A few days had passed since our unexpected reunion at the Sabaody Archipelago. I was back on our home island, waiting for my editor, Eddie-chan, at a café.
I'd arrived a bit early, so I passed the time reading a newspaper I'd picked up nearby.
'Hmm... I see... Interesting...'
"...Phew, good."
"Sorry to keep you waiting... Sue-sensei, why are you looking so relieved while reading the newspaper?"
Oh, Eddie-chan's here.
She must have noticed my expression, because she asked, "Did you find something good?"
"No, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't on any wanted posters."
"...Wait, did you do something that would put a bounty on your head?"
"Well, it's a bit of a long story..."
I proceeded to explain how I'd been working as a bounty hunter when I got captured by a human trafficker's ship, but I managed to turn the tables and escape without a scratch.
I skipped over the part about meeting Shakuyaku-san and the others. There was no need to mention it. Rayleigh-san and his companions were retired now, wanting to live quietly, and I had no intention of spreading the word and causing a commotion.
"Sensei, you're pulling off some pretty incredible stuff in more ways than one... You need to be careful. You're so cute, you know? If you let your guard down, human traffickers will definitely target you."
"Can't those guys just get a real job and earn a living honestly?"
"Well... we're living in the Great Pirate Era. People everywhere are looking for easy money. It's a scary world."
It's a time when pirates and human traffickers alike thrive on the misfortune of others. Ugh, what a pain.
Still, that's what we bounty hunters make our living off too.
It's a messed-up world. If you resist human traffickers or try to help their victims, you're the one who gets arrested by the Marines, while the traffickers get away scot-free.
One wrong move, and I could have been branded a criminal myself, a bounty target just like a pirate.
Well, at least this time, even though I caused quite a ruckus, it seems like the incident is being swept under the rug. That's a relief.
"Sensei! Even if you become a pirate or a bounty target, I'll still follow you! I'll chase you to the ends of the earth to get your manuscripts, so don't worry about anything and just keep writing!"
"Don't jinx us, Eddie-chan..."
Alright, enough grumbling about the state of the world.
A writer and an editor are meeting, so naturally, the next step is to discuss the current writing project.
I managed to steer the conversation back to work, but Eddie-chan's face suddenly fell.
"About that..." she said apologetically, "I'm really sorry, Sensei, but the manuscript you gave me last time... it got rejected at the editorial meeting."
"Oh, it didn't make the cut? That's a shame."
It seemed my manuscript hadn't passed the screening process for publication.
I thought I'd written something pretty good, and I was feeling confident. Eddie-chan had even praised it enthusiastically, saying, "I think it's absolutely fascinating!"
Looking genuinely apologetic, Eddie-chan explained in more detail.
"Everyone generally agreed the story was interesting... but the Editor-in-Chief worried it might be seen as critical of the government and public authorities, making publication difficult."
"Ah... so that's the direction they're taking it."
Now that I think about it, the story I submitted did focus on outlaws battling against countries and nobles, triumphing over them.
It's about a protagonist, a descendant of a legendary hero, who embarks on a journey to become the world's savior. But in the capital of a powerful nation, he's falsely accused of being "not a hero, but a child of the devil!" and unjustly imprisoned without understanding why.
Fortunately, he manages to escape. Now a fugitive, he continues his quest to save the world, accompanied by his loyal companions.
Eventually, they discover that the king and his strategist of that country are the true villains, having sold their souls to an evil legion. Together with a motley crew of allies—including a general from the enemy country, a martial princess, knights from foreign lands, and a chivalrous master thief—they unite to confront the looming darkness and save the world.
Well, that's the story. I tried to make it easy to understand and enjoyable for everyone, kids and adults alike. I even had some ideas for sequels if it took off.
Okay, yeah, I admit it was about outlaws standing up to the establishment.
But the mastermind was just a high-ranking official or noble—a plain old villain, really. It wasn't like I was saying all nobles were evil or anything like that. Still not good enough, huh?
Eddie-chan told me the editor-in-chief had recently been replaced in a personnel reshuffle.
The new guy's kind of rigid and old-fashioned, very conservative. Apparently, he tends to avoid anything too provocative.
Especially crime stories or outlaw tales like mine. He's worried about drawing the ire of the Marine or the Government. I heard every similar pitch has been shot down in meetings lately.
"So... does that mean the story I'm working on probably won't get approved either?"
"What's it about?"
"It's about orphans abandoned at birth who are forced to turn to crime to survive, but they're still tough kids. They only target criminals, never innocent people, and eventually overthrow the mastermind controlling the criminal underworld. Then they use the ill-gotten gains to help the vulnerable."
"I wanted to raise awareness about real-world issues like poverty, social inequality, child abuse, and neglect—problems that are happening somewhere in the world right now. I hoped the story would spark some conversations and make people think."
"And I was thinking of adding a disclaimer like, 'All the criminal tactics and prevention methods described in this story are real. Please use them to protect yourself.'"
"Ah... yeah, that's definitely a no-go, isn't it? Personally, I think it sounds really interesting and I'd love for you to write it, but... Our publishing house used to pride itself on putting out bold and edgy books."
Eddie-chan sighed.
"And Sensei, this is a bit awkward to bring up..."
"? What is it?"
"At that meeting... well, it was mostly the Editor-in-Chief's idea, actually... They suggested that we should encourage writers to write stories that heroically portray the Marine and the Government, you know, stories that would boost their public image."
"Ehhh..."
That's... ridiculously blatant, isn't it? Isn't that going too far?
It's like I can see right through the Editor-in-Chief's intentions. It's not just about avoiding trouble—is he deliberately trying to curry favor with those in power by aligning our content with their agenda?
As a writer whose guiding principle is "write what you enjoy," I really don't want to be told what to do. I struggle to come up with a story just because someone tells me to write about a specific theme.
Even if I forced myself, I doubt I'd create anything good. I'd probably get frustrated halfway through and abandon it—or, more accurately, give up.
Unless you're an incredibly dedicated professional, passion and motivation are absolutely crucial for a writer.
It all comes down to how much you love the story you're working on, and how fiercely you can keep that creative fire burning. That's what determines both the quality of your work and whether you'll even finish it.
Reader feedback and fan letters are like fuel for that fire. They give me a real sense of the impact of my stories, how many people are reading them, and how much happiness they're bringing.
Of course, if I came up with a story idea that genuinely interested me, I'd write it on my own.
"I really want you to write whatever you're passionate about, Sensei," Eddie-chan said. "I'm sure your best work comes from that, and I love the stories you write when you're truly invested!"
"Thanks, Eddie-chan. Well... let's scrap today's proposal for now. I'll brainstorm some more. I need to find a subject that will impress the Editor-in-Chief while still being something I enjoy writing. If nothing comes to mind, maybe I'll do some research and look around for inspiration."
"Just... try not to get kidnapped again, okay?"
"Yeah, yeah."
I've had enough of being a slave.
But wait... maybe I could write a story about slavery? Hmm... that might actually work.
On a ship crewed by noble-born adventurers, the protagonist was the only commoner, treated like a slave and forced into brutal labor and combat day after day.
One day, his comrades abandoned him, leaving him stranded ashore.
But years of harsh survival had forged him into something far stronger than the noble sons and their private armies—a force that could instantly crush pirates and villainous armies, earning him the title of hero.
Completely unaware of his own potential, the protagonist was now free to unleash his full power without the burden of the noble youths.
His exploits spread like wildfire across the land. Acknowledged for his strength, he gained status, loyal allies, and a rags-to-riches story so incredible it made his days as a slave seem like a distant nightmare.
...Man, this story would probably get rejected for giving slaves false hope, huh?
I thought it was a pretty interesting story, but I guess you have to consider all sorts of things when you're writing.
It's frustrating, though, when I'm lucky enough to have a job where I can bring my dreams to life on the page, only to feel so constrained.
"...If you find your current company unbearable, Sensei, you could always consider transferring."
"E-eh?! N-no, no, Eddie-chan, you shouldn't say things like that! You're an employee of this publishing house, after all. You shouldn't be suggesting anything that could hurt the company's interests..."
"Don't worry! If you transfer, Sensei, I'll go with you! Didn't I say earlier that I'd follow you to the ends of the earth?!"
"Ehh... You're making up your mind way too casually, Eddie-chan."
Our editor's enthusiastic and reliable, but sometimes she gets a little too carried away and it's kind of scary.
To be continued...