Chapter 267: Interview
Yusuke Sato had just seen the latest episode of Chainsaw Man and his facial muscles twitched.
"What a... lunatic!" he couldn't help but curse. "This kind of plan... is it really possible for a human to have devised it?"
In his work The Gods, in fact, he had created a group of lunatics called the Equipment Department.
However, after reading the episode of Chainsaw Man, Yusuke Sato suddenly felt that the lunatics in his work were just a group of problem children.
A true lunatic should be like Denji.
He ignored all laws and morals, or even didn't have them.
He cooked Makima with love in his heart...
That's the craziest thing, right?!
But Ren was already a lunatic.
But upon remembering Ren's past that had been exposed online, Yusuke Sato was speechless.
"Sensei, I've heard that the first part of Chainsaw Man is about to end."
Tang Wei then said, "Next week the last episode of the first part will be released, but I've heard there will be an interview before the final episode and that Mr. Ren will appear on stage."
"The first part of Chainsaw Man is over, but with its current popularity, the second will be even bigger."
Yusuke Sato said immediately, with high morale, "But this is just what I need! The third part of The Gods is my masterpiece! Come on! Ren, let's go all out!".
However, what he didn't expect a few days later was...
"What? Chainsaw Man announced a hiatus after the completion of the first chapter on public safety, and Ren announced the start of a new manga series?" exclaimed Yusuke Sato in disbelief.
On Wednesday, as she looked out the car window at the crowding crowd, Yuka couldn't help but sigh, "There are so many fans here today!".
Ren, accompanied by three assistants and editor Ayumi, traveled in a nanny car provided by the Akatsuki company, escorted by Akatsuki security personnel, to the interview location.
As for Sakura... well, she had work today, so she couldn't come.
This time, the autograph signing was outdoors, but much more formal than the previous ones.
After all, with the serialization of Chainsaw Man, Ren's popularity has skyrocketed.
Excellent short stories build a reputation through word of mouth, while excellent complete manga become popular through hard work.
Edgerunners, as a short story, is of excellent quality.
However, due to its short length, it mainly helped Ren build a reputation.
No mangaka can gain a large following with a single short story, unless someone like Junji Ito has created dozens of excellent short stories.
However, this method is even more difficult than creating a single complete and outstanding manga.
Although Fire Punch is a long manga, Ren decided not to publish it in series. Furthermore, Fire Punch is a relatively niche genre.
It's not a passionate shounen manga, nor a peculiar but enjoyable and popular manga like Chainsaw Man.
Therefore, Fire Punch simply consolidated Ren's already solid reputation.
With Chainsaw Man, its dense memes, and its excellent plot, Ren's popularity soared.
Consequently, the interview attracted countless fans.
The manga company, apparently anticipating this, organized a professional team to protect Ren's safety.
Upon arriving at the location, Ren and his companions were escorted by security personnel.
However, the sound of fans taking pictures and shouting surrounded them.
However, after all, they were manga fans, not as frantic as those who chase celebrities, and their shouts were mainly memes.
"Sensei Ren! Awesome! I understand everything!"
"But it's clearly Sensei Ren's style!"
"Sensei Ren! I love you!"
Some even played it in person, shouting, "Old bastard, Ren!".
This provoked laughter among the fans.
Ren also had fun, laughing out loud.
Seeing Ren's carefree look, some fans dared and said, "Sensei Ren! Do something cool!".
But he was just joking, and at most, Ren would make a gesture.
But Ren just chuckled and said, "Alright! I'll show you all! Everyone, step aside!".
Then, before everyone's confused and curious gaze, he rolled forward and stood up.
"Sensei Ren!".
"Sensei!".
Ren's sudden movement startled even his three assistants, Ayumi and Yuka.
Then he stood up, adopting a gymnast's landing pose, raised his hands high, and shouted, "Everyone, follow me!".
Finally, he aligned his left and right hands in a straight line and tilted them towards the upper left corner in an extremely cheesy pose.
"Cool, right?" shouted Ren with bright eyes.
Ah, this...
Everyone was stunned. Ren had achieved another great feat.
But no one thought his fluid movements were cool. Instead, they thought...
"Hahahahahahahahaha...".
A fan couldn't help but burst out laughing, clutching his stomach.
Then, like a chain reaction...
"Hahahahahahahahaha!"
"Hahahaha! You're worthy of Ren-sensei!"
"Hahaha, Ren-sensei, it's you after all..."
"Why don't you send the sensei back to the psychiatric hospital? It's still a good idea..."
...
The surrounding fans burst out laughing. Especially since most of them were recording with their phones or cameras every time Ren came, capturing the entire scene.
Naturally, the fans would post it online later, allowing everyone to witness Ren's antics.
"Sensei..."
Ayumi, with a furious face, stepped forward. She dusted off the dirt from Ren's clothes and said, "Watch your appearance...".
"Ayumi, I looked great, right?"
Ren, however, didn't notice, he just thought his fluid movements were impressive.
Hearing this, Ayumi's face darkened even more.
"Sensei... let's stop talking for now. Let's go through first," she said, avoiding the topic and grabbing Ren's arm, fearing he would get into something else.
"Yes... Mr. Amamiya, ahem, the interview is about to start. Let's go through first," said a security captain hastily.
"Alright..."
Ren immediately obeyed.
After all, he was a good dog who didn't cause trouble.
So, Ren was "escorted" backstage by Ayumi, three assistants, and manga staff.
...
This interview seemed more formal than ever. Ren even had to get his makeup done backstage.
He also put on a jacket before entering the interview venue with Ayumi.
"Welcome, Mr. Amamiya and his editor, Ms. Ito," said the host to the fans in the audience.
The fans immediately burst into applause.
Ren and Ayumi waved to the fans in the audience.
After enthusiastic cheers and applause, the three of them took their seats.
Then, the host finally kicked off the official question and answer session of the interview.
"So, the first question we want to ask Mr. Amamiya today is: what inspired you to create the manga Chainsaw Man?" asked the host.
Ren blinked. He was just a plagiarist, so where did the inspiration come from?
He raised the microphone and said, "Actually, it's just a fantasy about a man and a dog trying to survive."
"Huh? It is said that your dog is named Pochita. Is that true?".
The host was speechless for a moment, but then quickly asked again.
"Well... yes, Pochita is a very well-behaved little dog, I know him. He's my friend," said Ren, giving a thumbs up. "Just like Pochita in the manga."
This answer immediately sparked discussion among the fans.
"It seems that Chainsaw Man is a story created by Mr. Amamiya, based on himself. He has a female dog named Pochita, and Denji also has a female dog named Pochita, so Mr. Amamiya is Denji."
"You've got that equation! A genius!"
"Then everything that was said on the internet is true. Mr. Amamiya is not only Denji, but also Aki Hayakawa, and Mr. Amamiya's past..."
"It should be true, but this host probably won't ask Mr. Amamiya these things, he's too bold."
"Mr. Amamiya is also a poor man... Unfortunately, he is young and promising, but his family suffered a sudden misfortune."
"I'm very curious, why did Mr. Amamiya's brother do such a thing?"
"Look at Makima! Makima, the dominant devil, is actually a metaphor for the role of the mother in the manga."
"Denji's father in the manga isn't a good person either. Does that mean Mr. Amamiya's father isn't either?"
"Really... I'd like to ask these questions, but unfortunately... I can't."
...
The discussion among the fans in the audience did not affect Ren, Ayumi, or the host on stage.
After all, they were very far away.
The host asked, "So, how did Mr. Ren create the character of Makima?".
At that moment, Ren explained it immediately and said directly, "In fact, the prototype for Makima is a parasite from nature: Leucochloridium paradoxum!".
"The prototype is a parasite?".
The host and the fans in the audience obviously did not expect this answer and asked with curiosity.
"Yes, this parasite usually parasitizes snails, and the 'eyes' of the parasitized snails look like Makima's, with overlapping circles," explained Ren with a smile.
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