"Yeah, I won."
Jaden leaned against the back door of the Ginokuniya Main Store, holding his phone as he spoke.
"No injuries. Just that the opponent was a little disgusting."
He paused.
"And after the match, some little girl who seemed a bit touched in the head suddenly started talking to me about getting married."
On the other end of the line, Erina's voice immediately rose.
"What did you say in response!?"
The words came out before she could stop them.
Then she quickly added an explanation.
"...It's mainly because I was worried you might get conned! Think about it-this was your first time meeting her, and she suddenly talked about marriage. She could be someone from another Kengan Association company."
"Jaden, you've only just entered the Kengan world. The water there is deep, and you can't navigate it properly yet. As your friend, I have to look out for you in situations like this!"
"And don't get the wrong idea!"
Hearing her tone, Jaden's lips slowly curved upward.
"Of course, I refused."
He spoke calmly.
"Regardless of how deep the water is, any normal person would refuse a marriage proposal that suddenly comes from a stranger, right?"
On the phone, Erina let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"Mhm... Forget that."
She changed the topic.
"Jaden, you should be back from Koyo already, right? What do you want to eat today?"
She hesitated for half a second, then added-
"It's mainly because you helped connect Koyo and Totsuki this time. And you even fought a Kengan match."
"Thank you for your hard work."
"And I already promised to treat you to dinner, so I'm just asking."
From her voice alone, Jaden could already picture her expression.
"Seafood rice, I guess."
He paused.
"But Erina, I'll be back late. I'm at the Ginokuniya Bookstore right now."
"I have something to discuss with Chairman Ohya, so I'll probably get back in the evening."
"All right, I understand."
Her tone softened.
"Don't come back too late."
"Okay."
After briefly explaining what happened at Koyo, Jaden ended the call.
When he pushed open the back door of the Ginokuniya Bookstore, he immediately saw Ohya Ken leaning against the doorframe.
The man still looked like a drunkard, wearing that familiar silly, intoxicated grin.
"You two are as affectionate as ever."
Ohya Ken chuckled.
"And you're already reporting in at such a young age. After you two get married, it looks like you'll be kept on a tight leash by that girl, Nakiri."
"Cough-cough."
Jaden's expression stiffened slightly.
He cleared his throat and composed himself.
"That's our business."
He looked at Ohya Ken.
"Anyway, Chairman Ohya, thank you for the trouble you went through with the novel A Certain Magical Index that I submitted earlier."
Ohya Ken waved his hand.
"It's no trouble at all."
"It was completely within my ability to help."
"And besides, A Certain Magical Index is a very high-quality light novel."
Despite his usual drunken appearance, Ohya Ken was still the chairman of a publishing-industry giant like Ginokuniya.
His eye for published works was sharp.
And his judgment was reliable.
If he said the quality was good, then it truly was.
"If it sells well," Ohya Ken continued, "my imprint might even gain some free publicity thanks to you."
"The publishing industry works like this."
"Good creators can be cultivated."
"But top-tier creators can't be manufactured. In the end, it still relies on natural talent."
Ohya Ken spoke in a calm, businesslike tone.
As if Jaden were there to discuss a major deal.
Yet Jaden knew very well-
For a single book, success or failure shouldn't normally require someone at Ohya Ken's level to personally intervene.
And yet-
He showed no impatience at all.
He explained everything patiently.
-What a good man.
Ohya Ken led Jaden inside the Ginokuniya Bookstore and brought him to the work area where the editors of the various imprints were stationed.
As a leader in the publishing industry, Ginokuniya had many imprints under its umbrella.
Fujikawa Bunko.
FULL DRIVE Bunko.
And several others.
The imprint Ohya Ken brought him to this time was Fujikawa Bunko's editorial department.
"FULL DRIVE Bunko already has an extremely successful Elf Yamada," Ohya Ken explained, "but Fujikawa Bunko hasn't had any standout works lately."
"So if you're interested in writing, I recommend this place."
"If A Certain Magical Index becomes a hit here, Fujikawa Bunko can concentrate all its resources on you."
Jaden nodded.
"I don't really understand these things."
"If you say so, then I'll submit it here."
After speaking briefly, the two entered the Fujikawa Bunko editorial department.
The moment they stepped inside, the editor closest to the door stood up immediately.
"Chairman Ohya!"
At his voice, the others looked over and greeted them one after another.
Ohya Ken responded casually.
He then led Jaden toward the back of the department, stopping at a corner seat.
"Editor Machida," Ohya Ken said, "this is the newcomer I recommended."
"The creator of A Certain Magical Index."
Hearing this, Sonako Machida-who had been somewhat reserved-brightened visibly.
"I see."
She smiled professionally.
"Since you're an acquaintance of Chairman Ohya, there's not much to discuss."
She turned to Jaden.
"However, sensei, I've read your work."
"It's excellent."
"Have you thought about what pen name you'd like to use?"
Because Jaden had been brought in by Ohya Ken, Machida knew-
Even if the writing hadn't been good, the book would still be published.
Illustrations.
Treatment.
Resources.
All of it would be top-tier.
So there was no need to bring those things up.
And besides-
She had read A Certain Magical Index.
It was undeniably outstanding.
No one could write something like that without a solid foundation.
Since everything else was settled, only the pen name remained.
"Pen name..."
Jaden thought for a moment.
To be honest, he had never considered it before.
And he was terrible at naming things.
After a brief pause, he randomly picked a name from people he had met recently.
"Let's go with Setsuna Kiryu."
"All right."
Machida wrote the name down.
"Setsuna Kiryu, correct?"
Jaden confirmed it and nodded.
Seeing that he had no further requests, Machida felt relieved-and secretly delighted.
A Certain Magical Index was mature, complete, and exceptionally strong.
Being assigned such a work after a recommendation from Chairman Ohya was like a gift falling from the sky.
Moreover, she had recently taken on another newcomer-Shiiko Kasumi.
Although Kasumi's writing wasn't as polished as Jaden's, she had talent.
Her first volume had sold well and received positive feedback.
With proper polishing, she was a promising author.
Now-
With two creators like this under her-
Her near-future bonuses were basically secured.
After that, there was nothing else to discuss.
The manuscript was handed over.
Regardless of quality, Ohya Ken intended to publish it.
Editing and treatment were naturally the best available.
Ohya Ken even mentioned that an advance payment was possible if Jaden wanted it.
Jaden declined.
After briefly settling everything, Jaden said goodbye to Ohya Ken.
He exited through the back door and walked deeper into the alley, heading home toward Erina.
Then-
On the deserted path illuminated only by streetlights in the dark night-
Two figures blocked his way.
A man.
And a woman.
The woman had short hair.
The man was heavily built, with soft, frizzy, bird's-nest-like afro hair.
But that wasn't what caught Jaden's attention.
What truly drew his gaze-
Were their eyes.
Both of them-
Completely black sclera.
With white irises.
Exactly the same as Karura he had met earlier.
The woman glanced at him, then casually moved aside.
She leaned against the wall in the distance, clearly intending to spectate.
The muscular man tossed his outer jacket to her without looking.
Then he faced Jaden, who had stopped walking.
"Don't you want to introduce yourself before we start fighting?"
Jaden spoke calmly, already understanding the situation.
The man stared back at him, equally expressionless.
"My name is Kure Horio."
"In the clan, I'm called the Crying Demon Child."
"For now, that's all you need to know."
"We can talk more after the fight."
He paused.
"In any case..."
"This will be over quickly."
Jaden nodded slightly, scanning him once.
"Yes."
"It will be over quickly."
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