Chapter 288: Fairy Tail's Strongest Team
Hearing Noah's explanation, Mirajane's expression relaxed slightly.
However, she silently resolved to spend more time with Noah later, not wanting Erza to hog him all to herself.
"With Noah, that makes five of us. Six if we count Happy," Erza said, her cheeks still slightly flushed.
"Whoa!" Lucy was excited for a moment, but then her mood dipped. "But... is it okay for someone like me to join?"
She looked at Erza, Natsu, and Gray. Leaving aside the monsters that were Noah and Erza, she couldn't even beat Natsu or Gray. The only one she could definitely beat was Happy.
Was she really qualified to be part of this team?
"It's not 'someone like you.' It's because it's you, Lucy, that it's good," Natsu said with a grin.
"Aye!" Happy chimed in, hovering beside her.
"I just don't feel motivated when you're not around," Natsu beamed at her.
Hearing this, Lucy blushed and returned his smile.
"Listen to Natsu, then look at yourself," Mirajane poked Noah in the side as he turned to look at her.
"I don't feel energetic without you guys around, either," Noah said to Mirajane without hesitation, then glanced at Erza.
"Copycat. No originality," Mirajane lightly slapped his arm, her face pink. Despite her words, her tone and expression were full of happiness.
"Wh-What... are you... saying..."
Erza turned bright red, stammering incoherently.
"What are you guys talking about?"
Natsu, the unwitting teacher, looked completely innocent, as if he didn't understand a word Noah and the girls were saying.
Lucy, however, lowered her head, her face turning even redder.
"Damn you, Noah! You bastard!"
"Yeah! I'm so jealous!"
"Scumbag Noah!"
The male guild members, witnessing the interaction, shouted jealously.
Noah ignored them. This kind of behavior had become the norm lately.
"But with Noah joining, this really is Fairy Tail's Strongest Team."
"Yeah. Erza is already strong, and adding Noah puts them on another level."
"Fairy Tail's Strongest Team is officially formed!"
"Not bad!"
"But... is Lucy considered 'strongest'?"
"Well, if she summons Aquarius, I probably can't beat her."
"True..."
"Her tsukkomi skills are top-tier too!"
"Strongest in every sense of the word."
"You guys are the strongest!"
After yelling at Noah for a bit, the guild members started discussing the new team.
Everyone agreed that this was indeed Fairy Tail's Strongest Team. Noah alone elevated the team's power to a different tier. Erza, Natsu, and Gray were all formidable. And Lucy, as a rookie, wasn't weak by guild standards. Her performance against the Shades proved she was a solid mid-level combatant.
"And... with this guy..."
Natsu and Gray looked at each other, grimacing.
They fought constantly in the guild, so naturally, they found each other annoying. The thought of being on a team together made their skin crawl.
"Is there a problem?"
Erza, having recovered from her embarrassment, noticed their silent exchange and asked.
"No! We're happy!"
Natsu and Gray jumped, answering in perfect unison out of fear.
"Good! Then let's get to work immediately! We're going to destroy a dark guild operating in the Lupinus town square!"
Erza pulled out a request she had already selected and waved it at Noah.
"Let me see."
Noah took the request form and scanned it.
"Destroy a dark guild. Reward: 500,000 Jewels. Not bad."
"Let's go!"
"YEAAHH!"
Erza led the way, and Natsu's group quickly followed.
Noah waved goodbye to Mirajane and joined them.
That evening, Makarov sat alone on the guild's roof terrace, wearing casual clothes. A small table was set before him with a single cup of sake.
He cradled his staff in his left arm and raised the cup with his right, taking a sip.
"Sigh..."
He let out a long breath, looking up at the bright moon. His mind drifted back to his conversation with Yajima.
"Retirement... huh?"
Makarov reflected. He was 88 years old. He had taken over as Guild Master in X736—48 years ago. It really was time to consider retiring.
"Then... I should pass the guild to the next generation..."
Makarov began to consider candidates.
"Gildarts and Ur are unlikely. Neither of them seems interested in being Master."
"Mystogan is even less likely. He has his own mission, and he's from another world. He'll go back eventually."
"Laxus... he hates guild administration. This time he ran away entirely. If I told him he had to be Master, he'd probably disappear for months just to avoid it. Noah tried making him do paperwork before, and we saw how that went."
"That leaves Noah, Ultear, and the others. Among them, Noah is the most suitable. Both in terms of administrative ability and strength. Ultear and the others are fine too; they help out already and are strong. But Noah is the best choice..."
Makarov sat there, lost in thought.
"Gramps! There you are!"
"Hm? What is it?"
Makarov saw Noah float up from the ground to join him.
"Sigh. I went on that job with Erza and the others. They destroyed quite a few houses in the town. If I hadn't stopped them, it would have been worse. I already helped with the reconstruction, but the Council wants a written apology. I wrote it; I just need you to sign it."
Hearing this, Makarov sighed deeply.
"Noah. You should become the Fourth Master of Fairy Tail."
"Hm? Why do you say that, Gramps?" Noah looked confused.
"Yaji told me before... the guild causes too much trouble. I'm getting old. I need to retire soon, or I won't last. I thought about it, and out of everyone, you are the most suitable."
Makarov looked at Noah seriously.
"Guild Master, huh? It's not impossible, but I won't take the position right now."
"Hm? Why?" Makarov was puzzled. If he was willing, why refuse?
"Because the title of Master is a restriction in many ways. There are things a guild member can do that a Guild Master cannot.
"If you're tired, Gramps, I can handle all the work. You can just be the Master in name."
Noah had his reasons. There were certain actions he couldn't take if he were the public face of the guild. It would look bad for a Master to be involved in certain... activities.
Besides, being Master was just a title. Noah was already handling most of the work, with Ultear and the others rotating in to help.
"Gramps, you don't really have to do anything now. Just sitting in the guild makes everyone feel safe.
"The reason you feel tired is because you can't let go. You subconsciously worry about everyone. That's why you're exhausted."
Noah looked at Makarov earnestly.
He knew that after 48 years, caring for the guild was ingrained in Makarov's soul. Whenever trouble struck, he worried. That lifestyle was part of him now. Even if he retired, he wouldn't stop worrying.
Noah planned to take over all the guild duties officially, sharing the load with Ultear's group so Makarov wouldn't have to worry.
Aside from some top-secret information, Noah already knew everything about the guild's operations. Taking over completely wouldn't be hard.
Oh, right. I need to drag Laxus back to help. Can't let him slack off.
"By the way, Gramps, why don't you ask Laxus to take over?"
"Do you think someone who runs away from daily paperwork would stick around if I told him to be Master?" Makarov scoffed.
Noah nodded. He silently vowed to make Laxus do more work. Next time, he'd leave a Thought Projection just to watch him.
"Since you don't want to take over yet and have things to do, I'll stay on for now. Whenever you're ready, let me know."
Having settled on a successor, Makarov felt relieved. His mood lightened considerably.
"Mhm. Leave the guild matters to us from now on. You should relax more, Gramps. Oh, and don't forget to drink the medicinal wine I gave you. It'll help your body recover."
Noah reminded him.
~~~
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