Getting the concern from Mira and Lucy, Reby felt much better and immediately decided to take on a task, earn some living expenses, and get a change of scenery.
Rhode recommended a treasure hunt and puzzle-solving task that suited the three of them.
The goal was to decode a cipher left in the client's grandfather's will and find a family heirloom treasure sword, with a reward of 60,000 J in a small town near Hakobe Mountain.
Not only Reby, but even Lucy was interested in this task.
Unfortunately, if she acted with the Lane Engine Squad, the reward couldn't cover her rent.
On the other side, Erza calmed down Natsu's mood: "We should get to work too, Gray, Lucy, prepare to set off."
"Have we decided on a task?" Lucy wanted to ask Rhode and Mira if they had any suggestions.
"I've already looked at the bulletin board this morning, hmm... this one hasn't been taken yet." Erza tore off a task list and placed it on the counter.
Investigating the Magic Order causing trouble around Rubinus, reward 500,000 J.
The Magic Order isn't the Black Magic Sect; they don't worship Zeref, they just use magic to cause trouble, equivalent to a higher-level bandit group.
Regarding rent, Lucy was a bit cautious: "Mr. Rhode, any suggestions?"
"Suggestions? Just find a way to make those three tone down a bit."
Erza taking on such a task was certainly no issue, equivalent to a high-level veteran leading newcomers through lower-level tasks.
As long as they don't blow up the map, they're good to go.
"That's the hardest part..." Lucy sighed, "I'll try my best."
"Sorry, the guild's relying on you." Erza still remembered the President entrusted them three.
Rhode waved his hand: "No worries, next time Mira and I go out, we'll be troubling you."
"No problem!" Erza thought for a moment, then suddenly said, "How about we form a fixed team, like Mira and Rhode?"
Natsu and Gray disdain each other: "Form a fixed team with this guy?"
Lucy clapped her hands: "Teaming up is great, but I think we can't be like Miss Mira and Mr. Rhode."
"Of course, because they are just two people, we are five."
"That's not the reason!"
Erza said: "It doesn't matter, as long as we trust each other, that's enough."
"Erza, Natsu, Gray, plus Lucy and Hapi, I just feel this combination is fantastic, right?" Mira felt proud of her foresight.
"I think the President will have some headaches." Rhode sympathized with the old man, so he added, "Remember to tone it down a bit, it's best to fight outside the city, don't mess around."
"Don't worry!"
Totally not reassured.
Half an hour after they left, Natsu felt uneasy leaning on the carriage window: "Erza, why not invite Rhode too..."
Lucy gently patted his back: "Because Mr. Rhode and Miss Mira are a team."
Couple squad, felt a bit envious.
Speaking of which, Alzack and Bisca seem to be as well, but heard Bisca failed to confess? A bit unfortunate.
Gray asked: "Don't you like borrowing crabs from Rhode to sit on?"
Hapi answered for Natsu: "Of course, because this time he forgot."
Like a person who gets carsick occasionally forgets to take motion sickness medicine or bring motion sickness plaster, Natsu is better, often forgets he gets carsick.
"...Serves you right."
...
"Are you so worried?" Mira waved her hand in front of Rhode.
Rhode caught her hand and layered it with his own, making a 'sandwich': "I'm just thinking how much funding the President can bring back, and if it's enough to compensate."
Mira added her other hand on top: "Sometimes you need to have a bit of faith in them."
Rhode moved the bottom hand to the top: "I have too much faith in them."
Mira laughed and moved the bottom hand to the top.
The two bored people played hand-stacking games for a while, from stacking hands to hitting the back of the hands.
They stopped reluctantly before the sound attracted other people's attention.
"Alright, time to get to work." Rhode stretched and prepared to continue working.
Mira followed him: "I'll join too."
A beauty dressed in a red dress, half-done hair, with smooth and slender arms, carried wood back and forth at the construction site.
The picture was indeed very beautiful.
Although knowing she's a demon, such a contrast was still a bit too stimulating.
To not lose to Mira, everyone seemed to learn Elfman's slogan and worked hard with enthusiasm.
Even Nabu greatly reduced the frequency and time of looking at the bulletin board.
Laki wiped the sweat from her forehead, paused to look at the busy companions, and began to suspect whether this was a couple's strategy.
Unable to think of a reason, she stopped thinking, hoping to get the guild built quickly wouldn't be too bad.
But do these people really want to win against Sister Mira?
By sunset, the red sun slightly shifted west.
A day's hard work approached its end, the guild's first floor barely put up some framework, far from complete.
Rest is necessary, but the tavern needs to open a bit later, since Mira, Rhode, Laki, and other managers need to bathe and change clothes first.
Otherwise, they'd be chased out if they went to the kitchen dirty.
No bathhouse at the site, Laki and the others could only return to the dorm.
Rhode and Mira, well…
"Come to my place, it's closer."
Mira rolled her eyes: "If I go to your place, I don't have clothes to change into."
"You can wear mine." This was actually quite practical, Rhode realized his misstep.
He had to buy some Mira's clothes as backup, after all, he knew the sizes.
Mira rejected: "No way, I'll go to mine."
"Alright, let's go to yours." Rhode summoned River Crab, wrapped his arm around Mira's waist before she could react and jumped up to sit, "Let's depart, we'll be quick."
Mira felt something was off.
After River Crab ran a while, she asked: "Why are you coming too?"
Rhode prepared an excuse before lying: "Acting together is more convenient and saves time."
Not true! Mira gave up trying to persuade him to go back and habitually hugged Rhode's arm leaning against him.
But considering the sweat and dust on herself, she had to get up.
However, Rhode already held her, and they shared the same fate, no one should dislike anyone.
Mira's dirty look was quite interesting.
Watching for a long time even made one want to give a peck.
Rhode occasionally doubted whether he was a heavy-tasted pervert.
Taking a shower together was impossible, Mira pushed Rhode into the bathroom and went to wash hands and face first.
The bathing supplies were all there, clothing was certainly brought along, and the shower was quite fast, not needing to wait too long.
If not for having a brother at home, Mira might doubt if taking such fast showers could get clean.