Chapter 158: Three Years of S-Exam, One Year of Mock Practice
"Are you sure you don't want to partner with Natsu or Gray?"
Generally, when choosing a partner for the S-Class trial, the smart thing to do is find someone who can cover your weaknesses. If you're not the brightest, pick someone with sharp instincts. If you lack field experience, go for someone seasoned.
For candidates like Cana and Warren—both of whom had brains, battle awareness, and a knack for support magic—teaming up with a powerhouse like Natsu seemed like the logical choice.
Cana shook her head. "Strength does matter. Natsu and Gray are both strong. But you're no slouch either, Rhodes. I heard you were actually on the list for potential candidates this year, right?"
Warren looked surprised. "Really? Is that true?"
Cana groaned. "Then why did you run over here to recruit him if you didn't know that?!"
Warren scratched the back of his head. "I overheard everyone talking about partner choices. Rhodes's name kept popping up, and then I saw you heading this way..."
"You idiot..." Cana clenched her fists. Was this guy trying to sabotage her chances?
Warren averted her glare. "Anyway, both of us want you as our partner, Rhodes. So what do you say?"
What could he say? It felt good being trusted by others. But at the same time, it put pressure on him not to let them down.
Even though he hadn't planned to take the exam himself, going along as a partner could help him understand the difficulty firsthand—solid prep for next year.