Fairy Tail: I Don't Want to Be the Guild Master-Chapter 289: Mountain Dragon

The very ground rumbled under their feet.

A huge crater split open around the Mountain Dragon's claws as it landed, its hind legs gripping the mountain wall like a massive, perched bird.

Standing at the edge of the crater, Rhodes felt a strange sense of dislocation, as if he hadn't summoned the dragon... but instead had been transported into Summoner's Rift himself.

His body swayed, drained nearly to exhaustion, and he instinctively leaned toward Mira for support.

"It's really... a dragon."

Makarov raised his right arm to shield Rhodes and Mira behind him, eyes wide in astonishment.

"Effortlessly reshaping the earth. What terrifying magic and earth mastery!"

He had never doubted Rhodes, he believed in the existence of dragons, just as he believed Natsu was raised by one. But seeing such a colossal, living dragon before his eyes still shook him to the core.

So this, was the kind of being humanity once fought against four hundred years ago?

The Mountain Dragon glanced at them, then beat its massive wings.

Even just the wind from its wings forced them to shield their faces.

The dragon circled overhead, its wings stirring the grass and trees, before landing again inside the crater.

It lowered its massive body and stared at Rhodes, unmoving, a clear sense of puzzlement in its gaze.

Makarov and Mira remained frozen in awe, but Rhodes felt something stranger. It was like seeing an entrance animation, only from a first-person perspective.

Rhodes cleared his throat and spoke tentatively:

"Um, next time... could you maybe skip the flashy entrance?"

Surprisingly, the Mountain Dragon nodded, slowly and stiffly, like a giant stone statue coming to life.

The jagged ridges around its neck, more like spikes of stone than scales, rose and fell slightly as it nodded.

The dragon kept staring at Rhodes, clearly awaiting further instructions.

Meanwhile, Rhodes felt his magic draining at an alarming rate. He hurriedly asked,

"Can you, uh, take this crater apart?"

The Mountain Dragon nodded again.

With a deep rumble, cracks splintered across the surrounding crater walls. The earth crumbled and collapsed inward, leveling the area around them.

The ground shook again beneath their feet.

Rhodes patted Mira's hand, signaling her to let go, intending to step closer and touch the Mountain Dragon.

Mira, reluctant to release him, instead supported Rhodes carefully as they walked forward.

In the past, summoned beasts usually approached Rhodes eagerly when he reached out his hand.

But this Mountain Dragon... stayed towering where it was, simply lowering the very tip of its tail for him to touch.

It felt, somehow, like he was being looked down on.

Still, Rhodes placed his palm against the dragon's tail-tip, the texture cool and rough like ancient stone.

A brief surge of understanding flowed through him, not as much information as usual, but enough.

Relieved, Rhodes finally let out a breath.

The Mountain Dragon gave a low shake of its head, the stone ridges along its neck clattering against each other like armor.

Its body shimmered, becoming translucent, and then it vanished.

Rhodes' legs buckled almost immediately, all strength drained from him. He collapsed into Mira's arms, nearly fainting.

"Are you okay?" Mira asked, her voice full of concern as she supported him firmly.

"I'm fine... just completely out of mana." Rhodes smiled weakly. "I'm glad I asked you to come. Otherwise, I might've been scooped up by the master's big hands today."

Makarov asked, "Well? Did you feel like you were losing control?"

Rhodes thought for a moment, then answered,

"That special connection is definitely there, just like with the other creatures I've summoned from Summoner's Rift.

But... it felt a little different. Its intelligence seemed higher. And when it returned, it almost seemed... impatient? Though it might just be my imagination."

"Hmm..." Makarov nodded thoughtfully. "Either way, let's head back first."

When they had come out here, they had ridden on a Scuttle Crab.

But on the way back, Makarov decided otherwise, he enlarged himself with his magic, scooped up both Rhodes and Mira onto his massive shoulders, and sprinted back toward the city with heavy, thunderous strides.

"Master, really, I can rest a bit and summon the crab again. Isn't this a bit much?" Rhodes said, a little embarrassed as he clutched Mira tightly.

"I think it's very interesting," Mira said happily, one hand grabbing Makarov's collar, the other securely holding Rhodes to her. It looked like she was enjoying this far more than she let on.

"Hahaha!" Makarov laughed heartily, his giant voice booming across the fields.

"Isn't this just a father carrying his children on his shoulders for a ride? What's so exaggerated about that?"

The word "father" struck a chord deep in Mira and Rhodes' hearts.

Master had always quietly played this role, carrying the burdens, shielding them from the Council's wrath, solving their countless problems behind the scenes. For a guild full of wild, helpless "children," it was a blessing to be carried by him like this, protected and carefree.

If they ever had a wedding speech... it would definitely have to be delivered by the Master.

Mira leaned against Rhodes and shouted like a child,

"Yay! Let's go, let's go, Master!"

Rhodes felt a little awkward at first, but eventually he laughed too and played along:

"Yeah! Let's go for a ride!"

"Master, faster!" Mira cheered.

"Not too fast...!" Rhodes said hurriedly, feeling a little carsick from the bouncing.

"Hahahaha!" Makarov roared with laughter as he carried the two of them like precious bundles through the countryside and back toward Magnolia.

And then...

"Master Makarov! Sir! Your Excellency!"

When they entered the city, they found the streets and plazas packed with people. Some were wrapped tightly in quilts, others still in their pajamas, all looking panicked and confused.

Hearing so many people calling out with various titles and nicknames, Makarov asked in confusion, "What's going on? Why is everyone gathered outside?"

"Didn't you hear?" someone answered breathlessly,

"There was an earthquake! We all ran outside because we thought the buildings might collapse!"

"Earthquake?" Makarov repeated, startled.

"What earthquake?"

"Just a few minutes ago! The whole city shook!" the crowd exclaimed.

Ah... this...

Rhodes suddenly felt a deep wave of guilt.

They had already traveled quite a distance away from where he summoned the Mountain Dragon, but apparently, the tremors still reached Magnolia.

Mira leaned closer and gently patted Rhodes' head, whispering with a mischievous smile,

"Maybe... since it's an earth-element creature, its magic affected the land a little more than you thought."

"Oh..."

Rhodes sighed inwardly, already thinking about how to apologize to the citizens of Magnolia without looking too guilty.

But before Rhodes could even react, Makarov had already made his move.

He stomped heavily on the ground, and the plaza beneath their feet trembled violently.

With a big, innocent grin, he asked the crowd, "Was it this kind of earthquake?"

"Yes! Exactly!"

"That's the feeling!"

"Actually, I think this one's even worse..." someone muttered nervously.

The entire crowd suddenly fell silent. A few seconds later, an uproar exploded all at once:

"It was you!!!"

"You're way out of line, Master!"

"Why would you pull this kind of stunt at night?!"

"Think about the kids trying to sleep!"

"Yeah, and my soup got spilled!"

Makarov scratched the back of his head sheepishly and bowed to the crowd,

"Sorry, sorry! I just... suddenly had the urge to take the kids for a nighttime stroll... Haha..."

As he apologized, he gently lowered Rhodes and Mira down from his shoulders, returning himself to normal size with a puff of magic.

Even though his explanation sounded completely absurd, the residents of Magnolia didn't doubt it at all.

After all...this was Fairy Tail.

Everyone in town had long accepted that if anything chaotic happened, there was an 80% chance it somehow involved Fairy Tail, and 90% of the time, they meant no harm.

"Sorry! Sorry for disturbing everyone's rest!"

Rhodes and Mira also lowered their heads politely, feeling warm inside at the way Makarov had tried to cover for them.

...

Bonus@400

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