.

"The third candidate... Mickey Chickentiger!"

"Way to go, Captain Mickey!"

"And the fourth candidate is... Warren Rocko!"

Warren blinked in surprise. "Wait, I was chosen?"

.....

T/L: The list wasn't pulled out of thin air—the author explained the selection logic based on manga dialogue and character backstory:

Cana Alberona: Confirmed to be selected this year in canon.

Natsu, Gray, and Elfman: Mentioned by Laki to be first-time challengers next year, so they weren't chosen this time.

Alzack: Said "I didn't make it this year," confirming his exclusion.

Levy: Her team (Jet and Droy) noted "She was finally picked" next year, confirming she's out this year too.

Mest: Referenced as someone people felt sorry for last year. Possibly participated, but confusion around his identity might've led people to forget. Makarov, however, wouldn't overlook him, so he's included this year.

Gray's comment about the "high bar this year" suggests that the previous year, X783, may have had slightly lower standards.

Warren: Known to handle high-level jobs solo. Based on background and civil war involvement, he's a logical candidate.

Mickey: A brawler who once fought four enemies alone, her team is recognized as the guild's backbone. She fits the bill.

Fried: Makarov once remarked in the civil war arc, "Is Fried really that strong?"—suggesting limited knowledge of him at the time, likely excluding him this round. Bickslow and Evergreen were also relatively reclusive then.

Makao and Wakaba: Veteran mages, capable but lazy. They had no desire to participate.

Everyone else... well, not much competition.