Dobe Gal remained depressed for a while before remembering the investigation on nobility: "Oh, the mission..."
"Their deeds have already been exposed and Princess Jade has personally ordered their arrest. We don't need to be involved anymore."
"Hmm..." Dobe Gal was silent.
Yukino added, "I heard that the reason for their arrest is related to Lord Rhode and Lady Mirajane."
"!" Dobe Gal widened his eyes but reacted less intensely than before, "Them..."
"The wolf that just carried me, is it your Star Spirit?"
"No, it was specially lent to me by Lord Rhode, concerned we might run short on magic power in case of unexpected events on the road."
Dobe Gal fell silent again for a while: "Yukino. What kind of guild is Fairy Tail... really?"
"Eh?" Yukino was surprised, "Lord Dobe Gal?"
"I... I'm just a bit curious."
...
The carriage had already been out of town for some time. Rhode was fiddling with the wedding gifts sent by Natsu.
——A pair of dumbbells.
He even gifted couple versions, one blue and one pink, each adorned with a very abstract doodle face.
Rhode boldly speculated that one should be him, the other Mira.
With Mira completely unaware of the gift, the doodle was either drawn by Natsu himself or he asked Erza to draw it.
Rhode played with the couple dumbbells, neither fast nor slow.
But Mira was still thinking about Kono's matter: "Does Yukino's sister have any chance to get out of prison?"
Rhode said, "There is such a possibility, however, it's very difficult."
"What needs to be done, can we help?"
"Certainly can't directly grant a release without conditions, but if one's behavior is good, they can get a reduced sentence. If Yukino assists the Council with some tasks, she could get an opportunity to reduce Kono's sentence—I recall there's such a provision."
Mira frowned: "But that involves assisting them with very dangerous tasks, right?"
Rhode said: "Because it's impossible to simply allow a major offender to be released. Aside from that, if various royal families provide substantial reasons, it can also influence the Council's decision."
"Substantial reasons..."
"Probably at least something like the Edolas incident, avoiding war and the like."
No matter which option, they are all quite difficult, yet Yukino... might likely do it anyway.
Wonder if her unlucky guild can understand her.
Hope that beaten-up ninja can be of some use.
Rhode set down the dumbbells and squeezed together with Mira, pointing out the ordinary but not ordinary things outside the window to her, one by one.
Mira's attention was gradually diverted as well, starting to 'bother' him back with surprise.
The carriage swayed back and forth, carrying the two into a small town. After resting overnight, they reached near Jasmin Village the following evening.
The coachman parked the carriage from a distance, asking, "Are you sure you want to go there?"
Rhode asked, "Is there something wrong there?"
"I've heard people say there... have been demon sightings rumored there."
Rhode asked with interest, "Oh? What kind of demon?"
The coachman said, "Not sure, but such rumors have existed for over a decade. It's said that everyone in the village was eaten by demons, so I've never dared to go near."
Rhode chuckled, picking up the luggage and stepping off the carriage, while Mira grabbed his empty hand and jumped down.
The two settled the carriage fees and walked towards the small village together.
Rhode knew the demon rumor was true, and the demon was someone he had married... or perhaps the demon had lured him back home?
——This is Jasmin Village, where Mira spent her childhood.
The coachman couldn't comprehend what the couple was laughing about and hastily drove away.
Excellent coachman advancement rule number one, don't ask unnecessary questions; ordinary coachman survival rule number one, don't go to strange places.
Rhode looked at Mira bathed in the sunset: "Are you ready?"
"Hmph, you're the one who should be prepared." Mira grabbed his hand and led him into the village.
Rhode was quite curious about the little village that raised Mira, but the closer they got, the more they could feel the desolation of the village.
Even though it was already dusk, not a single wisp of cooking smoke emanated from the village, nor was a single soul seen on the road.
The village houses were chaotically arranged, with both wooden and earth houses, but all appeared equally dilapidated.
The wooden houses were rotten, the doors and windows hung loosely, seemingly ready to fall off with a gust of wind.
The streets had collapsed mud walls, with weeds growing from the dirt piles.
Rhode withdrew his hand, which Mira had been holding, from her grip and placed it on her shoulder, pulling her closer to him.
"After all, it's been over ten years since I returned, and this place is so remote. I suppose everyone has moved away?" Mira obediently leaned against Rhode's chest, raising her head to give him a smile, "I even said I wanted to come back and beat up those who bullied me!"
Rhode said, "No problem, we'll find out where they've gone now, and even if it's to the ends of the earth, we'll find them so you can give them a pounding."
Mira hugged Rhode tightly, rubbed her cheek against his chest, then broke free and grabbed Rhode's hand again, running ahead: "Come on, I'll take you to see my house!"
Rhode was pulled along by her as they jogged through the silent streets, over obstacles blocking the path, past lush weeds...
Mira seemed less like a lady rediscovering her roots, and more like a playful child eager to show a favored boy her home.
Soon enough, the two stood before the old Strauss family home. Mira smiled ruefully: "As expected, it's like this here too."
Without waiting for Rhode to say anything, she quickly regained her spirits and led him into the desolate yard, pointing to the half-collapsed roof: "Look, that's Elfman's bedroom."
"Poor Elfman, now he doesn't have a place to sleep."
"Indeed..." Mira thought for a moment, struck her palm with her fist, "No worries, in summer he liked to set up a mosquito net and sleep on the roof. Now he can sleep there all he wants!"
"You really are a great sister."
"Hehe~" Mira then pointed to the intact side, "That side is me and Lisana's room. See that window? That's where they threw stones in. Elfman, that fool, was scared yet didn't hide in his own room, wanted to be with us and got hit...
"There used to be a well here, now covered by a collapsed wall. Over there stood a big willow tree from which we could blow leaves to make sounds, and…"
Mira introduced and told stories, warm or sad, of every corner of the collapsed house to Rhode.
Rhode listened carefully, capturing every subtle emotion in Mira's tones, as the two held tightly onto each other's hands, never letting go.