The Devil Slayer & The Steam Prince Volume1

Chapter 20 Stepping Out The Shadows Part1

Timeskip to New Year's Eve.
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Seth's POV: It's the morning of New Year's Eve and I'm busy packing my suitcase for our team trip to Akane resort in a few hours and as I lock my trunk I hear a knock on my door. I open it and look at my field of view but then as I go to close it I hear a voice so I look at my feet and see Master Makarov. "Oh hello Master, is this a friendly send off or have you come out of concern and deemed it ill-advised for me to go on this trip even though it was my idea, I say as I step aside and motion for him to please enter my room.
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"Neither my child I just wanted to let you know Mira and her sister have been keeping me updated whenever you take jobs and I see more and more jobs u take on by yourself, Team up from time to time child and also I have been getting thank you letters from all your job contacts for being unlike ur reckless teammates, I'm honestly considering you for qualifying for the S-class trial." The master says as he looks up at me. "Thanks for the kind words master and after midnight tonight I will return to team jobs but keep a little distance in walking between me and the team, I reply to the guild master as I close my suitcase." I then walk downstairs and out the guild with my team.
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Eventually we are back at the hotel we went to before my house arrest started, I walk up to the service desk and formally introduce myself under my family name and show a pocket badge of my family's coat of arms. "Of course young lord Whitman the rooms on the floor for your stay are all ready for you and your guildmates here are your key-cards please enjoy and if we can do anything else for u please don't hesitate to call from the room phone." The check in young man said to me before I go give the room keys to my friends. "Seth, did you use your status of wealth for our benefit to get better rooms?" Erza questions me as we all take the elevator up. "Yeah, after all, I told you I'd take care of it back when we originally talked about coming back here for New Years so please enjoy, I say before the elevator doors open." ———————————————————————
Gray's POV: As I walk out the elevator I see next to the floor button Seth pressed was a plaque with the word concierge on it and so Erza was right when questioning him we really did get upgraded due to his wealth and status. I just carry my bag while Seth rolls his suitcase and soon we stand at the same door. As I look for my keycard he already has his out and uses his to unlock the door to the room.
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Seth then gets down to the ground to open his suitcase and take out everything and either hang it in the closet or stack it away in the dresser. I see one of the outfits he puts in the dresser is his new hooded onesie and his new non-skid Christmas stocking slippers and one of his outfits in the closet is the winter look he designed at Stella McCroft's clothing boutique. I just set my bag in the closet and chill on one of the beds.
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"You know you didn't have to get us upgraded rooms, besides I thought u said you were putting the life of wealth and privilege behind you, I say in Seth's direction." "Yeah I know but I wanted to do something nice for the entire team and just because I'm giving up the life of protocol and privilege doesn't mean I can't access my family fortune and use it to make everyone in the team have a nice winter holiday season, Seth says with a lively tone." I just accept his answer and don't press it further. Instead of talking more we join the others downstairs for lunch.
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Seth is now telling everyone some corny jokes and he every time can't say the punchline without laughing at it himself. "You seem like the perfect life partner Seth anyone who would be in a romantic relationship with you would be so lucky to have you, Lucy says causing the mage she is speaking with to spit his water out." I at this point end up laughing at his actions. As the day goes on we all have fun at the indoor arcade.
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Eventually night comes and during dinner we are served some amazingly expensive food ranging from lobster to filet mignon as main courses and some of the finest desserts we have ever seen. After the meal Seth gets up and says he is going to the spa for a massage and facial. "I'll join you it's been awhile since I took advantage of such amenities, Lucy's says as she gets up." As I get to thinking he wants to go alone I get ready to but in, instead he just agrees outright to it.
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Lucy's POV: I'm now at the spa with Seth and though I was truthful in saying I wanted to join him I also joined because I wanted to talk with him away from the others. "So Seth you told me long ago you would tell Gray your feelings on New Year's Eve night so how are you feeling and what's your plan?" I ask my guild mate. "A little worried on how he might react and I don't really have a plan per say but I'm thinking of me stargazing on the roof balcony I'm even gonna get my hair blown out a little and volumized so it flows in the front when I whip my head around to look at him, Seth says with a squeak in between a few words." The squeaking was due to the masseuse getting in and popping some of Seth's back joints.
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"Really Seth that's nice and what about what your gonna wear are you gonna wear your pajamas or something more highbrow." I say as the spa people paint our faces with green tea avocado mud masks. "Relaxed classy." Seth replies as the staff put cucumbers slices on our eyes. Eventually we finish up at the spa and I go with him to his room he looks in first and then waves me in as the coast was clear. I helped him pick out his outfit that matched the theme he mentioned.  Once he goes through his poses in the mirror we leave the room and rejoin the team down at the attached casino.