Fairy Tail: I Don't Want to Be the Guild Master-Chapter 16: Scout, the Rift Scuttler

Just as Rhodes posed his question, he suddenly saw himself.

Not through his own eyes.

Not like looking into a mirror.

But from below, gazing up at his own face from an odd, low angle.

His hand was resting on his head, partially blocking the view. Yet, because his new line of sight was spread wide apart, he could still clearly make out his own expression.

Wait... what?

Was this... the Scuttler Crab's perspective?

A strange, dual-vision effect flooded Rhode's mind—one from his own eyes and another from the Crab's, both feeding into his brain simultaneously.

Experimenting, Rhodes pulled his hand back—and immediately saw the action from two angles at once.

When the Crab stood up, its height adjusted the perspective slightly.

When it turned, Rhodes saw a full 300-degree view around himself.

Makarov stroked his beard in understanding after Rhode's excited but slightly confused explanation.

"Ah, I see. This is a reconnaissance-type summon. It should be quite useful."

Rhodes blinked. Reconnaissance?

So... was this thing a glorified walking security camera?

Next, they tested the Crab's mobility.

Rhodes, hesitantly, climbed onto its hard shell-like back, gripping the two tentacle-like appendages that acted as reins.

The crab moved.

No—it bolted.

With frightening speed, the Scuttle Crab smashed through the guild wall and dashed towards the lake, completely ignoring obstacles in its way.

Rhodes barely had time to scream before they hit the water, only to find himself gliding effortlessly across the lake's surface.

The Scuttle Crab was walking on water.

Its six legs moved in a smooth, synchronized motion, allowing it to traverse the water like a flat, skimming stone.

Rhodes clutched the tentacle-reins tightly, feeling the rush of wind and the occasional splash of water.

He wasn't sure how fast they were going, but it felt way faster than a regular horse.

In fact, this was more exhilarating than a jet ski ride on thr lake—though that might've been because he wasn't wearing a life jacket.

From the shore, Makarov analyzed the Scuttle Crab's abilities with an experienced eye.

"Faster than a normal horse or a boar-horse. Good mobility. Water traversal is an excellent bonus. Destructive power? Average, but..."

Then, he turned his head...and finally noticed the gaping hole in the guild's outer wall.

"EVEN SO, DON'T GO SMASHING THROUGH THE GUILD LIKE THAT!!!"

His voice boomed across the lake, making Rhodes flinch.

"My Bad...?"

Later, back on land, Rhodes rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

"Uh... sorry. This was my first time riding a giant crab, so I didn't really know how it handled."

Rhodes had to postpone his appointment with Levy.

Originally, Rhodes had planned to study at the library with Levy.

Now?

He was stuck rebuilding a wall under Makarov's watchful eye.

Not quite the same thing.

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Of course, skill wasn't a requirement.

The guild master was happy to teach on the spot, given his vast experience in structural damage control—mostly because he'd been responsible for destroying the guild as many times as everyone else combined.

At this point, Makarov had become an expert out of necessity.

"Just a Small Wall Problem!"

Levy, on the other hand, didn't seem bothered at all by the situation.

"It's fine! Just a little wall damage, no big deal."

Rhodes couldn't tell if she was being reassuring or if she had just seen too much destruction to care anymore.

She held up a book she had brought along, a small smile on her face.

"Anyway, I found a good common knowledge book. Since we can't go to the library, I'll just read some interesting parts to you now."

Rhodes lit up instantly.

"That's amazing! Thanks, Levy!"

Back in his old life, he used to listen to music or comedy skits while cleaning—having something to pass the time made things way less dull.

And Levy was really considerate. No wonder Jet and Droy liked her so much.

"Lesson One: The Kingdom of Fiore"

Levy opened the book and began reading in her clear, soft voice:

"First of all, this country is called the Kingdom of Fiore. It has a population of approximately 17 million and is located on the western peninsula of Ishgar. Around 160 years ago, it was officially recognized as a neutral nation."

Levy's voice as she read and explained had a pleasant rhythm to it.

As Rhodes continued laying bricks for the wall, he absorbed the information. Hearing that Fiore had a population of about 17 million, he figured it wasn't a particularly large country.

Being a neutral nation was a relief—at least there was no immediate threat of war.

"Magnolia, where we are now, is located in the eastern part of the Kingdom of Fiore, close to the border with Bosco. The city has a population of about 60,000."

Rhodes had heard Mira mention this before. Magnolia was well-known for its deep connection with magic and was considered one of the more prosperous cities in Fiore.

"And now comes the important part," Levy emphasized.

"In the past, magic was something people feared, and wizards were often persecuted. Additionally, frequent battles between wizards caused instability throughout the world."

"To change this, 150 years ago, the first wizard guild in history, 'Magia Dragon,' was established. Wizards began to unite, using their magic to protect themselves and their companions. They also sought to build better relationships with ordinary people, helping them solve problems in exchange for rewards."

"This led to the formation of many wizard guilds, gradually integrating magic into everyday life. Over time, wizards and regular citizens began to coexist in harmony."

"Then, 97 years ago, in the year X686, our guild, 'Fairy Tail,' was founded."

Levy's tone grew warmer as she recited a well-known phrase:

"Do fairies have tails? Do fairies even exist at all? No one knows for sure. And that means endless mystery... and endless adventure."

"This is the meaning that the first Guild Master, Mavis, gave to Fairy Tail."

Levy's eyes sparkled as she spoke, her enthusiasm shining through. It was clear that she truly loved this guild.

This was the first time Rhodes had heard the meaning behind Fairy Tail's name, and he found it... oddly romantic. So romantic, in fact, that he didn't retain much of the history of Fiore that Levy had just explained.

But it wasn't a complete loss—he still learned some valuable information. At the very least, Rhodes now understood that Fiore functioned under a somewhat feudal monarchy.

There was a king, ministers, knights, and a standing army.

Naturally, the royal family and their trusted officials had access to magic, and wizards were highly regarded in many parts of the country. However, unlike nobles who held titles and privileges, wizards—regardless of their power—were still considered ordinary citizens under the jurisdiction of the monarchy.

Additionally, to maintain stability in the magical world, there existed an organization called the Magic Council, which was responsible for overseeing wizards, issuing sanctions, and dismantling dark guilds.

Yet, when Levy mentioned the Magic Council, her expression shifted—an almost imperceptible look of unease crossed her face.

Rhodes found it strange.

Why would a legal guild like Fairy Tail be wary of an organization that existed to uphold order?

Wait.

That's when it hit him.

I never actually asked the most important question. Fairy Tail... is a legal guild, right?

...

Spending time with Levy was surprisingly enjoyable.

Whether she was explaining history, geography, or the fundamentals of magic, she did so in a structured and methodical way.

For someone like Rhodes, who lacked a strong foundation in these subjects, her lessons were easy to follow.

More importantly, she often accompanied her explanations with related stories, making it even more engaging. It amazed Rhodes how much broader Levy's knowledge was compared to even some of the seniors from his old world.

As Rhodes neared completion of the repairs on the guild's courtyard wall, Levy—having talked for quite some time—paused and gave him a rather expectant look.

"Oh, right. My native language," Rhodes immediately understood what she wanted. "Let me wash my face first."

Truthfully, he wanted a full shower and a change of clothes after working for so long—being covered in dirt and dust felt awful.

"If you want to wash your face, I can help! Solid Script: WATER!"

Levy waved her hand, tracing the word "WATER" in the air with her finger.

As soon as she finished writing, the glowing magical letters transformed into an actual floating body of water, shimmering in midair.

Rhodes blinked in surprise. Curious, he dipped his hands into the floating water—just as if he were using a real washbasin. He could even scoop some up and splash it onto his face.

"What an incredibly useful magic... It's almost like... I don't know how to describe it... Something straight out of a fantasy novel—just say the word and it happens."

"Hehe... It's not that impressive," Levy chuckled, slightly embarrassed by his praise. Once Rhodes was finished washing up, she controlled the water script, letting it disperse naturally into the lake.

"I'm not that skilled at it yet. My magic is mostly for support—I can only provide minor assistance during battle."

"I think this kind of magic has a lot of potential."

Rhodes was fascinated. Solid Script felt similar to certain magic systems he had read about in fantasy novels—where simply writing a word could bring it to life. The applications of this power could be endless.

"Well then, let me teach you the basic pronunciations."

Taking the light pen Levy had just used, Rhodes began writing the fundamental initials and finals in the air.

After some thought, he marked them using the phonetic equivalents of the language spoken in this world, carefully teaching her how to pronounce each one.

Levy followed along with great enthusiasm, taking notes diligently. She didn't stop practicing until Laki came by to call Rhodes back to work.