FTRJ: Chapter 91

"Those kids…" Makarov's emotions were overwhelming. Gajeel, beside him, smiled.

"That must be the guild's gesture. I can't be left out!" Gajeel also raised his right hand.

Fireworks bloomed across the night sky; the crowd roared with excitement.

"Grandpa, did you see?" Laxus smiled.

"Our guild really is the best!" Lucy said proudly, her own raised hand a testament to her pride.

"Yeah, Fairy Tail's the best!" Finn murmured softly.

…

Days after the Magic Parade, Laxus took a job and left the guild.

Finn still remembered Laxus's resentful look, as if silently accusing him: Why did you completely destroy the Kardia Cathedral?

It was Magnolia's iconic landmark. Because of its destruction, Laxus was burdened with a massive debt, and the mayor was relentlessly pressuring him to repay it, forcing him onto the path of working tirelessly to pay off his debt.

Finn simply pretended not to notice, figuring there was nothing Laxus could do to him.

Meanwhile, the Thunder God Tribe members began integrating into the guild. Evergreen even volunteered to be a model for Reedus Jonah, the guild's artist, but this woman had rather high demands…

She insisted on being portrayed as more beautiful than both Erza and Mirajane, leaving Reedus Jonah in a cold sweat. To paint her that way would be to instantly offend two S-class mages—a situation he desperately wanted to avoid.

After all, women, when it comes to beauty, tend to be fiercely competitive.

Bickslow now spent his days trailing after Happy, relentlessly digging for gossip about the guild members. Whenever Finn was chatting with Mirajane or Erza, Bickslow and Happy would pop up, whispering, "They're an item~~"

The most crucial aspect of this was that both Bickslow and Happy were notoriously bad at whispering.

As for Freed, he had drastically shortened his long hair, claiming that self-reflection was equivalent to shaving one's head.

Finn couldn't help but point out that this was hardly the same as being completely bald.

The Master had made a complete recovery within these few days, spending his time leisurely sipping drinks at the bar, seemingly enjoying his life to the fullest. Whether it was Porlyusica's stern warning that had instilled a sense of caution in the guild's more mischievous members, or simply a coincidence, everyone had been remarkably well-behaved.

However, Makarov still intended to relinquish his position as Master. He pulled Finn to the bar, his eyes shining with anticipation. "Finn, didn't you agree to become Master that day?"

"Now that I've decided to retire, will you accept the position?"

Finn scratched the back of his head, feigning innocence. "Huh? When did I ever say I'd become Master?"

Makarov was instantly taken aback, his finger repeatedly pointing at Finn. "You…you said…you agreed that day!"

Finn pretended to clean his ears. "That day? I don't recall anything of the sort."

"The day of the Fantasia!" Makarov exclaimed, his voice rising in frustration, his mustache bristling and his eyes narrowed in anger.

Finn remained unfazed, continuing his act of blissful ignorance. "I never said anything of the kind. Why don't you ask everyone else here if they heard me say that?" Finn's gaze swept across the guild members.

Under the weight of Finn's intense stare, everyone shook their heads vigorously, not a single person daring to utter the words "I know."

Finn nodded with satisfaction, then spoke with a grave and thoughtful tone. "Master, I believe you should continue to hold the position of Master of Fairy Tail. I don't believe I'm yet ready to take on such a responsibility."

Honestly, the position of Master was a truly demanding one. The guild was filled with a bunch of individuals who seemed to have an itch that only causing trouble could scratch. Anyone who took on the role of Master would undoubtedly be a sucker for punishment.

Finn couldn't imagine enduring the constant nagging from the Magic Council like Makarov. If he were to become Master, he wouldn't be able to tolerate their interference; within days, he'd likely find himself leading Fairy Tail into a full-scale war with the Magic Council, ultimately resulting in Fairy Tail being branded as a Dark Guild.

That would be like throwing Fairy Tail directly into a fiery pit of despair.

Therefore, Finn's refusal was absolute.

"You little rascal! I'll…I'll skin you alive!!!" Makarov roared in a fit of rage, his eyes blazing.

He frantically scanned his surroundings, seemingly searching for a suitable weapon to unleash his fury upon the infuriating young man.

Seeing his opportunity, Finn offered a cheerful farewell before making a swift and skillful retreat.

Mirajane, witnessing this scene, stifled a giggle, covering her mouth with her hand.

A new day dawned, and the guild hall was as boisterous as ever. The results of Fairy Tail's "Most Beautiful Girl" ranking had finally been posted.

A large group of guild members gathered around the guild's announcement board, engaging in a lively and sometimes heated discussion.

"Looks like Erza took first place!"

"I knew it! But Lucy came in second."

"Third place is Juvia! Congratulations!"

Lucy squeezed her way through the crowd, her eyes fixated on the announcement board, only to have her mood plummet drastically.

"I still haven't earned enough rent! Waaaaah!!"

The others looked at Lucy, who was sobbing while clutching her head. No one knew quite how to offer words of comfort.

"Then why don't you go out and get a job?" Finn offered, attempting to provide some practical advice.

"That's all I can do…" Lucy sighed despondently, the images of the destruction caused by the guild's resident troublemakers flashing through her mind.

The extensive damage they caused – at least half the city each time – had resulted in a significant decrease in job requests and, consequently, a drastic reduction in the guild's income.

The bleak reality of her situation sank in once more. "No, this won't work! How am I ever going to earn enough rent at this rate?!"

"Hmm? Erza, what's wrong? Why are you wearing a dress?" Lucy asked, noticing that Erza was dressed quite differently from her usual attire of armor. She was wearing a form-fitting, elegant gown, her hair neatly tied up, and she was even sporting a pair of high heels – a sight rarely seen. She was rushing towards the backstage area in a flustered manner.

Lucy's curiosity was piqued.

Erza glanced back over her shoulder, offering a brief and somewhat dismissive reply. "I need to get my makeup done. I don't have time to chat right now." With that, she hurried off towards the backstage area.

Lucy's confusion deepened.

"Shubi Dubba!" Gajeel, looking dapper in a well-tailored white suit, a guitar slung over his shoulder, and sporting a pair of stylish sunglasses, strolled past Lucy.

Lucy's face was etched with a mixture of bewilderment and exasperation. "The Harvest Festival's over, isn't it?"

"Hmm? Didn't you know? A reporter from Magic Weekly is here today to interview our guild," Finn said, looking at Lucy with a quizzical expression. He seemed surprised that she hadn't been informed. It had been announced yesterday, after all.

Lucy's eyes widened in surprise. "Magic Weekly?! That's the incredibly popular magic-themed magazine that's all the rage throughout the kingdom!!"

"I heard they're doing a special feature on Fairy Tail," Mirajane explained with a warm smile.

"An interview…that means there's interview pay! If I can successfully capture the reporter's attention, then I can get the interview fee! If that happens, then my rent problem might just be solved!" Lucy's earlier despondency vanished, replaced by a surge of hope and excitement.

She seemed to have become completely lost in her own wishful thinking, a small smile playing on her lips as she covered her mouth with her hand.

"I wonder if she's gone completely bonkers?" Finn whispered to Mirajane, observing Lucy's self-absorbed behavior.

"I think she might be," Mirajane replied, stroking her chin thoughtfully, her expression mirroring Finn's amusement.

"Well, based on my extensive experience, I'd say she's probably suffered a complete mental breakdown due to the immense pressure of rent," Gray offered his professional assessment, his tone laced with a hint of dry humor.

"Could you please put some clothes on before you start playing doctor? You look nothing like a doctor; you look more like…a pervert," Finn retorted, unable to resist taking a jab at Gray's attire.

"Huh? When did that happen?!" Gray exclaimed, his voice filled with alarm.

"I need to figure out how to impress the reporter," Lucy continued to muse to herself, completely oblivious to the conversation around her.

"Finn, do I look alright?" Erza emerged from backstage a short time later, her makeup flawlessly applied. It wasn't a heavy, dramatic look, but rather a subtle, natural enhancement that served to accentuate her already striking beauty.

"Oh, you look stunning! This makeup style really suits you," Finn said, nodding repeatedly.

Erza blushed slightly at Finn's compliment.

"OH—The Fairy Queen! And…Finn, the man they call the Sun God!" A voice, brimming with excitement, boomed from the entrance, interrupting their conversation.

Finn and the others turned to see a man with a distinctive yellow streak of hair and a camera slung around his neck. He had arrived at the guild hall's entrance, his camera lens trained directly on Finn and Erza.

"Incredible…it's really them!" The man quickly snapped several photographs before swiftly sliding to his knees, his body moving with an almost comical grace, as he approached the group.

"This is amazing! I've actually met Finn and Erza in person! This is too cool!!" He repeatedly pumped his fists in the air, his excitement overflowing.

"Who…who is he?" Lucy asked, a perplexed expression on her face, her gaze fixed on the enthusiastic stranger. "Why is he so incredibly hyped up?"

"I think I recognize him. He's probably the reporter from Magic Weekly, Mr. Jason," Finn explained.

"Oh my gosh! This is amazing! I can't believe that the incredibly famous Sun God, Finn, actually remembers my name! This is truly the highest honor!" Jason's excitement was palpable.

He extended a trembling hand towards Finn, his eagerness evident.

"I…I would be honored if you would grant me the pleasure of shaking your hand," Jason said, his voice filled with hopeful anticipation.

"Um…" Finn, recognizing the reporter's intense enthusiasm, extended his hand in a polite gesture, shaking Jason's hand firmly.

"YES! This is incredible! I actually shook hands with the Sun God, Finn! This is unbelievably awesome!" Jason stared at his hand in disbelief, his body trembling with unrestrained excitement.

Finn accepted a glass of milk from Mirajane. "Mira, is he alright? I have a feeling he's about to pass out."

Mirajane chuckled. "He's always like this. He tends to get rather overexcited."

"And Ms. Mirajane!! This is incredible! To meet all three of you at once! May I conduct an exclusive interview?" Jason pulled out a small notebook, his eyes shining with anticipation.

"All three of us?" Finn asked, gesturing to himself, Mirajane, and Erza.

Jason nodded enthusiastically.

"It's a bit strange, but for the sake of my rent, I can't miss this chance to get into Magic Weekly!" Lucy muttered to herself, bolstering her courage.

Lucy discreetly adjusted her appearance, attempting to project a sweet and charming smile.

"My name is Lucy, and I'm Finn and Erza's…" Before Lucy could complete her introduction, Jason had already ushered Finn, Mirajane, and Erza to a secluded area to conduct the interview.

"Ignoring me???" Lucy's face froze in stunned disbelief.

The sound of the camera's shutter clicking filled the air.

After taking several photographs of the three, Jason pulled out his notebook and pen, preparing to record the interview.

"First, Mr. Finn, many people say you're a strong contender for the Ten Wizard Saints. What are your thoughts on that?"

The question caught Finn off guard. "Is that so? I haven't heard anything about that."

"Cool! As expected of the Sun God, Finn! He's completely nonchalant about the Ten Wizard Saints! That's so cool!" Jason scribbled furiously in his notebook, recording Finn's response.

A bead of sweat trickled down Finn's temple as he found himself speechless.

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