Chapter 10: Submission
In my previous life, the demands of work had left me blissfully unaware of light novels and entertainment. However, the memories of this body held a faint knowledge of leisurely pursuits, although I never delved into the details of authors while watching manga or anime.
Sitting on the bus, Yuuta pondered, "This place doesn't seem to have much of a market for historical novels. I'll need to figure out how to convey the essence of the manuscript I hold."
Unlike the historical novels I occasionally watched, the light novel in my hands, "KonoSuba: God's Blessings On This Wonderful World," was more of a comedic tale. It didn't involve tragic or intense battle scenes. Though it followed the traditional theme of defeating villains, the journey was filled with humor and parody.
Fortunately, drawing from the memories of this person, it appeared that the local cultural ambiance was just as whimsical. This gave Yuuta a glimmer of confidence.
After getting off the bus, Yuuta boarded the subway once more. This journey wasn't exactly a short one. To save time and return home earlier, he decided to skip lunch.
Though Sora was no longer a child, Yuuta couldn't help but worry about her.
"Tomorrow, I'll take them out to explore and get familiar with the surroundings. It'll help me get to know the area better too," Yuuta sighed. He was a newcomer himself, and now he had the responsibility of taking care of three kids while trying to earn a living. It was starting to feel a bit overwhelming.
As he sat on the train, Yuuta also contemplated how to make the afternoon enjoyable for Hina.
Dinner definitely needed to include meat. Not only for Hina but also for Sora and Miu, who were in their growing years. Proper nutrition now would impact their future lives.
Thinking about these mundane matters of the future, time seemed to pass exceptionally quickly.
Soon, the train arrived at its destination, and Yuuta swiftly disembarked, heading towards the company he had inquired about.
The company in this area was known as Dengeki Bunko, specializing in light novels. It wasn't particularly famous for historical light novels; it seemed like they published works without a specific target readership in mind.
At present, the novels from major publishers were typically those that had the potential to be adapted into anime. Despite being unsure about the audience's preferences, Yuuta still had some confidence in his work, as he personally enjoyed this lighthearted story.
There were numerous publishers in this area, with the most famous ones collectively known as the "Big Three" publishers. Yuuta didn't possess specific knowledge about these Big Three, but he planned to approach them one by one, beginning with Dengeki Bunko, which was conveniently located near his train station.
Upon entering the glass doors of Dengeki Bunko, Yuuta found himself in an impressive interior that resembled that of a major company.
A lady behind the reception desk promptly approached him with a welcoming smile, noticing that he held documents. "Hello, are you here to submit a manuscript too?"
"Yes, I've written a novel, and I'd like to know its potential for publication," Yuuta, still unfamiliar with the daily routines of novelists, succinctly stated his purpose.
In Yuuta's view, he was here to sell a book.
The receptionist displayed professionalism and swiftly deduced that the young man before her was a newcomer. Nevertheless, company protocol required that anyone who came in with a manuscript should be attended to by an editor, adhering to a standard level of courtesy.
"Alright, we need our editor to assess if it meets our library's inclusion criteria. Please follow me."
"Thank you," Yuuta sighed with relief, fearing he might be turned away immediately. As they walked together, he added, "I was concerned that I might be rejected if I came here in person, but sending it by mail would take too much time."
The receptionist offered a smile without saying much.
Indeed, mailing it might have resulted in the manuscript getting lost in the deluge of submissions.
"Please wait here. Have you submitted manuscripts here before?" The receptionist asked Yuuta to stand aside, not allowing him to proceed any further.
Yuuta shook his head, "No, this is my first time."
"Please wait a moment."
The receptionist swiftly entered the editor's office. After a brief conversation with someone inside, the chief editor apathetically arranged for an editor to conduct an interview.
Yuuta didn't have to wait long before he saw a woman in work attire approaching him.
"You're the new submitter, right? Hold on, there are other editors interviewing the rest of the newcomers inside," the woman's attitude was very casual. She walked up to Yuuta and stood by the wall nonchalantly, arms crossed.
Observing this woman, who appeared deep in thought with vacant eyes and hands clasped in front of her, Yuuta felt like he was being ignored.
He didn't become upset; perhaps she was just not in a good mood today.
But it seemed that submitting his manuscript here might not be ideal...
The short-haired woman noticed that the young man beside her wasn't initiating a conversation, which actually made her find him more agreeable. Today, she wanted some peace and quiet.
Casting a sidelong glance at him, she briefly saw the title of the manuscript he held and then looked away.
With a title that long, how could it possibly be a good work?