After retrieving the novel manuscript from Kamiyā Yuu, Akiyama Gojō drove back to Chiyo Bookstore's Light Novel Editorial Department.
No sooner had he sat down in his office than his assistant walked over with a steaming cup of coffee, set it on the desk, and asked with a smile,
"How did it go?"
"In what sense?" Akiyama Gojō replied, shaking his head. He took a USB drive out of his pocket, plugged it into his computer, and copied the light novel manuscript—over two hundred thousand words long—onto his hard drive.
The middle-aged assistant sat down in a nearby chair, took a sip of hot tea, and shrugged.
"Any sense. You don't look particularly satisfied."
With one hand on the mouse as he organized the manuscript's formatting, Akiyama Gojō thought for a moment before shaking his head.
"It didn't reach the word count I was hoping for. But it turned out much better than I expected."
"It feels like buying a lottery ticket while dreaming of the grand prize, only to end up winning third prize."
"...That's a rather subtle feeling."
Akiyama Gojō nodded approvingly.
"Mr. Kamiyā still managed to complete over two hundred thousand words for Volume Three. That's already quite impressive, and it looks like he wrote all of it during this period."
"If it weren't for the joint release event with Miss Gogyo Ruri's novel, the deadline could have been much more flexible."
The middle-aged assistant laughed as he set down his teacup.
"Your standards are just too strict."
"No matter what, Director Kamiyā is an anime director and also the president of that animation studio."
"Honestly, it's more surprising that he could find time to write a novel at all."
"'Fate/Zero' has been skyrocketing in popularity lately. Quite a few people in the company have become fans of Director Kamiyā Yuu."
Akiyama Gojō didn't respond. Instead, he sighed softly and asked,
"How are things going at the venue?"
"The largest physical light novel bookstore in Akihabara has already started preparing. We've transferred as many staff members as possible to help out."
"We should barely be able to handle the crowds during the joint release event."
Akiyama Gojō frowned.
"'Barely,' huh?"
"This is Miss Gogyo Ruri's book launch."
"If we're only barely prepared, submit a request to headquarters for additional staffing funds."
"How about security?"
The assistant scratched his head awkwardly.
"Security?"
"Uh... we've already hired a security company to maintain order. Nagashima's in charge of that, so I don't know the details."
"But... do we really need to be this cautious?"
Akiyama Gojō smiled bitterly.
"Miss Gogyo Ruri receives threatening letters every year."
"Strengthening security is simply a precaution."
"If anything were to happen to her at one of our events..."
"...forget headquarters."
"Her fans would probably tear Chiyo Bookstore apart before anyone else could."
The middle-aged assistant laughed dismissively.
"Don't all famous people get those kinds of letters?"
Threatening letters had practically become a tradition among celebrities in Japan.
Novelists, actresses, idol groups—anyone with even a little fame had a chance of receiving them.
As for people who actually acted on those threats...
There were very few.
Or rather, those who genuinely intended to act usually didn't bother sending warning letters that would only alert their targets.
Crimes of passion were another matter entirely.
For example, in the early years of such incidents in his previous world, there had been the case of a Japanese female idol who was stabbed by one of her fans.
Reportedly, the idol had simply rejected the fan's harassment.
Then, during a handshake event, the fan suddenly pulled out a knife and stabbed her more than twenty times.
After 'Code Geass' concluded, Sakurai Takahiro, the voice actor for one of its main characters, Suzaku Kururugi, reportedly received abusive and threatening letters almost every day.
The fragility and twisted mentality associated with Japan's hardcore otaku had become infamous worldwide.
It was also one of the biggest reasons the general public looked down on otaku.
"It's because of terrible otaku like you that everyone misunderstands otaku. JPG."
Thanks to the notoriety of Japanese otaku culture, that screenshot from the live-action drama 'Uramiya Honpo' had become a popular meme on the Chinese internet.
The premise of 'Uramiya Honpo' was somewhat similar to 'Hell Girl,' except its heroine was an ordinary human.
Like the Yorozuya in 'Gintama,' she accepted payment to use "legal" methods to eliminate people who deserved retribution but had escaped justice.
Ironically, the line itself was spoken by a character portrayed as an otaku.
When the drama aired, it had consciously attempted to improve society's perception of otaku by distinguishing dangerous extremists from harmless enthusiasts.
Unfortunately, the "Schrödinger's Otaku" theory was simply too troublesome.
Coupled with the endless stream of negative news surrounding otaku, even after anime became fully commercialized in Japan, anime fans still weren't widely accepted.
Older anime fans in particular had practically become synonymous with being childish and disgusting.
Japan was the world's anime powerhouse.
Yet one of the country's greatest cultural exports was simultaneously looked down upon by its own people.
The irony was impossible to ignore.
...
After his assistant left the office, Akiyama Gojō finally began reviewing the manuscript.
The third volume of 'Fate/Zero' submitted by Kamiyā Yuu covered the 'Holy Grail Debate', before transitioning into the story's most exciting all-out melee.
Originally, Akiyama Gojō had intended to examine the manuscript with the detached eye of a professional editor.
Instead, he found himself completely engrossed in the story.
"The prose is as polished and meticulous as ever."
"And the writing style is entirely different from ordinary light novels."
"It's much closer to translated literature and traditional novels."
That was the impression the opening chapters of Volume Three left on him.
Then came the 'Holy Grail Debate', where the clash between each king's ideals completely captivated him.
It struck exactly the kind of story Japanese readers loved to see.
His eyes lit up.
The battle between Heroic Spirit Zhao Yun and Iskandar's Ionioi Hetairoi, the Army of the King, stirred his blood.
"The characters' ideals are clearly defined."
"The story avoids the dragging pace common in light novels."
"Moderate verbal conflicts heighten the contradictions and emotional explosions, making every confrontation feel even more impactful."
"Most importantly, the plot develops naturally."
"Nothing feels artificially arranged."
"Everything unfolds according to each character's own actions, while simultaneously deepening their characterization."
"As expected... compared to a light novel, 'Fate/Zero' should really be classified as fantasy literature."
Every time he finished another section, Akiyama Gojō couldn't help glancing at the progress bar.
Watching it steadily shrink, he felt an unprecedented sense of resentment.
Why couldn't this novel be longer?
Why couldn't he enjoy it to his heart's content in one sitting?
Despite totaling over two hundred thousand words, after spending the entire day reading it, he still felt completely unsatisfied.
...
At some point, the lights in the editorial office had come on.
When Akiyama Gojō absentmindedly scrolled the mouse wheel again, he discovered the progress bar had nowhere left to go.
Only then did he realize he had finished Volume Three.
His emotions became complicated.
"Isn't this actually the grand prize?"
"Every one of those two hundred thousand-plus words serves a purpose."
"The pacing is tight."
"The story is outstanding."
"It lacks all the usual elements light novels use to flatter readers..."
"...yet it possesses an inexplicable narrative charm that makes it impossible to stop reading."
He opened another TXT document on his computer.
Inside was the one-hundred-thousand-word preview edition of 'The Mysterious Gate.'
He had already finished reading Gogyo Ruri's preview long ago.
Both novels shared the same quality.
Neither relied on the typical fan-service or reader-pleasing tropes of light novels.
Yet both flowed naturally from beginning to end and were immensely compelling.
Comparing the strengths and differences between the two works, Akiyama Gojō murmured to himself,
"I should take back what I said before."
"Volume Three of 'Fate/Zero' is actually even more compelling than the preview of 'The Mysterious Gate.'"
"Looking at it this way..."
"...even just this half of Volume Three could be published as a standalone volume."
The instant he finished comparing the two novels, he slapped his forehead in realization.
"Oh no..."
"I got so absorbed in reading that I completely forgot to review the manuscript..."