"I think maybe you just don't fit a dragon's beauty standards," Mira said, giggling as she covered her mouth with one hand and patted Rhodes' back with the other. "But it's okay. I still like you."
Whether it was Mira's natural boldness or just her playful teasing in the mont, she said it with such ease that Rhodes couldn't even feel embarrassed, only comforted.
If Wendy and Carla weren't right there, he would've kissed her on the spot.
Wendy gently stroked the mountain dragon's cheek, surprised by the texture. It was rough and firm, more like solid stone than anything soft. Not like Grandeeney but still, the feeling of connection ward her chest.
After seven long years, she had finally touched a dragon again. Even if it wasn't Grandeeney, it was sothing.
Carla's initial vigilance had started to lt away too... although she briefly wondered if this dragon might be trying to steal Wendy from her.
But before long, the mountain dragon sat down again, locked eyes with Rhodes, gave him a judgntal look full of ancient contempt, and vanished into thin air.
Rhodes understood instantly. He probably despised him for being a weakling
That look... It scread: 'You summoned with such drama and can't even keep up? Pathetic.'
Rhodes clenched his fists in frustration.
"Mr. Rhodes, thank you for coming all this way!" Wendy said sweetly, still a bit shy but glowing with happiness.
Rhodes waved it off with a soft smile. "We promised a long ti ago, didn't we?"
Carla, ever the pragmatist, narrowed her eyes. "You sure you're not turning into a Dragon Slayer or sothing? You're getting pretty cozy with dragons."
"I doubt it," Rhodes replied. "Even though I've picked up a few mountain dragon spells, I can't exactly chow down on rocks or dirt."
And he had tried once. That story ended with a jaw ache and regret.
Carla nodded slowly. "Hmm."
"It's getting late," Mira said, stretching slightly. "Shall we head back? I'll make sothing tasty."
"Shouldn't we be the ones hosting you?" Carla retorted.
"Co on," Rhodes grinned. "We're not strangers anymore. Plus, Mira's cooking is divine."
Wendy, ever loyal, mumbled, "Carla's food is delicious too..."
"That's true," Rhodes agreed diplomatically. He'd tasted both and could say that with authority, even if he quietly gave Mira the edge.
On the way back, Rhodes spotted and caught two plump pheasants.
Mira took charge of the al prep, which included unfortunately processing the birds. Carla was prepping vegetables and seasonings. Rhodes, on the other hand, grabbed Wendy and insisted they watch Mira together.
Mira tied her hair up neatly and slipped on an apron that Rhodes had packed for her, the one Wendy normally used didn't quite fit Mira's figure.
She stepped up to the task with casual confidence.
With one hand, she gripped the base of both wings. Her pinky hooked around one of the legs, then her thumb and index finger clasped the neck. In one smooth motion, she completely restrained the pheasant single-handedly.
Then Mira calmly picked up the kitchen knife with her left hand and gave it a smooth wipe, the blade gleaming as she expertly drained the blood from the pheasant with a clean, practiced motion.
Wendy couldn't help but murmur in awe, "You're really skilled at this..."
Mira turned her head and flashed them a gentle smile—
"Ahhh—!" Wendy yelped and instantly ducked behind Rhodes, peeking out from behind him with wide, nervous eyes.
Mira blinked in surprise. "Huh? Wendy, are you scared of... chicken butchering?"
"It's not just that..." Rhodes muttered, feeling a chill himself. "Mira... can you, um, maybe raise the knife a little higher? Yes, like that. And smile again, but this ti... a little softer?"
Mira followed his directions. "Like this?"
The polished kitchen knife glead in her hand, the blood slowly trickling down the blade and dripping onto the wooden floor.
And the woman holding it beautiful, elegant, exuding queen-like composure, tilted her head and gave a perfectly gentle smile.
It was terrifying.
Wendy whimpered from behind Rhodes. "I-I'm sorry Miss Mira! I promise I'll never disobey again! Waaaaah..."
Mira's eyes widened and she dropped the knife with a soft clatter. "Ah—Wendy! I didn't an to scare you, I'm so sorry!"
She glared at Rhodes in mock irritation, as if to say, 'Do sothing about this, now.'
Rhodes sprang into action, pulling a treat from his bag, so premium Poro jerky and waving Warm over. The big, fluffy creature waddled up and began nuzzling Wendy affectionately.
As Wendy hugged Warm for comfort, Mira's gaze flicked to Rhodes again, sharper this ti.
Rhodes raised both hands in mock surrender. "I swear on my life, I'll only attend funerals in the future and never cheat."
"Why are you saying sothing so weird all of a sudden?!" Mira huffed, cheeks flushed with embarrassnt.
She shooed Rhodes and Wendy out of the kitchen and got back to work on the second pheasant. As the water heated, she caught her reflection in the blade and tried a few different expressions.
In the end, she pouted at her mirrored self. "Was it really that scary...?"
Dinner that night was pheasant stew with wild mushrooms, the main course made from freshly caught pheasant and hand-picked forest mushrooms.
When Mira lifted the lid from the clay pot, an irresistible aroma spilled out, flooding the entire house. It was rich, savory, and full of warmth.
Warm, who couldn't even reach the table, whimpered miserably, tail wagging and tongue hanging out from the intoxicating sll.
The at was tender and juicy, the mushrooms soft and soaked through with savory broth. Every bite lted on the tongue.
The food was so delicious that Rhodes reluctantly shared so with Warm, an act that, in his mind, officially qualified him as the most generous man alive.
After dinner, a random thought struck him: being around Wendy ca with an unexpected perk. You could eat any mushroom you wanted without worrying too much about poisoning, because if it wasn't instantly fatal, Wendy could purge it from your system in minutes.
A dream co true for mushroom lovers.
Of course, if you ate sothing that killed you before Wendy could help... well, that was just bad luck.
Mira, on the other hand, didn't need to worry at all. With her Satan Soul takeover, she could stomach any poison. Including the kind that would kill a normal person in seconds. A truly enviable constitution.
Maybe to smooth things over from earlier, Mira doted on Wendy throughout the al, helping her to dishes, serving soup, and making sure she got her fill. By the end of dinner, "Miss Mira" had naturally beco "Big Sis Mira."
Rhodes, by association, was now "Big Brother Rhodes."
Though it probably helped that they'd brought a mountain dragon to et her.
After dinner, Carla asked an important question: "So... what are the sleeping arrangents? You two aren't sharing a room, are you?"
"Sharing a room?! Big Sis Mira and Big Brother Rhodes?!" Wendy's face turned bright red, steam practically rising from her ears.
Rhodes raised a hand in peace. "I'm fine with whatever the lady decides."
"Then you sleep with Warm," Mira said, wrapping Wendy in a playful hug from behind. "I want to share a bed with Wendy tonight. Is that okay?"
Wendy wobbled from the emotional damage, blushing even harder. "Y-Yes... but only if it's really with you, Big Sis Mira..."
Carla glanced at them, slightly annoyed. She wanted to sleep with Wendy too, but what space did a small cat really take up?
Mira looked positively delighted. "It's fine, sweetie. I used to share a bed with my little sister all the ti."
"You have a little sister?" Wendy asked, wide-eyed.
Mira's expression turned warm with nostalgia. "Yes... She was just as sweet as you when she was little. But..."
She trailed off.
Rhodes glanced at her quietly. Mira gave him a soft look, silently telling him not to worry.
Wendy tilted her head. "But what?"
"Nothing important," Mira said quickly, smiling again. "Co on, let's wash up."
Rhodes was escorted to the room opposite the girls'. He'd stayed in this sa room before, back when he and Gray were traveling together. Now it was just him and Warm.
"Won... they only distract from my training," he muttered to himself as he sat cross-legged on the bed and began ditating.
After a solid session, he flopped down onto the mattress, tugged the blanket over his head, and mumbled dramatically into the dark, "I wish I was distracted..."
Warm licked his face affectionately.
Rhodes pushed him away with a sigh. "I wasn't talking about you."
...
Bonus Chapter @400 $tonks
Do check out my other translation: Yu-Gi-Oh: Fusion Is the Noblest Summoning thod!
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