Chapter 321: Akane Resort
Chapter 321: Akane Resort
"For the current Fairy Tail, having an additional Wizard Saint really doesn't bring much benefit. In fact, it would only increase the danger level for the guild.""Everything you've said makes a lot of sense. So, you mean to say you don't want to accept this title?" Makarov asked Noah.
"Yeah, accepting this title comes with a bunch of troublesome matters. I'd rather not have it," Noah answered seriously.
"Then I support your decision. Go ahead and let Yajima know."
"Alright."
Noah took out his communication lacrima and initiated a call to Yajima, but there was no immediate response. Noah wasn't in a hurry and simply continued processing the paperwork in his hands.
After a short while, Yajima called back. "Is something the matter, Noah?"
"Grandpa Yajima, I discussed it with Gramps, and we've decided to decline the Wizard Saint title."
"Are you absolutely sure?"
"We are. That title isn't of much use to us."
"I understand," Yajima nodded.
Beside Noah, Makarov spoke up, "Yajima..."
Seeing that Makarov wanted to speak with Yajima, Noah quickly handed the lacrima over. Makarov took it, hopped off the counter, and walked to the side to chat privately with his old friend. Noah resumed his work.
A while later, Makarov ended the call, walked back to the counter, and hopped back up to his seat, handing the lacrima back to Noah.
As Noah put the lacrima away, Makarov said, "Yajima has promised that if the councilors formally propose granting you the title of Wizard Saint, he will decline it on your behalf."
"That's good," Noah smiled. He really didn't want to deal with the hassle of stepping outside, having someone recognize his name, and immediately dealing with the fame, expectations, and duties of being one of the Ten Wizard Saints. It was far too troublesome.
With the matter resolved, Noah and Makarov dropped the subject. Noah went back to his tasks, while Makarov sat with a smile, watching the usual daily ruckus unfold within the guild.
"Wow, it's so beautiful!"
Noah and the group suddenly appeared on an open stretch of beach. Wendy-kun looked out at the endless expanse of the ocean and couldn't help but gasp in awe. Beside her, Yukino-kun and Meredy-kun nodded enthusiastically in agreement.
The others also wore expressions of wonder as they looked at the sparkling, sunlit sea, smiles blooming on their faces.
Because they had been in such a rush to reach the Tower of Heaven earlier, no one had actually taken the time to appreciate the ocean. Now that the fighting and investigating were over and they were purely here for a vacation, everyone finally had the peace of mind to take in the beauty of nature.
"This feels so nice..."
A cool sea breeze carrying the scent of salt brushed against their faces. Sorano closed her eyes, quietly savoring the sensation. Seeing her, the others followed suit, closing their eyes and letting the gentle wind wash over them.
"Let's go check into the Holiday Inn first, and then we can go buy whatever we're missing," Noah suggested after everyone had taken a moment to relax.
"Ohhh! Let's go, let's go! Right now!" Natsu cheered loudly, practically dancing with excitement.
"Let's go!" Happy flew into the air, echoing Natsu's energy.
"Idiots," Carla muttered from the side.
"I'm really looking forward to this too, Carla," Wendy-kun said, her eyes sparkling.
"We have to share a room!" Meredy-kun said excitedly to Wendy-kun.
"Mhm, let's share a room!" Yukino-kun chimed in.
"Is Yukino-kun going to abandon her big sister?" Sorano covered her eyes with her hands, pretending to cry upon hearing Yukino-kun's words.
"Sister..." Yukino-kun looked at Sorano, at a loss for words.
"I'm just teasing! You go ahead and share a room with Wendy-kun and the others, but remember not to stay up too late playing," Sorano uncovered her face and smiled warmly at her sister.
"Mhm!" A bright smile returned to Yukino-kun's face as she nodded vigorously.
"Let's move out!" Noah took the lead, and the rest of the group followed closely behind.
The spot Noah had chosen to teleport them to was a bit secluded from the crowds. It took them a short walk before they began to hear the bustling sounds of voices and machinery in the distance.
"Wow! What is that place?" Wendy-kun asked, pointing at a massive, eye-catching structure as the lively sounds grew louder.
"That's our destination, Akane Resort. It's the most popular coastal tourist attraction in the kingdom. It features a Holiday Inn right next to a massive theme park. They say it's a charming beach that gets you hooked after just one visit," Noah explained.
Hearing this, everyone's excitement skyrocketed, and their walking pace noticeably quickened.
Finally, they entered Akane Resort. The wave of sound that washed over them immediately conveyed the vibrant, festive atmosphere of the place.
"Wow, it's so lively here!"
Wendy-kun and the other girls took in the sights, looking left and right at everything with fresh, curious eyes. A colossal Ferris wheel, a roller coaster that looped around the entire resort, and countless other amusement rides were almost too much to take in all at once.
"Not bad at all. I'm starting to really look forward to playing here," Sorano's eyes gleamed as she eyed the attractions.
"Let's go check in first. We can come back here to play afterward," Ultear said, grabbing Sorano—who looked ready to bolt toward the rides—and pulling her along to catch up with Noah, who was already walking ahead.
The lobby of the Holiday Inn was just as bustling, with people constantly coming and going.
Approaching the reception desk, Noah first pulled out the invitation vouchers Loke had given them to confirm they were valid. Once verified, he turned to Ultear and the others. "How many days do you all want to stay?"
"You decide," Ultear said after exchanging glances with the rest of the group. Since Noah was treating them, they left the decision entirely up to him.
"Since we made the trip all the way out here, we shouldn't make it too short. Hmm... let's book it for a week first. If we want to keep playing after that, we can always extend our stay."
No one objected to Noah's decision.
Noah then turned back to the receptionist to inquire about the rooms. After a brief consultation, Noah decided to book luxury suites for everyone.
The room assignments were sorted out: Noah, Natsu, Gray, and Happy shared one suite; Ultear, Erza, Mirajane, Sorano, and Lucy took another; and Wendy-kun, Yukino-kun, Meredy-kun, and Carla shared the third.
With the check-in complete, Noah took the keys for the three suites and led the group upstairs.
"Wow! It's so big and beautiful!"
As Noah unlocked and pushed open the door to one of the suites, the spacious interior, exquisite decor, and high-end furniture immediately drew gasps of admiration from the group.
"Ohhh!" Natsu was the first to charge in, bouncing around and inspecting every corner of the room. He quickly threw himself onto the premium sofa in the living room. "Happy, this is so comfortable!"
"Aye!" Happy flew over and plopped down right beside him.
"Carla, look! You can see the theme park from here," Wendy-kun called out, waving Carla over to the balcony.
"It is indeed a very nice view," Carla agreed, hopping onto the balcony railing and looking out at the scenery.
"The facilities here are very high-end. It certainly lives up to its reputation as a famous resort in the kingdom," Ultear remarked, reclining on another plush sofa.
"These are luxury suites, after all. Of course the facilities are excellent," Mirajane smiled.
"This big bed is so comfy..." Meredy-kun and Yukino-kun had already collapsed onto the massive bed in the master bedroom. They looked completely relaxed, not wanting to move a single muscle.
"We still have two more suites. Let's go look at those, and then everyone can decide which room they want," Noah suggested.
"Okay~" the group replied.
Wendy-kun pulled her reluctant friends out of bed, and they all went to inspect the other two suites. After a quick tour, they found that all three rooms were practically identical in layout and luxury.
The three groups settled into their chosen suites. Noah thoroughly inspected all three rooms with his magic to ensure there were no hidden surveillance devices or anything suspicious.
Since all their luggage was stored safely in Noah's spatial storage, they didn't even need to unpack. They simply locked their doors and headed out to the nearby shops to buy the most essential item for a beach trip: swimwear.
When Noah's large group walked into the store, they naturally drew quite a bit of attention. The presence of so many beautiful women of varying ages and styles turned heads everywhere they went.
The guys headed to the men's section, while the girls went to the women's section.
Noah and the guys finished their shopping in record time. It was just swim trunks, with only minor differences in style and color. Even Happy got a tiny pair.
The girls' side, however, was a completely different story. They took an agonizingly long time to choose.
After what felt like an eternity, Ultear and the other girls finally emerged from the store, carrying numerous shopping bags. Noah and the guys had been sitting outside the storefront for so long they were practically falling asleep. Seeing the girls finally walk out, the guys let out a collective sigh of relief.
"We're done buying swimsuits, but there are a few other things we need to get," Ultear announced, hefting the bags in her hands as she looked at Noah and the boys.
Hearing this, the guys' faces instantly tensed up again.
"Are you coming or not?" Sorano asked, locking her eyes directly on Noah.
Noah had no choice but to surrender. "We're coming. Of course we're coming. I did say I was treating everyone this time, didn't I?"
Satisfied, Ultear and the girls nodded and turned to lead the way. Noah and the guys exchanged a look of pure defeat, sighed heavily, and trailed after them.
"I think we've bought just about enough. Let's head back for now," Mirajane said sometime later, looking down at the mountain of items they had acquired.
"Mhm. If we realize we need anything else, we can always come out and buy it later," Ultear agreed.
The guys walking behind them nearly collapsed in relief upon hearing those words. Their arms were completely laden with shopping bags filled with the girls' purchases, even after storing a significant portion of them in Noah's spatial storage. Erza, by far, had been the most enthusiastic shopper, accounting for the vast majority of the new outfits they were carrying.
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