Chapter 58: I Have No Interest in Fame
Chapter 58: I Have No Interest in Fame
"Jenny, what a coincidence."
Rod and Mira just happened to run into Jenny as they were leaving.
She had changed into a gorgeous evening gown, and her bangs had been styled to cover the red mark on her forehead.
This time, Rod didn't pull out a grenade, as he had left his bag behind.
"Watch my performance tonight. I'm the most popular... hmph!"
Jenny, holding the hem of her dress, started to descend the stairs. She suddenly remembered that Mira didn't really care about tonight's performance, so it didn't matter if she mentioned it.
Rod asked, "How hard did you hit her? She might hold a grudge for a long time."
"I only used a little bit of force," Mira said, making a gesture that was likely to offend someone. "She's just upset about losing the match. It's nothing to worry about."
Today's event wasn't just for Mira and Jenny; there were also other models with slightly less fame. Each of them was dressed in their own unique style—some seductive, some sexy, and some cute, each one trying to outshine the others.
In addition to the models, actors and singers who had promoted themselves in the Sosara Weekly magazine also began to enter the venue.
Rod had a basic understanding of the entertainment industry in this world. They had magical crystals specifically for showing movies, which were widely used.
Therefore, excellent film actors were also highly admired by many.
Loki had even been reported by an entertainment company for making a move on a female artist—according to Mira.
The spacious ballroom was already decorated, with colorful lights and banners celebrating the 15th anniversary of the magazine.
At the front of the hall was a semicircular stage, separated by a large red curtain.
Several large round tables were placed inside the hall, filled with exquisite dishes and various drinks, though no chairs were provided, encouraging guests to mingle and chat freely.
Mira and Rod entering together didn't attract much attention, as several other women had brought male companions.
The ballroom was already divided into various small groups, with people only leaving their circles to greet someone they were interested in or idolized.
"Over there are the journalists and editors, mostly quite talkative. Those few are novelists, and some might be a bit eccentric. Then there are the celebrities, who might be a bit hard to approach..."
Mira carefully introduced Rod to a few of the groups before heading backstage to prepare for her performance.
Rod couldn't follow her backstage, as he might be mistaken for a pervert and kicked out.
He wasn't particularly interested in the actors or singers, so he planned to find a quiet spot to eat and wait for Mira's performance.
However, it seemed someone didn't intend to leave him alone.
"Hello, I'm Reper Ter, a journalist from Sosara Weekly. Are you a mage from Fairy Tail?"
A man with glasses, a parted hairstyle, a camera around his neck, and a small notebook in his hand approached Rod.
Rod carefully sensed his surroundings and didn't detect any abnormal magical fluctuations, so he cautiously replied, "Yes."
"Great!" Reper Ter seemed excited.
"To be honest, I had the privilege of visiting Fairy Tail a few months ago and didn't see you there. Are you a new member?"
A fan of our guild? Rod nodded. "Yes, I'm new. I joined less than two months ago."
"Fantastic! I thought as much!" Reper Ter said enthusiastically.
"So, would you be interested in an interview? If you make it into Sosara, it would greatly enhance your reputation!"
Fame = information being made public.
That's too unsafe. Rod decided to politely decline. "I'm sorry, but I have no interest in fame..."
"Oh, that's terrible!" Reper Ter distressedly ran his fingers through his hair.
"I've already been turned down seven times today. If I don't spend the remaining 10,000 J interview fee, the editor will scold me for not trying hard enough!"
Interview fee?
"Do you really pay interviewees in a prestigious magazine like yours?"
"That's not the point—the point is—10,000 J?"
Rod had been in need of money lately.
"Look, what I mean is, I'm not interested in fame, but I really appreciate your hard work as a journalist, so I suppose I can make an exception and cooperate."
What's the harm in sharing information? He could always give them some fake details.
10,000 J, and he could finally buy that gift he had in mind.
"That's... wonderful, thank you so much!" Reper Teller beamed with excitement.
So, before the celebration began, a simple interview quietly took place.
First, the basics—name, age, and other general information. There was no need to hide any of that.
Then, the topic turned to magic.
"I use summoning magic to call upon unique creatures to assist me with my tasks."
Rod summoned Worm to make an appearance, and Reper Teller snapped a few photos.
"So cute! And what about your strength within the guild? How would you rank yourself?"
"Hard to compare with the seasoned members, but among the new recruits, I'm definitely the strongest."
No one else had joined the guild in the past few months, so Rod was indeed the strongest new member, no doubt about it.
"Awesome! 'Strongest Newcomer in the Strongest Guild'—that's a great headline! The editor-in-chief will love it!"
Reper Teller continued, "That summoning beast you just showed is adorable, but what about your strongest magic?"
"That would be the mighty River Crab, which I tamed just last month.
In a particularly dangerous canyon, there's a river that runs so deep you can't see the bottom. It's there that the River Crab lives..."
Rod exaggerated the description of the River Crab's habitat, emphasizing that it was the most powerful creature he had ever summoned, far surpassing anything he had before.
Not a single lie.
At the end of the interview, Reper Teller asked to see the powerful River Crab.
Rod led him to the hotel's courtyard for a demonstration.
Fortunately, the River Crab was large and intimidating, with its massive claws, long antennae, and sharp spikes on its shell, making it look quite formidable.
Reper Teller snapped several close-ups of the crab's claws, and Rod pocketed his 10,000 J.
"What a nice guy."
Both the interviewer and the interviewee shared the same sentiment.
...
The celebration opened with a dance by fifteen beautiful women, and the lively music and sizzling dance moves quickly electrified the crowd.
Reper Teller really wanted to go back and start editing his article, but it would be impolite to miss such an important event, so he stayed to entertain Rod as well.
However, once the performance began, he was too captivated to pay much attention to Rod, snapping photos with his camera.
Rod wondered if the camera used film or magic crystals—though he quickly put that thought aside and focused on eating and watching the show—mostly eating, as he had been busy all day and needed to replenish his energy.
While enjoying his meal, he didn't forget to clap along with the crowd.
After the opening dance, the guild master took the stage with a speech filled with congratulations, encouragement, and gratitude.
For the people he didn't know and the parts he didn't care about, Rod quietly continued eating.
Finally, when the speech concluded and the stage lights shifted to the center, Mira made her entrance.
Rod put down his utensils, wiped his mouth, and settled in. Eating could wait a bit longer.
(End of Chapter)
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