"The Yae Publishing House's annual 'This Novel Is Amazing!' Grand Awards are underway!"
"Now hiring editors! Dreamers of light literature especially welcome! Apply today for a personal interview with Editor-in-Chief Yae Miko—don't miss your chance!!"
The Yae Publishing House, founded by Lady Yae Miko, chief priestess of Narukami Shrine, specialized in light popular novels. But publishing and sales were only part of it—under its banner were numerous talented authors, illustrators, and editors. In a way, it was a perfectly self-sustaining enterprise.
Its main office stood on the busiest street in Hanamizaka. Victor happened to arrive right as the area was bustling with activity. On the billboard outside, besides the usual "This Novel Is Amazing!" event and the ongoing hiring notice, there were even more eye-catching posters:
"Yae Publishing—Your Grand Stage Awaits! Got a Dream? Join Us!"
"Let your pen become wings—set imagination free! Unleash your talent and become the King of Light Novels!"
"Special Writing Contest Now Open!"
"Ah… no wonder there are so many people around," Victor murmured.
"This event's bigger than ever before," explained Kuroda, the editor manning the front counter. "It's meant to celebrate the lifting of the Vision Hunt Decree, and Yae Publishing even invited Watatsumi Island for a cultural exchange. The publicity is huge—unprecedented, really. This time, even the top ten finalists will receive the rewards that used to go only to the top three. Many authors are hoping to make their name here!"
Then, brightening, he added, "Are you participating too, Mr. Victor? If you submitted The Chronicles of Shenzhou's Broken Sword, it would definitely rank high! Too bad it's not a new release—it wouldn't qualify."
"I'm not here for that. I'm looking for Yae Miko. She wasn't at Narukami Shrine, and I heard she's here."
"Oh, yes—Lady Miko's upstairs. The first floor's the bookstore, the second is our office area. Normally outsiders aren't allowed in… but I think you'll be fine. Just head inside, turn right, and take the stairs up."
"Thanks."
The Yae Publishing House was enormous—its first floor was practically the biggest bookstore in all of Inazuma. Past the counter stretched rows of bookshelves, each stacked with dazzling titles. Victor noticed that the books were neatly categorized by genre, and there were even dedicated shelves for ranking lists from various contests.
He quickly located the staircase Kuroda mentioned and went up without lingering.
The second floor was a buzz of organized chaos—the unmistakable hum of a busy editorial office. Unless you were part of the conversation, you could hardly make out a single word.
"Rina's missed another update! I've reminded her three times already!!"
"Isaka's latest chapter messed up the character consistency again. Don't push him too hard—give him time to fix it."
"A Legend of Sword dropped two more spots in sales this month… what a headache."
"What's there to complain about? It's been two years since that series ended! The fact it's still charting is impressive!"
"I want to read Makotama-sensei's new work already…"
"And I'm still waiting on Master Chang the Ninth's next book."
"How many times have I told you—Chang the Ninth is his real name! Call him Master Chang! If Kuroda hears you again, he'll lecture you for half a day!"
No one noticed Victor enter, so he simply kept walking inward.
"The illustrations for Invincible, Then Reincarnated as a Shut-In are done—but now the author's 'fallen ill'? Get her moving! Buy her medicine, bring it to her, make sure she drinks it in front of you! Shower her with care and let her feel the love of our editorial team!!"
"Also, for the Idle Affairs Monthly magazine's new anonymous advice column—the one we're forwarding through Yae Publishing—remember to sign the replies from 'Miss Hina.'"
"Is that… okay?"
The editors exchanged uneasy looks. Everyone knew that column was meant for the General of Watatsumi Island.
Yae Miko chuckled softly behind her sleeve. "A gentle, beautiful, big-sisterly figure fits public imagination much better, don't you think?"
"And if we get found out—?"
"That's not your concern. If we're exposed, I'll handle it."
Poor Gorou, Victor thought. And not just him—Lumine, Itto, Kuki Shinobu, Ayato, and now me… all just toys for this woman's amusement.
Impressive, in its own terrifying way.
And even though she'd clearly noticed the extra presence in the room, she pretended not to. Victor had to cough deliberately to make his existence known.
"Well, well—what brings you here? Troubled about your new assignment? Hoping to study the current trends in light novels?"
Following her gaze, the editors finally realized Victor was there.
"No," he said calmly. "I've already finished writing."
"…Finished?" Yae Miko's brow arched. "You mean to say you completed a light novel in six days? Surely, you're not thinking of submitting some half-hearted draft to fool me—because I will be very cross."
The other editors perked up—whatever they'd just overheard sounded explosive.
"Six days for a whole novel? You can't even research market trends in that time."
"You can't even finish an outline in six days—maybe just a concept or a short story."
"I know you're Dust-sensei, but even then… unless you already had the entire story mapped out in your head, it's impossible."
"Something like that," Victor admitted, swallowing hard under their stunned stares. "The stories have existed in my mind for a long time—so don't be too surprised."
Plagiarism is bad, he reminded himself silently.
He hadn't intended things to end up like this, but these editors' reactions were practically begging for it. Still, slapping them with someone else's work didn't exactly make him feel proud either… truly a case of neither side wanting to play their role.
Maybe I should turn them in one every six days? Or send 'updates' periodically to make it look serialized over a few years?
…Nah.
He took out three notebooks in one smooth motion. "Actually, I wrote three."
Even Yae Miko blinked in visible surprise—a rare expression for her, though she quickly masked it.
At her signal, three of her senior editors each opened a notebook.
The first frowned at the title. "That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime… wait, he's reincarnated as a slime?"
Victor cleared his throat, addressing the room like a lecturer. "You have to broaden your perspective. No one said reincarnation has to mean becoming human. As long as it's interesting, anything works. Didn't Yae Publishing released Reincarnated as a Hilichurl, I Can Grow Stronger by Eating Sunsettias?"
"…That's true, actually."
The first editor nodded and read on—then suddenly gasped. "Wait—this slime can eat dragons?!"
Given that slimes and dragons were real in this world, Victor could understand the shock. "It's just a fictional setting—think of it like Hilichurls powering up from Sunsettias. You get the idea."
"I dunno… a slime eating a dragon sounds way crazier than a Hilichurl eating fruit to get stronger… and what's this 'Goblin' creature?"
"A humanoid species—smaller than humans, green skin."
"So, kind of like Hilichurls?"
"Not quite."
"And these horned Oni—this 'Benimaru' guy, he's a Red Oni? I assume your Oni are like ours, right?"
"You can think of it that way. But in the story, they're not divided into Red and Blue Oni, and they don't use that to define morality."
The editor skimmed faster, then suddenly froze. "This pink-haired little fox…?"
"Hm?" Yae Miko's ears twitched slightly as she glanced at Victor.
"It's just normal plot structure," Victor said quickly. "No… implications."
The editor kept reading, soon lost in the story entirely.
The second editor looked up. "This one, The Eminence in Shadow, if I read it right—the protagonist's already invincible as a kid? What's left to write after that?"
Victor smiled. "Think of Yae Publishing's own Reincarnated as the Raiden Shogun: Undefeated in All the Land. The fun of the invincible genre isn't about growth—it's about style. Keep reading; you'll see."
That editor, too, fell silent, eyes glued to the page.
The third held Master of Great Calamity. It lacked heavy jargon or meta-twists, so he had no questions—just clenched fists and furrowed brows as he read.
Ten minutes later, at Yae Miko's gentle but firm prompt, the three finally looked up, reluctant to stop.
"Well? Impressions?"
"Fresh setting! Brilliant creativity!"
"Clever structure! Sharp perspective!"
"This one's classic, but the pacing, the emotional buildup—it's masterful! I actually felt fired up again!"
At least they weren't calling her a gullible fox, Yae Miko thought with quiet relief. Then she asked, "Scores, then?"
"This one should take first place in the contest!"
"No, mine should take first!"
"Hey, finish reading before you argue—this one deserves first!"