Fairy Tail: I Don't Want to Be the Guild Master-Chapter 218: Natsu: Transportation is awesome!

If they were lucky, they would've arrived by nightfall, but luck clearly wasn't on their side.

The winds were rough and the waves higher than usual. Their boat didn't dock at the harbor until the following morning.

When it came time to head back to the Cait shelter, Natsu outright refused to take a carriage. So Rhodes had no choice but to summon one of the Scuttle crabs he'd previously used for scouting and let Natsu ride it back.

After once again navigating the same rugged mountain path they had traveled before, the group finally reached Cait Shelter.

Erza stood with her hands on her hips, surveying the peaceful village. "It really is a calm, quaint place."

Happy fluttered in excitement. "Aye! This is where Carla lives, right?"

"At last... no more transportation!" Natsu practically cried with joy, eyes glimmering.

Rhodes decided not to ruin it by reminding him they'd still need to travel again after picking up Wendy.

Being somewhat of a familiar face in the village now, Rhodes asked the locals for directions and easily led the group straight to Wendy's home.

When they arrived, Wendy was in the front yard, drawing a magic circle on the ground with a wooden stick. She finished it, but the magic fizzled—nothing happened. Wendy let out a small sigh, clearly disappointed.

Carla sat nearby, holding a large spellbook and checking the markings.

"Wendy!" Rhodes called out.

"Carla!" Happy shouted, waving excitedly.

Wendy turned toward the sound, her eyes lighting up in surprise. "Mr. Rhodes!"

Carla squinted, equally surprised. "It's you. And... tomcat?"

Before anyone could reach the gate, Wendy started running toward them, but only made it a few steps before tripping and falling flat on her face.

It was a textbook tumble.

Rhodes winced on instinct. Yup. Gotta be ready to catch her next time.

Still, Wendy bounced up quickly, cheerful as ever. "Mr. Rhodes, Mr. Natsu, Happy, and... oh! Are you Miss Erza?"

Erza smiled warmly. "Nice to meet you."

"Carla, look! It's really Miss Erza!"

Carla responded coolly, "I know. I saw her last time at Fairy Tail, remember?"

"Carla, want some fish?" Happy opened the small green pouch he'd been carrying. "We caught these fresh this morning!"

"I already ate," Carla said flatly, though her ears twitched. "Anyway, come in and sit down."

Carla, ever the proper hostess, took her role seriously. She didn't want Fairy Tail members thinking they were ill-mannered country bumpkins.

Rhodes didn't mind the formalities. He turned to Wendy. "How have you been lately?"

"Mm-hmm! Same as always. The village is quiet and peaceful." Wendy beamed. "But the Sky Dragon Slayer Secret Art is so hard to learn. I haven't made any progress recently."

"Secret Art? Natsu, isn't that the move you used to hit me with last time? Teach Wendy already."

"Are you dumb? Mine's Fire Dragon Slayer Magic, and hers is Sky Dragon Slayer Magic. They're totally different!"

'Getting called dumb by Natsu... now that stings,' Rhodes thought.

Still, he pressed on. "But they're both Dragon Slayer magic, right? There's gotta be something similar, can't you at least share your training experience?"

"Experience?" Natsu scratched his head. "Igneel taught me mine. You just go like this, then that, and boom!" He threw a few wild punches and grunted meaninglessly.

Wendy chuckled awkwardly. "Yeah... totally different..."

She didn't understand a single thing.

Meanwhile, Carla sighed and began pouring tea for everyone.

Happy clutched his teacup, looking reluctant to drink from it.

After Wendy and Rhodes exchanged updates about their recent adventures and chatted for a while, Carla finally spoke up.

"So? What brings you all the way out here this time? On a mission nearby?"

She clearly didn't believe they were here for sightseeing.

Rhodes shook his head. "Not exactly. This isn't a stopover, we actually came to ask Wendy for her help with a mission."

He handed her the commission form, letting her read over the details regarding the little girl named Liz.

"Since the illness has stumped every doctor who's seen her, I was hoping Wendy could take a look. Maybe your healing magic can help."

Wendy's eyes widened with concern as she read, her heart aching for the child's condition. "I'd like to go. I want to help."

But Erza immediately raised a hand, her tone firm. "Don't be too quick to decide. This mission might be dangerous."

She glanced at the others before continuing. "The best-case scenario is that it's just a rare illness. But there's a real chance it's a curse, and in the worst case, we may be dealing with demons. Please, think carefully."

Rhodes nodded in agreement. "Right. We want you to join us, but we also need you to be fully aware of the risks. It'd be best if you consulted with Master Roubaul before deciding."

They were extending a genuine invitation, but it was important Wendy knew what she might be walking into.

Wendy hesitated, the cheerfulness fading from her face. She hadn't considered the possibility of black magic, or worse, demons. The thought clearly frightened her.

Carla was the first to speak out. "Absolutely not! If it's that dangerous, then there's no way I'm letting you go!"

"Carla..." Wendy looked conflicted. She clearly wanted to help.

"You're not a combat wizard, Wendy," Carla insisted, her tone rising slightly. "If a demon shows up, you'll be in serious danger!"

"I'll handle any demons!" Natsu declared, fire practically in his voice.

Rhodes added seriously, "If we do encounter a demon, I promise to get Wendy out of danger immediately."

Erza nodded, backing him up. "We'll all protect her. That's a promise."

"Please wait here," Wendy said at last, determination flickering in her eyes. "I'll go ask Master Roubaul now."

She darted off at a run.

"Wendy!" Carla called after her, exasperated. The little cat puffed her cheeks in frustration. She says she's going to ask permission, but I know that face, she's already made up her mind.

...

As they left the Cait Shelter, Wendy and Carla officially joined the team.

Everyone climbed into the long-distance carriage bound for Poppy Town. Natsu and Erza sat on one side, while Rhodes and Wendy took the other. Carla perched comfortably on Wendy's lap, while Happy sat on Rhodes', subtly trying to inch closer to Wendy's side.

Wendy leaned in and whispered, "Carla, you really didn't have to come with us."

Carla frowned. "And just let you run off on your own that far? Absolutely not."

Wendy responded with a soft smile, grateful for her partner's concern.

Happy edged forward a little. "Carla~"

"Don't get too close, tomcat," Carla huffed, shifting further into Wendy's arms.

"Carla, be nice," Wendy gently chided. Then, glancing across at Natsu, she tilted her head. "Mr. Natsu, are you okay? You don't look well."

"Just motion sickness," Rhodes replied flatly.

It was baffling. Natsu had been so fired up about the possibility of fighting demons that he'd forgotten all about his chronic motion sickness. He had leapt into the carriage with excitement, only to transform into a drooping mess the moment the wheels began to roll.

"If it's motion sickness, maybe it's a balance issue," Wendy said thoughtfully. She reached out and placed her glowing palm on Natsu's forehead.

"Mmm... Huh?" Natsu blinked, startled by the sudden relief washing over him. The nausea vanished.

Sitting up straight with renewed energy, Natsu exclaimed, "Whoa~ What was that?!"

Rhodes looked genuinely impressed. "Wait, you can even cure motion sickness?"

Wendy smiled cheerfully. "It is a spell that stabilizes the sense of balance. I'm not very good at combat, but I've learned a lot of support magic."

"That's incredible," Erza said, nodding with admiration.

Wendy blushed a little at the praise.

"Aha-ha! Transportation is amazing!" Natsu shouted, bouncing in his seat like an overexcited puppy who just discovered snow.

If the carriage had more room, he'd probably be doing flips.

He even stuck his head out the window. "The view's amazing! Hey, Mister Coachman! Let's go faster!"

"Transportation is the best!" he repeated enthusiastically.

Winter hadn't even ended, and the landscape was still covered in snow. Rhodes looked at Natsu with a deadpan expression. This hyper husky energy was getting on his nerves.

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"Wendy," Rhodes said with a groan, "can you undo that spell? He's way too loud now."

...

Bonus Chapter