Chapter 154: Interview
Next, Ren carefully reported the detailed events that occurred at the Tower of Heaven, which made Makarov's heart pound with fear.
Ren stood before the Guild Master's desk in the temporary office, recounting the battle against Jellal, the activation of the tower, and the terrifying power of the Etherion blast. He didn't omit Siegrain's role on the Council or the final confrontation that left Jellal defeated and Erza's past finally put to rest.
Makarov listened with a grim expression, his small hands steepled. When Ren finished, the old master let out a long, shaky breath, his entire body slumping in his chair. The relief was palpable, but the residual fear lingered in his eyes.
"Phew~! Thank you for Erza's matter." Makarov's voice was rough with emotion.
He had watched Erza grow up, had seen the shadows that haunted her since the day she arrived in Magnolia, traumatized and alone. She was, in every way that mattered, his daughter. The idea of her being forced to relive that nightmare, or worse, sacrificed to it... it was too cruel to comprehend.
"Erza is my companion," Ren replied simply, his tone firm. "Naturally, I wouldn't stand by and watch her get hurt. She's family. We all are."
Makarov looked up, a deep sense of satisfaction and pride swelling in his chest. This young man, Ren, had become a pillar of the guild in such a short time. He was not just powerful, but level-headed and deeply loyal.
"Well said, my boy. Well said." Makarov nodded, rubbing his temples. "You've done more than enough. You brought her home safe, and you brought all of her friends home safe, too. They'll be valuable additions to the guild, I think."
He sighed, shifting gears. "On that note... oh, you brat, come early tomorrow. We have a reporter coming for an interview."
Ren raised an eyebrow. "An interview? From who?"
"Weekly Sorcerer. They've been hounding us ever since the Phantom Lord incident, and now with the Tower of Heaven... well, the Council is practically having a collective aneurysm. We need some good publicity."
"So that's what it is," Ren said, a look of understanding dawning on his face. He gestured toward the guild hall outside the office. "No wonder everyone is trying to set up all those fancy things."
Ren had noticed the frantic energy. Small, colorful stalls were being erected near the entrance, and tables with bright umbrellas were being set up outside, creating a makeshift outdoor cafe. It looked less like a guild hall and more like a festival ground.
Makarov scoffed, though a hint of embarrassment was on his face. "What fancy things? This is... this is just to give everyone a good impression! To show we're not just a pack of destructive hooligans!"
Although Fairy Tail was undeniably the strongest Mage guild in the Fiore Kingdom, it was just as undeniably the most notorious. Their reputation was a paradox.
Fairy Tail often caused trouble. Massive, property-leveling, council-infuriating trouble. Every time they did, it made the newspapers, which had led to a severe polarization of the guild's public image.
Those who liked Fairy Tail, like Lucy had before she joined, saw the guild as a place of boundless energy, personality, and unbreakable bonds.
Those who disliked Fairy Tail, namely the Magic Council and a significant portion of the kingdom's stuffier citizens, felt that Fairy Tail was a menace that caused far too much trouble.
"With the new guild hall finished, I want to use this opportunity to show everyone the good side of Fairy Tail," Makarov explained, his voice turning serious. "Show them the camaraderie, the spirit."
He pointed a finger at Ren. "And you, my boy, are a major figure in that. You're the man who stopped Phantom Lord's giant, defeated Jose, and now... you've resolved the Tower of Heaven crisis. You have to be showcased. You're the most famous new Mage in the Fiore Kingdom—no, on the entire Ishgar continent!"
Ren felt a strange twist in his gut. An interview. In his previous life, that kind of media attention was reserved for big stars, CEOs, and politicians. Now, it was falling on him, a Mage in a world of magic.
"An interview... I understand, Master. I'll be there."
Early the next morning.
"Ugh, it's so chaotic..."
Lucy Heartfilia stood at the entrance of the newly rebuilt Fairy Tail guild hall, her shoulders slumped in dismay. She had spent an extra hour getting ready, meticulously styling her hair and picking out her favorite outfit. This was a special feature for Weekly Sorcerer, the most popular magic magazine on the continent! She wanted to make a good impression, to show the world how amazing her guild was.
Instead, upon arriving, she found the guild hall in its usual state of utter disarray.
"This won't leave a good impression, will it?" she muttered to herself, dodging a flying beer mug. Natsu and Gray were already at it in the center of the hall, their brawl sending tables and chairs scattering. Cana was loudly challenging Macao to a drinking contest, and Elfman was shouting about being a "real man" while posing on a table.
"This is Fairy Tail! Isn't it great?"
Lucy turned to see Erza standing beside her, hands on her hips, looking completely unfazed. She had changed into a brand-new set of her standard Heart Kreuz armor, polished to a mirror shine. Since she was going to be on camera, she had also dressed up, in her own unique way.
Lucy paused, a small smile touching her lips. "Erza... you've changed, too. The old Erza would have immediately charged in there and scolded everyone for being unruly."
It was true. Lucy had noticed it ever since Erza returned from the Tower of Heaven. The oppressive tension that always surrounded her seemed to have lifted. Her smile, once a rare and stiff occurrence, was now more frequent, more genuine. She seemed less like a disciplinarian and more like... an older sister.
Erza's expression softened. "Is that so? Perhaps." She looked out at the brawling guild members, a fond look in her eyes. "Let's just consider this a party for the new guild's completion. A little bit of ruckus is a privilege of youth."
Lucy giggled. "You're starting to sound like the Master."
Suddenly!
A gasp, loud and dramatic, sounded from behind them. "OH---!!! FAIRY QUEEN!!!"
"Oh my god... It's the real person... COOL!!! This is so cool!!! A living Erza!!! Awesome!!!"
A man with a wild tuft of blond hair and a camera slung around his neck slid on his knees, coming to a perfect stop directly in front of Erza. He vibrated with an almost painful level of excitement. This was Jason, the star reporter for Weekly Sorcerer.
Lucy sweat-dropped. "Is this... enthusiastic person the reporter?"
Erza, ever composed, gave a slight nod. "You're already here. Please excuse the mess; the guild is in disarray everywhere."
Jason leaped to his feet, waving his finger frantically. "NO PROBLEM!!! I want to see this natural state!!! This is the REAL Fairy Tail! COOL! If possible, I'd like to ask you, Miss Erza, a few questions!"
"Go ahead and ask."
Jason's pen was already flying across his notepad. "How many sets of Requip armor do you have?"
"Over 100 kinds."
"A HUNDRED?! COOOOL!!!"
"Which one is your favorite?"
Erza paused, tapping a finger to her chin in thought. "Probably the bunny girl."
"Bunny... bunny girl?! THE COOLEST! A national scoop!"
After frantically interviewing Erza, Jason zipped through the guild, a whirlwind of energy. He quickly rushed to Gray.
"Gray Fullbuster! Why do you always take off your clothes?"
This question, posed with genuine, academic curiosity, made Gray furious. "I don't take off my clothes!!! Don't make me sound like some kind of pervert!"
As he yelled, his shirt and pants somehow vanished, leaving him in nothing but his boxers.
Jason's camera flash exploded. "HE DOES IT UNCONSCIOUSLY! AN ICE MAGE'S HABIT! COOL!"
"Agh! Which guy is the reporter!"
Natsu, hearing the commotion, leaped over a pile of broken chairs, his fists wreathed in flame. He'd heard the reporter had arrived and figured this was his chance to get some payback.
"Natsu!! Natsu Dragneel, the Fire Dragon!! COOL!!" Jason spun around, his camera flashing again.
"Hey! Are you the bastard who always writes bad things about me and makes me look like an idiot!" Natsu roared.
"YES!! It's me!" Jason proclaimed proudly.
"Die!!"
Natsu's fist connected squarely with Jason's face, sending the reporter tumbling head over heels across the floor.
"Incredible!!" Jason popped right back up, his nose bleeding but his smile wider than ever. "Even his punching posture is so handsome!! What power! What spirit! COOL!!"
Jason, undeterred, began interviewing everyone with a bit of fame throughout the guild, leaving no one out. He talked to Juvia (who only talked about Gray-sama), Elfman (who only shouted about being a man), and even Happy (who offered him a fish).
"Master!! Please talk about the aspirations of the new guild!" He finally cornered Makarov, shoving his notepad forward.
Makarov, who had been waiting for this, trembled nervously, striking a pose. "Ah... well... we shall engrave love and justice in our hearts, and strive for daily improvement..."
At that precise moment, Jason's eyes darted past the Guild Master. He spotted Ren, who was sitting comfortably at the bar, drinking juice and chatting idly with Mirajane.
Jason immediately abandoned Makarov mid-sentence.
"That... that back... REN!! It's REN---!!! I finally see him in person!!!"
Like an excited fan spotting their ultimate idol, Jason rushed towards Ren, his previous excitement paling in comparison.
"Uh... who is he?" Ren asked, glancing at the approaching whirlwind.
Mira smiled, wiping down a glass. "A reporter from Weekly Sorcerer. His name is Jason. He's... energetic."
Mirajane had once been a famous model and the cover girl for Weekly Sorcerer many times before... that incident. She was quite familiar with Jason's unique brand of enthusiasm.
"Miss Mira! It's been a long time!" Jason skidded to a halt at the bar. "You haven't come for a photoshoot in a while. The readers miss you!"
"Well~!" Mira replied with a sweet, slightly mysterious smile. "It's a bit inconvenient now."
She secretly glanced at Ren from the corner of her eye. Those photoshoots were often somewhat... revealing. Her priorities had changed.
Jason, though momentarily distracted by Mira, turned his full, blinding attention to Ren. "Mr. Ren! The man of the hour! May I ask you a few questions?"
"Yes, go ahead and ask." Ren took a calm sip of his drink.
Jason's pen was practically smoking. "How many transformations do you have in total?"
"7 for now," Ren answered honestly. "There might be more in the future."
"SEVEN?!" Jason yelled, causing half the guild to look over. "COOL!!! We've only seen two! The powerhouse from the Onibas incident and the giant who defeated Jose! SEVEN!"
Ren had debuted relatively late and spent most of his time on quests. His true public appearances were during the Onibas incident with Lullaby and the Phantom Lord showdown. In those instances, Ren had displayed two overwhelming transformations—Whitebeard and his Yoriichi Tsugikuni form—each incredibly powerful, leaving a deep impression on the entire continent.
Jason leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Is Whitebeard... the strongest of your transformations?"
The entire bar seemed to lean in, too. Even Mira looked curious.
Ren smiled and shook his head. "No."
"NO?! COOOOOL---!!!"
Jason physically exploded. His pen snapped in half. He fumbled for another. This was the big one! This was the headline! Ren's 'Whitebeard' form—the one that generated earthquakes, the one that defeated Jose Porla, one of the Ten Wizard Saints, with terrifying destructive power—was not his strongest transformation!
What, then, was his strongest? The question hung in the air, making everyone curious.
Mira herself was surprised to hear Ren say that. She had also thought that Whitebeard was Ren's strongest and most destructive form. It turned out Ren had an even stronger one held in reserve.
Mira mentally cataloged the transformations she had seen. She had witnessed 6 of Ren's 7 forms. There was Whitebeard, the swordsman Yoriichi, the lightning-fast one, the ice user, the one with the strange eye techniques... and then there was the one he had used to divert the Anima from the Tower of Heaven. That must be it.
Mira's guess was correct. The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, was indeed Ren's strongest and most versatile transformation. Ren had received not the normal version, but the Fourth Hokage at his absolute peak. However, his current magic power was still somewhat low, preventing him from fully unleashing the Fourth Hokage's strongest techniques, like the completed Tailed Beast Mode.
Jason was scribbling so hard his notepad tore. "Then... then... another question! Excuse me, but the readers are dying to know... are you and Miss Mira... dating?"
Mira's hands stilled on the glass she was polishing.
Ren turned, his smile softening as he looked directly at Mira. "Yes. Mira and I are dating."
He said it with a simple, confident smile, looking at Mira, whose face couldn't help but flush a brilliant shade of crimson.
"COOL---!!"
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