Chapter 7: Training Behind the Mountain — Sharpening the Blade Doesn't Delay Chopping Wood, and Paying Debts Works the Same Way
Ren got up early, washed up, and went into town. Using the money left from his first job, he bought a batch of training supplies.
That's right—balloons and rubber balls.
Then he carried everything to the hill behind the dorms to begin training.
"Let me think… I remember Rasengan training is split into stages. Stage one: put a balloon filled with water on your palm, then pour magic power in so the water inside moves chaotically until the balloon bursts. Stage two: a rubber ball—an upgraded version of the balloon—goal is still to break it. Final stage: condense and release magic power, combining everything from before, concentrating high-density magic power in your hand and continuously outputting it. The key is maintaining it, forming a small tornado. The power is huge—it can punch through trees and shatter rock. Alright. Steps confirmed. Training starts!"
Once he started, he went all in. Thanks to that bouncy-light-sphere guy, Ren's absurd talent showed its value again, and his progress was unbelievably smooth.
Sunrise to sunset, days passed, and a week later, morning came again.
For the entire week, Ren had come to the back hill early every day to train Rasengan. Now he had completed all three stages and planned to finally release a proper Rasengan and test its power.
A pale-golden orb formed in his palm. Even the air around it seemed to get dragged along, a small breeze spinning up around his hand.
"So my magic power is pale gold. I thought it'd be blue like chakra. Speaking of which… I wonder if I can make Wind Release: Rasenshuriken…"
Ren stared at the stable Rasengan as his thoughts drifted toward even bigger, crazier spheres.
"Stop daydreaming. Test the power first, then it's time to work and pay off debt!"
Ren walked up to a huge boulder and pressed the Rasengan into it.
"Rasengan!"
As he called the move, the golden orb sank into the stone without slowing down. Wherever it touched, the rapidly rotating magic power ground the rock into powder.
When the entire Rasengan had burrowed into the boulder, Ren stopped maintaining its stability. Instantly, the magic power that formed the Rasengan lost its guiding control and, driven by inertia, sprayed outward in every direction.
The Rasengan exploded.
Boom!
The boulder blew apart into pieces, like a brittle ceramic basin with a firecracker stuffed under it.
Ren looked at the result, very satisfied.
"Good. The power is qualified. I've got a precise single-target move now. And if I want more power, I just increase output. Alright—back to work. This time I'm taking a high-pay job!"
Back at the guild, Ren went straight to the request board and started choosing.
"Oh, Ren. You finally going to do jobs to pay off your debt?" Macao called out.
Wakaba added from the side, "Gray's already finished two jobs. You're only starting now?"
"Sharpening the blade doesn't delay chopping wood. Paying debt is the same," Ren said, hands on his hips, smug as ever. "I've mastered a stronger single-target attack spell, and it's easier to control the power. That means I can take higher-paying jobs without worrying about wrecking everything around me. Fifteen million in debt? Watch me clear it in no time!"
Then Ren spotted a request sheet:
A town will soon be attacked by a monster stampede. Fairy Tail wizards are requested to eliminate it. The stampede is mainly wind wolves. Base reward: 1,000,000 J. Additional pay depending on how thoroughly the stampede is crushed.
"Oh, that one," Wakaba said after seeing what Ren was about to pick. "If you have wide-range attacks, it's pretty suitable. Wind wolves aren't especially strong. They're just pack animals and they move in groups. My smoke magic is fine if there are only a few of those little wolves throwing wind blades, but if there are too many, it gets annoying."
"Oh! Then it's perfect!" Ren looked delighted. "This job was basically made for me."
At the bar, Makarov took a sip of beer and called out, "Ren, you little brat—once you've chosen, hurry up and go! You're still carrying fifteen million in debt! That's my retirement money. Pay it back fast!"
Ren stuck a finger in his ear like he was digging out wax. "Alright, old man, don't be so angry. I'm heading out right now. I'll bring you a souvenir."
"Hold on," Makarov said, looking at the sheet again. "This job… do you want to bring someone along? It's a stampede, after all."
"Don't worry," Ren said confidently. "It's just a wind-wolf stampede, not something insane. I'm off."
Ren left immediately, heading to the station.
Before long, he boarded the mage train to the mission location, Loguetown.
Hope this job has a bit of challenge, Ren thought.
Then the debt popped into his head again.
Never mind—better play it safe. If I earn less than I spend, I'm finished in this life. Please bless me, god of transmigration. Just don't let anything ridiculous happen on this mission.
As Ren's thoughts spiraled, night gradually fell.
After a full day and night, the train finally arrived. Ren stretched, got off, and went straight toward the center of Loguetown. After asking passersby for directions, he arrived at the mayor's office.
"Hello. I'm a wizard from Fairy Tail, here to handle the stampede problem," Ren said bluntly after knocking and entering.
"That's wonderful!" The mayor looked like he'd seen a savior. "The wind wolves around here have been increasing nonstop. I was about to raise the reward so you'd send someone sooner!"
He rushed over, grabbed Ren's hand, and craned his neck to look behind him.
"How many wizards did you bring this time? Are they all outside? Hurry and bring them in! Let's understand the situation and deal with this stampede as soon as possible!"
"Just me," Ren said, then quickly added, "but don't worry. I'm really strong!"
The moment Ren said it was only him, the mayor went blank like his soul had left his body. Ren hurried to reassure him.
"Really…? Because of the stampede, our trade routes have stopped, and supplies are getting scarce. Can you truly handle it alone?"
"Leave it to me," Ren said firmly. "In the name of Fairy Tail."
"Alright… If it gets too hard, please call for reinforcements immediately. Reward isn't an issue," the mayor said reluctantly, then began explaining the details of the stampede to Ren.