Chapter 374: A Day Off with Lisanna

"So, you were really just a little kid seven years ago?"

"I was," Finn nodded, biting into a fresh kiwi he’d just plucked off a nearby vine. "Though even back then, I heard all about the messes your guild was making."

They were strolling through the expansive garden. Beyond just flowers, the mountain estate boasted crops of fresh vegetables, sprawling orchards, and various other exotic plants. Every inch of it was meticulously maintained by his golems, cyborgs, and automated machinery.

Looking out over the manicured terraces, Finn couldn’t help but calculate the potential. With zero labor costs and perfect efficiency, this automated paradise could easily be transformed into a massive cash cow in the future. Opening a private, exclusive resort for the wealthy elite would yield incredible profit margins. He was incredibly grateful for the ’Manager’ system; it allowed him to fully automate the property development without needing to micromanage the agricultural details himself.

"..." Lisanna stared at him. Yes, Fairy Tail was famous for causing trouble, but that completely missed her point!

"Do you have a photo of yourself from when you were little?" she asked hopefully.

"I don’t."

"Liar!"

"I really don’t." Finn genuinely didn’t have a habit of taking pictures. Given the number of enemies he had, leaving a paper trail of his private life wasn’t smart. But as he answered, he noticed a mischievous smile spreading across Lisanna’s face. "What’s with that look?"

"I have one, though."

"Hmm?"

"Your childhood photo."

With a triumphant grin, Lisanna produced an old newspaper and a few crumpled magazines. Splashed across the front pages were photos of him, including one from when he was just thirteen. It was from the day he was declared the genius of the Magic Council, boldly proclaiming to the world that he would protect the continent from all evil.

"I wonder how that sweet, kind boy became like... this," Lisanna sighed dramatically, tracing the photo. The boy in the picture radiated righteousness and naive determination. Yet, the young man standing beside her now was a calculated and cunning leader who had effectively seized control of the Magic Council’s Fiore Branch.

"It was an act." Finn sighed, not even bothering to snatch the photos away, though he did wonder how on earth she managed to hoard such obscure clippings.

"Huh?! Really?!"

"If I hadn’t played the part, do you think I could have climbed the ranks so quickly?" Finn took a sip of the coffee a golem had just handed him. "The public eats up that kind of image."

Joining the Magic Council meant stepping into politics, and being a politician meant becoming the greatest actor in the room. The faster he mastered the facade, the higher his position climbed. It worked, making him one of the youngest branch leaders in history.

Was there anyone younger? Officially, yes—Jellal Fernandes, the criminal currently being hunted by Lahar and Mest, technically held a higher council seat at a younger age. But Finn much preferred his position as a branch head. The old coots on the main council were far too troublesome to deal with. Out here at the branch, surrounded by his own loyal followers, he didn’t have to pretend to be an obedient subordinate.

"Bad boy!"

Finn blinked in surprise as Lisanna suddenly reached up and pinched his cheek, trying her best to look stern.

"If I had met you back then, I probably would have done exactly this to you," she giggled, amused by his completely speechless expression.

"...I can easily imagine that."

"Right?"

"I wouldn’t have let you, though."

"Yeah, you’re so stubborn~!"

Still, a part of her wondered what would have happened if they had met seven years ago. But deep down, Lisanna felt it was for the best that she was here with him now. If she had met him back then, he likely would have kept his guard up, hiding his true self beneath his work and ambitions. Today, even if just for a fleeting moment, she could tell he was genuinely relaxed, letting the mask slip as they enjoyed their time together.

"I’ll cook us something. What are you in the mood for?" she offered.

"Meat?"

"...Let’s try something a little more balanced, okay?"

"Or, you could just let the cyborgs and golems handle the cooking."

"...Can they do that?"

"They can."

"..." Lisanna crossed her arms. "No, I’m doing it."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I’ve got this."

If she got lazy and outsourced all her value to his machines, she was afraid she wouldn’t have a real place by his side. Still, she opted for something simple to make. What she hadn’t expected was for Finn to suddenly step up beside the counter.

"Let me help," he said.

"Huh? Really?"

"Yeah."

"...Can you even cook?"

"....." Finn just stared at her.

Lisanna giggled, making no move to stop him. As they worked side by side, she casually bumped her hip against his, feeling the solid, muscular contrast to her own softer frame. She did it a few times, hoping to provoke a reaction, but his expression remained entirely flat.

"What are you doing? Why do you keep bumping into me?" he finally asked.

Lisanna pouted. She knew he was just pretending not to notice what she was doing. Without a word, she turned her head away, her twin tails swaying softly to reveal the pale, smooth skin of her nape.

Finn simply raised an eyebrow, choosing not to comment.

Soon, the two were enjoying their meal, gazing out over the breathtaking mountain scenery from the expansive windows of the massive villa he had built.

"It’s just for you, yet you built it so huge," Lisanna noted, resting her chin on her hand as she leaned casually against his shoulder. "Isn’t it a bit wasteful?"

"I plan on turning it into a business eventually."

"Ah?!"

"What?"

"Well..." Lisanna paused, thinking it over. "Isn’t it nice having a place just for yourself?"

"How often will I actually come up here? It would be a waste of prime real estate not to monetize it."

"But will people actually come all the way out here?" she asked doubtfully.

"You think they won’t?"

"Well..." She tapped her chin. "You’d have to jack up the prices so much that only the ridiculously wealthy could afford it."

"Exactly the plan," Finn said, stretching his arms high above his head, letting out a satisfied breath. "I’m heading to the hot spring."

"Yeah, yeah. You don’t need to announce it. Just go, you stink~!"

"....."

Finn gave her a deadpan look before turning and walking away. As soon as his back was turned, Lisanna’s face erupted in a furious blush. A wildly inappropriate thought had been circling her mind all afternoon. She had hesitated, knowing it was bold, but as she watched him leave, she finally made her decision.

Meanwhile, completely unaware of her internal struggle, Finn was soaking in absolute tranquility. He leaned back against the smooth cedar edge of the massive outdoor hot spring. The steam curled into the cool mountain air, framing a sweeping, unobstructed view of the lush green valley below. It was breathtakingly quiet, melting away the relentless stress and politics of the outside world.

But, as expected, his peace was short-lived.

The sliding door clicked open. Finn turned his head and froze. Lisanna stepped into the steam, clad in nothing but a skimpy, white towel that clung desperately to her curves.

Seriously?

"What? Isn’t it lonely soaking all by yourself? I came to keep you company," she said, her voice attempting to sound casual. "Wait right there. I just need to rinse off. And don’t stare too much!"

Despite her brave words, Lisanna’s face was burning red. She could feel the weight of Finn’s intense gaze mapping her figure, making her stomach flutter with a mix of crushing nerves and giddy excitement.

"...You’re making this very difficult, you know," Finn sighed, turning his gaze back to the valley, battling to keep his composure.

Lisanna let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. She quickly splashed herself with cold water, desperately trying to cool her own flushed skin—an impossible task. As she finished rinsing, she couldn’t help but peek over at him. She stared at the broad expanse of his back as she waded into the water, her eyes inevitably catching the unmistakable evidence of his compromised control beneath the clear surface.

"...Are you always on edge like this?" she murmured, wading closer.

"Right now, yes."

"Aren’t you embarrassed?"

"I am."

"Hehe..." Lisanna giggled softly, the tension breaking. She closed the distance, her wet fingers playfully trailing against him under the water, watching his dragon. "It’s a little scary, but kind of cute."

"...Don’t provoke it. What are you going to do if it bites back?" Finn muttered, genuinely amazed by how brazen she was being.

"Oh? And what exactly happens if I do?" Lisanna challenged him, looking up at him through her wet lashes with a deeply provocative gaze.

Finn fell silent. He honestly didn’t understand why the women in his life seemed so determined to throw themselves at him, but he wasn’t a saint. If she wasn’t going to back down, he certainly wasn’t going to refuse.

Lisanna’s eyes widened slightly as he pulled her in. She closed her eyes, melting into the sudden, heated pressure of his kiss. Her hands immediately found his chest, tracing his muscles before trailing down beneath the water to pull him closer. In a matter of seconds, the last shreds of their restraint snapped. They gave themselves over to the rising heat, letting the quiet mountain fade away entirely.

"Hmm?"

Miles away, trailing through a dense forest behind her younger brother and Cana, Mirajane suddenly paused, looking off into the distance with a puzzled expression.

"What’s wrong, Mira-nee? Did you spot an enemy?" Elfman asked, going on high alert.

"N-No. It’s nothing."

Mirajane shook her head, unable to explain the sudden, sharp prick of irritation that had just washed over her. Brushing it off, she hurried to catch up with the others. This particular S-Rank mission was proving to be a massive headache for Elfman and Cana to handle alone.

Because of her decision to shadow them, she had inadvertently handed Finn and Lisanna several uninterrupted days entirely to themselves.

---

By the way, I might have said this before, but I have uploaded my new original story. The title is "Checking Out at 5:15 PM" with the name "OnlyPureLove44," or I might change it to Akikan in the future.

Regardless, there are more than 28 now.

You can check when you want to read more of my work.

Thank you!