Chiyo Bookstore had already received Gogyo Ruri's novel, and Yosuganosora Animation Studio naturally had a copy as well. Kamiyā Yuu simply hadn't had time to read it before.
After "uploading" the third volume of the 'Fate/Zero' novel—which he already knew by heart—to the internet for safekeeping, Kamiyā Yuu returned to the apartment that evening. Because of his promise to Kamiyā Sora, there wasn't much else he could do, so he used his laptop in the bedroom to read the preview of 'The Mysterious Gate' that Gogyo Ruri had sent him.
Besides the preview itself, which was over a hundred thousand words long, the files also included a detailed outline spanning tens of thousands of words. Compared to the materials she'd sent last time, this outline explained the novel's setting and overall plot direction in far greater detail.
The preview of 'The Mysterious Gate' was essentially a prequel. Its primary purpose was to introduce the novel's world while laying the groundwork for the main story.
The preview followed a high-ranking magus who discovered traces of the truth behind the Magus Empire and realized what the members of the Magus Council, who stood at the very pinnacle of the empire, were truly attempting to accomplish.
After overcoming countless difficulties, he escaped from high society and fled into the filthy gutters of the lowest social stratum, where people couldn't even secure enough food to survive. There, he clung desperately to life.
Eventually, he glimpsed a tiny portion of the vast plan. The violent clash of information shattered his mind and turned him into a madman. Much of the knowledge circulating among the lower classes of the Magus Empire had been spread by him.
This "madman" would play an important supporting role in the main story, serving in a capacity similar to the male protagonist's mentor.
The preview's plot was intensely oppressive. The entire story was told primarily from the high-ranking magus's perspective as he observed everything happening throughout the Magus Empire.
Drawing upon the principles of magi within the Type-Moon World, Gogyo Ruri had created an exceptionally intriguing social system for the empire's magi. It could be said that the preview existed largely to depict this magical hierarchy.
It established what it meant to be a magus. To outsiders, the ideals upheld by ordinary magi bordered on insanity. In pursuit of deeper knowledge, a magus might even sell their soul or become a demon who killed without blinking.
There weren't many characters in the preview, yet every development was tightly interwoven with the next. Reading it felt like being drawn into a bizarre and dazzling fantasy world.
Overall, Kamiyā Yuu found it slightly less gripping than Volume Three of 'Fate/Zero.' However, Volume Three had built upon the groundwork laid in the previous volumes, intensifying its conflicts until the story reached an explosive climax.
Had 'The Mysterious Gate' progressed to the same point in its narrative, 'Fate/Zero' might not necessarily have been the superior novel.
If 'Fate/Zero' had somewhat exceeded the boundaries of a light novel, then 'The Mysterious Gate' was unmistakably traditional fantasy literature with distinctly Japanese characteristics.
If 'Fate/Zero' could be compared to 'Harry Potter,' then 'The Mysterious Gate' ought to be classified as something closer to 'The Lord of the Rings.'
"It clearly contains Japanese-style elements of youthful fantasy, yet the plot and worldbuilding feel rigorous and natural. Is it because of the prose? That probably has some influence, but it has more to do with how she portrays the characters and the world of the novel."
"She uses vivid characters to bring out the environment, while the environmental descriptions in turn reinforce the novel's broader setting. In barely over a hundred thousand words, she's already constructed an exceptionally distinctive and fascinating fantasy world."
Kamiyā Yuu finished the entire preview in one sitting.
Despite its length, it still left him amazed. It lacked the fast-food wish fulfillment common in Chinese web novels, as well as the dragging and childish tendencies of Japanese light novels. The narrative flowed smoothly from beginning to end, drawing the reader onward step by step.
"The world created by this novel feels as though it truly exists. The vivid prose makes it easy to overlook some of the inconsistencies in the setting."
"Even though it uses the same Type-Moon World, this work presents a completely different flavor."
"Can this really still be called a derivative work of the Type-Moon World...?"
Kamiyā Yuu didn't particularly want to admit it, but although he believed he had mastered every essential aspect of novel writing through training in his consciousness space—and could clearly see through the structural composition of 'The Mysterious Gate' preview—his overall ability as a novelist was still inferior to that literary girl.
"Someone like her is probably what a true genius of this world looks like."
Kamiyā Yuu fell into thought.
After training within his consciousness space, his writing ability had reached a level that, even if it couldn't rival the greatest figures in literature, was at least comparable to that of a first-rate novelist.
Yet the better he became, the more clearly he could see the gap between himself and Gogyo Ruri.
Kamiyā Yuu admired her from the bottom of his heart, but he wasn't discouraged.
He might be inferior to Gogyo Ruri when it came to novels, but his true profession was animation directing. In that field alone, Kamiyā Yuu was confident he wouldn't lose to any director in this world.
"If this preview were adapted into an anime..."
Kamiyā Yuu considered the contents of 'The Mysterious Gate' for a moment.
"Mm... it would be an enormous undertaking. The novel uses only a few strokes to describe the environment, yet the atmosphere it creates is incredibly rich."
"Reproducing that kind of atmosphere in animation isn't something money alone can solve. No wonder none of her works have ever been successfully adapted for the screen."
"It certainly deserves the offer of over a hundred million yen in royalties. Though as a novel intended to raise awareness of the Type-Moon World, it may deviate somewhat from the original purpose..."
"Well, as long as readers learn that the Type-Moon World exists, that's enough. I can't ask for too much."
After finishing 'The Mysterious Gate,' Kamiyā Yuu replied to Gogyo Ruri through an online messaging tool. He praised the brilliance of her novel and, referring to the detailed outline, asked several more questions about her specific ideas for the story.
Once he understood everything, Kamiyā Yuu incorporated the settings from 'The Mysterious Gate' into the Type-Moon World setting collection that would soon be released publicly.
The 'Throne of Heroes' project would be announced in October, which was also when the Type-Moon World setting collection would be published. It would serve as foundational material for readers to create their own Heroic Spirits and derivative works.
While Kamiyā Yuu was busy organizing the materials, Kamiyā Sora entered the bedroom after finishing her bath and saw him leaning against the bed, staring intently at the laptop screen.
She walked over, picked up a white rabbit plush toy, and placed it in front of the laptop to block his view.
"Yuu, don't bring work into the bedroom."
Kamiyā Sora's silver-white hair was still damp from the bath, and displeasure showed in her delicate eyes. Her slender body was dressed only in simple white sleepwear.
Kamiyā Yuu lifted the rabbit plush by its ears and placed it on the bed.
"Let me finish organizing this last bit. Once I'm done, I'll dry your hair. It doesn't really count as work. I'm just reading the novel Gogyo Ruri sent over."
"Mm."
Kamiyā Sora responded softly, climbed onto the bed, and wrapped her arms around Kamiyā Yuu's neck from behind. Her affectionate teasing quickly disrupted his concentration.
Unable to withstand this unconventional protest, Kamiyā Yuu shut the laptop and set it aside.
The two became intimate, but Kamiyā Sora stopped him and shyly asked to take the initiative, saying it was his reward for keeping his promise.
...
The two-day deadline arrived in the blink of an eye.
Akiyama Gojō came to Yosuganosora Animation Studio at the agreed time.
He hadn't expected much progress on Volume Three of the 'Fate/Zero' novel within only two days. Just as he'd said during his previous visit, it would have been enough for Kamiyā Yuu to finish the current segment of the plot.
Therefore, when Kamiyā Yuu presented the completed third volume in the conference room, Akiyama Gojō was so shocked that all his previously arranged plans were thrown into disarray.
"Director Kamiyā, what exactly is going on?"
Akiyama Gojō slid his finger across the laptop's trackpad. As the cursor moved down the document, he clearly saw its contents.
The word count was over two hundred thousand words higher than it had been two days ago.
Yet upon reviewing the new material, he couldn't find a single sentence, word, or passage that had been carelessly added merely to inflate the length.
In other words, just as Kamiyā Yuu had said, he had completed the remaining two hundred thousand words in two days!?
How was that possible!?
Akiyama Gojō's first reaction wasn't astonishment. Instead, he felt as though he'd been toyed with, yet had nowhere to vent his frustration.
Two days ago, he'd taken back half of the manuscript and revised all their plans according to the progress of that incomplete draft.
Now Kamiyā Yuu had suddenly produced another two hundred thousand words in only two days.
Was this a prank specifically designed to make trouble for him?
Kamiyā Yuu showed no awareness that he had inconvenienced anyone.
He had already explained two days ago that he could complete the remaining two hundred thousand words, but Akiyama Gojō had firmly cut him off, making it difficult for him to continue insisting.
When it came to something that ordinary people considered impossible, only facts were truly persuasive.
Kamiyā Yuu had simply fulfilled the work he'd promised to complete.
"I barely managed to catch up. I've given it everything I had these past few days. Fortunately, I finished the novel by the agreed deadline."
Akiyama Gojō opened and closed his mouth.
"This is two hundred thousand words, isn't it? You finished two hundred thousand words in two days..."
"Yes. That's why I told you two days ago that I would finish the rest of the novel."
"You make it sound so easy..."
Akiyama Gojō reviewed the manuscript on the laptop.
Finishing two hundred thousand words in two days?
Who could believe that!?
His first thought was that Kamiyā Yuu had already completed the novel earlier but had deliberately withheld it.
However, after considering what he'd learned of Kamiyā Yuu's personality, he knew Kamiyā Yuu would never do something so pointless.
That left a second possibility—the most likely one.
Kamiyā Yuu had hired a ghostwriter.
Yet after reviewing the latter half of the novel, he dismissed that idea as well.
Judging from the prose, habits, and structure, it was unquestionably written in the style of 'Fate/Zero.'
If Volume Three had been ghostwritten, then the previous volumes—and even 'Twilight of the Knights'—couldn't possibly have been Kamiyā Yuu's work either.
Thus, that explanation was also ruled out.
What about the quality?
That was what concerned him most now.
After skimming several sections, he found no apparent decline in quality. A proper assessment would have to wait until he conducted a full editorial review.
He rapidly scanned the manuscript on the screen but couldn't make sense of it.
Seeing that Kamiyā Yuu had no intention of explaining, Akiyama Gojō decided not to investigate further.
As he continued reviewing the manuscript, he said thoughtfully,
"Although this has disrupted our plans somewhat, it's unquestionably a good thing that Director Kamiyā completed Volume Three."
"I'll return to work now. Contact me at any time if there are problems."
"My schedule has been disrupted twice, so the workload on my side has increased considerably."
After speaking, he removed his glasses and firmly rubbed his temples.
The previous night, he'd worked overtime reviewing the manuscript until very late. Yet in the entire first half of Volume Three, there hadn't been a single typo or sentence requiring revision.
Kamiyā Yuu had, after all, spent several months conceptualizing it in his consciousness space.
If anything truly needed revision, it would mean Kamiyā Yuu had made a fundamental error in his understanding of the novel itself. Minor mistakes such as typos or ungrammatical sentences were even less likely.
The manuscript deadline represented the absolute latest date by which Chiyo Bookstore's light novel division could still carry out its publication schedule.
Since Kamiyā Yuu had delivered the completed novel before the deadline, they would find a way to manage no matter what.
It would simply mean a great deal more work.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Editor-in-Chief Akiyama. We're also looking forward to the joint book launch on the sixteenth."
A subtle trace of mischievous satisfaction appeared in Kamiyā Yuu's smile.
He didn't try to keep Akiyama Gojō any longer and stood to see him out of the conference room.
Even if he explained that he truly had completed two hundred thousand words in a single day, it would sound like a ridiculous lie.
He felt a peculiar sense of satisfaction at having achieved a writing speed beyond ordinary imagination—especially after seeing the helpless expression of Akiyama Gojō, who hadn't believed him two days earlier.
Of course, those were merely the thoughts hidden deep within his heart.
Outwardly, his expression remained calm and unreadable.
With his entire schedule overturned, Akiyama Gojō left Yosuganosora Animation Studio in a daze.
Before driving away, he glanced at the towering office building and muttered bitterly to himself,
"I don't even understand what happened anymore."
"Finishing two hundred thousand words in two days—what kind of joke is that...?"
"Forget it. Director Kamiyā finished the entire novel before the deadline. Now I just need to do my own job properly."