Fairy Tail: I Don't Want to Be the Guild Master-Chapter 138: Me? Fairy Strategist?

Sunflower Village was nestled northeast of Magnolia, not far from the rugged terrain of Kroba Canyon, close to the border of the Kingdom of Fiore.

However, the client for this mission wasn't the village chief of Sunflower itself, even though it was the closest settlement to the bandits' hideout. Instead, the commission had been jointly filed by several surrounding villages and towns.

A single village simply couldn't satisfy the plundering appetite of a bandit gang this large. Over time, other nearby communities and passing merchants had become targets as well.

Worn down and desperate, the villagers had pooled their resources together, hoping that a group of professional wizards could finally bring them peace.

In theory, this should've been a job for the local city guard—or even the regional military stationed along the border. But Fiore was a permanently neutral nation. Whether it was the result of prolonged peace or the dominance of magic in society, conventional troops weren't exactly the country's strong suit.

They were good enough for keeping order in the towns... but storming a mountain to face a well-entrenched group of bandits? That was asking a bit too much.

In the end, the people turned to the guilds—specifically, the wizards of Fairy Tail.

After covering the travel expenses, the trio of wizards arrived in town and quickly found a nearby inn.

"The innkeeper said there are only two rooms left," Rhodes said casually. "Not much of a choice. I'll take one room. You two can share the other, yeah?"

Alzack and Bisca immediately flushed a bright red, their expressions nearly matching the maple leaves in late autumn.

"S-S-Share a room?! The two of us... in one room?" they stammered in unison, practically steaming with embarrassment.

They had warmed up to each other a lot during the trip, sure—but this was clearly pushing their comfort zone a little too fast.

"Hahahaha..." Rhodes laughed until his shoulders shook.

It took a few beats before the two caught up to reality. Logically, it should be Rhodes and Alzack bunking together, right?

"Hey, Rhodes! Don't just say something like that out of nowhere!" Bisca puffed up angrily, then immediately shrank back into a shy blush.

"Y-Yeah, that was too much," Alzack added weakly, scratching the back of his head.

"Haha, sorry, sorry!" Rhodes coughed and waved his hand to calm them down. "Alright, let's just drop our bags and head out."

Once their luggage was stored, the trio left the inn and made their way toward the client. The moment they stepped outside, Rhodes's expression shifted, his usual playfulness replaced by calm precision.

"While you might've seen my magic before," he said, "it's best to give a quick rundown now. Just to keep us all on the same page."

He raised a hand and began to explain in detail.

"First, my Summoning Magic. I can call forth various wild monsters, each with their own unique specialties. Some are great for scouting or carrying supplies, others are suited for combat or defense. Some even have niche uses like detection or poisoning."

He then gestured toward himself. "Next is Take Over Magic. So far, I've got a few forms I can switch between. One grants me armored defense, another boosts agility or magic power. Right now, I'm also working on a form that lets me fly."

"In summary, leave reconnaissance, terrain scouting, fallback planning, and general support to me. I'll keep you both covered."

Bisca and Alzack blinked.

Even though they'd heard bits and pieces about Rhodes's abilities from the guild, they hadn't realized just how extensive his magic repertoire really was.

Recon, combat, utility, crowd control—he had it all. And to think, not that long ago, he was just some guy who didn't even know basic spells.

"Four months, and you've already come this far?"

Alzack was stunned by the growth he was witnessing.

"Don't just stand there. It's your turn," Rhodes reminded him.

"Oh, right." Alzack snapped out of it, drew the pistol from his waist, and spun it with a fluid, practiced motion—his signature gun dance lighting up with flair.

"I specialize in Gun Magic. With this pistol, I can fire off a variety of rounds—tranquilizers, flashbangs, smokescreens, electric shots, explosive rounds, and even whirlwind blasts. Urban skirmishes and rough terrain are my ideal battlefield."

As soon as he picked up his weapon, Alzack transformed. Gone was the shy, awkward man from earlier. Speaking about magic, he radiated confidence and control, and for the first time, that charisma was unmistakable.

Bisca was clearly captivated.

"Bisca?" Rhodes prompted after giving her a moment to admire.

"Ah—yes." She stepped forward smoothly, hoisting her sniper rifle over her shoulder with a confident smile.

"I use Requip Magic, just like Erza. If hers is called The Knight, then mine could be The Gunner."

"My combat style is centered around swapping out guns tailored for different situations. I prefer to engage enemies from long distances, picking them off before they ever see me."

Rhodes nodded in understanding. Both Alzack and Bisca used gun-based magic, but in distinct ways—Alzack focused on swapping out ammunition for versatility, while Bisca used Requip to switch weapons entirely, prioritizing precision and range.

This mission really was a perfect match for the two of them. Mira and I nailed this pairing.

The three headed out to meet with the client. Unfortunately, the client could offer little beyond basic intel.

Rhodes pressed for details but only managed to confirm the general direction of the bandit hideout—and a vague warning that the bandits might have access to some kind of magic tools or equipment.

"The rest, we'll have to scout ourselves," Rhodes concluded.

Alzack stepped forward. "I can assist with covert recon."

Bisca nodded. "I'm skilled at camouflage and stealth too."

"Hold on—let's find their base first. Once we've located it, we'll decide on our next move," Rhodes instructed.

He opened his backpack, pulled out a rolled map, a quill, and some parchment. Connecting to the vision of his summoned Scuttle Crabs and Murk Wolves, he began recording the surrounding terrain in real-time. He also marked hazards—like poisonous plants and insects—as well as hidden footpaths that could be useful for maneuvering later.

After a few thoughtful seconds, he dug deeper into his bag and pulled out two slim books, handing one each to Alzack and Bisca.

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"Here. Just in case."

The two blinked.

He brought... magic books?

So well-prepared.

Bisca and Alzack watched as Rhodes meticulously marked ambush points on the map, jotting down lines of detailed terrain information and possible tactical uses for each location.

Bisca couldn't help but exclaim, "You're just like the Fairy Strategist!"

Alzack tilted his head. "Fairy Strategist? What's that?"

Bisca smiled as she recalled the story.

"It's the title given to our first guild master, Mavis Vermillion. She was a genius tactician who could analyze intelligence, devise brilliant strategies, and lead her companions to victory again and again. I heard Fairy Tail survived many wars thanks to her planning, which is why everyone called her the 'Fairy Strategist.'"

Alzack's eyes widened in awe. "That sounds exactly like what Rhodes is doing right now. I think I even heard Gray complain once that Rhodes whipped out a planning book that was a whole foot thick—and just reading it gave him a headache."

Bisca chuckled. "That's why I said Rhodes feels like the modern-day Fairy Strategist."

Rhodes let out a groan. "Seriously? That guy Gray is out here spreading rumors again?"

He looked exasperated but not too surprised. For some reason, he was always the target of exaggerated tales around the guild.

"But come on," Rhodes continued, waving his hand dismissively. "Master Mavis could store entire battlefields in her mind. She'd memorize enemy movements, analyze their magic types, predict their formations, and simulate all possible scenarios. After all that, she'd still manage to find the optimal strategy to win."

"Me? I just scribble on maps, draft a couple of basic plans, and deal with bandits who couldn't pass a spelling test. There's no comparison."

He remembered hearing about Master Mavis from Levy. It left a strong impression on him—and an even stronger sense of inadequacy.

The largest battle he had ever "commanded" was a five-versus-five team fight, and maybe that one large-scale online game match he once played,—though if anything, that was more chaos than strategy.

He couldn't hold a candle to the first guild master.