Rhode and Mira noticed their friends' arrival but didn't stop; instead, they decided to pull off one last move.
The two of them spread their arms, and powerful magic power surged out. The surrounding seawater seemed to be drawn by something, swirling around the two of them.
The seawater gathered more and more, rising higher and higher. The wet, soft sand briefly appeared on the surface between them, only to be quickly filled by the tide.
Two dragon-like streams of water surged up violently, colliding in midair, the sound of splashing incessant.
Under the immense force, the water flow exploded, transforming into countless large 'drops' scattering everywhere. If anyone was lucky enough to get drenched, they might feel as if they'd been punched hard by someone.
Fortunately, though the crowd watching was large, they stayed far enough away.
After squandering magic power like this for a while, Rhode remained unmoved, and Mira panted slightly but enthusiastically waved to the four people above: "Mirena, Alani, Liseli, Beth, come join us!"
"No, no, no..." The four shook their heads frantically.
A few minutes later, the six of them were sitting on a beach cloth playing cards.
While shuffling the cards, Alani couldn't help but think of the scene just now: "Taking a water fight to that level, you guys are too much."
Beth sighed, "It's almost as if you're using water magic."
And generally speaking, beginners probably couldn't reach that level.
Mira, feeling she inconvenienced other tourists, said a bit embarrassedly: "Because someone suggested we could train while playing, so we got a bit carried away..."
That 'someone' was Rhode, who felt his theory had no problems, except maybe it was a bit disruptive.
"Actually, it's not too bad. If more guild members joined us..." Rhode thought for a moment and decided not to reveal too much and adjusted his words, "it would be even more lively."
The other three only knew Fairy Tail might be troublemakers, but they didn't really feel it. However, Mirena laughed: "Everyone from Fairy Tail is incredibly energetic."
After playing a few enjoyable rounds, they still wanted to do some sports.
Alani suggested playing beach volleyball.
With six people, they could split into three groups. Although they didn't use exaggerated power, the mages' power and skills…
Except for Beth who was a bit weaker, everyone else's volleyball game was quite exciting and thrilling.
Rhode and Mira's team had overall superiority, but winning wasn't easy as someone occasionally didn't know which ball to look at.
They played until evening, and Rhode's impression was—the beach is amazing.
For dinner, they were warmly hosted by Mermaid Heel, and Rhode and Mira played with their new friends until late before returning to the inn.
After washing up, the two of them didn't forget their daily study and training. Then, Rhode became a little impatient.
Spending half a day with a group of uniquely charming swimsuit beauties doing nothing—incredible patience, indeed.
Mira, smiling, deliberately went to change into her black swimsuit from earlier in the bathroom, then leaned against the doorframe, twirling a lock of hair with her finger, and looked back coquettishly winking at Rhode.
Rhode found himself unable to hold back at all.
...
The next day, the two of them went shopping in the city in the morning and bought some specialties to send back. As usual, they went to the beach in the afternoon.
But this afternoon, Kagura returned.
Usually stern and serious, Kagura was coaxed by her girlfriends into wearing a bold swimsuit.
The reason being there were important guests present, and she couldn't dress so formally while accompanying them to the beach.
Kagura felt the logic wasn't right, but before she knew it, she was already being dragged out like that.
"Well... welcome to Mermaid's Heel..."
Graceful and elegant Kagura was now shyly covering her chest with one hand and tugging at her swimsuit with the other.
Mira took Kagura's hands: "Kagura, you look so beautiful! Don't be so shy, at the beach, we're all the same."
As she spoke, she gave Rhode a look: "Right?"
Rhode instantly agreed, "Ah, very normal attire."
Rhode silently asked his conscience — his conscience praised him for doing well.
"Is... is that so?" Kagura's blush slightly faded.
Liseli quickly said, "That's right, that's right, you see, I dress like this every day."
—Liseli's usual clothes could basically be considered swimsuits, hence the Kana Mermaid's Heel Division.
Alani and Mirena followed with praises, finally dispelling her thought to go back and change.
Mira asked, "Why haven't we seen Beth today?"
"Beth opened a vegetable garden behind the guild," Kagura said, gradually forgetting her shyness. "She often spends time tending to it."
Mirena jokingly said to Mira, "Isn't Beth-chan kind of quirky? Even though she uses Vegetable Magic, she insists on planting vegetables herself."
Alani said, "Magic-grown vegetables taste bad and lack nutrition. Only the ones carefully nurtured are the best."
Mirena grumpily said, "Even you, Ala-chan, say that. I didn't think Beth-chan's conjured carrots were any different."
Alani exposed her, "That's because you don't eat carrots at all and say they're bad no matter what!"
Mirena stuck her tongue out trying to play cute, "Is... is that so? Ehehe~"
Kagura seemed very interested in Rhode and Mira's water fight training method after overhearing Mirena and the others talking about it, eagerly inviting everyone to join.
Rhode and Mira had no objection, while Mirena and others desperately wanted to refuse. However, feeling guilty today, they were forcibly dragged into participating.
And so, under the chaotic battle led by Rhode, Mira, and Kagura, the other three quickly ended up flopping on the beach like three saltwater fish.
Watching the increasingly outrageous big waves in the sea, Alani weakly remarked, "Those three... aren't they sea monsters in disguise?"
"Pff~~~" Liseli spat out a flower of water, "The voluptuous ones suffered a big defeat today."
Mirena's cat ears drooped, and her tail lethargically swayed: "If I'd known, I wouldn't have told Kagura-chan about it..."
Suddenly seeing another wave crashing towards the shore, Alani exclaimed, "Here it comes again!"
"Ahh!!"
"Help!"
...
The three miraculously survived, vowing never to play this game with Kagura again after Rhode and Mira leave.
Rhode and Mira apologetically treated the other three to cold drinks, promising to tone it down next time.
Kagura sternly stated that they hadn't trained enough and should participate more often.
The three girls suddenly felt the drinks weren't sweet anymore.
At this moment, Beth came running over, waving an envelope in her hand: "Mr. Rhode, there's a letter for you!"
Rhode's heart skipped a beat—A letter? Is it that serious? What trouble have his guild mates caused this time?
Upon receiving the envelope and inspecting it, fortunately, it wasn't a letter from the guild.
However... Gioa Kingdom? That name sounded a bit familiar.